A Fourth Heartbeat.

February 10, 2015

A fourth heartbeat. A new life! Due at the beginning of August, 2015.

It is still hard to wrap my mind around as I type those words, and yet I have never felt more peace and deep happiness than at this time in my life. I think this time around, I realize just what a miracle it is to conceive, carry, and deliver. I realize how sacred that heartbeat sound is at those ultrasounds. I feel like I can finally grasp the depth of this gift to be a mother, and I am so anxious to meet this little one inside of me. It is a funny thing, because this baby wasn’t “planned” according to Gabe and I, but I know without a doubt this baby is a life God has sent just for us.

I had three friends tell me they were pregnant right in a row and something inside me stirred. An instinct mixed with a desire to hold another little one. I had no idea I myself was pregnant, but would find out a few days later. I was a little shocked, it was a little overwhelming, but I was flooded with peace. I knew this life, just like every life, already had a purpose. This baby would be the next miracle to join our family, and all I could think about was how I couldn’t wait to tell the kids. I am lucky enough to be married to a hunk , who loves children as much as I do, and he welcomed the news with so much love and support.

When Gabe and I started our family, we decided not to set a number to how many we would have, or decide how many were too much or too little. We would simply take one baby at a time, and keep an open mind and heart to the incredible gift of bringing life into the world. My childhood involved a pack of sisters and brothers who filled my life with the best memories, and continue to be a support system I could not imagine life without. I am thankful to my parents for giving me that, and I only hoped my little ones would experience it on some level.

Not every person is meant to have multiple children, and I don’t believe there is a perfect family size. The only perfect I seek is the family God hoped for us. Thanks for all of your kind words and support! I look forward to sharing a little peek into this adventure with you!

With love,
Gabe, Anna, Gabriel, Veronica, Max, and Baby #4 (Gender to be revealed on delivery day!)

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” – Jeremiah 1:5

A special thanks to Morgan Blake for taking these photos!

How to create strong and clear photos for Instagram.

February 9, 2015

{Photo by Kathryn McCrary}

One of my goals this year is to share more helpful content to you all. I usually give a small walk through on creating strong instagram content and photos during The Brand Market workshops, because it is one of the most common questions I receive!

{Before and Afters using VSCO Cam}

I finally worked through an easy step by step guide for how to create strong and clear photos for instagram. I just use my iphone 5c and almost always edit through the VSCO app. There are several apps you can use to edit your photos, but this is the one I feel like has the best options since it was created by photographers themselves! It can be a little daunting if you haven’t used it before, but I think it has the best range of editing tools and filters. You can create drastically better instagram photos just through the tool editing bar. However, if you like the effects of filters, I downloaded the all in one pack for $5 in the VSCO store (within the app), and I mainly use those!

Establishing your own style and themes of content are always helpful in how you gage photo editing. I also ALWAYS use natural light. It drastically improves the quality of a photo!

The step by step guide is a little lengthy, so I attached all images and text after you click through at the bottom of the post. Feel free to leave any questions you have in the comment section!

I’d be happy to continue more topics in this series if you would like!I hope this is helpful to you all!
x, Anna

Step by Step Guide to Improving your Instagram photos after the jump! VIEW FULL POST

Valentine’s Day Gift Guides – Tic Tac Toe

February 5, 2015

From top left to right: Waterbottle // 360 Studs // Mac Lips // Chanel Blush // Blush Dress // Audrey Hepburn // Capri Candl // You are my person // Instax camera

From top left to right: Heart Tee // Striped Bonnet // Bonjour Pillow // Heart Glasses // Dotty Dress // Mommy and Me nail polish // Cupcake Set // DIY Kids Playdough // Half Dot Garland

Some Tic Tac Toe Valentine’s Day Gift Guides for you all! A few of my favorites found around the web for the ladies and the little miss! Tried to keep almost everything under $50 too:) I have always loved Valentine’s Day even before boys came along. It was something my family My family would use it as an excuse to write each other notes and leave our friends sweets. Still something I can totally get on board with. And of course, I wouldn’t mind if Gabe happened to see this post and surprise his girls…..(waving hi!).

We usually just make the kids a special breakfast (like heart waffles!), pass out some cards, and Gabe and I go on a date to celebrate the eve of his birthday:) I don’t think you ever need an excuse to express your love to your family, but I am always game for a theme!

x, Anna

Who delivered those??

