Mom Style | Pink Blush

May 22, 2016 in favorite products, home, motherhood, style

Saturday morning loungin' with some watermelon water that tasted of summer (that Ever desperately wanted to try).

Another thing that has me so ready for summer is this dress from Pink Blush. Pink Blush is an online women's boutique. They're known for their maternity wear, but they have non maternity items too, and this dress happens to double as both. It's also nursing friendly, despite the high neck, because the arm holes are stretchy enough to pull open for easy access.

Ever was so fascinated by all the plant life.

Bring on the summer!

San Juan Capistrano | a daycation

May 21, 2016 in tavel/adventures, family

Our adventure today got off to a slow start. Of course, we had to wait to get out of the house until Ever woke up from her morning nap. Then, we originally planned to drive north to Santa Monica, and traffic was horrible, and after driving an hour we turned around and drove another hour in the opposite direction. To San Juan Capistrano. There was no parking because everyone and their mom (literally) was there for Prom to take pictures. What we gathered from eavesdropping is that it was a planned event for everyone to take pictures there. So we got to see all the cute dresses and slightly annoying high schoolers. Can't believe we used to be annoying high schoolers. Now we're cool parents.

Adventuring is hard with a baby. We used to drop everything and drive somewhere spontaneously without a second thought. But now, Ever's needs come first, and it can be a little frustrating when she slows us down or puts a damper on our plans for the day. But a tired baby is not a fun baby, so that takes priority. Thankfully, today Ever was is a great mood, even though she only slept for 30 minutes of the 2 hour car ride.

After walking around a little bit, we went to dinner where Ever attracted all the stares with her happy screams.

Oh there was also a petting zoo. The end.

Ever's outfit:

bow: Fourth + Pierce

top: Zara

shorts: June Park

shoes: Mon Petite Shoes

Gugu Guru Baby Registry

May 21, 2016 in baby threads, family, favorite products, motherhood

Okay, I so wish I knew about Gugu Guru when I was pregnant. It would have saved me a lot of stress and confusion. I had no idea what to register for so I registered for EVERYTHING. Actually three of everything, just in case. And I changed my registry about ten times, too.

Gugu Guru is a new baby registry website that makes unbiased, personalized product recommendations based on your lifestyle and personal style. Upon signing up, you take a fun quiz to let Gugu Guru know about your lifestyle, the clothing and decor styles you like, and your product preferences.

Step one:

You let them know your style. I obviously gravitate towards COMFORTABLE.

Next, your baby's style.

I think Ever needs everything seen here.

Then, your nursery style.

Once you've finished the style quiz, you're going to let them know a little bit about your preferences.

Then some lifestyle questions.

And voila! Your preferences are recorded and it takes you to the products. They give you a "perfect match" product recommendation so you can pick and choose to create your own personal baby registry.

No searching website after website to find what you're looking for, then adding the link into your registry, Gugu Guru makes suggestions for you and you choose from there. The products they recommend aren't only the top, name brand items, either. They will recommend those classic brands, but also new undiscovered brands and etsy treasures as well.

BUT, if they don't happen to have a product that you're dying to have on your registry, there's an option to add the URL yourself.

Also, a fun new tool that they added is the Gugu Concierge.

This is a personal shopping service where REAL people search high and low for the perfect products for you. I, for one, get so overwhelmed with all the options out there for the simplest things, and who needs any extra stress when you're pregnant? This service takes that burden off your shoulders and places it on a professional burden-holder/personal shopper/lifesaver. And there are 3 different packages you can choose from.

Overall, Gugu Guru would have been a lifesaver in my pregnancy. Now that Ever is here, though, I can still send my friends and family the link to my registry when they ask what we still need. As she grows, I'm always coming up with new things that she needs. And instead of stressing myself out by trying to research every detail of every product, I'll let Gugu Guru do the work for me.

5 months of Ever Joy

May 19, 2016

Our little Every Joy is five months old!

She's just starting to roll over from her back to belly. I came into our bedroom one nap time to find her awake on her belly (she was on her back) and I was horrified because if she rolled the opposite way she would have fallen off the bed. She's grabbing anything and everything she can reach. She's watching us while we eat and moving her mouth as if she wants what we're eating. It makes me feel really bad. She's pushing up on her hands while on her tummy, as well as on her knees, and rolling easily from her belly to back. She's fascinated by faces, and smiles at (most) everyone who smiles at her. But don't you dare hold her, she only likes to be held by mom or dad. She likes the color blue, she'll choose something blue over other colors. Daddy is the only one who can make her laugh. And she's a whopping 17 pounds!

