Shop this look
Cardigan // Walmart
V- Neck Tee // Target
Plaid Leggings // Rue 21 (Similar)
Scarf // Charming Charlie (Similar)
Earrings // Plunder Designs
Converse // Shoe Show
Winter Neutrals
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Style Guide for the Stay-at-Home Mom
Monday, January 29, 2018
Being a Stay-at-Home Mom is the most rewarding job that I could ever have, yet it is also the hardest job that I have ever had. After I had my son in 2014, I began to let myself go and I had forgotten to practice self-care. As a new mom, I was too busy taking care of my son to care for myself. It was about 6 months after my son was born that I woke up and realized that I had to start making time for me and caring for myself. If I couldn't take care of myself, then I couldn't give my son the proper care that he needed. With that being said, little by little I started taking time out of the day for myself.
Other than having my morning coffee while reading my daily bible devotional, I began to start getting dressed every single day instead of staying in pajamas all day long. It didn't matter if I wasn't going anywhere for the day, I still got myself dressed. This was a big turning point for myself and for my style. Whether I put on makeup or not, I still got myself dressed. It usually wasn't anything fancy but it did make me feel better about myself. I'm sure my husband was thankful for the change as well. I chose outfits that were stylish but most importantly comfortable. Afterall, I was caring for a young child so comfort was at the top of the list. I'm so thankful I made this change in myself. It was a great confidence booster and helped my depression tremendously. So if you are a new mom or already have children and stay home, I encourage you to take time out of your daily routine for yourself. Get up, get dressed and give your best! Here is a budget friendly style guide that I put together for the stay-at-home mom. It's stylish, comfortable and sure to boost your confidence. Click on the links below to find similar attire as shown in the photo. I prefer scoop and v-neck tees. They are comfy and are much more stylish than the everyday t-shirt.
Shop the Look:
Chambray button-up Shirt // Target
Black V-Neck Tee // Target
Gray V-Neck Tee // Old Navy
Stripe Scoop- Neck Tee // Old Navy
White Scoop Tee // Target
Black Leggings // Maurices
Pink Blush Skinny Jeans // Target
Black Flats // Walmart
Statement Earrings // Sugarfix
Layered Necklace // Paparazzi Accessories
High Five for Friday
Friday, January 26, 2018
Welcome to the weekly High Five For Friday link-up hosted by Tif @ Bright On A Budget, Katie @ Cup of Tea, Becky @ BYBMG and myself. We're glad you're here! High Five for Friday is where we come together to share five highlights or five favorite things from the past week each Friday.
1) On Saturday, I attended Tif from Bright on a Budget's baby shower. It was such an adorable Flamingo themed baby shower. Sweet baby girl is going to one spoiled little princess. I can't wait to meet her!
2) Sunday evening Justin and I finally managed to have a date night. We hadn't had a date night since before Christmas, so this was much needed. We had dinner at Southern Spoon which is one of our favorites. They have the best pulled bbq chicken sandwiches and loaded nachos.
3) Raylan was so thankful that he got to attend Story Time this week. They didn't have it last week due to all of the snow, so he was missing his friends. He looks forward to it every week and he loves playing with the Train set before it starts. I highly recommend all small children attend Story Time. It is very educational.
4) Raylan and I have been trying to stay busy to keep from getting the Winter Blues. This week we made Fruit Loop Necklaces and of course more slime. He loves slime!
5) Justin and I finished watching Breaking Bad this week on Netflix. Any suggestions on what we should watch next? I always feel lost whenever a show is over.
This week's featured blogger is Crystal from And Blue Sky. Crystal is a Freelance Writer and Former Disney Cast member. She is also a cat lady and coffee lover. Crystal has a great blog. Please stop by and say hello to her.
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to link-up below. Have a blessed and safe weekend!
Easy Self-Care for Winter Blues
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Winter can be so beautiful, yet it can also be gloomy. It seems like winter lasts longer than any other season. It is cold and most of the time you're stuck inside. It really can be depressing at times, especially when you're snowed in. It's during these times that we really need to take care of ourselves. Self-Care is very important for all areas of our health. These are my favorite and easy self-care methods for beating the winter blues.
Hot Drinks- My favorite thing to do is drinking a hot cup of coffee or hot cocoa. There is nothing better than grabbing my favorite coffee mug and treating myself to hot delicious coffee. It soothes the soul, it smells amazing and it relaxes me. It gets me ready to take on the day or evening.
