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10 Tips to Styling Your Family Pictures

10 Tips to Styling your Family Pictures

Every year I tell myself I am going to get our family pictures taken before the month of September, Christmas cards ordered by November and all the cards mailed out by the first of December. But every year it never happens quite like that! Here we are the first of November, and now I am finally thinking about family pictures. The panic is starting. What am I panicking about? All the shopping to get everyone dressed in matching outfits. It can be quite stressful and time consuming styling your family pictures. Why must it be such a daunting task? Well, these cute family pictures were taken last year during the first part of November. They are some of my favorite! We even got Scout in the pictures. I would say after 15 years of family pictures with my peeps, I have become quite a pro at styling family pictures. So, here are my 10 tips to styling your family pictures:

10 Tips to Styling your Family Pictures

Begin with one outfit you love. Just like a blank canvas, you must begin with one color. Styling is similar. You begin with one outfit and then build. The first outfit can be either for you, a child, or husband. Something you love and are drawn too. The outfit will set the tone of the picture. So, think about the seasons and location and what kind of story you want to portray with you family pictures. Do you want a beach theme, outdoorsy theme or city theme? These are concerns to be consider when picking out that one outfit.
Coordinate your Color Palette. As you build from that one outfit, look for other outfits that coordinate with the color of your first outfit. If you wear a dress then pull from the colors of the pattern. If you are going a more casual route, then pull from the color of the top or a jacket. Make sure not to match though. That’s when family pictures get a little over the top. So, if someone is wearing a plaid top, not everyone wear the same top. Instead pull from one of the colors and coordinate the rest of the outfits with that one color.
Mix patterns with solids and patterns with complement patterns. Add texture and variety to a family picture by mixing complementing patterns with each other. Plaids, stripes and florals always go together when they are in the same family color group. But don’t wear two patterns with one person. Instead mix the patterns throughout the family. Then wear one pattern with a solid, similar to what we did above. Avoid graphic t-shirts!
Consider your Location. When you shop for your family pictures, consider where you are planning to have the pictures taken. If you are doing a mountain theme in the middle of Fall, you won’t wear shorts or an evening gown but instead probably casual clothes. Or if you were taking pictures in a city setting, you’d probably wear more street attire.
Layer clothes. I like to layer clothes when styling my family pictures because it adds variety and texture to the pictures. Also, it looks more finished and complete. Layering clothes works great with boys and men. Layer with sweaters, jackets, vests, button-up shirts. With girls, a cute scarf or bow headband can add character to the photo.
Add props. Why not? If you want to make the picture seem more casual then bring in a prop into the photos. It’s not necessary, but we have done it the last couple photos and it makes it so fun and less stuffy. We did the Christmas wreath and wagon last year and it helped lessen the stress when we were taking the pictures.
Dress for comfort. Family pictures are already so stressful. Make sure to dress comfortable so you don’t have whining children (or husbands) during the photoshoot. One of the keys to great family pictures, is when every one is happy.
Groom Prior to the Photos. After you have your coordinating outfits together, then focus on grooming your family! What I mean by groom is getting hair cuts, coloring hair, manicures (yes, fingernails do show up). I like to try and do these things about a 1-2 weeks prior to the photoshoot. The closer to the date the better and cleaner the results.
Shop the Collection. One of the easiest ways to save time and sanity (but maybe not money), is pick a store that carries all clothing lines (children, men and women) and shop their collections in all their departments. They design the collections to have a cohesive look throughout their store. So if you are having a hard time matching a mustard yellow top, stick within the store’s collection and you will most likely find a complement colors. I am sharing my favorite family clothing stores below.
Lay it Out and Take a Picture. This will ease your concerns once you see it all next to each other. Lay the clothes on the floor and you can move items or eliminate items that don’t line up with the other items. This will save you a ton of time and hassle.

