Tag Archives: Mom Blog

Straw Hats + Boyfriend Jeans…for blackberry picking and chasing light!

I’ve been meaning to go pick blackberries for…about a month!! Most of the obvious places are picked over now, but I did a shoot at one of my favorite “best kept secret” spots last weekend, and…what was there?? BLACKBERRY BUSHES! A lot of them. Basically untouched, and randomly overgrown, because I never remember them being there in years past!

SO…I asked Maya the other day. Would you rather go to a park with slides or go pick blackberries? She picked blackberries and I was SO excited! I knew that meant we were going to one of my favorite spots, and…she got blackberries. Win for both of us! Between her eating them as I picked and me getting tired of being pricked… the actual “picking” didn’t last long! Then we were both done picking, and it was time to play 🙂 Blog Mignon Yellow Flower Dress White Converse-1

On me…

Top- The LB Brand “Muscle Tank”

Jeans- Current Elliott “Boyfriend in Loved Destroy” (thrifted)

Shoes- Converse (thrifted)

On Maya…

Dress- Mignone (thrifted)

Leggings- Mini Boden (thrifted)

Shoes- Converse (thrifted)

Keeping it Real…

I was “Snapping” (lkahan-ditelle) how we shoot our adventures with the self timer and tripod, and… 🙂

She’s not used to me wearing hats, so… Blog Outtake-2

This happens a lot. I set up the timer and ask if she wants to play or chase me…and then she runs off in the other direction 🙂 Blog Outtake-3

(all pictures taken with a self timer/shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Classic…White Top + Denim (And…chasing the golden hour)

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We escaped to Whistler BC over the weekend to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary (which is TODAY!!), and it was AMAZING!! The trip started off rocky… We had originally planned to leave first thing Friday morning. The night before, as I was packing, I got out my passport. EXPIRED!! UM…. Long story short. Lots of frustrated tears on my part. I felt so stupid for letting it expire, and not checking sooner. I was SO bummed that we wouldn’t be able to get away, because a) Anniversary b) the Huz has been working 70+ hour work weeks, and I’ve been working a lot too. c) Maya was so excited to go back up! Through all my crying and being upset, Maya was a total positive rock!

“Mommy, come here and give me a hug. I will make you happy again!!”

Not once did she get upset that the trip was cancelled (or so we thought). I ended up calling the 24 hour passport hotline, and got myself an apt at the Seattle Passport Agency the next morning. I drove to our local drugstore and got my new passport photo taken at 9:30 at night (all red puffy eyes and all-sweet….). I drove down a few hours early of my apt and got there right when they opened. They took me early, and I was in and out in 30 minutes. I was told to come back at 2pm and pick up my new passport! Well…I ended up having to wait an hour and a half, BUT…a new passport in 7 hours??!!! I was BEYOND THANKFUL! We ended up getting into Whistler around 9, but had the best day and a half after that!! Maya didn’t want to leave 🙂

ALL THAT ASIDE…here are some pictures I took the week before we left…

If there is one combo that stands the test of time, it’s a white top with denim.

You can dress it up, you can dress it down, it looked good in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s (ok, you get my drift) It still looks good now, and it’s a constant fall back for me when I don’t want to think about what I’m wearing. Blog Marc Jacobs Top Current Elliott String Bean Salt Water Sandals-1 My creative energy was renewed after our last outing during the golden hour a few days earlier.

I’d been so busy with work, camps, lessons, and life that we hadn’t done many outings, and I was shocked at how much my mood improved just by getting out with Maya and taking personal pics again.

Blog Marc Jacobs Top Current Elliott String Bean Salt Water Sandals-4 Needless to say, I was in a great mood after this night too!! And it just makes me SO happy to see her playing and running around having fun!!! Blog Hanna Andersson Gauzy Cover Up Dress Gold Salt Water Sandals-1 Ok, a little photography talk here. I absolutely love that you can manipulate an image just by where you stand in relation to the sun.

In the above image, I was in the sun and Maya was in the shade. Hence the hazy sun flare.

