Month: April 2016

Family Hike with Cariloha

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Growing up, I remember dreading any time I had to go on a hike.  Ha I don’t really know why, I was probably just being lazy.  It always ended up being worth it to go!  Well, fast forward to now and I love hiking.  Not sure when the switch happened, but I’m glad it did.  Thankfully, my girls also love it!  Even though they are small, that is one of their favorite family activities.

When I got these new pieces from Cariloha’s Bamboo Fit collection, we thought it would be fun to shoot them at one of our favorite family hiking spots.  It is so beautiful there, and of course, the girls were excited to go!cariloha3

The pants, tank, and hoodie that I’m wearing are all made from bamboo!  I remember going into  a Cariloha store at one of our cruise ports in the Caribean.  Everything in the store is so soft! That is how these pieces are as well.  I wear this hoodie every chance I get.  It is very lightweight, so it has been perfect for the spring!

Women's athletic wear. Hiking clothes, capri leggings, tank, and lightweight hoodie.

These pants are also very soft, but honestly, a little thin for me.  I ended up wearing some little shorts under them and it worked great.  They do have a neat cooling effect that has made them really comfortable to run and hike in, especially in the afternoon heat! Cariloha has lots of options for clothing for the whole family, as well as bedding, bath, and more.  All of it is incredibly soft!

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I have taken a yoga class up here one time, and I feel like it is such an empowering place to practice.  All the beauty around helps me feel grounded, and grateful.

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Myla and I tried to do a pose together haha but we ended up just laughing instead!

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We had so much fun on our family hike.  I’m grateful for my cute monkeys, and our fun adventures!  Enjoy your week, hope it’s an amazing one XO

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bri and viv

Perfect Peach Dress

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Happy Saturday!  We have had an amazing week full of sunshine.  We planned to work on the garden and yard today, but it is pouring outside!  Like run three feet to your car as fast as you can and you still get drenched pouring.  I kind of love it.  I think rain is so beautiful and it is one of my favorite sounds.  It makes it hard to work on the yard, though!

Perfect peach dress. Mid calf t shirt dress :) Women's casual style, mom style for spring and summer!

Let’s flash back to a warmer time when I lived in this dress haha.  I’m so excited to have it for this summer!  I’ve said before that I love to wear dresses, but for the most part once I’m back home I change out of them to something a little more comfortable.  I never do when I wear this one from Jane, though.  Jane is a site that offers clothing, accesories, home decor, etc. at an amazing discount! I love shopping HERE!

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This dress is such a fun color for the warmer season that I’m optimistic will be here for good soon!  It is flowy, fun, the perfect length, high neck, I could go on.  One of my favorite parts is that it has short sleeves, but they aren’t cap sleeves.  They are a little longer, which I think is much more comfortable and flattering.

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I also found these darling earrings on Jane! I love that they are larger but not heavy.  They are lightweight, which makes it easy to wear them all day!

Dangling lightweight peach earrings from Jane.

I hope you enjoy your weekend and all your dreams come true…AKA you get your to-do lists done! Thanks for reading XO

 

Johansen Camera Bag of my Dreams

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I have been looking for a camera and laptop bag for way too long!  I fell in love with this one from Johansen, and I am so happy with it! For starters, it’s a backpack.  I love that because I’m always carrying my baby on my hip, holding my daughter’s hand, and trying to do at least ten more things at the same time.  The last thing I want is my bag with my camera and laptop falling off my shoulder to the ground!

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Another thing I love about it is the side zipper that accesses the bottom half of the bag.  You don’t even have to take your bag off , you can just unzip the side and grab your camera.  I love that it keeps it separate and protected!  The bag is very customizable, and comes with padded separators to keep everything safe and just how you want it.

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My laptop fits perfectly in its own section, and the top half of the backpack has even more padded and customizable storage! I’m so excited to travel now.  Ha I used to be so worried about making sure everything was well protected, but I don’t have to worry about that anymore!

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Johansen Camera Bags (Jo Totes)  has lots of other bags as well, and they are just as beautiful and functional! Find more HERE.

Hope you are having a wonderful week! It has been such lovely weather here, we are hoping to get our garden planted this weekend.  I’d love to hear your plans! XO

The Necklace that Spoke to my Heart

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I first saw this necklace while looking through piece after piece of gorgeous jewelry from Roma Designer Jewelry.  I was trying to choose pieces I loved and was excited to wear, but I wasn’t expecting to find something that spoke to my heart.  In particular, my mother heart.

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I was first drawn to it because of the beautiful Roman Glass, which I will tell you about in a bit.  As I turned it over, however, I noticed a small coin on the back of the pendant.  My friend explained to me that it was a Jewish bronze coin dated between 135B.C and 29A.D. The same type of coin described in the story of the “widow’s mite” found in Mark 12 of the Bible.

Mark 12:41-44

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Roma necklace with white t shirt. Women's style and fashion.

As I stared at this beautiful coin in my hand, I felt a wave of emotion connecting me to the woman described, as well as to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I began to cry as I reflected on my role as a mother, and how it, above all else in my life, has brought me closer to Him.  There are often times in my journey through motherhood where I feel like I am giving my all, just as the widow did.  Although my sacrifices are not always monetary, or even physical, the spiritual and emotional effort at times, are all I have to give.  I look as well to the other mothers in my life and the incredible examples that they are of completely selfless love.  It doesn’t always take all that I have, sometimes it feels like I am giving of my abundance.  That is the beauty of it.  For me, both represent that  I’m not doing this alone, He is near.

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The beauty of this necklace doesn’t stop there.  Opposite the coin, as well as these earrings, contain Roman Glass and come with a certificate of authenticity that states, “Your jewelry is inlaid with a fragment of ancient glass, discovered in an archaeological excavation in the Holy Land.  The ‘patina’ (exquisite surface coloring) was created by chemical interaction with mineral-rich soil over the course of 2000 years.” Find the necklace by going HERE and searching “widow’s mite”  Search “roman glass” to find the earrings and other stunning pieces.

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The “patina” described gives the glass such a beautiful shimmer.  Both pieces are also set in sterling silver.  I love them, I cherish them, and I am grateful for the reminder they give me to give my all everyday.  It is always worth it.

Photography by my sweet friend Stayc Smart @staycsmartphotography and www.staycsmartphotography.com

Have a wonderful week, XO