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Showing the Love
Moms are the best, aren't they? There is truly nothing quite like the relationship between a mother and daughter; it is a bond that is so special and grows and develops over time with memories, happy times, arguments, experiences, phone calls, and so much more. This Mother's Day we are loving the idea of showing the love to mom through thoughtful gestures and experiences. Below are our ideas! We would love to hear from you in the comments section about what you are doing for your mom for Mother's Day.
*Cook the family dinner- plan to cook your mom (plus additional loved ones) her favorite meal. The act of preparing a meal that she loves will mean so much to her and having her loved ones gathered around the table will be a joyful experience for all.
*Plan a weekend getaway or staycation with her- this doesn't have to be extravagant at all, it can be as simple as just planning on staying the weekend at her house and doing things that the two of you love- going on walks, going out for coffee, making breakfast together, getting your nails done, staying in and watching a movie, or anything else. Or, if there is a town nearby that would be fun to visit, book a hotel room for the night and enjoy a girls getaway with her.
*Book her an appointment at her favorite spa- surprising her with this is such a thoughtful gesture. Not only will she love the time at the spa, but to know that you are treating her will mean so much!
*Write her a letter, include printed pictures of the two of you- for some reason, this idea makes me tear up! In the time of all things online, a handwritten letter expressing your love + printed pictures of memories shared together is truly a special gift.
OUTFIT DETAILS
sunnies | top | denim | jacket (similar here, here, and here) | shoes (c/o)
images by felicia lasala
You Be You
You be you. This is so much easier said that done, isn't it? But, why? I have really been digging into this ever since I moved to Los Angeles, as I initially felt surrounded by people that just didn't "get me" - they didn't know me growing up, they didn't know my twin, they didn't know my parents, or what healing was like after the accident like my best friends did at "home," and the list continues on.
This is such a real feeling but a binding excuse to keep falling back on. After countless conversations with my sweet husband, I realized I was trying to take the easy way out. I would avoid the effort rather than the pursuit; I was seeking easy comfort (AKA watching Friends cuddled on the sofa at home), which in turn, developed into loneliness. I was exhausted from the daily adjustment to a brand new city and often depleted of energy to put in the effort of being vulnerable with new friends. Not to mention, the root of the problem was fear of man coupled with the desire to be accepted as I walked into a community of Jason's friends who felt like family to him, but not to me yet. This all seemed so intimidating at the time, but Jason encouraged me to just be me. Simple clarity: that is what everyone desires. For you to be you.
What I came to discern is that I was making this so complicated. It really is quite simple. How do you act around your best friend or your closest family member? You can be free and honest and thoughtless (in the beautiful sense of the word). I still have to remind myself to be this way sooner rather than later with new friends. What are your fears of being fully who you are? What holds you back?Tips to be you:
- Keep it simple. Take it at your own pace. Have grace on yourself for not doing it perfectly. New friends are not being your harshest critic.
- Go outside of your comfort zone. You will be so glad you did!
- When you are overwhelmed, remind yourself of why you are grateful. This mind set has changed my life and depletes so much negativity!
- Don't doubt yourself. It is so easy to get in your head, questioning if people like you.
- Admit your fears and aim to conquer them.
I have to share with you this brilliant Ted Talk where Renee Brown discusses the power of vulnerability. #gamechanger
OUTFIT DETAILS
jacket (and here) | top | denim | sunnies | boots (similar)
images by felicia lasala
The Nespresso Life
Spring makes me feel refreshed and enlivened; it gives me extra ambition to clean out the closets, fill our house with fresh, colorful flowers, and make extra time for rest and peaceful morning rituals. The change of seasons consistently seems busy but yet there is always a sweet, subconscious reminder to slow down. Coffee in the morning (and sometimes in the afternoon) seems to be the perfect way for us to escape the daily grind, and it’s how I make sure to have a little “me time” in between all my to-do’s. What do you incorporate in your daily routine to rest from the hustle and bustle? To think. To reflect. To just sit. P.S. Sometimes a cup of coffee is a fun excuse to invite your bestie over to sip a cup with you!
