New School Year Prayer

 Today is Vivian Louise's 1st day of 1st grade!!! 

I don't want to say I wish she was still little because I am so very proud of where she is and where she'll go ... but gracious babies don't keep!

Here are some things I pray for both of us this year.

OPEN EYES TO SEE ...

new friends, opportunities and God's goodness

OPEN EARS TO HEAR ...

our teachers, others and His Word

OPEN MIND TO LEARN ...

new things

OPEN HANDS TO HELP ...

others

OPEN MOUTH TO SPEAK ...

kind words & truth

OPEN HEART ...

to Love like God

Dress Beautifully in a New School Year

XOXO Sarah Louise

Cool Mom

 Whether you're a Mama or not, there are so many social occasions approaching with the start of Fall (bible study, game nights, non-profit meetings, parent gatherings etc ...). 

TIE DIE WRAP WAIST DRESS

also in 3 solid colors & a red print

I find that a dress is easy for many reasons. It's one piece, forgiving in fit, feminine and versatile with layering and accessories. 

Style Tip: Prints are flattering (camouflaging of curves), interesting and allow for opportunities to showcase your personality and other color pairings. 

Here are some pretty printed dress at nice prices ....

LEOPARD MAXI

this one is in my cart

STRIPE SHIRTDRESS

this one is a classic! 

Cinched waist creates shape, great for layering with colored sweaters/vests, 

belts and blazers/jackets. Sandals now - boots later

BLACK & WHITE FLORAL

also in burgundy print

RUFFLE SLEEVE

SMOCKED

Dress Beautifully in Pretty Priced Pieces

XOXO Sarah Louise

Things to Know

Tomorrow our darling is off to kindergarten!

There’s a big big world out there for her full of opportunity and while the future is a mystery there are things I want her to know to help her and will tell her often as my Mamma told me …

Jesus loves you

Love Others

You have a unique purpose

Shine your light bight

Do your best

Pretty is as pretty does

Say your sorry

Pray about it

Have fun 

Spend time outside 

My Mamma shared these words of encouragement with me during my childhood and even still to this day at 40 years old.

I will share them with Vivian as much as I can to instill in her confidence in who she is and who’s she is, a child a God who loves her, made her and has a wonderful will for her life.

I hope these words of wisdom encourage you.

Dress Beautifully in Wisdom 

XOXO Sarah Louise

Be Sweet & Stay Cool

I went into this Summer with a goal of having as much fun as possible! It’s my last one with Vivian before she starts Kindergarten and being present with her takes priority over any to-do list I make (I’ve flexed on the list but I didn’t abandon). 

It is very new for me to indulge in a sweet treat

I thank motherhood & my gal pals  for showing me 

how to enjoy the little things from time to time

Our adventures have been fairly simple and mostly took place right in our backyard, at the pool, on the playground and with several trips to the beach!!!

All of these places and the faces we’ve shared them with are wonderful but it’s our attitudes that make for the best Summer ever! 

Be Sweet & Stay Cool 

This has been our Summer motto! While it may seem like a catchy encouragement for littles, I find it meaningful for us grown gals too. Like ice cream we can be a refreshing treat amongst the Summer heat.

When we approach others and situations with sweet actions and a cool head we bless others, ourselves and the time we share. 

We can be sweet …

With our words

     - genuine compliments (preferably on things like one’s character or talents over appearance), avoiding gossip (sharing is NOT caring when it comes to another's business) and with caring messages or notes.

With manners

     - be observant & include others, help a neighbor or friend, and with simple acts of kindness (as small as sharing a smile can bless another)

We can be cool …

With our reactions 

    - Staying calm in the chaos of the unexpected, pray before speaking & acting, and having a gentle spirit.

With our choices 

    - doing what’s right, exercising patience and putting others above ourselves.

I hope we take our Summer motto and make it our Back to School motto too!

