Small Style #44

I hope you all had a great week! I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing a lot of holiday pictures this week....I can't wait!
















Cardigan- Mine, when I was little, Shirt- via Zulily, Skirt- Gift from my friend Brooke, Gap, Shoes- c/o See Kai Run, Tights- Target
Yesterday was Finley's birthday. We had breakfast and spent the morning here as a family, then Finley and I had some special girl time. We did a mini-photoshoot, did some grocery shopping for her birthday party, then had lunch together. Then, in the evening we had a little family birthday party. The party, the presents, and the little girl were very girly, pink, and sparkly. So fun!

Link up here:

Christmas Photo Recap

Hello, there! I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and are having a great week! Judah asked me, "Mama, did you have a good Christmas?" His sweet question almost made me tear up. I answered, "Yes, Judah, I did. Did you?" "Yep! It was the best Christmas ever!" We spent Christmas Eve with Eric's family and Christmas day with mine.

Finley woke up Christmas Eve morning with a fever and felt sick all day (which explain why she's looking under the weather in the first picture). Thankfully, she woke up Christmas morning feeling all better.
























Things will probably be pretty quiet over here for the rest of the week. Finley's second birthday is tomorrow (!!), Thursday I'll be here for Small Style, and Friday my sister leaves to head back to Colorado. She's in the Army and is stationed there, so we're spending as much time as we can with here while she's here.

Have a great week!

Merry, Merry, Merry!

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas!

Small Style #43

Welcome to Small Style! I really can't believe that this is the 43rd week of Small Style. I've been thinking of putting together a giveaway at the one year mark for all of you lovely participants. If you are a shop or business owner and would be interested in donating something to giveaway, I'd love to spotlight you in a Small Style post!

As always, you are welcome to include the Small Style button that's in the right sidebar or tweet your post using the hashtag #SmallStyle on twitter.

Wishing you and your families a beautiful Christmas!












Shirt- Thrifted, from Wrangler, Jeans- c/o Lucky Brand, Shoes- Vans
I have been a huge fan of Lucky Brand for a long time. My mom bought me my first pair when Samuel was six months old and I had lost all of my baby weight. I have loved Lucky every since, but did you know Lucky has a kids' line?

I love Lucky because they're stylish and well-made. They are the perfect line for stylish kids (and mamas and papas). Lucky was so sweet to send a pair of the Billy Straight Guitar Jeans for my Judah man. He loves the guitar on the back pockets and I love how stylish and grown up he looks.

Today Judah accompanied me on some errands and we had so much fun on our very rare one-on-one outing. Judah got a new pair of shoes (The exact same ones as his last pair. The others were just completely worn in.), finished {almost} all of our Christmas shopping, got some groceries and, of course, stopped for ice cream!

Link up here:

Happy Wednesday!

The other day the boys were all outside, so I followed my sweet girl around the house with my camera as she played. She put her tutu and her fancy shoes on, pushed her baby doll around in the stroller and read books. I love my sweet girl!

Like all of you, this week is busy busy for us. I hope you're enjoying this precious time leading up to Christmas.

I'll be here tomorrow for Small Style. I hope you'll be joining me!

Ten Things Mama Loves

I'm linking up at E Tells Tales today. Each Friday she shares Ten Little Ivie Things, so this is my version- Ten Things Mama Loves.

1. We started Judah in a new school. I have a long post already written about it, I just haven't had time to post it. I'll probably be posting it on Monday. It it three days of school and two days of homeschool- exactly what I have been wanting for awhile!

2. I'm in love with photography. This new little hobby of mine has my wish list reaching the tens of thousands. Anyone have a lot of money and don't know what to do with it? Also, I might even be thinking of doing "something" with it.

Source: kellymoorebag.com via Morgan on Pinterest

3. This is my focus right now: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

4. I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done today. I feel so, so good and I'm so excited to give people what I got them. I love giving gifts!

5. We might build a cob home. My husband is 110% committed and I'm still a little unsure. This is a whole post in itself, obviously.

Source: amazingdata.com via Morgan on Pinterest

6. Tomorrow is my race! I'm running my first 10k and I'm feeling excited and a little nervous. Oh, and I need to remember to drink a lot of water today.

