Mother’s Day ideas❤️

My mama is my hero! I look up to her in so many ways! One of the attributes I love most about her is the ability to love through giving. She has such a beautiful creative sense of how to GIVE! I am so thankful for all of the blessings I have received throughout my years of her giving actions.

Florals from her garden!

She inspired me to write this little blog post of things you can do for your mama this Mother’s Day without spending more that $5 except for one little item that we both ❤️!

These! How cute are these lounge wear from Cozy Earth!! Use my coupon code CE-DARLINGILOVEIT for 40 percent off the entire site now through Mother’s Day!

These are the cutest lounge wear ever!!!!!!!!!

Special treats you can do for your Mama on Mother’s Day! And this can be for any beautiful woman you love so much!

❤️ Call her!

❤️ Write her a letter and describe what you love about her. List 10 things!

❤️ Bring her florals from your garden or pick some up at Trader Joe’s.

❤️ Bring her a coffee, make her coffee or send her a $5 gift card for coffee.

❤️ Text her a fun memory of her or both of you together.

❤️ Make a picture collage of the two of you.

❤️ Give her a 10 second hug!!!!!

❤️ Tell her what you love about her.

❤️ Give her a massage, a mani and or pedi.

❤️ Write little sticky notes of the attributes you love about her and make them into a little book.

❤️ Tell her you love her.

The list can go on! Whatever you do, have fun and let her know you care!

xo

Jennifer

one year anniversary

One year ago I slipped and fell at beautiful Smith Rock just after eating a yummy cupcake where I had felt on top of the world. Little did I know minutes later I would be on the ground with no idea how I slipped on those tiny rocks so hard. But I did, and my life changed in an instant.

I was with 3 friends who in minutes found a stretcher and 9 other people to help carry me down the hill. These beautiful angels carried me down rough terrain and switch backs for 2.5 hours. The strength they had as a group was powerful. There was even a leader that took charge of the group and they worked like a team that had been together for years. The way they made sure I was as comfortable as could be is such a profound memory that I will cherish forever.

If I could only find these people to give them all a big HUG for saving me and my leg

Once down , near the river, is the most vivid memory I have. Because I had dislocated my ankle so badly, I had little oxygen going to my foot and in return my heart. I felt like I was going to die. I was in and out of it, but my darn strength kept me from passing out. My dear friend who drove me to the hospital said I was so quiet , yet in pain she had never seen. She took me to The Center where I went another hour without any pain meds as they couldn’t administer anything. She took me there thinking that is where I needed to be.

They took X-rays , wrapped my leg and ankle up and all I can remember is the doctor saying, get her to ER!!! She has so much tissue damage and they were worried about the possibility of losing my leg.

I don’t even know how I took this photo. I remember thinking I wanted Jeff to know I was ok since he couldn’t come into the ER with me because of Covid. He had just arrived too so he was so confused and I wanted him to know I was ok.

The ER doctor got my X-rays and immediately a team of 8 came into my room and they put me under to relocate my ankle. I went from about 12:30 to 6:00 without any pain meds and to this day I have no idea how I did that. It was by the Grace of God.

When I awoke they monitored me for a bit and then sent me home. The ER doctor told me to call the orthopedic center the next day to schedule surgery. I was so confused as I didn’t realize at this point my ankle was detached from my leg.

I fell on my left wrist as well, thankfully I did not break it and just had a good strain for about a month.

I called the following day and could not get a hold of anyone. I left messages, and because of Covid, everything was a mess. The ER doctor actually left me a message saying if I couldn’t get an orthopedic surgeon to do my surgery he would do it. I still think of that doctor, wanting to go above and beyond his duty. God is so good!

On Monday I finally got through to the Orthopedic center and was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. The crazy thing is I didn’t have an ankle surgeon do my surgery and I had broken all three ankle bones! He was the one on call and that’s how they were doing it during this time. However, I loved him and felt confident in his skills. He had been a flight doctor in the military for 12 years…. this man was skilled!

My surgery went well and the next 5 weeks were some of my darkest days. My family were beyond amazing, the pain was beyond anything I had experienced but I pushed through. Because my wrist was hurt too, I couldn’t use crutches yet and relied on Jeff to get me to the shower for the next few months. My circulation was so bad, I would almost faint every time I sat or stood up. My Instagram community was amazing and cheered me on the whole way. We even had a virtual cast signing party which was so fun!

Once my cast was off I started my 9 month journey with PT Jen who I just adored and she helped me so much!!! As an occupational therapist myself, I had no idea the journey I would be on, the independence that was taken away from me, yet eventually restored. We laughed and cried together and it was part of my physical and emotional journey during those 9 months that I will never forget. Thank you PT Jen!

Swimming also became a big part of my therapy and I was so thankful to have a pool to go too. I spent many hours a week feeling my body move when it could not outside of the water.

On November 2 I had my second surgery to remove all of my hardware but one pin. It had been moving out of my bones and created so much pain and restriction. I was so thankful the doctor did this early as usually the protocol is to wait a year to a year and a half. I was at 7 months. The surgery went well and I have been healing ever since!

This week I conquered Smith Rock again by facing my fears and getting down to where my hike began. I didn’t think I would be able to make the trek down but with the help of my hiking poles and my sweet family I did it!!! To think I was way up top on the other side when I fell gives me chills.

