Merry Christmas from Us (Enjoy this gift)

Merry Christmas from us to you! My husband is a talented singer-songwriter who decided to record his own version of the song "Hallelujah" with a bit of a Christmas spin on it (the original song is by Leonard Cohen). He convinced me to sing with him (I'm a really shy singer... unless I'm in the car) and there is even a surprise from little Klair at the end of the song. If you would like this song please send me your email address, and we will send it to you as a Christmas gift from our little family.

Here it is in all its YouTube glory:

http://youtu.be/p8phLQQkJfc

Also, the photo above counts as our Christmas card for this year. I wanted to create a physical, tangible... you know, real one to send out to people, but our little December sickness put us in survival mode. The Christmas card didn't make the cut on the list of most necessary things to do. Fortunately, this photo from Klair's 2 year old pictures is both Christmasy and adorable. I hope it makes your Christmas a little brighter!

ASOS Style & Albion Basin

Midi Skirt | Necklace | Floral Headband | Blouse | Pumps

Sam is going to take some engagement photos in a few weeks, and we've been scouting for good areas to shoot at. I say we because although he is the photographer of the family, I'm his assistant. This might sound like an easy gig, but I assure you it is not. It's a workout with Klair. Luckily though the engagement shoot should prove to be an easier job than I'm used to since, you know, we won't be taking pictures of a toddler for a change. I doubt there will be much running involved, and I can leave my crazy noises/funny faces/talent for eliciting laughter via peek-a-boo at home. Following the advice of a good friend, we headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Albion Basin a few nights ago. It's a beautiful area just above Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. I've driven up this canyon plenty of times in my Utahn life, but I had never driven this far. Once you get high enough, the pavement ends and a dirt road begins. This is where it really starts to get pretty, and where we decided to take the photos above. Wouldn't an engagement shoot in this location look absolutely stunning?? I'm in love. I can't wait to see what Sam produces.

Featured in the photos is a skirt and necklace that I bought online from ASOS which you can see here and here. The necklace is a layered locket. It's too small to put a picture in, so I had Klair kiss the inside instead. I've been wearing it non-stop since.

FYI both the skirt and necklace are on sale right now. Also, in case anyone is wondering, my headband came from a local boutique, but there is a similar one here.

If you love ASOS as much as I do, make sure to enter the giveaway below. It's running for only one more day, so don't put it off. They are having killer sales right now, so it's definitely a good time to win some free money towards their merch! Additionally, the giveaway will give you an awesome Style Lately tee of your choice and ad space on some awesome blogs. Win, win, win.

Also, this post wouldn't be complete without bragging about the last two photos. You see, I took them. That's right, me! I'm kind of proud because they just might be my favorite photos of Klair and her "dada" ever. And, even though Sam configured all the settings and set it all up, I'm the one who clicked the button. That's gotta count for something, right? I'd say so.

Happy hump day! And good luck with the giveaway :)

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Sincerely yours,  

Life Lately & Summer Style

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Blouse | Pants | Belt | Shoes | Sunnies

Last week was a busy one. In fact, the entire month of June has flown by in a hurry. Even though the recent solstice technically ushered in the new season, I can't help but feel like the beginning of July means that summer is halfway over (blame it on the years I spent in and teaching school I guess). I feel a sense of urgency to enjoy the warm weather to its fullest, especially because the thought of having an active little toddler in the cold weather months is a looming fear. Thus, I've been jam-packing my days with outdoor activities, trying to soak up every moment with baby girl. 

Additionally, I've been spending a lot of time orchestrating a day camp for all of the Cub Scouts in my ward. I was recently called to be the Cub Scout Master, and my first event was one of the biggest of the year. Preparation for the event had me mostly wading through all of the red tape... so. much. paperwork. Once I had crossed all the t's and dotted all of the i's, however, I was able to go to camp with the boys-- that was the fun part! Sam was kind enough to take the day off from work to watch Klair so that I could go. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the camp, and had fun experiencing it with them. I really do have a great group of scouts and leaders to work with. 

