Our Family of Four

At the beginning of the year (like January or February) I scheduled our family pictures for our little one's arrival. At the time, I didn't know if we were having a he or a she, or exactly when they would arrive. Luckily for me, Lovers of Love penciled us in over a two week span. This is the fourth time they photographed us and I absolutely love working with them. They are so talented and I choke up a little bit every time I look at the beautiful memories they've helped our family capture. These pictures mean so much to me and I love all of them so much, each picture really makes my heart swell. Here's just a few, it was so hard not to share every one. Thank you again for capturing the love of our family in our home, I'll treasure these for all my life!

Me: Top from Coco and Main through Jane // Jeans

Eleanor: Top (from Target, no longer available, similar here) // Shorts // Bow

Matt: Top (TJ Maxx) // Jeans

Emma: Swaddle // Bow 

Emma:  Headband (c/o Willow Crowns) // Swaddle from So Chic Boutique thru Jane 

Emma: Headband and Bloomers are both from Jane, two years ago

Emma: Swaddle // Bow

Book

Sheets // Blanket

Family + Maternity Pics

Here are a few of our family pics we took over the weekend. My sweet sorority sister Alexa took them for us, she's so awesome and really talented. I'm so thankful to have some pics of the bump and our family before the little one arrives. I'm starting to get a little emotional that Ellie won't be my only little girl to dote on and get all of my attention. She's going to be a great big sister, but I'm really cherishing these last few weeks with just her.

Dress (Kiki La'Rue last year, nearly identical here) // Kimono (from Jane, sold by Simply Reese)

Pic Dump

Here's another post from pics that never made it to the internets, I take them to share with friends and family and some are taken totally for IG purposes, but they were never posted. So today is their day! I'm sure they're all so excited to see the light.

The view from above the bump
Shorts // Sandals // Sunglasses // Polish

I know that children and babies grow every minute, but some days and moments Ellie looks so big to me. When she curls up on the couch with her dolls, when she's telling me about her day, or when she hugs me and gives me pats on the back like I do to her. This moment of her on her belly coloring with her legs crossed just killed me. Why does time go by so quickly?

Shirt // Shorts
Eleanor is so girly and I absolutely love it. I don't know if she'll always be so girly, but I'm reveling in it now. She's obsessed with my makeup and loves to put some on when I'm getting ready.

This kimono is everything. So easy to wear and super comfortable.

Ellie got a little update to her room, the LOVE and bun frames are from Hobby Lobby, the E is from Home Goods, and the mirror is from Kirklands (same one here). We just added the two prints to the wall and the rest we already had in her room. Next up for her is a big girl bed. I'm glad that her nursery wasn't too baby and that it will be an easy to transition as she gets older and her tastes and needs change.

We went on a date with my girlfriend and her son to Chick-Fil-A for the first time and we really enjoyed it! I don't know why we haven't eaten there sooner! The ice cream was a big hit and I'm lucky she wanted to share it with me.

I love this polish shade! It's Sinful Colors Tempest.

The weekend is almost here! I hope the rest of the week goes quickly!

Pic Dump

Whenever I upgrade my phone, I'm upgrading the amount of GB as well. I hate deleting 15 pics to take one or deleting apps, etc. I often go through phases where I take a gazillion pics or go days without snapping anything. I do have a rule not to post on social media more than 2 times a day (unless it's a holiday, then I allow myself extra) because sometimes it's just freaking annoying. Especially when all the pics posted are variations of the same thing. There are a few accounts I do enjoy that post often and keep it interesting, but sometimes I wish there was a filter. The point to my IG posting rules is that not all my pictures make it to the internets. If it's not on the interwebs, then it didn't happen right? Well guess what, everything below now officially happened. Enjoy.

SH Polish in Bare It All (a great nude) // $5 Sunnies (best ever)// Revlon Gloss in Pink Ruby

Ellie sometimes insists on pushing the cart, but she's not big enough yet so she settles for this. It cracked me up the entire time.

Best burgers in town! Gotta get extra fry sauce (I wish they had it in a pump) and jalapenos

We've been working earnestly on our Valentines for family and friends. Ellie's motto is more stickers, always more stickers.

Coat is Carters (old) // Bow from Forever 21 (old) 

We took Ellie to a local high school basketball game to watch her partner in crime (her cousin) perform at halftime. She had so much fun and watching 4 year olds dance is awesome.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Toast to Fridays!