My mom introduced me to Nespresso a few years ago when she made me a frothy cup of coffee that was dairy free (win win). This goodness in a cup won me over from the very first sip, and now it is a staple in our house. We are kind of obsessing over the new Nespresso VertuoPlus because it always delivers an extraordinary cup of quality coffee or espresso with ease. We are all about the quality of coffee in the Kennedy household, hence the fact that we are big fans of Nespresso, and we love the all-new design and fresh new colors of VertuoPlus. Cheers to Spring renewal! Not to mention, I love that this dreamy coffee company brings together the know-how of all its coffee experts, who have sourced the top coffee beans from around the world and perfectly roasted each coffee blend.When I am researching kitchen products, I love to know what it does. The VertuoPlus machine conveniently makes two cup sizes, 8 oz. Coffee and 1.35 oz. Espresso, all at the touch of a button. It uses two different capsule sizes: large capsule for Coffee, and a small one for Espresso. And it's easy! What to do: press the lever (it automatically opens), insert a capsule, and press the lever again (it automatically closes). Then press the button, which will start the brewing process. The machine delivers the optimal in-cup results for each blend using barcode reading technology to recognize if it’s espresso or coffee, how much water, how hot, etc. Then you get a beautiful cup of crema-topped quality coffee or espresso. Umm...taking a writing break to go make a cup now.
The most fun part: Nespresso’s Aeroccino milk frother is ideal for preparing hot or cold milk froth. The milk frother creates a soft and finely textured milk froth in a convenient way. Who else is on that homemade almond milk latte kick?
A major bonus: Sustainability is at the heart of everything Nespresso does. They are committed to having a positive impact, including giving their capsules a second life through recycling. With the Nespresso recycling program, they provide several options to send in your used capsules for them to recycle, free of charge.
The Nespresso VertuoPlus truly is one touch to extraordinary!P.S. You know we are all about health over here, so I am kind of obsessed with the fact that all of the water tanks are BPA free.This post was created in connection with my participation in Nespresso’s VertuoPlus program.
Treasuring Downtime
Downtime is such an important part of healthy living and personal well-being. I can say with complete confidence that whenever I feel burnt out, too tired, and on edge, it is almost always because I am not resting enough. Finding and treasuring downtime can be hard when life gets busy, but these days I am making it a priority to not only find it, but to truly treasure it. My soul is so much happier after a good dose of rest, and because of that I am able to be my best and give my best to the people in my life. When I am well-rested, I am more gentle, kind, and loving; I don't take myself too seriously, I don't stress over the little things, and I can think more clearly. I am able to let go and let God when I come from a place of rest and relaxation, compared to a place of fatigue and worry. How do you like to enjoy and treasure downtime? For me, it is definitely a mug of herbal tea in the evening (this tea is my favorite), comfy clothes, worship music, and reading the Bible or a devotional. Doing this in the evening before bed is key for a sweet night of sleep and leads to a fresh, thankful, happy morning the next day. xx melissa
clothing and images c/o ragdoll LA
Spring Style Mood
Spring can be a tricky time of year with rainy days and cooler-than-expected temperatures, especially on the East Coast! However, once the sun is out, temps warm up, and summer is on the horizon, our spring style mood definitely heats up. Lo is loving two-piece sets (see below) + sunnies that make a statement. Wide leg crops, embellished sandals, and the modern Americana palette of red, white, and blue totally have her heart. For me, I am loving the classic combination of black + white as always, plus denim skirts, the bold color of red, easy sundresses, and two-piece sets as well. Lo and I are both fans of fedoras and wide brim hats, so we will definitely be reaching for those as we continue spring and go into summer. Bonus, hats also help with sun protection, so wearing one is a definite win-win. For more tips on staying safe in the sun, read this. Scroll down to see Lo style a top + short set and below that are a few style items that we are loving. xx
OUTFIT DETAILS
top | shorts | shoes | bag | sunnies **all c/o**
images by Felicia Lasala
SPRING STYLE MOOD BOARD
Lo:
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Melissa:
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Two Healthy Weeknight Dinner Ideas
Hey guys! Lo and I are so excited to share two healthy weeknight dinner ideas that we find ourselves making almost once a week. We are all about healthy, wholesome ingredients + ease and simplicity. Below are two dinners that you will feel good about preparing, eating, and cleaning up! Easy to make, good for you, and a simple clean-up guaranteed. Scroll down for the details! xx image via MyDomaine
LO // The Forbidden Rice Bowl
*Forbidden rice
*Steamed or sauteed kale
*Fermented cabbage
*Sprouts
*Steamed broccoli
*Shredded carrots
*Sauteed chicken
*Avocado sauce: mix together one avocado, fresh lemon juice, and fresh garlic
--Mix ingredients + the avocado sauce in a bowl together and enjoy!!
MELIS // salmon + avo on rice
*serving size of baked salmon (6 oz) per person (bake 400 degrees for about 10 minutes)
*slices of avocado
*brown rice (I love the frozen organic brown rice from Trader Joe's- so easy)
*tamari sauce
-- Place salmon on rice, drizzle tamari sauce on top, and then put your avocado slices on top of that.
