The Little Black Dress Saves Our Anniversary Date Night

     On August 23rd, we celebrated our 18th year wedding anniversary which fell on a week day, so the prior weekend we went out to celebrate on a rare date night. Since I haven't started to shop for maternity clothes, I was scurrying around my closet looking for something to wear when my eyes landed on this outfit which many thought was a black dress, but it is actually a blouse and skirt. It worked perfectly because the fabric of the skirt and top had some stretch so they could fit my ever expanding body.

     The positive feedback I received had me thinking how one can rarely go wrong with the lbd. In my very pregnant state, if there is some stretch to the fabric, then even if it is not maternity wear I can still wear it(well up to a certain point in pregnancy).  In today's post, I've rounded up a couple little black dresses that caught my eye and that I think are perfect for date night.

Nordstrom 

Nordstrom 

 Nordstrom

 asos

Shopbop

Asos Maternity

With the labor day sales going on, this weekend is the perfect time to score a little black dress at a great price! xx

image of me by photographer,  Lea Hartman

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I Spent the Day In a Wedding Dress...

It's our wedding anniversary month(next week to be exact) and since I didn't wear a traditional wedding dress on our wedding day because it wasn't in our budget- (in fact our wedding day was free of all the bells and whistles but most definitely brimming with love), I wanted to experience the feeling. I set out on operation wear a traditional wedding dress for our vow renewal last year. I thrifted a beautiful Alfred Sung wedding dress and everything, only to read that it was not proper etiquette to don a wedding dress at a vow renewal because it's not a wedding! Well, usually I am a rebel and break rules, but I decided to play it safe since our vow renewal would also be published in print in the local paper. 

 Well fast forward to today, a year later, still very determined to wear a wedding dress,  I added a second wedding dress to my closet. Now operation wear a wedding dress became operation wear these two wedding dresses-ALL. DAY.  I shared my crazy idea with my friend and  amazing photographer; Lea Hartman  (photographer for the entire shebang)who did not judge me for wanting to don a wedding dress all day. I also found a lovely and talented makeup artist, Brittany Taylor who had me looking pretty going about my day at home in my wedding dresses. Styling and hair by me...

A day well spent for sure and mission accomplished! xx

images: Lea Hartman

Our Tropical Backyard Vow Renewal: 16 years

        A few weeks ago, we renewed our wedding vows right in our backyard accompanied by some of our family members. Next week, on August 23rd, we will officially celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary. Can you believe that?  Our renewal was extremely special to us because when we first got married, we only had a Justice of the Peace and so many of our loved ones were not present, including my Mother who was still living in Jamaica at the time.  
        If you're a long time reader, then you know the hubby is almost always away and has missed numerous anniversaries and milestones because of his work. Now he has been home for a bit and it seemed like the perfect time to celebrate our love to include our two boys, our dog, and our lovely family members by renewing our vows. This is probably going to be the longest post I've posted, so you've been warned, but it's worth it. You can read HERE to learn more about our love story or to refresh your memory. 

i made my first flower crown

symbols of love everywhere

So Zion opted for no shoes and I didn't object and

 Ian wasn't in the mood to do much walking...

My Mama!

she is like a 2nd Mama to me!

me with my brothers and mama and dada

everyone; what a beautiful sight!

Chow time!

Jamaican rum cake

favors(spice jars)

i could just gobble him up. love him so!

I was a sobbing mess and for good reason. Love was undoubtedly in the air and having our family here to celebrate with us made it extra special. Big thank you to Carly of C. Jakubowski Photography for capturing this special occasion. Styling by me. I completed a few diy projects for this event, but will save the details for another post. xx

images: C. Jakubowski Photography

ON Love

Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good.

Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth.

It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all

bitterness sweet and acceptable.

Nothing is sweeter than love,

Nothing stronger,

Nothing higher,

Nothing wider,

Nothing more pleasant,

Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.

Love flies, runs and leaps for joy.

It is free and unrestrained.

Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds.

Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil,

attempts things beyond its strength.

Love sees nothing as impossible,

for it feels able to achieve all things.

It is strange and effective,

while those who lack love faint and fail.

Love is not fickle and sentimental,

nor is it intent on vanities.

Like a living flame and a burning torch,

it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.

Thomas à Kempis (1379-1471)