Here are my favorite Family Clothing Shops for Styling your Family Pictures:

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Fall Staple Pieces + $750 Nordstrom Giveaway

Fall Staple Pieces + $750 Nordstrom Giveaway

Good morning and Happy Friday! I wanted to share some of my fall staple pieces and am excited to offer a $750 Nordstrom gift card Giveaway to one luck winner to help add some amazing fall staple pieces to your own wardrobe! As a stay-at-home working mom, I am not ashamed to say that I tend to wear the same thing everyday. If I could, I’d probably wear my workout clothes all the long day with my Adidas shoes. But I think taking a shower is quite important! So why not look somewhat presentable after the fact? During the summer my go-to is usually t-shirts, skirts and flip flops. My fall staple pieces are usually casual clothes of jeans, sweaters and loafers or booties and a jacket. I don’t have a ton of time shuffling through my closet in the morning so I tend to go back to classic pieces that are comfortable and non-conforming. Do you do the same thing? Go back to the basics…it’s always the best option, right? With a change of season, you need a few new items to mix your basics up. Here are my top pick of Fall Staple Pieces. Don’t forget to sign up for my $750 Nordstrom Giveaway at the end of the post!

Chunky Sweaters–the oversized sweaters are still going strong this season and is a perfect fall staple piece to have in your closet. I recommend wearing on your lower half skinny pants or leggings.

2. Leopard Print–Animal print that is basically becoming a fall neutral color! Leopard print is a fun stylish statement print to add to a basic outfit. I’d say invest in either leopard print shoes or a leopard print skirt for this year’s fall staple piece.

3. Plaid–The best time of year to wear non-stop plaid is the fall season! Plaid is huge this season with pencil skirts and wide-leg pants. There are some many colors and plaid print combinations, you could really have fun styling an outfit with plaid.

4. Prairie style–long dresses or tops with simple prints and ruffly sleeves with high necks, the Prairie style is strong this season and I’d say to add one prairie style top or dress to your fall staple pieces.

5. Blazers and Army Jacket–I’d say every Fall season will bring back the classic look of a good blazer silhouette and military jacket. You can see some of my top blazer picks here and below is my favorite military jacket that keeps giving year after year.

6. Camo–Camo is back! This army print always seems to sneak back in around the Fall season. Love the look of camo with leggings and jackets of course!

Don’t forget to enter in my giveaway for a $750 Nordstrom gift Card! Giveaway will last until 11/9 ! Make sure you are following me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook or DMJ’s Facebook!

Now…it’s time for a fabulous giveaway!
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Blazers for Fall

Blazers for Fall

The blazer is back. Yesssss! Blazers for Fall season this year are huge, and they come in just about every style–corduroy, velvet, oversized, wool, menswear. A variety of colors for those styles are big in blazers for fall. I am excited because I love blazers and I have a collection of favorites that I’ve held onto. They will be making their appearance this fall and winter season. The blazer is the item to finish off an outfit that says fall-is-finally here. If you don’t have a blazer, they are truly a classic fall item, but just happens to be going strong this season. So you really can’t go wrong with snagging a blazer this fall season. I’d say pick up a corduroy and a tweed if you have to narrow the styles. Blazers are the perfect layering item for fall.

I picked up this blazer while playing tourist in New York City this past weekend. It was the perfect fall day, which began a little chilly then warmed up in the middle of the day and then toward the end of the day there was a breeze. This fitted blazer was easy to take off, carry then put back on for a classic tailored, put-together look. So add a little preppy perfection that is easy to throw on with jeans and a t-shirt. I wore this blazer with my favorite long dog tag necklace from my shop and these Quay sunglasses. I also wore these slipper flats that I’ve had for a long time and now the slipper style has come back! Here is a similar item.

Here are a few of my favorite Blazers for Fall:

You can see more of how I styled these blazers:

New England Fall Activities

New England Fall Activities

Well we have kissed our long summer days behind. It’s been a good one, and we will miss it dearly except for the moving part . Fall is right here, except for the random 80 degree weather we’ve been having. I am holding on to those warm days but Fall is the Northeast is one of my favorite seasons. Since we’ve moved back up we have been talking about all of our old favorite fall activities that we had enjoyed during the time we lived up here before. The color of the leaves look like a painting. The smell in the air is truly that yummy cinnamon smell. It’s so festive and beautiful! I am excited to share these Fall moments with my children. So, I had to put together a New England Fall Activities list to get them excited, and to help ease the pain of this move. Yes, they are still adjusting and missing their life in the South. They don’t remember life before Georgia, even though they were all born in Connecticut!

