This & That

Good morning friends! We’re already midweek through the first week of summer and into Day 3 of the #HWHFitnessChallenge.  Nearly 1,300 of you have joined! That makes me seriously so happy! Keep logging your workouts daily. By the end of this week, you will feel amazing for having exercised everyday and you just might start to notice some positive changes to your bod!

Today, it’s time to grab your coffee, tea, or WATER (we’re all drinking 64 oz. a day, right?!) and sit back for a casual chit chat, affectionately known as “This & That” due to the random nature of it.  In these chats, I share what’s been going on at our house, helpful tips, style advice, sales, and more!

GIBSON X HI SUGARPLUM COLLECTION GOING FAST!

The Gibson x HiSugarplum collection is such a happy, colorful Summer collection. I’m typically a neutral and stripes kind of gal, but this collaboration is quickly turning me into a bright color + print convert!

It’s no surprise that pieces have already been selling out! I encourage you guys to get your pieces before they’re all gone! #notkidding If the items you want are sold out in your size, you might want to try the petites or the next closest size because some things vary in fit. 

I got to try some items early, but the petites weren’t available at that time.  When the collection went live, I ordered a few things in petites so I could give y’all a detailed fit and style review. For me, some petites fit and some regular XS were the right size.

For size reference : I’m petite, 5’1, about 110ish, 34D.  

TIE WAIST ROMPER

Like you saw yesterday, I’m a big fan of jumpsuits and rompers!  It’s so simple to just throw on one piece, accessorize and go!  This shorts romper is very lightweight and comfortable, just perfect for our long, hot Summer days.  The top buttons to the waist, where it cinches with a drawstring. And it has pockets, which we all love!  Wear this romper to your next lunch with friends, daytime party or backyard BBQ!

*This romper is already running low in the blue print, but the black floral is fully stocked, and there’s still several sizes in the solid black.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Waist Romper

Tie Waist Romper • Tassel Necklace • Everyday Wedges • Bamboo Bag  • Pink Sunglasses 

FIT : I got this romper in two sizes (XSP blue print & XS solid black).  Both fit me, but the XSP is a little shorter and with the XS I could blouse the top part over the shorts.  

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Waist Romper

Floral Romper • Tassel Necklace • Everyday Wedges • Bamboo Bag  • Sunglasses 

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Waist Romper

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection tie waist romper

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Waist Romper

Floral Romper • Tassel Necklace • Everyday Wedges • Bamboo Bag

Below is the the black romper in regular XS.  You can see that it’s a couple inches longer with a blousy fit. I actually like them both, depending on what style you prefer.  

Gibson X Hi Sugarplum Collection

Black Romper • Tassel Necklace • Gingham Bow Wedges

HIGH LOW HALTER TOP

I wasn’t prepared to love this top as much as I do.  I actually shied away from it at first because I didn’t think it would be flattering on a busty gal.  Well, I was wrong.  It’s actually quite flattering and with the high/low hem, you can easily do a mini front tuck to help accentuate your figure.  You can definitely show off your shoulders with this style and there’s a darling tie bow in the back.

As predicted, the coral floral has sold out in most sizes, but I’ve heard from the source that there may be limited restocks in the next couple of weeks. 😉

There are still many sizes in the pretty blue dot (especially petites), bright pink, and the black.  I love the black for a hot date!  Especially with your hair pulled back and tassel earrings.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Halter Top

Halter Top •  White Jeans •  Tassel Necklace •  Wooden Bag •  Sunglasses •  Watch • Earrings • Everyday Wedges

FIT : The XSP was my perfect fit in this top, even though I wear a 34D.  

You’ll also want to wear my FAVE strapless bra with this top.  It’s amazingly comfortable, keeps the girls up all day without any fidgeting and can also be worn as a regular bra because it has removable shoulder straps.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Halter Top

I wore this outfit out to lunch on our first official weekday of Summer. How sweet is this little one?! Two years old is the sweetest age!

