Let's Be Honest Mamas || Holiday Edition

s i m p l i f i e d   h o l i d a y s

Today, I am joining a group of amazing bloggers for our Let's Be Honest Mamas series and this month we are talking all about the holidays. My friend Kacie from Elements of Ellis (find her blog here + IG here) puts these group posts together once a month. I think it's really fun to read other mama's opinions and ideas on subjects we all talk so much about. I linked everybody else participating this month at the bottom of this post so be sure to visit their blogs!

Christmas always looks a bit different for us because we are a military family, usually stationed in a different state from our families. We try our best to create happy memories for our little family while still trying to balance traveling and spending time with extended family without too much financial hardship. We learned what works best for us during this season of life. 

+ How do you make the holidays less hectic around your home?

I am a planner, so I get stressed when things aren't planned. I start setting money aside ahead of time, usually around August/September so the holidays aren't as financially stressful for us. We keep gifts and meals simple and don't commit to too many parties/ gatherings. 

+ In a season inundated with receiving, how do you teach your kids about giving?

Since Eloise is so young still, we decided to start small and keep it simple. Around thanksgiving this year we made muddy buddies together and then handed them out to our neighbors, mailman, garbage men and post office. I explained what it means to thank people in our lives that maybe don't get recognized. As she gets older and can understand more, I'm sure this will change. I would love to volunteer at a shelter or food bank as a family, or sponsor a local family's Christmas dinner. 

 + In order to enjoy the holidays, it's important to be thoughtful with your celebrations and only do the things that make you happy. Are there traditions you've said “no” to? How did you make that change/tell your friends and family “no” is a way that didn't upset them? 

This one is tough for me because as a military family, we are rarely stationed near our families. Traveling gets expensive, so we decided to travel every other year around Christmas. Before Eloise, on our "off" years from families in WA, Nick and I spent Christmas exploring local places instead of giving gifts to each other. We went to New York City for Christmas one year, and Catalina Island, CA another year and it was so much fun having this time together, just us two. But after Eloise was born we decided to always give her Christmas in her own home. SO this year, we are driving from CA to WA with our trailer and are staying for a little over a week to celebrate early with our families and then we will be home in time for christmas at our own house. 

 + It's easy to overspend this season. Share your tips for limiting the amount you spend on gifts. (example; making gifts, the 4 gift rule, etc.) 

• Right now we don't follow a rule, but we follow our set budget. I would love to start following the 4 gift rule of "want, need, wear, read" as Eloise gets older, and then have her stocking and one gift from Santa. I've talked a little about our minimalist views, specifically Eloise's toys, so we always create an amazon wishlist for her of mostly books and toys we know she would love. We try to limit battery powered toys and encourage imaginative play, but that's a whole separate blog post I could write. We also set up a college fund when she was born and love when people put money into that for the holidays instead of gifts.

+ Preparing meals for the family can be stressful. Do you have a simple meal you prepare ahead of time to help lessen the stress?

 We always have cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and I usually prepare them the night before. We keep dinner simple and do steaks and potatoes or baked potato soup. Comfort food + Christmas cookies all the way.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments here or over on IG!


Bloggers: Kacie Ellis elementsofellis.com // Amber Hill amberlately.com // Kymberly Janelle lifewithkymberlyjanelle.com // Stephanie Pollock stephpollock.com // Emily Lindsey happilylindsey.com //  // Carla Thompson curiousnatalia.com

Fall Adventures || wunderkin co feature

We've been locked up inside all summer and I've been itching to get us out now that it's cooling down. We've been taking short trips to Indian Cove,  a camping area outside of Joshua Tree National Park, a couple times a week and Eloise loves it. She will now request to "go play on rocks." :) This luxury of driving 10 minutes to a national park is something that we will really miss when we move.

Fall Capsule Wardrobe

f a l l   c a p s u l e

"the best way to enjoy your favorite things everyday is to only own your favorite things"

-- by be more with less

Fall & Winter are my favorite seasons and we spend a lot of time out of the house from September- March so I decided to invest more in these seasons than I did for spring/summer. I love layering and pairing quality pieces with other items in my closet to make different outfits. Most of these pieces will transition into my spring/summer for next year and will hopefully last for years to come.

