Friday Favorites

It's Friday!

Hooray!

Matt is taking me out to celebrate Mother's Day tonight and I am so excited. Pretty sure we are gonna throw it back old school and go eat at our favorite steak house we used to go to for special events in college. They have the most delicious rolls on the face of the planet. So what else could you want?

Today I wanted to share a few things that I'm loving right now...

First up?!

These shorts! I have been HUNTING a pair of shorts like these and every time I saw what looked to be the right pair, they were like $90. I just can't spend $90 on ripped up denim. I just can't. Target had my back and had these distressed cut offs in stores this week. I almost didn't even try them on because they were high rise and when I read high rise, I usually translate to "wedgy". But I sized up a size planning to wear these at my waist and they're so perfect. Not to mention they were under $25. That's what I'm talking about.

This smoothie... 

Recipe:

8 oz water

1 cup raw spinach

1/2 avacado

1 banana

1 cup frozen mango

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 TBS coconut oil

1 TBS collagen protein (see below)

It is like a tropical oasis in a cup and it's GOOD FOR YOU. I'm not kidding. It's the best.

OK so speaking of collagen protein... we were kind of, right? I add it to all my smoothies and it has a ton of health benefits. You can't taste it. It dissolves easily. And just LOOK at some of the health benefits:

• regulates metabolism
• enhances the body's ability to repair connective tissue 
• supports healthy cell function

I mean, you had me at "regulates metabolism" but it's also made my hair and nails stronger and has cleared up my skin. So I'd say it's a winner. I love this kind from amazon.

Last, but not least, I want to share my absolute favorite tank top ever in the history of the world. It's so soft but still pretty sturdy. It fits like a dream and it comes in a bunch of different colors.

That's it for today! I hope you have an amazing Mother's Day weekend!!

Laura

Mother's Day

Buying gifts for mom can be tricky. Especially Mother's Day gifts. This day is so sweet and sentimental and it carries so much weight. Celebrating the woman who brought you into the world, potty trained you, fed you every meal, kissed your boo boos, and sang you to sleep is a big deal. Hug coupons aren't gonna cut it anymore, kids. We can do better.

Me and my mommy at the beach last year

If your mom is anything like mine (if you're lucky, she is. Mine is awesome) then she loves gifts that mean something. It wouldn't matter if I gave her a new wreath for her front door or a gift certificate for a massage, as long as I told her why I gave her the gift, she would love it. When she knows I put thought into the gift I gave her, that's what speaks volumes. Because isn't that what this day is all about? Honoring the one who has spent millions of her thoughts thinking of you? 

My gift for my mom this year is really simple. I got her a few special things for her kitchen that I noticed she needed when we were baking together last Christmas. Practical and pretty. Two things that she and I both appreciate.

But another part of her gift has been coordinating a dinner with all her girls (I have five sisters) so we can spend some quality time together. My mom told me once that as we have gotten older, she has feared we wouldn't want to spend time with her anymore. It's actually quite the opposite! I want to spend more time with my mom now than I ever have. But I can say those words all day. If I don't help plan time to spend with my mom, my words fall flat.

So don't be mad but I really don't have a "one size fits all, buy this for your mom and she'll stay happy til next year" gift list. I wouldn't know where to start because only you know your mom. My only suggestion is to think about her. Like really think. What makes her smile. What makes her light up. If you don't know, then ask her.

I think now that I am a mom I can connect so much better with my mom. I have a tiny little understanding of what it must have been like for her to give and give and expect nothing in return. But also to know how gratifying it is to get something in return from the people you love the most in the world.

Maybe it's a hand-written note, maybe it's just a one on one dinner out. Maybe it's a shopping trip where you help her pick out some clothes. Maybe all these things sound exhausting because you don't have the best relationship with your mom. What if this year you extended the hand of friendship to her as your gift? Talk about the gift that keeps on giving...

Whatever you choose to get for your mama this year, my hope is that we will all take some time to really think about how our moms have given of themselves and celebrate them for that. Even in their imperfections, they are still ours. So let's love them well this Mother's Day.

Laura

Styling the Swing Dress

Hi! Happy Monday to you!

Hope you had a great weekend!

We went to dinner and a movie Friday night, which was so fun. I haven't been to a movie since-- ok I can't even remember. It's been that long. I even decided that I was going to get a cherry coke but after one sip, I changed my mind. Not worth it.

Saturday morning I went to a baby shower and then we played outside pretty much the rest of the afternoon. Forecast was calling for a rain in the ATL for the next few days so we had to be sure to soak up as much sun as possible!

