Joy in the Simple

Yesterday afternoon the kids and I ran through the sprinkler, and played in the back yard for hours and hours. I watched the kids all hold hands, and jump over the sprayer as it spun in circles. We brought a blanket out, and enjoyed a lunch picnic on the yard. At one point in the afternoon, both my boys sat on my lap on the grass, and we giggled and squealed every time the sprinkler passed over us. It's the simple moments like these that really make me grateful for all that I have. We had nothing on the agenda all day, and it was the most perfect, yet ordinary afternoon. I definitely want to strive to have more "slow" days like that. 

A simple life is a less complicated life. Life isn't always going to be stress free, BUT living simply helps to ease stresses and enjoy life to its fullest. Too often schedules can get overly cluttered, and life can feel too rushed. There's something to be said about a simple, slow way of life. I think some of life's best moments happen, when we put away any distractions and just BE. 

Having a simple way of life, has also helped with our finances. We've been able to become completely debt free, just by using our money wisely and living a more minimal lifestyle. So much of our world is material focused. Don't get me wrong, I love trying new products, wearing new clothes, and all the cute home decor, but being wise with spending has made me even more grateful for what we already own. By living more minimally, we've been able to have a more stress free way of life. 

Living simply makes life more enjoyable. It makes you able to live life to the absolute fullest. 


 "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life."
Proverbs 13:7

"A simple life in the Fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. "

Proverbs 15:16

Enjoying the Journey

Today, we celebrate ten years of marriage. Through the last ten years, I've been able to witness the integrity, God fearing character, and wisdom of my husband. Not only has he shown such great leadership qualities, but he has been extremely wise in leading our family and our finances. Though our marriage is no where near perfect, I can definitely say that it has been a great ride, and I love doing life with this man that God has given me.

When we first got married I had some expectations of how our marriage would look after ten years. And you know what? It looks a lot different than I thought it would. I thought that at this point we would be living in our dream house, and that I'd be a gourmet chef. Well, we aren't living in our dream house yet, and I'm definitely not a gourmet chef (although I've improved!). All jokes aside, our journey to where we are looks a lot different than I thought it would. I realized that the day to day actions in marriage don't always come easy, and we had to make it a point to be intentional with our actions.

Being intentional is deliberately putting the other's needs in front of your own. It's not just saying "I love you", but choosing to love when the other person isn't so lovable. It's not just being kind during the good days, but being patient & kind during the hard days.

Being intentional doesn't always come easy. After having kids, we've had to become a lot more deliberate about scheduling date nights, and one on one time.  One thing that my husband Matt has been so great about being intentional about is calling me during his work day, to see how my day is going. Even if he is having a crazy day at work, he makes it a point to see how I'm doing, and ask how the kids are doing. When he gets home from work, we usually will take a few minutes, and ask about each others day. It's usually a chaotic time of day, and the kids can be super needy. But taking a moment to catch up, is sometimes just what we need before we unwind before the evening.

We've definitely had to learn how to be more intentional over time. It's been a constant learning process, and there's been times when we've let our stubbornness take over.

I know that life is bound to bring some challenges and trials, but I'm so blessed to be able to go through the good and the bad with this guy by my side.

"I found the one whom my soul loves."
Song of Solomon 3:4

Traveling with Toddlers

Family vacations can be so much fun, and a great adventure. I love creating memories, as well as exploring new places. We've been to snowy, cold places with the kids, as well as tropical places with them. Our vacations with kids are definitely A LOT different than our vacations without the kids(and less relaxing!), but I love the memories that we are creating with them.
Here are a few tips for traveling with toddlers:

1.) Double check the weather conditions right before you leave. It may seem like common sense, but there have been so many times when the weather was a lot chillier than we expected. Sometimes if we aren't sure, I'll throw a light jacket into their backpacks, so we can pull it out easily if we need to.

2.) Bring their own backpack with new activities & snacks.  Before every trip, whether it be a plane or car ride, we pack each toddler their own backpack (for our older two anyways). Each backpack has a sippy cup, crackers, new activity books/sticker books, and their favorite stuffed animal or toy. We also will download new apps onto the iPad for them to play as well.

3.) Don't stress about the schedule. I've always been very structured with naps, and the daily routine, but while on vacation it's so hard to stay on schedule. And let's be honest, should there even be a schedule while on vacation? Thankfully, my kids have been pretty easy to travel with, and they will nap really well in the car or in their stroller.