An example of a quality basic piece that pairs well with SO many items in my closet is this t-shirt dress from Amae Co. I quickly paired it with a few things and I know I could make more outfits if I spent more time looking. Make sure your expensive items work well with the rest of your closet. I changed my mindset through this capsule wardrobe project to look at my closet as a whole, and fill the missing spaces. Everything works together. I used to make the mistake in buying an item because I loved how it looked, but once I got it in my closet I realized I could only wear it with 1-2 things. Invest in pieces that you can make more than 4 outfits from; it's worth it.

I'm wearing Free People Booties-- these are over 2 years old and not on their website anymore. But the style is "braeburn" incase you wanted to track them down :)

Let's be Honest Mamas: Postpartum

Today, I am joining a group of amazing bloggers for our Let's Be Honest Mamas series (you can check out our last post here) and this week is all about postpartum. My friend Kacie from Elements of Ellis (find her blog here + IG here) puts these group posts together once a month. I think it's really fun to read other mama's opinions on subjects we all talk so much about. I linked everybody else participating at the bottom of this post so be sure to check them all out! 

Eloise is now two, so I'm sure my answers would be a little different if we had another baby. I would love if you guys left me some of your answers in the comments so I can come back to this post later! 

My dress: AMAE CO

What's Inside | Whirlwind Diaper Bag Feature

Hi friends! I have been neglecting my blog this summer and it's honestly been a much needed break.
But I'm back and refreshed and have some fun things planned for fall :)  I always wonder what people carry in their diaper bags and what some of their favorite products are to pack in there so I thought I would share mine. Eloise is almost two, so I don't need as much for her as I used to, but still like carry both of our stuff in one bag. I would love to hear your favorites in the comments.

Summer Recipes // guest post

Hi y’all! My name is Katie Morton, and I am a chef from Greenville, South Carolina. I became interested in cooking at a very young age. I helped my mom in the kitchen growing up, and continued to develop my chef abilities over the years. When it came time to decide on a college, I knew I had to pursue a degree in the culinary field. I chose to attend the Culinary Institute of the Carolinas and earned a degree in culinary arts. While attending school, I got a job as a prep cook at a local delicatessen in Greenville called Two Chefs. Over the course of five years, I worked my way up to the position of back-of-the-house manager. As manager, I ordered all necessary ingredients through local food vendors and distributors, supervised the preparation of all menu items, and inspected each meal that left the kitchen. 

Photo Credit: Amanda Cavett 

It was while working as manager at Two Chefs that I began to further explore healthy eating, and integrate it into my home cooking. I was sick and tired of the common misconception that healthy equals bland/boring/not yummy meals, so I set out to change that. I continually experiment using healthy ingredients to create satisfying, filling meals for the everyday man or woman. 

My husband and I recently had our first son, Siler, so my interest has expanded from just making meals for my husband and I, to including meals that our son can eat and enjoy, while still maintaining my goal of creating health-conscious meals. Included in this post are two breakfast, and two dinner options – with ingredients and complete recipes – that have gotten the stamp of approval from my husband and our son. I hope you are able to enjoy these meals as much as we have. 

If you try any of these recipes I would love to hear how you liked them. And if you LOVE them, please make sure to print them out for your home recipe collection, pin them on pinterest and share this blog post with your friends and family. Bon appetit!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Smoothie

Medical Update 2017

I know a lot of you have been following along with Eloise's medical updates, some since I was pregnant, so I'll try my best to make this short and sweet :)

If you are new here,  you can catch up the past 2 years on these posts:
Pregnancy
Update 1
Update 2


2 years in the making: Eloise was diagnosed with a kidney defect when I was pregnant. They couldn't tell us anything which made it a really scary and stressful time for our family. When she was born, we had a room full of doctors (like 12 people total), just in case she needed to have surgery right away. Thankfully, she didn't need surgery and shocked everybody with how well she was doing. 

Parasol Co. Feature

Do you ever find out about a baby product or company way late in life and wish you knew about it sooner? This is how I feel about Parasol Co. I wish I knew about these diapers when Eloise was born because we are obsessed. 

