What I Wore- Favorites

It's been awhile since I did a What I Wore post.

Mainly because it feels a tad awkward.
Posting pictures of myself is definitely out of my comfort zone.
But there are several reasons I've decided to go ahead with it...
The first is because I LOVE reading other people's What I Wore posts.

I love seeing how other women style their outfits...especially moms of littles.

I'm a firm believer that just because you're a mom to little people

doesn't mean you have to sacrifice dressing nice.

And by dressing nice I mean getting out of sweats and t-shirts.

Not wearing your Sunday best throughout the week;)

And I am also a firm believer that you don't have to spend

a ton of money to look nice.

I mainly shop at Forever 21, Target, Walmart and Thrift Stores.

One of my favorite outfits to wear around the house

is a pair of jeans with holes in them and a v-neck t-shirt.

I usually put on pair of hoop earrings or a cute headband and it makes me feel put together.

I thought I'd share a few of my current favorites.

I've had my eye on a pink blazer from H&M.

My sweet sister Bekka surprised me with it this past weekend!

Such a fun piece and super versatile!

My new favorite nail polish color is this coral shade from Essie.
It's more of a reddish/orange in my opinion.
The name is California Coral.

Twists in my bangs+hoop earrings+coral nails=favorites lately

This is a typical stay-at-home day outfit.

Comfortable jeans plus a comfy but cute top.

What are some of your favorites items of clothing, accessories, makeup or nail polish?

I would love to hear!

Feature Sponsor-Cute and Classy Photography

I LOVE my Feature Sponsors!
They're the top three sponsors to the right of the page.

 

Today's feature is Heather from Cute and Classy Photography.
She is located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

This girl is sweet as can be and captures gorgeous pictures of babies and families!

She's offering $25 off your sessions fee

 if you mention The Vanilla Tulip to her!

You can e-mail her at cuteandclassyphotography@yahoo.com

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Hi, I am Heather- wife, momma of twins, and photographer! I love everything about photography and take WAY too many pictures on a daily basis. Prior to having my twins I was a third grade teacher, which I loved! Once my babes entered the world 8 weeks early it was a very scary thought for me to leave them all day. My heart told me to stay home. Having children opens your eyes to a whole new beauty in this world! I began taking pictures of my own babies, desperate to capture each adorable phase of their life! Now here I am, blessed to capture moments for each baby, child, adult, and family I work with! I couldn't ask for a more beautiful job. I have met many wonderful families through my business and I love the relationship I develop with each one. I truly believe I am following Gods plan for my life through photography and want to make sure all of the credit goes to Him.

My Style

"Photography is a means of recording forever the things one sees for a moment."

- Aaron Sussman

I am a natural light photographer and love bringing personality into each picture! Each session is laid back and fun! Natural smiles are the best, so I work hard to make & catch them. Whether I'm posing a newborn, chasing a toddler, or catching a bride walk down the aisle, I enjoy each one. :)

I am loving all things vintage these days!

Whether it's a newborn baby on a vintage suitcase

Or a family sharing a sweet moment on a old quilt

I love incorporating a bit of vintage in each session!

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Cute and Classy Photography is also on Facebook!
Make sure to head over and like their page!

Feature Sponsor- Life Chasers

I LOVE my Feature Sponsors!
They're the top three sponsors to the right of the page.

I've asked each of them to share something that they are loving these days.
I told them it could be anything...moment, picture, idea... whatever!

I always love getting to know the women behind the blogs

You guys are going to love today's Feature Sponsor.
Kaylee from Life Chasers.

She loves the Lord, has a precious family, her pictures are gorgeous, she posts delish recipes, they just moved to North Dakota to farm....I could go on and on.
I'm telling ya...her blog is incredible!

So keep reading.... and then head on over to her blog and follow along!

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Hi! I'm Kaylee.

Wife to a ruggedly handsome man and momma to two lively girls.

I am a lover of my Father God, my family,cooking, photography,coconut, a good song, Thai food, an evening drive, our dog, and people.

Not necessarily in that order.

We recently moved to North Dakota, my home state, from Washington to start a business in agriculture.

(we are country at heart).

Because my husband works so hard,

I have the blessing of staying home with our girls and run a photography business on the side.

Just because I love it.

Being a stay at home mom is a sheer delight for me, but it doesn't come without its challenges.

I blog about our life and my walk as a housewife with hope that it may encourage others in the same boat.

Being a true Proverbs 31 woman is my goal and I want others to see that it is a beautiful thing.

I would love to get to know you and become friends!

As I said, I love cooking.

For some reason I usually put all of my energy and thought into dinner.

(Or "supper" as they say around here.)

But recently, BREAKFAST has come alive for me!

I love taking the time to start the day off right for me and my family.

Ryan doesn't have to leave until 7:15 for work so it is another meal we get to have together.

There is always fresh fruit and choices like this one and this one are frequent favorites.

I feel completely set for the day after a decent healthy breakfast.

Weekends are special though.

The last two Sundays we have made mini donuts to go along with our fruit.

It is SO fun!

Ashlynn loves to help stir the batter and add sprinkles.

It is actually pretty quick and totally doable, even if you are in a hurry.

We have a donut maker similar to this one and just use any kind of muffin mix.

That's it!

I will soak up any extra second I can get with my little family and breakfast has quickly become a tradition.

Make it a priority!

It's worth every effort.

Sponsor Feature- Living in Yellow

I LOVE my Feature Sponsors!
They're the top three sponsors to the right of the page.

I've asked each of them to share something that they are loving these days.
I told them it could be anything...moment, picture, idea... whatever!

