Staying Connected: Mommy Style Monday

Marriage can be hard! Its not always easy. However, I love being married to Zack! Though there are times where we are frustrated or have misunderstood, I feel that we are always able to refocus and work through things together. We have always made sure we were a team in any big decision that we have made and always make it a point to make the other person feel valued and appreciated.

Since having Mavryk, we have been on limited dates out by ourselves! Everyone tells us we need to go on more with just us. Even when we can't find a babysitter we still make time for each other. Here are some things we do to keep the romance alive!

1. Stay at home dates

When we can't find a babysitter (we trust very little people besides family haha), we plan a stay at home date. This usually consists of picking up dinner, (our last one being Olive Garden Take Out) getting movie theater popcorn, candy from the dollar store, and renting a red box movie or renting one through our cable! We wait until we have put Mavryk to bed, then we eat and put the movie in! Its nice to just relax together at home and be able to focus on each other.

2. Love Notes

Ever since Zack and I were dating, he started to write me little notes and leave them places. This could be on my car windshield, the mirror, my pillow, etc. He would even at times leave flowers or other presents on my car in the mornings so I would see it when I went to work! We will do those types of things now around the house! We will leave little notes of gratitude or love for each other. These are a great way to keep a spark alive and are always really sweet.

3. Putting our Phone Away

There has been a few times on dates or just at home when we are together that we just put our phones away. This allows us to be focused on each other, rather than social media or other things that would be on our phone. You find that you really spend time together that way instead of distracted!

Being present in a marriage is so important. Always being able to try and recognize the needs of your spouse and the things that they do for you is important. We all have needs and being able to meet them will determine the quality of your marriage. Like I said, it isn't always easy. However, you can do small and simple things to improve your communication and time spent with each other!

Check out these other amazing women for their ideas on how to keep a spark alive!

Kiana at Glitter & Donuts

Madeline at CaseyLand

Chandler at Life as a Larsen

Noelia at You Can Call Me Noe

Rachel at Tutus and Heels

Kahana at A Beautiful Life

Monica at It's All About

Andrea at Snow by Heart

Melissa at The Frolics of Mama Llama

Erica at Good Job Momma

Cayli at Nightchayde

Juli at Enjoying the Journey

xx

Cooking with Hello Fresh

Life gets so busy and for me its hard to always have dinner prepared! With working full time away from the home and not getting home until around 4:30 every day, it can be challenging. I have to meal plan really well in order to successfully make healthy dinners throughout the week. When I first heard about Hello Fresh, I was so excited about the concept! 

The Joy of Reading + Giveaway!

Every since I can remember, I have loved to read. This is something that my mom instilled in me really young! She was always reading books and would make it fun. We would go to the library and pick out our own books. She would help us as we would sound out each word. I came to embrace the feeling I got of being pulled away into another world. You for a moment, were in a different era or time. It was like a movie in your head! Since I had developed a love for reading, one of my favorite gifts when I was having Mav was childrens books.

A New Year of Purpose

One of my new years resolutions this year is to be more present and live every day with purpose. Life is to short not to! As a working mom, time catches up to me. I feel like I have never have enough of it. It can be hard to stay organized and really focus on everything that I would like to accomplish. I feel out of balance when I am not organized! Something that I absolutely love to help me with this goal that I found is Purposeful Planners by Corie Clark!  

Hands free mama is a happy mama!

Is anyone else ready for spring weather? I am the type of person who after Christmas is over the snow! I love it for the holiday season and then it becomes annoying! Plus its just freezing!!! I love being outside and its just so much harder in the winter. I guess only a few months away but I am counting down! 

To bring some happiness to these gloomy days, I am going to introduce one of my favorite new diaper bags! If you have kids, you know that you always need as many free hands as you can get! Its hard to carry a bag that limits that ability. 

Mommy Style Monday: Winter Activities

Happy Monday! After A long weekend, I am sure glad we have today off. I even kept forgetting I didn't have to go into work today so It was a nice surprise come last night when I remembered! I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you who messaged, commented, and sent prayers for my family and in particular my brother in law. It does not go unnoticed and I am grateful for your kindness.

Thoughts on Motherhood

Lately, I have been really thinking about my role as a mother. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a mom. This dream today isn't always the popular choice in the world. Growing up in Utah LDS culture however, this wasn't ever weird. I was raised with the belief that being a mother is the greatest role that you will ever have. This is something that I honestly believe for myself. In our society today, many value their life style or their career over children. That is everyones right and choice. Some never had a choice and struggle with infertility. I have many friends and family members who I love very much who have struggled with this. Its heartbreaking and can be a huge trial of faith! 

