/ AUBREY KINCH

House 4 | Laundry Room

We move and each time we get settled and really feeling like it's our home when Andrew drops the bomb on me and we're suddenly moving again. But this time, we're staying put. We're on the 7 year plan to pay off our home and because I'm damn determined to make that happen, we're starting doing projects to make our space completely us.

A friend of Andrew's is such a talent and incredible at his craftsmanship and he just finished up adding custom floating shelves in our laundry room. It was a simple and plain builder grade space before and with him just adding in shelving with industrial styled hardware, it's a whole new, and gorgeous space!!

I don't typically draw towards the brown tones but I wanted this area to be more industrial and boho so when I found this rug at Target and the wire baskets at Michael's, I knew exactly how I wanted this space to be transformed.

Dec1 Designs was incredible at catching my vision and giving me insight and professional feedback based on what I wanted while pairing what would be doable and sustainable for longevity and style. I couldn't be more pleased with how Mike updated this space for us!

Now on to the next project with him... sliding barn doors! Yay!

BEFORE

monthly mood

March Mood

FEELING //

+ optimistic. new things are on the horizon and it's incredibly exciting. will share soon.

+ empowered. oils have changed our life and home and seeing them work each season we embrace gives me all the feels.

+ strong. after digging into Barre3 more and more, I'm feeling stronger and more passionate about making it a normal part of my daily life.

LOVING //

+ everything from American Eagle. as always.

+ Emery's new commitment to ballet. she is just a sweetheart when she's out doing something and learning new things. it's a challenge for me to commit to those types of things but she thrives in those environments. it's good for her and for me to watch her grow.

+ shiplap! I always have but we're on the cusp of adding a lot to our home and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I'm deciding between natural wood and white in a few spaces and we all know white will likely win.

WANTING //

+ to finalize Easter plans. the OCD in me is having a mental breakdown thinking about it and how no plans on either side of our families have been made. it makes me want to host and invite everyone but also, I don't want to do that again.

+ to quit sugar... but I have an addiction, truly. tips? suggestions? how do I cut the crack?

+ to purge! it's about that time I am feeling overwhelmed by the closets and what has accumulated so I'm about to go through and pitch it all. nothing like a good cleanse to step into Spring.

___

Do you have anything special going on in March? It's spring training month in AZ so I'm sure we will try to make it to a few games and enjoy the outdoors before it's insanely hot. Two years ago, we headed out to a spring training game an hour after we found out we were having our Hollyn Grace! Fun memories, I tell ya!

body image fitness

Barre3 Private Event Recap

I love love love supporting local and it just so happens there's a brand spanking new Barre3 studio opening literally 5 minutes from my house. It's right next to my beloved Target with a Nektar Juice Bar opening next door to the studio so you know I'll be there all the time and enjoying some yummy juice with my kiddos after class.

I was able to get familiar with Barre3 as they've been having free pop-up classes all Fall and Winter ramping up the opening of the new studio and it's been so enjoyable and empowering finding a workout I love! The connection you build with these girls is one thing but the feeling I have after each class of accomplishment and gratitude for what my body has done is so freeing. I'm finding my niche in making myself and body a priority and I just can't wait for the studio to open here in a couple weeks. They focus on a mix of Yoga and Ballet but it's all able to be modified. If you're just getting back into working out and being active, you can modify anything to tweak the workout to you. I love that!

Kendra, the owner, let me host a fun private event this past weekend with some local friends to show them what Barre3 is all about and to see the studio before everyone else. It's so beautiful inside and has childcare!! All the mamas said AMEN!

As soon as the studio opens, I'll make sure to share so if you're local, you can check out the space and membership options. Until then, follow along with @barre3northpeoria for updates and uplifting, encouraging vibes!

Motherhood

Motherhood is Tough

Today was rough. Like really, really rough. I sat and cried in my car, I cried getting the girls bathed, I cried to my instagram audience sharing how the thick of motherhood is hard. It's really effing hard. I have days I snap over and over, I find myself wishing away the day and counting down the minutes to bed time and I have days I am just done. I can't fathom having one more melt down or tantrum and I've mentally thrown in the towel.

Today, I found out that's normal. It's common and it's welcomed and supported by all those other moms out there going through the exact same thing. I strive to raise my babies with a heart for Jesus, with manners and politeness, with respect and compassion - but a lot of my days, I catch myself wondering when the heck is that going to sink in.