Parasol Co. makes ultra-soft, fluffy diapers using an innovative top sheet layer that reimagines the inside of the diaper, making it feel so soft and comforting to your baby. They are soft and fluffy, but also thinner than most diapers which makes it easy to put clothes over or just wear by themselves. 

"We’ve spent years developing the first American diaper with an ultra-soft top sheet layer that comforts your child unlike any other, but still uses less wood pulp. The fact is safe and eco-conscious diapers don’t have to be rough and bulky."

Let's Be Honest Mamas: Technology with Kids

Happy Monday friends! Today I am joining a group of amazing bloggers for a post all about technology and kids. My friend Hannah (find her blog here + IG here) puts these group posts together once a month. I think it's really fun to read other mama's opinions on subjects we all talk so much about. I linked everybody else participating at the bottom of this post so be sure to check them all out!
I recently talked about technology habits with Eloise over on IG and how I was feeling like a bad mom and a little self conscious so I challenged myself to set aside timed un-plugged time each day. I set my timer on my phone and don't grab it until the time goes off. If we make it past the timed amount, then I set it for longer the next day. I want to memorize the little details about Eloise that nobody else could possible know. I want to be more present and aware of every minute in our days. If you're struggling to find the time to unplug, start small and add 2 minutes each day. I think we all want to be present with our children but technology makes that so hard. I am challenging you, with no judgment of how much un-pligged time you get, because I truly think any time is enough.

Self Care

"It only takes a few small steps to make a big difference in your life. Once you start making these little changes, it gets easier to make yourself a priority too. Learning to connect with yourself and cater to your own needs only helps you be a better mother, wife and friend." -- Holly Rust, HuffPost

I am a huge advocate for self care. I know it looks differently for each of us, but I wanted to share with you some of the ways I stay sane through this crazy journey called motherhood. Of course I love my little tribe, I love spending time with Eloise and I wouldn't trade being a stay-at-home-mom for anything in the world. I do think it's so important that we take the time we need in order to be a better wife, mom, friend and overall good person in society. :)

Tchoup Industries Feature

I think everybody has that one "thing" that they wish they could wear without being judged. For me-- that is fanny packs and mom jeans. Am I the only one who has been obsessed with fanny packs for years and afraid to wear them? I'm finally at the point in life where I don't really care what others think of my style. I've decided that I'm going to own it with confidence because it makes me happy. Before Eloise, I would drool over fancy purses at Nordstrom and dream of having a closet full of designer clothes, bags and shoes. But as I get older, I realize that I value well made, practical products way more than a big brand name. As a mom, a product that allows me to be 100% handsfree AND is really well made from an amazing small company is exactly what I obsess over these days. Because let's be real, I have a stage-five-clinger-19-month-old-daughter who rarely lets me put her down in public, so I usually look like a hot mess trying to hold a wiggly toddler, my diaper bag and pay for my iced coffee all at once. Let's just say, the fanny pack changed my life.

SO let me introduce you to Tchoup Industries and remind you that you should wear what makes you comfortable... don't let judgments or trends make you who you are. Be you and don't worry about the rest.

Toddler Meals with Re-Play Recycled

Website  |  Instagram  |  Facebook

Eloise has always been a good eater, but she goes through a lot of food phases so I'm constantly guessing on what she currently likes. Yesterday, she hated peanut-butter toast but today she kept asking for more after eating an entire piece. Now that she's getting better at communicating, we try to give her  more food options so she can tell us yes or no. But I feel like I'm constantly on Pinterest looking for new ideas and recipes for toddler food, so if you have any good ideas please leave me a comment! E is loving avocados and berries still (honestly, she probably eats her entire body weight in fruit each week). She loves turkey wraps for lunch and will specifically ask for "cheese please" all day. She also loves ice-cream. We give her "bites" when we have it in the house and she says "a bite?! a bite?!" over and over.. it's the cutest thing.

Capsule Wardrobe | Jewelry

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, and my "collection" consists of pieces that go with any outfit. Some people have sets for certain outfits and I'm just not one of those people. I'm not really into the big, colored necklaces or matchy-gaudy earrings. There's nothing wrong with that style, it's just not mine :). I like to keep it simple and neutral. 

