January blues and blahs | What's keeping me going...

January 74th rolls around every year and we wonder if we are going to make it! You’re not the only one feeling the January blahs…it’s gotta be that post holidays let down piled on top of the cold weather, right?! I find myself searching for a beach house…because I need some warmth and vitamin D! So how do we cope with the January blahs when the beach houses are too expensive and like 2 months away anyways? Here is what is fueling me:

1. Feed my spiritual soul

   “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 .

You may be wondering what the heck does take my yoke upon you mean? It was once described to me this way…

Yoke: a wooden bar or frame that connects two animals to enable them to work together.

Isn’t that a cool picture? God himself wants to unite himself with me/you! Not only that, but doesn’t that look heavy and confining? Well…He knows we might think that, so He clarifies that No…He wants to lead us gently and humbly. He wants to carry our burdens to lighten our load. I love that He also promises, that when we unite ourselves to him…we WILL find rest for our souls.

So practically you may be wondering what does it look like to unite myself to God? God has never spoken to me audibly. I do believe He has the power to do that, and I do believe that He does do that, but it’s just never happened to me. So how then do I “meet” with God? He always speaks to me the loudest when I read the bible, or am doing a bible study. So I encourage you to read! Some great resources are sites like: Shereadstruth.com or Ifequip.com
And Pray. Prayer is simply talking to God. Pour out your heart, your worries, your struggles, your doubts. Ask God to meet you where you are. He promises he will.

29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

2. Feed my Creative Soul

This may not be you, but I feel myself getting really stir crazy when I am not doing something creative or when I go a few weeks without creating. Hence my blog, photography, art projects, decorating my house, writing. This is who I am. So who are you? Do you feel stir crazy when you haven’t worked out, been in nature, met up with friends, or traveled in a long time? Honestly, I wish I would have learned this about myself a long time ago. I never realized I had such a creative need in my life until the motherhood hit me like a ton of bricks.

So lets not feel guilty about those things that we love and make us who we are. Let’s not look at another sister who is killing it in her workouts and feel less than…that is who she is, and doesn’t mean that is who we need to be! Let’s cheer one another on to pursue our passions and realize we are all created uniquely and different.

So tell me, can you identify what it is your passionate about? What is that thing that if you don’t do it, you find yourself feeling stir crazy?! Will you share with me in the comments, because I’m kind of fascinated by this. What is it that feeds your soul?

****In full disclosure…that first photo of me collapsed on the floor is a more accurate depiction of my feelings on the day to day. I’m not saying you should feel perky and sunshiny all the time…bc I sure don’t. And friends, sometimes we can do these things I mentioned above and still feel off. If that is you, seeking out professional counsel is the bravest and strongest thing you can do for yourself. Much love.****

Finding Joy in Parenting

Last year I found myself struggling to find joy in my parenting. Granted, I was overwhelmed…but this year I want to make more of a point to find the joy. So yesterday I decided to write down (in my notes app) every time I felt joyful. At the end of the day as my head hit the pillow I read over everything I had written down. I was surprised by all the joyful moments I had and recognized. It helped me go to bed feeling grateful and thankful. Sometimes, in parenting we just need to pause and take notice…because all too often the hard and frustrating moments are what we remember at the end of the day. Below is the list I made: I challenge you to do the same…especially on days when you are lacking joy.

As I continue to think about finding joy in parenting, I also have to ask myself what do I love to do with my kids? On days when I’m lacking joy, could it be that I need to be a little creative in my parenting too and go do the things that I love to do with my kids! We can be intentional about creating joyful moments! Here are some examples that I find joy in doing with my kids:

• Being outside in nature, go on a hike

• Experiencing new things together. What is something we have never done in our city?

• Cuddle time…lets make a pillow bed and watch a movie!

• Creating an art project together. Break out the duct tape and cardboard boxes!

• Surprising my kids! Skip school for a day, or take them out for ice cream unexpectedly!

  What do you love to do with your kids?
  

Christmas Children's Books

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We all want reading to be fun for our kids, right? This year, I decided to do something a little different with our Christmas books. I placed all of the board books in a crate on the floor in our living room. This has made the books more accessible, and to my surprise my kids are actually wanting to read them more! It is fun to curl up in a blanket and read Christmas books together!

Here are some books I recommend that both my kids and I love to read! Some of these books are old and can only be purchased used…but nevertheless, they are good ones! Find the links and a short description of our favorite holiday books below! If you have Christmas books that are must haves…would you leave them in the comments? I would love to add to our collection!

One Night in Bethlehem tells the story of Jesus’ birth through the eyes of the animals, it is also touch and feel!