Loves:

Daddy

To talk and yell

When people tell her she's cute

Her IKEA kitty rattle

Her Hazel Village animals

Grabbing her toes

Standing

Faces, and grabbing faces

To be on daddy's shoulders

Hates:

The car seat, getting better slowly

Sitting, she just wants to stand

Tummy time

When she can't get something in her mouth

Or when she drops something she was playing with

Putting clothes on

Highlights from her 5th month of life:

baby threads | Remie Co.

May 13, 2016 in baby threads, favorite products

This little Fringe Betty by Remie Co. is the epitomy of summer. There's a reason their motto is "we do comfortable", also, because the fabric is butter soft. Everything on their website has me drooling, but I chose this romper because I love this color on Ever and the fringe makes it different than any other brand. And we've gotta show off hose leg rolls, duh.

Ever's bow is by Fourth + Pierce.

Perfect for a day at the beach, or soaking up the summer sun at the park.

Disclaimer: we are not at the park, we are on a patch of grass in our apartment complex.

Santa Ana Zoo

May 12, 2016

Ever hates the car seat. so every time we put her in it we try to distract her by saying, "we're gonna go to the zooooo and we're gonna see the 🦁s, 🐯s, 🐻s, 🐵s, 🐘s..." (I try to say all the animals in spanish), and we're obviously lying. but the other day we really did go to the zoo! the Santa Ana zoo, which actually doesn't have any lions, tigers, bears, or elephants... but they do have a lot of monkeys. and she slept the whole time 🙄

okay, she slept most of the time. she woke up about 10 minutes before we left in time to watch us eat burgers and see the farm animals.

See you next time, zoo. Hopefully Ever will like you more next time.

baby threads | Winnie Winkles

May 09, 2016 in baby threads, favorite products

Winnie Winkle is a little handmade shop with the prettiest whimsical pieces. I'm in love with the colors and design of it all. In these photos Ever is wearing the mustard peplum tunic in a 6-12 month so it fits more like a dress right now, and the white dot classic bow. We are in love with everything this cute shop makes.

Mother's Day '16

May 09, 2016

My first Mother's Day was definitely one I'll never forget. Jesse woke up at 6am on his day off to make me a feast. Then he woke Ever and I up at 7:30, with the biggest smile on his face, to reveal what he had done. I'm so so blessed to call him mine.

My request for Mother's Day was a family picture. We just suck at family pictures.

baby threads | Babysprouts & Co

May 05, 2016 in baby threads, favorite products

Babysprouts & Co is a modern baby apparel and accessory shop with the softest organic fabrics! They carry all the essentials you'll need for your baby and toddler. And right now they're having a huge sale on discontinued colors and products! From their sale I got all these cute things pictured below. The softest mint leggings, a hat, a bib, teething ring (that Ever LOVES), pacifier clips, and elastic headbands!

This Babysprouts teething ring is soaked in beeswax and olive oil for a soft feeling on your baby's sensitive gums. And Ever somehow figured out how to take the fabric off, but she loves playing with that, too!

This pacifier clip will ensure your baby's paci is never far away, and never on the dirty ground.

And the comfiest little pants.

Everything in the Babysprouts shop is such great quality, and made with lots of love for your little. If you're on a budget, click here to shop their close out inventory! And hurry fast before it's gone!

baby threads | June Park peplum tank

May 04, 2016 in baby threads, favorite products

We are obsessed with all things June Park. Katie, the owner and designer, imagines up the most beautiful things and uses the softest organic fabrics.

Ever is currently wearing size 3-6m but this peplum tank is a size 6-12m. I LOVE that it's going to grow with her. No doubt it will be a wardrobe staple. And, of course, I couldn't leave her shop without basically buying her out, so you will definitely be seeing more June Park posts.

Ever's shoes are from Little Pine Outfitters, and her headband is from Fourth + Pierce. The perfect little summer outfit.

Ever In The Tub | 18 weeks

April 27, 2016

Ever had her second round of shots today, and she didn't take them nearly as well as last time. She skipped her morning nap, was due for a feeding, and to top it off with the pain of vaccines just cause a meltdown that lasted all day long. So, we got home later in the day, ran a bath, and slept it off.

It never gets easier seeing her in pain, and I wish I could just take it away, put it on myself. But that's the best thing for them, to experience it all themselves. I can't shelter her from the harshness of the world as much as I want to, and if I try we'll both end up defeated. Motherhood, and parenting, is a constant struggle between trying to control everything, and letting go because God is in control.