The below image, Maya is just over a few feet, but I stepped into the shade too. Blog Hanna Andersson Gauzy Cover Up Dress Gold Salt Water Sandals-2 On me…

Top- Marc Jacobs (eBay, similar here)

Jeans- Current Elliott “The String Bean” (thrifted-sold out, similar here)

Sandals- Salt Water Sandals

On Maya…

Dress- Hanna Andersson “Gauzy Cover Up Dress”

Slip- Hanna Andersson “Pure Cotton Eyelet Slip” (thrifted)

Sandals- Saltwater Sandals

Keeping it Real…

I gave the remote to Maya in the beginning, so she’s to thank for the first shot. AND….about 45 shots in the minute after that haha.

And…tossed her right out of the frame-dang it! Blog Outtake-2

Her growling face, which is her new thing… Blog Outtake-3

(all pictures taken with ashutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

LBD…for any occasion!

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I almost didn’t post these pictures, because I totally messed up the focus and stood a crack in the side walk too close, but…whatever.

It was Charlie’s 16th birthday, and we’d had family over for dinner. Charlie got a remote control car from my parents, so we went out to play with it. I’ll blame the excitement over the car for my standing in the wrong spot, and not the wine I had with dinner haha… 😉 Blog Feel the Piece Dress Zara Lace Up Sandals-1 It was hard to distract her from the car, but a good swing usually does it! Practicing her kung fu moves… Blog Mini Boden Dress-1 Blog Mini Boden Dress-2 Super cool that Jackson was able to come over too! So weird not having him in the house anymore… Maya was in heaven having both brothers back for the evening! Blog Charlies 16th Birthday-1 Blog Charlies 16th Birthday-2 SO rare to get all these guys in front of the camera! Blog Charlies 16th Birthday-3

On me…

Dress- Feel the Piece “FreeBird Dress” (eBay)

Sandals- Zara (old, loving these here and here)

On Maya…

Dress- Tea Collection (thrifted, similar here)

Keeping it Real…

And… Here’s me running to get the remote control car in the spot where I should have been standing all along…perfectly in focus haha.

Oh well…

Chambray for the win!

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I’m a big fan of clothing that makes you feel like you’re wearing pajamas! I mean, who isn’t??!

When they are totally cute, that’s an even bigger bonus! Chambray is such a soft fabric, so I’m a fan of just about any article of clothing made out of it. I found these jogger pants at my local consignment store for $15, when I went to drop some clothes off! I had told myself I wasn’t going to buy anything, BUT I had a $13 credit, so… I made an exception! So glad I did, because I’ve worn these twice since buying them less than a week ago haha 🙂 Blog Soft Joie Tank Current Elliott the Jogger Mystique Silver Lace Up Sandals-1 I’ve been going through some serious withdrawals lately. I haven’t had time this summer for our usual outings, and it’s amazing how much it’s affected my mood. On the way home, I made sure to tell Maya how much fun I had with her.

“Me too mama!”

So…I just have to continue to MAKE time. I have to…

That face?!!! Blog Soft Joie Tank Current Elliott the Jogger Mystique Silver Lace Up Sandals-10 Blog Hanna Andersson Twirly Dream Dress Helga Sandals-1 I’ve REALLY missed shooting at the golden hour!! Looooove this next one 🙂 On me…

Top- Soft Joie (ebay, similar here)

Jeans- Current Elliott “The Jogger” (purchased from Funky Jane’s for $15!)

Sandals- Mystique (old, loving these here)

On Maya…

Dress- Hanna Andersson “Twirly Dream Dress” Sold Out

Sandals- Hanna Andersson “Helga Sandal” Sold Out

Keeping it Real…

She can TRY to run away from me… 😉

Hahaha. Her face!!! Blog Outtake-2

(all pictures taken with a shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Summer is kicking my arse…

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Don’t get me wrong. I love summer!! I absolutely love that it stays lighter later, and…ok, that might be the only thing I like right now haha.

I’m a true Northwesterner in that I hate being hot! The idea of going outside to play in the middle of the day, sweating my butt off, and taking 2-3 showers a day. Well, it doesn’t get me very excited.

