Link to Instagram Reel.

Boots:

Gray Suede. Pink Leather. Shearling-Lined Cream. Beige Quilted + Black Patent.

Wear with… Pants or leggings, bubbles paired with tights. Dressier boots can be worn with shorter dresses paired with tights.

Mary Janes:

Pink Quilted. Beige Quilted. Black Quilted. Black Velvet. Navy Patent. Blue Leather. Burgundy Leather.

These are Georgie’s most versatile shoe style; if I splurge on one pair, it will always be a pair of Mary Janes! Wear with… Pants and cuffed socks, bubbles paired with knee socks, dresses and tights, dresses and cuffed socks.

T-Straps:

Pink Leather T-Straps.

Wear with… Pants or leggings paired with cuffed socks, casual dresses paired with cuffed socks, bubbles paired with knee socks.

Some gorgeous shoes for little girls this fall and winter! I’ve curated the most beautiful shoes of the season to cover all your bases – from cozy, every day leather Mary Janes and T-Straps to dressy patent leather and velvet to warm shearling and suede boots. There’s a little something for every outfit. And all of these shoes are from brands Georgie has worn time and time again; they are beautifully made and the sort of quality you can wear all season, then pass down to a friend or sibling.

Georgie has very sensitive feet/skin like her mama; she and I can both get blisters in a walk around the block in sneakers. So I am hyperaware of high quality materials for her – I look for soft leather and European craftsmanship. Her most comfortable and most-worn shoes are by Pepa and Company. And we get the most compliments on her Age of Innocence and Luxe Lim shoes. One question I’m asked often is about how the shoes Georgie wears run… Georgie’s sizing: 6 in L’Amour, 24 in Age of Innocence, 24 in Luxe Lim, right on the cusp of 23 and 24 in Pepa and Company.

Pumpkin Centerpiece. Clear Glass Tumblers. Soup + Cracker Bowls. Spode Plates. Beige Gingham Napkins. Woven Placemats. Apple Cider. Organic Creamy Tomato Soup. Flatbread Crackers.

I’m partnering with Walmart Home today to share some of my curated Fall updates for the kitchen. Now having two little ones two and under, it’s important for me to be able to get lunch and dinner on the table quickly while still making sure it’s something Georgina will enjoy. I put together an easy meal with a cute fall tablescape on our breakfast table, and created a fall-inspired coffee bar so you can take some time to make a seasonal coffee for yourself in the mornings. Take a peek at them both above and below…

I made some quick grilled cheese sandwiches (my top tips are to butter both sides of the bread and blend cheeses in the middle) and paired them with my go-to tomato soup, flatbread crackers, and ice-cold apple cider. I added texture with gingham napkins and woven placemats. And my favorite piece… These gorgeous chocolate brown Spode plates I had been wanting to get my hands on for years. The finishing touch was a pile of little pumpkins, corn, and greenery tucked around the stacked pumpkin centerpiece.

Cream + Sugar Set. Rock Sugar Sticks. Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Creamer. Caramel Cookie Nespresso Pods. Orange Waffle Knit Kitchen Towels. Beige Gingham Napkins. Leaf Spoons. Porcelain Coffee Mugs. Nespresso Pixie Machine. Set of Wood Trays. Caramel Chocolates.

One of the things I look forward to most each day is coming out to the kitchen and making my first cup of coffee at my little coffee bar. I like doing this before Georgina wakes up so I can have a moment to myself; I take my cup outside and water my flowers, scroll Instagram, or check my texts and emails. Now having two children age two and under, it’s my little bit of self-care each day. In honor of September being Self-Care Awareness month, I’ve partnered with Walmart to share products you can use to style a Fall coffee bar.

Whether you’re like me and need a little moment to yourself before you begin your day or you just want a pretty space to offer guests a cup of coffee, these items will add plenty of fall texture and flavor to your kitchen. Best of all, I’ve found that many Walmart items ship fast and free so I can get what I need in time.

Walmart has put together an interactive coffee machine buying guide if you’re in the market. You can take a look here.

WHAT WE WORE… My Gingham Dress. My Sandals. Georgie’s Dress from previous Born on Fifth x Dondolo collaboration. Georgie’s Scalloped Bow. Georgie’s Blue Shoes. Georgie’s Second Dress (White with Embroidery). Georgie’s Pink Shoes.

VENDORS… Florals, Bow Arch, Table and Chair Rentals, Table Linen Rentals via Newberry Brothers. Catering by Encore Catering. Cake, Cake Pops, and Sugar Cookies by Suga Me Sweet. Photography by Miranda Sober Photography. Children’s Entertainment by Puppets & Things On Strings. Balloon Garland by Fun Balloons.

DECOR… Invitations, Birthday Banner, Table Confetti, Thank You’s Available Here on Etsy. Custom Plastic Cups. Pink Plastic Plates. Silver Plastic Utensils. Gingham Luncheon and Dessert Napkins. Teddy Bear Snack Cups. Brown Teddy Bears. Small Bears in Napkins. Gold Frames for Prints, Photos. Blue Gingham Wrapping Paper. A Teddy Bear’s Picnic Book. Pink Gingham Tablecloth. Pink Gingham Kitchen Towels.

