Last week, I was invited to take the boys on a day trip to the upscale indoor/outdoor water attraction Soundwaves at the Opryland Hotel. They are offering a TN Resident day pass for a limited amount of time, so it is the perfect time to check it out. I grew up visiting the Opryland Hotel often for the Christmas lights, but I hadn't been there since they added the water attraction, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Needless to say, we all had so much fun!
Happy Tuesday! I hope y'all are having a great week so far! It's been a while since I've written a blog post, and I thought that this would be a great one to kick off the new year. Charlie and I tend to be creatures of habit, and that includes our dinner meals throughout the week as well. I have to admit that I'm not the greatest cook either, so it helps to have a rotation of meals I know I can whip up easily and not mess up! ;)
In years past, I usually have outfits all planned out for the 4th for not only my boys, but myself well in advance. This year I have been pretty last minute thinking about my attire, but that seems to be the trend these days. ;) So, I thought I would look through my closet for some last minute outfit ideas using pieces I already had in my closet and share them with y'all. Here it goes!
Graphic tees are a huge trend right now, and I'm loving it! They're comfy, easy to chase kiddos in and there are so many different ways you can style them. So, I wanted to share a few ways I'm loving right now.
The first way is with a fun animal print skirt or pants. Y'all loved this skirt when I posted it on IG last week, and I don't blame you - I'm obsessed too! Animal print pairs perfectly with your favorite tee, and can easily be styled over a full sleeveless bodycon dress for a similar look to this skirt. This exact skirt is super affordable, which is even better. You can find it HERE. I paired it with these white booties, but you could easily do sandals or sneakers for summer too.
Happy New Year friends! It's been while since I've written an actual blog post, but I plan to be more consistent this year focusing on my website and brining you fun content to read and not just scroll on Insta. Im excited about the fun things I plan to share with y'all including fashion, fitness and family, but if there's anything you are wanting to see specifically, please don't hesitate to let me know!
I wanted to share this outfit with y'all because it is one of my favorites right now! The fun girly spin on plaid with the miniskirt is right up my alley. I also love pairing sweaters and bodysuits with this skirt. You definitely can't go wrong dressing it up or down. You can shop this whole look below, but I plan to bring you a lot more ways to style this classic skirt over the next few months. It is a great piece to carry you right into spring!
*Disclaimer: I was gifted this treatment, but all thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.
If you've been following me for a few months, you probably know that I had a Halo Laser Treatment done the beginning of August at the Skin and Allergy Center in Spring Hill, TN. You can still watch my stories on Instagram HERE from right before the treatment, right after the treatment and a few days following as well.
The Halo Laser Treatment is a hybrid fractional laser treatment. It is used to help with fine lines, sun damage, pigment issues, as well as to bring out your skins natural glow. I have an olive skin tone and ever since I had Ian and Riley (and even before then) have struggled with melasma on my cheeks, upper lip and forehead. This was actually the first type of laser treatment or any face treatment in general that I have ever had, so I was equal parts excited and nervous to try it.
I was mainly scared of the laser if I'm being completely honest. I heard that laser treatments could be painful, and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised that the procedure did not bother me at all while it was being done. Sara, the nurse that did my treatment at the Skin and Allergy Center was amazing! She talked me through the whole process before we started and made sure I was doing okay during and after the procedure as well.
They did apply a numbing gel prior to the treatment that had to sit on my face for 30 minutes before we began. That gel works like a charm (thank goodness)! The actual laser process didn't last very long at all, it was only around 15 or 20 minutes total. Following the treatment, she gave me a hydrating spray that would help with the burning sensation - lifesaver! It did feel like a horrible sunburn for about an hour after the treatment was over, and I looked like I had been baking I the sun without sunscreen for a few hours. Other than that initial burning sensation though, I had no pain at all during the rest of the healing process.
If you have followed me long enough, you probably know that I wear workout clothes generally 5 days out of the week. It's usually just the most comfortable thing to wear to keep up with the boys and since at least 3 of those days we're at the gym anyways, it's the most practical outfit for me to reach for in the mornings. A lot of the time I'm having to run errands, meet friends for lunch or pop in the grocery store with gym clothes on, so I wanted to share a few ways I take my favorite gear from the "gym to brunch."
