Kimonos

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Open and airy. Super simple and easy to wear. They are perfect to wear to the beach. Throw it on with a pair of jean cutoffs. They are even perfect to dress up for that summer cocktail party. This is one piece of wardrobe that gets better with age and wear. Can't wait to get a few pieces.

Love Always, BreAnne

Delicious Goodness

We have been grilling like crazy. I decided to try one of the recipes from the images I used on my last post. Grilled stuffed portobello mushroom. MMMM MMMM MMMM was it good! I switched up the recipe a bit.

Here is my version-
2 Large Potobella Mushroom Caps (washed off with stem and insides cleaned out)
about 3 tbsp of Goat Cheese
1 package of Fresh Spinach
Garlic Salt
Olive Oil

I do not like frozen spinach what-so-ever. I think there is a big difference in taste. I used a bag a fresh spinach lightly sauteed it up with a little garlic salt and olive oil. (I didn't cook it down all the way and let it finish on the grill). I mixed in the goat cheese to the spinach and placed into cap. Took it out to the grill where I let it cook for about 20 minutes.

I can't wait to make these again. They were delicious and I was super full without it being super heavy.

Love Always, BreAnne

Gettin' Focused & Gettin' Healthy

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Here I go. Gotta' get focused & gotta' get healthy. Since having two babies in less then two years it has really taken a toll on my body. I have never been the skinny-minnie but I was in shape & took care of my body. I focused on what I ate and what went into my body. The funny thing is, I never seemed to be content with my body and now I would give anything to be back to my pre-pregnancy size and shape. 

Starting this week I have decided it is time for me to get my focus back and time to be more active. I am over being down on myself for the changes that have happened to my body, the only person who can change that is me. I have to realize it's not going to happen over night (which sometimes I like instant gratification) and it's not going to be easy (which I usually like to find the easiest/simplest way). 

Another reason for this is I really need to lead by example for my children. I am really focused on them eating healthy. I can't expect them to continue that healthy path once they are making their own decisions if I am not walking that same path. 

I can't say that I eat terrible right now but it can definitely, without a doubt, use some tightening up. I am going back to Real, Whole Foods. When eating out making smart choices. And when I do want to have something that might not be super healthy, which may happen, just making sure to have some portion control. 

Real Food- What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck is one that I am going to order. I read her book Real Food for Mother and Baby while I was pregnant with Olivia and it was very helpful. I felt so healthy and good about my body throughout my pregnancy. It's not only health terms and dietary directions thrown at you. It follows along her real life story and experience with food. She practices what she preaches. It is all about having healthy, real, food be a part of your lifestyle and making health conscious choices. I love that she explains her reasoning and she doesn't just say do this or do that because she's the expert.
So. Here I go. Gotta' get focused & gotta' get healthy. I'll check back in time to time to let you know my progress.
What do you do to stay focused and healthy?

Love Always, BreAnne

Mother's Day 2013

I had so much fun yesterday. It's was the most wonderful time. These two little human beings have taught me how to love in a way I never knew existed. I would give them the world. I am really upset because I didn't get a picture with my mom, who I got to spend the day with. I am really kicking myself.  Three generations and the opportunity was missed. Sometimes I get so busy I forget to stop and take a minute to think of things like that. Family is so important to me and I am lucky to have such  amazing people in mine. And now with Tone's family it is growing even bigger with love. Yesterday we spent the day at zoo and the train park. We then came home and had a fabulously delicious bbq. I am so happy we stayed at home for dinner. Going out to dinner can be a little stressful at times with two little kids. It was so relaxing at home with the windows open and the music on. It was a lot of fun being in the kitchen with my mom, the babies running/crawling around, and the guys out barbecuing. I couldn't of asked for anything better. 

Love Always, BreAnne

Happy Mother's Day

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With Mother's Day right around the corner here are a few fun cards to celebrate the day. Sometimes a  card with some kind words is all a mom needs to know how much she is loved. I don't think it is always about the material things. I haven't spent Mother's Day with my mom in almost 11 years since I left Michigan. It's always been spent with a phone call. This year she is out here so I am so excited to get to spend the day with her. It's also my second year as a mom and it is really special that they have given me the greatest gift anyone could ask for. We are taking the babies to the zoo, having a family bbq, and just going to enjoy each others company. I can't wait.

Love Always, BreAnne

My Goals & Check List for May

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May Goals for Love Always

I am getting this up a little late. I can't believe it is already the 8th. Time goes by way to fast. Here are some of the goals I have set for Love Always (blog & shop). Some are already in progress

1. Send out my first shipment ordered from from new shop (Thanks Debbie!)

>>>>I am so excited to have my first customer purchase at my new shop!!!! Can't wait to get it all packaged up pretty and shipped out to Florida.<<<<

2. Build a new desk

>>>>I have been dreaming of a new desk since we moved into our new apartment. Right now I work at the dining room table which I have turned into my desk. It is so cluttered and we don't have a dining room table. I can't wait to have some organization and create an area that I can be inspired to work at. I have sketched out my plans (real rough plans) and I am hoping while my dad is out for a visit he can help me conquer this project. I will get some before and after shots for everyone so you can see how it turned out.<<<<

3. Organize Desk

>>>This is for both before and after the redo. I am not a total neat freak but when I have clutter and things are unorganized I start feeling really uncreative and claustrophobic.<<<<

4. Spend more time promoting the Love Always shop

>>>This past month, since re-launching my blog, I have really focused a lot of my time and energy on promoting Love by Love Always and really creating it to be exactly what I want. It is still a work in progress but I am at a happy spot with it. I now need to shift my focus to getting my shop up and running. I need to find ways to help promote it and get the word out that we are open for business. Then I hope to have them seamlessly running together.<<<<

5. Create new summer products for the Love Always Shop

>>>>I have several ideas running through my head and sketched out. I have the material. Now all I need to do is get a move on making, testing, and creating a finished product. I have one of three done. <<<<

6. Work on getting up early and getting a good start to the day

>>>This one is really hard for me. I have a really hard time waking up early, especially when I have a baby that still wakes up in the middle of the night. I still feel so sleep deprived. But the last week or so I have managed to get up early a few mornings. I actually really enjoy it once I am up. It is very peaceful and quiet. I can enjoy my cup of coffee and I can really focus on what I need to get done. And it really does make my day a little more enjoyable knowing I got a big chunk of work done before everybody wakes up.<<<<

7. Better time management

>>>>This kind of goes hand in hand with getting up earlier. I really need to figure out how to organize my time between my children, my boyfriend, doing what I want to be doing (my shop&blog),  and my job (the one I don't want to be doing).  Somedays I feel stretched in a million different directions. I feel my shop sometimes takes a back seat and I really want to focus more of my energy on that. Finding the time to be more creative. There is a way to do it, I just need to find the balance. (I wish I could magically add a few more hours to the day).<<<<

One done and 6 to go. Check back at the end of the month and see if I got it all completed.  Do you have any goal for yourself or your business?

Love Always, BreAnne

Mad About Maxis

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I could really live in maxi dresses all year round. They are so easy to wear and super comfortable. That is a must for me, if something is not comfortable I won't wear it. Maxis are so fun to wear because they are super versatile. You can throw one with nothing else or you can dress it up with lots of accessories, rings, bracelets, long necklaces, belts, hats. You can wear them with sandals, roughed up motorcycle boots, even they look sexy barefoot. Throw on a cute jacket at night (a jean jacket is a staple for me) and you are good to go for a night out. These dresses leave me mad for maxis!!!

Love Always, BreAnne