Sunday, January 24, 2016

Keeping Your Winter Style Fresh {when you're feeling anything but!}

{mama: dress - Zara Girls, cardi - Gap, boots - Free People (half off at Besselli in GB)
mini: dress, tights and shoes - Zara Kids, bow - Target
cousin Adorlee joined us for our style pics today!}

Just yesterday I was writing how lovely January has been, a calm and relaxing change from the end of last year. But today I've changed my tune! I'm bored. Blah!

It has nothing to do with the busy-ness of life and the list of to-do's, which have picked up significantly since I last wrote. No more carefree chill sessions lounging in the sunshine with my littles. Nope, now I'm back into the epic juggling act of scheduling in work hours amongst the quality, focused-on-only-you-my-sweets mama time. Scarlet has taken to grabbing my chin with her little hand and holding it tightly while she talks to me. That way she can ensure my absolute attention to her. She's learned fast, sweet girl. In fact, now that I think of it, I do the same thing to the boys! I remember reading it when I was a newer mom raising a couple of little boys and feeling overwhelmed at the idea of handling it cleverly. And this book said that boys just don't hear you when you talk to them (which is exactly what my father-in-law, a marriage speaker, says about men!) and that if you really want them to hear what you're saying, you must get them to look you in the eye, etc, etc. And whether you think that's silly or not, it's certainly the case for the men in my home! So I hold their faces if I really need them to hear me, gently, with the same loving touch that she gives to me. 

It's sweet when you see your kids imitate you ... and it's the good kind. Horrible when they've picked up the bad though. Note to self: remember to model for them behavior that I am happy for them to imitate. 

But over and above the crazy life of mothering and doing everything and more, I'm bored with clothes and excited for the sugary pales that always sweep through with the excitement of Valentines and Easter. Bring it on! I neeeeed some pale pink in my life again. 

For this occasion we wore our finest .... pre-spring dresses. Yep. Pre-spring thankyouverymuch.  Cause just plain ol' spring isn't enough for us, plus we like to wear it way before the season actually hits. This little lady is lucky enough to not have hand me downs to wear, like her dear brothers, and so she gets a few new things as she grows out of the old. Not having to wear hand me downs is a very good deal I think. Hah! ;)

So we opened up this box of delicious new clothes from Zara Kids a few days ago and "ooh-ed" and "ah-ed" as we pulled every piece out. I love the way Zara packages their clothing. Like a gorgeous little present, with everything folded and placed in the most happy way as if to say, "TADA!" It really is a clever way of sending goodies in the mail to starry eyed customers. Well done Zara. This order held a couple of pants as all her leggings are getting mighty tight and then a couple of cute dresses and some rockstar shoes.  

And every once in a while this mommy gets to throw a little something into the box. Just a slip and a click and oops, look what happened! I was just lucky that it was in the girl's section and so half the price. This dress has a beautiful silky floral fabric that feels very Johnny Was to me (an unbelievable brand of boho silks but sooooo expensive!) And I knew by the style and cut that the larger junior size could fit.

So for now, in the dead of a freezing winter, we are pre-springing it in our pretty dresses plus a few added layers to cozy them up until the temps allow us to wear them the way they were intended. We will love our clothes daily, without being at the mercy of weather! Yes! There!

Saturday, January 23, 2016

A Holiday Shoot with Carbon Copy Studios

I have the most gorgeous pictures to share with you this evening. These were taken by the incredible Eric Schwanke of Carbon Copy Studios. I came with a vision and a few props and he delivered with these striking photos, as he always does. Thank you Eric! 

These capture that sweet enchantment of the Christmas season that we all love so dearly and I must mention a thanks to Courtney Wunder who owns this fabulous salon, Village Mane Salon. (I hope to shoot YOU magazine's spring fashion issue here in a couple of months too!)


{mama: scarf - Target, sweater - Loft, skirt - Shabby Apple
mini: dress - Joyfolie, shoes - H&M}

Monday, January 18, 2016

Mini Style: Playsuits that Dream

If I could pick any dress for this girl, any at all, it would be what I'm noticing is often referred to as a playsuit. I think the name must be indicative of the sweet sense of wander and adventure they tend to invoke, perhaps that moment of "play" a little imagination might be drawn into when in her ... creative couture. :)

Wovenplay and Tutu Du Monde makes some of my favorite concoctions for children but they are high end and very expensive. This little dress is a precious substitute and though it misses that beautiful handmade quality of specialty boutiques, it's still a beauty with its $30 price. With silver stars on a pistachio bodice and tiny silver sequins and beads tucked into a grey tulle skirt, it's pretty perfect. 
{dress - @ockidscloset on Instagram, jacket - Gap}
It's been crazy cold these last few days so we've been hibernating. On days like these all we can do is drink way too many hot drinks and seriously, if it's not coffee then it's tea and then after that it's hot chocolate! But despite this weather, I'm really thankful for this month and how the new year has unfolded as it has been so quiet and chill for us. We still have lots to keep busy - flag football, piano, dance, and homework - but we've still had so many great moments where I've felt like our family could just relax and spend that wonderful quality time together that we kinda lacked this last December.

So life is good. 
 {jumpsuit - H&M, necklaces - Free People & Madewell, sweater - Express}

Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Menswear Inspired Touch {for YOU Magazine}

YOU Magazine's newest issue is now out on news stands and I am so excited to be able to share all the extra images with you from our fashion shoot for this issue. 

This story was shot by a dear friend, Jace Coffield, of Jadranka Isabel Photography. She's an incredible photographer with an eye for moody color and texture, a look that fit perfectly with the feeling I wanted to capture for this piece. Thank you so much Jace, your work is so lovely.

Jace's daughter, Jasmine Kwekel, modeled for this story (the gorgeous brunette on the right) as well as the beautiful red head, Teagan Sturmer, a local artist and calligrapher whose work I absolutely love. Check out Teagan's shop, A Drop in the Water. Teagan's hair and makeup was done by Mint Salon in Green Bay. We shot this on location at The Cannery, downtown GB. 

Hope you enjoy our photos and take a look at the mag to read the story and get all the outfit details. ;)

The Vintage Darling 

The Sporty Mix and Match

 A Subtle Touch of Tomboy
Take a look at the issue online!







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