Rewards.

2013 was a year of change for us. Big change. The biggest? We left our lives in Chicago for a place we had never visited.  Kevin received a job offer and within two weeks we were packed and on our way to North Carolina. It sounds crazy and may seem really scary to some people (especially with a small child), however, moving to a place you've never been is really quite an adventure. When Kevin and I first started dating (waaaaay, way back in 2007) we both quit our jobs in Indianapolis and moved to Chicago. Looking back on that experience, I should have been terrified. I didn't have a job, Kevin didn't have a job, we didn't really know anyone, and we relocated to a place that was considerably more expensive than Indy. BUT, to me it was an adventure and you know what they say, "If you want big rewards, take big risks." True dat...Chicago turned out to be a big reward in every aspect of our lives. So when we had the opportunity to change our lives and take another big risk in 2013, there was no hesitation. And now, here we are, a day away from 2014 and life is so good. Kevin loves his job, we have made so many new friends, the weather is like a million degrees warmer, and we are building a home for our little family (more on that later!). 2013 was good to us and I can't wait for all the big rewards of 2014. Cheers!

My Prudent Advice.

I can't remember how I found this beautiful keepsake journal, but I'm so glad I did. My Prudent Advice is the most darling journal for mothers to record advice/wisdom/thoughts/stories for their daughters. I bought a copy when Grier was only a few months old. I love the idea that I can write in this journal throughout different stages of her life and one day, when she is old enough,  she will have years of handwritten memories. Such a sweet, sweet idea and what a wonderful gift for her to have for the rest of her life.

Front cover.

"I hope to paint you a picture of what our life
together is like now; perhaps one day it will help
you figure out where you're going."

"Being intelligent, beautiful, wealthy, talented, witty, or
powerful is meaningless if you are not also kind."

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Grier Caroline

Salt Dough Handprint.

Salt dough handprints are so easy and such a fun keepsake. I made one last year with Grier and it is such a sweet memory to see her one year old little baby handprint hanging on my tree. 

2012.

Now that she's a big girl and into doing everything I'm doing (especially when it comes to things in the kitchen), we spent a rainy morning making salt dough handprint ornaments. There are only three ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand (see what I did there?!), salt, flour, and water. Since I will be adding my ornament to my tree, I picked up some festive ribbon and glitter paint.

Supplies: Salt, Flour, ribbon to hang, and paint.

Mix 1 cup of flour with 1/2 a cup of salt and then add half a cup of water. I mixed the ingredients together in a stand mixer with a dough hook for about five minutes so I didn't have to knead it by hand. Once the dough formed a ball, I rolled it out on a floured surface and cut my circles.

Grier was fascinated with the mixer. And yes, we made these in our PJs.

I used a large round glass to make my circles.

Grier loved standing on a stool and pressing her hand in the dough the first two times. Then she was completely over it and I may have had to bribe her with a dum dum lollipop to finish the rest of the ornaments. This recipe yielded about eight circles for Grier's handprint. You could always double or triple if you want to make larger circles or more ornaments.

I poked a hole with a straw for the ribbon before baking.

Bake in a 200 degree oven for about two hours and once the ornaments cool, decorate and hang on the tree. Like I said earlier, so so so easy.

Red for 2013.

Name and year on back.

GCB.

Happy Second Birthday, Grier Caroline Brauner!

Two years ago today you made your grand entrance at 36 weeks and surprised us all! After a very long seven days in the NICU we took you home and life has never been the same. You make me laugh every day and I have no idea what I did before you. You are so loved by so many people, sweet girl, and you make everything seem brighter. Oh, and also, please just stay this little and perfect and kind forever. Okay?? XO.

GCB.

Thankful.

Thankful for my beyond awesome Mom & Dad.

Thankful my brother and his wife could be here.

Thankful for this handsome man.

Thankful for this sweet girl.

Thankful that someone at my parents house googled this.




Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading!!

Be kind.

Southern Weddings.

Southern Weddings Magazine's official launch for their V6 issue is Tuesday, but I found a copy yesterday. I'm already married, but my BFF is getting married next summer so I picked it up for her (SO excited for her wedding!). As soon as I got in the car I started flipping through and immediately asked my husband if we could have our wedding again. As expected, he said no (boooooo), so I decided to relive our beautiful southern wedding on my blog.

Kevin and I got married at Brookgreen Gardens in Pawley's Island, South Carolina. Since we were living in Chicago while planning the wedding, we did a very quick engagement session on the Thursday before our Saturday wedding. I initially didn't want to do an engagement session because I think sometimes the pictures look really cheesy and forced. Looking back at these pictures, I'm so glad we did them. And yes, I definitely pulled these pictures off of our photographer's website (shout out to the amazing Kip Beech!). This wedding was three years ago, people!

The sky was so beautiful in the beach shots.

We make cheesy look goooood.

At the time I was so against this picture. Kind of love it three years later.

Shirt, skirt, belt, and bracelets: J.Crew. Shoes: Jack Rogers.

Cheesy but lovely.

We had our photographer blow this up with a matte around it for guests to sign at the reception.

The ceremony was in front of a beautiful iron gate on the property and the reception was at the Holliday Cottage, which was built by Southern Living. It was such a gorgeous place to spend one of the best days of my life. Our colors were green and navy with pops of pink and orange. Our destination wedding was small, around 65 people, and such a fun party. 

Place settings.

My bouquet. Cheryl & Co cookies. Yummo.

Dress: Judd Waddell. Shoes: Kate Spade.

Obsessed with this veil.

After searching for all these pictures for this post and flipping through all the beautiful weddings in the V6 issue, I have decided that our wedding was so perfectly us and I would not change a thing. I would, however, do it all over again a million times over. And although Kevin said no yesterday, I know deep down it was such a special day for him too and he would for sure do it all over again.

You may now kiss the bride.

Dresses: LulaKate. Shoes: I let the bridesmaids wear shoes they already owned in fun colors.

Ties: Brooks Brothers. We let the guys all wear their own navy blazers and khakis.

Our wedding party.

This picture doesn't even look real.

Birthday Outfit.

Grier's second birthday is next month, which is so crazy to me. It really doesn't seem like that long ago she was taking her first steps and saying her first words. It is incredible how much she has changed in the past year (more on that in a later post!). Last year for her birthday I found a really cute tutu and cupcake onesie on Zulily. I think after tax and shipping it was around 70 dollars. It was a very cute outfit that she wore twice. She wore it to her actual first birthday party and again to the Sears Tower Skydeck Ledge (I will never call it the Willis Tower!) for a little photo shoot.

This. Face.

That. Little. Hand.

This year, I have decided to make her a tutu and some sort of monogram applique shirt. The shirt is still under construction, however, the tutu is dunzo. And let me just say, it took like an hour and a half and cost under $5. So. Simple. I will never pay for another tutu. Ever. Stay tuned for the finished shirt!!

Cutting the tulle strips took the longest.

Tulle knots on ribbon.

Finished tutu.

Pumpkin Patch.

This year marked Grier's second trip to a pumpkin patch. Last year she was around 10 months old and really didn't care about the pumpkins or the apples or the flowers or the people everywhere. And this year? Nothing has changed. She refused to touch any of the pumpkins, she did not want to look at the flowers, she hated the apples, and she didn't care that she was there with four of her little friends. I mean, really??! I thought she'd love it. All she wanted to do was push her stroller around the mums and eat snacks. I did get lots of really cute photos of her in a tutu, so that part worked out.

The Patch.

Jacket: Crazy 8 Shirt: Gymboree Tutu: Gymboree
Rainboots: Payless Sunnies: Target

Strolling.

Mum Field.

She loved this swing.

Blogger Pose.