I’m excited to share with you a company that I love everything they support and stand for, Nena & Co. This colorful, and unique bag company is based out of Utah and Guatemala. Talented artisan women from Guatemala create one-of-a-kind, hand-woven textiles that are assembled into the most beautiful bags. This method provides women in Guatemala the ability to provide for their family and to work from home.

Alejandra Hynek created Nena & Co. in 2013 to bring some of her Guatemalan culture to your colorful lifestyle. In Spanish, nena means “baby girl” or “darling”. But it’s also Alejandra’s nickname. After years of learning about her culture, Alejandra had a brilliant idea. She realized that Guatemala’s colorful fabrics had more to offer than she could have ever imagined. Combining her love for design with her Maya roots, Alejandra created Nena & Co., the one-of-a-kind artisan handbag company.

“I fell in love with these textiles as a young girl and never stopped loving them. They are a true reflection of the Maya culture with patterns/designs that have tested the sands of time.” – Alejandra Hynek

This Day Bag II has so much meaning and depth to it. I love carrying this bag feeling such a connection to the talented women in Guatemala who made this bag. Feeling a sense of empowerment and pride for these women that they are able to use their talents to provide for their family. Honestly it speaks to me about remembering to truly find and use my talents that God has given me.

As a mom, I love this bag as it has the perfect amount of space to take everything we need while we are out and about. It isn’t too large or bulky, and I love the fact that I can carry it without looking like a diaper bag.

If you have had your eye on a Nena & Co. bag, I can tell you that it is worth every penny. Not only will it be one of the most well-made and beautiful bag you have ever owned, but you are also giving and supporting the women of Guatemala.

Every product is beautifully hand- loomed and one-of-a-kind, so go find  the perfect bag just for you to take on your next adventure.

Head to my Instagram as I am giving away your very own Day Bag II of choice. Ends Saturday!

What I’m wearing: tunic //jeans //hat

Last summer, we made the transition of moving Adelyn from her crib, to her big girl bed. Since the move, we have been slowly completing the decorating of her room. I don’t feel like I will ever put the “finishing touches” on her room and thats why I love the unique, fun style that I went with. It is a style that is easy to add to or change without the feeling being “over-done”. When I set out to look for inspiration on decorating her room, it all started with this bedding set, and went from there. My ultimate goal was to create a room that Adelyn would feel comfortable in, fit her sweet & fun personality, and to be a room that she would still love in 10 years with just a few easy updates. What you will see below is how this whimsical, happy room truly captures her fun-loving, free-spirt.

The Details:

Below are all the details from her room and the links to where you can find everything.

The Madeline Bed

Madeline Nightstand

Bunny Lamp

Madeline Extra-Wide Dresser

Cameron 4-Shelf Bookcase

Wingback Mini Chair

Knit Cotton Pouf

Scallop Gold Leaf Mirror

Quilt, Duvet, Sheets

Black and White Teepee

Canvas City Street Art

“Bonjour” Pillow

Gold Sequin Bow Pillow

Plush Unicorn Set

Aqua & Pink Suitcase Set

Best & The Mostest Art

You are Loved Print

Unicorn Pillow

All Aboard Series of Books  – Found here or here

Alphabet Blocks

Swan Purse

Dinosaur Planters

Personalized Paint Chip Print

Multi-colored Woolies/”gum balls”

“Splash” the cat & “Pearl” the dog Knit Animals

Flamingo Loom

Pink Haired Knit Doll

Reversible Grid Blanket

The World is Your Oyster Print

Bunny alarm clock

. . .

Adelyn’s tutu & crown

Photos by Griffith Imaging

On my Instagram, I am giving away over $450 worth of goodies from shops featured in her room to one lucky winner! Make sure to check out my Instagram to enter!

 

Teething. Not only do I have one teething child, but two! Adelyn has been cuttingt her 2nd year molars for what seems like months, and Emery is onto her 3rd tooth in the last 30 days. Needless to say, teething “bites”. So I thought I would share a few of my latest finds that have been some help for the girls while they are both getting new teeth.

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Fruit Teethers – These were in Emery’s stocking this year and she absolutely loves them. Especially when they are straight from the freezer.

Food Feeder – I used these with Adelyn in her first year, but they were always falling apart and didn’t fit very much frozen fruit. With Emery teething, I found these ones which are so good. I honestly have been using them almost everyday with the girls. They fit a ton of fruit, easy to snap shut, and clean really well. I may even use these when they aren’t teething because they grant about 20 minutes of glorious quiet time. Side note: Their favorite fruit in them is frozen mango!

