A Review: Kindred Wrap Ballard Stripes Sage

4th August 2015

Kindred Wrap

Ballard Stripes Sage

45% Tencel

55% Cotton

size 6

Kindred Wrap recently sent me their Ballard stripes sage tester and it has been such a pleasure to wrap with. I am a sucker for stripes. I love stripes on everything. Add the color sage? Well, now you have just curated the perfect pairing. When sage stripes arrived it was beautifully packaged in the signature Kindred box and tied up sweetly with a yellow ribbon. I just love their thought to detail and packaging. It really makes a difference.

This wrap reminds me of something you might find hanging ever so perfectly in Restoration Hardware. It’s clean lines, subtle coloring, and easy care fibers make this a perfect take anywhere, go with anything, wrap. It is elegant, and yet casual at the same time. It is warm Summer days dipping into cool Fall nights. It is understated beauty at its finest.

Ballard Stripes sage wraps as effortlessly as it looks. It molds around you and baby as it softly glides into place with a solid finish. If you like thick and grippy, this is not for you. But you may find yourself pleasantly surprised over the support that this offers and how well it stays in place without any dig or sag. I am becoming a fast fan favorite of this company and these tencel blends. I cannot wait to see what other fun things they have in store.

Go check them out on their website and on facebook.

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Be Still

5th June 2015

There have been a lot of days lately, where I catch myself holding my breath. When my brain takes over and becomes so congested with all that needs to get done, worry sets in, my anxiety peaks, and I forget that I have to breathe. This has only begun to happen since I became a mother and I wonder often, is that what motherhood is? Holding my breath and hoping I survive the day? Holding my breath, as I lay my little ones to sleep as not to disturb them and have to start the whole process over again? Holding my breath, as I sit down to stare at the computer and completely forget all that needed to get done during nap time (you know, that one precious golden hour that may or may not happen.)? Holding my breath, through the tantrums and tears, teething and colds, first falls and hurt feelings? When will I stop holding my breath in anticipation of the worst scenario, and start to let go and be present for every scenario?

I have been trying to focus on being more present in the little moments, and worry about the future less. It is hard. I anticipate too much, my expectations are sometimes too high, and I constantly beat myself up over not being able to meet them. My mind wanders from one worry to the next. Is that crayon toxic? Does this cracker have gluten? What if they don’t nap today, then am I going to be pulling my hair out by days end? Oh no, my all organic ingredient deodorant has toxins that cause cancer and howdidInotknowaboutthistillNOW!!!!! What should I make for dinner tonight? Salmon sounds good. But what if L won’t eat salmon? Ah I’ll just do takeout (as I eye the mound of dishes in the sink), that will be way easier. My floor is a mess, I need to mop. I need to organize! I need to clean out the car, there are diapers in the trunk that have been there for a week.

These are the thoughts that pass through my mind every minute. This is why I am having trouble breathing, because when it gets too much I just stop. I just hold my breath and hope the moment passes with sanity.

Today, I read a verse that gave me pause. I have read it so many times before, but today, it spoke to me differently. “Be still, and know that I am God”, Psalm 46:10. As I read these words I felt myself breath out, the room became quiet, I could hear myself think, and I got it. I finally got it. He has this, HE is in control, and I am not. I can give myself permission to be tired, and breath out and give myself rest. I have permission to be still.

So during those moments that I catch myself holding my breath. I want to redirect my thinking from anxiousness to stillness. In that moment, I want to be still, and know that He is God, and He’s got this.

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Review: Woven Wings Natty Geo

7th May 2015

Woven Wings

Natty Geo

62% combed cotton, 38% Egyptian cotton

248 gsm

I have never had the urge to take a chance on a natty, mostly because I am clumsy and stains happen, but since I have had the privilege of hosting the lovely natty geo, I cannot get its creamy goodness off my mind. From the moment it arrived, there was something special about it. The bright white contrasted with a honey-creamed tone, just lifts off the wrap and shimmers in the light. It is elegant, with an edge. It is classy and refined, and a total head-turner. Of all the wraps that have passed my way, this one received the most compliments from wrappers and non-wrappers. It can be dressed up, or dressed down.

This blend is unlike any other I have ever tried. It is thin yet supportive, and it glides beautifully. It has the perfect amount of stretch and practically wraps itself. After a solid and tight wrap job in a FWCC, It stayed in place without any need to re-tighten during a 2.5 hour walk. I wouldn’t say it is necessarily cushy, but it is definitely not diggy by any means. It felt comfortable, and as my 4 month old little guy settled into a nap, it molded around him and kept him cool and cuddled. The blended cotton adds a little extra something special that I can’t quite put into words, but it has me. This wrap has me. I just love woven wings cotton, its what made me fall in love with wovens, and this doesn’t disappoint. I keep trying to think of a con, but none come to mind…other than I may not reach for it as much if I were just wrapping my toddler. But for where we are at right now, with mostly wrapping on front with an infant, it shines.

