Ramblings..

How difficult is it to be authentic today? SO difficult. How easy is it to fall into the traps the devil sets for us to make us believe we're not good enough. Not pretty enough. Not "perfect" enough? SO easy. I've been thinking a lot about this lately. To be honest, it may have had something to do with the lack of content here the last few weeks. . .

I just don't want to pressure myself into posting just for the sake of posting. I want this space to be fun and light but, also real and genuine. That's my aim anyway. I'm sure sometimes I can be way off the mark but, again, that's probably part of why I've been a bit quiet here lately. I've been focusing more on my family, on my fitness routine, eating healthier, getting more rest and well, just ME. Sometimes we all need a little r&r, am I right? With that being said, I am happy to be back and feeling great! (mentally and physically!) I've just come off of twelve weeks with the SWEAT app (looooved it) and did my first workout with Tone It Up this morning! H O L Y  S M O K E S. Kayla is rough on ya, no joke about that. But, man, switching things up and beginning a new routine with all new moves is tougghhhh. I know I'll be sore tomorrow but I am SO excited for it! I've really come to love working out these past few weeks! I know the boys love it too because they get to sneak in and watch music videos on youtube while I'm at it. I love to have my workout app on my phone, that way I can play music via youtube on our tv too keep me motivated during all of the sets and reps. It's been a game changer as far as helping me to push through. So, there's a little workout "hack" for ya. ;)

Also, I shared on insta a while ago that I went through my closet again, this time pulling out anything that didn't make me feel all the good things about my body. I made the tough decision to purge some things I'd been hanging onto for a few years.. Things that I didn't fit into or loved but just never wore. And, the funniest thing happened. After cramming it all into a trash bag and loading it into the back of my suburban, I almost felt like I needed to go through it again, just to be sure. Yea, #hordermuch.. Anyway, after resisting the urge to sneak a peak (more than once), I finally dropped it off at my local thrift shop last week. Talk about freeeeeeing! Seriously. I feel so much lighter. 

I stopped in to do a little shopping yesterday (the boys and I were desperate to get out of the house) and found a GREAT pair of jeans for a BUCK. No joke. They're high waisted, slim fitting, have the perfect amount of stretch and are button front which I think is so cute right now. I love them! I also snatched up this top for a dollar. There was a tiny hole in the sleeve but, of course I was like, "Heyyyy, there's a hole here and, I was jussssst wondering.... if you'd do anything for the pricccce?".. Hahaha. Yea, two seconds of sewing and it's good as new! It's so soft and flowy and the back is super cute and a little fun. Loving it. Plus, the color? Yes please! 

Anyhoo, I know it's been a while but, I hope you'll still follow along with my ramblings! Oh and, one more thing, I got bangs... I've been wanting to change things up a bit with my hair for a while now. I just wasn't sure what to do. I want to keep growing it, that's for sure. So, I opted for some new layers and long bangs for a little something different. So far they're working great for me. I'm still a little nervous about styling them (which I cannot figure out why..) but, I'm happier and happier with them each day. 

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend friends!! Until next time... xoxo

!! 29 !!

H A P P Y  N E W  Y E A R  friends!!

Yesterday I turned twenty nine years old. It seems odd to type that.. I didn't have anything I really wanted to accomplish by the time I arrived here. I haven't made a "bucket list". To be honest, I've really just been going with the flow and trying my best to allow for the Lord's leading in my life. He's provided so abundantly thus far, it's comforting to know that I can trust Him to take me where He sees fit and shield me from the things that aren't meant to be. 

Having a New Year's Eve birthday really gets me thinking about the year that has just passed and the one I'm about to begin. The days and moments I'm leaving behind and all that I have to look forward to in the ones to come. How have I handled all that life has brought in this past year? Did I do so with the Lord's grace? Did I tell Him and show Him just how thankful I was for every. single. thing He blessed me with? Did I love the ones around me and let His light shine brighter than my myself? Have I really, truly lived an intentional life this past year?

Questions that seemed to flood my mind at each passing second as we counted down the last moments of 2017. Looking back at the year I'm leaving behind, can I answer truthfully and honestly that I did the very best I could with what the Lord gave me in each moment?? No. I failed. I fell short. I completely and utterly disappointed myself. But, I also succeeded, tried harder, pulled myself back up and accomplished so. very. much.

