indie bungalow

I have a heart for small business and for pillows.....well maybe a slight addiction to pillows. They can seriously make a space look fab in an instant. A favorite girl of mine is Jody of Indie bungalow. Her style is fresh, on point and beautiful. The textile patterns she uses are just yummy and hip and I would take her whole store and put it in my bungalow if I could! I love how Indigo is being used in so many patterns and styles. So.much.fun.

Take a look....

Isn't her place fab too? A perfect spot to read, relax and soak it all in. Now go visit her here and have a wonderful day darlings!

xo jennifer

be yourself.....even as an adult, why is it so hard?

Why oh why are we consumed with what others think? Our society teaches us how we should be, what we should have. You see it all the time in children as they grow and experience more independence and learn to develop decision making skills. As adults we still can carry this child like behavior. Have you ever been in a room being your true self and then thinking....wait a second I feel incredibly strange and uncomfortable, I think I will retreat to a different me. A less confident, a more weary and unintentional person. This feeling can drag us down and can make us feel empty and insecure. Being yourself can be scary and challenging....why is that?

I love people. I can be outgoing and shy at the same time. I have struggled with social anxiety a better part of my adult life. Challenges arose that led me to feel less confident and more insecure. Adopting my beautiful son left me feeling more aware of the world and tireless for many years. Navigating this new family of mine had me question what society felt a family should "look like."

How are you yourself around others? Is it easy or difficult? Strange or just right? I have learned as I have matured that being me sometimes can be challenging or can be an insecure feeling. It is OK to feel this way. It is a process and a process I now cherish. I thank the good Lord that He has given me different qualities than my neighbor, my friend, my dear family member.

I was fearfully and wonderfully made. So were YOU. Own it friends. Own it.

My dear Lucy up above sure is.

Be blessed.

Have a lovely day darlings.

xo jennifer

joy....thinking outside the box

What brings you joy? God, family, friends, freedom all come to my mind quickly. I believe my joy is up to me and my daily choices. I wanted to think outside the box of joy and ponder what really makes me tick daily outside of my given God, family, friends and freedom.

Thinking outside of the box. Colors. I am able to control most of what I see and take in. Colors are so beautiful. They mix and intertwine and make up such a beautiful landscape. I love to have that landscape in my home as it brings me complete joy.

Infertility. I never in my wildest dreams thought infertility would bring me joy. We had considered adoption when we were madly in love dating and it brought us both joy to dream about. I look back and think, would we really have adopted without infertility? I don't think so. Infertility was a dark hole for four years. However, at the end of the dark tunnel came a joy that I had never experienced before. A joy that brought me my son, FAITH, a different culture and love.

Flowers. It seems simple, but flowers literally bring a smile to my face wider than I can express. I get complete joy from these fresh things and my home looks lovely adorned with them.

Africa. In particular Ethiopia. Everyday I think of this beautiful country and it brings me so much JOY! The people, the beauty, the landscape. We were blessed to be able to travel twice to Ethiopia and we hope and pray within the next few years we can bring our kiddos there and show them where part of our family is from. Joy.

Health. It gives me complete joy.

Speaking of health. Veggies and greens. We are so blessed to live in a country where we can go pick out any fresh veggies and come home wash them and prepare anything we like. Wow folks. That is joy.

Sea salt cardamom hemp lattes. What? I can get them at one place in my little town. I sit there and sip them so slowly and smile away. Joy peeps.

Hubby. In conclusion I must give a shout out to this guy. To watch him be a Godly leader in our family, an amazing father to our kiddos, a husband who works on our marriage....that my friends is Joy. Marriage isn't easy. It takes a lot of work, faith and communication. It is up to us to make it the best we can in this little life we have and bring joy to it.

Joy my lovelies, what is yours? Please share.

Enjoy your day lovelies.

xo jennifer

open floor plan....what's your style?

Our bungalow is an open floor plan and it is all new to me.  If you are considering an open floor plan in your home here are a few of my thoughts.