During its stay we took this wrap with us to church, the park, shopping, and for our daily walks around the neighborhood. By the end of its stay, I wasn’t ready to part with it. It became a part of our family, it felt familiar, like an old friend coming to visit and you just pick right up where you left off. It easily fit into our routine and we reached for it over our other wraps.

If you are looking for something thin and airy for summer but also supportive, classy, and simple, with edge, this is your wrap. I can’t wait till its release, because I miss it so much.

Huge thanks to the ladies at Woven Wings for the privilege of testing this beauty.

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A review: Pink Nova’s Ocean Morning Kiss

23rd April 2015

PinkNova Babywraps

The Ocean Morning Kiss

62% Finest Egyptian Cotton, 32% Belgium Linen

240 gr/m2

I have recently been given the privilege of testing for a new woven wrap company called PinkNova. The owners, Judith and Ilse, are both beautiful women who have put a lot of care and thought into their wraps down to the packaging. There was such care to detail in the way it was presented, from the tissue paper, personal card with a wrap scrap attached, and a personalized canvas envelope housing for the wrap, making it a perfect little keepsake.

The linen is a light mint color on a white cotton warp. It is refreshing and summery and is a light enough green that it could go with anything. The kisses design is so fun and lively.

At first touch, the wrap felt rough, which is to be expected for a linen blend in loom state. After a wash, iron, and quick tumble dry, it began to soften up, especially on the “wrong”/cotton side, but was still a little rough and will require more breaking in. I immediately wrapped up my little 4 month old wrappee and he snuggled right into a FWCC. My 2 year old daughter instantly fell in love with the “kisses” on the wrap and of course wanted up as well. I tossed her up in a quick ruck and we boogied around the house. It didn’t budge, and she felt very comfortable. Throughout the rest of the week, we brought Morning kiss along with us to the grocery store, to the chiropractor, to the park, and even took her out to Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the ultimate test.

The words that kept coming to mind while wrapping are airy, bouncy, and supportive. It is not a smooth, cuddly wrap per se, but it performs wonderfully in hot, humid weather, stays in place, is fun to wrap with, and I imagine will become nicely broken in and softer as time goes on. While it doesn’t glide easily, it truly locks into place once tied. After a precisely tightened wrap job this lovely won’t budge, and will have a nice bounce on the shoulders. I think it would be the perfect summer wrap for those long, hot, summer days. I imagine bringing this along to the theme parks, summer cook outs, and pool parties. It really held up nicely and was breathable after 2.5 hours of wearing in 90 degree weather.

As this wrap breaks in I know it will become more moldable and softer, and I hope to one day see this wrap again in all its broken-in glory. It has been well loved on during its stay, and we are so sad to see it go. Both my 4 month and 2 year old have really loved on this wrap.

I cannot wait to see more of what PinkNova has in store, because as first impressions go, I am very impressed. These ladies know what they are doing.

To see more from PinkNova visit their website and Facebook page.

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Our Growing Family

3rd April 2015

It has been a year since I wrote anything here. And within that year, our little family has grown from three, to four! We welcomed our sweet son Dax Rhodes, in December, and life has gotten so much sweeter since. I didn’t think it was possible to love a child as much as I do L, but I was so very wrong. This boy has my heart. He is a pure delight and I am so thankful for him.

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The adjustment in going from one to two has been stretching me in ways I didn’t think I could stretch. It has been full of joy and laughter, but also full of a lot of tears and anxiety, dark circles under my eyes, and a few more wrinkles on the forehead. That first month, I didn’t know if I could do it. I felt as though I was in this never ending fog and I didn’t know if I could keep two little people alive and thriving while maintaining some sense of sanity within myself. I am not out of the fog yet, but I am beginning to adjust to life with two, and I am able to see through those foggy days a little more clearly now.

Our life feels so much bigger! And I am truly loving every single minute of it. Keep checking back for more updates, rambles, and photos. I promise it won’t be a year till I write again.

**Photos taken by the lovely Cass of Artful Life Photography.

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These Months

12th March 2014

Seconds. Hours. Days. Months. Where do they go so fast?

Our little girl is growing up before me. At 15 months she is at this incredibly fun stage of talking, laughing at silly things, and being friendly to everyone. Our days are full of blown kisses and sweet hugs. Her hair is growing into wispy curls along with her curiosity for all things. I love watching her explore and seek out undiscovered corners of her little world.

I am not the best at keeping up with milestones. I don’t have a baby book filled with firsts, but I take a lot of pictures and document our life when I can find the time.

