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Aug 28

Grandparents.

You know who I think are pretty darn special? Grandparents. Sometimes I get weepy just thinking about how lucky Rowan and Finley are. They have 2 sets of Grandparents who love them to death. They are the engaged, down on the ground playing silly games, spoiling them left and right, doing everything they can for them kind of grandparents. We don’t live super close to either my parents or Kev’s, but we try our best to see everyone as much as we can. I think it’s so important for them to be in their lives as much possible. They (us too) can learn so much from their perspectives, their wisdom and their kind of love. Because it’s a special kind of love that a Grandma (or meme) has with their grandkid. One that I look forward to experiencing one day. Can you even imagine what that feels like? To know that this little baby was created by your own baby? How awesome?

Did you know that Grandparents day is September 8th? We have been working with 4Moms over the past few months and although I don’t hold giveaways on my blog anymore. I wanted to share a crazy good opportunity for you guys. If you head over to their facebook page you can enter to win 4Moms gear for both your house and your kiddos grandparents house. 2 Mamaroos and 2 Breezes. Waaaa hoooo! Awesome, right?

Let’s remember to make our parents feel special this year on Grandparents Day!

This was a sponsored post by 4Moms, but obviously my thoughts on my parents are my own. I LOVE THEM! Thanks for supporting jenloveskev. Sponsored post like this let us give generously to our monthly service projects.

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Aug 28

Our Everyday Style | 08.27.13

Aug 28 | Our Everyday Style

Umm Rowan starts Preschool next week. Can we all just take a second to process that. What?!?!? Crazy town. I am not ready for this summer to be over. Also, I turn 31 next Wednesday. 31?!?! I liked turning 30, but 31?? I am not so sure about. Eeeeek! Well, so far this post has nothing to do with these outfits. Nothing special to say other than we got dressed today and this is what we wore. We went to Hobby Lobby and waited in line for the new Habitat Restore to open. We got a sweet Kilim rug for $20. I love that place.

That concludes the most boring post ever.

OUTFIT DETAILS:
(Rowan):
Skirt: Gap (similar)
Tank: Old Navy
Sandals: Salt-Waters

(Jen)
Polka Dot Button Up: Forever 21
Chambray Skirt: jcpenney (just as cute!)
Heels: c/o Lulu’s (Available here)

(Finley)
Romper: Old Navy

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Aug 26

This Months Service Project

Aug 26 | Family Adventures + Travel

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted about our service projects. The last few months though we have been using the money made from affiliate links (thank you guys for clicking and buying!) to help friends in need. They have been private matters so I haven’t written about them, but just wanted you to know the money has been being used for good still. I think it’s great to help in large ways, with large charities but sometimes it’s more important to help the ones close. That is also why I wanted to find something local for this month’s project with Rowan. When I heard our church was teaming up with 2 other churches in the area to host a community lunch and backpack drive I knew we needed to help.

It was such a rewarding day! Not only because we were helping out so many families in the area, but to see Rowan and her friends getting involved was priceless. I can’t explain how important it is for me to teach her how to serve others in this way. Watching her get excited about giving out the backpacks and school supplies was so awesome. Especially seeing her give out the backpacks that we bought at the store. I know how hard it was for her to give that sparkly princess backpack that she wanted so badly out. There are a lot of things I want to teach my girls, but having a heart to help others is top on the list. God has blessed us with so much and I never want to take that for granted. I have a lot on my heart that I want to share about that day but I think I will just let the pictures do the talking. All together we were able to give out over 150+ backpacks that were each stuffed with school supplies.

When Kev was walking the girls back to the car, these 2 cuties saw he had a camera and asked if he could take their picture with their new backpacks. So cute!!http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/9597507013/

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Aug 22

My Everyday Style | 08.22.13

Aug 22 | My Everyday Style

TRAVEL DAY:

I debated whether I would post these because there isn’t much to them. But if I am sticking with the idea of my true “everyday style” then here we are… My travel home outfit from Texas. It was comfy and I had wet hair but with a few accessories felt a little more done up then just a tshirt and jeans. My favorite souvenir from Texas was the new necklace I bought from the supremely talented Merl. Have you seen her jewelry before? So, so good!