One of the patterns I love to wear in the fall is leopard! Leopard is surprising easy to pair with color and denim. And it a great way to bring fall into your daily outfit. Leopard print is still a strong pattern for fall, so if you don’t have any leopard introduce it into your wardrobe with accessories like shoes or hand bag or pants. I like to wear a little bit of leopard paired with something else. Don’t do a leopard over kill! Wear one leopard print then pair it with a solid.

I may be wearing my leopard when I hit up our New England Fall Activities List. I am excited to make new memories with them and remind them of all the activities they used to enjoy.

New England Fall Activities List

Apple picking up at Lyman Orchard Farm
Make homemade applesauce and apple pies with our picked apples
Visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (so much history in one spot and the cemetery is beautiful to explore in the fall)
Go see the Great Jack o’ Lantern Blaze
Learn to make apple cider doughnuts (or pick them up at the local farmer!)
Harvest pumpkins at Jones Family Farm (they are still on the vine and in the field)
Head to Vermont to see Fall Foliage and pick up fresh maple syrup from the maple tree farms
Go whale watching in Cape Cod–October is the best time to see the humpback whales
Go hiking in Mount Washington and take the Cog Railway down the mountain
Get lost in a corn maze
Take a class at Stone Barns Center

Here is our list of Fall Activities that we did last year. It was so much fun! I’m pretty sure we did most of the activities but not all. I always set the bar high but never quite am able to complete it all. What are some of your favorite fall activities?

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DMJ earrings

Back to School Ideas for Tweens

Back to School Ideas for Tween Girls and Boys

We are in the final week of summer, and the last summer ice cream days. Yes, it’s been the longest summer EVER–lasting a full three months instead the usually six weeks! We have been so busy with travel and our move that it has flown by…but also has dragged on and on. I’ve been wondering when school was going to come. SO, this past week we’ve been school shopping and getting ready for the big back to school day. My kids are so nervous about being the new kids on the block, and I am the worried mama praying that they will fit in and find a good set of friends. With all this school shopping, my two oldest have been so opinionated on what they want and don’t want this time around. They have definitely become more aware of their peers and what is cool and what is so not cool. So, these back to school ideas for tween girls and boys actually are the opinions of my daughter going into high school and son going into seventh grade. I’d say they are definitely in the thicket of tween/teen years! Oh boy! Here is our list of back to school ideas for tween girls and boys:

1. Every girl needs a pair of denim overalls

2. The popular backpack every teen girl needs

3. The brow craze is strong…even among teen girls

4. Velvet scrunchies are so 80’s and so in style

5. Stay hydrated in a cool Hydro Flax

6. High tops are so in especially if they are Vans

7. Headphones to listen too the top hits of today

8. Lacey bralette to wear under slouchy t-shirts

9. All the girls are wearing wave jewelry

Watch to stay on time
These pants make sweat pants cool
Skater hat is a must
Staying hydrated with the Hydro Flax
Under armor back pack is a favorite
Boxer under pant shorts makes them feel older
Nike hoodie
Nike tennis shoes is still a favorite
Listening to your beats all day long

Shop the Post Back to School for Tween Girls

Shop the Post Back to School for Tween Boys

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

Pom poms are everywhere, and I just want to keep this trending going. The round colorful fluffy embellishment is so fun and playful for summer time. We thought it would be fun to make DIY pom pom shirt so the girl cousins could match for the 4th of July, and we could all be pom pom’d out! After making DIY pom pom sandals and beach bag, this was an easy project and one that the girls could tackle themselves. This DIY pom pom shirt project works for just about any shirt you choose. Once all the materials are gathered, it takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Very easy DIY project and fun for the 4th of July!

The girls picked out which shirts they wanted and we kept the t-shirts under $10. I bought a yard of pom pom trim per shirt so the entire project per shirt was less than $15. If you plan to add pom pom around all the edges of the shirt, than plan to buy more than a yard of pom pom trim. We just added trim around the sleeves or the bottom, not both.

DIY Pom Pom Shirt

T-shirt (we bought $8 t-shirts)

Pom pom trim

Sewing machine

pins

Scissors

Instructions:

Take your shirt and turn it inside out. Take your pom pom trim and start at the seam and pin it along the edge all the way around. Sew it straight stitch. Or if you don’t know how to sew, use fabric glue to secure it to your top. After, turn your shirt right side out! Simple and completely changes the style of the shirt.