I mostly want to remember the little things. The way her face lights up as she reads a book for the first time. The way her eyes get big as she sees something that surprises her. I want to remember the feel of her hands around mine and the way she so sweetly nestles into my arms. Our afternoon walks, our fun adventures…I want to capture it all in my mind for safe keeping.

I want to remember the not so glamorous things too. The nightly wakings, early mornings, the dark circles under my eyes, and the lethargic foggy feelings. I want to remember how every time I sit down to return an email or cook dinner, two little hands reach up and loud noises begin to come out of my tiny little human. The unclean floors, the dusty shelves, the always dirty dishes…I want to remember those too. They will remind me that its ok to not be perfect and its ok to let things be. Just let things be.

These are my seconds, my hours, my days…my months. Filled with ups and downs and smiles and tears. This heart is full and this life is joy.

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Our Christmas Miracle

8th January 2014

Happy New Year! The Holiday season came fast and went even faster. We spent Christmas in North Carolina this year. On the eve before we were to head out of town, our dog Sophie ran off, got hit by a car, and then took off running. We spent the whole night searching for her, hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. We couldn’t sleep and our Holiday travel plans were held in limbo as we tried to figure out what we would do if we could not find her.

The next morning, R got up early and continued searching the neighborhood. As a last resort he decided to drive on out to the local animal shelter to see if someone had turned her in. After casing the rows of barking dogs in kennels and taking a look at the sheet of paper listing all of last nights road kill, he pleaded with the shelter to tell him what to do. She had mercy on him and put a call out to all the people that were out in the field at the time. By the grace of God, just as she was making the call, Sophie was being picked up by animal control. She was in really bad shape. If he had not been there at that exact time, she would have more than likely been taken back to the shelter to be put down.

Animal control brought her to the house and we drove straight to the vet. After weeks of recovery and more still to go…we can optimistically say that Sophie is going to be ok. It was a Christmas miracle, to say the least. We are so grateful that she is back in our little family and on the mend.

With the help of some very good friends to watch after Sophie, we were able to continue on with our Holiday travel plans and had a wonderful Christmas in NC with family. It was extra fun because L is a year older and could actually open presents. We are back home now and settling into this new year and all it has in store.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you the Happiest of New Year.

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A Winter “One”-Derland Themed Party

17th December 2013

We had such a lovely Birthday party for sweet L. I knew I wanted a Winter Wonderland theme with her birthday being so close to Christmas. Plus we don’t really get a Winter here in Florida, so I wanted it to be special, fun, festive and bring winter here to the sunshine state. I was inspired by snowflakes and silver with cool blues, mints, and mauves. I wanted it to have a wintery, icy feel.

I loved getting creative with the food and naming them things like “muddy snowballs” for the meatballs, “Ice chips” for the chips and dip and “snowflakes” for the popcorn. I made all of the party crafts myself out of card stock and I made the serving platters out of antique silver trays glued atop crystal candle holders.

Vendors:

Location: Sawyer Lake Park at Heathrow Country Club, FL

Photography: Artful Life Studios

Food: Friends and Family

Cake: I wanted to make a healthy cake and since we mostly follow the Paleo diet, I made a Paleo smash cake that was so good.

Dessert Table

Food/Drink Table

Crafts/Party Favors/Gift Table

Cake Time! I made L a Paleo coconut vanilla cake with coconut and maple butter frosting. It was soooooo good, and she loved it.

A lot of L’s little friends came to help celebrate her turning one!

We had such a great time! And I am still in shock that my baby is 1!!!

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12 Months Old!!!

7th December 2013

I can’t believe it has been 12 months. This year just flew by. L is honestly a complete joy and I am so incredibly blessed to be her mother. She is such a good eater with her favorites being beets, kiwi, pumpkin pancakes, and zucchini. She is pulling up on everything, attempts to walk, loves turning the pages in books, and has a great ear for music. She loves to dance and drum and she copies me as I sing around the house. This year has been so eye opening. It has been such an incredible journey of trust and patience, unconditional love and strength. I love being a mother. Happy 1 year my sweet girl.

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Friday Love

9th November 2013

Hello beautiful, cool weather, and hello Friday! I have been getting crafty this week working on a gallery wall up the stairs, decorations for L’s 1st Bday, and painting a paper-mache giraffe to hang in the nursery. This weekend I am looking forward to getting outside and enjoying this lovely weather

Here is what I am loving this week:

* Thanksgiving Decor.

* It’s that time a year…Five ways to help with the FLU. blech.

* Pumpkin Chili…YUM.

* This reupholstered chair…so pretty.

Also Loving ~

* Paleo pumpkin pancakes.

* My munch blowing me sweet kisses.

* Crafting.

* Cooler weather.

Have a lovely weekend!

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