February 4, 2015

I have had a few occasions that called for ordering flowers this year already. It can get so pricey to have flowers delivered, so was swept away by The Bouqs prices and bouquets. I couldn’t get over how many flowers the medium size came with. Filled three vases! This particular bunch was called Desperado. Thought I would pass the hint along for the gents, and for you ladies to pass along to your best guys and girls! I think they do events, weddings, and business events too! Gabe got a little suspicious brow when he walked in the door yesterday. Who delivered those?? Don’t worry babe, just the mailman!

It’s the month of suave and secrets after all!

x, Anna

P.S. Valentine’s Day gift guides coming soon!
P.S.S. Vases via West Elm

Curl up and stay a while. Bedoom Reveal Pt. 2

February 2, 2015

We had just the right spot in our room for a reading nook, and the stack of books on my end table was begging to be read. I really wanted to create a corner in the home that invited us to get cozy, rest, and pick up a favorite read:) We had this hanging chair in our backyard over the summer and since it is not being used for winter we thought we would bring it outside and make sure it was feeling loved.

A few cozy blankets, greenery, and comfortable pillows was all it took to create the space. I keep finding a cute little rugrat or two in this corner, and I don’t blame them:) You can guess where you will find me every evening from now until warmer nights when the back porch calls.

For the rugs in this room, I aimed for a little pattern to compliment the bedding as well as the plush and soft option for face plant in when needed;) My talented friend Katy actually designed these which I later found out! I couldn’t be more proud to have them in my home. You can see the rest of her line at Home Brands.

I conquered the dreaded task of decluttering my dresser top. It lasted a whole 24 hours before mismatched socks, yesterday’s mail, and such have found its way back to the dresser. I tried. This is a $10 dresser I up-cycled from craigslist. I sanded it down, re-stained it a dark mocha, and added mocha steel pulls. Knobs and pulls can be pricey so you can always use decorative ones on just the top drawer. I used the anthropologie pulls on top and some inexpensive ones from Lowe’s for the rest!

What has helped tremendously in organizing the dresser top is bowls and dishes for jewelry, and larger trays for cosmetic or beauty products. Pictured are ring dishes I bought from Object Enthusiast, candles from Anthropologie, and a mirror tray from Target.

What is your favorite corner of your home? Creating just a corner you love can make such a big difference in finding a little solace and peace in your day! I wish I would have done this sooner. Room renovations require a lot of saving up financially, planning, and decision making which are things I am often the worst at! I think a good amount of times we believe we have to have our home in perfect order right when we move in. This isn’t possible for the majority of America! It has taken us three years to even get a few rooms together. And even then it is thanks to the help of some wonderful companies. I feel so grateful even for these few rooms though! Family truly makes your house a home, and the details are just the extras that enhance that time together.

x, Anna

P.S. Part 1 of this room reveal here, and how I did the gallery wall here.

Sources: Curtains: Anthropologie c/o // Swingasan hanging chair: Pier 1 // Throws: Anthropologie (currently half off!) and Crate and Barrel // Plant basket (Waste basket from Target! ) Rugs: Momeni Bliss and Lustre Shag by Home Brands USA c/o
Dresser details: Knobs: Anthropologie // Candles Anthropologie // Mirror: Kenroy Home // Ring Dishes: The Object Enthusiast

Sesame Chicken Potstickers Recipe

January 30, 2015

I could live off of appetizers and finger foods. I totally admit they are usually my motivation for attending parties:D:D With Supersbowl Sunday now in view, I thought I’d share an easy appetizer you can take with you to your watch party! Gabe and I tag teamed the stuff and fry part and it took a total of 15 minutes. Pretty easy.

What I love about potstickers is that they have plenty of room to experiment with. After the test round, this is the winning sesame chicken potstickers recipe that got the winning vote. Take this to your game day party with a few chopsticks;) But be careful, they are as addictive as candy. Recipe below!

P.S. Looking for more superbowl party recipes? Creamy White Chicken Chili, 50 Stars BBQ chicken, Twice Baked Potatoes, and White Bean Hummus

[yumprint-recipe id=’4′]

Motherhood and The School of Virtue.

January 29, 2015

In my few months over the holidays when I really slowed down, I had a good deal of time to really reflect about what kind of a mother I hope to be for my children, and how each of my children have impacted me. The outcome of all that reflecting? Realizing that motherhood is putting me back in school. The School of Virtue. Est. April 27th, 2009, the day I became a mother. There are days I flunk out. F+, maybe D-, but the school is always open for learning whether I am failing or not…. VIEW FULL POST