Curl up with a book- I love to read, especially during the winter. Grab a warm blanket, get some soft pillows and lose yourself in a good book. Winter time is also a great way to start a new bible plan or bible study.
Candles- I always enjoy lighting candles. Find a scent that is not too strong and let the glow of the candle relax you. I prefer summer scented candles that remind me of the beach to cheer me up.
Open the Curtains or Blinds- Winter is dark and gloomy, open up the curtains or blinds and let some light it. A brighter home is always much more cheerful. I instantly get in a better mood and feel more productive when my home has plenty of light.
Pamper yourself- Winter is so harsh on my skin. It gets so dry and cracked. It really is very painful. Be sure to moisturize daily. Take a hot bubble bath, give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Get dressed up even if you don't have anywhere to go. Just do it for you. You will instantly feel better about yourself.
Go for a walk- Most of the time it's too cold to do much walking in the winter, however; it's good for you to get a little fresh air. Go for a small walk even if it's just to the end of your driveway and back. Fresh air does everyone some good. It clears your mind and instantly makes you feel better.
Start a New TV Series- My husband and I love starting a new Netflix Series and binge watching all of the seasons. It's our favorite thing to do during the winter.
Comfort Foods- Make a warm pot of chili, chicken and dumplings or soup. These types of foods are always good ways to cheer and warm up a person on a cold winter's day.
Be Productive- Clean out your closets, rearrange furniture, declutter the home or redecorate. You can also use the winter months to work on a new craft or project, bake or practice your favorite hobby. Staying busy is a great way to beat the Winter Blues.
Music- Who doesn't love music? I enjoy turning up the music, especially when I'm cleaning. Music is always an instant mood booster. It's my therapy.
These are some Easy Self-Care Tips for Winter Blues. You will find that if you take my advice, Winter won't be so unbearable after all. We can make the best of Winter if we just have the right mindset. We have to be responsible for caring for ourselves and we have to be responsible for our own health and happiness. So please take care of yourself!
DIY Jewelry Organizer
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
I used to have a tall stand up Jewelry Organizer until my son kept knocking it over. It was heavy and had a glass mirror in it. I was so afraid that he would knock it over and hurt himself, so I said so long to the stand up jewelry box. Since that day, I had been wanting a new Jewelry Organizer. I wanted something simple that didn't take up much space in our small home and I also wanted something that was safe for my son to be around. I had received new Jewelry for Christmas and all of my other jewelry was getting tangled up and lost. I didn't have anywhere to put any of it, so my husband and I came up with the neatest inexpensive jewelry organizer.
We used only two supplies...
White Panel Board Nails
and White Wall Trim
My husband inserted several white nails evenly apart into the trim and this is how it turned out.
Isn't it just the most adorable little jewelry display? It holds my rings, bracelets, hoop earrings and necklaces. Now, this isn't nearly half of my jewelry but it's a start to my jewelry organization. We plan on making a few more of these to hang on the wall, maybe below this one or to the side. It makes for a stylish display, yet safe enough for children to be near it. I love the simplicity of it and the convenience of being able to grab whatever piece of jewelry I want to use in a hurry. So if you're looking for a new way to store your jewelry or just a new DIY project, give this little organizer a try. I love it and you will too!
High Five for Friday: Snow Much Fun!
Friday, January 19, 2018
Welcome to the weekly High Five For Friday link-up hosted by Tif @ Bright On A Budget, Katie @ Cup of Tea, Becky @ BYBMG and myself. We're glad you're here! High Five for Friday is where we come together to share five highlights or five favorite things from the past week each Friday.
1) This week we got a little over 3 inches of snow and Raylan has loved every minute of it. You can see the pure happiness on his face when he was making his snow angel. I do believe this is my favorite photo of him. It's just so precious! I love making memories with my favorite little guy.
2) This photo is my second favorite. Raylan just had to get his power wheels out in the snow as well. Raylan reminds me of an Ice Road Trucker in this photo. He said his Dune Racer can drive on anything and I guess he was right.
3) Since we have been snowed in all week and haven't been able to go anywhere until yesterday, Raylan and I have been super creative to keep from getting cabin fever. We have made edible play doh and edible slime. A blog post is coming soon about the slime. We have also played several board games and even had a puppet show.
4) My best friends mom is getting married in two weeks, so we have been doing quite a bit of planning. I love weddings! I would have loved to have been a wedding planner. I'm also excited that she chose me to make the cake and to be the photographer.