I cannot believe my baby is ONE! *Cue the tears.* Riley's first birthday seemed to come and go a lot more quickly than Ian's did, and I was so not prepared. We decided to keep it super small and only invite immediate family and 3 of Riley's buddies. I loved that it was intimate, and since it was SO hot outside that day, it was nice to not have everyone crammed on top of one another inside. Although I was prepared with our corn hole and some shade in the back, it was still miserable out there. We were so appreciative of everyone's birthday wishes to our little man!
I hope y'all had a great holiday weekend! We did a lot of relaxing, hanging out with our neighbors, and we got in some good pool time as well. We did the Murph workout on Saturday morning in remembrance of the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything for us. Words are never enough to say thank you to all the men and women who serve our country, but I just want you all to know that we appreciate all that you do for us every day. We wouldn't be able to have all of the freedom we do without each one of you. So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
On a lighter note, I was excited to have some time during nap time this weekend to put this post together for y'all! It took me a while to hop on the overall trend, but I'm loving that I did! It is so funny to me that these have come back since it was a big trend when I was in middle school. I love that they are so easy to dress up and down, though which means there are SO many way to style them.
The first look I love is shown below. Throw on a mock neck tank and heels for a cute but dressier look! You can find these exact overalls HERE (they sell out quickly!). I've linked a few similar + the rest of this look below as well! For reference, I am wearing size medium in these overalls.
Being a stay at home mom of two little ones can make it pretty tough to stay organized. When we moved into our home a year ago, I tried to make everything as organized as possible when unpacking, but it is SO hard to keep it that way, especially without the right storage solutions. As much as I love things being in their own place, I really had no idea about all the items you can purchase to make your home look, not only neat, but pretty too! Plus, with my boys on the loose, I can't organize unless they're asleep or I'm home solo (which is rare), or everything gets pulled out all over the place, and it takes double the time! So I cannot tell you how excited I was when I connected with Alesia from A Well-Organized Home. She did an amazing job getting just what we needed to organize our laundry room, without any of the stress for me!
Life trying to balance two little ones, especially one that’s starting to hit the “threenager” stage can have its challenges. So, with 8 months under my belt having two, I thought I’d share a few tips that I’ve learned for juggling the boys solo. Let me be clear though, we have rough days...a lot. I’ve broken down in tears many a times, and that’s okay. This mom thing is hard, and as simple as these tips may be, it has taken me some time to figure out and get in the groove, but these 'small' things have helped tremendously. If they can help make just one other momma's life easier, I thought they were worth sharing!
Feeling like I'm back in the 70's and I'm loving it! These may be some of the most comfortable pants I own that aren't "yoga" pants. They have the perfect boho vibe to them, yet can still be dressed up or down depending on what look you're going for. I can already tell this outfit will be on repeat this summer and it will for sure be coming with me to the beach in June! I have linked all of the details below. Happy Friday babes!
Happy first day of Spring! Even though it unfortunately doesn't feel like it here in Nashville. In other news though, I have been so excited to sit down and share this outfit with y'all because it is one of my absolute favorites! My brother and I definitely had too much fun with this one, and I think you can see why!
You know when you are a bridesmaid and don't think you'll ever wear the dress again? Well, I was so excited to pull this skirt out from the wedding I was in last fall because I knew I had to pair it with this tee. It is such a fun spring-princess-vibe look, but with a casual feel to it. I have linked the exact skirt HERE and have linked the rest of the outfit details below.
One of my favorite things about blogging has been the connections that I have made with people from all over. I have had the opportunity to meet some truly amazing women, and I especially love when I get to work with local women business owners like the sweet ladies from The Nashville Closet. If you haven't heard of them, you need to check them out. They have the cutest pieces at really great prices (which is right up my alley!), including this cute little top + accessories I'm wearing (c/o The Nashville Closet). You can find this exact top HERE, and the rest of my outfit details + some other similar tops below.
Happy Wednesday! Y'all are going to be seeing a lot of jumpsuits from me this summer since I wasn't able to wear them last summer because I was pregnant. I have found three so far that I'm obsessed with! I have linked this exact one below and for reference I'm wearing a 4L. This one is definitely a must-have since it is a classic color and easy to style multiple ways!
If you're like me, you're dying for spring weather! We have had a few gorgeous days between all of the rain, and it has me itching for shorts and pool temps. But, until then, I wanted to share this fun outfit for transitioning to spring.