I always love getting to know the women behind the blogs

Today's Feature Sponsor is Erin from over at Living in Yellow.
This girl is a crack up!
Head on over to her blog and make sure to say hi!

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Hello you little tulip heads :)

My name is Erin and I blog over at Living In Yellow. A blog dedicated to nothing at all, which really keeps it pretty simple to write. Sure I write about the occasional important stuff {ie: eye make-up tutorials, how to take pictures like a rock star, how I am best friends with Giuliana Rancic, and what not to do in public..} but other than that it’s pretty light, humorous, and real. You can learn everything you need to know about me and more by clicking here. Ashley posed the question to me "What are you really loving these days?!" which did not make for an easy question to answer. My problem is I love nearly everything. Macaroni and cheese above all else of course. But goodness. How do I begin to choose what I am really loving? I mean heck. Instagram, Wine, Pedicures, My Husband, Sleep. It's all so good. With it being Spring and all, I am just going to go with the obvious. Spring clothes. Especially dresses//mint green//and wedges.

And there you have it. Now if only I wouldn't have just committed to not shopping for 60 days. #WhatwasIthinking. Well. That's all I got for you fine folk today. I hope you pay me a visit over here and stay around for awhile. There is nothing I love more than new blog friends. {aside from mint green..dresses..and a cute pair of wedges obviously...}

Horsing Around

We made it safe and sound to my parent's house.

The kids did great on the trip...besides a minor melt-down from Cade and a spilled cup of ice water in Emma's seat, the trip was uneventful!

My brain is shot... I got up at 4:45 this morning to get us around and out the door by 6.

Time to crawl into bed.

Hope your day was great!!!

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*after dinner we headed outside to let the kids ride the horses...Colt was in pure heaven!*

Thrifty Thoughts-Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins

Turns out we LOVE muffins.
I was looking through my recipe archives and realized how many muffin recipes I have.

I think what I love most about muffins is that they make enough for an additional breakfast or snack.

Not only thrifty but it saves me time in the kitchen!

This is one of my favorite recipes...they're a little bit hardier than just a plain blueberry muffin!

Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins

1 1/2 Cups Flour

6 Tablespoons Sugar

1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice (you can easily use cinnamon instead)

1 1/2 Cups Oatmeal

1 Cup Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 Egg

4 Tablespoons Melted Butter

1 Cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)

In your bowl mix all the dry ingredients well.
Then add your wet ingredients and give it all a good stir.
Once thoroughly mixed, fold in your blueberries.

Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

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Don't forget to enter the Feature Ad Space Giveaway!

It ends on Monday.

Thankyou and Feature Ad Giveaway

I just wanted to say thankyou to you guys.

For the past year.
I read every single comment and e-mail.
And it usually takes me a bajillion years to reply back.
Just know that even though it takes me forever to reply (and sometimes I forget...)

that I am thankful for you taking the time to comment and e-mail.

I love the little community that has been built!
Thankful for each one of you!

As a way to say Thankyou I am giving away...

a Feature Ad Space ($50 value) for the month of May.

If you have a blog or a business you are wanting to promote than this would be perfect for you.

There are several ways to enter the giveaway.

Leave a comment for EACH one done.
If you complete all entries than you should have left six entries.

Mandatory

Be a follower of The Vanilla Tulip

Extra Entries

(5 extra entries possible)

Like The Vanilla Tulip on Facebook

Update your status on Facebook with the giveaway

Follow The Vanilla Tulip on Twitter

Tweet about the Giveaway (leave a link to your tweet)

Blog about the giveaway (leave a link with your post)

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The giveaway will end on Monday



Park Playing

I've got about ten minutes to throw together a quick post.

We just finished up a breakfast of scrambled eggs...

Cade's down for his morning nap already...

the big two are watching their one show of the morning.
Have I mentioned that Cade has been getting up at 6am for the past week or so?

Coffee has never tasted so good!

Yesterday the kids and I headed to the park in town.
I love how each one has a favorite piece of equipment.
Emma could climb on the tower thing all day.
Colt could swing all day.

I love when he swings...

he tips his little head back with his eyes closed and silently laughs to himself.
Nothing sweeter :)

This trip to the park was Cade's first time walking around like a big boy.

He was in heaven!

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It's a full day of laundry and teaching piano lessons today.

We're leaving in a few days to visit my family for the weekend.
My little sister is graduating high school!

I'm so excited to see everyone!

But until then it's usually a whirlwind of laundry, packing and cleaning until we leave.

We've got a great system down for traveling with the kids.

I'll share more on that in the next day or so....

or maybe when I get back...

if I'm being realistic :)

Have a great Tuesday!

Special Olympics

Last week the kids and I tagged along with Travis to a Special Olympics event

 (some of his p.e. students were competing).

I have never been to anything like it before.
It was the sweetest event I have ever been to.
Such a blessing.

I kept tearing up through the event.

At the beginning of the event they had a parade with each school walking around the

track with their banner.

They had some inspirational music playing (think Chariots of Fire) and those sweet kids were pumping their fists as they walked and were so proud!
As they walked by the stands everyone stood up and were cheering like it was the real Olympics.
*teared up*

When each child was running towards the ribbon at the finish line.
Children in wheel chairs, children with walkers, children who had people physically moving their legs for them one at a time, children with down syndrome....

each trying so hard and each one with a huge smile on their face.

Their little arms pumping the arm when they finished.
*teared up*

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners received their medals on a little platform.

They would announce their names over the loud speaker as they received their medal.
Watching them beam as their medal was placed around their neck.
*teared up*

It was such a sweet time celebrating these kids.

If you ever have a chance to attend an event like this I highly encourage you to do so.
Not only will it bless these kids to have you cheering for them

but I can promise you that you will leave encouraged!