This is 35

So this is 35!

Happy birthday to me! It’s so funny how birthday celebrations change as you get older; at least it has been for me. Not that my birthday isn’t worth celebrating, but I don’t put that much emphasis on the actual celebration as I did in my 20s. I am now perfectly content with simply spending it surrounded by my favorite people.

Mom's Day Out: Morning with AR Workshop Savannah

I don’t get many mom outings, a day without the kids, especially on the weekend but I was invited a few weekends ago by my friend Amy Darley for a fun morning out with other influencers at AR Workshop Savannah! AR Workshop is a new boutique DIY studio in Savannah that offers hands-on classes creating custom home décor.  I love a good DIY and was so excited to create a custom piece for our home.

I chose to make a wood framed sign to hang in my master bedroom. AR Workshop has so many fun projects though, not just wood signs. A few of the ladies made cheese boards and decorative trays. They offer classes to make chunky knitted blankets and it’s on my wish list of classes I want to sign up for.

You don’t need any carpentry skills for these classes. The girls and I had a blast. There was fun music playing while we worked and we drank mimosas.  I mean, such a fun way to spend a Saturday morning! And I got to take my hard work home with me in the form of a super charming and rustic wood sign!

Check out some of the fun shots I took while we were getting our wood-working on!

The Coolest Hair Accessories for Spring 2019

Hair accessories are making a big statement right now! Just like statement jewelry, hair accessories are having their moment!

I am in love with how I have seen my favorite bloggers style the knotted headbands and wraps! The big clips are so fun too!

I've rounded up some of my favorites today! Are you here for the new statement trend?

Mindful Shopping in 2019: February Purchases

I shared my January purchases last month and I wanted to share the items I purchased in February. In the spirit of transparency and to keep myself in check for my spending, so here's what made the cut in February.



Two- panel acrylic earring stand. I bought a three-panel one in January and I ordered another one to hold all my Nickel and Suede earrings. I love the way my earrings look on this stand.

 H&M Leopard tee and Simple Addiction black leggings.  I bought the leggings on sale for $4 so together I spent a whopping $9 on this outfit. 

 Last month I won an Instagram giveaway for $50 credit to Loren Hope so I spent $17 on these pretty mint statement earrings! I think they will look so cute with all my spring pastels! 

During a random Target trip I purchased this side tie tee and leopard mules. I had been eyeing the mules for some time and I finally just bought them during a Cartwheel promo on clothes, shoes & accessories. 

So I bought more in February but I don't feel like I spent too much that I should feel guilty about it. Let's see how I do in March! Stay tuned! 

3 Ways to Style Grey Wedge Sneakers

I am excited to start a new series with you. Versatility is so important to me when I am making purchasing decisions because I need to know I can wear things in different ways and that those items will work with the rest of my closet. My first "ways to style" post is sharing different ways to wear grey suede sneakers. I don't know what has taken me so long to try this trend out.

I received these fun grey wedge sneakers care of Pic and Pay and I was so excited get to style them! This Zaven style is from their new spring collection! You can find them on Amazon!

So let's get to it! First I paired the sneakers with a grey peplum tee and green pants for a super casual look. One thing you will know about me is that I prefer outfits I can wear easily around my kiddos. Luckily these wedges are so comfortable and dress this simple outfit some!

For my next look, I changed into a pair of high-waisted black denim, a white tee and my favorite leopard utility jacket. I've had this jacket for years and I still love it! This is probably my favorite look out of the three! 

For the last look, I paired the wedges with some classics- a striped tee, black leggings and a denim jacket. This is my go-to weekend look. It's comfortable and casual- my favorite combo!

So which look is your favorite of the three? I'd love to know!

Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this new series and if you'd like to see more. What else would you like to see styled? I hope these posts spark some inspiration for you. I would also love to know additional ways to style these wedge sneakers so if you have a pair and wear them let me know how you style them!

5 Lessons Learned After Loss

Wow, here we are in March. This month has so much significance for our family. It used to be such a happy month full of celebrations. My sister got married in March. It's my birthday month and Ava's too. Now, it will always be mixed with sadness. A sadness that will forever stay with me and return to me every March. On the 16th of this month it will mark 5 years since my beautiful mom passed away.

My mom taught me so much during the time she was alive. She taught me to be the woman I am today. She taught me about hard work and about loving and protecting my family fiercely.

She continues to teach me 5 years after her death.  

1. Memories are important.

All I have left of my mom are the memories we shared. I'm so thankful for each and every one. Not only are my memories of her special but she taught me I need to be making as many memories as possible with the ones I love. It's like a time capsule. It helps to keep your loved ones alive in your heart! 

2. Let go and make every day count.

After my mom passed away it was like something drastic changed in me. I was done with anything that didn't really matter ultimately. I learned to let go of pettiness and drama. I no longer had the energy or the desire to deal with it. It has made my life simplified and ultimately more enjoyable. Losing someone forces you to look for more things that bring you joy and let go of negativity. 

3. Grief is forever.

The reality of grief is that it lasts forever. It's not true that time heals because the truth is I miss my mom just as much today as the day I said good-bye. It comes in waves, sometimes its just feeling sad and sometimes it stops me in my tracks and I cannot breathe. I think my kids saved me from just drowning myself in all the sadness. I know they needed a functioning parent and I know my mom would have wanted me to be there for my family. I have simply learned to live with grief and accept it when it comes. 

4. Let your loved ones know you love them.

Life is too short. My mom was only 64 years old when she passed away and her sudden departure taught me every day is a gift. It was very difficult for all of my family because we didn't get to say our goodbyes the way we would have liked. My mom couldn't respond to any of us and it made it that much harder. I know in my heart she knew how much we all loved her though. So take it from me, make amends with your loved ones. Tell them how much they mean to you and that you love them as often as possible. 

5. Life does go on. 

Nothing shows you the amount of strength you possess than when you lose a loved one. I always thought "I would die" if I didn't have my mom. I was 29 when my world came tumbling down. In the days around this difficult time I felt numb. How could I get out of bed? How could I function? But what I learned from living through this experience is that life does eventually go on. I had two young children depending on me, a husband, my siblings and dad I needed to be there for. In no way has this been a fast process because there's this new normal I am constantly adjusting to. I really do miss the life I had before but what I learned is that now I have to live my life for my mom. She wouldn't want me to be stuck in my grief. She wants me to live a life I am truly proud of. 

To be totally honest, losing someone close to you sucks so bad! I don't wish it upon anyone. But I write this post in the hopes you realize these lessons are to show not to wait until you lose someone to learn them!

If you are a praying person, please send your prayers my way because this month is not easy for me. More importantly, call you mom, hug your mom, tell her you love her!