5) This week has been a good week to catch up on some reading. What are you all currently reading? I would love some book recommendations.
This week's featured blogger is Monica from Curls and Cocktails . She has a lot of great posts and yummy recipes. I'm especially loving her recent post on Throwing a Totally Awesome 80's party. Please stop by and say hello to Monica.
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to link-up below. Have a blessed and safe weekend!
Cozy Vest for Winter
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Winter is beautiful. I love when God blankets the earth with a beautiful coating of fresh white snow and everything seems to slow down for a moment. Even though the season is beautiful, it is frigid at times. With Kentucky Weather, you don't really know how to dress during the winter. One day it's cold and the next the temps are up in the 50's and 60's. However, I still prefer to dress cozy because you just never know how quickly the weather will change. I've never been one to wear vests but I'm loving this Black and Hot Pink Vest I snagged at Aeropostale. It has the perfect contract of black and pink to brighten up a cold winter day. I thought that this basic stripe top was a good fit because I didn't want anything to take away from the beautiful colors of the vest. I opted for pale pink accessories and skinny jeans with tall black boots to complete this look. My main goal was to make the pink in the vest pop and I think this outfit does just that. It's a cozy yet stylish outfit that can be worn several times throughout the winter. It's also an adorable style that can be worn for Valentine's Day.
Shop this look
Vest//Aeropostale (Similar)
Stripe Top//Gap (Similar)
Jeans//JC Penney
Boots// Thrifted
Necklace//Paparazzi Accessories
Bangle// The Navy Knot
High Five For Friday
Friday, January 12, 2018
Welcome to the weekly High Five For Friday link-up hosted by Tif @ Bright On A Budget, Katie @ Cup of Tea, Becky @ BYBMG and myself. We're glad you're here! High Five for Friday is where we come together to share five highlights or five favorite things from the past week each Friday.
1) The weather has been crazy in Kentucky this week. Over the weekend, it was down to 0 degree at night and only in the teens during the day. Well these last few days have been in the 50's and 60's, so Raylan and I have made the best of it. He finally got to test out his new Dune Racer Power Wheels that he got for Christmas and he has been on cloud 9. He loves it and it will keep him busy during the warmer months. This weekend we are supposed to get quite a bit of snow. I wish we could just keep this warm weather.
2) Story Time started back at the library this week and Raylan was so excited to go. He loved seeing all of his little friends. It is so good for the children and very educational too.
3) Justin and I have been eating healthier and counting our calories. So far it is going well. It helps to be doing it together. I just hope that we can stay motivated to continue on our journey to a healthier us.
4) I have been trying to do better at keeping a cleaner more organized house since the start of the New Year. Does anyone else feel like they have their life together when their house is clean? I know I sure do.
5) Raylan has began wanting to plan for his birthday party next month. He has already picked out the theme and the cake that he wants. How is my baby almost 4 already? I wish time would slow down. My heart can't handle my little man growing up so fast.
This week's featured blogger is Jess from To Sparkle Punch. Jess is a lifestyle blogger. She is very inspiring and also very witty. She tries to see the good in everything and keeps everyone laughing. She is also a cat lover. Please stop by and say hello to our good blogging friend Jess. You will love her!
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to link-up below. Have a blessed and safe weekend!
20 Winter Boredom Busters for Toddlers
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Winter is beautiful but it is so very cold. You are stuck inside most of the time during winter, especially if you have young children. This always results in cabin fever after a few days. Cabin fever is hard on everyone especially toddlers. Toddlers are always on the move and need something to keep them occupied. They tend to get bored very fast. So to keep the kids and the parents happy, here are 20 Winter Boredom Busters for Toddlers.
- Create an Art Center Station
- Daily Learning Activities
- Play Doh/Slime
- Costume Character Dress-Up
- Popcorn and Movie Night
- Create a race-track for Hot Wheels
- Indoor Bowling Games
- Board Games
- Indoor Scavenger Hunts
- Hide and Seek
- Blocks/Legos
- Crafts
- Read Books
- Karaoke/Dance Party
- Inside Picnic
- Bake Cookies or Cupcakes
- Puzzles
- Coloring Books
- Hand/Finger Puppets
- Doctor Kits- Let them doctor everyone up
These are tried and true ideas that keep my almost 4 year old busy for hours. It keeps him happy, so this momma is happy and not nearly as stressed out. So let's get through this Winter without being bored to death with these 20 Boredom Busters. You and your toddler will be thankful for these ideas.
