Beauty
Defining Beauty
PHOTO BY // BREALYN NENES PHOTOGRAPHY
TOP // ENZA ESSENTIALS
Being beautiful doesn't mean to have amazing skin and perfect hair. It doesn't mean you need to have a great set of eyelashes or the most amazing lip pout. It doesn't mean you need to have flawless legs without cellulite. It doesn't mean you need the perfect eyebrow with the arch that's on point or the fullness that's "trending". It doesn't mean your nails need to be perfectly manicured and polished on a daily basis or that you must always have the most expensive and lovely clothes. It doesn't mean that deep, bronzed tan is a must or the exceptionally white teeth to pair with it.
Being beautiful DOES mean to embrace your flaws and seek them to be beautiful in your eyes. It means to give yourself fully to each and everything you do. Beauty means to hug your family and friends tight with your loving arms and heart because no new day is promised. It means to accept the hardships life throws our way and look for strength and positivity in the outcome. Beauty means to use soft and kind words instead of deep, disrespectful ones. It means to put God in the center of your life and strive to live it to build His kingdom. It means to love. Love yourself, love your family, love your friends, love your neighbors and love wholeheartedly.
That's beauty.
Being beautiful DOES mean to embrace your flaws and seek them to be beautiful in your eyes. It means to give yourself fully to each and everything you do. Beauty means to hug your family and friends tight with your loving arms and heart because no new day is promised. It means to accept the hardships life throws our way and look for strength and positivity in the outcome. Beauty means to use soft and kind words instead of deep, disrespectful ones. It means to put God in the center of your life and strive to live it to build His kingdom. It means to love. Love yourself, love your family, love your friends, love your neighbors and love wholeheartedly.
That's beauty.
Thank you Enza for encouraging me to find beauty today!
#emeryodessamonthly
emery
Emery | 4 Months
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE CHILD IS THIS CUTE, YOU CAN'T DECIDE ON JUST ONE PICTURE.
#momlyfe
Well, she's almost 5 months old but these pictures were taken just after her 4 month mark so I wanted to officially share a little something on the blog having to do with that. She's perfect and chunky and precious and has giggle fits that make my heart burst. She loves apples and prunes (ick!) and cuddles with mama in the morning are her favorite. She's found her voice and her hands and grabs everything -hence the tutu lovin' above! I have moments of complete shock on how much God blessed us with her. She's our whole heart and I find myself marveling in her beauty and innocence all.the.time.
Dressing Baby for Spring
I think when I started shopping for Emery I had this mind set that she would always be cold and I should totally get socks and leggings and sweaters and 8 million blankets (because who can say no to them, seriously?) and I soon realized after she was born that girlfriend took after her daddy and ran HOT. I had to rethink my typical outfit with her going from bundling to staying cool and comfortable and it's so important right now with Arizona heating up. I've been loving these Offspring bodysuits because the fabric is so light and airy on baby girl. I thought sharing a couple tips on how to dress for the warming temps would be wise... I mean, we Arizonians are experiencing it first after all! ;)
ONE // Dress is layers in the morning when it's cooler so as it heats up, you can take the socks, jacket, leggings off while baby is acclimating to their surroundings.
TWO // When leaving the house, pack multiple of the same breathable fabric for potential outfit changes so you know baby will be comfortable if they need changed.
THREE // Keep a burp cloth or receiving blanket handy to wipe drool to remove extra moisture that can cause rashes on your little loves skin. Those little neck rolls catch all the good stuff so get in there and make sure it's dry!
FOUR // Bring a hat and sunscreen! If anything, make sure if you're going out you have a little sun hat and sunscreen (if approved by your dr) to protect your little one. I normally start a walk in layers and we end at the park in her onesie with a hat.
FIVE // Top with a darling bow or maybe some cool kicks for a little man!
quinny
Making the Switch
I've been back and forth on switching Emery from her infant car seat to a new convertible one because she seems to be so uncomfortable in hers lately but that one thing I love about it is the ability to be a travel system with our Quinny Zapp Xtra. That being said, I've switch recently to a new Quinny Buzz Xtra stroller so I felt it was the right time to make the full switch, which I'm so happy about! It's amazing the amount of room our new Maxi Cosi Vello 65 offers and then she is loving the comfort she has in her Buzz Xtra stroller when I switch her into that from the car. We went to an event last week for work and she was in her stroller the whole time and for one who fights naps when she isn't home in her crib, she past right out for over an hour in the Buzz Xtra! Shocked mama over here!
Because you all see to love my previous travel system, I wanted to outline the features on the Buzz Xtra so you know why I love it and made the switch.
FEATURES //
- Unfolds with a hydraulic system making it super easy while holding the babe.
- Canopy is adjustable in height and has an extra extender to cover the sun better- a huge bonus for AZ dwellers and the blazing sun.