I had an emotional moment and then felt a big weight lift off my shoulders. I realized although the rocks took me down, I have risen up higher than the highest peak and for that I am forever grateful.

I am grateful for the team and my dear friends who brought me to safety, I am grateful for not losing my leg, I am grateful for my body and my independence, and I am grateful for this precious family of mine. And to my husband, you have been my biggest ROCK!!!!

I still have a lot of work ahead of me, building my tiny dancer calf muscle back, building my strength and endurance and I have high hopes my circulation will improve to normal, LIFE IS GOOD!

Thank you for going on this journey with me!

xo

jennifer

Greenlight: Debit Cards for KIDS!

Jeff and I have encouraged our kiddos to be financially responsible from a young age. When Greenlight reached out to me for a partnership I could not have been more excited! Greenlight helps kids learn valuable financial lessons through their Greenlight app and personalized Greenlight debit cards for kids. When I told our 10 year-old he was getting his own kid’s debit card he replied, “Mom, I am ready!” How cute is that?

The Greenlight debit cards are for kids, managed by parents. We chose the option to personalize their debit cards and I love how they turned out! How cute are these? Love seeing their fun and sweet personalities.

I have enjoyed watching the financial decisions my children have made while using their Greenlight debit cards. My son is motivated by chores and getting things done! On the Greenlight app there is an in-app chore list option and he loves checking off his chores. In return for doing his chores, he can earn allowance money that can be added instantly or allowance can be on autopilot-weekly or by the month. 

My 16 year-old daughter is starting to think more about her future and save for college. She has been using the savings tool on the app. She babysits our son often and can earn extra money that is easily transferred into her savings account. She is also looking to invest in some stock options and there is an area on the Greenlight app for that as well. As Jeff is a financial advisor, it has been fun hearing their conversations on who and where she should invest. We are looking forward to watching her financially grow with Greenlight!

Their first shopping experience was a hoot to watch to see the differences in their personalities and how they choose to spend their money. My son decided to spend some of his money on snacks, his favorite items ever :) My daughter bought a cute headband and went home and styled an outfit. Love it! 

One of our family goals for our children is to raise them to be financially responsible and prepare them for adulthood. Greenlight has been a tool to continue to develop independence in financial decisions for our children. It has also been convenient in many ways! Here are some of the examples that Greenlight has been incorporated into our lives. 

. Both our kids are taking more financial responsibility in their everyday decisions.

. Each child is able to spend, save, invest, receive allowance and give independently.

. As parents, we get real time notifications any time they use their card, giving us peace of mind. 

. Their Greenlight debit cards are personalized with their photos keeping identity theft at bay.

. The debit card for our teen is encouraging her to save more for her future as she can see her decisions daily on the Greenlight app.

. Our son has been more motivated to get his chores done by seeing his progress through his chore checklist.

. The Greenlight debit card blocks any unsafe categories, which keeps peace of mind for parents.

. Each child can set money aside for charitable donations. This is one of my favorite attributes! How amazing is that? Teaching our children to GIVE is so important to our family!

Greenlight will continue to be a part of our children’s financial daily decisions. To see both of our children at different ages and stages get excited about their finances makes both Jeff and I so happy! Teaching our children financial responsibilities at an early age, we believe will set them up for success in the future

I would love to hear your financial success stories with your kiddos! Please share!

#myGreenlight #Greenlightfamily

los cabos + travel in 2020

Hello! Oh my! What a year and I haven’t blogged since my pajama party! So much has happened this year, but for now lets focus on TRAVEL and the GOOD it does for our souls!

20 years baby!

If you have been following me on Instagram then you know Jeff and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary! Oh how time flies! We had first planned on celebrating in Italy, then Hawaii and finally landed on a beautiful place in Los Cabos called the Esperanza Resort. I really believe we ended up at the best place for us! It was completely relaxing and just what the doctor ordered.

The pool was my favorite of everything!

I have had a lot of questions on COVID while traveling. Precautions were in place and we felt completely safe. There was a mask mandate in the airports in both the US and Mexico. We flew with Alaska airlines where the middle seats were blocked out. It was super easy and actually wonderful to have a little more room! The airports were not busy and we had plenty of room everywhere to social distance. Once we entered Mexico, our temperatures were automatically taken at the airport and I didn’t even realize mine had been taken until Jeff told me!

Upon arrival at the resort, our temperatures were checked and our luggage was sanitized! They had hand sanitizers everywhere and before you signed anything, ordered food or got in a golf cart they would offer you hand sanitizer. it is mandated in Mexico to wear a mask, so if you were not swimming or eating masks were required. The resort was at 50% capacity and it felt like no one was there! Many times we had the pool to ourselves and I swam laps by myself every morning. It was magical!

THE RESORT….. was AMAZING!!!!!

We have never experienced a resort like this. The staff was impeccable with their service! It truly was magical and I would recommend it to anyone! We had been saving our credit cards points and were able to stay at the resort with all of our nights covered! We also had enough miles to cover our flights which made the trip even more incredible!

The food was so delish! As I am writing this, I just got a text from Jeff saying he wishes we were at the pool eating guacamole! Ha! Me too!

The spa at the resort was incredible. We stayed for 4 hours enjoying the hot and cold pools, the coconut water, massages and then had food delivered for dinner. Yes, like I said the services impeccable!

