A New Awakening

Friends! It's been a while! lol I promise I won't start my posts that way for a long time to come. But, really, I've missed this space!

I'm awakening this blog to begin sharing things I love with you again! From style, beauty, home decor and my love of hats to homeschooling, family and growing our little homestead. I hope you'll continue to stop by because I'm excited to get real and raw with you. 

What have we been up to this last (almost) year? Well, the usual family stuff, to start. Along with documenting lots of sweet newborn sessions through my photography business, trotting along with our homeschooling journey (guys, we have a sophomore this year!), tending chickens and bottle calves and experiencing our first calf being born from a sweet momma we raised from a few days old. 

Also, perhaps one of the more exciting adventures, I'm now an ambassador for my absolute favorite hat brand, Gigipip! As per the photos I'm sharing today. I LOVE donning their hats to create content and am so excited to continue that in the future. Our little family has been quite busy and, while busy isn't necessarily a great spot to be stuck in, the things we're able to be a part of are pretty great so we count it all joy to carry on as long as we can! 

I sincerely hope you're all doing well. And I encourage you to come back and visit again soon because I'm planning some fun content sharing things around our home that help make this life a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. It won't all be "buy this" and "you need that" though. I want this space to be full of fun adventures and new opportunities. So, I'm putting it down now. Setting it in stone. Announcing it to the world. haha. Here I come. And, I pray I can be all I was created to be while shining the love of my Jesus in this space and always. 

I'm so thankful you're here! See you soon!

 

Life Update

 Well, hey! Here's another one of those, "it's been a whiiiiiiile" posts. LOL 

Seriously though, I just kind of stumbled upon a few extra minutes tonight and thought I'd hop on and share a few thoughts with you guys. First of all, happy November! The holiday season is officially upon us and I CANNOT wait. It's my favorite time of the year for so many reasons. Most of all because of time spent with loved ones and contemplating, even more than usual, the miraculous birth of our Savior and all that it means for us. 

I want to share a few recent photos of my boys to fill space here in this post and then, I hope to have a inspirational festive decor post up soon! I've gotten so much joy out of dressing our home for Christmas this year, I just can't wait to share it with you. In the meantime, thanks for popping in to say hi and enjoy these sweet images!

We've had so much going on these last few months, I feel like I've been stretched thin and then stretched some more. We have commitments four nights a week now, whereas about a year and a half ago, we had one. For real. But, we've become a part of something that we all just really love and enjoy and we can't get enough. We started our boys in Jiu Jitsu about 22 months ago and then I joined a women's class a few months later. It's been such a growing experience for all of us. I made the switch to the co-ed adult class a few months ago and haven't looked back. Now we're in the dojo three nights a week and feel like we're missing out on something good if we can't make it. If there's something you're itching to do and just aren't sure if you'll love it or not, I encourage you try it! You never know until you do. 

My husband and I started training a few years ago and really enjoyed all that we were being taught. But then life started changing and more babies came and it got difficult to be consistent with it. Here we are though, nine years later and gleaning so much more out of this family experience and loving it so much. It really does only get better friends. Sometimes I look at our life and truly cannot believe that we're here. But, oh, what a sweet place it is. 

I'm sensing some big changes coming as these boys grow and I'm so excited to be a part of it. I guess that was a big chunk of why I've been so absent in this space for so long. I was needed here. In the midst of them. And I've LOVED it. I really needed time to be aware and present and the mom that they deserve all the while juggling life things and it's been just a pretty great last year and a half. I'm just so so grateful for this family of mine and all that we've been blessed with. So good to share with you friends and I'll be talking to you again soon!

Que Sera Sera

Have you ever looked at your life, your priorities, your hobbies, the things you spend the majority of your time doing and wondered, "when did I get here?..". That's kind of where I've been feeling the last little while. Stuck in a place of complacency and not really knowing when or how it all got so.. bleh. I've been in this spot before, more than once, and all I can say is, I'm so glad I can now recognize it before it becomes an issue for me. Trying to reassess the important things in my life and focus more on the things that bring me joy, the things that stretch me, the things that the Lord has placed there for a purpose, instead of digging myself into an ever-deeper whole of trying to just survive. 

Lately, I've felt more myself than I can remember feeling in a long time. Not that I've been unhappy, God knows I am SO blessed and I truly love my life. I adore my family and cherish every single day I am blessed enough to be with them. But, through the ups and downs and unknowns of it all, I slowly lost a bit of myself. These past few months, getting back into a really good (and enjoyable) workout routine, taking care of myself emotionally as well as physically, trying new things and putting myself out of my comfort zone at times have all made positive impacts on where/how I feel today. I've had some extremely low moments, a few pretty disappointing things thrown at me, but I've also been incredibly blessed and my eyes have just been opened a bit wider to all the wonderful things that I have to be grateful for.