• I love having a place for everything that I see when I walk through the door. All the beauty that I have accumulated throughout the years right there!
• I enjoy seeing my family and knowing what my kiddos are up to. It helps this mama out and the kids have no idea I am on mama watch when they are on their ipads.
• When I am cooking I get to look out past the living room into the outdoors with our big windows. Even though our space is small, it feels bigger with all the natural light we get.
• If you want privacy with an open floor plan, you must go to your bedroom to get that convenience. Depending on how you look at it, it can be a positive or negative.....I choose positive folks!
• Sometimes it can look like clutter if everything is out, the kids are playing and I am cooking. I have to remember that this is LIVING! So, I think it is more neat-o than not.
• I love color and seeing it in one big space makes me happy.
• I get to see my kiddos a lot, and as a mama who has struggled with infertility what a blessing it is!

My thoughts on bungalow living and an open floor plan. It has been such a fun challenge and I am grateful everyday we get to live like this for now!

Enjoy your day lovelies.

xo jennifer

what the kale?

I never thought kale would be my thing, or green juice...especially hot green juice! I tell you, never say never right?

 I have been a vegan for 3 years now. It all started when I was having a terrible rash on my face for a year and could not figure out what was going on with me. Prior to that year, I was cooking eggs for my kiddos and within seconds my face literally swelled up and I could not understand what the kale was going on!

Well, what was going on was STRESS. Within one year I had had a hysterectomy, traveled to Ethiopia twice, brought a precious baby home through adoption and decided to home school my daughter. WHAT? My body could not handle the stress and between getting the yellow fever vaccine that contains egg protein and having hormonal changes, my body was up to know good. I did allergy testing and an elimination diet. The elimination diet was what helped me notice a difference the most and before you know it, no rash and happy kale going on for me. I decided to take dairy out of my diet because of inflammation. It was a challenge at first, because I used to be the DAIRY QUEEN! I have been a vegetarian most of my adult life, so that part was easy cheesy. Ha...oh the cheese!

I plan on sharing my favorite vegan recipes once in awhile on this little blog. For now, this green juice is easy, yummy and a great way to keep the sickness at bay. Juice apples, celery, ginger, honey, lemon and cinnamon. Served hot or cold....but hot is my fav!

Have a lovely day darlings!

xo jennifer

happy

Pillows make me happy. They are a quick way to add texture, color, and an instant happy feeling. A sofa that is lacking in color can change in an instant with a pillow or two. One of my favorite pillow girls is the talented Shes Happy Design. I love her pillows so much that I literally have to refrain when I see them in our local store or on instagram. Isn't her company name lovely?? Go check out her instagram and etsy loveliness and you will be HAPPY! In the meantime, check out these beauties....

Now go do a little shopping and you and your sofa will be happy!

xo jennifer

lucy

The saying goes...a dog is a man's best friend. I was in denial about this until we were blessed with this little pup. I now understand unconditional love from a furry animal. As some of you know, this little lucy lou is quite dependent on me and it is funny to watch. As you can't see in photos, real life shows her on my hip at all times of the day and snuggled by my side at night. God knew I needed a needy pup as it had been 3 years of trying to get pregnant with no success when we welcomed her into our home. This little creature helped my emptiness feeling and continued to be a strength as my health started to become an issue.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy at 34. My life was crashing down, yet my life was building up as 6 weeks to the date of my surgery we were flying to meet our baby boy for the first time in Ethiopia. My body was in so much pain and my mind was confused. This little pup brought me joy and never left my side as my recovery took almost 6 weeks.

When I look back I really don't understand how I was even allowed to fly and meet my son. God worked a miracle and I believe Lucy helped me heal and keep going. I was depressed and in pain and this little fluff ball kept me sane. God knew what I needed and He provided. He does that you know? Sometimes we can't see it at the moment, but when we look back and see His works it can blow your mind. God is good. All the time.

To you lucy loo, I kind of like you.

xo jennifer

keeping it minimal

Keeping it minimal.....have you ever had those thoughts running through your head? I must keep that, I must give that to someone in need...I need to throw that item out!!! I tend to lean on the side of cleaning out my closet on a regular basis, maybe too regular...

We moved from a 3500 sq foot home last July into a 1485 sq foot home. Keeping it minimal folks. I thought my husband was going to have a panic attack the first night in our new bungalow. I was beaming, smiling ear to ear and he was seriously thinking, this is unbelievable. We live in a town that has become popular, and in case more expensive to live. It was a blessing selling our larger home and we decided to live small and save, travel and be close to one another.....literally.