- Flat all-terrain tires that are the smoothest thing ever.
- Adjustable handle for pushing; I love this because it can be done short for my 5 foot frame.
- Super comfy cushioned seat. I'm sure this is why Emery passed out sleeping.
- Still a travel system with the Maxi Cosi Infant Car Seat and the adapters are included!
Knowing I could use the car seat again for this stroller down the line with a new babe makes me super excited as well because I'm a huge fan of the ride with the all-terrain tires. It makes it so smooth and I love the handle because it's perfect for draping my Ju Ju Be diaper bag over. You can shop the Buzz Xtra, here and if you have more specific questions on this baby, please email me!
spring fashion
Style
Spring Dress
Good morning! Today I'm teaming up with my sweet, instagram friend, Laura from Walking in Memphis in High Heels to show how we styled spring dresses. It's kind of the perfect outfit for AZ right now because we're climbing in numbers and it's going to be 79 degrees today! That totally gets me excited but I know these soft, flowy dresses will soon be clinging to me in every area and I'll be hating my life! Haha! Also, can we discuss this bag? It's totally not real friends but when we were in Mexico recently, I snagged it and have been using it as an easy diaper bag/purse and I get so many compliments.
A little back story with Laura.... we connected while we were both pregnant and ironically had the same due date and then ended up having our baby girls the same day! What a weird thing but also a beautiful way to bond through blog/social media world! You must visit her blog and see sweet, Leighton!
Happy Thursday!
emery
Style
Dem Rolls
AUBREY | top- The Tickled Pink Boutique (code AUBREY for 10% off!), jeans- Paige Denim, heels (similar)- Marshalls, hat- Windsor
This post is clearly not about me because do you see those CHUNKY LITTLE LEGS?! I can't even handle them and just want to eat them up. Like the knee rolls and the dimples dripping down are just too much cuteness. Baby girl, please don't lose that when you start walking!
I have to say, I was definitely concerned knowing I was having a girl and how I'd dress her because I'm not a huge pink fan and I'm not into all things frilly - the occasional tutu is understandable but the constant butt ruffles aren't my jam. That being said, it's taken me some time to figure out my nitch in her style and I think I've found it. Onesie, Chunk legs. Leopard head wrap. Done and done. I think I'd let her wear this outfit everyday if I could. Adorable, right?
Motherhood
Motherhood is my Muse
I'm trying to get a post up for the day, I'm trying to get the house cleaned from a disastrous weekend and I'm trying to get a baby back on schedule from an off day yesterday. That's a recipe for tears, you guys. I don't know what it is lately but I've been consumed with an overwhelming feeling of all the things I need to accomplish and then I have moments of complete solitude with Emery and it melts.
I've shared before how much I love BLANQI and their product but I even more so love them as people. The owners are nothing but supporters and constantly encourage me in my role as mama. They're people I consider friends after working together throughout the last year and they're people I'd love to wrap my arms around in moments like these where I'm simply overwhelmed. They've put their heart and soul into their product and I really just needed a pick-me-up last week when a sweet package arrived from them reminding me, "MOTHERHOOD IS MY MUSE". Well thanks, Val and Sabina!
Because they're such awesome people and want to spread the love and encouragement to all you beautiful women, I have an exclusive discount code for you! Take a look around at the BLANQI site and my recommendation is don't leave without some postpartum leggings if you're a new mama or the belly support leggings if you're pregnant. Like WOAH, they are the best invention ever.
| D I S C O U N T C O D E |
(click below to shop)
House Hunting
I've mentioned it randomly our plans to move sometime this year and we've really been on a roll house hunting and getting excited about the prospect of starting fresh. Last Sunday, we went with our realtor and looked at a few homes for sale in our ideal area after a new build prospect fell through and we're now in this weird place. We loved the idea of building new (still do!) but it would put us in a home that's a house until the kids are out of the house. Loft area, office, huge garage, luxurious kitchen... the works.... the only down fall is our yard might not be as large as we'd like and HOA. All super appealing right off the bat and ready to enjoy but we face the challenge of one day moving again when it's just Andrew and I in the home.
Well, we saw a house Sunday that's foreclosed and is on a huge piece of land! The inside is a hot mess with a lot of fixing needing done to make it livable and then painting of course, so it's really cosmetic but it would give us the ability to build it how we want it, and it's smaller, single story so we could be there even after the babes are out of the home. You know, the long(er) term solution. It has land, a great deck - like huge deck - and would be lovely to build out a fire pit, BBQ area....etc. The rooms are just small and mater bathroom would take a full renovation but it's also very appealing.
So here we are, opposite ends of the spectrum now. Either we're going brand new and lovely or we're going shit show and building custom. What an adventure! We're off to see a few more model developments today and houses with land. Wish us luck!
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