This exact top is from Vici Collection, and unfortunately it is sold out now, but they have the most affordable and cutest clothes. Definitely go check them out! I have linked some tops similar, plus the rest of this look below though. This jacket is from last year, and these Steve Madden boots sold out quickly when they went on sale. But, since this is the best time to snag some over the knee boots on sale, I've linked some others below too!
Let me start by saying that I am not a health or fitness professional or expert by any means, but I thought if my personal journey and experience could motivate just one person, that it is worth sharing. It’s a little long, but here it goes!
A little over 6 years ago, my husband got a Groupon for a CrossFit class and convinced me to come with him. Let’s be real, before I started CrossFit, I didn’t know what the heck I was doing when I would go to the Y. I just did whatever I felt like that day, with no plan, just to check it off my list. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with that, but it wasn’t something I truly enjoyed doing. I just did it because I was supposed to I guess you could say (and because I like chocolate and wine 😂). Prior to starting CrossFit, the most activity I had done was cheering in high school, running a whole lot in college or YMCA fitness classes. I never really lifted a lot of weight or even knew much about Olympic Lifting and CrossFit styled workouts.
It's been a while since I sat down to write a blog post. Between the holidays, snow days and sickness in our house, it's been pretty crazy around here. But, I am so excited to share this look with y'all. I have been obsessed with lace lately, so this purchase was a must. Plus, who says you have to wear red or pink on Valentines Day?! We will more than likely be celebrating with wine from our couch, but I will be finding any excuse I can to wear this dress again soon!
These last 3 months have brought us so much joy, exhaustion, happiness and lots of adjustment all at the same time. But, we feel so blessed for every moment of it. I kept hearing people say that every baby is different before Riley was born, and now I fully believe that. When we had Ian, he was never sick and slept pretty well early on. Poor Riley has caught cold after cold and has severe (silent) acid reflux, which has been such an awful combination. He makes terrible coughing/choking sounds that only get worse when he's congested. Honestly, I never knew that a lot of babies suffered from this, so if you are going through this too, know you are not alone! Luckily we have a great pediatrician, and he and his nurses have worked with us to find the right medicine and formula to ease his discomfort. He hasn't been sleeping well (until the last few nights) which has been plain tough to be honest, especially when I'm having to wrangle Ian and alllll of his energy all day as well, but I'm hoping we can get him into a good sleeping routine soon that works for all of us!
Even with these struggles, I know it is absolutely nothing compared to what some families go through, so I try to remind myself of that and be extra thankful that these are the biggest problems we have right now. Since Thanksgiving just passed, it has made it easier to reflect on things that we are thankful for, but it is SO important to make sure to reflect on those things year round. I am so thankful not only for my sweet little family, but also the tribe of friends we have that support us and help us daily, as well as this community of bloggers and friends who have been so supportive whether they have met me personally or not.
{Outfit details}
This Mama Bear tee is from Vici Collection (confession: I shop there waay too much!), but it is currently sold out. You can sign up for restock notifications on their website though HERE! I have linked some other cute mama tees below too. This bag is also from there and always sells out super quickly, but you can find a preorder for the tan version HERE. I've linked some similar below as well.
This exact cardigan is from Hadley Rae Boutique and is not available anymore, but I have linked some almost identical below. I have been wearing it ALL the time. This style is great to pair with graphic tees, plain tees or even cute tunics. You will probably find me in something similar to this on Thanksgiving day! ;)
Hellllo, December and the most wonderful time of the year! I don't know about y'all, but I am loving having out tree up and seeing lights everywhere. It just plain makes me happy. I'm excited to have my first gift guide up for y'all including home gifts, small gifts and a couple more of my favorite items right now. I will have more gift guides coming your way this week, so stay tuned. Enjoy!
I was mainly scared of the laser if I'm being completely honest. I heard that laser treatments could be painful, and I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised that the procedure did not bother me at all while it was being done. Sara, the nurse that did my treatment at the Skin and Allergy Center was amazing! She talked me through the whole process before we started and made sure I was doing okay during and after the procedure as well.
They did apply a numbing gel prior to the treatment that had to sit on my face for 30 minutes before we began. That gel works like a charm (thank goodness)! The actual laser process didn't last very long at all, it was only around 15 or 20 minutes total. Following the treatment, she gave me a hydrating spray that would help with the burning sensation - lifesaver! It did feel like a horrible sunburn for about an hour after the treatment was over, and I looked like I had been baking I the sun without sunscreen for a few hours. Other than that initial burning sensation though, I had no pain at all during the rest of the healing process.