It has been such a fun challenge for me to keep things at a minimal. When I shop now I have to stop and think, do I really need that? Will it function in our home? Will it look cute, but drive anyone else in the family nuts? My husband is incredibly tolerable and has allowed me to be creative in our bungalow with everything and it has been such blessing for me.

Living small has its challenges.....but I am loving them. Whether you live in a large home, a cottage or an apartment take on the challenge! Look around and ask yourself, does this make me happy? Do I need this? What would make this space more functional? More unique? Start making things happen. Keeping it minimal is the goal and the ultimate goal is happiness.

love it styling

5 years ago....

In Ethiopia, bonding and loving....love has no boundaries.

My son is a blessing to us that I strongly feel was God's plan all along. Our journey began 7 years ago, even before his sweet little self was born. We waited in anticipation for almost 2 years before we got the photo of our precious son. He was so beautiful, and we fell in love at first sight. 

Adoption has a magical component to it and there is a love struck feeling like nothing I have ever experienced. You pray and wonder who your child will be, what they will look like, how old they will be when they are placed in your arms forever....

Our forever was on February 7, 2011. A moment that changed me. A moment that made me more patient, more forgiving, a better mama and wife.  I have asked God many times, how was I so blessed to be a part of a journey like this? How did I get chosen to be his mama? Why me? God is good.

Our journey has been one of incredible lengths of love. Love like this has no boundaries, no structure, and no self help book. It is a journey that has given me the opportunity to see life differently, and to be more accepting of life with less judgement and more love.

A few days after bringing him home....oh my heart.

We traveled to Ethiopia twice to meet our baby boy. The first time was over Thanksgiving in 2010. What a thankful and most memorable time. The feeling I had when the doors to the orphanage opened as I stood there with 40 children embracing me and not letting go was unbelievable. In one second, life changing.  He had one tear running down his cheek, and so did I. Our lives had just changed for the better. We were in love.

Leaving our baby after being in Ethiopia for a week was like taking my baby from me after birth. As much as it hurt, it gave me a better understanding of how it felt for our baby's birth mama. Adoption has two sides. I am forever humbled and grateful to his birth mama for allowing me to raise him and be his mama. I think of her so often and realize how strong of a woman she was to be able to let her son go to another mama. That my friends, is love.

5 years ago this Sunday we celebrate our boy and our forever family. A day that we are so blessed to have in our lives. A day a special boy became our forever son.

If you have any questions about adoption, please send me an email in the "hello section." I would love to chat.

xo jennifer

Change up your walls without spending more

A piece of artwork given to me by my lovely husband....and of course lucy usually makes it into my photos!

A piece of art is an amazing way to change up a space. It can add a different look, texture and feel to the space without having to spend more and use your budget wisely. I have started switching out my art in my entryway to give it a fresh new look every month or so. Of course my wallpaper from Hygge and West makes this space look unique and inviting. I adore this company and if you are on the hunt for some fantastic wallpaper choices, go visit their site.

A piece of art can tell a thousand words. This painting was done by my grandpa when he was 11 years old. Yep, it is so remarkable as he became a world known scientist from the University of Washington. I love this piece and it has become a staple in our home.

I love how art can add a personal and meaningful touch to any home. If you don't have many pieces, be on the look out. Stores like etsy and minted are great places to start your art shopping. I love finding art from ones you know as well. I will be showing art from my precious daughter soon!

Have a lovely day darlings!

xo jennifer

love it styling

YOU are so enough!

YOU ARE SO ENOUGH!!

I look back to 8 years ago and honestly can say I don't know how it all happened. With grace and maturity I now know this is life. Life happens. It can feel as though you are in a storm that doesn't stop and it continues for years and years. You wonder, "why me?" Am I good enough? Strong enough? Christian enough? Talented enough? Healthy enough? So on and so on. You struggle with the reality of all the prayers and living life to the best you know how and in the end it seems to not matter, at least that is what you think. IT does matter. You are good enough. You are strong enough. You are Christian enough. You are talented enough. You are healthy enough. The mind can tell you ugly things and can convince you of the worst possible outcomes. It is up to you to not compare, to not judge, or overwhelm yourself with negativity. It is hard, so hard....especially when things are not going as planned.

