Just Awesome Monday | Happy Mothers Day!

5.13.13

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and Ashley and I were in Annapolis shooting an AMAZING engagement session which will be on the blog this Thursday!!!  We just wanted to dedicate today’s Just Awesome post to our mommies, because without them we would not be here!  My mom is one of the most hard-working, loyal, and just downright awesome people I’ve ever known, and I am so thankful to have a mom like her.  She sacrificed SO much for my brother and me, and if I even turn out to be half the woman that she is then I will be very happy.  She loves me unconditionally, and I know that no matter what I do in life she will always have my back and be there for me.  She has shaped the person I am today, and I could not have asked for a better person to look up to!  I love you mommy!!!  -J

 

 

Being an only child, it’s easy for people to say “Oh, you must have been so spoiled!” or assume that because I was an only child that I had everything handed to me and never had to learn the value of hard work. Yes, I am an only child, and yes, my parents didn’t have any other kids to spend money on (you may call it spoiled I call it luckkkyyyyy hahaha!), but everything else couldn’t be further from the truth. My mom has taught me how to DREAM. How to dream and fight for it and that when you have a dream, you have to do everything within your power to chase it down and make it a reality. And that it’s okay, when that dream isn’t quite realized in the way you expected, to have sorrow but to be PROUD and happy of what you did achieve. She taught me the value of hard work, and the value of being a kind person. My mother has the kindest, most gentle heart of anyone I know and she inspires me in that way. To be more thoughtful, to be more giving, to look at every opportunity as a way to serve and help someone else. I am SO PROUD of my mom for the woman that she is, and I’m so thankful for the values she has instilled in me that are shaping the woman I am becoming. I love you SO MUCH momma, you are my hero! Happy Momma’s Day! xoxo! – A

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May 13, 2013 - 5:18 pm

Ashley Goodwin - What CUTE BABIES we both were! Jen, you look just like your mom!

Styled Session | The J.Crew Polka Dot Skirt + Pattern Mixing

5.10.13

Yay! One of my favorite Styled Sessions ever! As soon as I saw this skirt online I knew I had to have it. It’s so cute, so versatile and I’m excited to see how many ways I can wear it. One of the first ways I knew I wanted tow wear it was mixing it with another pattern. The key here is since the patterns are in the same color palette, it looks pretty seamless and doesn’t clash. Keeping the accessories neutral sans for the statement necklace and a fun red lip keeps the whole look pulled together while still having a little edge. To keep the look from looking TOO monochromatic, I threw on my favorite mustard yellow cardigan to balance everything out.

I’m super excited to also wear this with a white tee, cute flats and a fun colored bag too! And once falls rolls back around, it’s the perfect length to wear with boots and tights! This is one of those great investment pieces that will never go out of style.

 

Skirt, J.Crew. Tank, Forever 21. Cardigan, Ann Taylor Loft. Wedges, Target. Necklace, J.Crew. Bracelet, J.Crew. Clutch, Target. Earrings, Kate Spade. Belt, Forever 21 (off a different dress). Nails, OPI “Russian Navy”. Lips, Revlon.

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May 14, 2013 - 6:09 pm

ashley goodwin - What a great vibe, love the speak easy! And that veil style hair piece is too perfect!

May 10, 2013 - 9:11 pm

Christy Tyler - I say that beer goes mighty well with that outfit! ;) But then again I say beer goes mighty well with most outfits… ;)

May 10, 2013 - 9:08 pm

Angela Snyder - Love the one on the right of the second to last set.. the body language is just adorable!

May 10, 2013 - 6:24 pm

Dani - Totally agree with Brittany! Love the Summer Shandy addition. 3rd to last is my fav!! :-)

May 10, 2013 - 2:58 pm

Brittany - summer shandy is always the best accessory :)

May 10, 2013 - 2:12 pm

Katrina - So cute! Love the colors and the pop of red lip stick!

May 10, 2013 - 12:59 pm

Brea - You seriously have the best style. I need to just give you money and have you go shopping for me. So cute.

Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast

5.9.13

I’ve struggled a lot with how to write this post. How to start it, the direction it would go…or more accurately the direction I feel like it SHOULD go. The direction where it gets inspiring and moves someone to leave a nice comment or give me a virtual high-five. Because that’s what we all want right? To inspire, to help, to motivate, to encourage….I know I want these things. And I truly do. I have found so much happiness in inspiring and helping others, I work very hard to leave behind something that not only I can be proud of, but that somewhere along the line, helped lift someone else up too.

But here’s the thing. It’s really, really easy to write from that place. To write from the place with that thought in the back of your mind. How can I make this inspiring? How can I take whatever it is I have to say today, and make it so that it can help and serve others?

What’s harder? Telling it like it is. So this my friends, is my “Sorry I’m not sorry” post. And in a weird twist of events, I truly DO hope it helps someone else. I hope it helps someone feel more normal, more REAL. Or maybe I am the only person on earth who does these things or feels this way…then I say, Lord help me!!! – A

Sorry I’m not sorry that sometimes I stay in my pajamas…all.day.

Sorry I’m not sorry that my “office” is my bed at least two days a week.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I take engagement sessions on weekends, even when everyone else tells me not to.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I am not a morning person and usually wake up and get into the groove around 9:45am.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I love beer. And I love wine. Okay I just love drinks.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I email at 9:30 at night…and sometimes on weekends. GASP! I LIKE doing it, so there.

Sorry I’m not sorry that my bed doesn’t get made every day…and my closet looks like a small child threw a temper tantrum in it. (Wait, maybe that was me…)

Sorry I’m not sorry that I take three hours off in the middle of the week for a beach day with friends. This is WHY I wanted my own business.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I have a lot of people hidden from my Facebook news feed. I love you people, but the comparison monster doesn’t look good on me. I’d rather just not know and love you all the same.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I edit on a laptop. Can anyone tell? No? Great, carry on then.

Sorry I’m not sorry that I brag about our couples all the time. They’re amazing.

Sorry I’m not sorry that sometimes, our pricing changes. Anyone who tells you they never bend their pricing is a liar.

Finally, sorry I’m not sorry that I am absolutely, 100% impatient when it comes to my life and my business. I’ve tried very hard to not be that person, but I am realizing more and more just how grateful I am that I AM. My impatience means that I own my own business, that it continues to grow and thrive, that I have an amazing life, and that I am never, ever bored, complacent, or content with being ordinary. Patience gets us nowhere fast.

 

 

*The line “Patience Gets Us Nowhere Fast” is from a song by one of my favorite bands right now, Capital Cities….check it out HERE!

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May 9, 2013 - 6:37 pm

Priscilla - Keep up the good impatient work! There will be plenty of time for patience when you are older and have accomplished what you want in life.

May 9, 2013 - 6:27 pm

Amanda - Okay, love this post! Sorry I’m not sorry that I agree with pretty much every single one of these! ;)

May 9, 2013 - 5:54 pm

Tiffany Farley - This is my favorite post ever.

May 9, 2013 - 12:08 pm

Janelle C. - I love this post!!! Especially your mention on the closet and drinks!! I am right there with you!! :)
Oh and sending emails late at night and on weekends – yup! I do that too. :)

May 9, 2013 - 10:25 am

Katie Yuen - welp I LOVE this, especially that you “just love drinks in general” haha so cute!

May 9, 2013 - 10:16 am

Melis - LOVE this. I too am working on being CONTENT – and not searching for “the next great thing”

Also, I do most of the things listed above as well…. you’re not alone!

May 9, 2013 - 10:12 am

Brea - I love this post!

May 9, 2013 - 10:07 am

Lauren Wakefield - This post is amazing. And I’m pretty sure I said an audible amen to about 90% of those. I miss you guys so much and just love you. That is all. :)

May 9, 2013 - 10:02 am

Emilia Jane - Love you.