Tag Archives: Haute Off The Rack

A Splash of Seafoam Green Bedding for Summer

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We spent most of our weekend being lazy and staying cozy inside away from the rain. I love a good Sunday morning spent in bed though so I didn’t mind the gloomy weather. Speaking of our bed, we recently swapped out our sheets and down comforter for these breathable and lightweight sheets from The Company Store to finish out the summer in. As for our comforter, we chose the “light” Alberta European Down Baffled Duvet Insert and since it’s so hot in Louisiana right now, we didn’t even bother putting a duvet cover over it. I’m so glad we chose the “light” version because I like to sleep with all the covers on no matter what time of the year it is, but sometimes the AC isn’t enough and you just need to get lighter covers and more breathable sheets.

We also added a splash of seafoam with these shams and this king size cotton quilt. I usually like to keep our room all white, but we thought it would be fun to add a pop of color for summer. The Company Cotton Voile Quilt also comes in so many other colors. I also love the lilac and coral.

Right now it’s Last Call Sale up to 45% off End of Season Colors & Patterns at The Company Store. Scroll through this post to see how our full room looks.

| Shop My Bathrobe & Bedding from The Company Store |

While we’re totally enjoying our new bedding, nothing compares to this amazing Luxury Regal Egyptian Cotton Robe. I don’t know why I never thought to get one of these before. Giant bathrobes are one of the best parts of staying at a luxury hotel and since we can’t travel right now, this is the next best thing. It’s like a mini staycation at our house. I got one for me and one for my husband with our initials! I think I might make this my new go-to gift for friends, especially new moms since they spend so much time lounging around the house. So why not pretend you’re a day spa! Haha!

| Shop My Bathrobe & Bedding from The Company Store |

This post is in partnership with The Company Store, a brand I love. All opinions and selections here are my own. Thank you for supporting the affiliate posts who make this blog possible.

Celebrate Diversity & Strong Women

July 1, 2020

Hey everyone, I’m so excited to share these photos with you because they have been a long time in the making. I’ve wanted to direct and coordinate a styled photo shoot like this with a diverse group of strong influential women that I admire for years. It wasn’t until last summer that I actually put things into motion. I reached out to Makeup by Meggan about featuring her makeup line in the shoot because I was so impressed that she prioritizes inclusivity and diversity within her products and the shades she offers.

I’ve always struggled to find a makeup line that fully caters to my skin color but Makeup by Meggan’s foundation is the perfect match and I’ve been using it for a few years now. Meggan loved the idea of doing the shoot, but then we both got busy with family life as we welcomed new baby boys into our lives this past year. I finally got around to coordinating it this past month and everything fell into place once I found the perfect group of strong, beautiful, and influential women! Not only are these ladies all beautiful, but each one of them is strong, talented and kind hearted.

Beauty truly comes in every color, but when I look at these photos I see more than just beautiful faces. I see a strong and diverse group of successful female entrepreneurs who are also artists, mothers, content creators, medical professionals, beauty experts, digital influencers and business owners. They are all these things and more, but MOST importantly they are kind and beautiful from the inside out.

Being a minority myself, it’s important to me that Haute Off The Rack serves as a platform that encourages inclusivity and celebrates diversity. I am so grateful for my Filipino and Italian heritage! This is just the beginning of a new #hauteofftherack series that celebrates diversity & strong women, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us! I plan to do this by continually sharing and highlighting other strong female influencers of all sizes, shapes and colors.

My Outfit: Nude Rib Brami | Parker Vintage Loose Fit Cutoff Shorts | Pisa Bracelet Set of 2

We did three different looks during the shoot. For the first look, I had each influencer wear a nude top that matched their skin tone to really highlight all of our different skin complexions to show off Meggan’s foundation. For the second look, we all wore black tops and rocked a red lip because that is one timeless lip color that looks fabulous on all skin tones. Lastly, everyone picked a summer outfit that best represented their personal style. I love how everyone’s outfits reflected each of their different personalities. I wanted to make sure everyone’s personalities shined through in the photos because they’re all amazing.

