Polka Dot Print Shop - Baby Books

(Disclosure: Thanks to Polka Dot Print Shop for sending me this incredible baby book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

This summer brought a new birthday for my sweet little Kendall, she turned four! (Stay tuned, pictures from her Ariel themed birthday party are coming soon) Every passing year has me realizing just how fast time is flying and every year I remember that I NEVER created a baby book for her.

I had the best of intentions her first year, I kept everything in a cute little box in hopes that one day I would put her baby book together. But here we are, four years later and a crafty little baby book maker I am not! Thank goodness I have this blog and previously chronicled each month of K's first year so I hopefully won't forget much! Realization recently struck me that pretty soon I actually won't remember as much as I think I will, so I better work on creating a baby book for her immediately.

Enter Polka Dot Print Shop. I found this incredible shop on instagram and was immediately drawn to the beautiful baby books they offer. The books are very modern and come with a variety of design options, perfect for many different tastes. I chose the hardcover mermaid theme in lavender and it is stunning. Perhaps I was drawn to the lavender mermaid theme because Kendall's birthday party was Ariel themed in similar colors...who cares, it is gorgeous. Also, this book is a brand new addition to Polka Dot Print Shop and is quickly becoming popular - I see why!

The hardcover books say baby on the cover and come with a personalized first page. When Kendall was looking through the book she was excited to see her name!

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.