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Halter Top

Floral Halter •  White Jeans •  Tassel Necklace •  Wooden Bag •  Sunglasses •  Watch • Earrings • Everyday Wedges

RUFFLE RACERBACK TANK

How sweet is this ruffled sleeve top?!  It’s a very soft material with a darling cut the way it has slight ruffles on the sleeves and all the way down the racerback.  The polka dot print is all things flirty, feminine and fun, but it’s running low.  The other six cheerful colors are all relatively well stocked.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Ruffle Tank

Ruffled Racerback Tank • Scallop Shorts • Everyday Wedges • Necklace • Bamboo Bag •  Earrings

FIT : Having both the XS (pink) and XSP (polka dot) in this one, I’d say the XS runs big.  The XSP was my perfect size, but the XS was good for pulling into a front knot, as you’ll see later in the post.

Wear this top with this racerback bra so your bra straps don’t show.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Ruffle Tank

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Ruffle Tank

FORNILLO KNIT MIDI SKIRT

When a skirt is pajama soft, you want to wear it all the time!  This one feels so good on and is double-lined and nice and stretchy.  I like how you can wear it pencil skirt length or pull it higher on your waist for a knee length or mini skirt look.  Wear it casually with sandals or sneakers and a tee or tank top. I got the stripe version, but it also comes in a classic grey.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Stripe Midi Skirt

Pink Racerback Tank • Pencil Skirt • Megan Necklace • Clutch • Sunglasses 

SKIRT FIT : I’m wearing size XS in the skirt and really like the fit, although the XSP would be a bit shorter.  

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Stripe Midi Skirt

TIE FRONT CAMI

Every woman needs a good camisole in her closet. This one has a side front tie and flattering drape. The top is stitched close to prevent any unsightly gaping and you can adjust the shoulder straps for a custom fit.  A cami like this will have you prepared for every occasion from the office to the weekend to a night out. I’ve already paired mine with shorts, slacks and it would also look great with jeans.

This red dot version is adequately stocked and I can’t wait to get my hands on the palm print!  Hurry on that one, it’s already selling out! 

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Front Cami

Tie-Front Cami • White Jeans • Clutch • Sandals •  Strapless Bra •  Necklace •  Earrings (price matched)

FIT : I’m wearing the regular XS, which is TTS, but I might prefer a slimmer fit with XSP.  I’ll order XSP in the palm print if I can get it to compare!

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Tie Front Cami

V-NECK TEE

It’s evident that no detail was overlooked when creating this perfect t-shirt!  The neckline is spot-on, the fit is flattering and not too boxy, and the little twist on the sleeve makes it extra special.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Stripe V-Neck Tee

V-Neck Tee • Jean Shorts • Earrings • Orange Slides • Similar Crossbody Bag • Sunglasses 

FIT : I’m wearing the XS in this top and didn’t feel like I needed the petite for a relaxed fit.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Stripe V-Neck Tee

SOFT JOGGER PANT

For running errands, school drop off/pick up, traveling, and everything in between, a girl’s gotta have a pair of joggers!  This pair is equal parts comfy and cute with a stretchy, wide drawstring waistband.  The ‘black’ looks more grey and goes with everything, and the ‘denim’ is a really pretty shade of blue.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection Joggers

Joggers • V-Neck Pocket Tank • Sneakers • Necklace • Earrings

Fit Tip:  These pants run a little big, I sized down one from my regular XSP to XXSP.  Definitely size down, especially if you want a more crop length. 

SUMMER CHARTS FOR KIDS

Over at casa HWH, we are loving having James home for the summer!  I know all parents think their kids are great, and it’s no different here.  He’s got the best energy and is almost alwasy so delightful!  It’s been that way since he was a baby!  He and Jordan are really enjoying each other now that they are 2 and 8.  The 6 year age difference has it’s plusses and minuses, and I have a future post coming up for you on that!

I’m all for Summer being a relaxing time for the kids and I’m not a schedule nazi (well, maybe a little), but I know my son and he’ll easily fall into the black hole of electronics if there aren’t boundaries set up for him.  We don’t have a limit on screen time, but we do have these guidelines:

  1. No electronics while eating
  2. Off electronics by 8 p.m.

And now that James is home during the day, I’ve made him a checklist he has to complete before jumping on electronics for the day.  Without these rules, he’d be up playing video games first thing in the morning and wouldn’t even want to stop for breakfast.

