NEW YEAR.

2014. Hello new friend. This year, no rules to break, no goals to fail, just a sincere desire to enjoy the good, hope through the trials and expect beauty in every circumstance. This year I want to truly live from my truest heart and soul and know love deeper and stronger. I look forward to growing older, learning from these coming 365 days, embracing seasons as they evolve and slip away into memories. 

Happy New Year.

Jess

Style.

My style has evolved with my lifestyle. I have to be able to throw it on, feel awesome and be ready to run with my rascals. For the most part, simple and billowing layers are my go to.  I don't encourage myself or others to have this as a practice, but I might have slept in the tee and leggings a time or two, then rolled out of bed after throwing on this sweater and a few rings... bam. haha. btw, I rarely wear anything but moccasins. But, these booties are THE most comfortable shoes ever. Samuel bought them for me and I have been living in them all week.

oversized tee: h&m
scarf: h&m
leggings: h&m
sweater: forever 21
boots: seychelles -anthropologie

Paper Garland DIY

I love Christmas and I love creating my own decorations, to add to the merriment and cheer of the season for my home.  Here are two super simple, paper garland DIY projects that you can use, not just for the holidays, but all year long. A strand of garland, packaged with love can also make a really sweet gift or stocking stuffer, as well.  And, it costs pennies!  I've been making them like crazy! 

I have a few other holiday DIY videos that I'll be posting this week. So, be on the lookout. ;)

~Merry Christamas sweet friends! 

Thanks to my amazing guy Samuel for creating these for me.
Music by: Amiina
(They are giving free downloads of their heavenly music counting down to christmas!)

Live to Grow

 "As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. Whenever-meaning now. Wherever-meaning here. Grace, thanksgiving, joy…a triplet of stars, a constellation in the black."
-Ann Voskamp, 1000 Gifts

The book 1000 Gifts changed my world and brought my heart back to itself, a couple of years ago. I first read it in the fall and it's become my tradition to pour over its pages once the leaves start to turn.

Starting my morning off by filling my soul with reminders of beauty and creating something lovely, almost always is a guarantee that the day will be a bit brighter and my heart all the more patient. It's like a caffeine high and motivation booster but, 100x better. So, right now I'm revisiting this book, Psalms and a beautiful collection of thoughts and verses on motherhood, to start the day. Whichever line sinks into my soul, I write it out, so I can look at it as the hours slip away.

Lately I've had lots of commissions for script tattoos and logos, which makes my heart kind of sing. I'm learning as I go about organizing a business, investing my heart and time into the following; 1) Things that make my heart happy and  2) Things that work with my current lifestyle as a mom; as well as refining my hand at this craft of modern calligraphy. As long as I can remember, I've loved old forms of calligraphy and penmanship. I'd practice for hours, every style of handwriting possible. It feels good to be putting time into this again.

There are changes coming that I'm excited about. Broadening this blog, adding new branches, ideas, hopes, dreams. Because, why not!?  This is my open space to enjoy and have a creative expression for my soul to ponder, dabble in spontaneous urges and whims, and journal my heart about the seasons. So I'm excited to grow and explore.

Samuel and I are relaunching a new film venture together as well. Talk about a dream. Creating and scheming in the name of art with this guy, my favorite. We work really well together, which to me is a gift.

Change and dreams can be so overwhelming though. And sometimes I feel like they take more than ourselves to make happen and come to life. But the journey is as enriching as it is taxing. Deadlines can get pushed out and stress might slowly become the prominent emotion driving the dream. That's when I start to get bug-eyed and things get moved to the back burner.  But, I really believe that we are alive to enjoy and be enjoyed with and by those we love and have yet to love.  Every hope and goal we have of creating is towards enjoying and loving.

Life is a short journey with endless trails, paths and roads to explore, in love and hope. Where small hope can turn into a world of endless love, living over and over and over again in the eyes of your family and people that you've shared moments with, small or great.  I want my boys to see Samuel and I doing things that we love, and always in a place of dreaming and conspiring for simple or extravagant adventure; whether that's climbing the neighborhood oak tree or scaling a mountain in South America. My heart's motto has been "why not!? why the heck not?!" *insert smirk here* Yay for living.

I'm glad I'm alive to love and to live.

Jess

P.S.
If you have questions about my calligraphy shenanigans just drop me an email. bohobabybump@gmail.com

American Blogger

This week, we had quite the adventure as we welcomed film maker, Chris Wiegand into our home. If you haven't already heard, Chris is filming an incredible documentary-movie called,  "American Blogger." Over the next 2 months, he is traveling coast to coast in his vintage air stream (that he renovated himself) filming and capturing the hearts and lives of bloggers all across the nation. This is going to be an amazing piece of work when he's finished!