But reality check. They're babies and kids. They aren't grown adults with it's expected to have our tantrums together (for the most part) and their life completely in order. They have these emotions they are trying to learn and deal with; love, anger, excitement, fear, joy, sadness... and I'm hear to show them that's okay to have them all! God made them that way! It's my job to teach them how to honor those emotions, feel them, and share them respectfully when the time is presented.

Let me say, the middle of Target using the anger emotion, throwing yourself on the ground... not my favorite time for you to use that one. Could we maybe save it for the car?

Last night I found myself with the above situation happening with all eyes of people around me ON ME. Looking at me with judgment and disgust. Not a single person said "you're doing a good job, mama!" or something like "they love you and keep doing what you're doing" I think anything encouraging in that moment would've lightened my heart and given me some hope. So my encouragement to you - next time you see a mama with kiddos all over, losing their minds and she looks mortified and hurt and embarrassed... go give her a hug and say "you are doing a great job."

And if you're one of the people who responded to my instagram story today, thank you. You held my hand today and I felt it. It takes a village and I'm blessed by mine.

Motherhood

Being Intentional

SHOP THIS POST

It's been a slow progression to learning more about myself as I've developed into a mom and evolved over those years. I'm finding doing things outside our home keeps things fresh and everyone in a better mood. I also know I'm introverted and don't like making the initiative to get out of our house or would happily bail on plans if the other party is feeling ehhh about them, too.

Not great traits to carry through life.

We live in a neighborhood filled with mamas and kiddos that are right around the same age as my kids. I've also had such an amazing opportunity meeting other like-minded, awesome women and moms through social media, all in our area! I was connected with West Valley Moms and now with Barre3 North Peoria and there's a whole niche of people who run the same circle. It's kind of amazing.

My goal this season of life is to step out of my comfort zone, meet those mamas for lunches, play dates, workouts and dance class. Be intentional with the time I have with the kids when our nanny isn't with them and make memories they'll cherish. I have vivid memories when my mom would babysit and we had the same routine of park trips with all the kids, summers running through the sprinklers, gym at the YMCA and t-ball practice on the weekends with all our neighborhood friends.

I want to be that mom who creates those awesome standards for my kids.

hollyn grace

Hollyn Grace | 15 Months

After 12 months, it's hard to keep up with how old your kiddo is. I'm not the mom who says my little one is 34 months or 57 weeks. It was hard enough doing a monthly picture during the first year of Hollyn's life but I had to make that happen - mostly for her sake so she didn't feel inferior to Emery who has a 12 month timeline. Did you mamas do that for both your kiddos?

She's now 15 months old and has such a fun personality!

LET'S RECAP

She started walking! It took her about a month from the time of taking steps to making walking her mode of transportation. She chose to crawl a lot more than walk for a while because she was able to keep up with Emery and Drake. It's real darn cute seeing those little legs waddle around every where now!

Sleep? That's a good joke! She's still up throughout the night at least once, if not twice. I do blame me for this. I suck at being consistent with her because I love my sleep. It's easier for me to snag a bottle at 2am and she passes right back out versus me fighting her for 2 hours to fall back asleep without a crutch. This is 100% me, and maybe I'll wean her eventually.

Speaking of bottle, yep, she still uses one. I can see you all silently judging me! But really, she's my baby and what baby wants, baby gets. No? ;)

Another crutch that should've been weaned a while back or not given to her at all? Pacifier. She's a wubbanub hoarder and has 3-5 in her hands at all times. It's freaking cute. I can't seem to take them away from her. She even sees one from across the room, bolts for it and literally throws her body on top of it giggling. I CAN'T EVEN.

She's still my tiny girl and finally upgraded to 9-12 months clothing. What a difference with her from Emery who was in 18-24 month clothes at this age. I have one girl who's tall and mighty and one who's petite and calm. The perfect kind of balance, though!

We did find she has eczema, just like me, so we've been swapping out some clothes to soft, cozy ones to help her throughout the night with scratching. Poor girl just itches and itches those little thighs, again, just like me, and it breaks my heart when she's in pain. We are progressively getting Clover Baby and Kids for jammies because they're so delicate on her sensitive skin. I also made an ointment for her with our essential oils and it's helped immensely! Shameless plug, I reached out to the awesome team at Clover Baby and Kids about their jammies and their customer support was incredible! We decided to team up for a giveaway very soon - be on the lookout!