Lavendar Essential Oil – I just recently became a doTERRA essential oil consultant, mostly so I could order for myself and family. I make a roller ball of lavender and roman chamomile (currently out of stock) diluted with fractioned coconut oil and roll a little under the girl’s jawline. Sometimes I will diffuse the combination in their rooms on really tough nights of teething. **You are always welcome to email me if you are interested or have questions about essential oils

Teething Ring If you have a teething baby, you need to shop Lou Lou Lollipop Finery. They carry the most darling teething rings and accessories. I am awaiting the restock of the ice-cream teether! SO cute!

Billee the goat We also recently received this Meeno Babies Billee the goat, which is not only adorable, but made with the softest silicone. It has many different textures to help relieve your babies gums.

Teething Necklace A La Mum carries some of the most stylish teething necklaces. I love that they look just like pieces of jewelry I already wear, but the bonus is that I have something for Emery to chew on with me at all times. It’s great to have if we are out and about, because I know I will always have something for her to chew on.

Muslin Bibs Luckily both girls haven’t drooled much when they teethe, but when Emery or Adelyn is chewing on a teether or gnawing on a frozen fruit feeder, the collar of their shirts become a mess. I love these bibs – they wash so easily and become even more softer the more you wash them. Not to mention, they are adorable.

Solly Baby Wrap Last, this wrap has been such a huge help this time around with Emery. She loves to be held, especially when she is upset from teething. As much as I would love to sit and hold her all day, it’s not possible. So with the help of this wrap, Emery can find comfort, and mama can get some laundry done. Or chase a two-year old.

I hope maybe a few of these ideas will help if you have a little one currently teething. Do you have any other remedies or tips for teething? Comment below if you do!

 

 

 

February 1st! With 14 days from Valentine’s Day I thought I would share a few small gifts that I am getting for the girls! Growing up, my Mom always surprised my sister and I will a small basket of just a few goodies on Holidays. It was something I always looked forward to and is a tradition that I want to start for my girls. Here is a look at a few of my “Love Day” surprises I found for them!

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Finding the perfect bag is not an easy task, but to find the perfect diaper bag can be an even more daunting task. I have always loved buying new purses, especially if I could find it for a steal, but when I found out that I was expecting Adelyn, all of that changed when I knew I had to switch from a purse to a diaper bag. I searched high and low for the perfect diaper bag. I desperately wanted a bag that held all the functions of a diaper bag on the inside, but looked like a nice designer bag from the outside. I found nothing and ended up carrying a small tote bag with all of Adelyn’s necessities.

After Adelyn turned two, we soon found out that we were expecting again and I was even more determined to find a better diaper bag. And that’s when I found Lily Jade.

I loved so many things about Lily Jade bags. It was a dream come true to carry a bag again that didn’t look like a diaper bag from the outside. And quite honestly, I love the fact that I can carry my Lily Jade bags long after my “diaper bag days” are over. The shape, material, and design of Lily Jade bags are absolutely exquisite. I had such a hard time deciding on which one, as each bag is uniquely beautiful and different, but I ended up choosing  the popular, “Madeline” in brandy.

The Madeline is made with premium full grain leather, converts to a backpack, and has generous amount of pockets. Not only was the bag absolutely perfect, but it also contained what is called a “baby bag organizer”. I love that this organizer is removable so that I can take it out to wash it, or reorganize it. Not only is it washable, but also contains many different sizes of pockets (even one for your nursing wrap), and a zipper closure pocket.

This bag is a dream and I take it everywhere with me. This last summer, we went on vacation and I used it as a backpack the entire time. It was so nice to have my hands free while I wrapped Emery. It was the perfect size to take on the plane, to conveniently strap to my back, and contained everything I needed for the girls while traveling.

When the winter months set in, I get the itch to switch up bags. I didn’t want to give up all the amazing features of the Lily Jade bag, so I decided to get the Lily Jade bag, “Meggan” in black. I continue to keep both bags packed and ready to go so that I have the option to carry a brown or black bag with me for the day.

The “Meggan” has gorgeous gold hardware, which looks striking against the soft black leather. It can be carried across your body, shoulder or again can convert to a backpack. A total of 21 pockets can be filled and I love the large front pocket to place my keys in so I can find them quickly.

Lily Jade is a diaper bag that doesn’t look or feel like a diaper bag. And I love that. As a mom, I still strive and want to look stylish and that I somehow have it “together”. So even if I am carrying the bag in my yoga pants, with a crying child, and my hair in a top knot, I know that the Lily Jade bag can help me look put together.

Last, if you have been wavering on whether to splurge and get a Lily Jade bag, remember it is important as mamas to treat ourselves every once in a while. This bag is honestly such an amazing investment as it is a bag that you can use long after the years of carrying a diaper bag. The Lily Jade bags are made to last over time and are an item that you will be guaranteed to use every single day. Quality and quantity represent Lily Jade and when it comes down to it, it’s all about a bag that will successfully and stylishly make it’s incredible journey with us through motherhood.