0-2 year olds

One Night in Bethlehem

The Legend Of St. Nicholas tells the true story of St. Nicholas and how Santa came to be. It is a great story about how St. Nicholas loved Jesus and how he was inspired to give gifts to those in need because of Jesus’ love for him. I love how this true story redeems our cultures very self focused idea of what Santa is about.

4+ year olds

The Legend of St. Nicholas

Come And See Baby Jesus tells the story of Jesus’ birth. It is interactive and has flaps that you lift to help keep a young childs attention. Underneath the flaps are learning prompts to help reinforce shapes, colors, and animal sounds too!

0-4 year olds

Come and See Baby Jesus!

Hallmark has many different recordable books out around the holidays, from Frosty to Jesus’ birth, record your voice reading the story! A perfect gift for Aunts,Uncles, Granparents, and Friends to give children they love who live far away.

3+ year olds

Hallmark Recordable Books

Search And Find Christmas Fun is such a fun book to sit down with by a cozy fire and help your child search for the festive items on the list!

0-6 year olds

Search & Find Christmas Fun

Hello, World!

Stocking Stuffer Gift Ideas

Stockings are a big deal in our family. When I was little we occasionally had Christmas at my Grandma and Grandpas house with all of my cousins. My Grandma would hang hose as our stockings and stick an orange at the bottom to keep it weighted. It was so fun to see all of the gifts smashed into those hose. Now my mother in law has cross stitched stockings for our family. I love handmade stockings so much! For our family, it is tradition to first open santas gift, then open stockings in a free for all, have breakfast, and lastly come back into the living room together to open big gifts one by one.

I love having fun with stockings and putting in some things just to make people laugh…like fake tattoo sleeves or mustaches for the entire family. Here are some more gift ideas that the whole family will love! Best of all…they are all Amazon Prime ready!

Lipstick that won’t rub off!

Headlamps that boys love!

Wallet for Kids

Interstate Highway BINGO

Bathbombs with a Surprise!

Melissa and Doug Blue Flashlight

Melissa and Doug Pink Flashlight

Mustaches

Fake arm sleeve tattoos

Pocket volcano

Phone Charge Cords…bc you know you are always fighting over them!

Bonus Stocking Tips:

• Some of these items come in packs of 5+, I love to split them up and give one to each person in the family!

• What necessity items do your kids need? Socks, belt, toothbrush, underwear (these are all great stocking fillers!)

• Candy- A 5 cent pack of bubble gum was always a joy to find in my stocking as a kid!

• Winter items: Chapstick, gloves, hat

• Have an unwrapped item peeking out at the top: beanie baby, candy cane, slippers

  We always wrap our stocking items, what do you do?

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Thankful Tree

It started with drawing a tree on butcher paper and hanging it on a wall several years ago. Every year during the month of November our kids have looked forward to putting what they are thankful for on the “thankful tree”. This year I knew we needed it bigger because we are hosting Thanksgiving in our home. So, I came up with the idea of a real thankful tree! Part of me knew I didn’t want to decorate for Christmas yet, and so really it was an excuse to be able to put twinkle lights in my home! But, I love the way it turned out!

If you are wondering if this design is one year old proof…it’s survived so far! Thankfully most of the branches are taller than him! Here my one year old (Finn) is holding a leaf that his 4 year old brother made saying that he was thankful for him (written by me, of course).

Here is how I made it:

• Thanks to the tropical storms we’ve had this fall, I had many branches to choose from in our yard. So I tried to choose a branch that was about 7 ft tall, and had many branches shooting out from it. Then I removed all the moss and leaves off of it.

• I then placed my branch in a bucket and poured concrete into it. My branch was leaning up against a wall outside so I could stabilize it where I wanted it. Then, I added some water following the instructions on the concrete bag. I let it dry for 24 hours and then brought it inside.

• I found some twinkle lights and wood leaf cutouts on Amazon! Fun story: These were supposed to be shipped together but then never showed up after 5 days! So Amazon issued me a refund, and guess what…they showed up 2 days later! Yippee!!

• I made a Instastory of how I made this if you would like a visual! Check it out!

I love how this tree has become a focal point in our home…it is inspiring more thankfulness in all of us, and adding some twinkle to the holiday!

Alternative Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids

Have you heard the saying that kids spell love T.I.M.E.? This year has been a bit crazy for our family and I felt like we were lacking quality one on one time with our children. So instead of spending a lot of money on toys that they love for only a week. We decided to gift them with time for their birthdays.