No, nothing really life changing has happened, but, in a way it has. I think anything that effects positive change in your life is worth celebrating so, here I am. Feeling so thankful to be healthy, living a life I love, growing closer to my husband and children every day, making some really sweet memories and just knowing that there is only good in our future. There really are just so many beautiful reasons to be happy. 

Have a wonderful week friends!!

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

dress | Shop Pink Blush

shoes | Target

purse | Very Jane (old, similar style here)

Contrasting Basics

Hey friends! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas season! It seems like it always takes so long to get here and then, bam, it's over. I guess that's true with most things we get excited about though, huh? Was it everything you hoped it would be? Or even more than you imagined? For our family, Christmastime is always so busy. We have many celebrations with different family and lots of traditions we like to continue. So, I try extra hard to be super intentional about the things we do leading up to Christmas Day and making sure we remember to slow down during the craziness. There are so many things I love about this time of year and I want to be sure I'm enjoying it, not just trying to get through it. It turned out to be pretty great though, as always!

Something I struggle with in the post Christmas season is getting sucked into that after holiday let down. Like, the excitement and celebrations are over and now it's just a cold and yucky mess outside (and sometimes inside) and there's nothing to really look forward to until Spring. It kinda stinks. But, there are a few things I've come to find that help me enjoy the rest of winter so much more. 

Using free time off from schoolwork to organize and purge is a huge part of it. I find I can think more clearly and feel like I'm beginning the new year with a fresh slate when I'm not surrounded by clutter. So, while the boys enjoy endless hours of free play, I clean and purge and sort and bag things to donate or sell. It's soooo refreshing.

Usually, while going through my closet, I find things that I've been holding onto for a long while but can't actually remember the last time I wore. I like to bag those things up and consign them so I can replace them later with things we need and will really wear and use. It also helps me get a fresh look on some of the things I own. Like a sweater that's been tucked away or a pair of shoes I had forgotten about. It's kind of fun for a clean-freak mama like myself. LOL 

I wanted to share this fun sale find with you guys. This sweater is so soft and cozy. It's the perfect length and fit and I love the contrasting colors. I found it for $7 at my local Rue 21 and instantly loved it. It also looks pretty great with white skinnies, a contrasting boot and this fun neutral (and SUPER warm) coat! I love the longer length on it, as opposed to most puffer coats you find, and the fur around the hood is a fun little touch. 

My grandmother gifted me this cuuuute MICHE bag for my birthday and I just love it!! It's so neat that they make shell coverings for them so you can switch out the look as often as you like! This pretty black leopard patterned shell came with it and, so far, I haven't had the slightest urge to change it. I'm basic, I know. LOL 

Anyway, I hope your week was a great one and that your weekend it even better! We're supposed to get a ton of snow so, we'll probably by hunkered down by the fire with some board games and chocolate. ha. Happy weekend!!

| outfit details |

sweater | Rue 21 (in-store only, other cute styles here & here)

white skinnies | Walmart

otk boots | Circus by Sam Edelman

earrings | Nickel & Suede (size medium)

Purse | Base Bag & (couldn't find shell online but, I also love this shell)

Living on Fringe + Dry Shampoo

Hey friends! Has this not been the most insanely busy autumn of your life?!? Wait, maybe that's just me... Goodness, what a crazy past few weeks we've had. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just a phase or if it's actually what our life is going to look like in the coming years. I do love doing it with my people though, that's for sure!

I've been thinking a lot about intention lately. How I spend my time when I'm home with the boys every single minute and what, if any of it, will matter in the days, weeks and years to come. I want to use my time wisely. Whether it's doing laundry, loading the dishwasher, helping the boys through schoolwork, fitting in my Bible Study or taking time for me. How I tackle my daily tasks and to-do lists and react to the issues the boys bring to my attention are super important to me. I know now, probably more than ever, that they're watching every single thing I do. They see me wake up in the morning and immediately jump on my phone to scroll a little while I shake the brain fog. They see me take my breakfast to the living room to sit and watch "Gilmore Girls" or "Friends" while I eat. They see me scrolling through insta or pinterest while they're working problems and don't need my help. They see me choosing to worry more about how long it's going to take me to clean up the cup of milk they spilled than how they're feeling because they made such a big mess. They see it all.

As a mother, I know there will obviously be times when my children don't agree with or like me very much. They'll probably feel a bit anxious for independence by the time we finish school, I feel like that's pretty normal. But, I also want them to love the feeling they get when they come home. To know that their daddy and I love them more than anything else and really sought to put them first eighty percent of the time when they were growing up. I want them to think back and remember playing board games on the little round yellow table in the living room. Of blasting the fireplace til it's nearly eighty degrees in the living room and having almost the entire afternoon to just play and explore outside. I want them to remember all the important things. Like eating together as a family, praying before our meals, how Tyler only shuts one eye when he's praying most of the time and how he yells at his Daddy that "We pray first!" if he tries to sneak a bite beforehand.

