Today we’re featuring one of our customer’s beautiful babies! Lauren was so gracious to let us show off her adorable children! Her handsome little guy is wearing our Francis Romper, Shoes and Jacket. Doesn’t he look like a little gentleman? And can you believe all that hair? So sweet!
Her little princess is wearing our Jessa Gown in white. What a precious little angel!
Lauren chose Paula Schifano Photography.
If you’d like to be featured on a customer highlight, e-mail us at [email protected].
-Tell us a little about your family and why it is special?
My oldest, Kayden, is 10. He’s amazingly talented at sports and is into wrestling and basketball currently. He’s also my most sensitive, requiring the most attention and consoling. He is an amazing student and recently got nominated for national awards for both his academic leadership and talents in art.
Kyler is 8, was recently baptized and is obsessed with sharing the gospel. He is fearless, quick to forgive and sometimes tactless in his truth telling. He came out the womb singing and hasn’t stopped. He speaks his mind sometimes too often and has us always laughing at the absurdities he thinks of. He is also a great big brother and a darn good wrestler.
Kashton is 4 and the funniest kid you’ll ever meet. He is so aware of everything around him and comes up with the funniest observations. He once told me that it “smelt dangerous outside”. He’s a busy body, loves to Facetime anyone who answers my phone {I’m sorry to those of you who get these calls all the time} and is super independent. He’s also an electronic genius and can maneuver a phone or iPad faster than anyone I know.
Channing is my baby girl… my sweet sweet, desperately loved little girl. I questioned my sanity in wanting a 4th when she first arrived {3 months of constant crying}. She has turned into such a happy baby, though. She is constantly smiling and goes with the flow of anything we do. She has her mom’s curse though, and never sits still. Even while cuddling her little feet will roll around in circles. She’s almost 8 months and is just learning to crawl, heaven help me.
-What do you do for work/volunteer outside of being a wife and mom?
In addition to being a mom of 4 beautiful humans I have been in the fashion industry for over 5 years, and am currently a professional photographer based out of Eastern Idaho. I thrive on building business. After nearly 15 years of being a business owner it has become an obsession. I hate the phrase “serial entrepreneur” but it really defines who I am. I love combining what I learned from one business into the next idea or passion I find. The list of things I love and want to do is endless. All of my children have grown up with me working from home and I don’t think any of us would know what to do if I didn’t. Being a working mother makes me a better mom. My me time is work.
That being said, being a working mom can sometimes take a toll. As we all know, being a mom is a 24 hour job all by itself. Trying to work is usually classified by sporadic minutes here or there {all day long}… followed by late nights and early mornings. I have to choose to be diligent in blocking out time that is for work only, and time that is for kids only… but more often than not my work time is taken over by kid time. Who can say no to those faces begging for mom? Priorities, right?
The older my kids get the busier life seems to become. Each kid is so very different, with interests and needs all their own. They each have unique qualities that make them special and OH so loved.
-Is there something your family does on a regular basis for quality time?
I have been very blessed with a family who truly love to be together. We all love doing the same things which makes it so much easier to plan. My entire family is obsessed with traveling. We all thrive on experiencing new things together and are a bunch of adventure junkies. We plan a few trips a year, and are currently working on seeing all of the LDS temples in the United States. My boys are also big into trapping and hunting, and no I don’t do that with them… GROSS! No walk is complete without noticing every animal track we pass and that is the extent of my involvement with that. We love the outdoors and spend a lot of time just being together outside. We ride bikes and walk nearly daily. But our go to activity is ice cream and movies. We spend a lot of time cuddled in our {now too small for 6 people} bed watching movies and cuddling.
-How do you take time for yourself to recharge?
Beth asked me to share what I do to take time for myself and I had to really think… what is this “Time for self” thing she’s talking about? I work! Truly though, its something all us moms need. I enjoy so many things that I just don’t have enough time for, but things that I try to fit in and really help me tune in are: dancing, reading and photography. If I lived closer to the ocean that would have been my answer. Nothing calms me more than spending time near water. My favorite go to pick me up is turning off my computer and making my kids giggle. Baby laughs lift a soul like nothing else can.
-What is your go to, never fail and in a pinch recipe?
I don’t cook! Go to recipe… Go to… Go to… Papa Murphies Pizza? Although I do make a mean Cinnamon Roll like once a year.
-What is the one product you can not live without?
Favorite products totally depend on the context of the product… Clothing? Beauty? Kids? I am a product junkie and have shelves full of things that look cool and don’t get used. A few items that never stay in stock though: Moroccan Oil for my hair, and Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel for my skin. And if I do happen to cook I actually do use my Stoneware from Pampered Chef for non-meal items like the cookies I eat daily and shouldn’t.