Food at the spa!

If you get a chance go to the spa and enjoy it for awhile! Jeff was hesitant and loved every moment!

The best and cutest coconut water ever!!!

Jeff took surfing lessons one morning and we took a cooking class at the darling Flora Farms and that was all the traveling we did outside of the resort. With my ankle, it was difficult to walk around too much on uneven surfaces and we honestly wanted to rest and enjoy one another.

Flora Farms was magical! I mean it was like Anthropologie all over the place! It was so quaint, so cute and the staff were amazing. Jeff and I are now professional guacamole and salsa makers! The food was farm to table and if I could have gone back again I would have!

Right from the garden!

I swam every day and did not take any moment for granted! It was me and the pool and I felt so energized and happy!

What a view and blessing!

The suite was filled with so many goodies from the beautiful decor to my favorite the spa hot tub!

The hot tub was magical right outside the bathroom!

I would hands down recommend this special place to anyone celebrating!!!! It was so beautiful and made our anniversary a time we will never forget! Thanks for following along!!!

Xoxo!

throw your own pajama party!

Pajama party!!!! I came up with the idea because let’s face it… I like to be comfy and cozy and I wanted my guests to be too! So here are a few ideas for you if you want to throw you own pj party!

The fun thing about a pj party is everyone already hopefully owns a pair so it’s easy for your guests!

I used paperlesspost for my invites and they have the cutest photos to use and you can even text your invites! Easy peasy!

This was the GIF image I used! Love Lucy!

Ideas for a fun night!

1. Everyone comes in their pajamas!

2. Balloons! I did a balloon arch from The Indigo Bride and then put some balloons in my wire baskets outside sprinkled with fairy lights

3. Flowers… you can have a few bunches spread out throughout your entertainment area!

4. Candles!

5. Pizza, salad and a mix of drinks… I just got a bag of ice and put the drinks in the sink to make it easy.

6. Gelato bar with toppings… think gummy bears, chocolate pretzels and almond slices!

7. Massages! I was able to get two lovely ladies who gave the girls 15 minute chair massages.

8. Games! We had a bingo game going and I had prizes for everyone. My favorite part!

9. Best Pajama outfit game! Winner received a floral bunch

10. Have fun!

You can also just have balloons on the floor for extra flare!

You can do any game as I think it’s a great ice breaker if your friends might not know each other. My friends all got along so well we decided to do a monthly game night! So you never know what will come out of something fun!

A simple way to decorate and welcome your guests!

Enjoy your pjs darlings! I’m still in mine today:)

xo

jennifer

GiftNow…such a great way to give!

You know the excited feeling you get when someone surprises you with a thoughtful gift!? I love that feeling! Recently, I was able to partner with www.giftnow.com and surprised Jeff with a special gift. Then right afterward, GiftNow surprised me!! How fun is that??

GiftNow is a simple gifting process that allows you to pick out a meaningful gift for someone special to you. First step is to head to giftnow.com, pick a product from your favorite retailer directly on their platform, use the GiftNow button to send it and you are done!!

Once the recipient has received their GiftNow email of their gift, they get to open it and either receive it, or exchange it for another product, size or color.

Using GiftNow is a wonderful alternative to fighting the holiday shopping and it shows your loved ones you care by purchasing a gift rather than a gift card!

It was so fun surprising Jeff with a gift from GiftNow!

We were in the car and it was such a fun car date! It was fun getting creative with GiftNow.

Then it was my turn! GiftNow surprised me!!!! Oh what fun that was! I loved being on the receiving end too! I mean, who doesn’t want a little surprise once in awhile?

This is me right after receiving the gift! I jumped up on the sofa and smiled for the camera. Happy Mama!

I created a home gift guide that you can find here on the GiftNow website. They have such an amazing collection from cozy blankets to candles, to electronics. It is a such a great way to easily browse away in the comfort of your home!

Thanks GiftNow for this amazing sponsorship…. I had so much fun surprising my loved one and being surprised as well!

Have a beautiful day darlings! Happy gifting!

Jennifer

kindness does matter + holiday cheer

This time of year is the season to be merry and bright, but for a lot of us it can be a season of grumpy and uptight. I understand this time of year brings up so many emotions big and small. So lets work together and help each other out during this season!!!

Here is a list of things we can do this holiday season to spread a little KINDNESS and Holiday CHEER

1. Smile

2. Smile

3. Smile

4. write a little note, stick it on someones car….”hey! have a great day!”

5. send someone flowers, give someone greenery

6. bake some cookies and give them to your neighbor

7. Smile

8. text someone you haven’t in awhile

9. call a friend, family member or someone you think might need to hear a voice

10. visit your local homeless shelter

11. make snack bags to hand out to homeless

12. bring a coat and/or blanket to a homeless person

13. visit a nursing home

14. Smile

15. love on those around you, it might seem silly, but it is easy to forget

16. don’t complain

17. compliment others

18. visit the humane society

19. Smile

20. tell your husband he is hot! tell him he means more to you now then ever

21. tell your kids they are amazing and why….the why is important!

22. buy a Starbucks for the person behind you in the drive through line

23. buy $5 coffee cards and hand them out to strangers

24. call home

25. tell your parents why you love them

26. write a hand written note to someone you love

27. journal what you are thankful for for 30 days… see what happens

28. invite someone over for dinner you never have

29. instead of meeting for coffee, have them over to your home for coffee

30. love people

The list can go on and on…….add to it and expand it to have over 100 kind things that you can do that matters!