Favorite Books Spring 2017

We have been reading to Eloise since she was born and her love for books and reading is still very strong at 18 months. She loves flipping through pages and pointing to everything. She says "this?!?" and we have to tell her what each thing is on every single page. We've been loving Oliver Jeffers lately, and she will sit though any picture book :).

Every few months I'll post a little update of our favorite books that we've had on repeat. I'll keep this short and sweet and because book recommendations are my favorite...if you have any, leave them in the comments!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

This Moose Belongs To Me

The Day the Crayons Came Home

Once

How to Catch a Star

Home

Tree

The Lion and the Bird

Take Heart My Child

Little Owl Lost

SaveSave

Capsule Wardrobe | Purging and Starting New

Be more with less. carefully curated. a closet of essential items that will not go out of style.

a capsule wardrobe guide.

A capsule wardrobe to me is: a closet that makes you excited to get dressed in the morning because you love every single piece in it. A curated closet that is filled with high quality clothes that match your personal style, not just the current trend. It's not about owning less pieces in your closet, it's more about changing your mindset about what you bring in and choose to keep. It doesn't matter if you have 150 things or 10 things in your closet but don't love any of it, you're on the wrong track.

Sunday Mornings with DockATot

Happy Sunday friends!  We started a new Sunday morning tradition: breakfast + a movie. Today we watched "Cars" and Eloise loved it, but "Sing" is still her favorite movie. It's so crazy to me that she's at the age to start enjoying movies. I can't wait to show her all the Disney classics.

Girl's Weekend Adventure + Once Upon a Farm

With Nick out of town, I was starting to get cabin fever a little bit and was missing our weekly hikes, so I decided to take Eloise into Joshua Tree National Park by myself (which I've never done). She did really well, thankfully, because I can see us doing this more often on weekdays. The weather is perfect right and summer is coming in quick, so we are soaking in these days the best way we can. Isn't it funny that summer in the desert is like most winters? We stay inside most of the day and count down the days until fall.

For our little "hike" (it was more like a walk) we brought along our favorite packets from Once Upon a Farm. Eloise LOVES packets, but I always hesitate buying them from the store because you can't see inside them and the ingredients aren't great. I used to make Eloise baby food from fresh fruits and vegetables and then life happened and I couldn't keep up after she tuned one. So when I found Once Upon a Farm, I was so excited to give them a try.

Creating Eloise's Space

When we decided to move our couch over to create space for Eloise's toys and play area, I wanted her space to look clean and match the rest of our house. I've talked about our minimalism choices before, but my rule is: I have to be able to clean up her area in less than five minutes. If it takes longer, she has too many toys in that area. I don't want to waste time cleaning up hundreds of toys when I could be spending it in so many different ways. I am not against toys, but we choose to read books, be outside or do crafts instead of filling our home with plastic, musical toys. We do have a few, but our home isn't filled.

Lately | Blabla Kids Feature

This season of life has been kind of tough to be honest. I've talked a little bit about how I'm feeling over on Instagram, and I really appreciate all the kind words of encouragement from all of you who have reached out. I am really working on being okay with just being. If I can honestly say that I am giving 100% effort, I need to be proud of what I have accomplished and gotten through that day-- even if it means snuggling on the couch and watching movies all day with Eloise. Instead of feeling guilty the entire time, I am working on living in those moments and appreciating them as they are. I have been experiencing a lot of guilt and self consciousness and I honestly don't know where it's coming from. My family and friends have never made me feel guilty and Nick is my biggest supporter in everything I do. So I'm trying to work through these thought and feelings internally and get through this season, because it's definitely testing my patience, character and grace.

Gathre

I've talked about how much we love our Gathre mat before and we are still obsessed. We've had our midi rouge for 6 months... we use it everyday and it still looks brand new. If you haven't heard of Gathre already-- two beautiful mamas started this company together, creating bonded, leather play mats in a variety of colors + sizes.

"We believe deeply that the relationships we make are the most important part of our lives. And our hope and mission is to create a place for people to live in the grand and simple moments with those you love most." 