Summer Screentime Rules for Kids

FREE PRINTABLE : Summer Screen Time Rules

With these guidelines in place yesterday, it was well into the afternoon before he started playing video games.  😉

HOW TO CLEAN PLASTIC OUTDOOR FURNITURE

Summer is also the perfect time for cleaning and refreshing the back patio and furniture.  Our backyard is a tiny patch of space, but has lots of potential!  We got to Step 1 last weekend, washing the patio chairs, little toddler table and trampoline.  They were so filthy that we couldn’t even sit on them!

How to clean plastic chairs

  1.  Start by wiping off the dirt and debris with a dry cloth.
  2.  Then, fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and 1/4 cup clear liquid dish soap.
  3.  Dip a sponge or scrub brush into the soapy water and scrub the furniture clean.
  4. Wipe dry with a dry cloth.

I found more cleaning tips at BH&G:

  • For stubborn stains, dampen a clean rag with white distilled vinegar and wipe down the furniture.
  • Sprinkle baking soda on a wet sponge to create a mild abrasive that will peel away stains, but won’t scratch surfaces.
  • Use WD-40 to restore shine; spray onto plastic and wipe clean with a dry cloth.
  • After washing your plastic furniture, protect it with a coat of automotive paste wax.

After cleaning the furniture, we kept going and scrubbed down the gutters and all the trim and siding! We were going to use the power washer, but it wasn’t working, so manual labor it was.  Talk about a big job!  But getting everyone involved made it much better.

Until the next morning, when we woke up so sore!

kids backyard clean up

kids backyard clean up

WE ALMOST TOUCHED JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE!

Something much more fun than cleaning gutters was getting to see Justin Timberlake last month!  When I heard he was coming to town, I was giddy and wanted to go so bad!  It’s a bucket list kind of thing since I love his music so much and listen to him on repeat during my workouts! Plus, he’s my boyfriend. #duh 

Big thanks to Verizon Up for hooking me up with two tickets to the concert!

what to wear concert

V-Neck Tee • White Distressed Jeans • Everyday Wedges • Crossbody Bag

Turns out, he’s Shannon’s boyfriend too, so naturally, I had to bring her along!

what to wear concert

Floral Tank

I had no idea we’d get to sit so close to the stage and see JT up close and personal!  The stage wrapped around in an “S” and we were second row in the middle of the S! Let me tell ya, this boy’s got moves!  The way he sang and dance and kept his energy up throughout the show was amazing!

Justin Timberlake concert

We got our tickets through VerizonUp. It’s a new rewards program offered by Verizon that lets customers choose prizes, experiences and offers for using their service. It’s all managed through their app and it’s totally free to join. You can follow #verizonup on instagram to see what other people are getting with their rewards.

You earn credit for paying your bills and claim 1 reward for 1 Verizon Up credit. Rewards can be credits on devices or accessories, sometimes there are sponsored discounts and the super tickets (like what we had for JT) come along randomly, but you have to grab them fast!

Justin Timberlake concert

We had a fun girls night. We just had to pick up our tickets at the venue and then we went to grab a snack and a drink (this was pre-fitness challenge) before going in. Because of our Verizon VIP status, we were able to walk in just before the concert started and get to our spots right near our man.

Justin Timberlake concert

At the end of the night, Justin dedicated the concert to Santa Fe High School, which made the event that much more special.

I hope y’all have an awesome day! 

See you back here tomorrow with what might possibly be the cutest Summer dress! 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

11 Comments

  1. I love your This & That posts! That summer checklist is great, I just implemented a few rules for my daughter before she can ask for TV.

    1. When I got home from my workout today at 7am, James was already playing video games and I had to remind him- nope! Not yet!!

  2. Thanks for the sizing review on the ruffle tank top. I’ve looked at it multiple times but I’m never sure about sizing. I may give it a try now.

  3. That free printable is perfect…I too don’t necessarily structure the kids for summer and am all for that balance of playing, reading, and watching vids (as we call it) but these guidelines will help immensely. It was exactly what I was looking for but didn’t know it! Thanks

  4. Love this summer schedule! It’s perfect, nothing too extreme but just enough. Thank you!!

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