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Tee: Old Navy
Shorts: Old cut off jeans
Necklace: Clydes Rebirth
Hat: RVCA
Backpack: c/o Lulu’s
Sunglasses: c/o Lulu’s
Kilty Suede Moc: Minnetonka

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Aug 21

Dear Finley James

Aug 21 | Motherhood

My sweet, sweet girl.
I haven’t written very many public letters on the blog lately because I just haven’t been able to truly articulate all that you mean to me. I feel like words fail in comparison to who are. You are what we call in our family the “gateway baby”. A baby so sweet, so happy, so easy that you make us want to have a million more like you. How are you 7 months old already? I have loved this baby stage so much. You are making a liar out of me. I’ve written previous blog posts about how I wasn’t a baby stage kind of person. Well you my dear Finley, I could eat you up with a spoon. This new perspective you gain from having another kid is about as wonderful as having another kid. I know how fast it all goes now, how each and every tough stage is just that… a stage. So I hold you a few minutes longer, the laundry gets put on hold for a day or two more, and I just enjoy you. I breath in your sweet baby smell and I try my hardest to just be with you. This baby stage passes all too quickly.

You and me are quite the team. That’s how I like to see it anyway. One superhero, attached at the hip kind of team. You sure do love your Mama. I am not going to complain though. As we get ready to send your big sister to preschool this year, I know it won’t last forever. Besides, I do very much enjoy that you seem to love me most over everyone else. However you did just start saying “Dada”. I won’t hold it agains’t you though. He is a pretty swell guy. I can see why you want to get his attention. He sure does light up when he hears you say his name. You have just the sweetest little voice. You smile with your whole face. Almost everyone that meets you calls you “bright eyes”. I think it’s a pretty fitting nickname.

Just so you know, you are quite the stubborn little girl. I like the spunk you have. We went away for a few days and you refused to take a bottle for 5 days. 5 days! I thought for sure you would crack. Your Meme had to give you your milk from a big girl cup. You drank it like a champ but boy, oh boy you would not give in for your Meme. I don’t blame you though. We worked so hard on nursing. Just you and me. Tears, late nights and lots of persistency. Here we are 7 months in and neither one of us are ready to be done. You held on for me to come back. I have gotten to a place where I really love that time together. It was slow coming but I couldn’t be more proud of us.

p.s. You seem to really love crossing your little feet together when you sit up. It’s about the cutest thing ever.
p.p.s. 7 months later and we are still obsessed with Little Hip Squeaks headbands! A Finley staple.

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Aug 21

Etsy Shop Update

Aug 21 | Do It Yourself

If you’ve followed my blog for a while you know I love creating random things and sticking them in my etsy shop. Well my new passion in life is making these super cute hand painted wooden bead necklaces. I am kind of head over heels with them. I LOVE coming up with color & pattern combos. It is so relaxing and fun to work on them at night after the girls go to bed. I have made 30 of them in 10 different patterns. They are up in my etsy shop right now! They seem to go with everything. I’ve been wearing the few I made for myself almost everyday.

Head on over and snatch one up!

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Aug 19

Last Hurrah Sale!

Aug 19 | Uncategorized

Oooh I LOVE when Modcloth has there Last Hurrah Sale. Everything is 70% off!! There are so many super cute dresses. I searched through the sale and found my absolute favorites! I want that Lauren Moffatt dress so badly!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenloveskev/9551921750/

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Head on over and snatch up your favorites before they are gone. I hope you all have a lovely week! We have a busy few weeks ahead of us and I am excited to try to make the most out of these last weeks of summer.

Here are a few of my other wishlist items from around the internet this past week.
1. With Fall around the corner I can’t stop dreaming of ankle boots. Maybe I’ll have to ask for these ones or these ones for my birthday.

2. Kev and I are running a half marathon in October and I have been dying for some new gear. Love these running pants, these running shoes and for colder weather this jacket.

3. I am planning a girls night out for my birthday weekend. I can’t wait to go out to eat and then dance the night away with friends. I would so love to wear a dress like this, or this for the special evening.

4. There is a crap load of good stuff for sale over on Urban Outfitters right now!

5. In love with these patterned pants. So comfy, yet chic for the weekends.

Aug 12

My Everyday Style | 08.12.13

Aug 12 | My Everyday Style

You know that movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back? haha. I feel like that could be the title for this outfit post. I will be honest and say I’ve felt really insecure in pictures since having Finley. Well, maybe insecure isn’t the right word. I just haven’t been comfortable in my own skin I guess. A bit of that had to with baby weight but it also had to do with just getting use to this new role of being a Mom of two. Over the last few weeks a bit more of the baby weight has come off finally, but more importantly I feel like we are hitting our stride around here. We are entering into that stage where things feel normal again. I don’t quite know how to explain it other than I am feeling good. I was really nervous about going to the conference and having to get all dressed up and be presentable all weekend long. I use to love stuff like that, but that’s just not my day to day anymore. I was afraid I was going to feel so out of place and uncomfortable. I packed my outfits hoping I would still like them when I got there, and decided to let go of all the negativity I was holding on to. I was going to be proud of the weight, shape, and look of my 2 baby body and I was going to own every outfit I brought. I decided I was just going to be happy. And you know what? Sometimes you just need a good kick in the pants (or change of attitude) and a reason to wear some super awesome heels to make you feel like yourself again.