SHOP the POST: DIY Pom Pom Shirt

10 Beach Bag Essentials

10 Beach Bag Essentials

Heading to the beach this summer? Yay for you! We love the beach and try to always make a trip to the beach each summer. One of our favourite things to do as a family is to play beach volleyball. There’s no better place, or any place for that matter to take part in this sport. It’s always so much fun. It’s our favourite place to soak up the sunshine rays. I actually always keep a beach bag in my car during the summer months. I take it to the pool and to the beach, so it becomes very handy especially if it’s a last minute kind of swim adventure. So since we are always heading to the beach, I’m sharing 10 beach bag essentials that will take you through a day at the beach with success.

Beach Bag–Having a strong, large beach bag is essential, of course! You want your beach bag to be large, but not too large that it becomes difficult to carry. Make sure to examine the straps, so it’s easy to throw over your shoulders. I love all the large, pom pom straw beach bag, and I usually use those beach bags when I head to the beach with just me or a child because you can easily fit pickleball paddles in them and play all day. But when I go to the beach with my entire family, I forget the straw beach bag and grab my durable, canvas beach bag that I can load up and know it will sustain the impact. I like my beach bag to have a zipper at the top so I can also keep it close and keep things protected from the sun and sand. Having it made out of canvas means I can throw it in the wash at the end of the summer season. Also the canvas fabric isn’t waterproof but holds out the water so my items aren’t drenched.

2. Sunscreen–Of course you need sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun. But I have found over the years that my children are sensitive to most sunscreen products, so I like to buy the organic sunscreens without all the chemicals and toxins in it. My kids don’t break out in a horrible rash when I use these sunscreen products and plus usually they smell really good. I keep a bottle of these sunscreen in my beach bag.

3. Large Insulated Water Bottle–If you don’t already have one, invest in an insulated stainless steel sports water bottle. They can be expensive but worth the invest. The double wall vacuum insulated water bottle keeps cold drinks cold all the beach day! Staying hydrated is the key and these water bottles do just that!

4. Beach Hat–a beach hat is definitely an essential item for the beach, and I keep one always in my bag so I don’t forgot. You don’t want wrinkles on your face or skin cancer so protection is a wise move. The good thing is there are so many cute beach hat options out there.

5. Protein Bars— I always bring some kind of snack to the beach and like to keep protein bars in my beach bags just in case I forget to pack a lunch. Protein bars keep me full and going most of the afternoon. If you don’t like protein bars, then I’d suggest throwing in granola bar.

6. Waterproof bag–if you don’t already have one, you need to get one! They are the best invention, and I really can’t live without a waterproof bag at the beach. It is a perfect place to store your phone, camera, keys and any other item that need to be protected from the water and sand.

7. Baby Powder— Let’s face it. Sand gets everywhere when you head to the beach, and I know a few people who just refuse to go because of the sand. Packing baby powder in your bag does the trick to help get that sand off your legs, hands and feet. And if you have a baby or child, it works wonderfully especially if they have a diaper that needs to be changed.

8. Sunscreen Lip Balm— Don’t forget your lips and protect them from the sun! The hot sun can make them dry and cracked so make sure you have a lip balm with an SPF in it.

9. Leave-in Conditioner– Put in a little leave-in conditioner or some kind of sun protecting hair product. Hair can get quite damaged from the salt water, the wind and sand. My hair and my girl’s hair always get so knotting unless I put the conditioner in their hair.

10. Beach Towel— Of course you need a beach towel when you head to the beach. It’s quite the essential. I like to throw in one that is large enough for my entire family that we can all lay on. And I like to have one that I lay over my beach chair because those chairs be a little rough.

Summer Trend Floral Ruffle Wrap Dresses

Summer Trend Floral Ruffle Wrap Dresses

Once warm weather hits, I am living in my dresses. Comfort and staying cool in the hot, humid Southern heat is what you’ve got to do to keep going because it can really knock you over. I usually opt for breezy, flowy dresses and skirts to keep any sort of clothing off my skin and let the wind blow through those sweaty areas (and you know what I am talking about!). If you’re looking for a nice dress, you can see here for cocktail dresses. Cocktail dresses are perfect if you’re going to an evening event in summer. Even wearing shorts can be a little too much to bare. So, I love that one of the summer trend is floral ruffle wrap dresses. My kind of summer trend! My bohemian self comes out and I embrace any floral ruffle dress that is a wrap dress, muumuus and tunics. I picked up this cute blue floral ruffle dress at a local clothing shop near my house, and I am obsessed with the styling. I wore it for the first time on our recent trip to the 30A/Seaside area in Florida. It was perfect strolling to wear around Alys Beach and catching lunch at George’s after church.