When I got an email from Chris' sweet wife, Casey, who is a phenomenal, straight from the heart blogger and friend, asking me to be a part of this journey, I was so excited! Seriously. It was such a great and fantastic experience just for our family to connect with Chris' heart and vision. You guys, I want to be neighbors with the Wiegands. So much kindness, sincerity and beauty comes from this family.  Casey...keep scheming and brainstorming. ;)

Chris arrived Tuesday evening, after driving straight  from Palm Beach, Florida. He filmed our nightly routine as we ate dinner and put the boys to bed. Wait, do we even have a routine? ;) Then after the boys were fast asleep, he and Samuel talked shop about gear, film and the movie  industry. After that, we headed into the city to hang out with my girl friends. Chris wanted to get as much variety of my normal flow of life as he could, seeing he that was leaving the next morning. So, out to girls night it was.

Any of you who follow along my journey here or on instagram, know how dear and vital my friends are to my heart. It worked out so perfectly, that at the last minute, everyone was able to get together and Chris was able to catch it all on film. We all met up near uptown and walked to a roof top restaurant where we laughed and caught up on our lives. Chris followed along, filming and interviewing me at various times, asking me all kinds of questions about blogging, my family, and the important role my friends play in my life. It was great!

The next morning, before he had to head out to his next stop, a few hours away, there were more interviews and more filming.  Then, Samuel and I also got to take Chris to our favorite coffee stop, Not Just Coffee. Then, right before Chris pulled out of our driveway, he invited us to take a look inside the "American Blogger" Air Stream camper. It was SO AMAZING!  It literally looked like a little Ikea apartment. So cool.  Kael was kind of obsessed with it calling it a robot truck. Wait, what am I saying... I was obsessed with it! ha! I think I join in with the voices of everyone who's seen this fabulous little silver darling when I say that I WANT ONE! Ah! 

This was such an awesome and fun experience.  It was fun showing off our Queen City and sharing a peek into our life with Chris. But, more than anything, it was a delight to have our families connect, hear his heart and vision for this movie and to be a part of the adventure of it all.

American Blogger will be available for purchase on iTunes when it is completed. I will post updates here as it get closer to the launching of it as well. Follow Chris' journey this summer on his instagram, ChrisWiegand #americanblogger. You can also keep up to date on what's happening and where he is in his travels on his wife's blog "Casey Leigh."

Thanks for giving us the joy and opportunity of contributing Chris and Casey! Love you guys!

Jess, Sam and the boys

Food Truck Friday

Food Truck Friday is one of my favorite culinary and city loves about Charlotte. Every Friday, there is a buzz of life in the air, as masses of people come out to try delicious plates from half a dozen or so, AMAZING food trucks at South End. The experience is half of the deal. When else would you wait 45 minutes in line just to get a small plate of fish tacos or a black bean burger? But, to me...it's worth it! There are always friends, familiar faces and sweet puppies to be enjoyed.  I LOVE the loud chaos, the buzz of all the people there and the laughs that fill up the space in the background.

This past Food Truck Friday, a group of my best friends and I met up together to share a bit of picnic blanket in the shade. The sweet and savory smells of everything from tacos to crepes tempted our taste buds. We welcomed in the first day of summer with warm sun, the goodness of true friendship and the sounds of our wild children playing and running everywhere. Their sweet laughs reminded me that in every time of happiness or disappointment, present or up-coming, there is always a simple joy to be found and held onto. Hello Summer darling, I'm glad you're here.

-Jess

My beautiful friends, Anna, Jessie, Lauren and Lorean.

It's My Favorite

"It's My Favorite" 

 2. 

a new mini series of sweet moments and favorite things

The more I allow my heart to realize it's loved, the more I desire to love, and when I love, my heart feels complete and whole. Every emotion that competes with that love starts to become weakened inside of me and more of a memory than a close companion. I'm never happier and more at rest inside of myself than when I lean into that place. For me, to accept love is to be vulnerable, weak and brave. To give love, is to be vulnerable, weak and brave. That's beauty, this is what grace is to me.  My prayer is that I live in this place of weakness and bravery to let love flood in, pouring into the hearts of every living soul around me.  Loving is my favorite. 

Spilled Milk

It is such a treat and joy to be a contributor on this new photography project. 18 moms from around the world, all of us finding together, each week, the beauty and craziness that comes with parenthood. I love looking for my interpretation of each week's theme from simple moments in my home alongside these amazing moms and artists. When you visit the project you can see our first week was "warmth" and this current week is "meal." Looking forward to the many weeks ahead. 