Dress Beautifully Being Sweet & Staying Cool

XOXO Sarah Louise 

Endless Summer

Gals, THIS Summer!!! We have traveled and splashed our hearts out! I mostly want this Summer to never ever end! But with only two weeks left I'm squeezing in every drop of fun and at the same time really looking forward to what's to come in the next season.

Seasons come and go and while there's a little sadness to see them end I believe it's important to focus on the excitement shared while you're in it. 

SL note: Be Present! It prevents looking back with regrets.

I sought out this Summer with intentions of experiences filled with joy, spontaneity and togetherness. I not only was blessed with just that, it was far beyond what I could have planned for.

Now for this next season I still want lots of the above, but mixed in with more structure, routine, fellowship and productivity.

Here's What I'm looking forward to once school starts ...

Routine & Productivity 

I stretched myself to embrace spontaneity for the sake of fun memories but now I'm eager for daily routines: carpool, gym, work, bible study, after school activities, Sunday School etc

I've got projects, spaces to decorate & organize, and welcome working without interruptions! 

Fellowship

While I was able to spend time with my gal pals some this Summer, but it was most often with our kiddos and not consistent. I am beyond exited for weekly bible study, meeting new friends at Vivian's school & activities, and at MOPS (mothers of preschoolers - I'm co-leading this year!)

Fall Fashion

Give me all the darker colors, structured tops and jeans!!!

Blog post to come soon on what I've got my eye on. 

Dress Beautifully for the Back to School Season

XOXO Sarah Louise

Back to School

Today's the day Vivian starts a new year of preschool. Not only has she moved up into the 2's class, but she will be going all 5 days of the week! 

As the Summer was coming to an end I found myself so sad to say goodbye to our days of fun in the sun.

But after meeting her teachers and setting up her new backpack (quite possibly the cutest one I've ever seen) my feelings have turned completely around to excitement!

Butterfly Backpack

My gal pal of Gray's Goods created the name patch

Before Vivian, the end of Summer/beginning of school wasn't a big change for me.  There was the dreaded increase in traffic and the start to things like a new bible study and Junior League year but for the most part it was business as usual.

Now, it's more of a drastic change in routine.  Laying out our outfits the night before, packing lunch in the morning, carpool lines and the best part, nearly 4 hours of freedom.  To my toddler Mammas, can you feel the joy?!!

I had originally planned to venture back into the workforce but given the world's current circumstance I'm going to hold off for a bit.

I'm taking this first week to enjoy myself and to set up a game plan for how I want to organize my days so that I can work towards reaching goals and completing projects.

We are also renovating 2 bathrooms, our sunroom and laundry room along with some exterior repairs this month. Stay tuned it's going to be an exciting transformation!

I know as I share this back to school experience for us, that it may be more challenging and highly unexpected for many others. 

The new routine may look like nothing you've ever imagined but I want to encourage you that it's not a surprise to God and He has blessings for us in this time.

He timing is precise and purposeful.

No matter your school situation or even if you don't have children we can take this new season and make it great! We can face it with a positive attitude. It's contagious you know and can be shared even behind our masks :)

So set some goals, clean out some things (closets, habits, priorities what ever is junky in your world), reorganize and face a new semester with confidence! 

Dress Beautifully for Back to School

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Mamma Monday: Seasons

Happy Monday Mammas! For some of you it's back to school for your littles.  This can be a bittersweet time for as much as we want them to stay our little babies it's exciting to watch them grow and learn.  #allthefeels

You've all heard it, 'there's a time for everything' or 'it's just a phase' and 'a season of life'.  Well, motherhood is not only a new time/season it's full of it's own set of seasons.

When I look back on my life, gracious there were some epic seasons ... college, climbing the corporate ladder, marriage, military service (the deployment!), back to the office grind, and then sweet Vivian Louise!!! Now this season is sweeter than ALL the blooms of Spring. That was super cheesy but so true :)

When Mr and I talk about our life as a family of 3 we refer to our first year as survival.  I somewhat wish that wasn't true but we were really on a repeat cycle of eat, play, sleep.
It's easy to want to wish away seasons of our lives and super easy to want to escape our current season or even just stop the current season right where it is.
But the world keeps turning.