I found this dress at Marshalls and fell in love. I decided to make it feel a little bit more youthful and modern by adding a sheer button up underneath it. Thanks to Lulu’s for sending me a killer necklace and heels to complete the outfit!

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Dress: Marshalls (similar, similar, similar)
Button Up: Forever 21
Belt: J.Crew
Necklace: c/o Lulu’s
Heels: c/o Lulu’s
Bisou Bowler Handbag: c/o Petunia

p.s. Did you know that the team at PPB has launched a new handbag line? It’s called Petunia and is super cute!

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Aug 12

Prom, Friends and Gratitude

Aug 12 | Lifestyle

I sat for a long time on the plane ride home from Texas just thinking about the Conference. I felt like there was a lot to process. Indiana and her crew really knocked it out of the park this year. It was the perfect combination of old and new friends, parties, workshops and fun. I love how laid back and casual it was. It really lead to a nice vibe the whole weekend. If you haven’t gone to a Texas Style Council Conference then you should! The next and final one is going to be this up coming March during SXSW. Start planning.

Blogging is a funny thing. It’s something that so many of us take part in. It’s a part of who we are, how we live our lives and how we see the world. It becomes our normal. You remember just how weird it is though when you meet someone who doesn’t blog and they ask you about it. I feel silly saying something like “yeah, I write a blog about myself. Yes. I put pictures of myself in my outfits on the internet.” It sounds ridiculous. I get all squirmy having that conversation. I am proud of my blog but I think it’s a hard thing to explain/understand if you are not a blogger yourself or at least someone who enjoys reading blogs. That is why I love these conference weekends so much. For those few days you are surrounded by inspiring women who get that part of you. They have that same passion to share a part of themselves as well. We all come from different backgrounds, different locations, different walks of life, yet we are all connected. I can say without a doubt that these women are some of the dearest, truest, and loveliest friends I have. Not just blogger friends, but real life friends. I love these girls. We may have blogging in common but our friendships run so much deeper.

Julie and I were nominated (and won!) for “Best Pals” at the Prom during the conference. It was such an honor to win that one in particular. The thing I love the most about blogging is the connections and friendships I have made. So to be nominated for “Best Pals” was awesome and very special to me. As you know, I had a workshop about critics and criticism on Sunday. Afterwards, all I could think about was how silly it is that we (I) let that bother us so much. Yes, it is very hurtful but as I looked around I realized this is what mattered. These friends. This community of women. Encouraging, inspiring and building each other up. I hope we can all remember that next time we read something mean someone has written about us. I am so grateful for these ladies, for their blogs, and for who they are inside and out.

Ladies in photos: Julie, Jentine, Kendi, Jessie, Amanda, Merl, Elizabeth, Paige & Katie (also want to mention Chelsey, Moorea and Amy even though I don’t have them in a picture)

(all photos thanks to the BonLook prom photobooth)

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Aug 08

My Everyday Style | 08.08.13

Aug 08 | My Everyday Style

What a weekend! We got home yesterday from a super fun weekend away in Austin for the TxSC Conference. It is one of my favorite things we do every year! We ended up deciding to leave Finley. Kev and I had such a fantastic time together. Well worth all the stress I had leading up to leaving the girls (although, I wish I didn’t stress so much about it!). It was nice to get to dress up every day for a change. Hair done, dresses, makeup, jewelry, heels. I felt pretty good! I will be sharing some of my outfits over the next little bit. Here is what I wore on Saturday. The dress is a legit neon orange color- not sure why the pictures didn’t capture that. I LOVE the color of this dress!

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Tye Dye Dress: Gap (on sale now!)
Necklace: c/o Lulu’s
Sunglasses: c/o Lulu’s
Peeptoe Wedges: Kork-Ease
Watch: c/o Lulu’s

Saturday was a lovely day with breakfast in the morning with Ruche (aww love Mara & Tieka), lunch in the afternoon with Kelsey and Eric, workshops and then some thrift store shopping. Funny Story. Some kid came up to Kev in Savers and told him he looked like Macklemore. Than walked away yelling “thrift shopping”. Haha. Awesome.