Follow along with us at  Spilled Milk 

Jess

It's My Favorite

"It's My Favorite" 

 1. 

a new mini series of sweet moments 

Holding hands with Kael is my favorite. He will get a burst of energy and run ahead. In his mind's eye, he's chasing a tiger or flying like Buzz Lightyear. But then, he will  stop in his tracks and reach out with a huge grin on his face (his grin slays me)  and asks to hold my hand. It never gets old. All of a sudden, time slows down and I can feel every part of myself soaking up the precious feelings of trust and tenderness. Watching my 2.5 year old toddler turn into a little boy has been the most amazing chapter of life that Samuel and I have experienced, so far. Last night, Samuel walked into the kitchen with tears in his eyes, after tucking in our  little Forest friend and said, "Gosh I love our sons, Jess... Kael, he's just so sweet." More tears well up in his eyes, with a smile that leaves my heart in a puddle. Those are the moments I live for. There are days of whining, frustration and tears, of course. But, I am overwhelmed with tidal waves of love and awe, as I watch this boy of ours lavish sweetness and the most sincere affection on our hearts.

 Kael, you can hold my hand forever.

Jess

Coconut Oil

I love coconut oil!  I use it for lip balm, lotion, cooking and several other things! It's pretty much amazing. It's anti-inflamatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and helps you to absorb more nutrients from your food. You can use it for moisturizer and even deodorant.   Kael thinks it's pretty awesome, too.  He wanted to put some on his lips yesterday, so I let him. Then, I just watched as he continued to rub it all in his hair and eat finger scoops of it. He must have been listening to me earlier when I was telling Sam how good it is for curly hair...haha.  I figured the mess would be minimal and he was having fun experimenting with the texture. Needless to say,  Kael smells like a tropical beach boy. =)

Have you ever used coconut oil? Here is an amazing link that tells you over 100 different uses for it! CLICK HERE  Do you have a favorite recipe or usage for it? I'd love to hear! 

Heart Thoughts on Motherhood

It's hitting me. The reality that this new, small soul is mine. Around 5 am, as Cedar finished up his early morning and very sleepy feeding, I couldn't put him down. My body longed for those extra 2 hours of sleep that I knew it would get if I laid him back in his co-sleeper. But, my eyes couldn't leave his face and my arms wouldn't let go. I sat there for almost an hour, staring at him and his dreaming smiles. I put my face to his cheek, as his tiny breaths kissed my cheek thinking, "is this love even for real?"

Now, when I nurse Cedar, he'll stop for a moment, look at me and smile. I can't help but soak up these moments. Every morning, without fail, his expressions are full of wonder. It's as if he realizes how long he has been asleep and he can't wait to have open eyes again, discovering exciting things like the ceiling fan and his brother zooming toys in front of his face. haha. He wants to stand up constantly, bobbing his head around trying to look ever which way. Ah! I've probably kissed him over a thousand times since he's been born, I can't help it. I've stood in front of my old, gold mirror, countless times as I've held him,  just so I could stare at his dreamy face, all smooshed up against my chest. These are days that I've been dreaming of for years. Sometimes, I have to stand back and acknowledge the moment before is passes by.

Samuel said this to me after we got engaged, "Let's promise each other that no matter what, we won't lose the wonder that we have for each other." That has been a pillar in my heart and it's taken weight into my momma heart as well. In the moments, when one child is whining and the other crying, where a shower is my only form of alone time and a greek yogurt in a nursing bra and yoga pants is my only real meal of the day...not to lose the wonder of my boys and wonder of being their safe place.

In weeks like this, when I've had bright days and cloudy ones, my heart is gripped with this truth, motherhood is a sacred and beautiful gift. It's a messy one, a painful one, it's tiring and beyond beautiful...it breaks your heart and then heals it. It has made me more alive to love and the beauty of vulnerability. I'm saying that in the "infant" stages, if you will, of my journey as a momma, knowing that I've barely skimmed the surface of what being a mom truly means. There are millions of moments that my heart has yet to experience, laughs it hasn't seen, tears it hasn't cried and wisdom it's waiting to learn.

I love being a momma.

Fall, Let's Be Friends

I'm sitting here on my back porch, while both of my kids are napping. Did I just say that? Somebody wake me up.

