Weekend Recap

^{This sweater is so cozy. I think I got it from… I wanna say TJ Maxx or somewhere… like two years ago. Boots and jeggings are from Target. As is half of my wardrobe, because I go in for something random like batteries and come out with all.the.things.}

I know it’s, er, Wednesday now, but here’s a recap of our weekend!

Last week was crazy busy for us. It was hectic, but we accomplished a lot and that always feels so good! But by the time the weekend came, we were all in need of a little sunshine & fresh air. So we went on a little family outing to Laguna Beach (always our favorite). Laguna is a charming, artsy beach town about 10-15 minutes north of where we live. We stopped in to Urth Caffe for lunch, then got some coffee and walked along the beach towards a little playground for Evie to play. While we were there a whale swam up right next to the shore! It was amazing. I couldn’t believe how close to shore it swam. It definitely further solidified my fear of swimming in the ocean though! But I loved how everyone just stopped what they were doing to watch it. I love how a sight like that brings people together in wonderment.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend, and were able to find time to get outside with the ones you love!

With Love,

Monika

^{Evie kept saying “Whale Mommy! Whale!”}

^{No weekend is complete without a little rest & relaxation. Love sneaking out to our deck when I can during nap time for some coffee & reading. This book is so good, and so empowering!}

^{Cora, all ready for church! Oh, and it’s a foot shadow, I promise ;)}

^{This guy is seriously super dad. Love him so much!}

Date Night

Last night was one of those fun, laugh-till-you-cry date nights with two of our dear friends that was just so good for my soul. Sometimes I just need a night to wear real clothes (gotta give my yoga pants a rest every now and again ;)), get dolled up, and have a night out to feel young & carefree for a few hours!
It got me thinking about friendship & community, and how very important it is to have a few good friends that you “do” life with. We are so blessed to live (literally) next door to some of our favorite people, and we so cherish our time together. I went through many seasons of life feeling lonely & isolated, longing to find a tribe, and now I feel like God has just totally blessed us with such an amazing church & church family to live in community with. It is truly such answered prayer and it is something I do not take for granted.

Praying for all the someone’s somewhere that are longing for friendship & belonging… may you be blessed with deep, intentional friendship and a tribe of your own.

Love,

Monika

Consignment/Resale Shopping

Oh how I love darling little baby girl clothes. I could very easily spend a fortune buying my daughter cute new outfits & shoes (I’m obsessed with baby shoes. Even though she kicks them off in about two seconds!). She grows so quickly, and goes through about 2-3 outfits a day, so clothes are definitely a must. But I just can’t justify spending a fortune on clothes that will be spit up on, pooped on, and quickly outgrown. BUT, of course I still want her to look adorable. So, I meet in the middle and I buy most of her clothes at resale stores. This works well since the hubs and I are on a budget and trying to stick to our Dave Ramsey debt snowball. I have to be smart and budget- conscious. Trendy clothes at budget-friendly prices are a definite win in my book. 

See that picture above? I bought all of those clothes for a total of $62.49. Thats: 6 pairs of shorts // 5 tops // 3 pairs of pants //1 romper // 1 dress 

Most of the items looked brand new, maybe worn once or twice. And many of them still had tags on them. So baby gets several new outfits and mama doesn’t have to have buyer’s remorse. Score!

Below I’ve listed a few tips for consignment shopping for your little one. 

5 Tips For Consignment Shopping:

1. Give yourself time. Good finds are out there, but they require the time & patience it takes to find them. 95% of the clothes at consignment stores may be outdated and not very cute. But gems do exist. Fabulous, stylish, cheap little gems.  Tap into your inner hunter-gatherer and scour those racks!
2. Look up consignment shops in the nice, upscale areas on town. If I have the time, I drive the 20 minutes to the fancier neighborhood and find better brands and clothes. Most of which have never been worn and still have tags on, or are very gently used.
3. Search out clothes from your favorite stores. I love the style of clothes at Baby Gap, Zara, H&M, Cotton On… So I search out those brands & styles specifically. Finding cute pieces at a more wallet-friendly price.
4. Sign up for shop email lists to be the first to know what sales are happening. Sometimes they’ll even send you coupons! One time I went to a weekend 99 cent sale and got a whole bag of clothes for Eveleigh for $20. I got an email the week of the sale, and went the first night before everything was picked over. I scored big that night, even getting a Baby Gap peacoat for 99 Cents!
5. Go alone. While as a mom this is challenging and not always feasible… It is easier to shop alone for obvious reasons. Fewer distractions = more focus. Plus, it’s good for you mamas to take a little hour to yourself here & there! 

Happy Shopping! 

       ^^Eveleigh in one of her new outfits!^^

Blah blah blah

Last Friday I was battling a particularly strong case of blahness. I was in this rut where my mood was “blah.” My clothes felt “blah.” My hair felt “blah.” These are the moments that I am most susceptible to impulsiveness (fighting the urge to go buy new clothes and/or chop off my hair). So I decided to fight these feelings by mixing things up. I threw on my husband’s glasses (which I have now officially adopted to be own. Thanks hubs!), tossed my hair up into a messy topknot, and put on some bold lipstick. Sometimes it’s just necessary to have a little fun & play around! Later that night Ryan and I went out to dinner with friends & went to a comedy show fundraiser. Made for a fun Friday night out. Laughter is the best medicine. :)

Hope your Friday is wonderful. ♥

This video has been making its way around the blogosphere, and I, too, wanted to share. I love how it shows how fashion has evolved through the years, but it does it in such a fun and inspiring way. Very well done, folks. 

 Have a beautiful weekend! Xo

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)