Shopping for Spring & Summer

Hello Hello!

How are you guys doing? It’s a lovely evening over here and i’m currently sipping tea, watching Fixer Upper, and shopping for spring/summer! Since i’m pregnant, my wardrobe has simplified in a huge way. i’m gravitating towards easy lounge sweats, comfortable & classic shoes, and simple silhouettes. My go-to outfits are either leggings and a classic oversized button up blouse, a long floral dress, or a sweat set paired with high-tops.

It’s easy while pregnant to not feel very stylish or put together and so i’m putting extra intention into getting dressed everyday in pieces that make me feel good. I’ve also been making every effort to be mindful of my purchases and only purchase new items that I know I will wear and love for years to come. I have put together a mood board of pieces I am looking into adding into my wardrobe this season and I thought I would share! None of these pieces are maternity but will work great throughout my pregnancy and after. Would love to know your thoughts! Are you shopping at all this season? I’d love to know whats on your wishlist!

A lil update...

Hi friends!

Wow, it has been a long time since i’ve written a blog post. To be 100% honest, I never knew if I would write a blog post again. There’s a lot i’ve been wanting to share but there’s also so much to update you all on and so I felt like I needed to write an ‘update’ post before I started sharing any other type of content.

Last time I was writing blog posts, we were living in Hawaii, my baby was only about 8 months old, and I was struggling big time. Becoming a mother and then covid-19 hitting all within three months rocked me to my core. We were supposed to be getting out of the army but when covid hit, all our plans changed. Alongside those stressors, I was struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. It hit me almost over night, but once it came, it came in unrelenting waves that I could not seem to shake. Sadly, I did not have the support I needed in Hawaii to help me overcome this mental battle I was struggling with. I became even more isolated and barely left my house. It took every ounce of energy inside me to just take care of my new baby. I lived in paralyzing fear but I did not know how to talk about it, so I stayed silent. I would tell loved ones that I was going through a hard time but I had no idea how to express the gravity of the situation I was facing. It was a really really hard time.

Leaving Hawaii saved me. We came back to our hometown in Southern California in the middle of September and Wynn Leigh and I stayed with family while my husband went to an 8 week army training. Being back in the familiarity of family and old friends made me come to terms with just how bad I was struggling. I started going to a new counselor and I opened up to my loved ones about what I was going through. The love and acceptance I felt from them all was so healing. Slowly, day by day, I began feeling better. It’s been a long process but I am so grateful for where I am today.

Throughout the last year, I questioned everything. Should I shut down my blog and delete my Instagram? During the months of constant struggle, the pressure I put on myself to ‘keep up’ was unbearable. I wanted to just delete everything and never show my face online again. Sometimes I still feel that way, to be honest. But I always kept coming back to a love for sharing, connecting, and creating. I love creating beautiful things. I love sharing my favorite new finds and connecting with other wives, mama’s, and business owners. There are so many beautiful aspects about social media when you can consume it in small doses and not let it change you or your perception of yourself.

Back to the update… After my husbands 8 week army training, we purchased our first home in Tacoma, WA where my husband is currently stationed. We bought a 100 year old fixer-upper in the cutest neighborhood. Sadly, because of all the renovations it needed, Wynn Leigh and I have stayed in CA while my husband is in WA working and fixing up the house. It’s been weird having my family separated for so long and I am so ready to be reunited. At the same time, I am so grateful for all the time I have had at home in California. I feel like I have found myself again.

I am finishing this blog post about three weeks later and we are now settled in to our new home in WA! I couldn’t be more excited to be reunited as a family again and to be starting this new adventure.

This almost year long break of taking time offline was so influential for me. It really solidified my purpose and what I want to share going forward. I still want to share wellness content, favorite recipes, and beauty posts, but I also want to share more about motherhood, marriage, and our life in the military. If you are still reading this post, thank you so much! I am so grateful for my online friends and I really do love sharing my life with you all.

Stay tuned for more content coming soon…

Summer Accessories with Hip Optical

Hi hi friends! It’s been a minute since i’ve blogged! It’s honestly been really nice to take a little break. This blog has always been simply a fun creative outlet for me and I want to keep it that way! I do plan on blogging more soon but i’ve realized recently that especially as a mama, it’s so important to keep my priorities in check. All that being said, I've been shopping for my Summer capsule and I wanted to share some of my favorite new things with you all! I feel like summer time is when I break out my colorful statement earrings, lots of bangles, fun sandals, and bright sunnies! Speaking of sunglasses, Hip Optical sent me the cutest clear sunglasses that i’ve been wearing non-stop! (pictured above). I thought I would just round up my favorite summer accessories! Enjoy! xx

A note on May

Hi friends! Happy May!

How are you doing?! I feel a sense of hope and excitement for this upcoming month. Even though I know it’s a long road ahead with tackling Covid-19, i’m feeling hopeful as some businesses begin to open again, and life is slowly inching itself back to normal-ish. Lately, i’ve been thinking a lot about how ‘normal’ is probably a thing of the past. Yes, things will open again and people will go back to living life as usual but I can’t help but wonder if i’ll ever go out in a large crowd and not feel somewhat paranoid. Will we all continue to wear masks? Will travel always be worrisome? How long with the virus we around? I think to some degree, nothing will ever be truly ‘normal’ again. We will create a new normal and that’s okay.

As ‘Quarantine Season’ starts to dissipate, I don’t want to lose all the new rituals and routines i’ve created during it that bring me so much joy. I want to continue to eat mostly at home and bake gluten free sourdough bread. I want to continue to read books and immerse myself in everything that lights my soul on fire. For so many years I idolized work, success, accomplishment, and a finished to-do list. In this season I want to continue to pursue rest. I’m learning to BE and it’s been the most beautiful journey so far.

This month, specifically, I want to continue get outside as much as possible and hike and swim with my family. The weather is so beautiful this time of year and so I plan to spend time in nature every single day. I also plan to read a couple of novels. I often switch back and forth between novels and non-fiction and i’m on a novel kick these days. You can find all my favorite reads on my Amazon Shop!

I’m also stepping up my wellness routine this month because I just ordered a portable sauna!!!!!!!! I’ve been a sauna lover for years and have really been missing it since the gyms have closed. I started researching the best and most cost-effective portable sauna’s and i’m so excited about the one I picked out.

I’m also adding to gua sha to my beauty arsenal and I just ordered a jade roller and paddle to add into my nightly beauty routine. I’ll probably post a tutorial on my insta stories so stay tuned for that!

Currently inspired by these…

Whatever May brings you way, I hope you choose to see the positive. I hope you flourish and bloom where you are planted. Let’s all continue to use this time to focus on what’s really important and not lose sight of it.

Happy May!