I believe this life was given to us to struggle. When I seem to be at my lowest I am closer to God and I lean on others for support. It is such a mixed up feeling. Feeling so low, but feeling so comforted at the same time. Have you been there? Are you there now? Please know you are good enough and you have a choice. Choices are an incredible gift we are given. We can choose our behavior. Let me say that one more time, we can choose our behavior. We are given that gift and what a blessing that is.

8 years ago I struggled with my body....it wasn't doing what it was suppose to do. The story began and the story still continues. I look forward to sharing this story with you as my blog goes along. This outlet for me is going to be so good. I hope it is for you too. Some stories you might like, some you might ignore. In the end I hope you can say to yourself. I AM GOOD ENOUGH. You can find this darling shirt here.

xo jennifer

darling i love

To dance!! My heart out!! I have loved to dance since being a little girl. I remember my dad playing records (Yep...they are back again) and I would grace the floor in my tutu and prance up and down our little living room like a ballerina from New York. I took ballet and jazz lessons growing up and when I was in high school I hit the big leagues...... Wait for it..... cheerleading and dance team!! Oh the memories. As a mama, my kiddos only know me as a dancing mother and our dance parties sometimes consist of glow in the dark wand sticks and an incredible amount of giggles.

I write this as an encouragement to you to step out of the box sometimes. Let go and have fun. The best dance parties I have had are by myself with the music at top notch and me looking like a wild woman. Man does it feel good, incredibly good and a free feeling like nothing else.

So now, I dare you....you know you have a favorite song or two....go for it. Dance your heart out. You might even smile...I double dare you :)

Have an incredible weekend darlings! p.s. you can find my crazy dance moves on the bottom of this page...

xo Jennifer

inspire

Gratitude. What makes you grateful? Peace. What give you peace? Thankful. Is that the same as gratitude? I have always been a sensitive soul. I was born with it, just ask my mama. I tend to feel others feelings even more so than they do at times....or so I think. This sensitivity can be a huge positive aspect in my life or it can be negative. It depends how I chose to look at it and how I respond to certain situations. I believe God gave me this talent and I need to use it on a daily basis. If you are a sensitive soul, use it for good. It can make others around you feel gratitude, peace and thankful. My little thoughts for today.

xo jennifer

love it styling

How do you decorate? Do you use simple whites or colorful patterns? Textures or clean lines? I tend to enjoy an eclectic mix of patterns and colors. I find joy in styling my own home day after day. I know, you might be thinking really?! It is amazing how moving one little object to another place can make a dramatic difference in your home.

Similar items like above can be found here and here.

Enjoy your day darlings, xo jennifer

hello darlings.....

How fun is this! A website, a blog and a little space in this big big world that I can call mine. Darlings......I love it!!! The name came to me after using 'Love it' as my home styling business for the past couple of years. I knew I wanted to expand a little more, but I wasn't sure how it would all come to place. Darling I love it will be a space of inspiration, my life, food, a little fashion and for sure some fun. It will be an online journal for me and my hope for you the reader is to feel inspired and encouraged. We are saturated with negativity in this society and my prayer for this space is to bring a smile to your face.

Speaking of a smile, today I turned 40. Who knew this day would come?! I was so excited for today as my sweet hubby took the day off as we were going to adventure around our little mountain town. I guess I needed a day of rest instead as I woke up this morning to balloons and a fever. What!!? As my 30's have shown me, life is up and down and sometimes we just have to make a choice to be ok and content. I struggled today and I didn't think my first entry would be like this....but I also believe it is good to be REAL. Can I get an AMEN?

I did get to have a little vegan ice cream, blow out candles, open some pretty amazing gifts like what I am typing on now...hint hint. Hugs from my kids, texts, songs, emails, fb messages, IG messages, cards under my doormat, in the mail, friends stopping by with flowers and gifts....so peeps...I am 40 and I am grateful.

My morning looked like this....thanks hubs and kids. Love you family.

xo jennifer