Currently...

beanie // tights

1. It’s still hot, hot, hot over here in CA, but I’ve started to dream about boots, booties, jeans, scarves, and tights. I bought this knit beanie from Target this week and I’m dying to wear it outside. I think we need a family trip to Oak Glen…Last year we barely had a fall or winter season, but it’s supposed to be extra cold and rainy this year. We shall see! That’s definitely something I miss about living in Utah- it’s so gorgeous there and I loved the scenery year round. That’s one of the biggest reasons I mostly visit in the winter time too, so I can get a bit of cold and snow to hold me over.

gem crayons (in store) // paint dabbers // purse // beanie and mitten set

2. Even though it’s barely fall and Halloween is just next week, I’m focused on the holidays. I’ve already started my shopping with a few items for stocking stuffers, have made a mental list of items needed to decorate the house, and we’re already drawing our Secret Santa’s for Matt’s side of the family this weekend. Last year, Christmas was a lot of fun and I expect it to only get better as Ellie gets older and understands the holiday more (not just the gifts/Santa stuff). I’m really looking forward to this year and seeing her face light up when she sees the tree and Christmas lights.

mama and me headbands

3. Matching headbands is totally happening soon. I ordered this sweet Olivia Lace set from Willow Crowns and I can’t wait to match with my little mini-me (or mini-daddy depending on the day- she changes so much!). With her fall/winter wardrobe I’ve kept a little bit of what I have and what I’ve bought for her in mind so we can coordinate, but even still, these headbands will do the trick! I have a feeling that Ellie will be just as excited to match as I am.

IMAGE Skincare

4. The last few months, my skin has looked a little so-so. I’ve thought about making an appointment with a dermatologist to see what’s going on and I’ve scoured the beauty aisles at Target, but I just don’t know where to start. I don’t have acne, but my skin isn’t as radiant as it used to be. It just seems blech. That’s why I’m so excited to try some new products from IMAGE Skincare. I’ve been using their products for over a year now (check out my reviews HERE and HERE) and have started to use these new products for just over a week. I told my husband after just a few days I was already convinced that I could see a difference. I’ll definitely be doing a full review in a few weeks.

5. We are taking family pics this weekend with all of Matt's side of the family and I'm so excited to work with Lovers of Love Photography again. We've talked about doing family pics for years and I'm so happy that we're finally doing it.

Happy hump day! Hope your week is going well!

Mother's Day

Becoming a mother has been the best gift and journey of my life. It’s the time I've looked forward to having since I was a little girl playing house with my dolls. All of my life I couldn't wait to have a family of my own and last year my dreams came true.

I've cherished every day of this past year, both its joy and its tears. Being a mother is not easy, I feel as though it comes naturally for me, but that doesn't make the role any easier. I still struggle with balancing my plate, focusing on other aspects of my life, and preparing for our future. Every day I thank the Lord for giving me such a blessed life and ask that I may always cherish this time and not ever take what He has given me for granted. Whenever I get swept up in life, with comparing what I have with others, and focusing on wants instead of needs I remind myself that I already have everything I've ever wanted. There’s no need to ask or want for more. Being a wife and a mother has fulfilled me in ways I never imagined possible.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you, may you enjoy this day and love on the little ones that have brought so much happiness to your lives.

Product Review: Easy Canvas Prints

Having pictures of Ellie and our family is really important to me, I try and have her pictures taken every three months for her first year and I want to have family pictures taken once a year (or twice if we can swing it!) for the rest of our lives to have for posterity and to cherish the memories. I love looking through old family pictures and have always enjoyed looking through pictures of my parents and their parents. The fashion, memories, stories, and photos of lost loved ones are special mementos to have.

When I was approached by Easy Canvas Prints to review a print, I jumped at the chance. I knew exactly what picture I wanted and where I was going to hang it. I headed over to their website and was very impressed. It has a nice layout, is extremely user-friendly, and had a great preview tool so you could see the scale of your picture on a wall in a faux living room. One cool feature too was the gallery wall, you can order several prints at once and it shows you how you can display the different sizes and how they would look all together once hung. Hanging pictures can be so hard to get the layout right, I thought this feature was very neat.

I definitely want to order some more canvas prints of Ellie’s newborn shots and family pictures and I know exactly where I’ll be ordering them from! I was so happy with the entire ordering process, it was so simpler and it shipped really quickly. I thought it would take longer to receive since it’s a canvas, I expected it to take at least a week and I had it in just a few days! I couldn’t believe it! I absolutely love when I get a chance to review a product and I have a great experience with the company and get to share it with everyone.

Easy Canvas Prints also has two affiliate websites that offer more custom print options and ideas- Build A Sign and Allied Shirts, be sure to check them out as well for some great options!