We ate dinner out on the patio at our favorite greek restaurant on Saturday night. It is a hole in the wall but the food is amazing. You know when a self proclaimed ambiance snob is willing to overlook the environment for the sake of the food, that means its real good.

Sunday morning we had brunch and then enjoyed a day of rest since it was pretty yucky outside. We decided to take a few weeks off from church since Matt's been dealing with so many health hurdles but we are all pretty excited to get back into the swing of our normal Sunday schedule.

Sunday night we had Mexican and watched Wheel of Fortune because we are THAT COOL.

Enough about me, let's talk about dresses!

The Swing Dress

I love this style. Its affordable. It's versatile. It's COMFORTABLE. It's just the perfect addition to your wardrobe. One of my favorite things to do with friends and clients is to show them all the different ways they can wear items in their closets. Once you fill your closets with the right basics, you're in business. This dress is a must!

Day Time

I wrapped my denim jacket around my waist but you could also use a printed button down as well to add some color.

Night Time

Same dress but this time I threw on these comfy heels from Dress Up, added a statement necklace, and lost the hat and the jacket. Also switched out my cross body for a striped clutch.

Old Navy has this style in black, black and white stripe,blue and black stripe, and olive and black stripe. I need them all.

Hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by! 

Laura

Sources:

Dress: Old Navy

Jacket: Old Navy

Converse: Converse Outlet

Leather Cross Body: Target

Hat: My husbands closet ;-)

Heels: Dress Up

Necklace: Dress Up

Clutch: Kate Spade

Friday Favorites

Hi!

We just got back from the sweetest little girly lunch at The Swan Coach House and while the girls are napping, I wanted to share a few of the things I'm really loving right now.

1. Southern Living: Do you have a subscription? If not, you need one. It's just the best piece of happy mail and such a highlight to find it in my mailbox each month. But even if you're not into all things Southern, I highly recommend finding a magazine you do love and getting a monthly subscription. When it comes each month, it forces you to find a minute to slow down and enjoy. That, my friends, is good for the soul. We got ours through Magazines.com at a discounted rate. They also send tons of coupons if you sign up for their email.

2. The color Red: I know, so random. But you guys! Red is not just reserved for Christmas and Valentines Day! I'm loving using pops of red in my decor and my outfits. I even pulled out my favorite Kate Spade that Matt gave me a few years ago. At first I thought it was too "heavy" of a color for Spring but that's pretty silly as evidenced by how cute it looks with my May Southern Living.

3. Izze Sparkling Grapefruit: I got these on sale at Target this week because they don't have any added sugar and the rest of the ingredients are pretty clean. Hooray. But they are SO GOOD. Especially if you're like me and don't drink carbonation at all. Now we have something fun to drink with mexican because carbonation and mexican? Yes, please.

4. Smashbox Shadow Primer: I got this stuff months ago and it's one of the best additions to my makeup bag. I promise you, the eye makeup will not MOVE if you apply this first. I got mine at Ulta and I think it'll be especially awesome during those sweaty summer days.

We have a pretty chill weekend ahead, which I'm thrilled about. Weather is supposed to be beautiful here so if you're looking for us, we will be outdoors.

Coming up next week on the blog... styling my absolute favorite: swing dresses!

Happy weekend, sweet friends!

Laura

Remember

Hi, friend!

Happy hump day! Hope your day is going well.

First off, just want to say THANK YOU for stopping by my blog today. I get so much joy out of sharing a little bit of my heart here and I'm grateful to have you follow along.

I wanted to share a bit about how I stay on top of keeping some of my favorite moments alive. My kids say and do some amazing things on the regular (ok I think they're amazing) and one of my biggest fears is that I'll forget these precious little things they do. I want to be able to look back and recall the nuances of their personalities, especially as they develop so quickly through these early years. I also want them to be able to have some good reading material for when they're older... wink wink.

So what I started doing is keeping a memory journal right by my bed. So whenever something they do is especially funny or cute, I write it down. I also like to write little love notes to them pretty frequently so that they can read about all the things I appreciated and loved about them as they were growing up.

I think the key here is keeping my book out as a reminder to keep adding to it and keeping it convenient by always having a pen close by. I mean what a HUGE inconvenience to actually have to walk to the kitchen to get a pen. Aint nobody got time for that.


I love love love these notebooks from Rifle Paper Co.

But remember you don't have to make it complicated. Just start somewhere.

We are the memory keepers for our family so having these little moments written down for future enjoyment is so important!

Hope you have a fun Wednesday!

Laura