These things coupled with family, friends, and the typical demands of daily life have made it hard to accomplish everything on my to-do list. My house--particularly the laundry--has suffered. I know Sam has felt similarly. He has been so busy with work, music, and life... we've both felt stretched thin. Thus, we decided to spend the rest of our weekend (after camp) enjoying our little family. Saturday we spent a lovely, simple day at home playing with Klair. I love our down time together. Nothing makes me happier than those precious moments. That night Sam asked his (kind) parents to watch Klair, and we went out for a classic date--dinner and a movie. He took me to my favorite sushi restaurant. It took me 4 years, but I finally convinced Sam that sushi is awesome. Granted, he only gets the deep fried stuff, but he loves it--which is a huge accomplishment considering he was vehemently opposed to it when we first wed. I am beyond thrilled to finally be able to enjoy my favorite cuisine together. 

Next, we went to see the new X-Men movie. I'm a pretty big nerd, and anything comic book/sci fi/fantasy speaks to me. Sam also scheduled some time to take the photos above. I love that he has such a passion for photography. It really lends itself well to this whole blogging thing, and it's fun that our hobbies/interests align so nicely. Oh, and somehow we squeezed a trip to Target into our date night too (we always seem to find our way to that magical store) where we bought Klair some toys and a purse that I knew she "needed" as soon as I saw them. I'm kind of a sucker for that girl. 

Sunday we went to church, took a nap, attended our good friend's daughter's birthday party, and had dinner with my family. The weather was perfect, and the day was nothing short of wonderful. 

When I was younger, I used to measure the enjoyment of my time by how fast paced and exciting it was. As I've grown older, I have found that I enjoy the simple things most. Sam and I are alike in this regard. Don't get me wrong, I love an adventure as much as the next girl--but there is nowhere in the world that I would rather be than laying in our grass with my little family as Klair excitedly points out every bird that flies by. Or, watching my husband read a book for the ten thousandth time to our daughter--both possessing the same enthusiasm they had the first time they read it. It's these moments that most would deem ordinary, woven into the fabric of our story, that I'm drawn to. And, when all is said and done and we stand back to view the tapestry of our life in its entirety, I have a sneaking suspicion that these are the moments that will prove to be the most vibrant and beautiful. 

Things That Make Me Say Yay || 01

Kaylie Marie gave me the idea for this series that I'm going to start doing. I think it will be a great way to keep track of all those little happy things in life that I want to remember.

So, without further ado, here are the things that have been making me say "yay" lately:

|| This straw fedora that I found at Target. I'm totally crushing on it. I imagine myself over-wearing it this summer. Style post to come very soon.
|| The fact that the trees in my yard are starting to flower. Spring cannot come fast enough.
|| The way that my daughter mimics me. We got into a "wow" "uhm" "what" exchange while strolling through Target the other day. She's my little echo.
|| How much Klair likes loves peanut butter and honey sandwiches. She's becoming a kid, and it's surprisingly fun.
||Along those lines, going to the park with my toddler. She has transformed from a baby during the warm weather days of last fall into a little girl this spring. Playing outside has never been so enjoyable.
||The Fuji apples I picked up at Costco the other day. I'm kind of an apple snob (I won't touch red delicious with a ten foot pole) and these apples... they might as well call them candy. Perfection.
|| Dancing around the house with Klair to my Ingrid Michaelson Pandora station. My girl can groove.
|| The romper that I bought for Klair. It isn't quite warm enough yet, but a mom can dream... right? I can't wait to see those chubby little legs "rompin'" around!
|| How excited baby girl gets when her dada comes home everyday. She squeals, runs to the stairs, and refuses to let him go once he's home. She a daddy's girl through and through.
|| Spending a Friday night in with my husband. Free from any distractions we ate sugary cereal, cuddled, got caught up on all our shows (a.k.a. watched way too much TV), and stayed up late talking about life.
|| Also, how much my sweet husband did this weekend while I was feeling under the weather. He took care of the babe, cleaned the house, and made me dinner. He even took Klair on a daddy-daughter date to Chuck-E-Cheese so I could have some alone time (hence the last picture). I'm spoiled.

In my effort to repay him, I just made some gluten-free brownies with homemade buttercream frosting. Yeah, that just happened. Because calories don't count after 10:00 at night, right? Yeah, pretty sure that's how it works...