This year was a whirlwind. It came and went and all that I'm left with are memories and mental pictures of all that it was. Incredible. I got to spend the last three hundred and sixty five days with the ones I love most. The five people that I could not imagine doing this life without. My sweet husband and our four darling boys. They've blessed me in more ways than I can count, our relationships have grown so deeply and our attachment to each other, likewise. We belong to one another and the Lord is the one who ordained it all. I have a huge, crazy family that loves me so much and I absolutely adore them all. But, if I had to attempt this life without the ones that take up the most space in my heart, I'm afraid I couldn't do it. They mean EVERYTHING to me. 

I'm so so thankful to have spent this year learning, living and exploring alongside of these five amazing humans. They've made huge, irreplaceable impressions on my heart. We've poured ourselves into one another and the outcome has been so much more than I could have ever imagined or dreamed. And, if that's all that I can take from this year, that is without a doubt more than enough for me.

With 2018 staring me in the face, I've been searching for a word to encompass what I want this year to mean for me. I haven't yet settled on one yet and, to be honest, I may not be able to pin it down until I'm again looking back on all that it was. I feel like that's okay though. 

I pray your year was filled with so much happiness and joy and that you are able to see clearly the Lord's dealings in your life. How he worked every single thing for your own benefit. Happy 2018 friends!! I'll continue to pray for this new year and fresh beginning. That it brings a season of peace and contentment like you've never seen and that you would be able to truly embrace it. 

And thank you SO MUCH for all of the wonderful birthday wishes!! They mean the world and really fill my heart with so much gratitude and thankfulness. Happy Monday and have a very blessed week!!

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

DRESS | Love Riche (another pretty blush dress here)

EARRINGS | Founder's Grove on insta (similar here)

OTK BOOTS | Charlotte Russe (old but similar here + also love these)

(card from my sweet friend, Robyn)

Our Maternity Photos

I know I'm not pregnant anymore and that my sweet baby is eleven weeks old (what?!) but, I never got a chance to share our maternity photos. So, I figured better late than never so why not post them today. My sweet Aunt helped us get these amazing shots and I just love how they came out. We were about 37 weeks along with our little guy when these were taken and I had the belly to prove it. LOL. I was actually only measuring about 35 weeks the last five weeks of my pregnancy because he was so far engaged already but, I sure felt big enough to be close to the end.

I wanted kind of a country feel. Someplace with wide open spaces, tall wispy grass and some pretty wild flowers. My Aunt lives in the middle of somewhere just like that and there was even a gorgeously old barn nearby so it worked out perfectly. We aimed for golden hour and, even though it was a bit overcast that day (perfect lighting but kinda blocks out that pretty golden hue) we still caught a break in the clouds right before dark. So, here's some of my favorite shots from that super fun time we had trapsing through the woods and brush, in between barbed wire and over metal gates. I am so blessed to have such amazing creatives close to me.

I'm told I can be pretty picky about nearly everything. Clothes, home decor, food, yea, okay everything. And, although I'm sure being a photographer myself brings some upsides to when we're behind the camera , I know it can be pretty intimidating as well. But, my Aunt always does an amazing job for us and humors all of my seemingly odd pose ideas until she gets it just right. I am so thankful for her, her artistic skills and her genuine love for our family!

 

After sharing all of these, I can't help but share our sweet Tyler's newborn photos as well. But, I won't make this post any longer so look for them to grace the blog soon. Have a wonderful week and God bless you all!

OUTFIT DETAILS :

DIY Ruched Maternity Dress  //  Hubby's cargo shirt options 1 2

Wrangler Maxi dress (couldn't find it)  //  Hubby and boys in plain white tees and jeans

#BumpDay

In honor of the first official #BumpDay, I thought I would give a little pregnancy update. We reached 27 weeks yesterday and , with that, graduated to the sixth month and third trimester. It seems as though time with this little guy is just going by so quickly. It's hard to remember what it was like before we learned we were expecting him but, at the same time, I cannot really imagine how much life will change once he arrives. I'm a little nervous about Blakeypoo. He's only known being the youngest and it worries me that, if he's anything like Sweet Lucas, he'll take his own time adjusting. I know we'll have lots of help and guidance from our family and friends and I am so thankful for that. Goodness, in less than three months we will be a family of six. SIX. 

The first trimester flew by. Mostly because we didn't tell anyone but immediate family we were expecting until the thirteenth week. We wanted to be sure everything checked out great with our little one before we announced our news and, turns out, I'm really glad we did because it made the second trimester fly by. I have had little to no morning sickness at all this time around, I've been carrying baby lower than his brothers ever were, my skin has been clear and my hair has actually been manageable. This pregnancy has been so opposite of my previous two that I was completely sure we were having a girl. At early appointments, our midwife could hear the placenta with her doppler very strongly on the left side (which studies have proven to be associated with girls over 92% of the time) and it wasn't until we got the results at our gender reveal party that I was convinced this little one would in fact not be a girl but another sweet boy.

