2019: A Year in Review

2019 was all about navigating parenthood. Life with a newborn is quite the adjustment but it was so wonderful to finally experience motherhood. There were so many surreal moments and I still can't believe every morning when I wake up that I have the amazing privilege to be a mama to my precious Colette.

Christmas Gift Guide 2019

I thought it would be super fun to comprise a few gift ideas for those looking for some unique and thoughtful gifts this Christmas! These are just some lovely options I have come across while browsing this season. I hope you enjoy and become inspired!

for babies/small children

Bedding refresh with Magic Linen

I have been slowly refreshing pockets of our home and have recently added fresh new linen bedding to our bedroom. Magic Linen has some of the most scrumptious linen bedding I have ever slept on.

Colette's First Birthday

I can't believe that our darling Colette is one! This past year has flown by but at the same time, we can hardly remember our lives before our sweet girl! 

Hallway Bathroom Refresh

I have recently been working on some home projects...just updating and refreshing our space. I am trying to renovate on a small budget so I've been mainly using what we already have, picking up some things here and there for awhile now, and selling things online that we no longer love to use the money to purchase quality items that we see owning and using for years to come.

The first room I decided to work on was one that has been a lonnnnggg time coming. It's a room not many people usually see (at least online) since it doesn't have any windows therefore no natural light. I like to shoot all of my photos in natural light so I've never shared this bathroom...until now.

Framing a Keepsake with Frame It Easy

We've had this gorgeous map of a city that is special to us in many ways for awhile now but I had been unable to find anyone to frame it for me. I had this vision of it hanging above our couch in our den and I couldn't wait to display this 1963 original street index map in our home.

Growing Trees Indoors

As a crazy plant lady, I have loved growing trees indoors for a few years now. I wanted to share some of my favorites with you for those who are looking to grow their plant collection and try their hand at a few larger friends.

Faith like a grain of mustard seed

"For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

I have been reading though Corrie Ten Boom's book, I Stand at the Door and Knock, and it has been so refreshing and uplifting for my soul. I struggle with doubting God more often than I would like to admit. This book contains forty devotions by the author that were only recently discovered in the last few years. It has been so encouraging to my faith to read account after account of God answering prayer and coming through in miraculous ways for His children. 

Essential Oils Summer Recipes

It has been a hot minute since I blogged! I am hoping to become more faithful at it again but being a full-time wife and mom, and booking more photo shoots, my time seems to be so full lately. I do miss it so much though and am trying to be better at it!

I wanted to share with you all a few essential oil summer recipes that I have collected from my favorite oil company, Vitruvi. I absolutely adore their stone diffusers, fabulous oils, and minimalist packaging.

Just today, I haven't been feeling very good so I decided while the babe naps to make me a nice glass of lemon water, lounge on my bed, blog for a bit, and diffuse some oils. It smells SO good in my bedroom right now. I decided to try the "summer night in" recipe and gosh, its amazing.

I'm posting some oil recipes below to try for yourself! These are all super simple concoctions and a great way to incorporate some natural products into your home and lifestyle.

Colette's First Easter & Turning Five Months

This Easter was the sweetest one I have ever remembered. It was a very slow and relaxing day, celebrating what Christ has done for us and His power over death. We enjoyed a quiet family afternoon after church, grabbing take-out and going home to put the baby down for a nap. After Josh and I were able to spend some sweet time together (quality time as a couple is far less frequent with our little addition ;), we watched Colette discover her first Easter basket. 

It was so much fun putting some sweet things together for my precious girl. We snapped some photos of the occasion and afterwards I began cooking a casserole for our family Easter dinner. We spent the rest of the day at my parents' house where my sister captured this precious photo of our little family.

Favorite Target finds

I have always been obsessed with Target but since being home with our little girl, it's truly become one of our favorite date spots and outings for this girl to get out of the house for awhile, browse the aisles, and soak up all the inspiration. :)

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite finds that I have gathered over the past few weeks and months. I love discovering a good Target find and so I thought I would return the favor..... enjoy! (All items are linked underneath each photo).

Baby's First Easter Basket

I have had too much fun creating Colette her first Easter basket because, let's be honest, this basket is more for Mama than for baby at this stage. Even still, filling it with things she will enjoy and use has been such an enjoyable little project.