Reach out…..and by that I mean everyone could use a reaching out too….everyone.

Have a beautiful day darlings!!

xo

Jennifer

Mr.Coffee HotCup Coffeemaker

Coffee talk!!! You all know I love to chat about things that I am passionate about and when Mr.Coffee Hot Cup Coffeemaker asked me to partner with them it put a big smile on my face! Oh what fun!!!!

Mr.Coffee HotCup Coffeemaker has kettle technology that heats to the optimal temperature, and the Advanced Water Flow System distributes water evenly over grounds for rich, bold flavors! I have been trying out their new pod free coffee maker and it is so simple and so easy to use! I love how it is eco-friendly and user friendly. All you have to do is put the coffee ground in, fill the water tank and press brew! It lights up and lets you know your yummy coffee is about to be poured into your customized drink size from 6-12 ounces. 

The coffee maker even fits a travel mug which is perfect for when you are on the go!!! It fits up to a 7 inch travel mug and is such a breeze to use.

I love how it fits my new Contigo travel mug too! 

If you are looking for a new coffee machine that is easy to use, better for the environment and makes a yummy cup of joe this one is for you! You can find here.

I look forward to more coffee talks with you all soon! Thanks for this fun sponsorship Mr.Coffee! Have a beautiful day peeps!

xo

Jennifer

find a friend + Sarah O Jewelry

It’s not everyday you can whip out your phone and start recording your friend and have her not flinch! My girl Ashley and I have that kind of relationship and I am blessed to call her my beautiful friend!!!

I remember messaging Ashley a little over 2 years ago on Instagram and was like….”ummmm I like you and we should meet in real life!” She was like “ummmm, yes we should!” We met in Santa Barbara with some other amazing like minded influencers and became friends instantly.

Over the next couple years we talked more, wrote two e-books together, put on an Instagram work shop about telling your story online and had more face time calls then I could count. Magic!

Coats by are favorite THE ODELLS

We recently were so blessed to both work with Sarah O Jewelry. Sarah re-designed my wedding ring and worked with Ashley on a new wedding ring. When we started collaborating with Sarah on our next adventure together it was seriously a match made in heaven for all of us!

I mean….how cute is their store!??? Eek! They threw us the best party ever with the most amazing staff and the most amazing followers and peeps that came. It truly was a memorable evening!

Sarah O Jewelry can make you a custom piece, re-design a current ring and seriously make dreams come true! They were such a JOY to work with! Thank you Sarah O! We love you!

How darling is Sarah!!!!!!!!!

I want to end this little blog post by encouraging you all to find a friend! New or old, online or in person we all need a friend to count on. We have friends for different seasons and circumstances and each friend fits different needs in our lives. Reach out to someone that you have been thinking about, tell them you care. Make an effort. Rekindle an old relationship. Put it on your list this holiday season to FIND A FRIEND!!!

xoxo

Jennifer

Photography by the lovely Chandler Kim.

You can find Ashley here . Love you girlie!!!

travels to Amsterdam & Belgium

We love to travel!!!!!! Seriously! If you haven’t taken the leap of faith to travel yet, I hope this little blog post encourages you to find that deal and travel!

The best stroopwafles ever!!!!!! You can find right here.

The best way to explore Amsterdam is by water and by foot. We walked miles a day so we could eat the best goodies like above! We rented a pedal boat the first day and if you want a great workout than this is for you! Right by the Anne Frank house is the best place to get on the canal boats and pedal boats. We loved our canal ride and you can find the info here.

Such a fun experience!

If you have been following me on Instagram you know we had quite the time with our Airbnb and needed to leave the situation. We ended up getting our money back from Airbnb and stayed at such a nice boutique hotel that we would not have wanted to spend the money on. The rooms were half off since we booked it so late and it was heaven!!!

The hotel library!

How cute is this place!? It looked right over the canal and we couldn’t believe the location!!!

Must things to do in Amsterdam with kiddos:

Anne Frank House

Canal rides

Van Gogh Museum

Rijksmuseum

Walk everywhere and explore new things, shops, art and food.

Bike- we did not try this because it was so busy, but it would be fun in the off season!

Eat!!!! We found the food to be good anywhere you go. Especially try the apple pie and pancakes!

The best pizza! Look these guys up if you go!

How would you like to live here!?

Amsterdam is for lovers too even with kids in the background:))))

Next stop was Belgium! We decided to break our trip in half since our Airbnb did not work out and it was the best thing that could have happened to us! We took a train and ended up in Brugge, Belgium which was like a little fairy tale!

Can you even!? It was so beautiful there!!!!

You might recognize this area. This street has been on Instagram A LOT!

Brugge is filled with old world charm. We loved experiencing it all for the first as a family. We were able to experience another canal ride and if you go please do one! It is so easy to get on and off the boat and a great way to see the city.

Things to do in Brugge:

Eat a lot of waffles!! Please! The best place we found was here.

Take a canal ride

Walk the 350 plus stairs up to the most fabulous views in the church in the main square.

Take a horse carriage ride. You can get right on a carriage in the main square.

Visit the Saturday market for the best food!