You may not care about this little update, but I'm trying hard to get back to my roots with blogging and keeping it for documenting sake for our family with milestones, updates, and a way to remember all about our babies!

Happy Tuesday.

essential oils wellness

Creating a Happy Home

Let's go back to November 2016. Hollyn was born early November and I felt like we were in the swing of things quickly and seamlessly. Andrew went to Colorado when she was a few days old to celebrate his Grandpa's birthday, I was at church within 4 days and we were out running errands, living life as our family of 5.

Fast forward to February time frame. I was working more often than I have before, still trying to get adequate sleep, while maintaining a solid marriage, social life, and commitment to our church family. I began feeling stretched thin and run down. I was having more rough days than good days and it was something I wasn't totally aware of.

April comes along and it clicked to me. Everything was moving in slow motion. I was tired, fatigued, not wanting to do anything or motivated to make changes. I was crying alone, not talking about my stress, anxiety or uncertainty of my mood. May is when I decided to reach out to my doctor. I started an antidepressant dosage, Zoloft, and started to see a positive light.

I'm not one who likes to be dependent on medication. While I fully believe it's something that really only masks a problem or causes more side effects, it was helping so I felt like I didn't have another avenue. So time went on, I was feeding my body a prescription daily to help feel better and that's that.

Come July, we were moving again (because that's what we do! lol) and while I've been a Young Living member for a handful of months to help combat Andrew's nerve pain and support achy gums for Hollyn with teething, I wasn't using my kit outside of things I already knew. The team I had joined offered a lot of resources through Facebook groups so I started reading. All things hormonal, all things lady related, and all things I could do to help combat PPD naturally.

I ordered a handful of oils outside of the starter kit and I saw changes happen... and quickly. It's like a switch was flipped and I saw a light. While I knew the oils worked because it was helping immensely with Andrew and with our kids, I wasn't a product of the product. I wasn't using them to their full potential. But I started to and changes were made and our home is almost completely chemical free now.

Chemical FREE.

Talk about empowering. Natural deodorant, non-toxic household cleaners, laundry detergent that isn't laced with synthetic fragrances or candles full of junk. None of it.

It's a freeing feeling watching my kids fill their diffusers each night to support restful sleep. I love seeing my son grab for an oil and apply it daily for immune support. It's awesome watching my husband's hand feel better through applying oils, and personally, helping me find happiness outside of a pill and regulating my cycle.

EMPOWERING.

These were our big changes of 2017 and while it's a project we're working on throughout 2018, as well, I want to invite you to make those changes. I want to walk alongside you getting your home free of toxins only doing harm. It really hit home to me when my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. Did you know a leading cause for breast cancer is from aluminum which is found in deodorant? Or better yet, have you heard of the app Think Dirty? Download it and scan your products you use daily, then come talk to me.

COME OIL WITH ME.

Happy Tuesday! It's a rainy day in PHX today so after running some errands this morning and getting the house picked up, Emmy and I are snuggling in for a movie and popcorn while Hollyn naps.

Recently I've been receiving negative comment after negative comment and it's really bringing a new light to how the social world has evolved. I'm feeling so much like people are hiding behind a screen sharing what they think should be voiced when in reality, it's not serving anyone. It's blatantly degrading, negative, and is only hurting someone when spoken.

What's the point of that?

Why would be model that and show our kids that's okay?

Have you ever thought about it in that light? Never do I want my kids seeing me speaking down to someone as if they are inferior, or unworthy. Everyone is a Child of God. He spoke life into this world, He spoke this world into motion and we are all here to serve and better His Kingdom. I'm not here to make someone else feel unloved, unwanted, insecure, unworthy... etc. I'm here to show them they're valued, honored, needed, and there's no one else in this entire world like them.

GOD CHOSE THEM TO WALK THIS EARTH.

That is powerful. It should make you as a person feel empowered!

I want to encourage you all today and the rest of this week to spend time thinking about it in that light. If you come across something negative, speak kindness over it or that person if it's someone doing something negative. It could be anything - something as simple as "You are worthy", "You are valuable", "God chose you"... whatever.

Would you do that with me?

BEFORE

LET'S RECAP

Get on the list!