Photos by: Liz Osban Photography

Happy Weekend! We are forecasted here to get a ton of snow tonight, and I’ve got to be honest – I’m over it. So to cure my spring fever, I thought I would share an awesome deal that GAP has ending tonight. It is their “biggest littlest sale”,  which means that all of their kid, toddler, and baby clothing is on sale up to 40% with an extra 20% using the promo code: KBTREAT. We are going on vacation in a couple of months, so I thought I would share the cutest swimsuits and accessories that I picked up for the girls! Stay safe and warm this weekend!

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Happy Friday! The girls and I have had a great day being at home playing, eating blueberry muffins, and throwing confetti – just because! I thought I would join in on Friday Favorites and share a few things I’ve found this week that I thought you might enjoy as well.

First off, Target is killing it with the new spring home decor line. I feel like there is this weird period of decorating your home after the Holidays until spring. So I’ve decided to lighten up our living room with some blush pink pillows and dark green accessories and call it good until it’s “acceptable” to decorate for spring.

I have also loved adding a few copper pieces to my kitchen to go with my copper mule mugs, and found these beautiful copper bowls to go with them!

Did you see that The Land of Nod just came out with their new spring collection?!? It’s so, so good! I had to refrain myself from purchasing every new childrens pillow, but this one goes perfectly in Adelyn’s room so I snatched it up quick!

Ok, and speaking of spring… Gap is posting SO many new spring pieces it’s giving me spring fever!! I absolutely love this floral baby onesie! I know this is ridiculous to already be thinking of Easter, but these peep pjs are going to worn everyday by the girls come March.

Last, I wanted to share a recipe that I have been making at least every other week, if not every week. These layered enchiladas are incredibly yummy, and easy, so thats a double win in my book. It’s also a recipe on my Mom’s blog, and she shares so many good recipes on there, that really I just use her blog as a cookbook.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Wrapping up the 2015 favorite series with my own personal favorites. These are all things I own, use, and have loved finding this year. Hands down my favorite on the list are my Lily Jade bags. I own the Madeline in brandy and the Meggan in black and use one or the other daily. I like to keep each one packed and ready so I have option to carry a brown or black bag based upon what I am wearing that day. The Lily Jade diaper bags have so many great details about them including a detachable, washable, baby bag organizer and the option of a back pack carry so I can have my hands free. I will be posting my full review of my Lily Jade bags later this month but I can guarantee you will love the Lily Jade bag as much as I do.

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What were some of your favorites from 2015? Share below!

 

I don’t know why, but it has taken many attempts to write this. I had intentions to write it last weekend to post before the new year but every time I sit down to write it I change my mind. Last year was a tough but beautiful year for our family. I don’t like to get too personal on my blog or Instagram but our family went through many changes and life events that weren’t easy. Because of these events, God worked in our lives and grew our faith more than we could ever imagine. I felt and heard God like I have never before and because of this I my relationship with Him is the strongest it has ever been. For all of this, I am so thankful for the trials we go through. God stretched me and used me in ways I never thought possible and I can’t wait to see where He takes us and uses our family in 2016.

Last year, God gave us the gift of Emery Jane who has just blessed our family so much. We can’t imagine life without her! She is the happiest, sweetest baby that has a huge contagious giggle. She adores her big sister Adelyn, and it has been the most amazing 9 months watching their relationship grow.

We also celebrated Adelyn’s 2nd birthday and it was such a treat to be able to celebrate while my sister was in town. She missed her 1st birthday, so to have her here helping and planning was the icing on the cake! Garth and I have been loving the age of 2 as she learns so quickly and does/says something new everyday that surprises us.

In 2015 we had a baby, decorated a nursery, Adelyn made the transition to her “big girl” room, the girls took their first plane ride, we took our first family vacation to Texas, celebrated Adelyn’s 2nd birthday, started a blog, Adelyn took her first dance class, went to a family reunion, went to part-time teaching, threw our annual costume party, traveled to Omaha for Thanksgiving, and watched all the fun changes that a baby makes in their first year of life. The year 2015 brought us laughter, tears, many smiles, bravery, trials, gratitude, many messes, and endless “I love you’s”.  Here’s to 2016 and remembering to live simply, play more, and continue to be thankful for all of Gods blessings.

Many blessings to you in 2016!

XOXO

Happy New Year friends! We enjoyed a night with family ordering in Chinese food, eating dessert, playing games, and taking silly photos in a homemade photo booth. The best way to ring in the new year! Today I am sharing our baby favorites of 2015. It was hard to narrow it down to 8 but I would have to say our number 1 product baby product this year is our Solly Baby Wrap! Emery still loves it after 9 months and it is so nice to have while chasing a toddler.

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