Eat a lot of chocolate! Go window shopping and chocolate tasting.

Eat the French fries!

Take a day trip to Ghent. Another quaint town!

Seriously the best waffle I have ever had!!

We took a little day trip to Ghent…it was so cute!

Loved all the colorful homes!

Such a fun hotel we stayed at!! You can find it here.

Thank you for seeing a little of our journey with us!! If you have any questions please ask. I hope you are inspired to travel near or far. It is such a wonderful time to experience memories with our family as our kids have grown so much by these experiences!!!! All my love!

xo, Jennifer

Xoxo!

little changes make BIG impact for a kiddos bathroom makeover

I loved remodeling my kiddos bathroom, but I knew I wanted to keep the costs down and the kids appeal high! I worked with Riad Tile and they were such a JOY to work with! They have so many wonderful tiles and patterns to choose from it made the process easy! We went with the Carrara hexagon marble 5” tile for the floor and the 2x6 Seagreen Zellige for the backsplash. I loved the eclectic feel to this mix! Riad Tile has so many wonderful tile options and amazing prices too so its a win win with style and price!

I went with the delta faucet option from amazon you can find here. It has clean lines and a great price. I loved mixing the metals with the faucet and light fixture I got from Lucent Lightshop. I love the look of the vintage light and I love the mixed metal goodness! I bought the knobs from Anthropologie but I can’t find them on their site! The gorgeous rug came from Woven Abode and Kim has the best vintage rugs ever. Hands down!! I have another rug from her and she is my go to for these vintage beauties. The gorgeous mirror was such a fun pop and that came from a local store Abode and I just adore it!

A little pink paint and keeping the original cabinets kept the space kiddo friendly and cost effective.

Head over to my instagram post to see the before photos! It is a fun change darlings! Have a great day!

xo Jennifer

front porch ideas for summer

I loved my Instagram post asking for front porch ideas you all have! I thought I would just make a quick list to help you get into the summer mood! Whether your porch is large or tiny….any of these ideas can work! So here we go!

lights, action….oh to get my hubs to do this was fun :) but he did it!!!

Summer must haves for the porch!

1. Flowers….can be hanging baskets, potted, fresh flowers in vases

2. Plants! Plants! Plants! Succulents are a great addition!

3. Blankets. All sorts of sizes and textures. Put them in a basket with a lid to keep the critters away and to enjoy on a cozy evening!

4. String outdoor lights! This is such a great addition anywhere! They add a romantic and whimsical touch and can be an inexpensive investment.

5. Pillows! Have fun getting pillows with color or keep it neutral.

6. Outdoor furniture that fits you!!!! Loving these rocking chairs of ours you can find here. They are so “us” and so comfortable!!!

7. Games! Board games and cards are a great thing to have on hand outside!

8. Coffee table with a good book!

9. A nice rug that fits your space.

10. Lanterns and candles!!! Love this look so much!

11. People! Enjoy your porch and the peeps around you!

We have had this porch swing for years and I tell you it’s a favorite among our family!

Tell me your ideas! Would love to learn more.

xo

jennifer

We love to have date nights on our porch too! You can do this too!!!!

intentional home living

With the passing of my dear grandmother, I have had time to process what it means to live intentionally in my home. I wrote a short check list down and would love to share with you! As you read through my intentional living, think of how you create your home space to live more intentionally and I would love for you to share in the comment section!

1. LOVE where you live. Whatever space you are in, create an environment that you love to live in. It is a choice to make your home a place to be intentional by how you create your environment whether you rent, own, live with family or in a dorm room. BE INTENTIONAL!

2. Flowers, candles, fresh food and baked goodies oh my! All those things add up in my books and can be so easy to obtain and if you are on a budget they still can be attainable! Pick flowers from outside, re-use your candles with votive candles and bake simple chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy how it makes your family and friends feel too!

3. A clean and organized home is an intentional home. You don’t have to go crazy with the cleanliness, but I do believe having a clean home that is organized helps with keeping an intentional environment for your family. Start by choosing one room and work on organizing it and make it a priority. Once done, explain to the family what you have created and how they can help keep it organized. They will enjoy the space and maybe for the next space they will help out and create it with you!

4. BOOKS! I love to keep cooking books, the Bible, art, decor, traveling and even novels out on display. Books keep a warm and inviting space and they intentionally bring on meaningful conversations that might not have happened without them there. A good book is such an easy way for living in an intentional home.

5. WORDS OF AFFIRMATION! Tell your husband you love them! Yell from the top of the stairs to your kiddos they are the best thing to have ever happened to you. HUG them often. Give positive encouragement. Speak wise words to your children. Squeeze your dog. Enjoy the people in your home and intentionally tell them you adore them.

6. Make homemade meals and sit at the table together. In this crazy busy world we forget how important this is. Studies have shown that kids do better in school enormously just by having a few meals at home with their family. Cook simply if cooking is too much for you. Google simple recipes. Yes, we all love google :)

7. PRAYER. Pray for your family and friends. Find specific requests to pray for and covet those in prayer.

8. My last idea among so many I want to write, but I want to keep it short and sweet is to wake up every morning with an open heart. We live in a world that is all about having more, doing more, seeing more. What if we woke up and thought, “YES! This is it! I can choose how I want my home to be. I have that choice, lets do it.”