The Dainty Pear

Since having my son, it has been harder to wear jewelry! He loves to pull on it and thinks that it is a toy. Have any of you mamas out there have had the same experience?! However, some of my favorite pieces of jewelry now are more minimalistic and simple. These necklaces I found from The Dainty Pear are exactly what I am obsessed with now.

Staying warm with Bear Paw!

The Posh Plum + Giveaway!

Mavs Hat: The Posh Plum  Mavs Shoes: Freshly Picked
Photos: LC Photo

Don't you love little baby and toddler accessories? My favorite personally is hats and shoes! Im showing you some of my favorite local shops that we will always turn to!

First off, Freshly picked has been our go to shoe for Mavryk since he was little. He loves them and is always pulling them off his shelf to wear! They have been perfect for when he learned how to walk. I also love that they are so light and not bulky. He is able to walk and run no problem without me worrying about tripping on his shoes. Out of all the ones I have bought him, they are our favorites! Our favorite colors for little boys are the Utah Collection. The leather they use is easily cleaned and wears really well! They even look better once they are worn for awhile. I also love that I can save them for my next littles! That is well worth the money in my opinion.


Second, how cute is this little hat?! Living in Utah with littles, you need good warm hats in the winter! I about died when I found The Posh Plum on Etsy. Not only is their owner Bridgett the sweetest, she is also a Utah local! I love supporting my local businesses! Mav wears this hat every time we go out side. Its so soft and warm! I also love that it covers his little ears. Its a life saver during these bitter cold months and makes dressing warm more fun! Trust me when I say that you need one. Right now some of her hats are even discounted to $20! You need to run on over. To make it more fun, i'm excited to tell you that I am hosting a giveaway for a $20 shop credit to The Posh Plum on my Instagram!! My handle is @kahanaora!

Here are some of our favorites:

Here 

Here

Here

Good Luck! 

xx

Four years..

Photos: Jordan P Photography (she is amazing!!)

Four years.. time goes by so fast! I am sitting here in disbelief that it has already been that long. Just yesterday, we had celebrated the new year of 2013. January 2nd quickly came and I remember driving that morning to the Salt Lake Temple. I don't think that morning it had really hit me that we were getting married! Walking into the temple, it was probably the coldest day of the year. It was FREEZING! I don't think it was over 20 degrees that whole day. After getting ready for the sealing, Zack and I were able to spend about 30 minutes together in the celestial room of the temple waiting for all of our guests to be seated. That was such a peaceful time were we were able to talk about literally everything. As we were walking into the sealing room, it was overflowing with loved ones and friends. I was overwhelmed with the love that I felt from not only everyone in the room, but my heavenly father. I had never felt so much at peace than I felt that day.

Our sealer did an amazing job. He said many things that to this day I will never forget. Zack's biological mom had passed away when he was 13 years old. He had said that she was there and so happy about our decision. He also had told us that all of our children were there and celebrating. I remember bursting into tears! (It was a good thing I had eye lash extensions!!) That day was one that I will never forget. We had photos outside of the temple with all of our friends and family that had come to congratulate us. Did I mention it was freezing?! I still will hold every image so dear to my heart for the rest of my life. Especially those of our families. We lost Zack's step mom Lisa to cancer about two years ago. I will always have these photos to tell my children about the amazing nana's that they have in heaven watching over them.

Our reception was everything that I had ever dreamed. We had it at Wheeler Farm! I wanted lights every where and both our families made it happen! They even figured out a way to drape the fabric over the whole reception. It was gorgeous! We had so many different kinds of soups which was perfect for such a cold day. We even had our favorite bread sticks from Little Ceasars! For desert we had all different types of cakes people could eat. We had so many people we love come and support us! I love being able to remember this day through all of our amazing photos Jordan took.

Thanks for stopping by and walking down memory lane with me!! 

Happy New Year and have a fabulous week!

xx

Christmas PJ's!

Mavs PJ's: Gap My Pj's: Top (Gap-Sold out), Bottoms

We are so late on this post, however we are so excited to share with you our favorite tradition, Christmas PJ's! Does anyone else do this? I remember every year at my grandmas opening up our PJ's Christmas eve, watching a movie, and eating pizza. So many fond memories!! We got ours at Gap this year! They had so many cute options! I got Mav a few different pairs and my husband Zack some that are wrapped up under the tree for Christmas eve! 