TBB ASKS: New Year, New You
Monday, January 8, 2018
Happy Monday Everyone! Today I'm joining my friends from The Blended Blog for this month's edition of TBB Asks. These posts are always a favorite of mine and so much fun to participate in. So here we go.
1) Resolutions or No Resolutions? I don't like to do resolutions because more than likely I won't stick to them, but I do like to set goals that I would like to see myself achieve.
2) Love Snow or No Snow? It's beautiful to see, but I don't love it. I only like to see a light covering of snow. It's so dangerous for everyone to have to be out in. However, I would like one good snow so that Raylan could build a snowman.
3) Name a New Place you want to go this year? It's not new to me, but it would be new to Raylan. I would love to take Raylan to the beach this year. He's old enough to enjoy it now and I know he would love building sand castles. I would also love to see The Ark Encounter. I haven't seen it yet and it's in my very own state of Kentucky.
4) Would you rather have a new Hair cut or a new Hair color? A new Hair color! I feel so refreshed when I get a new color. I feel like a new woman lol.
5) Name one special thing you want to do for yourself this year? I want to go get a massage this year. I've never had a professional massage before.
6) Least favorite thing about January? The cold! It's been miserably cold already.
7) Most favorite thing about January? A New Year and a chance for New Beginnings.
8) When do you take down your Holiday decorations? I take them down on January 1st or 2nd. That was my mom's tradition so I like to continue it.
9) Do you diet in January? Sometimes I do. I currently am attempting to diet and make healthier choices. I definitely need to cut out the junk food.
10) What area of your home do you want to organize the most? Raylan's room and toys
11) Favorite Winter Comfort Food? Chili
12) Favorite Guilty Pleasure? Reese Cup, but those are few and far between. I can only have them when Raylan is with a babysitter because of his severe nut allergies.
Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear some of your answers from these questions too. Have a blessed day!
High Five For Friday- Happy New Year
Friday, January 5, 2018
Welcome to the weekly High Five For Friday link-up hosted by Tif @ Bright On A Budget, Katie @ Cup of Tea, Becky @ BYBMG and myself. We're glad you're here! High Five for Friday is where we come together to share five highlights or five favorite things from the past week each Friday.
Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you all have had a great start to the New Year. Raylan had the flu during New Year, but hopefully he is on the mend now. We have been home all week so we haven't done much, but here are my favorite highlights from the week.
1) Since Raylan was down with the flu, our little family stayed in all weekend long and did our best to relax. We ordered yummy Pizza Stop pizza, nursed a sick child and watched netflix.
2) For New Years, I tried a new recipe from Pinterest and it was absolutely delicious. Click here to grab this One Dish Queso Chicken Bake recipe. Seriously, you will want to make it asap.
3) The Christmas Tree and all of my decorations are down and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I love Christmas and I always hate to see my Christmas Tree go back down. Everything looks so bare now, but I am glad for the extra room.
4) Since we have been home all week, I have done a lot of organization in my home. There is just something about the start of the new year that makes you want to get motivated.
5) Justin and I have started trying to make healthier food choices. I wouldn't really call it dieting, but we are trying our best to not eat as much junk food. We have started making better choices when it comes to snacks. I have also started a 365 Day Bible Plan and a Daily Scripture Writing Plan. I hope to stick with all of these plans, including the healthier eating. I would feel so much better in all areas of my life if I could.
This week's featured blogger is Ada from Elegance and Mommyhood. Ada is a wife and mom who blogs about her personal style and her journey as a mother. She also features some mommy and me styles with her daughter. Please stop by and say hello to Ada. She is a sweetheart.
Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to link-up below. Have a blessed and safe weekend!
2018 Word of the Year
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
With every New Year, I choose a word that I would like to adhere to throughout the whole year. This year, my word choice is healthier.
Not to lose weight, I just want to be healthier and I want my family to be healthier too.
It's no secret that 2017 was a rough year for my family. Healthwise, it seems like everyone in my family had health issues. I even had a few health issues myself. My dad has been sick for a few years. He is on kidney dialysis, but 2017 also brought on other issues. My husband had several health issues last year, and our son Raylan has a very weak immune system. He seems to catch everything that comes and goes.
So for 2018, I plan on making healthier choices for myself and living a healthier lifestyle. I also plan to help my family do the same. I want everyone to be healthy, not just physically but in all other areas as well. We all need to be healthier and happier.
What would you say that your 2018 Word of the Year is?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
