Family Threads vol. 2: Preparing for the family shift

March 4, 2013

Veronica // Dress and Shoes: Old Navy, Sweater: Baby Gap (consignment), Headband: made by me

Gabriel //Pants: Old Navy, Shirt: Childrens Place, Jacket: Baby Gap (similar), Shoes: Converse

Anna // Shirt: c/o Wendybox, Pants: Gap, Scarf: Deloom, Tote: c/o George Gina & Lucy, Lip color: Revlon

I think Veronica senses a baby coming.

She has been a mama’s girl lately. She just wants me to hold her more often, and gets an extra dimpled toothy grin whenever I devote undivided attention to her. She has become miss independent…so confident and proud whenever she tries something new. She wants to do everything her brother does and they are best buds. My heart is starting to ache a little more when I hold her and watch her grow.

I feel the time shifting, and I know I have to get ready to let go of the fact that she won’t be the baby much longer…

I went through this with Gabriel before she arrived. A short period of sadness knowing he would be my baby only for a few more months and that his little world would change. I cried many tears, mourned a little, and squeezed him extra tight. I remember vividly the strong emotion of saying goodbye as I dropped him off at my sisters before heading to the hospital to have his little sister…I felt the change of my first born son stepping into a new time in this all to fleeting life.

It is harder on me than it is for them, but what sweetens it all is seeing them now together…..how they greet each other in the morning with lots of kisses and hugs…..how Gabriel is makes sure Veronica has everything she needs and reassuring me he is “protecting his little sister”…. seeing Veronica pat his head and babble like Gabriel is her dear friend….he will attend her tea parties….she will play with his train station….and watching their daily dance parties go down in the family room. I see their lifetime of friendship unfolding and I am thankful.

As I get ready to bring a whole new life into our family, I accept the sadness as a side effect of my deep love for my sweet baby girl, and know that soon I will have reason to wonder how we ever did without this new one.

One Truth: The habit in our marriage we commit to.

March 2, 2013

{Snapped by my sister in our first year of marriage on the way to a Braves game.}

Somehow Gabe and I are coming up on our 5th wedding anniversary in June. Its got me thinking a good deal about where we are at and how we got here. I thought I would share a simple habit we practice that has kept our relationship strong over the past few years….

Some habits are good habits. The kind of routine you start to look forward to, and realize you can’t live without them. One of those is that we made the resolution a couple years ago to go to bed every night at the same time.

It was a pretty simple thing we talked about after a few nights that ended in quarrels over someone staying up hours too late playing playstation or working on design projects (can you guess which is which??;)) We realized that after we put kids to bed, that is our ONLY time of the day to just be with each other – attention undivided.

As a result of this resolution, we have had many late night brilliant ideas, important decisions made, and hours of dream sharing…. hours I am so thankful for…..not to mention it increases intimacy (did I make you blush? Cuz I am blushing.)

Granted, this rule is bent when a baby decides to wake up for a party at 11pm or their one of us has a deadline due in the morning, but all in all we try our best to stay true to this little resolution. Gabe is usually the champ – waiting up for me while I finish up my work load from the day.

I have come to cherish this little habit so deeply, and realize how this little habit became a #1 reason our friendship and romance in marriage have flourished.

Every couple is different, with different personalities and circumstances in life, but this is what is working for us:) What about you? If you are married, what are some habits you have held onto or begun to strengthen your relationship?

P.S. In just the first day of the encourage beauty challenge I was totally blown away by how many of you are taking action and how you are carrying it out. Keep the stories coming!

Shop Scoop: Sweet Spot Bags

March 1, 2013

{featured: white on navy custom clutch, shirt: Tailor and Stylist)

These are the longitude and latitude numbers to one of my favorite spots that I have every visited: Assisi Italy:) The numbers and letters are actually SUN PRINTED onto the bag!

Sweet Shop Bags has several well known spots ready to purchase, but also customizes clutches to a location of choice to remember in a cool (and kind of secret code) like way. I thought this was such a fun gift idea too for a honeymoon gift, birth place memento, or to remember a special trip.

Unless someone is uber smart and has the entire grid of the world memorized, you will be the only one who knows what these longitute and latitude numbers locate. The city is revealed inside the linking;) When I traveled to Italy, we visited many cities, but Assisi was one that left a big impact on me. (St. Francis is my patron saint;)) Love having this little way of remembering it.

And that is the scoop! Which city would you make this into?

Happy weekend friends!

*This is a sponsored post that is %100 my own opinion.

#EncourageBeauty Challenge: The Details

February 28, 2013

Yesterday Hilary of Dean Street Society & I introduced you to something we’re calling #EncourageBeauty. Today we are sharing how you can get involved..

The idea is simple: Print out this calendar (and share if you like!) & commit to encouraging beauty in someone each day this month. Fill in those blanks as you go along, and by the end of the month, you will have uplifted, inspired, and given heart to 31 deserving people. Maybe your commitment will be 31 handwritten notes or 31 sincere emails and phone calls – whichever it is, the goal is to make small and significant change in those around us, which always leads to big change in the world around us. You can even share the completed calendar at the end of the month!

Some ideas to get you going:
A compliment to a coworker in person // a thoughtful comment on a blog // a handwritten note to an old friend // a message left in lipstick on the mirror for your roommate at 5am. // It can be 11:58pm when you head over to Instagram to pay a stranger a compliment with #EncourageBeauty. There are no rules. There is just generosity & moments to encourage and uplift.