It's quiet and there are leaves all over the place. I swept the deck 2 days ago, but you'd never know it. My neighbor is practicing her violin with the windows open. I kinda feel like I'm in a scene from a movie and she is providing the background music for my thoughts. ha. Since Cedar has started sleeping through the night for almost 2 weeks now, I've had room in my brain and heart to think outside of feedings, diapers and entertaining my sweet 2 year old. It feels good. I have moments like I'm having now, on my porch swing, where I can just be and think.  This time last year, I was on this deck a lot, reading and smiling, playing with Kael and soaking up the tiny wonders of a Carolina back yard in Fall time. I also spent hours crying out here. I was reading that book, "One Thousand Gifts" and having my world rocked by beauty and simple love. I had no idea that I was about to experience the most severe form of heart break  that I had ever known ; then a bit later, the sweetest of gifts. It's surreal to sit here in the same spot, looking at the same trees, thinking thoughts on the other side of last year. Life is too short to be spent asking why all the time. Sometimes, that question can consume me to the point of stealing the goodness that is still embracing me.

(I wish I could interject the heavenly music that is filling my street right now. Seriously, the perks of living next door to a concert violinist who loves to practice with her windows open.)

Here I am, a year older and I hope, wiser. Wiser in love and a son richer.

A part of me has been worried about these coming weeks. In the back of my mind, I have been a bit worried that I might sink back into a hole of sadness, where everything is run through the filter of cynicalness. I've been surprised. I've leaned more into hope than I thought I could. I sat here with Cedar before he fell asleep and had a moment that I wish I could freeze forever. A moment where I realized a miracle has happened in my heart. A sweet, new life with a personality that I'm just discovering is in my arms. Did I see this beautiful moment in my future a year ago? No. But it was just the same. I'm giving myself grace and not holding myself to a standard of emotional perfection these next couple of months. But, as I walk into this fall and holiday season, I'm not afraid. I'm peaceful and expectant.

Hey crunchy leaves and pumpkin lattes, cold brisk air and fire pit get togethers, I'm not scared of you or what you brought me last year. Let's make new, happy memories with my 3 handsome boys this year shall we?

He makes all things beautiful in His time.

37 Weeks

My favorite mini man in: gap jeans I found on sale for $10, gap sandals and an H&M tiger shirt hand-me-down

Sam snapped a couple of quick pictures of my bump bod while we were at the park. Park day clothes : $6 black jersey mini skirt from forever 21, a knit vest my mom got me years ago,  grey shirt/dress from wet seal I found 4 years ago, leather sandals from one of my trips to Israel. 

So, 3-5 weeks left until I hold our new little sunshine. This pregnancy has been pretty easy and it hasn't been until the last few weeks that I've started to feel the "I'm over being pregnant" feeling. For the most part, I like being pregnant. (Minus the throwing up and the aches.)  Chasing around, and enjoying all the new stages of a toddler have made it a bit more taxing on my energy levels, to say the least. I was talking to my midwife about how my workout routine has been next to zilch. Other than a walk in the park here and there, a handful of squats and my vitamin smoothies, workout life has missed me. With Kael, I biked 10 miles several times a week well into my 3rd trimester, did weight training and walked my butt off. Not this go 'round. But, when I break my days down, I conclude that I get an all over body workout pretty much everyday. Cleaning, picking up, playing with and chasing after my little man gives me the calorie burn I need. haha.

This pregnancy has zoomed by, seriously. It's been like a blink. It's just really hit me in the past week or so that we are actually going to have another little personality in the house. Getting so distracted by daily life, I think I've just become used to being pregnant and forgotten what the end of pregnancy means. BABY TIME! :) Sam and I are ready for a newborn to be in the house again. I'm so looking forward to it. Aaaaaaand, at this point, I'm ready to stop waddling. ;)

Here are a handful of differences comparing this pregnancy with Kael's:

* I'm 20 pounds lighter than I was with Forest Kael.

* I'm tanner (thank you mr. pool).

* I'm way less stressed.

* No new stretch marks (The old ones are still there but barely visible, again thank you to mr. sun.).

* A bit more tired (Ok, a lot more tired now. haha).

* No swelling whatsoever this time!

* Way less junk food. (Only 2 milkshakes compared to literally countless with Kael.).

* Naming this little munchkin has been taking quite a bit longer, but I think we've almost narrowed it down.

* I pee way less with this pregnancy, but am drinking more water? Who knows...

* My tummy is carrying this little boy lower and tighter.

* I'm way more sleepy (second time mom syndrome).

I kinda have a feeling that I might go late with this little tug boat, but we'll see. I'm happy either way. I know what it's like to be late so I'm not freaking out. It might be kinda nice to have the extra time to get the last loose ends around the house all organized and just so. But, then again, I'd really like to get this baby in my arms asap and say cheers to the end of a race and to one heck of a party to celebrate! (Lauren, I'm thinking the champagne is a dang perfect idea.) ;)


A little bit of recent happenings, I've been doing serious bulk production of my Charlie & Nell dollies and getting ready to add a ton of stock to my store! More updates on that very soon!