Holiday Gift Guide For Your Best Friend

November 24, 2018

She is your best friend. Your go-to-girl. The one you can count on for anything, or perhaps get in the best kind of trouble with. Either way, you know she deserves a special gift from you. The best thing about a gift for your best friend is that you can have fun with shopping and ideas. I love the thought of something that relates to an inside-joke or reflects the true sentiment of your beautiful relationship.

Some gift guide highlights:

Hendrix Coco Soak – These lavish salts are formulated with aloe leaf extract and coconut milk to nourish and soothe dry, dull skin. Each is made with botanic minerals, essential vitamins, and antioxidant, with a plant-based formula.
The Infuser Mugs are a great gift for your tea-loving and sippin friends. Each features a removable cap with an infuser nestled neatly inside that can be removed to serve your hot beverage of choice. Plus, they are microwave and dishwasher safe. Whew!
Golden Girls Monopoly – Do you have a girls game night? Well, you should! Wine, cheeses, laughs, and games – seriously what could be better? I love the idea of a fun, and quirky gift for your girlfriend that is unexpected and sure to bring some good times.

Happy Shopping!

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission with your sale.

Because In This World… You Are Those People

November 20, 2018

There are people in this world that make our heart full… you are those people.

The ones we can argue with one moment, then run and hug the next. Those whose buttons we can easily push and know full well how and why we are doing this. Ones where “I am sorry” flows so much more easily. The people who we know how to rattle yet love fiercely, you are those people.

The ones who make every moment count. Those special times in our lives when you look up and hope to see them there, savoring the sweetest of life with you. The ones who you are certain the phrase, ‘save the best for last’ was indeed written for. When meaningful moments feel all too magical because they are around, you are those people.

The ones who great distances could never separate. Where no challenge – big or small could come in the way of you and them. In the darkness of the night, in the freshness of morning, when the time on the clock does not matter because you would go to any length and do anything for, you are those people.

The ones who find it in their heart and soul to forgive and forget. Who knows that your mistakes never define you and are always there to catch your falls and hit restart with you. Ones who will fight your battles alongside you and provide support so you can stand back up on your own two feet and hold your head high, you are those people.

The ones who make us cry with sadness from heartbreak, or who fill our hearts with joy from contentment. Who somehow have the magical power to make us feel what they feel in an instant. The ones who we absorb life through. When they feel, we feel, and when we feel, they feel through us too, you are those people.

The ones who make this one and only life count. Who fill every ounce of our hearts and soul with gratefulness and thanks to God. Ones who you would perhaps even lay your own life down for. The ones who when all that is left or matters in this life is those who stand beside you, extend their hand, and you hold tightly, you are those people.

— And, may you find the strength and love to share this message with your people. —

Holiday Gift Guide for Him

November 18, 2018

Happy holidays! I am kicking off the return of this magical season with my annual gift guides. These are quick roundups of gift ideas organized by the recipients. Every season I try to tackle a few and every year I wish I would have been able to go live with more before Santa is climbing down our chimneys. Here is the thing, I actually take the time to develop these. I know every other blogger out there is showcasing their favorites too in guides, but I really try to showcase a mix of price points and things I would actually buy. That takes some time.

Some Gift Guide Highlights:

The Smart Wallet features a two-way anti-lost and tracking system that can be connected to your phone.
The 11-in-1 Credit Card Tool is made to feature a can opener, cutting edge, flat screwdriver, ruler, beer bottle opener, 4 position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, saw blade, direction ancillary indication (water compass), 2 position wrench, keychain or lanyard hole.
The Outdoor Pizza Oven can preheat in just 15 minutes and make pizzas with a 6 minute cook time!

Happy Shopping!

*This post contains affiliate links.

This Is What Happened When God Gave Me You

November 13, 2018

When God gave me you I understood the true power of change.
For nine months my body grew and stretched. My favorite jeans were folded and placed in the closet. Hopeful for the day we would reunite, maybe with a cute top and heels, and your father by my side at our favorite restaurant. For days, weeks, and months after your arrival, I poked, sighed, nudged, and tucked extra skin and stretch marks reminiscing of the body that use to stare back in the mirror reflecting at me.

When God gave me you I learned what ‘love at first sight’ truly meant.
The idea of girl meets boy, their eyes lock, hearts patter faster, and suddenly a divine intervention brings them standing face-to-face. Well, my dear, that visual is made for the movies. ‘Love at first sight’ is reserved for a parent and child. It is created in the miraculous moment when you took your first breath and I lost mine staring at you. It occurs at the moment when they placed you in my arms and you never felt like a stranger, but instead a missing piece in our world.

When God gave me you I experienced the magic of 2 am.
With exhaustion racing through my mind and veins, your piercing cry would jolt me upright and to your side. In the quietness of the night, it was just me and you, baby. As I feed you and rocked you, even in the moments when my weary body felt like it was impossible to function, there was pure magic in those 2 am feedings. Something about the darkness and silence that brought out a beautiful peacefulness, and a non-verbal connection between us two.