   MAY YOU ENJOY CREATING AN INTENTIONAL HOME DARLINGS!

   xoxoxo Jennifer

my simple master bath makeover

I think it is safe to say we all look at images on Pinterest or Instagram and comments pop in our heads like….”Oh I need that!” “I should change that!” “Oh thats a great color, maybe I should change mine!” “I wonder where they got that? How much do you think?” The questions go on and on and linger in our noodles. When I decided to change up our master bathroom I was on a budget and I knew I would not be changing the flooring, counter tops and shower but instead EMBRACING them. They might not be my style, but they are functional, nice quality and by golly, we have a master bath!! Wohoooo!! So when I decided it was time to change things out I wrote out a list of what I knew I could change on my budget.

*Towels!! These were the first items to pop into my head. When was the last time you bought towels? I found mine at Nordstrom here ….well they were there and looks like they are not carrying them at the moment, but there are some really cute ones!

*Paint!! It seems so simple yet for some reason finding the right paint color that works for you and your end goal can always be a challenge. I wanted the whitest white so I went with Sherwin Williams Extra White paint and I love it!

*Runner!! Since I am not in love with the tiles I decided to find a runner that would fit the length of the bathroom. Rejuvenation had a great one! But guess what? My husband doesn’t like the feeling of it!!! Errrrr! So it will probably be going back to the hallway and I will be on the hunt again!!

*Lights!! My house is such mix of traditional and modern, but I am drawn to a simple modern light fixture. I love Cedar and Moss and you can see what I picked.

*Clock and Art!! I added a new clock and art from my favorite stores Abode and Ju-bee-lee If you are local and never been, RUN NOW!!

My dad made me this cute little wooden bath caddy!

Before picture!!!!!

And of course the above photo wasn’t styled….but here are the changes below!

With a little creativity and time you can have a bathroom refresh on a budget! Embrace what you have and it is amazing how you will feel. Thanks for reading darlings!

xo

jennifer

a little bit about our story

Our story…..I don’t know how to put into words our relationship, really. It reminds me of an old married couple sometimes. Those darling couples you see in the grocery store picking up what the other needs without asking, getting into an argument about what they should have for dinner and laughing so hard at themselves and not knowing why. Our relationship started out incredibly rocky…..for years, but looking back it gave me strength to love so hard I didn’t know what else to do. It has given me a different perspective on relationships and living this life in general. At 11 months we brought our son home from Ethiopia and it was one of the most traumatic experiences for both of us. Not only did we take him away from everything he knew in the orphanage, but we then went on a 48 hour adventure home where he didn’t sleep until we arrived in Seattle. We were so exhausted to the point of sickness that we rented a room for 3 hours in the hotel to rest. His trauma was shown by crying straight for almost 40 hours….and I am not exaggerating. One lady moved to the back of the plane, one asked me if I had thought of Benadryl, and the stewardess took him and walked back and forth and the plane for almost 30 mins. I hung out in the bathroom for almost 3 hours throughout the flights to help the passengers and to wipe the sweat off my face. We totaled 54 hours without sleep, with a new baby who looked different then us and the stares flooding in and asking why Lord why. The story continues, but that will be for another day. I write this story not only for me and my family to document, but more to define relationships. Every single relationship is work. It is how we love through that work that gives us the guidance and strength to keep going and to reap the rewards in the end. I mean, look at us! God is good.

xo Jennifer

(light source- schoolhouseelectric)

cheers to a simple CHRISTMAS.... and hello!

Hi Hi Hi!!!

I believe it has been almost 2 years since my last blog post. My instagram account became my little blog and so as the story goes….I stopped blogging. However, you can always go back to things you have stopped! Right!? Please say yes mama yes!!!

If you are reading this then you probably follow me on instagram, so I won’t go into introductions here, but I did want to talk about a simple Christmas. Did I say that? Yes, yes I did. This time of year we get slammed with the crazy. So crazy that we loose the whole purpose of this beautiful season. To keep the season as simple as possible, I wrote down a list and thought I would share.

1. Decorate as simply or as elaborate as you want. It is your time! Do you have or do you want to spend hours putting Christmas decor up? Do you have a theme or color scheme already planned out? Thinking ahead does help with time management on keeping things simple for you.

2. Say YES to the things you LOVE and NO to the things you are hesitant to. You get it! Just do it!!!

3. Holiday cards~either you love to do them or they are so challenging you would rather climb a mountain :) Whatever you decide, think of what photo you want to use months ahead if you can. Get them printed as soon as you can and have the addresses on hand. Now I know this will sound crazy to some of you….but have your kiddos help. They can address and put stamps on the envelopes and maybe the stamp will be upside down, but it helps to get them involved. Speaking of getting your family involved….

4. Your kids can help decorate, put things away and really help you in anyway you will allow them too. I am still learning on the allow part. Its coming folks!

5. If you plan on doing a party at your home or office, plan ahead. Maybe each member of the party could bring a side dish, have it catered by a local burrito place or do a dessert party bar. It doesn’t have to be elaborate.

6. GIFTS! We like to limit our gift giving and the past few years we have given the gifts of travel and experience. This year we are not doing any gift giving with 2 sets of family members and it is liberating! I like to look for gifts throughout the year, especially for friends and it makes managing your finances easier as well.