I’ve also put Maya in camps almost every week, just so I can catch up on client work, BUT…between the travel times on either end, I only really have 2 hours to cram as much as I possibly can in. Maya’s usually pretty tired after camp, because we either play for a few hours after or we’ve gone to the gym for a few hours beforehand. Doesn’t leave much time or energy for our usual “outings”.

A lot of times, it’s just a little walk around our neighborhood after dinner, and that’s ok 🙂 Blog Gap Denim Shirt Ooberswank Cami Goldsign Frontier Leopard Vans-1 I love her little dance kick in the background!!! See her tongue out? Yeah, she kept licking my back…

“Mom, you taste kind of salty!” Um…yeah, sweaty!! ;} Blog Gap Denim Shirt Ooberswank Cami Goldsign Frontier Leopard Vans-9 POOP!!! hahaha. Blog GapKids Tunic Checkered Vans-1

On me…

Shirt- Gap (thrifted)

Top- Ooberswank (Nordstrom Rack, sold out, similar here)

Jeans- Goldsign “frontier” destroyed by me (similar here, similar look here)

Shoes- Vans (thrifted for $6!, sold out, similar here)

On Maya…

Top/Dress- GapKids (thrifted)

Leggings- Children’s Place (thrifted)

Shoes- Vans (thrifted)

Keeping it Real…

And…she just wanted to sit on my leg 😉 Blog Outtake-1

Maya’s new thing is “ROARING!!!” It’s really neat…

But seriously. Every time we see someone (on a walk, on the street, on the way to the gym)

It’s either…”You know I’m the princess of the world” quickly followed by…

“I’m also a vampire.”

And…after we leave said people she says…

“Mom, you know we can’t talk to the humans, because we are creatures (or vampires)”

She really has the best imagination ever. And thankfully…is NOT scared of vampires 🙂 Blog Outtake-2

(all pictures taken with a self timer/shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Happy Birthday to me! {42}

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I don’t know about other Mom’s, but usually on the rare occasion that I go out at night- I’m still sitting in my sweats, hair a frizzy mess, no make up on, and NO idea what I’m wearing…about 20 minutes before we are due to head out the door.

So, of course, there are rarely pictures of me all done up in my “going out” clothes here.

#momlife

This past Friday, we went out early on a double date with my parents, and we actually got home before 9! It was the first time we left Maya with her youngest (oldest brother 15) as her babysitter!!

Honestly, it was perfect! We had an amazing time, ate a LOT of delicious food, drank some amazing wine, and rode the bus home (um, so fun and way cheaper!!)

AND…another total upside? I could run outside and take a few pictures while it was still light!

blog Ella Moss Geometric Silk Dress Ugg Espadrilles-1 And then, Maya all ready in her jammies, came out for a few!

I swear it’s a toss up between what’s better…

Going out and having your kid put to bed when you get home…

AND…

Having them still up when you get home, so you can hug and kiss them before they go to bed.

BOTH = HEAVEN.

I happened to capture the latter, and I’m so glad that I did! blog Ella Moss Geometric Silk Dress Ugg Espadrilles-4 Oh, and her nightgown is a 9-10 hahaha. I knew she’d love it, so I thrifted it for $3!!!

I kid you not, she’s picked it out of a stack of (I’m too embarrassed to say) 75% of the time since… So, clearly. Nightgowns for the win as far as Maya is concerned! Blog Mini Boden Night gown-1 I can’t even… Blog Mini Boden Night gown-2 Blog Mini Boden Night gown-3

On me…

Dress- Ella Moss (thrifted)

Sandals- Ugg (thrifted, similar here)

On Maya…

Nightgown- Mini Boden (thrifted, but similar here)

Keeping it Real…

Of course the minute I go out to take pictures, my neighbor walks by with is dog…

AWKWARD!!

(all pictures taken with a self timer/shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Thrifted Crop Flare Overalls (!!!) + Twirl Dresses Forever {and another Low Tide Adventure}

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I will always love overalls! I think I actually owned this pair in a couple of colors back in the 90’s! I just recently thrifted them for $6, so I have no idea from what era they originate. I love that they are a little cropped (not sure if they are supposed to be??), and they are beyond comfy! Blog Gap Crop Flare Overalls Gold Salt Water Sandals-1 I’m not 100% sure how I found Crew & Lu, but I’ve been following her on Instagram for a while now. Uyen is freaking hysterical, and she makes the most adorable clothing!! A few weeks ago, she had 60% off almost her entire inventory, and I jumped at the chance to get a few things for Maya.