The middle school students in my Sunday school class are a mix of excited and dreadful over the start of school - I feel ya kids!

Currently, I'm LOVING every. single. moment. of being her Mamma every day BUT I'm missing my role in the corporate world every. single. day. When you hear that motherhood is a sacrifice it's 100% true! There is no right or wrong but simply a choice and purpose we all have to fulfill.
I'm grateful with all of my heart that God shut the door to a dreadful job and opened the one of nurturing our baby.

Confession:  the fashion blogger in me misses my suits and pumps soooo much - I occasionally get dressed in my work clothes to embrace that part of me.  No, I'm not crazy I'm just trying to navigate life and sustain the many facets of me ... even if that means playing a little dress up at 36.

In just 2 weeks we will embark on a new season as Vivian starts preschool.  It has me exploring new opportunities.  I don't ever want to go back to a season because with each new one I've grown and learned things to take into the next. But I'm ready to embrace a new way of serving.

While I don't know what the future holds I do know this that I leave you with ...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

• God created seasons in our lives to shape us, help us deal and create us into who HE intended us to be.
• He uses them to show us that He is good and make everything beautiful for its own time
• God will change the season of life we're in when He's ready to change something about us.
• God wants us to trust Him through the easy and more difficult seasons.
• Remember God promises to make it beautiful in HIS time

Be in constant prayer for what God has in store for each and every season!

Dress Beautifully in Every Season of Motherhood

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Mamma Monday: Back to School Prep

Happy Monday Mammas! Back-to-school is my all time favorite shopping.  I'm NOT into Christmas or even birthdays but the start of a new school year with fresh supplies and a new beginning with endless learning potential, now that's excitement I'm thrilled to prepare for!

After earning my degrees my school days are over, and sweet Vivian Louise is just 19 months old so her back-to-school consists of a small backpack, a few new outfits and lunch essentials. Although we are working with big crayons and finger paint but honestly it's just a swirly mess.  She'll be attending preschool a few days a week starting after Labor Day.

I'm not going to try and source ALL the back to school things for your littles because well that's just overwhelming.  What I will share with you are a few extra things I found that are fun for Mammas and kiddos of all ages to prepare for the year ahead.

Labels:
We use these bands on Vivian's water bottles and stickers on her clothes, diapers, wipes, etc...
They're fantastic for preschool, church and all our activities away from home.

Water Bottle/Cup Bands

Sticker Labels

Lunch Box Notes:

I'm obsessed with hand written notes! I send out correspondence in the mail every week.  I suppose I got this from my Mamma.  She would always put encouraging and loving notes in our lunches. 

These are cute and simple.  As soon as Vivian can read she will receive love notes in her lunch!

Lunch Box Notes

1st Day Picture Signs:

Because we have to document every month their first year and ALL the other firsts #momlife

Pennant

Vivian's not quite old enough for these yet, but I would be using them if she was!

Label Board

I'm using this board to title her 1st day of preschool photos and for the years ahead.

Organization

I live a VERY organized life!!! There is NO clutter in our home during nap or once she's in bed. EVERYTHING has a home (and our living space is NOT a home for her toys). We have baskets, bins and shelves to contain her belongings.

Those backpacks, lunchboxes, paperwork and sports equipment need a home.  Prepare now with wall hooks, bins, wall shelves etc... 

Because no one has time in the mornings to be hunting for your stuff or a mess! 

Storage

Creating a space for homework is important too.  A place where your kiddos can sit and focus. Have drawers/shelves dedicated to housing supplies such as paper, pencils, markers, scissors etc..  This also avoids mess!

High Five for Vivian's 1st Year of Preschool!

Dress Beautifully Preparing for a New School Year!

XOXO Sarah-Louise