4. Always plan for extra time. Six months ago we took our three toddlers on a Caribbean cruise. It may sound crazy, but it was one of our favorite vacations EVER. When we stopped at different ports, we had to plan out our time accordingly, and make sure that we had enough time to get back on the ship. Between potty breaks, applying sunscreen, and the slower walking pace, it always took a lot longer to get from point A to point B.

5. Travel with extended family or friends. When we went on our cruise, we had my side of the family join us as well. They were able to help out with the kids, so the hubby and I could have some time to ourselves. It definitely helped to make the trip more relaxing. Also, some resorts and cruise ships have awesome childcare options. We went on the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, and the childcare was absolutely amazing (and free). We would use this option when we all wanted to go to dinner or a show kid free. 

Overall, traveling with kids can be a lot more work, but I wouldn't trade having the adventures and memories with the whole family!

Healthy Hair Tips

Whether you are trying to grow your hair out or just maintain it, having healthy hair can make a difference on how you feel. My hair goes through a lot with the amount of styling I do with heat products, so I always try to keep it in as good of shape as possible. Here are a few tips to keep your hair in tip top shape:

1. Get a trim every 3-6 months. 
Saying goodbye to those dry split ends helps to not only make the hair less damaged, but also make it look healthier as well.

2. Let your hair air dry if possible, and shampoo less often.
I usually will shampoo my hair in the evenings every third day and let it air dry. My hair is naturally wavy, and has a lot of frizz, so when it's drying I like look like a cave woman(no joke!). Also, shampooing the hair on a daily basis can really dry out the hair strands. Not to mention, whenever your hair is wet, it is more prone to breakage. Skipping a day(or two), and using dry shampoo can make all the difference. 

3. Use good products.
As a lover of beauty products, and as a stylist, I've come across many different types of hair products. Below I listed some favorites, and what they do. *These are not sponsored. I just LOVE these products!

• My Amazing Hair & Shine Secret: Well, the name says it all! This amazing lightweight oil won't weight your hair down, but instead adds shine and softness. It also repairs damaged hair, in the process of making your hair look great. Oh, and it smells yummy too. This product is definitely one of my top!
• AMIKA Nourishing Mask: This deep conditioning mask is full of vitamins, and great to use once a week. It repairs the hair, adds moisture, and shine.
• Matrix Chill Boho Air Dry Cream: Run a little bit of this through towel dried hair to help keep your hair smooth and frizz free. I've also been using this on my daughter Lily, who has some wavy hair, that tends to dry with a lot of fly always. This smoothing cream really makes a difference in how the hair dries, and is perfect to help calm frizzy, unruly hair(like mine).
• KMS Hair Play: One of my favorite dry shampoos! Works great on hair that is feeling weighed down, or oily. This product is also awesome for texturizing before doing a braid.

4. Drink plenty of water!
Not only is drinking water beneficial for the body in general, but it also helps to keep the hair and skin hydrated. When your body becomes dehydrated, it can disrupt the natural growth process of the hair. I've been definitely trying to make it a point to carry a water bottle around with me, especially during these summer months!

There are many other factors that can help or hinder your hair health. These tips are just a few that I know can truly make a huge difference!

  

Love Winnie James

On most days you can find me in leggings, or some type of workout pant, and a tee. But, usually on the weekends I like to get a little more dressed up then the usual. As moms, it can be so easy to get into a rut, and I think it is so important to take time for yourself and feel your best. I first came across Love Winnie James through Instagram, and absolutely love their selection and styles. Love Winnie James has boutique style clothing and accessories at an affordable price. Not only do they have stylish women's apparel, but also adorable baby clothing & accessories! Both of my Love Winnie James pieces are dresses, but because they are so comfortable, I've been wearing them on my more laid back days as well. 

You can use the discount code LOVEBRITT at checkout now through 7/25 for 15% off your order. 

Pressing Pause

Have you ever had intentions to get something done during the day, but never got around to doing it? I know I've done that so many times. There are so many distractions during the day, especially as a mom. Throughout the last few months I've really tried to make it a priority to slow down, and start the day off right. One thing that has made a HUGE difference in my morning (and my day all together), is taking 10-15 minutes during breakfast to go through a devotional. I usually will get the kids situated with their breakfast (unless I happen to wake up before them), and then get started with devotions. Not only do I feel more at peace during the day, but I also feel happier & more content. It's a huge priority to put God first in my life, even before my marriage and kids. So before checking emails, social media, or whatever, I like to "press pause" on the day, and start my morning off with God.