7. What is this season about for you? Maybe it is showing others giving by helping out at a local shelter, making cookies for your neighbor or spending time every night with your family watching a different Christmas movie.

8. Remember to take care of YOU. Maybe you swap taking care of someone else’s kiddos so you and your husband can go on that romantic date, you get a massage or buy that expensive coffee you have been craving. I truly believe taking care of yourself through it all is the best thing you can do for YOU!

I kept it nice and simple in my bedroom this year. It feels clean and fresh!

These are just some simple reminders for me as well during this season. I even took some time off yesterday to work on some things that I have been ignoring for a long time, brain free and quite relaxing….. so tis the season to keeping it simple, loving on others, and for me being thankful to a gracious God who gave me the opportunity to live simple.

xo jennifer

ps…I would love to hear your thoughts on how you have been keeping it simple this season!

los cabos

My dear friend and I recently got to spend 3 wonderful and giggly days together in Los Cabos, Mexico. What a treat! Of course I love my family, but getting the chance to just get away with a dear friend of 20 years makes the experience even better. She just turned 40 and our birthdays are close to one another so it was time to celebrate!!!

We stayed at a place called Hotel El Ganzo.  It was beyond our expectations. We had no idea where we were going which makes traveling for me even more exciting. About 20 minutes from the airport on its own little peninsula lies the hotel and pristine blue waters and sailboats. When we arrived we both just started giggling. Really?! This is where we are staying!!

They greeted us with cucumber water and the hotel entry was grand with a mix of modernism and old weather wood accents. It was perfect. It was ours for the next three days. We were in earth heaven. 

The hotel is a mix of incredible art that artists from all over have painted. It is so creative, that even the furniture had a design to it and a part of the hallway had a refrigerator on it that would be stocked with beverages one afternoon and gone an hour later. A hotel that is constantly changing and moving around.....look closely at the pillow with the paint!

This modern vibe of the hotel was amazing. From reclaimed wood to concrete floors to an infinity  pool and food made from their organic garden...it was heaven.

Musicians come from all around the world to record in their underground music recording studio. Say what? One of the best parts about the hotel is it was kid free...I know I thought I would never say that. However, when your kids are not with you and you want some piece and quiet....this is the place!

Our room overlooked sailboats and pelicans....and all the rooms do at Hotel El Ganzo. It is a 68 room boutique hotel with all ocean view rooms. They had a boat taxi that took you on a minute boat ride to the beach with a restaurant....I think I have said enough!!  I found an amazing deal on expedia which made the trip affordable and more fun. Travel should be an unexpected adventure in my eyes and this trip did not disappoint. The little town of Los Cabos was a short ride away with so many shops filled with color and lots of eye candy!

The best part of my vacation? Spending time with this girl....and here is our friendship story part 2....part one is on my instagram feed if you want to take a peek!

We met 20 years ago in Occupational Therapy school. We traveled to Ecuador and both us of us realized how much we loved to make jokes and laugh at ourselves and each other. We white water rafted down the Amazon river...and of course I fell in!!! Everyone got back in the boat quite quickly, expect me and I kept going down stream with all those big fishes in the river. My dear friend kept yelling, "just keep your feet up!" I can still hear her today and it makes me smile. She is a friend that encourages, a friend that makes me laugh and a friend who has been through trauma and heartache. She went into a coma for 3 weeks after delivering her second child. They did not know she was internally bleeding. After a blood transfusion and a c-section while she was asleep her life was saved. Her baby was perfect and God performed a miracle. I was able to spend a week with her after she was discharged from the hospital to help with her and the sweet baby. I find it amazing how God intertwined our stories and gave us both a voice in different and similar ways. Her story is absolutely amazing and her testimony is beyond anything I have heard. We both have had hysterectomies and that in itself is a miracle to share that bond with someone.  Her strength and faith in God has given me a strength I didn't know I had. I have never prayed on my knees like I did the night her sister called me after the delivery, not knowing if she would make it. I remember pleading to God to not take her. Not yet. She is someone that everyone loves and her heart has touched so many lives. God saved her in that 24 hour period and we all are so forever grateful. I love you sweet girl.

I hope my travels inspire you to travel and my friendship story encourages you to dig deeper into those friendships you already have or begin new relationships that will last years to come.

Have a wonderful evening my darlings.

xo jennifer

bryar wolf

By now you all know my love for pillows.....It has been a long love affair and I keep finding new and talented artists that make me so happy! Bryar Wolf is a local company in my town and Katie is the creative maker behind the company. I recently had a few African mud cloth pillows made for a client and it was such a joy being able to pick out what I wanted and get them handmade just for her..... oh, and one for me too :)

I love all the beautiful fabrics Katie uses from India to Africa. Her simplicity is eye candy and her sewing is beautiful. I was able to interview Katie and learn a little more about her and her craftsmanship. Please read on!

1. Hi Katie! Tell us a little about you....

My name is Katie Lipson. I was born in Toronto, Ontario. I moved around quite a bit until I met my husband in Bend, Oregon, where I call home now (and will forever!). I have always been obsessed with textiles from all over the world, and love to sew. 

2. When did you start your company?

I started Bryar Wolf about 8 months ago.

3. Where do you get your design inspiration from?

I am constantly searching for new fabrics. It is a life long passion, and a bit of an addiction! Nothing like coming across something I haven't seen before! I also attend as many of the open markets I can which helps to see what is currently on trend.

