Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!!!  I'm always happy to see a Friday come around each week, but this one is kind of sad because it is our last Friday of the summer.  Our kids start back to school next week and although there is a small part of each of us that is ready, I would have happy if summer lasted at least a few more weeks. Sharing a quick Friday Favorites today and wishing everyone a great weekend!

We completed our second summer of all-star baseball and it was SO much fun! We love our team and some of those baseball moms have become some of my best friends.  I love, love, love watching my little guy play a sport he loves.

Some people think we are crazy to want to spend our entire summer at the ball fields, but it is really one of my very favorite things about summer!

My favorite pink cut-off shorts were restocked and they are on sale!!!  They are going fast, so if you didn't get to grab them last time, now is your chance!  

shorts//tank//sandals 

They are called high-waisted shorts, but they aren't at all and I got my regular size.  The fit is great and they are so comfortable!  

My next favorites are these awesome snake skin platform sandals.  I had been looking at them online for a while and wasn't sure how the quality and comfort would be, but they far exceeded my expectations.  They are really well made and so comfortable.  I loved the snake skin print, but they come in a bunch of different prints and colors and are so affordable!

sandals

Speaking of favorite shoes, this week I took my oldest to do a little back to school shopping and she feel in love with these.  We were actually both going for them she grabbed a pair before I could!  I've passed my love of animal print on to her and I just wish we wore the same size.  These are actually the same brand and my sandals so I found them online, too! I give myself just about a week or two before I'll be twinning with her.  I tried them on and would recommend sizing up 1/2 size.


Cheetah Wedge Sneakers 

Last fall I feel in love with these turquoise studs from James Avery and they immediately became my favorite small earrings to wear.  Somehow I lost one and was SO sad.

I had decided to order some more and noticed that they also come in Navy now!  James Avery was nice enough to send me both pairs and I've been wearing them all summer long.  I love all of their colorful pieces this summer and you can check them all out HERE.

I have a new favorite pair of workout shorts!  I had been searching for a plain black pair and absolutely LOVE these.  They have a thick elastic waistband that is soft and doesn't cut into your sides (such a must for me!).  

They are a great length, have a really flattering tulip hem and the material is really lightweight.  I've been wearing them on repeat!  They come in several colors so I may end up ordering another pair! 

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Fashion Fix: Wear Your Love Story

Thank you James Avery for sponsoring this post. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own. 

Valentine's Day has never really been a big holiday that the Mr. and I celebrate.  When we were in high school and college we'd go to dinner and get each other a card or something small, but that was about it.  Now that we have kids though, our focus has shifted.  Like everything, Valentine's Day is more fun with children!  We like to make it all about our kids and our love for them.  Last year I shared the idea of little love notes that I left for my kids each day of February leading up to Valentine's Day. I shared with them reasons I loved them and they absolutely adored this.  They all saved them and I find them looking at them from time to time which is just the sweetest.

Even though this stage of our lives are busy, active and can be exhausting at times, it's sweet little moments and memories like this that ground me and make me realize just how blessed I am.  For as long as I could remember all I wanted to be was a mom.  Some women have great career ambitions or lofty goals they want to succeed at, but for me, I really always knew I just wanted to be a mom.

I absolutely adore these three and feel so lucky to get to be their mom.  The Mr. and I always joke how boring life would be without them.  They make us laugh, keep us on our toes, and bring more joy than we ever could have imagined.

When James Avery invited us to see their Valentine's Day new releases I was so excited. I had spent sometime checking out their catalog and found so many pieces that represented my love for my kids.

I'm so happy I was able to see their jewelry in person because some things look totally different in pictures than they do in person.

I absolutely adored these Vintage Alphabet Pendants. Because each of my kids' names start with the same letter I considered getting an "H" pendant with the heart. 

Then I happened to see this black double wrap leather bracelet and knew this is what I would get!  Most James Avery pieces are silver and more traditional in style, but I loved that this was a little different. It felt very trendy and I knew I would be able to personalize it to be meaningful to me. 

I considered some of the many charms they offer, but then an idea popped in my head when I spotted these colorful gemstone and enhancer beads. 

The sweet woman working at the store helped me choose beads that represented each of my three kids' birthstones.  

Then she explained to me the charms and beads would be soldered on (free of charge) and helped me to arrange the beads how I wanted them. 

I decided to add one more thing to my bracelet and went with the Vintage Type "h" charm.  Since each of my kids' names begin with an H I knew this would be the final touch. 

I went back two days later to pick up my bracelet and could not love it more.  I love that I was able to personalize it the way I wanted.  It truly tells my love story.  Each time I look down at it I see a bead for each of my children and it makes me smile.  

I feel like this bracelet is more than just jewelry. It is a way for me to wear my love story!

James Avery offers so many ways to tell your love story. It is so interesting to see and hear all of the ways customers use jewelry in a way that is meaningful to them.  THIS STORY was the February customer story of forever...a tear jerker for sure.  It is sad, but a must watch because it is also so very sweet.  So special to see how James Avery plays a big role in remembering a loved one.  

What is your love story?  Share your own using #MyJamesAvery on social media!  

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A Charmed Christmas {James Avery Giveaway}

Thank you James Avery for sponsoring this post and giveaway!  All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.  

When my girls were really little my Mother-in-law started the tradition of taking them to see the Nutcracker each December.  It was always a local production and such a fun tradition to start.   the girls were really little my mother-in-law and I have taken them to see the Nutcracker. 

One of her friends helped behind the scenes so after the show the girls got to go back stage and see some of the props and how they make the production come together.

For several years we attend the same production and it became such a fun holiday tradition.  Gigi had a big collection of Nutcrackers that she displayed every Christmas and the kids always loved playing with them and admiring all the different ones. 

When the girls were in Kindergarten and second grade we started attending a different local production of the Nutcracker and the first year I was able to surprise them because they didn't know where we were going or who we were going with.  When we got there they realized we were meeting some of their best friends!  

And this local production holds a tea before the show so they enjoyed eating yummy snacks, getting their faces painted and meeting some of the characters and dancers from the show. 

It is such a special holiday tradition and we love getting all dressed up in fun holiday attire and spending the afternoon having a girls day! 

When my in-laws moved a few years ago, Gigi asked me if I would like her Nutcracker collection.  Their new home didn't have a good place to display them and I was SO happy that she offered them to me because the kids love seeing them all over the house.

I love decorating with items that have meaning to my and my family and that is definitely the case with these nutcrackers.  Plus, not only does it remind me of the fun girls tradition we started years ago, but they are also so colorful and each one unique.   

The details of each one are amazing and so intricate. 

I also love all of the variations like this skiing Nutcracker I have on my porch! 

Just like being a big fan of things around my home that have meaning, jewelry can do the same.  James Avery contacted us and asked if we would like to take a look at their Christmas Charm Collection and we jumped at the idea.  James Avery is known for having pieces that are a symbol of faithfulness and the comforts of strong held beliefs. I loved that their collection tells a story and for me the nutcracker charm was perfect choice to constantly remind me of those special times with my girls.  

There are so many beautiful charms that I'm sure everyone could find something special that helps them connect with a holiday memory and their own story.  I loved this story of a woman's family tree bracelet and how she has been collecting and adding to it for 30 years!!!  So special and such great way to tell a story through jewelry!  

I'm so excited to announce that through our partnership with James Avery we will be giving away a nutcracker charm just like this one to one lucky follower!  To enter you'll need to head to Instagram and share your own Christmas story or memory.  Winner will be announced on Saturday, December 16th so don't wait!  

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