There are so many good devotionals out there, which makes it hard to choose! The one that I am currently going through is First 5. This is an app that has different reading plans. It literally takes five minutes to read through each days devotion (hence the name), and it is so easy to follow! This app is great for new Christians, or people that have been Christians their whole life! I tend to daydream easily, so I LOVE that this app is easy to read!

Another favorite is the "Jesus Calling" devotions by Sarah Young. These books are amazing and make great gift ideas for friends and family members.

Finally, another great devotional that's also an app is She Reads Truth. This app also comes along with many great reading plans.

Do you have any favorite devotionals, or Christian books? If so, I'd love to hear! Leave your favorite in the comments❤

Dreamin' of Tuscany

It's always been a dream of mine to visit Tuscany and see the gorgeous rolling hills and vineyards, the amazing architecture, and the beautiful beaches. Although we won't be visiting Tuscany anytime soon, we thankfully have a favorite vacation spot that replicates some areas of Tuscany. It's a little place called Lake Chelan and it's about a three and a half hour car ride away from our house. Lake Chelan is known for its wine tasting, and of course has plenty of vineyards. On a sunny day, the lake is blue, and pristine. There is also a restaurant, Tsillan Cellars, (that was made to replicate Tuscany) that we visit every time we are in Chelan. Usually we will stay on a lakeside property, but on our last Chelan visit, over Memorial Day weekend, we stayed in a beautiful villa up on the hills. 

This villa made all my Tuscan dreams come true with its beautiful courtyard in the middle of the house, Tuscan architecture, and views overlooking the vineyards and lake. 

We also had some of our friends there with us, who have kids that are close in age to our kids. During the day, we were able to enjoy the pool, while getting away to the beach every now and then. We also were greeted by a few lizards, a snake, AND a black widow spider (thankfully only saw one of those!). This little home away from home was the perfect getaway spot, and my little piece of "Tuscany" for the time being.

Journey to Motherhood

My motherhood journey has been so different than I ever imagined. It's also been more challenging than I ever expected. But, it has been one of the biggest blessings that I've ever had. It all started around four and a half years ago when I walked into a store to pick out a neutral baby outfit that would work for either a boy or a girl. I wasn't pregnant, but my husband and I knew that we wanted to start a family soon. Some people might find it silly, but my plan was to get a baby outfit that I could have hanging up as a reminder of what we were believing and praying for. Although I saw several neutral outfits in the store that day, I ended up leaving the store with two newborn outfits-- one for a boy and one for a girl. I hung the two outfits side by side in our bedroom closet, and would look at them and pray several times a week. Months went by when we found out that we were expecting! When we went into our first ultrasound and got the shock that it was twins(there aren't twins on either side of the family), the ultrasound tech also made the comment that since they were going to be fraternal twins there was a chance that it would be a boy and girl. My mind immediately went to the outfits hanging in our closet. Could it be?! Around two months later, on Christmas morning, we got ready to open our gender reveal envelopes in front of my family. My husband opened "Baby A's" envelope to reveal that it was a boy. I anxiously tore into the envelope marked "Baby B" and peaked inside. I'll never forget seeing the "it's a girl" written inside, and not being able to read those three words outloud. Thankfully, my husband was able to announce to the rest of the family. I was so overcome with joy and gratitude.
Our twins are now three and a half, and the majority of their newborn clothes are either packed in storage or donated, BUT those two outfits remain hanging in their closet. Some nights after tucking them into bed I'll look into the closet at those two outfits, and say a prayer of thanks. Before we ever knew we were having twins, and before we even knew we were pregnant, it was all part of God's plan ❤

Pink Blush Dress & Giveaway

Happy New Year! Usually, once Christmas and New Year's Eve are over I am ready to put the scarves and snow hats away, and go somewhere warm. I love this floral dress from Pink Blush because it can be worn anytime of the year. It looks great paired with leggings during the cooler months, as well as perfect by itself once the weather warms up! Pink Blush offers a ton of stylish apparel that can be worn as maternity or non-maternity wear (including this dress!). Did I mention that this dress is SUPER comfortable, and perfect for chasing around toddlers!

I am excited to be teaming up with Shop Pink Blush to offer one lucky winner a $50 gift card to their online shop. You can enter on my Instagram here.

In the meantime, be sure to check out Pink Blush Maternity for other cute and stylish pieces!

xo,

Britt