do what you love.

do what you love.

after talking to clients i have such a fresh outlook on working and parenting. i always promised i would return to work, but as the weeks passed by i was getting used to being at home. i loved being there for every moment. i was getting less and less excited about the idea of having to get motivated and out the door with somewhere to be and a schedule to attend to. now that i have been back at work i realized how important my job is to me. making people feel beautiful and helping restore confidence is something that i don't want to walk away from. doing hair may seem silly to some of you, but honestly if you knew how much it means to me when someone feels more beautiful after i have worked on them - words can't even tell you! it is about all i could ask for in life. being a working mom is something i take great pride in. right now i think it is really important for my boys to see me be part of something bigger and greater than just being their mama. my boys are my world, but teaching them to do something that they love and that they are passionate about is a HUGE part of how i want to raise them. i want them to grow up and not just do a job for a paycheck, i want them to find happiness in their work. to do the things they dreamed of, and find something that gives them purpose. i will always pray that they are lead by God and that they follow their hearts praying it leads them to a career that ignites them.

rowan is going to be graduating from kindergarten and they will be asked to share what they want to be when they grow up. i can't wait to hear what he shares. i truly think that when you are little the things you are drawn to will always be etched somewhere deep in your heart. i want him to strive for it and i will always encourage him to live out his dreams! i have always been thankful that my parents never pushed anything on me, they always let my spirit lead the way. i know andy and i have always said that we want the same for our boys. we are raising world changers, and every child has their own way of reaching the world around them, but you have to let them! i can't wait to see what ways my boys choose to reach the world and i will be behind them every step of the way! and leading by example is a key part of parenting!

brinley mini rodini tee and no added sugar shorts c/o shan and toad
wrennyn bobo choses onesie c/o shan and toad

giveaway || shop belle

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tutu dress // seersucker short // ring // dress // bow tie // blazer

who doesn't love a good party? we do! we do! is there going to be cake? count me in if there is cake! no, but really... we are so excited to help kick-start shop belle's 2nd birthday! so grab your tutu and let's see you in your birthday best! don't have anything to wear, you say? oh! we got that covered! we have a shiny $75 gift card for one lucky reader to win! i mean can you stand it?! it's shop belle's birthday and they want to give instead of receive! i'd say that is my kind of shop! shop belle boutique is covered in all kinds of candy-coated colors and delicious little numbers, so you are sure to find a little something that catches your eye! so pop on over and say hello, browse around, and then come back and enter to win the $75 gift card!

and that is not all! special for pirates and peonies readers shop belle is giving us a discount code for 22% off (this includes all regular priced items and sale items though, it is not applicable to the Spring Fever Clearance items.) enter HAPPYBDAY at checkout and save 22% all month long! wahoo! we always knew we liked birthdays!


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going back

i wasn't expecting that i would love being home full-time so much. i swore up and down that i loved being a working mom, turns out i really have enjoyed my time at home dedicated solely to raising my kids ...and sitting on the sofa doing a whole lot of just staring at my babe. i get very emotional thinking of other people feeding and caring for wrennyn. no doubt there will be tear involved today. it will be a hard adjustment. and i know there is good that comes with working outside the home, too. there seem to be so many stay at home moms around, and it is surprising to me in these times, with things being so expensive all the sacrifices people make to be home full time. i truly find it wonderful that people are becoming more family oriented once again. i love seeing all these young couples putting so much effort into their marriage and raising their family, it is definitely a refreshing change! we certainly have always put our family first, but recently we have seen the payoff of these strong connections we have nurtured, and i love knowing that no matter what life brings, my kids will always know they are loved and protected. we love taking them on adventures and teaching them - it is such an honor to be a mommy!

i am hoping somewhere down the line i will be able to stay home, but for now i am so blessed that i love what i do (hair stylist - fyi) and i work so few hours. it will be hard leaving wrennyn, but i am also sad to leave the older boys, too! we really got used to being together all the time. we are praying for an easy transition for everyone. wrennyn hasn't been adjusting to his bottle feedings very well. so keep andy in your thoughts and pray for extra patience! we will be sharing some of that in our upcoming posts!

until then, here is to changes, fresh starts, and new growth this month. we can't wait to see what May has in store!

xx

xplory stroller c/o stokke 

rowan wears: american apparel shirt // mini rodini hat // nununu pants c/o littlezkid // toms shoes
brinley wears crewcuts slub tee // mini rodini pants // toms shoes

inspiration.

the sling diaries III love+adventure || inpsiration

Every day my children's eyes are fixed upon me. They are learning self-worth from my example. I want them to see vibrant and beautiful things when they picture me in their childhood memories. That is what makes me who I am.  It keeps me pushing through when I want to give up. It forces me to laugh when at times I would rather cry. It reminds me that I should dream big and show them how to chase the stars. I want them to see that I not only believe in them, but in myself. Not a moment is spent where they are not affected by who I am. All that I am. I have always wanted to be a light and inspiration to my children. I want them to find safety in my arms and comfort in my touch. I want them to think highly of me, even in the darkest of times. I can't be any of these things for them unless I am happy with who I am. I want them to know God is my source. I find myself in Him and Him alone. I want Him to be that light that brightens their paths. I want Him to be their everything. And together we can look to tomorrow and know that we are loved and we are cherished. And with God our dreams are never out of reach.

My mother has always been a beautiful example of how to chase your dreams without sacrificing your character. I am so inspired by all that she is and all that she stands for. She has faith that moves mountains! I pray my boys one day feel the same about me.

What a beautiful way to end my maternity leave by sharing my first diary post last friday. It is a very sentimental transition as I go back to work. It has been a very emotional week, but I have treasured every moment I had off to spend with sweet Wrennyn. If only I could slow life and make his first months last a bit longer... it all just happens so fast.

I want to say a special thank you to my beautiful friend April for capturing so many beautiful moments that I will treasure dearly. We had them taken in our church, a place where so many beautiful moments have happened for our family, including our wedding! April, Not only are you a great photographer, but you are the most amazing friend a girl could ask for. Every one in this world should have a friend like you! I treasure you greatly! We all know you are a real friend if you let me edit my own photo shoot! I owe you big time! xo
check out more of April's beautiful work here  


I wear the pure linen sling in organic maple c/o sakura bloom

also to see a couple photos in the chapel Andy and I got married in you have to follow us on instagram here where the real sling diary entry happened 

what to expect guest post

i want to share that i had the honor of doing a guest post over at What to Expect. i chose to share things i have learned from my kids. i am so grateful for all they have taught me! i really loved being able to write this piece and it was a great reminder to myself! i love being able to share pieces of our lives... 

"Life isn't always what you expect. When I went I into motherhood, I imagined little clones of my husband and me. Perfect little mixes of all our best traits. Then, our first son, Rowan turned four and started to have more opinions on things that were happening.

"What is this?" I thought to myself, "he has his own opinions? He thinks different than me! No one told me about that!"

It was true his little inquiring mind asked a million questions. As he would start to ask questions about things and I realized how creative his mind was, how beautiful he found the world around him. It was in no way how I saw life, and I found myself being hungry for the way he sees the world! I wanted to learn from him and I wanted to be more like HIM not the other way around! I had never in a million years saw that coming! Me learning from my child? This is not how this...  check out the rest of the post here 

brinley's cape and pants c/o little vida nyc

wrennyn's pants c/o noe and zoe

rowan's outfit c/o estella nyc