When we opened the box, Maya “Ooooohed and aaaaaaahed!” She kept saying “Oh, THANK YOU MOMMY! These are amazing!” I may have gotten a couple of dresses… 🙂 Blog Crew and Lu Cloud Grey Everyday Dress Salt Water Sandals -1 LOVE the back on this dress!!And the twirl factor is off the charts. A total win in Maya’s book 😉

On me…

Overalls- Gap (thrifted, similar here and here)

Sandals- Salt Water Sandals

On Maya…

Dress- Crew & Lu (sold out, but so many other cute dresses)

Shoes- Salt Water Sandals “Surfer”

Keeping it Real…

Normally when we go to the beach, she just runs, plays, FALLS, and splashes around. She was so nervous about getting her dress dirty though that she kept holding it up.

Thankfully, she had her swim suit on underneath 😉 Blog Outtake

(all pictures taken with a self timer/shutter release and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Low tide + Adorable Rash Guards

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Having had two skin cancer diagnoses in the last year, I’m pretty fanatical now about sun screen or covering up both Maya and myself.

I stumbled upon Swim Zip a few years ago when we were heading to Hawaii for a family vacation. I got Maya a few sets, and DIED when we got them. SO CUTE!!

I’ve been buying them ever since, and we always get compliments! Btw, this is not a sponsored post!! I just really love them!

That little ruffle on the butt??!! Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-1

I didn’t get a good picture of the front, because she was constantly running away from me haha. BUT… the thing that initially sold me was the fact that they zip all the way up the front!!! It makes getting them on (and more importantly OFF) super easy! Even soaking wet-SCORE! Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-2

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-2

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-3

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-4

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-5

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-6

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-7

Blog Purple Swim Zip Cutie Cruiser Rufflle Bottom Low Tide Alki-8

On Maya…

Top- Swim Zip “Cutie Cruiser” in Purple

Bottoms- Swim Zip “Ruffled Bikini Bottom” in Purple

Shoes- Salt Water Sandals “Sun San” in Silver

Keeping it Real…

Over the last few weeks, Maya has tried on several occasions to play with various groups of kids who didn’t want to play with her. Last weekend at a street fair, it got downright cruel. She went up to a girl that she went to school with. She was so excited to see someone she knew, but the little girl happened to be with a few older girls (friends? relatives? siblings?) All the other kids ganged up on Maya and were telling her she wasn’t the little girls friend and started yelling at her to go away. Maya just stood there shocked and kept saying she WAS the girls friend. I honestly stood there shocked for a while, and then ran over to get her. I brought her back with me to stand in line, and the kids kept yelling at her and taunting her until she started crying. Truth be told, I started crying too (ugh, I’m tearing up as I write this!!). It was a few minutes before I could calm us both down. She kept crying “Why are they being so evil to me?!” and she wanted to go yell back at them. I kept telling her that we were there to have fun, and we were about to go on a really fun ride. That she needed to just forget about them, because THEY were the ones not having fun, and we needed to not be around people that didn’t want to be nice. So, we went to another ride, and she met new kids that wanted to play with her. Such a hard cruel world we live in, and I hate that it starts so young. We talked a number of times about how it made her feel when the other kids were mean to her, and to make sure that she never made anyone else ever feel like that. I kept trying to tell her that there will always be people that are mean, but that there are ALWAYS people that are nice too. That she should always try and choose to be the nice person, and to try and always choose to be around the nice people and walk away from the mean ones…

On this day, she tried going up to a few older kids and got shunned again. They were fairly nice about it, but the message was clear.

“We don’t want to play with you.”

UGH. I wish I could always hold her and comfort her, but I know that those days are numbered… Breaks my heart. I love her so… Blog Outtake

(All pictures taken by me)

Faux Fur Vests + Hunter Boots…summer in Seattle.