Eloise is 18 Months | Medical Update

How is my tiny baby a year and a half?! My intention was to keep going with her monthly updates, but I can't seem to keep up with live and time got away from me. Plus, she's not changing as much each month anymore so I think I'll keep it more spread out. :)
I keep wanting time to slow down, but at the same time my heart is just bursting watching Eloise learn and do all these new things. You probably saw my Instagram post about her finally exploring more on her own (which by the way are some of my very favorite photos of her, EVER). It's so much fun to walk around with her and watch her confidence develop. She's even walking on our hikes and picnics... she's too big!

Spring Small Shops + Easter Basket Ideas

I always loved the Easter baskets that my mom put together for me and my sister growing up, so I was really excited to do Eloise's this year. I also love that the actual basket can be used again later, like to hold small toys or a "catch all" at the entry way.  & it's beautiful so it can really be used anywhere in your home.

I have an exciting giveaway with some of these small shops over on my Instagram (@theburleytribe) so make sure to head over there to enter to win! I included a few books and summer PJs, but you know I love my small shops :) And this Easter basket was probably more for me than it was for Eloise this year... at 18 months she doesn't understand gifts yet and can't have cadbury eggs so.... more for me!

March Adventures // Made of Mountains Feature

We are a family that loves to be outdoors. Our afternoons are usually spent in the back yard playing with Lucy, making leaf piles and re-arranging rocks. Our weekends are filled with hiking, driving on off road trails and having picnics in the sand. I hope no matter where in the world we live that we always will make time to explore and adventure as a family.

Nick has been really busy with work, volunteering with search and rescue (he's also on the board now too), getting certifications and has a lot of random work conferences and trips. Eloise and I went to WA for a couple of weeks and she had her surgery so our schedules have been everywhere. We haven't been keeping up with our goal of a weekly hike, but we still try to get out of the house even if that means we are driving to a local area we have never been before. Our recent weekly adventures were "drives" because the wind has been so crazy, and picnics in the shade because it's already in the 90s. Gotta love desert living.

So I'm sorry I've been missing these posts, I know a lot of you look forward to our hikes and adventures, so I'm sorry I'm slacking. But here are some photos of what we have been up to the past couple of weekends.

And... GET OUTSIDE. There are no excuses. Don't want to pack up the car: go in the back yard. The weather isn't great: drive somewhere you've never been. Schedule is too busy: plan ahead, watch less TV and pick a day to make it happen.

Our tee's are from Made of Mountains, one of our favorite small shops for everything outdoors and adventures. Make sure to follow along to keep up with new products and sales! The SS17 release is TODAY, so run to their website because it's all SO, so good.

Website  |  Instagram  |  Facebook  

Raising a Girl

I remember the day we found out that Eloise was a girl so clearly. I was convinced I was having a boy. I always picture myself as a "boy mom" and knowing how sensitive and dramatic I am, I didn't know if I could handle raising a "me" (sorry mom).

We had a boy name picked out, and honestly went into the appointment expecting to hear "you're having a boy!" And when she said "it's a girl!" I was so shocked and a little sad, but mostly really scared.

Raw thoughts on Motherhood

After about a year and a half of being a mama, I've really started reflecting on what I have learned. Looking back on the past 17 months, it has gone by so fast but at the same time I feel like I've been Eloise's mama for years already. I feel like she's always been a part of our little family. Nick and I always joke with each other and ask "what did we do on weekends before Eloise?" We really can't remember our daily lives without her. I remember big moments, but everything else is really fuzzy.

Jumpsuit by: Not Perfect Linen

Ember Outfitters Feature

Follow my blog with Bloglovin I think one of my favorite things about Eloise growing up is watching her "pretend play." She has a play kitchen from IKEA (see my DIY makeover here) and she loves her play tent and campfire set from one of our favorite small shops Ember Outfitters.

The creative mind behind Ember Outfitters, Sierra, is passionate about creating unique spaces for children to play and imagine. Not to mention she's the sweetest and most caring person and I'm so happy we connect via Instagram.

Everything in the etsy can be customized, and Sierra's attention to detail is so obvious in the tent and campfire/s'more set we have from her. The tents are made from high quality canvas and stained cedar wood which make them good for indoor and outdoor play. And if you need to store the tent, they fold up so easily! But we never put ours away because it looks so cute in our living room. You can shop our tent here and the felt sets here and here.