Along with summer trend of floral ruffle wrap dresses, what else is still trending are tall wedges and woven straw bags especially the large round handbags. There are so many great variety and prices, you can really find them anywhere now! I love the available options and how they make an evening summer outfit feel a little more beachy.

SHOP the POST: (similar dress to my floral ruffle wrap dress)

Here are some of the summer trend floral ruffle wrap dresses that I am loving right now. They are all so pretty and femme, and the tie around the waist makes it so sweet. They will keep you staying cool and breezy this summer!

4 One-Piece Swimsuit Styles

4 One-Piece Swimsuit Styles

It’s taken me a while, but I think I have finally embraced one-piece swimsuit. After a lot of trail and error, I found 4 one-piece swimsuit styles that work with my body. The cut of the swim suit is also what makes a one-piece swimsuit flattering. I have a very boyish, athletic figure with a short torso and strong thighs. So you can imagine that one-piece swimsuits have been quite a challenge. Patterns and dark colors work for hiding my mommy tummy, while high cut on the thighs make my legs look longer. My one-piece swimsuit collection is slowly growing so I’m excited to wear a lot of them out on the beach this summer. Below are 4 one-piece swimsuit styles that I am loving this season.

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4 one-piece swimsuit styles

Plunging Neckline–adds a little flirtatious finish to a one-piece swimsuit and makes it a little more sexy and revealing. Some plunging neckline swimsuits are finished with a lace-up front to add some texture and brings a little 70’s retro vibe to the suit.

Ruffle Off-the-Shoulder–perfect for dipping or poolside lounging instead of a water activity suit. This trend is still going strong this year and now are available in stripes, gingham and floral.

Tropical Print–channeling tropical vibes, palm trees and tropical floral prints are going strong this year with one-piece swim suits and makes it an eye-catching style.

Macrame–offers an alluring detail with the straps and back coverage to a simple one-piece style. These embellishments you won’t want to keep hidden away.

Make sure to check out Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale on all the One-Piece Swimsuit Styles that are on sale right now!

Rejuvenating Eyes and Lips with Patchology

Rejuvenating Eyes and Lips with Patchology

Aging skin is sneaking up on me, so recently I have been paying more attention to my skincare routine and trying out skin care products to find the “golden” formula for anti-aging and keeping my skin hydrated and younger looking. I did a whole post on favorite anti-aging skincare tips that I love. Did you by chance have to stay up late one night and get up early the next day? Yup! It happens too often to most of us. Tired and puffy eyes and dry lips can contribute to looking older and accentuating fine wrinkles. So, right now that is my anti-aging problem child. After some research, I discovered Patchology’s products as a source for rejuvenating eyes and lips through their gel products. I must admit, their product is the perfect pick me up for quick results in just a matter of minutes! I’m excited to team up to show how rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology products is solution to tired eyes and dry lips.

One of the great things about rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology is that it doesn’t take long–only a 5-minute application. You can apply the gel flashpatches on a clean face in the morning or at night or with a full face of makeup as a face refresher. While I had the flashpatches, I was able to continue to put my makeup on or blow-dry my hair. A mom’s got to multi-task to look pretty! The flashpatches have peptides and green tea extract to soothe and deliver protective antioxidants. Caffeine and collagen are other ingredients for brighter skin tone, improve hydration, reduce puffiness and increase elasticity.

Here are some helpful ways when rejuvenating your eyes and lips with Patchology. For underage bags, place the eye gels rounded side in and close to your eye lip. For crow’s feet, place the eye gel skinny side in. I haven’t tried it, but I heard you could even go to sleep with them. When you remove the pads, moisture the residual serum around your face and lips. It really does feel amazing! Trying out the lip flash patch did feel a little weird and you have to be careful not to open you mouth while using them because they don’t taste very good! But it does quickly moisturize and soften your pout. You’re left with perfectly prepped lips, ready to make up and mouth off.

Enjoy rejuvenating eyes and lips with Patchology!

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