Peter Pan, Polka Dots, and Pleats

Spring has sprung! Well... at least most days of the week. On the day of this photo shoot at Daybreak Lake it was particularly lovely and sunny. Yesterday, on the other hand, it snowed. Today, the season depended on the hour. I woke up to snow, in the early afternoon it rained, and by dinner time it was sunny. Oh Utah, it will never be said of you that you are predictable or boring. 

I love both the Peter Pan collar and polka dot trends. So, naturally when I saw this shirt I couldn't resist. Plus it's super flowy and pleated, so I'm thinking it will lend itself nicely to a future pregnant self. A shirt that looks good both when you're not pregnant and when you're ready to pop is a good thing, right? A girl's gotta plan ahead, after all. 

With the collar, pattern, and cut I feel like this shirt is a bold statement piece in itself. Therefore I decided to keep everything else simple, and paired it with some simple black skinny jeans, gold jewelry, and grey wedge booties. 

After years of being a stiletto girl, I've recently fallen in love with the wedge. They are so much more supportive and comfortable, while still giving me a much needed boost in the height department (without assistance I'm a measly 5'2"). I feel like I could walk around in these all day. 

The talented photographer Jesse Wride took these photos, and at the end we had Sam jump in for a few. All the people passing by thought we were taking engagements, so we decided to play along. Cue classic proposal pic:

This is actually the location where we took some of our engagement photos... 5 years ago. Wow! Time flies when you're having fun. I guess  it's good timing to get a few more couple pictures in the same location for old time's sake. 

I do love this man :) 

Blouse: Lush (Similar Here) | Jeans: H&M (Similar Here) | Wedge Booties: Forever 21 (Similar Here)  | Watch: Geneva (Similar Here) | Lipstick: Revlon 

I'm taking over your blog for one post because...

  

Dear Wife,

I'm taking over your blog for one post because...

I love your face.

I love your hair.

I love your kisses.

I love your heart and its incredible ability to love beyond any ability to measure.

I love your Nintendo talents. (Autumn took 3rd in a Mario Kart competition)

I love your sense of humor. You make me laugh. You make me think about things differently and I love that.

I love your parenting style. Klair will realize one day how blessed she is to have you as her mother.

I love you because you make me better, you make me stronger, you make me smarter, and you make me happier!

I love that you gave me our AMAZING daughter, Klair!

I love your strength.

I love your style.

I love your sarcasm.

I love how I feel when I am with you.

I love the way you look at me.

I love that even though you know everything about me you still look at me the way you do.

I love that you are my best friend in the whole world and always will be.

I love your thoughtfulness.

I love that you respect me.

I love how we like the same music.

I love that we communicate so well, verbally and nonverbally.

I love knowing you'll always be there when I need you to be.

I love your laugh.

I love your intelligence.

I love our life together.

I love your body.

I love your insight.

I love your sureness.

I love your loyalty.

I love that you're not afraid to speak your mind.

I love that I can tell you anything.

I love that you ask me for advice.

To sum it all up, I'm totally and completely in love with you. Happy love day to you sweetheart.

-Husband

Fancy Work Holiday Party

I'm aware that the holidays are over, but Sam's company decided to throw their annual party last Friday. I suppose they were trying to avoid all of the hype and jam-packed calendars in the weeks preceding Christmas. And honestly, I don't mind. It's nice to have something to look forward to in January, and I won't complain about any occasion that gives me the opportunity to dress up!

My best friend offered to babysit, and after going through my neurotic-mom list of everything I could think of that she might need, we were off on our little adventure. But, not before taking a few photos of course. How could I resist getting a few pictures of this guy in a bow-tie? Handsome, handsome husband.

The party was held downtown in a nice hotel. The theme was Casino Night and they gave us all chips to play that we could later exchange for raffle tickets. I've never gambled before so I was pretty clueless. After wandering around for a bit Sam and I found ourselves at a blackjack table, and we ended up spending the majority of our time there. It was easy to learn, and even though Sam didn't do too well I cleaned up quite nicely to even us out. We also found ourselves on the dancing, which was a very pleasant surprise. My husband isn't usually too keen on dancing, but he was such a good sport. And, I must say, he really worked that dance floor. It was hilarious and so much fun!