& to keep up with new products, sales and giveaways, follow along with Ember Outfitters:

Facebook |  Instagram |  Etsy

Toddler Travel Tips

After booking our flight to WA 2 days in advance, I spent hours on Pinterest looking for ideas of how to occupy a toddler on a 3 hour flight and I reached out to my Instagram followers for advice. Also, I did this alone so I needed all the tricks and tips. I thought I would save you the time of researching and share what worked best for us! And please forgive my blurry iPhone photos below from our travel day. I will probably do a full post of our trip later on so you can re-live my moments and we can "laugh about it later" together. Like how the airplane didn't have a changing table and I had to put half of Eloise's body on the closed toilet seat (covered in paper towels) and did a squat so her bottom half was on my legs while I changed a poop diaper while she was screaming and flailing her body around. Laugh about it later.....

Mama Bear Sew Shop feature + giveaway

If you know us in real life, you know that Eloise and I are obsessed with owls.  "Owl" was one of Eloise's first words, and the first animal sound she could make. :) When I found mama bear sew shop, I fell in love. Amanda, owner and creative maker of mama bear sew shop, makes the most beautiful soft animals and dolls, and we are in love with the Mrs. Owl she made for us.  Her love and dedication to her Etsy shop is so obvious, down to the smallest detail. Our Mrs. Owl is made out of linen and her face is made out of lace... also who else is crazy about linen?!  She has the sweetest, softest wings and her outfit just pulls her whole vintage look together. Amanda is so creative, so if you have a special request she will exceed your expectations. 

Winter Hike at Barker Dam

Last weekend we took a little hike to Barker Dam and it was SO cold. I also want to recognize that my new definition of cold is very different after living in the desert for 2 years, but some of the water was frozen, and we had layers on.... so for us, it was cold. :) 

Barker Dam has always been one of our favorite hikes in the park. It's beautiful, short and flat and it's surrounded by the most beautiful rocks and desert plants. For those who aren't familiar with the area, Barker Dam was built in the early 1900s to preserve water for the wildlife in the park, specially the big horn sheep. It very rarely has this much water in it, so it was really high on our bucket list of hikes while we are living here.

And of course we bring lots of snacks to keep Eloise happy! 

Shedo Lane Feature

I am so excited to share this shop with all of you! We have been living in the pieces that Betsy sent us, and plan to add more to our closets very soon. Since embracing a minimalist lifestyle, we love finding pieces that are long lasting, can be styled in so many different ways and that are comfortable. We also love neutrals in this family and picked mostly neutrals from Shedo Lane... Nick and I always joke that our laundry is all grey, white and black. 

I have a hard time finding tops that fit me well so trust me when I say that the women's long sleeve boyfriend tee fits me perfectly. I wear it 2-3 times a week, not afraid to repeat outfits over here! You can shop my favorite tee here. 

Eloise is wearing the "bear necessity play outfit" (shop here) and the "navy striped joggers" and the "girl long sleeve shirt" (shop here + here). I love putting Eloise in the romper because it has bear ears and it unzips all the way, so it makes diaper changes easier. We live in the desert where 70 degrees feels "cold" to us and the sun is alway shining, so I also love that these bamboo pieces protect again harmful sun rays (UVF 50+!!)

Holiday Adventures

We went on a small hike on Christmas Day, and it was so nice to get outside and enjoy each other as a family. Joshua Tree National Park was PACKED, but we saw snow so it made up for it. We avoided the touristy hikes and decided to try to walk around Wonder Valley area, but for some reason Eloise would not get in the Osprey hiking backpack and wanted only me to hold her. We still went on a little walk, but it wasn't what we had planned for the day. I was a little cranky because I have a hard time when things don't go as planned, but I'm trying my best to go with the flow these days, and Eloise definitely gives me plenty of opportunities :)
Also, so thankful for my Wild Bird sling to save us in moments like these. You can shop the slings here.

Learned Lesson and why I Blog

I posted this photo on Instagram a couple of weeks ago, and finally decided to share my back story. I almost didn't post this. I have worked with so many amazing small shops, and 98% of them are truly the best. This experience has been few and far between, but I thought it was important to share. I have re written this 10 times because I don't want to sound like I'm complaining or being negative, but I did want to share a little story of why I blog.