7. My kids (and I) are totally in love with Photobooth.



8. We're officially on Christmas break as of now. Woohoo! I see a lot of playmates, library trips, gym time, pajama time, dinners with friends, and cookie eating in our future.

9. I'm obsessed with humor memoirs (I just made that genre up, I'm not sure what the official title is). I've recently read Mindy Kaling's new book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance. I told my grandma that I want Tina Fey's book for Christmas. Light-hearted, funny reading does good for my soul.

10. I think I'm going to propose we drive around a look at Christmas lights tonight. One of my all-time favorite traditions.

What are you loving right now?

Small Style #42

Welcome to Small Style! I hope you are having a great week. Thank you for joining me here!

If you're on twitter and you'd like, you can use the hashtag #smallstyle to tweet your post. I'd love to help promote you and your blog! (I'm @mamalovespapa on twitter, so if we're not already friends on there, we should be!)








On Finley: Headband- Adornme Girl, Sweater- Zulily, Tutu- Costco, from my grandma, Leggings- Target, Shoes- c/o See Kai Run
On Samuel: Shirt- thrifted, Jeans- from my grandma, too!
Yesterday I had plans to drop Eric, Judah, and Samuel off at a little Christmas event, then do a mini Small Style photoshoot with Silas and Finley. A lady verbally gave me directions and, just in case, gave me her card with her phone number. I thought the directions sounded super simple and there was no way I would need to call and ask directions. Turns out I could not find the place anywhere and I couldn't find where I put her card, either. Whoops! The boys were bummed to have missed this Advent wreath-lighting thing and I felt bad. Instead, we stopped on the side of the road for the photoshoot, but Samuel and Finley were my only willing participants. With four kids (or even with one!) things just don't always go as planned. Next time...

Link up here:

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

(Or, what I keep accidentally referring to as Warm Hands, Cold Heart. Whoops!)



Cold Hands, Warm Heart is a sweet little swap put on by the fabulous and adorable ladies Ilene of Much Love, Illy and Sandy of Sandy A La Mode. These two happen to be super crafty and talented, stylish and two of my favorite bloggers, so you know I had to participate. Oh, and I needed a new pair of mittens!

Sandy and Ilene did a great job matching us with our partners. My partner is Jozen of Lola's Girl, another adorable lady. I was actually shocked to read about Jozen. Her favorite colors are mustard, grey, and pink, she loves vintage dresses and anything vintage or handmade. She's a mama and a blogger. I'm pretty sure Jozen is my Canadian twin. Her blog is adorable, too, make sure you check it out!



I love every single thing Jozen sent in my package and I feel so spoiled- TWO pairs of mittens: striped and some fun Olympic ones from her hometown, a pretty necklace and flower pin, delicious! coffee, and handmade, organic, soaps. I've already put most of it to use and the rest I will in the near future (including the mittens in an outfit post. I've already worn them, but now I need to post them!)







Thank you so much Sandy and Ilene for organizing the swap and Jozen for the perfect package!

(PS See you tomorrow, Thursday, for Small Style!)

Sequins and Sparkles

Jacket- Vintage, thrifted, Sequins Top- Forever 21, Button up Top- Thrifted, originally from Gap, Jeans- Urban Outfitters, Boots- Target

This month's theme for Everybody, Everywear is Sequins and Sparkles. You all know that's right up my alley. I got this sequined shirt awhile ago in the Forever 21 clearance section, but I had yet to actually wear it. It seemed too dressy for anything that I do, so this is my attempt of understated sequins.



I'm also linking up at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

(PS See you tomorrow, Thursday, for Small Style!)

Ask Away!

Well, it's been awhile since I've done a Q&A and I've been meaning to vlog for, oh, five years, so I guess it's about time for both. Ask your questions, I'll answer them, and I'll probably even answer video-style. Feel free to ask me about anything- parenting, marriage, blogging, homeschool, fashion, whatever.

Anything you're dying to know? Here's your chance!

Lisa Leonard Designs Giveaway WINNER!

The winner of the $75 Lisa Leonard Designs gift card is:



Congratulations, Celeste! I will be emailing you soon!

For everyone else, you can use the code mamalovespapa for 15% off your purchase at Lisa Leonard Designs.