Ahh a much needed night out with the husband! I love being able to get out and go on dates. Any opportunity to feel less mom-like, pretty, relaxed, and maybe even a little silly is very appreciated.

My Birthday

After all of Klair's birthday preparations, I told my husband I wanted a low-key birthday this year (my birthday comes only 11 days after Klair's). I knew he was going to be out of town on my actual birthday (the 10th) so I imagined that we would go on a nice date the weekend before and have some family over for cake and whatnot.

But, being the romantic that he is, Sam couldn't resist throwing me a surprise party. And, let's be honest, everyone loves surprise parties. Even the girl with the ba-humbug attitude towards birthdays got all giddy at the prospect of a surprise party. I say "prospect" because I discovered his plans and sort of ruined the surprise... but it was still sweet nonetheless. (I kept insisting on making plans on Friday night, and he kept turning me down... until I figured out what was going on). We still went through with the party, sans the whole hiding and jumping out thing. We had some of our close friends over, and Sam took care of everything. It was so sweet to see him cleaning the house and playing the host. I'm spoiled.

In addition to the great party that he threw, he made me this card. It made me choke up when he gave it to me. 

When people asked what to get me Sam told them that I liked movie tickets and fashionable scarves.  How cute is that? Needless to say I got lots of movie tickets and fashionable scarves... two things that I really do love.  I also ended up with two new cake stands from my sister and my best friend (probably because I'm always borrowing theirs haha). My favorite gift came form Sam of course. He got on my Pinterest and bought me a necklace that I've been wanting (so thoughtful). I would have a photo to of it, but apparently it takes awhile to ship things from Canada and I'm still waiting.

After my party, we slept in the next morning with our baby girl. It was lovely. Then, we spent the day doing some Christmas shopping and enjoying time with our Klair bear. We went to a local cafe that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches (they even have a gluten free option) for lunch and Klair was all smiles. Apparently the love of grilled cheese is genetic.

Happy girls. Haha, I love her face in this!

That night Sam took me out for what I had originally envisioned for my birthday--dinner and a movie. We dropped Klair off at his parents and found ourselves at my favorite sushi restaurant. They gave us free dessert for my birthday and surprisingly, they even had a gluten free cheesecake.  It was kind of perfect.

Afterwards we went to see The Hunger Games because we are both big fans and somehow hadn't seen it yet. We tried taking a picture in the theater and this was the best we got. haha! In my defense the flash on Sam's phone is really bright. 

This one turned out a little better. Well, at least my eyes are open.

These are our very favorite treat. They are Guittard chocolate chips and yes, we did sneak them in. My birthday wouldn't have been complete without them.

That night it was really, ridiculously snowy. As in, I'm grateful our car has all-wheel drive. And even then, it was still a little scary. But the snow did make for a pretty evening, especially with these Christmas lights. It was nothing short of magical.

Overall it was the perfect birthday weekend. I enjoyed it very much. 

Sam left Sunday for a business trip and didn't come home until Thursday. Thus, he was gone on the actual day of my birth. Rather than sit at home feeling sorry for myself, I decided to seize the day. With Klair as my little birthday buddy, we spent the day shopping and even found time to take a leisurely afternoon nap together. It was heavenly. That night my in-laws kindly offered to babysit again so that I could go to dinner with my girlfriends. I had such a good time. It was so nice to get away and spend time with some of my favorite ladies. I needed a girl's night out. 

I decided to play the role of birthday girl and dress up a little more than usual. With a one year old I don't find many occasions outside of church to wear a dress, but it seemed as good a time as any to break the norm. I also decided to coordinate Klair's outfit to mine. Cheesy? Maybe. But it was my birthday after all. 

It was really hard to get a good photo of Klair and I with a self timer, but I finally got one.  I love her little OshKosh dress ;) 

                     

With Sam home from his business trip we had a little get together with my family this past weekend. We had them over for dinner and brownies (I prefer brownies over cake any day). And, with that, I ended my birth-week celebrations.  Thanks to everyone who made this birthday special, especially my incredible husband! I'm one lucky girl to have so many amazing people in my life.