See JamieFindlayPhotography.com to see some of Jamie’s amazing work!
Tell us a little about your family and why it is special?
Our little family started in 2010 and baby joined us in 2014. We were so excited to expand our family and have the chance to be parents. We love to spend time playing and enjoy being outside.
What do you do for work/volunteer outside of being a wife and mom?
Twice a week I go into a Physical Therapy office and do insurance verification and other office duties. Baby gets to come with me to this job! Three days a week I teach gymnastics and cheerleading and love it!
Is there something your family does on a regular basis for quality time?
Our family loves to exercise and be outside. In the warm months of the year we go on walks together or we ride bikes and pull baby behind in the bike trailer.
How do you take time for yourself to recharge?
Getting out of the house and doing things is how I recharge. Baby and I try to go outside every day even if it means sitting on the front porch for a few minutes. Teaching gymnastics and cheerleading is also a great out for me. Sometimes when baby is napping I try to get tons of things done, but other times I take a few minutes to sit down and enjoy the silence.
What is your go to, never fail and in a pinch recipe?
Ravioli with Corn and Cilantro.
Cook a bag of frozen ravioli.
Put about half a bag of frozen corn, a diced bell pepper, fresh or dried cilantro (to taste) a little garlic salt and pepper in a bowl and microwave for 4 minutes. Stir the cooked ravioli into the vegetable mixture and eat it!
If we don’t have ravioli in the fridge we eat waffles for dinner!
What is the one product you can’t live without?
I absolutely love my baby’s walker. He will bebop around in it for quite a while and is very happy to be moving around independently.
What is your favorite One Small Child product?
One Small Child’s holiday outfits are absolutely adorable!
Tell us a little about your family & why it is special?
My husband and I have been married for 7 years now and are truly best friends. We balance each other out which in helps us to work so well as a team. I am also a mom of twin girls that just turned a year old. My girls are such a special part of our family. After years of struggling with infertility without a reason as to why – we found out we were pregnant not with one, but with TWO babies! I can’t imagine life any other way than the roller coaster ride we’ve been on!
What do you do for work/volunteer outside of being a wife and mom?
I’m a pilot’s wife and decided I would take a break from working the corporate world for now. Instead I’ve filled my time with my church’s youth program. I work with the young women ages 12-17 years old. It’s been such a treat! Don’t let it fool you, there’s much more behind the scenes action then what it sounds. They keep me on my toes.
Is there something your family does on a regular basis for quality time?
We love to go on walks! We just moved to a new area and there’s so much to explore!
How do you take time for yourself to recharge?
Taking time for myself has been a learning process for me. I literally have to schedule it into my weekly routine. My girls usually go to bed early and that’s when I take 30 minutes to myself, grab a drink & surf Pinterest, read a book, meditate or sit in silence. Before having kids I would go shopping, hit a coffee shop, go out for a bite to eat with my girlfriends – all of which I still love to do, but it doesn’t rejuvenate me like it used to. The simplest things and moments are all I need to get me going again.
What is your go to, never fail and in a pinch recipe?
Pasta! There’s really not a name for the recipe…As long as I have some sort of noodle in my cupboard there’s a meal! I love to sauté any vegetables I have together in some extra virgin olive oil (or coconut oil, if I have it) and mix with pasta. My current favorite mixture is red onion, (left over) roasted broccoli, sweet potato and string green beans sautéed in coconut oil on top of rigatoni pasta. Yum!! My husband likes to top his with a little Parmesan cheese.
What is the one product you cannot live without?
My one guilty pleasure, must have & cannot live without product is my Origins GinZing Eye Cream! This stuff is a miracle worker! I use it every day!
If you’re interested in being featured on Mom Talk, email us at [email protected]. Subject line “MOM TALK”.
Just a little laugh for your Friday morning, since we have all been there. Enjoy your weekend!
No doubt about it, the relationship between kids and technology is something every mom needs to consider. Here are our thoughts, what are yours?
Samantha: Mindful Media Use in the Infant StageThere has been a lot of talk lately about technology, and the effects it has on children. We’ve learned it’s important to limit and monitor children’s usage time. Research suggests technology under 24 months can interfere with social development. So we implemented the policy of no tv/technology until 2 years old. We feel our baby girl’s social development is worth any added effort or inconvenience this may cause.
But what about my own technology use? Especially around my little one? When my baby was a few months old, I began to find myself busy ‘doing nothing’ on my phone or laptop when I should have been engaged as a mom. I was missing out on moments I wanted to cherish.
