Shopping with thredUP

My shopping motto: buy what you love and never pay full price for anything. I live by those rules pretty much every time I step foot into a store. Which is why I was thrilled when my friend Jenny told me about thredUP.

thredUP is a women's and children's online consignment boutique featuring TONS of incredible brands. With thousands of pieces in like-new condition, you can really score some amazing deals. I have seen several of their commercials and ads on facebook about girls finding great deals on designer purses so I decided to check it out for myself.

Let me just cut to the chase...this site is the real deal. You most certainly can scoop up designer pieces at a fraction of the cost. I love a good handbag and I was stoked to find a gorgeous Street Level Bag that looks like it has never been used. The bag looked great online and it is even better in person. I am certain it will be going with me many places this summer.

Decorating Trend: Hygge

Being a (mostly) stay at home mom means that I spend a great deal of time at home. Obviously I want to be comfy and cozy where I spend the majority of my time, which is why home decor is one of my great interests. I would call my taste rustic contemporary, focusing on making myself and my guests comfortable.

I recently discovered a new decorating term called hygge (pronounced "HOO-gah," the Danish word for cozy). Google or search for the word on Pinterest and you will find thousands of beautiful images that make you want to jump right into the picture and cuddle up. To me, being comfortable and cozy is having a tidy house with everything in its place, plenty of scented candles, inspirational signs and quality pieces of furniture.

State of Things

It's been a busy couple of months around here with lots going on for us! So a catch up post is in order.

Tolar started a new job in March which means he now works just 7 minutes from home and does not have to travel. We are so thankful that we get to spend more time with him and that he is home so much more!!! It's been fun being able to stop by his office for a quick visit or for him to run home and join us for lunch. K is in heaven with all of this Daddy time, because she is a Daddy's girl through and through.

K and I rang in Easter on the couch at home. :( Poor baby had strep throat and an ear infection with a fever, so she and I stayed put on Easter Sunday. Luckily, she was feeling a bit better by the afternoon and let me dress her up and take some photos. Later that night we had a yummy dinner with my parents.

Favorite Photo Props

One of my recent passions is photography. I'm completely self taught and a TOTAL novice, but I really enjoy shooting and finding creative angles for photos. I've picked up plenty of tips since Tolar first bought me a DSLR camera, but the two tips I use the most are:
1.) find the light
2.) use props

Today, I'm sharing my five favorite props to help make your photos pop.

1.) A fun white rug

My absolute favorite prop is my sheepskin rug. If you follow me on instagram, you will see the rug used in so many different ways. I love it because it adds a pop of white, making my photos nice and bright. I also love the texture difference between our wood floors and the fluffy white rug.
And Kendall loves the rug because she pretends it is snow. Any time she sees me taking photos using the rug, she can't wait until I'm finished so she can play with it. It's super cozy too.
You can score this rug for a steal on Amazon.

Nickel & Suede Leather Earrings

It is no secret, I'm an accessories girl. I love earrings, necklaces, bracelets, all of it. And if it is a statement piece, there is a 99.9% chance that I will love it. Statement pieces are often heavy, which is fine if I'm wearing it around my neck, but not on my ears. Enter the incredible lightweight leather earrings from Nickel & Suede. These leather earrings are so lightweight that you cannot even feel them when you wear them. So ladies with sensitive ears, you don't have to worry a bit (and they are nickel free to boot!).

The thing I love most about Nickel & Suede is that they have tons of options. TONS. You can pick virtually any color you want and there are plenty of styles. I'm wearing Nickel & Suede's earring of the month, Gypsy Teal (get them on sale through tomorrow!). The style of the Gypsy Teal earring is their basic style, but you can also find woven, cut-out, suede, shimmer and more.