Share your stories all month by leaving comments on our blogs & Instagram profiles. You can also write your own blog posts & add the button to your sidebar. Search #EncourageBeauty to find other bettys who share your heart in this…

Thank you for inspiring these ideas in us & being the kind of community we know shares our heart.

And to close, a reminder from the wise Audrey Hepburn: “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.”

P.S. Here’s a recap of your next steps:

1. Print out the calendar & save it somewhere easy to write on.

2. Print or download the manifesto, part 1 or part 2. Save them in places where you’ll see them: Your mirror, your desk, your journal.

3. Share those graphics on social media to invite others to join: Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & your blog. (Use the hashtag #EncourageBeauty so we can see what waves your making!)

4. Write a blog post & install the button on your sidebar (just make sure to link back to this original post to explain the meaning) so your readers can join in with you.

Downloads you might enjoy: Desktop wallpaper | Blog Button | Manifesto Part 1 and 2

IHOD + DEAN STREET SOCIETY INTRODUCE #EncourageBeauty

February 27, 2013

If I had a dime for every time a friend or stranger was critical of herself in conversation… “I have the worst skin, my hair is such a pain, I just need to lose this belly bulge…” I have a feeling I would be a very rich woman. I am guilty of this myself. Its what we do. Sometimes we believe with truth what we are saying and other times, we have a genuine need for affirmation, and that is how we search for it. It breaks my heart to see the state of confidence in women today…of EVERY age.

{THE ENCOURAGE BEAUTY MANIFESTO (PART 1 OF 2)}

When Hilary approached me about this genius idea to Encourage Beauty in the month of March, I immediately jumped on board and here’s why…

The root of the word “encourage” is “to put courage in”. You have the ability every day, to put courage in another person. You have the choice to use your words and actions to inspire confidence in everyone you talk to. If you remind a friend that her reflection glows every time she pulls out those jewel toned sweaters, that is what will run through her head the next time she is in her closet deciding what to wear. And because of this extra boost of confidence, she has the courage to turn to the stranger at the check out line and exclaim, “Excuse me, but I just had to tell you that your auburn hair is truly stunning.” The compliment may be about her exterior, but it always will encourage interior dignity, which runs far deeper than we can see.

And so this month, Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society and I will be hosting the #EncourageBeauty Challenge. Hilary is a dear friend I met back in September, and have been inspired by her since. Honestly, she is a blast to follow! You can head over to read her part in this story and the other half of the manifesto!

We can’t wait to share the rest of the details with you tomorrow. But for now, if you’re with us in this manifesto & commitment to #EncourageBeauty this March, Pin/Tweet/Facebook/Instagram & help spread the word! We will be sharing your stories. See you tomorrow:)

February 26, 2013

Thankful to Jessi for having me as a guest in her inspirational corner of the blog world:) My name is Anna, and I blog over at IHOD. I don’t know about you, but I am battling severe cabin fever, am anxious for spring blooms, and I am fighting off those winter blues. I am determined not to let it get the better of me, so I am sharing 5 things that have helped me wave off those gloomy days. We are almost there!

{Sources: Lisa Congdon Print, Winter Brights, DIY tent, Ritual Print, De-tox Salad}

1.) Pick up that back burner hobby. That think you have been putting off learning or passion you haven’t made time for recently. Believe me, I barely have time to shower every day let alone pay attention to hobbies, but I decided to do it. I took an online calligraphy course – something I always wanted to try and conquer. A mere ten minutes a day has given me a healthy dose of therapeutic happiness. I can’t wait to pursue new realms with this new skill.

2.) Don’t save the bright colors for summer. Pull them out now. They really are mood shifters. I ignore the neutrals and grab the brights to put on a game changer. Mind over matter, right?

3.) Be a kid with your kids. Dive into an at home DIY adventure with them like creating a reading nook, making a shopping center out of cardboard boxes, or set up your own art center for them to get messy with no regrets. Chances are, they are getting cabin fever just like you are. (Anyone else’s kids literally running circles around you these days??)

4.) Enjoy your favorite daily ritual. Whether its a large cup of joe, a hot shower at the end of the day, or your ten minute gospel reflection in the mornings. If its something you look forward to, embrace it, and don’t skip over it – even if everything else seems more important at the moment. We were ma

5) Make a giant de-tox fruit salad. If you want to battle the tired and drowsy winter afternoons, indulge in a giant de-tox salad:) This is something my children get on board with too. This line-up is a natural way to get an energy boost that is delicious to boot.

What are some ways you battle those last winter weeks before spring??

Bump Styled: 5 months – Nautical + Yellow

February 25, 2013

{Top: c/o Tailor and Stylist, Denim: Gap, Clutch: DIY, Watch: c/o Tailor and Stylist, Necklace: c/o Dear Margot, Heels: Zara (similar)

Nautical and yellow. Two loves I will never grow tired of.

Silky soft material had nothing to do with the fact that I wore this tee to bed last night…

By the way dear readers, I hope you are taking note of the extra face padding taking residence this pregnancy. I actually prefer the more healthy robust look so I will take it. Just packing weight for the sleepless days to come;) The second trimester is a beautiful thing. Baby movements, no nausea, more energy, and the hope that spring will grace the state of Georgia soon:)

P.S. Dear Academy Awards….

Les Mis should have.