As for our makeup, Meggan sent each of us a set of her foundation and false lashes to try out so that we could apply the makeup ourselves using her products prior to the shoot. For the first look featuring the nude tops, Meggan applied her new nude lip color to everyone’s lips. The nude shade looked stunning on everyone so we can’t wait for it to launch later this year. It’s so cool how we all have different color skin complexions and yet her products were still able to accommodate all of us.

Scroll through this post to see all of the photos from the shoot and to learn a little bit about each one of these talented ladies.

Krystal Faircloth of A Pinch of Lovely | Shade: Light

Krystal and I have now been friends for 8+ years. We met when we first started blogging and since then we’ve traveled the world together and have created truly unforgettable memories. She even saw me get engaged in Italy, stood in my wedding and we were both there for each other’s baby showers.

Krystal recently launched her podcast, Slow Your Scroll this past November. Be sure to check it out for a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of online influence through light-hearted conversations with some of the most polarizing personalities on social media. Get a glimpse at what’s behind the polished images we see online and tackle the topics surrounding the perfectly curated feed. Slow Your Scroll is meant to connect content creators, influencers, and their audience on both an informative and entertaining level and is hosted by Krystal Faircloth. I actually recorded an episode with Krystal just before Beck arrived. You can check it out here—>Finding Silver Linings + Taking Snack Breaks with Jennifer Palpallatoc

Meggan of Makeup by Meggan | Shade: Medium Neutral

I connected with Meggan a couple of years ago through a mutual friend and she did my makeup for a few events. I always loved how she applied my makeup so I was super proud of her when she launched her own product line. And I wasn’t at all surprised that I absolutely loved it. In case you missed it, I mentioned that I’ve always struggled to find a makeup line that fully caters to my skin color. Fortunately, Makeup by Meggan’s foundation is the perfect match and I’ve been using it for a couple years now. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

Brittney of Everything Fusilier | Shade: Tan

I had the pleasure of meeting Brittney earlier this year at Galentine’s Day event I hosted and she is even more lovely in person. I have loved following along with her and her family because she has the most precious little girls and not only is Brittney a talented content creator and mother, but she is also a full time pharmacist too. I don’t know how she juggles motherhood, marriage, the blog and a full time job, but I will say that she looks amazing while doing it and performs it all with grace. Be sure to follow along with her for family inspo and a daily dose of cuteness from Maddy and Olivia.

Marianne Angeli Rodriguez | Shade: Tan

I stumbled into Marianne and her incredible artwork at an event in my hometown a few years ago. It was cool to meet a successful artist around my age who owned her own gallery. Also, we immediately hit it off since we’re both filipino. I have loved watching Marianne’s business continue to grow over the past couple of years and I feel honored to have a print from her Triple Goddess collection hanging in my home. The Triple Goddess is a celebration of the Divine Feminine and all of our cherished relationships which both lift us up and ground us. It is a tribute to our mothers, sisters, daughters, mentors, and friends. The ‘Triple Goddess’ represents our capacity for strength, wisdom, and power when we stick together and symbolizes three pillars of ultimate beauty found within; courage, compassion, and love.

Be sure to follow along with @MarianneAngeliRodriguez on Instagram for a splash of vibrant color in your feed. Also, you can purchase her artwork at her gallery in Downtown Covington or online—> www.marianneangelirodriguez.com

Olivia of Viv & Liv | Shade: Fair

I met Olivia via Instagram before inviting her to a fun event I hosted in my hometown. I don’t know if she was ever a cheerleader, but I feel like she could have been because she is constantly cheering me on and supporting everything I do. And for that, I am so grateful for our friendship because everyone needs positive people like that in their lives. Follow @livewithlivandviv for the most precious mother daughter duo and all of Olivia’s creative DIYs. Also, be sure to check out her most recent venture with All Shine Designs.

Fun fact: Olivia ordered fried chicken fingers in the middle of the photo shoot so clearly she and I and speak the same language! LOL Also, if that doesn’t make you adore her, I don’t know what will!

Mhykee of Imprint | Shade: Dark

I recently came across Mhykee on Instagram and was immediately captivated by her bright, colorful and boho style. Additionally, I admired everything she stood for: family, faith, fashion and her career as a nurse practitioner. I’m always so inspired by the women who do it all because I know how challenging it can be. It was an absolute pleasure getting to meet Mhykee in person during a day full of girl time and shooting at Maison Lafitte. I hope we get to work together again in the near future or hang out at a fun influencer event once this quarantine clears up. Be sure to follow along with Mhykee’s style, family and spiritual journey on her blog and Instagram at @Mhykeexg.