Another great addition would be some cilantro leaves. Enjoy!
Safe Fun In The Sun
Summer is such a fun season- full of travel, relaxation, and sunshine. There is no doubt though that the sun is super strong, so it is so important to stay safe while under the rays. We recently discovered the clean sunscreen brand, Coola, and love that it protects our skin from the sun while being free of toxins. Along with clean sunscreen, below are tips for having safe fun in the sun as we prepare to spend more time outside in the upcoming months. Enjoy! xx
*Big floppy hat: Not only will it help keep the sun off of your face, neck, and shoulders, but it is also a total style statement. Win-win!
*Safe sunscreen: Coola is a great brand for sunscreen that is free of harsh and dangerous chemicals. It is so important to use a clean sunscreen since you are literally rubbing it all over your skin!
*Re-apply: I am extremely guilty of not doing this. Putting on sunscreen in the morning isn't enough! Be sure to re-apply every few hours. That means if you are out for the day, throw it in your tote bag and don't forget about it.
*Quality sunnies: Investing in a quality pair of sunnies that protect against UV rays is so important. I have learned lately that investing in 1-2 pairs of quality sunnies is better than having more low-quality pairs.
*Rock a one-piece: Bikinis are so fun of course, but for a long day at the beach a one piece might not be a bad idea! Protect the tummy skin from the sun while also being totally cute and on-trend.
*Light layers: A cute tunic, or a light top + shorts, or flowy pants + a tank, are all great options to cover up when you are still outside, but have had enough sun.
the shoes (c/o) + the bag (c/o)
images by felicia lasala[show_shopthepost_widget id="2613696"]
Long Distance Love
I have come to notice that I am often caught up in the excitement of the reason for a life change and forget to stop and ponder the adjustment that lies ahead. To explain: almost three years ago, I packed up a u-haul and moved permanently to the beautiful and bustling city of Los Angeles. After a year and a half of long distance dating, I was over-the-moon about being in the same city as my fiance, and I could not wait to marry my best friend. The wedding planning was in full force, we were looking for a house, I was trying to make my short-term apartment cozy, and the city was so new - where do I get my favorite almond milk latte? Pilates? Yoga? Friends? So much adrenaline and anticipation filled my body, that the thought of leaving the comfort of home did not fully enter my brain. Reality started kicking in slowly but surely, and Jason was the sweetest comfort and helper in making this adjustment do-able!
It is so interesting how adjustment truly takes time. After three years, I feel like my family and I are all finally getting into such a good and manageable routine of visiting each other and intentionally carving out quality time together. There is always the effort of keeping life at a healthy balance - we all have jobs and husbands and travel and friends and on and on the list goes. It has taken a lot of learning and missing (aka homesickness), and trial and error to get this rhythm in tact.What has helped the most in this long distance scenario is being aware of what truly fills up my soul: long walks with my mom, bike rides with my dad, long conversations around the kitchen table, my parent's health-filled home cooked meals, sweet time with my twin, holding precious baby Kate, Pilates with my bestie, coffee with my friends. I have to create trips that are not filled with appointments and work events. I have to plan trips where my time is open and my family is first priority. I now leave feeling so renewed and full of life, filled with fresh ambition to return home and continue adjusting to a new state.
Another key that has brought so much freedom: accepting life as it is and walking confidentially in the path the Lord has put in front of me (thank you to my dad for this nugget of wisdom and truth!). For so long, I was daydreaming about moving back to Dallas with Jason, and it limited me from flourishing in this new city. Live in freedom. Be grateful. Accept new shifts and seasons, and live fruitfully in the change.Are you going through any big life changes? How are you learning to adjust? We would love to hear from you in the comment sections! xo
OUTFIT DETAILS
top | sunnies (c/o) | pants | shoes (c/o) | scarf (c/o) similar option
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Must-Have Hair Tools
Today we are sharing our must-have hair tools for healthy, easy to manage, and simple-to-style hair. These are accessories that we reach for daily when it comes time to "do our hair"- everything from my favorite comb for wet hair, to Lo's favorite curling iron. We are fans of wearing our hair down (except for throwing it up to workout) so we are pretty low-maintenance when it comes to styling tools. However, quality is very important and good-functioning tools are well worth the investment. Not only will high-quality styling tools protect your hair and help keep it healthy, but they will also limit the time it takes to get ready. Read on for Lo's favorite hair tools + mine. xo
Lo:
Melissa:
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