It just so happened to be our oldest two sons “golden” birthday (when you turn the same age as the date of your birthday). So we made “golden tickets,” that read…

this golden ticket is good for one outing of your choosing with me!

Here is what our kids chose to do:

7 year old boy

with Dad- went to play tennis for the first time, then the local crab shack and to the beach to play soccer (we live near the beach)

with Mom- went to a baseball game --we actually just chose a local high school baseball game to go to…he was the most excited about the refreshment stand!

9 year old boy

with Dad- his first time go carting! He was finally tall enough to drive on his own!

with Mom- he had so much fun go carting with dad, he wanted to go again. So that’s what we did too…I dominated of course!

This one on one time was so special. I loved getting to give them my focused attention for a few hours and to do something that they wanted to do. So if you are feeling overwhelmed by throwing the traditional birthday party or giving the traditional gifts, try something different this year! We may not do this every year, but it was certainly needed and valued for this time in our lives.

African Baskets as Wall Art

African Basket Wall Art

Baskets are all the rage recently, and I am definitely a fan too!  I fell in love with these colorful handmade baskets on my first trip to Rwanda.  Rwanda is a tiny country (the size of New Jersey) in East Africa surrounded by Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

If you love these baskets too, they can be purchased by clicking on the photos below.  I made sure to link a company that uses fair trade practices.  It's truly impressive to see artisans hand weave these baskets, and I love supporting companies that give there artisans fair wages so that they can support their families!  It really is a win win to collect these!  

When I first laid eyes on these beauties I immediately knew they had to be displayed on a wall!  All the different colors and designs on them are so gorgeous, and I wanted to just sit and stare at them.  

In arranging the baskets I knew I wanted them out of arms reach from my kids.  I also thought arranging them in an unexpected pattern would be fun too!  So I dreamed up...the wave.  

In order to create "the wave" I laid out the baskets on the floor and created the pattern.  I soon realized in order to create a wave I would need baskets smaller in size as well (thank goodness I picked up some smaller baskets too!).  

Here is the finished product...

I love sitting here and staring at all the baskets, I still can't decide on which basket is my favorite?!  Are you drawn to one in particular?  I'd love to hear!  Also, let me know if you think I should give one away on my instagram feed?!  I "might" have one to spare!  Maybe. Maybe. ;)

Farmhouse Basket Wall Decor

Farmhouse Basket Wall

Am I officially basket lady if I have two basket walls in my home?   Recently I've noticed a new trend to hang those seemingly useless rattan baskets of olden days on the wall.  You know the baskets I'm talking about...the ones that are always at the thrift store and everyone walks by without a second glance?  

To my surprise I found that they actually look pretty!  So...I made it my mission to hit up the thrift stores in my area and to gather those unwanted/unloved baskets to give them new life.  At 99 cents a piece I could afford to try it out...and if I didn't love them, I could just donate them right back.  Turns out, I kind of dig them.  

The key is finding baskets that are fairly shallow so they won't stick out to far from the wall.  Also, if they are a similar shade/color than they look more cohesive hanging in a group.  Lastly, hang the baskets in an interesting way...like surrounding a piece of art, or clustered together, and always in groupings of odd numbers.  When you hang 3, 5, or 7 baskets it is easier to arrange in an interesting way, than if you have 2, 4, or 6.  

Here is some more thrift store basket inspiration:  

inspiration photos from bloglovin.com and simplestylings.com

Why I chose this dress for our anniversary photoshoot

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase from my links, I will get a small percentage of commission at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for choosing to use the link and show our family some love!

I'm a photographer, I love being the one controlling the camera, but not necessarily the one in front of the camera.  Yet, I force myself to get uncomfortable for the sake of preserving our families memories!  I have to keep reminding myself that I want to be more concerned about remembering this time in life than I do about the extra pounds i'm still carrying.  

Since preserving memories is important to me, I've learned what looks good on me in camera and I thought many women would be interested in hearing the same.  Here is what I look for when choosing MY outfit for family photos.  And that is the key Ladies...choose your outfit first, because you want to feel beautiful and confident in what you are wearing!

1. Color

I typically have a specific color in mind for the look that I want.  However, I know blues look good on me, so I tend to always incorporate it in our family photos.  I always choose my outfit first and then coordinate my families outfits around it.  

2. Cover up what you don't love

Right now, i'm not digging my arms/legs.  So, when I was searching for a dress for our anniversary photos I knew I wanted a long dress with sleeves.  If you don't want it to show on camera...cover it!  Also, I love long flowy dresses on camera.  They are so feminine and look beautiful, this is always my first choice for women!  Layering is another way to cover up what you don't love.  Adding a jean jacket or kimono can be super flattering and slimming.  Also, if you don't want it on in every photo, simply slip it off! 

