I Should...

I have learned that I SHOULD leave the camera laying around.
And then I SHOULD leave the room.
In case Ava SHOULD  say "take my pitcher" when the light is just right. 
And Izzy SHOULD happily oblige.

on Ava:
top and leggings - Old Navy
necklace and bracelet - Stella and Dot

And you SHOULD too. 
So that you never have to say "I should have"...
Oh, and while you're at it, you SHOULD enter this Chicnova giveaway. Open Internationally!

What to Wear : Chicnova Giveaway

Playing model today, my Isabella. 

She fell in love with these leggings from Chicnova the moment they arrived and claimed them as her own. Can't say I blame her. 

In exchange, she agreed to do these photos. And I agreed to share the blouse as well. Loving this one too! 

aviators - Michael Kors
blouse & leggings - c/o Chicnova
boots - Steve Madden

Enter below for your chance at a $30 coupon to the site :: on-trend goodies at crazy affordable prices.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open Internationally.

Good Luck

Vacation 2013 In Pictures

I packed up my girls, {yes, our boys survived an entire week without us!} and headed to South Florida for a week. 

Pure bliss. 

It was so nice to enjoy the warm sun and some quality girl time.

Can't wait to do it again!

On Vacation

 I packed up my girls and headed South to find Spring.

In case you are wondering, we found it! 

While you're here won't you...

Sign the anti-bullying pledge here? Us mama's gotta stick together:

http://avagracescloset.blogspot.com/2013/04/words-hurt-put-end-to-bullying.html

Vote for Ms. Ava in the Joe Fresh/Today's Parent cover contest:
http://todaysparent.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=82902&s=32142915&i=1

Enter the Shabby Apple giveaway for a chance at a $50 gc: here:http://avagracescloset.blogspot.com/2013/04/shabby-apple-giveaway.html

"see" you in a week!

On Love

It's funny how love changes.

It grows in such a different direction from where it once began.

The pensive love. The dizzy love. The just can't get enough love. The O.M.G. we're getting married love!

And then come children.

They change who you are.

They change how you love. 

I remember when I had my first, my beautiful Isabella.

I sat in an upstairs bedroom having just finished nursing.

The sun was coming through the window on an October day, just so.

I laid her down beside me and could not, just could not, get the stupid grin off my face.

My husband walked in at that moment.

I looked up and said "I am so happy". And I still remember feeling like I might burst with the love that I had for that tiny human being. 

From that day on, I can truly say that I knew what love was. 

The purest kind. 

I loved my husband, yes. But this? This was different. 

It changed me.

It changed how I loved. 

On Valentine's Day and every day...

these 3 have my heart. 

izzy and julian, valentine's day 2003
Ava, fall 2012 

Happy Valentine's Day.

Last Christmas

The older I get, the faster the years seem to go by.

Another Christmas.

Gone are the braces. And the bottle. 

The wide-eyed smiles remain.

I hope they always do. 

Santa is almost here.

And we believe. 

Continued tears and prayers for the families in Newtown. 

Mama Pride

As i sit down to write this on Wednesday evening, my heart is full.

Isabella had her first french horn performance tonight; a Christmas concert at school.

It was amazing.

As part of the music program, each child now plays their secondary instrument in concert band versus the original instrument they auditioned on.

Not easy.

She has struggled. 

I sense how frustrated she sometimes gets.

But she tries SO hard. 

I see in her something I wish I had more of when I was in high school. 

Drive. Determination. The always wanting to do better.

On Isabella:

Dress (worn as sweater) - Mexx

Skull Necklace - Urban Behaviour 

Jeggings - H&M

Boots - Ugg

I am one proud mama this evening. 

via

Winner of the LeapFrog giveaway is Jeanne Fairbanks Conner. Congrats and please check your email! 

Raising Our Girls: Let's Talk about Self-Esteem

I have shared my passion about this subject previously in this post, and was overwhelmed by the support it received. The Let's Talk Campaign and what it stands for couldn't be more timely.

As most of you know, my oldest daughter, Isabella, started high school this year; typically a time when your own self-esteem and values are tested time and again. With the likes of television and social media bombarding our girls {and women, let's be honest} with images of near perfection, what can we as mothers do to ensure our girls realize the difference between airbrushing and reality? It all starts with CONVERSATION.

I always wanted a baby girl. Don't all mother's even if we never acknowledge this out loud? Someone in our own likeness. Someone to dress up and do girly things with.
I don't think I ever remember worrying about having to have difficult conversations with that same baby girl. Or worrying about choices she would make eventually and how those would affect her.
Parenting is funny like that. Everything is a phase and whatever phase your child is in currently seems to be all-consuming. That is, until the next phase moves in.
The issue of self-esteem, confidence and body image isn't one that just moves on.
It stays with you. Always.
It is our job as mother's of girl's, critical really, to ensure the lines of communication are open and that dialogue is ongoing. 
If you are not sure where to begin, start with downloading the simple "let's talk" toolkit here. It's an amazing resource for everyone, even those who may feel that they're on the right track with the girl or girls in their lives.

I know I tell my oldest she is beautiful all the time. But more importantly, I also tell her she is SMART. And KIND. And a GOOD FRIEND.
The best kind.
Because she is. 
And it's my job to make sure she knows it. 
I want to see this girl grow up to be a smart, confident woman. A woman who is strong-willed and loving. And beautiful, inside and out.

Visit Dove on facebook to learn more. 
And then, share the story of your own experience on their self-esteem wall. 
I spent some time reading through other mama's stories this weekend and it's great to see women encouraging each other and their girls. 

Girls helping girls.

 Disclosure: Please note today's discussion was sponsored by Dove. All opinions are strictly my own.