And I am totally alright with that. I have grown to love being a boy mom these past 6 years and I probably would have absolutely no idea what to do with a baby girl. Oh, I'd adjust, believe me! But, it would be so different. Having boys has taught me so much about having fun in the moment. Enjoying every part of life and making the most of every situation. They are silly when you're trying to be serious, distracted when you need them to focus and so full of character that even quiet moments at home are nothing short of special. They always find ways to get to me. Whether that be good or bad. If they're being corrected for something, they always try to have the last word but, at the same time, if I'm feeling down and in a rut, they know exactly how to lift me up. They can be rambunctious, rowdy, adventurous, determined, stubborn and, dare I say, annoying. But, they can also be soft, sweet, loving, good listeners, great helpers and just what my momma heart needs at the end of a long, tiring day. They have the tightest hugs, the sloppiest kisses and the most intense love for those that mean the most to them. It is truly a great blessing to be a part of their craziness and to know that you are one of them. Always. I may be a girly girl, but it is no secret that I love my boys.

So, I know this was kind of a long post but, I want this to be a place where I can share my heart and my love for this life I've been blessed with. Enjoy your littles today and try to remember that even though the days may seem long now, the years go by oh so quickly. Something I'm trying to keep in mind lately. Blessings XO

Hey there!

Hey there! Welcome to my blog! I am mama to three of the sweetest boys around, wife to one incredible man and follower of Jesus Christ. I strive to be the best I can be in all of these roles but, also to stay confident in myself and the woman God would have me to be. I have a passion for sewing and creating things. Whether it's a good sewing tutorial from Merrick's Art for me or something I've found on Pinterest that I thought they boys would enjoy or a great DIY I just had to try for myself to add to our home. I love to create. I have lived in the same small town my entire life and I absolutely love it. Sometimes I dream about moving abroad and disconnecting from the world to live in some abandoned chateau in France or packing up and relocating to a big city rich in history but, since that won't be happening anytime soon, I'll enjoy the life that I have. I plan for this to be a place for me to share sewing tutorials, outfit inspiration, diy projects, and current adventures of my blessed little family.

My life is a busy one. We homeschool our three boys. And, by that I mean I teach them school Monday through Friday. Every morning. We work and we learn and they are seriously the greatest. But, we don't slack off much. I'm careful not to let us become one of 'those families'. Those families that claim to school at home when in reality they spend their days having free play and not learning an ounce. I want my boys' minds to grow and soak up everything they can while they still have the desire to do so. Sometimes it's hard. Don't get me wrong. There are days when I've had just about as much attitude as I can take and I just want to throw in the towel and say, "Okay then, go to public school! Let the government teach you!". But, I know in my heart that God has a plan for our family. And right now that is to have my boys at home learning from me. Their mom. And, boy do I love it. Every difficult moment, Every success. Every time I see that light bulb go off and they say, "Yes! I know!". It is truly such a blessing to see the process of : me teaching, them listening, them learning and then, them doing. They gain in bounds every week we introduce new concepts or review ones we've already learned. I'm planting seeds and watching them grow. And that is so amazing.

When I'm not planning lessons, play dates or shopping trips (four boys eat a lot!), you can find me engulfed in a sewing project or planning my next photography session. I love photography. Many have said that my kids are some of the most photographed in the world and, to be honest, I agree. I just love taking their pictures. They get so into it, posing and showing me their 'happy' or 'silly' or 'mean' faces. And I get memories to keep forever. It's awesome. I began capturing images for others a few years ago and it is slowly growing into a nice little business. I can keep up with it pretty easily and still keep my priorities in check. It's such a blessing to do what you love in life. And, me? I get to do it all. Sure, I have a lot of hobbies. But, every single one is a part of me and who I am. I've heard it said that in order to be a good mother you have to give all of yourself all of the time to those that you love. Well, I disagree. In order for me to be the best that I can be for my family, I have to take time for myself. Whether that's a morning (or late night) devotional in my bible, or a couple of hours of sewing during nap/rest time, or an afternoon or evening out with my hubby or mama friends. I need that to keep track of myself. So I don't get lost in the motion and activities of my family. So I can appreciate and embrace them for who they are while they are doing the same for me. It's a great life and I feel so blessed and humbled that God has allowed me to live it.

 I'm glad you found my blog and I hope you'll stick around! I am so excited to see where it leads!