Temecula | a daycation

April 24, 2016 in tavel/adventures, family

Okay, maybe not a daycation, we drove to Temecula for the wedding of a friend from Bible College. Neither of us had been back since my last semester there. The wedding was near these gorgeous vineyards so, of course, we had to trespass for some pictures.

After we left the wedding, we were so close to our old stomping grounds, the bible college (where Jesse and I met), so we made a quick stop to reminisce.

Rumor has it, if you walk around the lake with someone 3 times, you're going to get married. Jesse and I went for jogs around the lake, so...

mom style | Minted Em Boutique

April 22, 2016 in favorite products, style

I'm constantly on the hunt for shirts that are nursing friendly, and I definitely scored with this one!

Minted Em Boutique is the cutest little online boutique with a ton of options for a nursing mama, and at an amazing price!

This top is the Oatmeal Babydoll. The fabric is so light and flowy I feel like I could fly, but also lay down and sleep because it's so comfortable.

The fit is obviously loose, but not frumpy looking, the way it lays is very flattering. And I'm even thinking, "maternity shirt for baby #2??"

Literally the perfect shirt. Comfortable ✔️

Flowy ✔️

Afforable ✔️

and nursing friendly ✔️

Laughing because she literally almost spit up into my mouth. But I dodged it.

And, of course, I can't have a post without the spotlight on Ever at some point 💁🏼. So, here she is.

Minted Em is offering my readers 20% off with code MORGANFAITH until Sunday April 24th at midnight!

Ever's outfit:

June Park shirt and leggings

Hadley Girl bow

Wild Explorer shoes

four months of Ever Joy

April 19, 2016 in motherhood

This month I feel like she changed so much, like every day she did something new. She's becoming much more aware and responsive, and her little personality is starting to show. She knows when we leave the room now, and cries until we return. She doesn't like laying down, but wants to be sitting or standing. She's super strong, can sit up straight by herself if she's in the Boppy or Bumbo, but can only balance for a second on her own. She loves to stand. She's becoming more interested in what we eat and drink. She thinks when I drink coffee and water, especially, it's the most fascinating thing in the world. She's getting better at naps, doesn't fight them as much. But she's still not sleeping through the night (she half wakes up for feedings then falls right back asleep) because we co-sleep. She loves to be naked, and she loves to be worn and carried everywhere. She wants to be a part of everything. She's intentionally grabbing things within her reach and eye shot, and, of course, trying to put them in her mouth. She has gotten much better about her carseat, but she tries to sit up and gets frustrated when she cant. Also, she enjoys her stroller now much more if she's facing out to see things, and if we don't put the shoulder straps on her (miss independent). She knows where her milk comes from, because as soon as I start "setting up" to feed her, she calms down and opens her mouth (haha). I'm going to hold off on feeding her solids until I think she's ready, when she becomes more interested in what we're eating.

I love this stage she's in. Before, I got so sad with each milestone but now I find so much joy in watching her learn and grow.

Now, for the all photo highlights from the month (click to enlarge):

Laguna Beach | a daycation

April 17, 2016 in tavel/adventures, family

That one time we took too long to get ready, drove a few minutes down the PCH to Laguna, walked around for about an hour, got wayyy too hot and tired, and decided to go home and nap.

Searched way too long for a coffee shop to eventually just decide to go to Whole Foods where their espresso machine was cenveniently broken.

So Evvie helped me pick out a cold brew instead.

Ever's outfit:

june park shirt

h&m tights

mon petite shoes

kait and kids flower crown

baby threads | Jean & June

April 17, 2016 in favorite products, style

I'm probablyyyy a little too obsessed with Jean & June. The witty sayings, the minimalist design, the fact that I can twin my baby, it's just too much goodness.

My shirt says "stay golden" and Ever's onesie says "golden child". So cute and clever!

mama+me sweat sesh: naptime edition w| Blanqi

April 15, 2016 in favorite products, fitness, style

First of all, my outfit is from Blanqi. They have the best maternity and post partum leggings and tees around.

AND if you click here you can get 20% off your order (praise hands emoji)!

Recently, I've been utilizing Ever's nap time and the millions of bounces I have to do to rock her to sleep, to get a mini workout in. No, it's not going to burn a thousand calories, but it will definitely build some muscle. Try it!