I don’t want memories of my phone. I want memories of my daughter. More importantly, I want her to have good memories of her mother. I now set aside time after the little one is fast asleep to browse pinterest and other social media. And I’m all the happier for it.
Do you notice a difference when you unplug yourself and focus on you kids? Would you be willing to put away the social media to make a few good memories?
Audrey: Finding the BalanceThe subject of kids and technology use is absolutely a part of everyday life, and it’s here to stay. I think we can all agree that the omnipresence of our favorite digital devices is a double-edged sword: the tools we have at our fingertips are invaluable, while creating and maintaining healthy habits around these tools can be tricky. For me, it’s important to accept that figuring it all out is going to be an ongoing process.
On any given day, I’m in love with the fact that I have so many ways to accomplish my job and connect with others…and ten minutes later, I’m frustrated at the intrusive distractions that work their way into my family’s life. Some days we keep things in balance, some days we don’t. Bottom line, we’re working on it as we go, and that’s okay.
Here’s what works for me:
-Take care of personal, family, school, and household responsibilities before plugging in.
-Limiting the amount of time spent in front of a screen makes every one of us more pleasant to be around! (Unlimited screen time has the exact opposite effect)
Here’s what I’m still figuring out:
-The optimal amount of time to allow.
-Consistency…no two days are the same, I need to build more flexibility into the plan so it doesn’t run completely off track when things are crazy busy.
Here are some great resources for considering and creating your own technology game plan:
Rethinking the Screen Time Battle – Power of Moms (I love this one…it’s definitely going to be built into future iterations of my plan)
How to Make A Family Media Use Plan – American Academy of Pediatrics
Friday Q&A: Facebook & Social Media – 71toes
TV Timer BOB for older kids.
As mothers, our number one priority is our children. Yet, our careers require much of our time and attention. Both are very important. Here are our strategies for balancing career with family life:
I work from home. So, I’m on the computer several hours a day while Josie is around. Needless to say, she doesn’t like the competition for mom’s attention. Not to mention it’s insulting that she can’t play with mom’s toy! It took a while to figure out how to juggle working from home and being an engaged mom.
At first, I tried to get all my work done in the mornings. That way I could play with baby girl all afternoon. Good strategy, right? Well, after I would push her away and ignore her to finish my work all morning long, she was grumpy and frustrated with me. I finally decided I would work strictly while she was sleeping. This meant before she woke up in the morning, during her naps and usually a little after she went to bed. This worked wonders in building our relationship back up. It was tough to resist enjoying some much needed “me time” during those quiet hours. But, I guess being a mom is about sacrifice.
Josie is becoming more independent now, and I’m able to work a little while she plays next to me. It’s been a challenge to learn to work from home. But it has been so worth the effort! As she grows to each new stage, I’ll just keep adjusting to find whatever works best for all of us.
Balancing family and career has been high on my radar for the past thirteen years. (That went fast!)
My career is a huge part of my life, and was there long before babies arrived. It has always occupied a good chunk of my attention, both on and off-duty. I love what I do, love the products we create, love the people I work with and the customers we serve.
But my children. They are pieces of *me*. Always on my mind, in my heart, always needy. They always will be. When I look to the future, it’s my family I see. I love them with every part of my soul.
So how do I balance? It’s more complicated than I’d like it to be. When school is in session, it’s fairly easy to compartmentalize my days. They go to school, and I go to work. When they get home, I am home. When school is out, I am home (I’m fortunate to be able to do much of my work from home when the need arises). This is a double-edged sword, however. Some days it is difficult to be able to focus entirely on one or the other, and my attention bounces back and forth. Some days I am able to keep firm boundaries on what absolutely must be accomplished, and we get it all done. I love those days!
Mostly, as time goes by I’m finding that it’s crucial to simplify: to choose to participate in fewer activities (only the most important ones!), to make time for looking my kiddos in the eye and really listening to what they have to share, to focus on here and now and let the rest go.
With that, here is my quick and dirty list of tips for balancing family and career:
1-know what’s most important
2-keep a schedule
3-make lists
4-focus on being present
5-allow for margin
6-don’t over-commit
7-be okay with less than perfection
Fresh ideas are always welcome! What are your strategies for balancing career and family life?
We made these delightful cookies for our Vintage Inspired Christening Party, and have to share: they are THAT good. The cookie is more like a melt-in-your-mouth shortbread than a traditional soft sugar cookie, and it is over-the-top delicious with the fluffy frosting. The recipe was found on this cooking blog via Pinterest, it’s touted as a copycat mish-mash of Paradise Bakery’s cookie and Magnolia Bakery’s buttercream frosting. Props to the unknown original creator, as it is downright yummy!