March // What I Read

Felicity 

by Mary Oliver 

This book had peaked my interest for quite some time because I had heard various people talking about it and the beautiful cover also drew me in. I must say that although a few of the poems were mildly entertaining, as a whole, I was quite disappointed. I also understand that this is a very unpopular opinion so we can agree to disagree. Maybe I don't have much of a poetic soul but I just found most of the poems to be hard to understand and wasn't touched deeply at all...if any. 

Feature Friday: Sassy Sparrow

Today I am so excited to share one of my absolute favorite small businesses with you! I was first introduced to Sassy Sparrow almost a year ago and have since gotten to know some of the incredible girls behind this shop and I am a huge fan! Sassy Sparrow is an artisan handbag company in Forrest, Illinois, that consists of a mother and five sisters. Their handbags and satchels are stunningly gorgeous and made of the finest quality leather and materials. They are truly designed to be classic wardrobe pieces that you will treasure forever. 

Grab your cup of tea and settle in for a fun little Q&A! If you would like to shop their collection of beautiful handbags and accessories than you can do so here.  Be sure to follow their sweet account on Instagram here too! They have the best posts and I have so much fun watching their stories! 

My Must-Have Items for Baby

I have enjoyed experiencing motherhood so much! There have definitely been some items that have helped with the process of having a new baby in the house and today I wanted to share those items with you! From the small things to the bigger things, all of these products are ones we genuinely use and love!

January + February // What I Read

I thought it was high time that I introduced the "What I Read" series again! I did this year before last and it seemed like a lot of people enjoyed it so here it goes again! I am really trying to read more in 2019. I read a total of 55 books in 2017 and then slacked off in 2018. I really missed reading so now that I am home with a baby, I am trying to squeeze in more reading time when I can. It's so relaxing and rewarding! So for what I read in January and February...

Our Nashville Guide Pt. 1

Josh and I had a wonderful getaway in Nashville this past week. We have begun a tradition where we like to take a mini road trip to a nearby city every Valentines. It's a nice excuse to get out of town, explore a new place, and enjoy spending some uninterrupted time with one another.

This year we had decided to explore Nashville. We have been to Nashville a few times but had never taken the time to just explore, get lost, and try new restaurants and browse cute shops.

We booked an overnight stay at the Fox House. This charming tree house has been featured in "Country Living's Tiny Homes" and is absolutely stunning. We had a wonderful stay and felt so cozy, relaxed, and calm in it's tiny space. I felt like it was a bit like The Swiss Family Robinson meets Girl of the Limberlost. Magical.

Valentines Gift Ideas

For all the sappiness that it is, I do love Valentines Day. No, I don't need a special holiday to show my husband and baby girl that I love them, but it's so much fun to have another excuse to pamper them and come on, who doesn't love gifts? :)

I thought I would share a few Valentines gift ideas with you if you are on the search for the perfect gift for your special person. Josh & I are giving each other an experience for our gifts this year (my favorite kind of gift!). Purchasing tickets to a concert or show, taking a weekend get-away, or going for dinner and a movie are all fun ways to show your affection, but if you are on the hunt for a tangible gift I have a few in mind...

A New Houseplant 

In lieu of flowers, try gifting a plant instead. In most cases, they last a lot longer and brighten up a dreary winter by bringing some life into the home. 

"For This Child I Have Prayed..."

We have waited a long time for this little one. We have spent countless hours praying for our tiny bundle of joy. We feel so immeasurably blessed to be Colette's parents. To think that God had her planned for us from the beginning of time gives me chills and leaves me humbled. How faithful our Father is to us. Our cup runneth over...

Colette's Nursery

This space has been so special and so much fun to put together ever since we decided we were adopting. I had been wanting to create a nursery for years but never let myself begin the project until I knew for sure a baby was coming.

I always knew that I wanted a gender neutral nursery as I love muted tones and natural wood but I slowly added in more feminine touches when we discovered we were having a girl.

I wanted to create a haven and a sweet retreat of a space to rock our little girl, read to her, sing to her, and a place where she would feel safe, protected, and loved.