Mav has been so much fun this year. He is beginning to understand and is able to communicate! I can't wait to keep creating traditions for my little family as we go through the holidays. I love seeing the light in his little eyes as he experiences everything to do with the holidays! 

Have a Merry Christmas!! 

xx

Late Stocking Stuffers!

Stocking stuffers can be so last minute and hard! My mom was always so good at filling our stockings. I was always so excited and it was the first thing that we all opened christmas morning. I wanted my children to feel the same way when they open their own. I have put together some late stocking stuffer ideas for you!

For the Husband: 

1.  Dazi Tie: Just like with the socks, Zack loves a good tie! We love Dazi ties. They have so many patterns that any guy would love to wear! 
2. A funny book: Everyone loves a good coffee table, no brainer book that makes you laugh! This one is hilarious!
3. Arvo Watch: We love Arvo watches at our house! Trust me, you need one!
4. Cool Socks: If your husband is like mine, he loves a good pair of socks. Not just white ones though! He loves cool designs and colors. I found these Stance socks at Ross!

For the little guy: 

1. The Posh Plum Hat: This hat is soo cozy and warm! Plus isn't it so cute?! We cant take it off over here!
2. Freshly Picked Moccs: My husband would say, obsessed much? They answer is yes! They are our favorite pair of shoes for mav. He loves, loves his moccs!
3. Emma and Kayd: Bananda bibs are the perfect gift for littles. I don't know about your baby, but mine spills everything! These are such a good price and so cute you cant pass them up!
4. Socks: Doesn't it feel like you loose at least one sock every day? I can never buy enough socks!! Gap has such cute styles and prints for boys!

For the Wife:

I made my husband do mine this year! Im excited to see what he comes up with :) However, here are some things that I love that would work great for stockings!

1. Water bottle: Not just any water bottle, one that I can put fruit in to bring some fun into drinking water!
2. Warm Socks: Im like my son, I loose socks! These are always a good idea for me! Especially warm, fuzzy socks :)
3. Cute soap bottle: I don't know what it is, but I love soap dispensers! Especially cute ones. This one is from TJ Max!
4. The Dainty Pair: These necklaces are my absolute favorite! They are so simple and minimalistic. Since having mav, its about the only jewelry I wear! You NEED these in your life :)

I hope you are having a fabulous holiday season. So happy because today is the last day of school before Christmas Break!! As a teacher, you need a break! Cant wait to spend more time with my family!

xx

Christmas wrapping!

PJ's: GAP 

Is it weird that I love to wrap presents?! Im not very good, however I love all the different types of wrapping paper, mixing and matching, the bows, ribbon, everything! It makes me smile! Nothing better than putting that special gift you bought someone and making it beautiful! This year I wanted to try something a little different. I decided to stencil my own wrapping paper and personalize it a little bit more. You guys, you wouldn't believe how cheap it was to do! Here was all my materials:

1. Brown wrapping paper and gift bags: Dollar Tree
2. Paint: I used a window paint marker from the dollar store! It worked like a charm. That way I didn't even need to buy a paint sponge!
3. String: Target.
4. Tags: Target
5. Brush Bottle trees: Target (only $3 dollars!!!!)
6. Print outs of shapes I wanted: Google - so easy!
7. Printed wrapping paper: TJ Max (I mean who can pass up plaid?!)
8. Tape: Dollar Tree

I think everything was under $20 by the time I was done. So worth it!

Here is how you do it:
First you need to find the shape you want to stencil and print it. I decided to do triangles and a simple christmas tree shape! I ended up not liking how big the triangles were, so I cut the triangle smaller than what originally printed.

Second, go to your local dollar tree store! I'm serious when I say they have amazing selections! Its so worth it to buy the brown packaging paper and brown paper bags. SOOO much cheaper than anywhere else. I also picked up my tape and paint there. As I said above, I used a window paint marker! I wasn't sure if it would work, but it was amazing! It already had the sponge so you didnt need to waste money on a painting sponge.

Third: Grab whatever else you want to add after you stencil and wrap your gift! I love the selection of tags and string at Target. Need I say more? Its literally the best place on this planet! I also picked up some items in their dollar section. Such good bargains!

Last: You stencil! I pre wrapped my gifts before I started painting. I also only stenciled the tops of each gift. I then used the string to tie on the bottle brush trees and cute tags!

I am so excited for Christmas morning to see the excitement on my husband and son's faces! I hope you have an amazing holiday season!