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We got so spoiled with an amazing May and June. The sun was shining more than it wasn’t, and we kind of forgot what the “norm” was… Now that it’s July, we are all expecting super warm sunny days! And then, the last few days, I’ve had to dig out some winter wear!

Not that I’m complaining. I kind of like the break in the weather. I bought this faux fur vest off eBay for $16 back in April, and I didn’t think I’d get a chance to wear it for a while. I honestly wasn’t sure I’d have the nerve to wear it at atll… I broke it out for the 4th of July, and then turned around and wore it again the next day for this little outing. It’s so fun!! Oddly, it kind of goes with everything, and Maya likes to snuggle up to it, so extra bonus!

Blog Joie Faux Fur Vest Joes Jeans Tunic Goldsign Gray Hunters-1 It was actually pretty cold and windy when we first got to the park. We ate a picnic lunch, and then decided to explore around the low tide. Blog Parka Hanna Andersson Striped Top GapKids Mini Skinny Rain Boots-2 Once again…I had issues with my remote trigger. I made sure to change the batteries right before we left, but didn’t check the batteries. Turns out, one of them had been sitting in our “battery drawer” for a while, and was totally corroded ;{

So, it was back to the self timer, which meant me running back and forth like an idiot. THANKFULLY the beach was pretty empty! Blog Joie Faux Fur Vest Joes Jeans Tunic Goldsign Gray Hunters-4 Blog Hanna Andersson Striped Top GapKids Mini Skinny Rain Boots-6 Blog Lincoln Park Low Tide-8 Then it started getting a little warmer… Blog Joes Jeans Tunic Goldsign Gray Hunters-11 haha. This totally cracks me up. Again….SO glad there weren’t very many people here.

I set up the camera behind Maya, hit the shutter, and then ran out in front to push on her feet. Love that she’s looking back at the camera! Blog Joes Jeans Tunic Goldsign Gray Hunters-12 Maya could literally spend the entire time swinging if I let her. Honestly, in my more honest bad mommy moments, I usually try and go to parks that don’t have swings. She won’t run around and play if they are there.

But…the joy? Hard to say no to that face!! Blog Hanna Andersson Striped Top GapKids Mini Skinny Rain Boots-13 This face is so her. Trying REALLY hard not to smile 😉 Although, this is even MORE her….

LOVE!! Blog Hanna Andersson Striped Top GapKids Mini Skinny Rain Boots-16 On me…

Vest- Joie “Glimmer Faux Fur Vest” (sold out, similar on sale here)

Shirt- Joe’s Jeans (old, short sleeve option here)

Jeans- GoldSign “Mayhem” (old, similar here and here)

Boots- Hunter “Graphite Gloss” (thrifted for $40!)

On Maya…

Jacket- GapKids (thrifted)

Top- Hanna Andersson (thrifted, but similar here)

Jeans- GapKids (thrifted, but similar here)

Boots- (thrifted, but similar here)

Keeping it Real…

hahaha

(all pictures taken with a self timer and tripod, except ones of Maya :))

Boho Vibes…. A new favorite.

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Maya had had morning music camp this whole week, and it’s amazing the difference it made in both our moods. We came to this park to have a picnic lunch, and then just had the best time. Once again…so glad I get to document these days to remember forever.

As a side note, it’s taking a WHOLE LOT OF WILLPOWER not the chop off all my jeans to this length!! I have really short legs for my height, and I usually have to roll all my jeans. LOVE the raw hem trend!!! Blog Free People Two to Tango DL1961 Cindy Dansko Clogs-1 LOVE HER!! One of my favorite shots from the day… Although, I have a few! OMG! Both of our faces here hahahaha.

Dying. Blog Free People Two to Tango DL1961 Cindy Dansko Clogs-6 Another favorite… Blog Tea Collection La Ventana Embroidered Dress Keen Rivington-1 The camp Maya went to was 1.7 miles from our house. She walked there every morning, and 3 out of the 5 days walked home too! SO proud of her!!She wants to pet just about every dog we see. This owner was nice enough to let Maya throw the Frisbee for her dog a few times 🙂 Blog Tea Collection La Ventana Embroidered Dress Keen Rivington-4