PARTY FAVOR BASKETS… Picnic Baskets. White Crinkle Paper. Teddy Bear Ears Headbands. Small Bears on Baskets. Pink Plastic Teddy Bear Candy Containers. Pink Gummy Bears. Bubbles. Chalk.

I already had the idea for Georgina’s second birthday some time around her first birthday. Both my mom and I love hosting themed parties and especially children’s parties; sometimes I think we have as much fun as Georgina does. When I found out I was pregnant in December of last year, I knew I still wanted to throw Georgina a little birthday party this summer… In my mind, it was the last event I could give her as an only child and I wanted her to feel extra special before her little brother arrived. So here I was… Nine months pregnant with our ten-pound son, hosting a birthday party in the middle of August with an air quality advisory going on!

I played “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” song for Georgina in the spring and she loved it; she would ask our Alexa to play it while she ate lunch and asked me to read her the “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” book before bedtime. So I knew she would love having a party with teddy bears, dolls, and picnic-style food with her friends. As for the decor, I pictured pastel pink and blue gingham, floral bows, and teddy bears. During our last trip to Palm Beach, we went to the LoveShackFancy shop and I saw the most beautiful giant floral fabric bow there; I snapped a photo and saved it to show to the florist for our floral arch inspiration.

We started the party with a ventriloquist and puppet show, then passed out teddy bear ears to the littles and moved outdoors for lunch, cake, and presents. We even invited the littles to place their teddy bears or dolls on a quilt nearby for their own mini picnic while a family of bears (my own vintage VanderBear family) looked on. As our guests left, we gave them picnic basket party favors full of goodies. And everyone left with plenty of sugar from Suga Me Sweet!

I made a Teddy Bears’ Picnic playlist to play during the party – you can listen to it here!

It was such a special day for our little girl. Seeing her stare in wonder at her balloons going up before the party, admire the flowers with her grandparents, and squeal in delight when she saw her darling teddy bear cake made me so happy. As any mama knows, I will never forget the day she was born and I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate it with her and make her feel special.

Party Favor Picnic Baskets:

Party Decor:

Ceiling Color: Sherwin-Williams “Light French Gray”. Trim Color: Sherwin-Williams “Ivory Lace”. Wallpaper: Schumacher “Brighton Pavilion” in Peacock. Table and Chairs by Kindel. Frontgate Telfair Sideboard. Gold Ribbon and Reed Knob Hardware. Chandelier: Old, came with house. Sconces, Mirror, Toile Vases: Antiques. Rug: Old, HW Home. Wallpaper and Dining Table + Chairs Ordered via DeWitt Designs.

See another before + after project at the new house: Georgina’s playroom post.

I’ve seen people discussing whether formal dining rooms are unnecessary – do we really need one when we have breakfast tables and kitchen islands? But I can’t imagine not having one in a “forever home”. My family’s dining room is full of my childhood memories – holidays spent together, birthday celebrations, friends surrounding the table until the wee hours of the morning. We can’t wait to make memories as our own little family around this table.

We had been wanting to redo the dining room at our previous house, but decided to wait until we moved to the new house. And it was worth the wait; it has become one of my favorite rooms in the house. I am in love with the beautiful trim and moulding in this space. And the extra built-in storage was welcome for someone like me who adores tableware and table linens. (I even have a little room to expand my collection!)

When I saw the room for the first time, I pictured a specific wallpaper in my mind. I had browsed online and when our decorator pulled this wallpaper out of a suitcase full of samples, I instantly knew it was the one I had envisioned for our dining room. I love the chinoiserie design, curious birds and butterflies peeking throughout, and the pop of color to add a little life to my otherwise neutral decor palette. Each time I walk through this room, I feel happy.

We chose a table and chair set from Kindel Furniture; they are one of the last furniture manufacturers to make their pieces entirely in the United States. Everything about this dining set makes me swoon; the shiny lacquer finish is elegant and timeless, the inlay work is beautiful, and the upholstered chairs are as comfortable as they are gorgeous. We hope to make many memories as a family around this table in the years to come. If you are looking for a less pricey version of this table and chairs, I suggest searching “Duncan Phyfe table and chairs” in your local area – either eBay pickup, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. This style is a bit more scarce out West where we live, but there is a treasure trove of beautiful pieces at fantastic prices, especially on the East Coast and in the South.

Small changes I made were having the ceiling painted to complement the wallpaper (Sherwin-Williams “Light French Gray”) and switching to these more ornate gold knobs. I also switched the hardware on the painted sideboard to create a more cohesive feel, although I’m wondering if a matching Kindel sideboard wouldn’t be the perfect touch in the future. I kept our old wool + silk rug, which adds a fresh contemporary feel to this traditional room. And after finally receiving our dining set, I’m considering switching out this chandelier… Wondering if all-gold would be too much? Would all-crystal be too formal? The saying is true… Decor/design is never truly finished. We just keep tweaking our spaces as time goes on.

Here’s for formal dining rooms; may they never disappear, despite what the current trends say.