In a second position (heels in, toes out, legs wide), I plié (lower down) and lift. That usually doesn't put her to sleep, so I pulse it down. These tiny pulses trigger the small muscle fibers in your quadriceps, giving a long lean look instead of a bulky.

I also pulse and rock at the same time.

Staying in a low plie, pulse to the left straightening the right leg,  and then pulse to the right straightening the left leg. Repeat. — Staying in a low plie, pulse to the left straightening the right leg, and then pulse to the right straightening the left leg. Repeat.

Most of the time, she falls asleep after this one, but sometimes I move on to some different moves because my thighs can't handle it anymore.

Like, calf raises in first position (heels together, toes out), parallel (feet parallel, hip distance), and toes in heels out.

I'll also try out some lunges.

Lunge and lift. Then pulse it down in a lunge.

If she's still not asleep at this point, I go back to my plie pulses and rocks in second position (which you can also do in first position, but second has a greater range of motion).

And she's out.

Ever's Nook

April 12, 2016 in family, favorite products, home

When designing Ever's nursery there were many things we had to take into account, the biggest thing was space, or lack thereof. we live in a one bedroom apartment in southern california, because #coastallivingprices. so, when designing her nursery, we had to plan for it to be half of our bedroom. I still wanted it to be a space that would be her own, a space different from the rest of the apartment, where she would feel safe and secure. I also wanted it to have a girly feel, without an over abundance of pink. we loved the simple design of this Ikea crib, and the fact that the wood is untreated, it was perfect for the look we were going for. the print on the wall is of the verse Psalm 5:11 and was made by my talented friend, Sarah. these decals from Urban Walls add a little pop of fun to a boring white wall, and the heart garland from myheartsdesireshop was the perfect way to incorporate all the colors in my color scheme.

Ever loves getting her diaper changed. we doubled this Ikea dresser as a changing table with a burts bees baby changing pad cover. in the top drawer I keep her diapers and wipes for easy access, and the other drawers are home to clothes that can't be hung and clothes that don't fit her yet. we're very blessed to have 2 closets in our bedroom, so we converted one into a changing station to give ourselves some extra space in the room. I hung her sonogram pictures on the wall with wash tape on a whim, and mostly because I didn't know what else to do with them but wanted to incorporate them somehow, and now they are her favorite thing to look at when she's being changed. I swear she knows that it's her in the picture🙈. also, because we lacked in the storage area, these Target storage bins are perfect for blankets, shoes, headbands, and burp cloths. inside the closet I put in some hooks to hang a laundry basket, towels, and another hanging storage system that holds her socks, teethers, more headbands, and pacifiers. inside the closet are boxes of diapers on the shelf, and more blankets on the floor because blankets seem to be the favorite baby shower gift (😏), and her clothes hanging on pink hangers 💕

on the other side of the room, we utilized another empty corner to put up a teepee by Tnees Tpees. she doesn't quite understand how fun it is now, but hopefully when she's older it will be a little space of her own to escape into her imagination.

this is my favorite little corner of her space. this corner holds some of my favorite moments of bonding with my little lady. I had the prints on the wall made from The Written Word Shop on Etsy, one with an "E" for Ever, and the other says one of my favorite quotes: "have courage and be kind" from Cinderella. I DIYed the flower hanging with jute, tiny clothes pins, and dried flowers from old bouquets we kept and maybe some from the apartment garden outside 😁. we found this knock-off Eames rocking chair on Amazon, and the side table at the Goodwill.
overall, I don't see Ever's nursery as just another part of our bedroom but as a relaxing, simple, and whimsical little space that depicts Ever Joy in every way.

baby threads | My Mila

April 12, 2016 in baby threads, favorite products

We were asked by Mini Style Blog to take photos for their upcoming feature with My Mila, and of course we said "yes" because Mini Style is easily one of my favorite blogs! Here's all the photos we took.

LA | a daycation

April 05, 2016 in tavel/adventures, family

Jesse's day off again, and we planned to go to Santa Barbara. But halfway there decided we'd rather go somewhere closer so stopped in LA for some good eats, museum hopping, and good old traffic jams.

We both really hope Ever has an adventurous spirit like the two of us. So we've gotta teach her young, right? The older she gets, the better she is with all day outings. She was a champ this time around going in and out of her car seat. And we even managed to get her naps and feeding right on schedule. She's like super baby. And I'm like super mom (kidding).

LA always reminds me of when Jesse and I were first dating. Our first date was to Hollywood and around that area. And we've always loved daycationing to tried and true but also new places.