I'm learning more and more each day that these moments with my boys are fleeting. I've probably shared thoughts along these lines before but, man, they are just at the forefront of my mind lately.

Am I doing all that I can to meet and exceed my family's needs? I don't just mean the obvious ones like, a nutritious meal or clean clothes. I mean the deep-rooted ones that will carry them through to adulthood and ultimately forge who they'll become and what type of family they'll have. You know the ones I'm talking about. I've determined to pray for my boys daily. That the Lord would help me and their Daddy to guide them in the ways of the Bible and that He would give me the strength (and patience) to be fully present in the little moments as well. Often times, I think we have so much going on at once that we feel torn to do well in every single thing we're mixed up in. While the majority of those things are most likely really good things, we need to realize that the time we have to shape and tend to our family in the ways we do right now is slipping by. And quickly. Is there something I can put on hold for now in order to put more of my time into playing with my toddler? Maybe an obligation that is a great thing but, takes away more opportunities to be with my family and just isn't worth it to me right now? 

I've considered this. I've done this. Letting go of certain expectations that others have for me so that I can be more fully present in the life of my family. And, while it can make me feel anxious and on-edge at first, it ALWAYS pays off in the end. And, when it comes down to it, I would much rather soak in my children and husband than give my energy to something else that just doesn't matter as much to me. 

I just don't want to miss it.. To look back ten, fifteen, even twenty years from now and think, where did the time go? I know I'll always think about that in a way. I already do. But, I don't want to wonder where I was in all of it. That's what I'm trying to get at. I want my children to remember me being there. Playing, exploring, make-believing right along side them. And still being happy and loving my life. That's the most important thing to me. That they know how much I REALLY  loved being their mom. Even through those hard times (and years..hello teenagers..). 

Anyway, that's a little glimpse at my thought process lately. How to let go of some things to be more present in others. And, it's been liberating. Happy Tuesday friends!! I pray this week is a GREAT one!

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

fringe cardigan | NUAGE (found it in grey on Poshmark)
tank top | Walmart
jeans | Target
booties | Old Navy (very similar)
purse | Steve Madden (thrifted, similar here)
earrings | (made by a friend) similar from Nickel & Suede

Fall Wish List / What I'm Reading / Movie Crushes

FALL WISH LIST -

Fall brings out all of my very favorite things and always leaves me yearning for more. More cool, crisp mornings, more gorgeous hues and warm colors, more pumpkins, more cozy sweaters and more afternoons and evenings doing nothing but enjoying it all. Fall is by far my favorite time of year (although Christmas is a close second). I always feel like it rushes by so quickly and I can never quite get enough of it. So, this year, I decorated my home a bit early, I went through my collection of sweaters to be sure I was prepared and I've already gotten a start on movies and books that I love to read when the weather cools down. 

I'm sharing some inspiration pieces for my closet in the next few weeks below. Some I own, some I don't (yet) but love and hope to one day call mine. Easy dresses, flattering skirts, comfortable yet chic boots, lots of layers, fun accessories and comfy sweaters. All fall staples of mine.

WHAT I'M READING -

I just finished a really great book called, "The Last Summer (Of You and Me)" and was honestly so sad when it was over. It's the kind of book that sometimes takes a minute to get into but, once you're accustomed to the author's writing style, you just can't put it down. It was sweet and rash and honest and could not have had a better ending. I loved it.

Since finishing it, I've just begun "Lilac Girls". I thrifted it for a dollar a few months ago and, while I've been anxious to start reading it, I put it off for a bit. I think the whole story line and setting was a bit emotionally intimidating for me. World War Two and the Holocaust (among many other time periods) have always intrigued me in so very many ways. I love watching movies and reading books centered around that time in history. I also feel such an emotional connection to the lives and stories of young mothers and families that it's difficult for me to get through them without losing it. But, I very cautiously started it last night and think I'm really going to love it. 

One of my favorite series to read is by Lilian Jackson Braun. "The Cat Who" is really just fantastic and once you read one, you'll immediately be hooked. I love reading the ones set in the fall every year. I also linked a couple others I haven't yet read but that look to be so good.

   

MOVIE CRUSHES -

Don't we all have those few movies (and tv shows) we religiously watch every fall that just put us in the mood and make the season that much truer? I know I do. Among them are : You've Got Mail, P.S. I Love You, When Harry Met Sally, Message In A Bottle, Stepmom, Gilmore Girls, a select few Friends episodes (though I love them all), the list goes on and on. 

   

Of course, I love taking my boys to all the fall festivals and pumpkin patches we can make time for. It's such a magical time of year. I've already brought back three loads of pumpkins (and mums) for my front porch and, if I'm being honest, I could keep going. I just love it!

What are some things you do each fall to embrace the season? I'd love to add more must-do's to my list!