Fammy | Shade: Medium Neutral

Fammy and I met through some mutual friends a few years ago and she’s always been such a great supporter of Haute Off The Rack, which I can’t thank her enough for. I’ve also always admired Fammy’s luxe and exciting lifestyle. She always travels to the coolest places and wears the most fabulous outfits. To top it off, she has a heart of gold and generously gives so much of her time and money to support local charities and New Orleans businesses that she loves. It’s no surprise that she was Miss Louisiana 2016. Be sure to follow along with all of her exciting ventures on Instagram at @Mrs.Fammy!

Photos by Aperture Photos Co

Venue: Maison Lafitte

Why I Started Using Gentle Cleaning Products In My Home

June 30, 2020

This post is sponsored by Tide Free & Gentle, all opinions are my own.

Morning everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Today I’m talking about why I started using gentle and hypoallergenic products in my home. Ever since I became pregnant with Beck, I’ve been super mindful about the cleaning products I use around my house, especially my laundry detergent since we lay on our bed sheets every day and dry off with bath towels after every shower. So I started using Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergent PODS because not only are they hypoallergenic, free of dyes and perfumes, but they are also tough on dirt, food and stains. I can use the detergent on my own clothes, sheets and towels without having to worry that they’ll irritate my skin or cause my baby to have any skin sensitivities.

Additionally, Tide PODS are better for the environment because the product formula uses less water, they work in cold water and they clean better so I don’t end up wasting more water re-washing my clothes.

Lastly, over the past few years I started noticing that cleaning products with strong scents cause me to have headaches or bother my allergies, so I always like to avoid products with strong fragrances.

Also, I fortunately don’t struggle with eczema or psoriasis, but if you do, you’ll be glad to know that Tide is recognized by both the National Eczema Association (NEA) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), based on an exclusive partnership, and have received Seal of Recognition from the NPF and Seal of Acceptance™ from the NEA. The NPF’s Seal of Recognition highlights over-the-counter products that are recognized to help ease irritation for those living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis or those with sensitive skin or limited mobility. The NEA has also provided Tide Free & Gentle with the Seal of Acceptance™ that recognizes it as an exceptional detergent for eczema and other types of sensitive skin.

The pacs are super easy to use. All you do is toss in one laundry pack for small and medium loads, 2 pacs for Large/X-Large loads and 3 pacs for XX-Large loads. Be sure to never add Tide PODS® Free & Gentle to the dosing drawer. Just throw them into your washer machine, add in your laundry and then start the machine.

| Shop This Look |

Outfit: High Low Maxi Dress | Pearl Earrings | Gold Beaded Bracelets

| SHOP MY LIVING ROOM |

Pillows: Down Feather Inserts | Meadow Ribbon Trim Tassel Pillow | Classic Trim Pillow in Peach | Vienna Floral

0-3 Month Old Baby Travel Essentials

June 22, 2020

Hey everyone, as promised, today I’m sharing our top travel essentials from our recent beach trip with Beck. My parents own a condo in Orange Beach, which is only a few hours away from us so I’m sure we’ll be traveling there with him a lot in upcoming months. During our last trip I got so many questions on what we packed so I figured I would share a full blog post on everything we actually used.

| Shop My Look |

Outfit: Tiare Hawaii Skirt & Top set | Initial Necklace | Kara Padlock Necklace | Gold Hoop Earrings | Beaded Bracelets

Beck’s jumper is by Velvet Fawn.

Scroll through this post to see our 0-3 month old baby travel essentials!

| Shop Beck’s Baby Bag |

2. Onesies | You can never pack enough onesies for changes throughout the day when it comes in 2 month olds.

3. Soothie | Pacifiers are a must for long road trips. We don’t use the pacifier too often at home. We usually only use it around nap time if he’s fussy. He tends to get a little fussy after sitting in his carseat for a long time too.

4. Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment | I never go anywhere without aquaphor for myself so I do the same for Beck because we can use it soothe diaper rash, scratches from his nails and dry skin on his face.

6. Burp Cloths | We keep burp clothes all over our house for surprise spit ups from Beck so the same goes for traveling. We keep some in his diaper bag and on his carseat so he never has to sit uncomfortable with spit up on his clothes and same for our clothes too.

8. Swaddle Blankets | We love these breathable Newton baby blankets because they’re super lightweight.

9. On The Go Gray Bag Dispenser | This little bag dispenser is a life saver when it comes to dirty diapers on-the-go. They’re easily accessible on the side of the diaper bag and they’re lavender scented too to help conceal the smell.

10. Dr. Brown’s BPA Natural Flow Bottle | I still exclusively breastfeed, but next time we plan to bring a bottle for him in the car when we can’t stop in traffic and he’s screaming crying because he’s hungry. Also, we still use slow flow nipples on bottles when we give him one so that he won’t get lazy with breastfeeding since bottles are so much easier. Also, just a tip from personal experience, we hold him upright while we feed him bottles to slow the flow even more and prevent him spitting it all up after he’s done.

11. Soundspa On-The-Go | He sleeps with a sound machine at home so we packed it for him to sleep at night at the condo, but it’s also nice to have attached to his carseat to calm him and sleep easier in the car for long rides.

12. Colorblock Large Sutton & Tote Savvy | I own both the tote savvy and the large sutton, but we’ve mostly been using our Happ diaper backpack.

14. Nuna MIXX™ Stroller & Nuna PIPA™ Car Seat | We love the safety features on this carseat. Plus it’s super lightweight.

16. Baby Backseat Mirror for Car | I love having this mirror in our backseat so I can easily check on him using the rearview mirror. He also likes to look at himself in the mirror too.

How adorable is this cactus onesie from Monica & Andy? Beck wore this down to the beach with a hat and we just stayed in the shade for the short amount of time that we were down there. We didn’t pack a swim outfit for him because we didn’t plan on putting him in the water since he was only 8 weeks, but next time we’re packing this swimsuit with UPF 50+ sun protection.

| Shop Beck’s Travel Essentials |

1. Soak 3-Stage Bathtub | Baths are a part of Beck’s nighttime routine so we felt like bringing his own little bathtub was essential to try and keep things as close to his routine as possible and I’m so glad that we did.

7. Boppy Nursing Pillow | I actually keep a second poppy nursing pillow in the car for whenever we’re out and about so it’s easier to feed him so I just used the one that I keep in my car at the condo.

8. Concentrated Laundry Detergent(pods)| I’m surprised I actually remembered to pack his detergent, but we use a specific laundry detergent for him at home to prevent any skin irritations so I didn’t want it to be any different while we traveling either. It’s easier to pack the pods in a ziplock bag instead of the large detergent bottle though.

9. Deluxe+ Stage 1 Dock | We placed the dockatot in the pack n’ play for him to sleep in at night time and he slept in there perfectly. He usually sleeps in the halo bassinet with the halo insert at home so I was wondering how well he would sleep in something else so I was super glad he did well in the dockatot.

10. Swaddle UP Original | Beck loves his Love to Dream swaddle for daytime because he gets to keep his hands up and then we use his Ollie swaddle for night time. We made sure to pack both.

11. BABYBJÖRN® | I wore the Baby BABYBJÖRN carrier down to the beach so I could keep my hands free for carrying down other items. I highly recommend packing this carrier for travel or any events where you know you’ll have to walk around holding him for long periods of time.

12. Pack ‘n Play | We actually keep our Pack n’ Play at the condo, but it folds up really small and compact for convenience while traveling. ** See photo at the bottom!

13. Kick ‘n Play Piano Gym| I am so glad we brought his piano play gym for him to play with during the daytime since he’s still too young to play in the sand or the pool. Plus he’s obsessed with this thing. It’s probably our favorite toy for him too because it encourages him to use his legs for kicking piano keys and his arms for reaching toys.

Fun fact: 45 minutes before we took this photo Blake realized that he forgot to pack a shirt for family photos so he had to run to the nearest gift shop to find this Vineyard Vines button down shirt and it’s actually a really cute shirt!