1) Preheat oven to 375°.
2) In a medium bowl, cream together the sugars and shortening using an electric mixer.
3) Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula.
4) Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.
5) Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.
6) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix.
7) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill for a few minutes (if you’re going to roll it out to cut into shapes, chill for at least two hours).
8) Scoop dough with an ice-cream scoop, roll with your hands into uniform balls.
9) Place directly on cookie sheet.
10) Bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, the edges do not brown.
1) Place the butter in a large mixing bowl.
2) Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla.
3) On medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4) Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. (You may not need to add all of the sugar.)
5) If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly.
6) Use and store the icing at room temperature because it will set if chilled. Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
The last days of Summer are upon us, and today we’re sharing how we’ve managed the season with our kiddos: what’s worked, what’s been a challenge, and what we’re taking away from the experiences.
Summer is slowly coming to an end. The days are getting shorter and the evenings cooler. Aren’t the changing seasons are always so bittersweet? Reflecting on our summer with Baby Girl makes me feel very nostalgic.
We had the occasional trip to the swimming pool, managed to plant a garden and enjoyed a firework or two. For the most part, however, we survived the hot summer weather with carrot popsicles, porch rockers and evening stroller rides.
I became a Popsicle addict this year. I live on those cool, refreshing treats! It was so exciting when the wee one turned 6 months, and got the green light for baby food. I was able to make home-made popsicles for her out of her baby foods. (The runnier ones worked the best.) These turned out to be a life saver! She absolutely loves her veggie pops! They were the perfect cool, healthy treat when the weather was so uncomfortably warm. You could do this with anything for baby-fruits, veggies, breast-milk or formula. I’m looking forward to using these when she starts teething as well!
Here’s how you can make your own:
Baby Girl and I are lucky to have friends that live close by. We went on several afternoon strolls together. Our little ones love their strollers! In the evenings, we like to sit as a family in the rocking chairs on the front porch. It’s nice to wind down basking in the warm summer breeze. Our daughter loves to watch the cars drive by.
These baby-friendly activities got me through the season. How about you? What did you and your little one enjoy this summer?
It has been a wonderful summer with our precious little one. We’re looking forward to the new fun that fall will bring. Leaf piles and apple cider, anyone?
I know most moms may say that they are excited for their kids to go back to school, but I can honestly say that I am not happy about it…I will feel a certain sadness. I am going to miss my oldest (the only one going to school). She has been such a fun and helpful person to have home. I love having my children close around me.
Our summer has consisted of lots of time with cousins, a quick camping trip and a few day trips. We also had swimming lessons, daily chores, gardening, piano lessons and lots of playing. I am a simple type of girl and we keep our life fairly simple. We do the necessities, and then we try to keep the day fairly open to whatever may come.
One of our family reunions was held at a campground with a water park. The campground was busy, with trucks and trailers coming in and out and with a 20-month old, you can imagine how busy I was trying to keep him safe. We also had to keep a close eye on him when we were swimming, as the first thing he did on that first afternoon was slip away at a full run and head straight for the deep end of the pool. We caught him a foot away from going in, boy those little legs can move fast. Needless to say the trip was exhausting and my husband and I were both glad to be home, where things are baby proof.
It’s always fun to spend time with family during the summer and build those bonds. I think my kids feel like they have had a great summer building relationships with each other and their cousins. These will be the days they will remember about their childhood, and I think they will be good memories.
I remember my childhood summers as all ‘kick-back & relax’. Ahh, the blissful ignorance of youth! Little did I know how tricky it was for my mom to juggle her out-of-school pack of kids with her responsibilities in her fledgling company. While my mind still envisions summer as slow and easy…that’s not exactly been the case. Our summer has been filled with music lessons, play dates, appointments, and a couple great weeks of camping. Sprinkled in with that has been lots of time with cousins, swimming, hiking, and a museum or two.
What I’m currently loving most about summer with my elementary/middle schoolers is that I don’t have to follow behind them as closely as I did when they were toddlers. Everyone can buckle themselves into the car, get their own drinks of water, even make their own toast on busy mornings! That said, it’s still a herculean effort to get us all out the door on time for whatever activity we’re heading to. Also, I’m finding that it is a delicate balancing act to stay on top of technology use, make sure they’re performing their household duties, and still keep things as relaxed as possible.
With all the hustle and bustle, I’ve deliberately tried to be in the moment: to remember that I’ll never have that moment back & appreciate who I’m with, where we’re at, what we’re doing, and enjoy the soft kiss of the warm breeze on my face.
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Please join us, and let us know the highs and lows of *your* Summer!