3.  Accessorize

Scarfs, statement necklaces/earrings...all look so lovely on camera.  These pieces add interest and texture.  Small stud earrings and light chain necklaces won't always show up in camera.  So don't be afraid to add a little extra pop of color in your accessories! 

4.  Put on a little extra makeup

It's what movie stars do right?! Now I'm not talking about stage makeup, but maybe an extra layer of blush and mascara.  Like I said, a little bit extra goes a long way on camera!  

5.  Don't feel confident in front of the camera?  Fake it baby! 

If you feel awkward, chances are you will look awkward or timid on camera.  Try your best to relax, take deep breaths to allow your body to relax too!  Don't be afraid to let your personality show!  Do you love to laugh?  Then laugh with your kids!  Do you love to snuggle?  Then snuggle up next to that man of yours!  A great photographer will help guide you into these natural moments, but don't be afraid to let loose a little and even get a little silly! Because when joy and love are captured on camera, it is absolutely stunning!  After all, that's the goal of your session, to capture what makes your family special and unique!  

Still unsure what to wear?  Here are some examples of dresses I love for women to wear at my sessions.  Hint: Long and flowy! 

The dress that met all my criteria when I was looking for something to wear for our anniversary photoshoot!  It happens to be one of my favorite colors too! 

Shop This Look

I love dresses that have extra detail, like it's off shoulder, and ruffle/button detail on the bottom

Shop This Look

This staple Kimono is a great layering piece and can also break up a dress with a busy pattern

Shop This Look

How to Decorate for The Fourth of July without spending money!

I am not a self proclaimed interior designer...just an avid decorator!  I especially love to decorate for each holiday and season.  This however can be challenging when you are on a budget!  So, I wanted to share with you how I decorate for the 4th without spending money!  

1. Go gather all the red, white, and blue things you can find around your home!  

In the picture above you see everything I found from simply searching for three colors!  I was pleasantly surprised!  (confession:  I did pick up those American Flags at Target in the $1 bin, because I simply could not find the ones I used from last year!)

2. The mantel is a great place to get creative and festive with every season/holiday

I like to think that our mantel is the center of our home, and so just keeping some simple decorations on the mantel that can go well in any season...makes for a great place to just add a pop of color with every holiday/changing season.  Below is a photo of what my mantel looked like before I started decorating for the holiday.  

~The framed maps of Savannah (where we live) stays up all year round.  It's a great neutral decoration that can work in any season.  I also have the idea that I could print some free printables out for the holidays and put them in the frames as well!

~ I change my vases and foliage out seasonally.  As you can see I have a shell vase, this comes out only in the summer!  My green vase works well in any season.

~ My mantel is big and so I have shells displayed on the left for Summer, and lanterns and candles on the right.  My lantern/candles are another set of items that work well in any season!

~ The wooden crate on the hearth and the brass bucket also typically stay out and I just change what is inside of them.  

So think about your mantel, what staple pieces can you leave out all year round...and then simply add either the seasons colors to it, or replace a few items to make it look more festive? 

3. Start In the Center of your mantel

I knew I wanted to hang the three American flags together in the center of my mantel, so I started there.   I always like to have something in the center and then work my way out.  Symmetry is important in decorating your mantel.  If you have too many items on one side, it looks lopsided or messy.  So work to get just the right amount and size of items on both sides.  Also, make sure your bring in varying textures and heights of items.  You don't want it to look to matchy matchy.  

4. Don't neglect the hearth

For a long time I didn't have anything on the hearth, I just never realized it needed something.  Until I inherited this wooden crate and needed someplace to put it.  Hello...sitting on the hearth filled with festive blankets, is the perfect place!  It also brings in more texture and warmth to this space that is filled with so much cold brick! On the other side of the fireplace I have a brass bucket and I've been filling it with foliage, I think I need to add some twinkle lights to it!  Yes, any season where I can add twinkle lights, is my favorite season!  haha! 

And the final reveal of the 4th of july mantel....drumroooollll......

In case you are wondering how I hung those American Flags...tape!  I know I know...like I said, I'm not an interior designer people! 

What is your favorite place to decorate in the home?  

FYI...if you are wondering where those red white and blue pitchers went in my photos...I decided not to use them on my mantel...but instead put them in my dining room!  Also, if you watched my instastory about this, you saw that I also wanted to include a watermelon into my decor!  Haha!  Here is what I came up with ...

Anyone else love milk glass?!