4. Have you always been artistic?

For the most part yes. I have always loved creating! For a few years I was stuck in a corporate job (no fun) and I knew it was not for me. As soon as I got back to my artistic self and back to creating, I was back in my comfort zone.

5. Tell me three words to describe you!

Creative. Optimistic. Light.

You can find Katie and her beautiful pillows on instagram and on her website.

My little Lucy is a big fan of our new pillow too!

Have a wonderful day darlings!

xo jennifer

darling i love

the forest fern

When I think of simplicity and beauty, Sara at The Forest Fern comes to mind. Her modern macrame's are creative works that include garlands, plant holders and custom pieces. Her art presents a sense of calmness and warmth and should be in everyone's home! I got the chance to interview Sara and get to know a little more about her and her talented macrame's. I hope you read on and take a peek at her beautiful pieces...

1. How did you get interested in macrame?

When we moved into our current house about a year ago, it was pretty much a total disaster. Leaky roof, broken windows, uneven foundation, plumbing issues....you name it, we had it. We slowly started turning our fixer-upper into our home and it gave me the room that I needed to explore my style. I really wanted to fill our house with plants so I started making macrame plant hangers. I quickly moved on to larger scale wall hangings and I haven't stopped since.

2. How long have you been an artist?

Not very long at all. I only started to create macrame hangings about 9 months ago. Before that I was a stay-at-home mom to my two young children. I've always loved creating things and home improvement and design has been a passion of mine for a long time. I still feel a bit giddy that I get to spend my days making beautiful things.

3. Tell us a little bit about you that others might not know.

Before I had my first child in 2012, I worked for almost 10 years at a creative ad agency as a project manager. I really loved watching people create amazing things day in and day out and I always regretted being on the business side of things. I would never have guessed that my decision to leave advertising and be a stay-at-home mom would eventually lead me to this life as a Maker. I feel really blessed and very lucky to be surrounded by a supportive group of family and friends who encouraged me to take that leap into starting my own business and sharing my passion.

4. How many pieces do you make each month and how long does each piece take?

This really varies from month to month. Right now I'm very fortunate to be in a position where I can book myself out a few months in advance. The really amazing thing about running a business from a digital platform like I do is that I can work as much or as little as I want to. I try to leave time in my schedule to grow as an artist (I recently learned to weave on a loom and I love it!) and to enjoy my family. 

Sometimes I can work on a single piece for a few weeks and other times (if my husband is around to keep the kids occupied!) I can finish something in a day or two. My mixed textile pieces take a very long time to complete because they are so layered and intricate, but I really love making them! 

5. 3 words to describe you!

Passionate

Slightly-obsessive

Grateful

Isn't Sara wonderful? I can't believe she has only been making these beautiful modern macrame's for 9 months! If you are interested in her work you can find her on her website and on instagram.

I hope you have been inspired today darlings! Have a wonderful one.

xo jennifer

rome part 1

Ohhhh how long it has been since I have done a little blog post!!! Summer had me like........so much with the kiddos and now that they are back in school I hope to blog a little more when the inspiration hits. I never knew writing was like that. I now understand why writers go on these retreats or hide out in the far away mountains for awhile just to focus and be inspired. I get it!

Anyhoo......ROME! Oh my, if you have gone you understand my excitement and if you haven't gone I hope to get that excitement in your blood to book that trip that will forever hold a beautiful place in your heart.

I have to admit, with the way of the world now I was quite nervous to travel. I have always enjoyed a good adventure and when traveling to Africa I never felt the way I did with Europe. However....it was amazing. We didn't feel unsafe one bit. Yes, there were armed guards on every piazza we encountered, but it felt good, in a safe way.

The art, the culture, the language was just the ticket to an amazing experience for my family, especially my kiddos. I mean, look at this ceiling!!! This was taken with my iPhone and no edits and look at the detail. Oh my! My kids enjoyed every moment from the miles of walking each day to the numerous amounts of stops of GELATO!

This was taken right outside our hotel room. We stayed at a beautiful place on the 4th floor of a church. It was modern, clean and oh so lovely. Splendor Suite Rome would be highly recommended to stay if you were to travel to Rome. It is located in the center of it all, however it is quaint and quiet. There is no food onsite, but the cafe below has delicious pizza and pasta and the best cappuccino I have ever tasted!

Outside our bedroom window!

Kiddos playing in the piazza where our little hotel room was. It had a balcony where the kids bunked and gave us all a little bit of our own space. The ceiling was beautiful with hand panted stars and rustic wood, which made the modern room feel more cozy.

Rome was a city of wander with so many beautiful sights, sounds, tastes and family time. The streets are thousands of years old with cobblestone lined piazzas and alley ways. I couldn't believe how incredibly helpful the Romans were. They would speak English to us and we would practice our little Italian. My husband is half Italian and lived in Florence, Italy for a year and to see him speak in Italian was a dream of mine. Even the kiddos chirped in as they would say Chow Chow as we left a street vendor.

The shopping was unreal and everything smelled like beautiful fresh leather. The craftsmanship of shoes and bags was something I had dreamt of and to actually witness was amazing.

I have so much to say and write about this modern ancient and romantic city, but for now I will say Chow Chow until my next little blog post!

Have a beautiful day darlings!

xo jennifer