When God gave me you I became more patient and understanding.
There were moments of frustration, and times when the days and nights felt so long. As you grew there were seasons of change. Things that stressed me before were suddenly replaced by new worries and challenges that needed to be faced. I was tried and I was tested. I gritted my teeth at times and excused myself to my bedroom for my own timeouts. I learned to extend grace to you and myself as we tackled every new endeavor.

When God gave me you I loved my own momma more.
Yes, your grandma became more special in my book too. Suddenly I realized the magnitude of the transformation from woman to mom, and my love and appreciation for my own mom grew when I was gifted you. The reality is I never knew the work, stress, worry, and challenges my own mom went through until I became a mom myself. Looking at you, I could finally see the love she had and gave to me all these years, and every sacrifice she made in between.

When God gave me you I realized my own strength.
From the pain I endured during those hours when my contractions intensified to the day my heart broke in tiny pieces watching kids ignore you for the first time on the playground, I realized your strength starts with me. I bend and break thousands of times quietly in efforts to keep you safe and secure. On days when I feel broken, I look at you and know my strength is derived from the intense love I have for you.

When God gave me you I found myself.
I thought I knew myself. I thought I knew who I was in this world. No, my dear child, I never flourished in this life until God gave me you. I never realized my own attributes to this world until I held, cared for, and loved you. There was so much to learn and oh so much more to gain from the gift a being a mom. When people talk about their legacy and their work on this Earth, I always searched high and low, but now, I look at you and realize if mine is only you, well, then God knew exactly what he was doing when he gave me you.

Best Maternity Fashion Basics

November 9, 2018

*This post contains affiliate links.

I am pregnant. Have I shared that? I mean I have mentioned it to you, correct? Like 5,000 times, right? I know my husband would agree with that last part. He feels the brunt of my whining, groaning, general heavy breathing, and constant reminders that I am indeed growing a baby over here. I also am great at wanting my back rubbed, the laundry basket delivered up and down the steps, and begging for a nap during the day on the weekend. I do deserve those things though. If you don’t agree, stop reading.

The second time around isn’t a charm. No, not for this ole’ girl. I swear every night my back is going to break in two. I can feel it knot up and tighten and pretty soon I am in agony with upper back pain. This is just one side effect. There is heartburn from the depths of Hades, dizziness, and constant pressure and pain over each nook and cranny of my body.

I sound like I am complaining. Okay, I am complaining. The reality is that what I am trying to do is set you up for the blog post which features some of my absolute favorite pregnancy clothing products. The top things I cannot live without. Why? Because they bring me a bit of comfort and joy to this otherwise changing body. I would recommend them a 1,000 times over to my family, friends, or enemies. Yes, even enemies get the love from me when they are going through pregnancy. 🙂 Plus, when you feel like everything is changing and you are constantly uncomfortable, you grab onto the small things that make you feel beautiful, comfortable, and semi-human again. These Maternity Fashion Basics make me feel all of those things!

Plus, I am not all into buying a bunch of clothes on items that I won’t need after a few months. Instead, I tried to purchase as minimally as possible this time around. I focused on the basics highlighted here and then wear pre-pregnancy clothes to compliment my body – open-front cardigans, flowy tops, and dresses, you get the picture.

Maternity Leggings – Get yourself a pair, or two, or three. Just live in these. I know I do. They are perfect for casual dress and perfect for work attire. Because they are thinner and tight, I can wear these with dresses, or longer tops, and I never feel like I am dressing down. The best part is when I get home. I can exchange the dress or top with a comfortable hoodie or t-shirt, and I am in PJ mode.

Maternity Tank Tops – You need this! And, you need one in every color. I own white, black, and green. These are a great way to look like you have a bunch of maternity clothes when the reality is you are wearing one of these tank tops and pairing with a non-maternity sweater, button-up, and/or jacket.

A Comfortable Dress – I bought one dress this go around that was specifically a maternity dress. I made sure it was one that would grow with me and my belly and was comfortable. Otherwise, I tried to extend the life of my pre-pregnancy dresses. The form fitted ones were moved to the back and my flowy ones are now in the spotlight.

Cardigan Sweaters – So, this is a great investment when you are pregnant because these can last through nursing and post-pregnancy. This is where I choose to splurge when I shop because I do not feel like I am buying clothing that will have a short lifespan. I love these this season – This One and This One.

Belly Band -This is a great item for the first and early second trimesters. This is how I sustained buying maternity jeans for so long. With a belly band, you can continue to wear your pre-pregnancy jeans, shorts, and dress pants. You just slide this over your waist to hide the buttons that will not close anymore and the belly band looks like a tank top layer with tops. I bought a black, white, and nude, so it would go with various tops I had.

In total, I have purchased one pair of maternity leggings, one pair of jeans, three maternity tank tops, and three belly bands, which are all maternity specific clothing items. I am in my third trimester and have been able to use these basic items to compliment the clothes already in my closet.

Hopefully, you will find that you do not have to spend a great deal of money on clothing when you are pregnant. Save that money instead of a spa day, lunch or dinner date with friends, or manicure before baby arrives.