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Aug 07

The Adirondacks

Aug 07 | Family Adventures + Travel

One of my favorite parts of where we live is that we are so close to the Adirondacks. What a beautiful place. Lake George is a just gorgeous! Not so much the touristy part but the rest of it. The lake is huge and has so many places to explore. It feels very much like northern Ontario and for that reason alone it makes me want to go there all the time. We packed up the girls last weekend and headed up there for a family hike. It was the perfect day to try out our new ergo baby carrier for Finley. The travel collection carriers are so light weight and easy to throw in the car on the go. What a work out to go hiking with a kid strapped to you back or front. We need to get out there more often thats for sure! We ended up having a lovely time (besides the massive amounts of horse flies out).

Travel Collection Carrier c/o from Ergobaby
Rowan’s Tshirt and my backpack c/o from Of One Sea
Rowan’s boots c/o Tea Collection

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Aug 01

Weekly Parenting Ups and Downs

Aug 01 | Weekly Ups & Downs

We got a trampoline last month and it is so fun! Rowan and Kev have the best time out there together. Can you believe growing up they sold those things without the nets? So bad. I remember jumping on ours without the padding even on it -with dish soap and a sprinkler no less. Here are my weekly ups and downs…

UPS:
1. Seeing the two of these sweet girls play together makes my heart want to burst. Finley is so in love with Rowan. It never seems to fail that just as I am about to tell Rowan to be gentle or to give Finley some space, Finley will burst out laughing. She can not get enough of Rowan. I love that she can sit on her own now and interact a bit more with Rowan.

2. Speaking of sitting up on her own… Don’t you just love that age? The age where they are a bit independent but not mobile yet. You can sit them on the ground with some toys and know they will be entertained but won’t be getting into trouble somewhere? I love it. Finley has been all smiles lately (well, as long as I am near her. see below). Her 2 little teeth are about the cutest thing ever. Always peeking out as she smiles.

3. Rowan is like the best little buddy. She is so entertaining lately. A real little lady. The things that she comes up with crack me up. Always making jokes and saying ridiculous stuff. This age is hilarious!

DOWNS:
1. Holy Cow! We’ve had 2 major melt downs this week. I honestly have never dealt with them to that magnitude before. It was embarrassing because of course they happened both times in a store. I think Rowan has been a little over tired lately and it all sort of came out these past two days. We ended up having to leave the stores and head home so that Rowan could have a time out/nap. She would wake up in a better mood, ready to carry on the day, but yikes!

2. I have been so anxious about our trip to Austin this weekend. My mom is coming to our house to stay with the girls which is good. I like the idea that they get to stay in their house, with their things but oh man! it is hard to leave. Finley doesn’t take a bottle great and I wasn’t able to pump enough milk for the entire time gone. I’ve been trying to introduce a little bit of formula just to supplement until I get back. It is slow going but I know she will be ok. My friend is letting me borrow her hospital grade pump and I made a batch of “Milk Cookies” so hopefully I will be able to keep my milk up. I’ve gotten a bunch of helpful tips and tricks that we are going to try. I will be glad to share them all when we get back in a blog post. I know I could just take her. I have literally flip flopped on the idea like a billion times but I think reconnecting with Kev and having sometime away together trumps all else at the moment. Some may disagree but that is the decision I think we are leaning towards. I still have 5 hours until we leave though. Which leaves me 5 hours to flip flop a 100 more times.

3. Rowan has always been very independent. She never had separation anxiety or got upset when we have left her. She always ran ahead of us never looking back to see if we were there. Finley on the other hand… What a little mama’s girl. I need to be holding her or with in 3 feet of her at all times. As long as one of those 2 things is happening she is the happiest little baby around but if not- watch out! We have been trying to work on it a little. We bring her to the gym with us and put her in the kids corner area. She last about 20 mins before we get the page to come back and get her. She does love her Daddy and her grandparents though too. It’s funny how different she is than Rowan.

Rowan’s adorable jewelry was a gift from Juniorbeads (she is obsessed!)
and Finley is chewing on pretty jewelry that Moms can wear and toys from Chewbeads.

Motherhood

Lifestyle

Fashion

Do It Yourself

The Chronological Archive

Grandparents.

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Our Everyday Style | 08.27.13

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This Months Service Project

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My Everyday Style | 08.22.13

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Dear Finley James

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Etsy Shop Update

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Last Hurrah Sale!

My Everyday Style | 08.12.13

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Prom, Friends and Gratitude

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My Everyday Style | 08.08.13

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The Adirondacks

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Weekly Parenting Ups and Downs

Hi, I'm Jen!