Nicole Holden

I am a 90s kid through and through and have loved everything Gap for as long as I can remember. I used to watch their classic commercials over and over when I was little, dreaming that I could have the opportunity to dance in a Gap commercial one day. Well, that day has yet to come, but the next best thing is getting to share all of my favorite finds with you! If you have been trying to simplify your wardrobe and aim for a capsule type collection, there is no better place to start! I hope you find something you love and also feels amazing on you! (For my mama friends, don't miss my Gap list for littles bc the only thing better than wearing Gap is dressing my kids in Gap!)

I am a mama of two girls, ages 1 and 4, and they are my little besties! It's an absolute dream come true to dress up my daughters and I plan on matching them until they tell me to stop! As much as we are girl's girls here and love the occasional sparkle & frill, the overall theme of our closet is practical comfort. We're talking cute and easy to wear and affordable because we've all seen a baby blowout and a toddler kid eat a an ice cream cone. My favorite places to shop for my kiddos is Gap & Target but I have included all of my other brands styles and looks. As a new mom it was very overwhelming to be inundated with so many gifted clothing and recommendations, so for my second I was very specific in what was passed down, passed up and repurchased. I hope this list helps!

Coffee is my love language and I am always on the search for cute cozy cafes! These are my go to spots and this list will continue to brew :)

Toddler mom style focusing on comfort and class. Check out my capsule wardrobe essentials!

I am a low maintenance mom who loves clean simple products and these are my staples!

Long Island, NY is the hub of the best diners and there are an abundance of them in every LI town! My husband and I are proud diner enthusiasts. While I was in graduate school and he was playing pro baseball, A LOT of our dates and meals were off-peak hours. Lots of hot black coffee ordered in the morning and even more late night post-game grilled cheeses and chicken fingers. Our ultimate diner litmus test is an omelet, well done fries and black coffee. Now our 2 daughters get to join us and are proving to love a good diner vibe! PLUS, when it comes to sitting down to eat with littles, there's nothing more kid friendly than a casual LI diner :) There are our top favorite spots...happy dining!

I truly hope this lists helps some new mamas out there! As someone who struggled with PPA and PPD, I felt SO lost about what we needed and what was worth budgeting for. New moms get inundated with unwarranted advice and recommendations and it can be so overwhelming. This is my personal list of gentle suggestions to help you simplify your motherhood journey and keep your focus on what matters most.

I am SO excited to partner with Hugga Bubz! They have the most amazing collection of clothing for you and your littles including matching mommy + me fits. Don’t miss out on perfect Mother’s Day gifts and style inspo! Supporting this beautiful minority owned and heart centered business is a win win. Discount Code: Peaceofmindmama

Take it from someone who did everything the hard way when it comes to parenting and then committed to do it the opposite way the second time around. Being a mom and being responsible for a little mind and is a lot of pressure and it’s so important to create ease and simplicity in the places that you can. I hope this list helps with relieving some stress in the every day chaos so you can embrace the beauty in all of it!

You will find lots of gluten free / dairy free / vegan options on my Costco list! I have been on a gut health journey for almost 2 decades and now want to fill my home with an amazing balance of healthy delicious and nutritious foods. I personally eliminated gluten and dairy for health reasons in 2018 so I've been seeking out the best brands and deals for years. I give my family a balance of everything and we all love our sweet treats! However I notice a big difference in our moods and skin and immunity when we are filling our bodies with whole foods.

I'm all about ease and simplicity in the kitchen and these are my essentials. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when trying to cook for multiple people with different tastes and preferences. Keep it simple and focus on the way that a meal can bring everyone together, in one singular space, for just a small fraction of the day. Those little moments are what life is all about and I want you to enjoy all of them!

Take your self care to the next level! From everything showers to scalp treatments to creating your own at-home spa, these are my favorite products for a luxurious me-time experience. I can confidently say that when you fill up your cup as a woman, you will have the capacity to be best and kindest version of yourself for the people you love. Have fun taking care of yourself and I'd love to hear what you love the most!

The beach is my happy place and I have been fortunate enough to live close to the ocean my whole life. My family has been beachin all over Long Island for the past 30 years and tese are our favorite spot tips and tricks to have yourself the best beach day with your favorite people.

Perfect gifts for the most treasured women in your life- the mamas! Take it from a mother of 2 who loved nothing more than showering her own mother with gifts to make her feel special. It’s all about the thought behind the gift and her knowing you took a moment to consider her value. Here’s my top recs for Mother’s Day gifts!