MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS

This post is sponsored by Shane Co. 

Fine jewelry is a gift that you keep for a lifetime. That's why it makes such a great gift for special occasions like Mother's Day. I already save every piece of art my kids make, so you better believe I will be save every piece of jewelry they give me. The same goes for gifts from my husband. Fine jewelry is the ultimate symbol of telling someone they are special and worth it, and so I've partnered with Shane Co. to share with your pieces from their Mother's Day collection that communicate value and love for all moms. 

A locket is a timeless piece of jewelry that lasts generations. Being able to put photos of your loved ones inside and wear it close to your chest is beautiful. I love this silver locket because of its simplicity. You could easily wear it every day. It has one tiny diamond for some sparkle and space on the back for engraving. I wore my locket with a long crochet top and jeans, and I loved it!

ID bracelets are another timeless piece of jewelry that gets passed down generations. I particularly love Shane Co.'s design because it's adjustable for any size wrist. The tassels that hang down can be worn as the front or back of the bracelet, and the heart detail is lovely. 

You could also engrave this piece of jewelry with a special date, phrase or your kid's names if you wanted to. Personalizing jewelry with something like that makes it much more special to a mother don't you think? 

I styled my ID bracelet with a stack of three rings on my ring finger. A diamond one for Ryan, a gold and diamond ring for Elle and a gold midi ring for Levi. Ring stacks are still very popular, and for a trendier statement midi rings in particular are a great choice. 

If you love color, birthstones are an excellent way to personalize your special gift and add some personality to your collection.  Both of my babies were born in September. Their birthstones are peridots, but I don't wear green too much. So, for someone like me that is more of a color minimalist, I suggest trying blue topaz. I love this topaz tennis bracelet that is adjustable and the light blue goes with denim easily. You can dress this piece up or down. I dressed it down by adding a simple silver bangle to it.

Rings and bracelets can sometimes be a challenge to purchase when you don't know a person's wrist size. So, when in doubt, go for a necklace. This gold and diamond circle necklace is probably my favorite piece out of the whole Mother's Day collection. I have one in rose gold, but I also love this gold and diamond piece too. I wear my circle necklace every day, and I love that it symbolizes eternity. The love I have for my children is truly eternal, and this necklace is something any mom would be proud to wear daily just because of the message alone. The design is a stunner too.

And for the ultimate gesture, a beautiful cocktail ring will always make a woman swoon. Every woman needs a statement cocktail ring in their jewelry box. This would hands down be my choice. 

Be sure to visit Shane Co. for your next fine jewelry purchase. They guarantee quality and service every time, and they truly have beautiful pieces every woman would love.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

MOTHER DAUGHTER JEWELRY

Do you remember friendship bracelets? I always felt so special when I was given half of a necklace from my best friend. Well, they have mother-daughter necklaces now, and they are the perfect gift for Mother's Day. Carrie Saxl Jewelry makes beautiful necklaces and bracelets in all different shapes and metals, so I got one for Elle as a gift to us both.

When I gave it to Elle she couldn't wait to wear it. Not only did it feel special to her because it was a gift from me but because it looked like mommy's jewelry. She hasn't wanted to take it off since.

Check out Carrie's shop for other designs and styles.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; Necklaces gifted to me for promotion.

ARE YOUR EYES HEALTHY?

This post is sponsored by Visionworks. 

A few months ago, I started experiencing blurry vision. I found myself driving at nighttime unsure of myself as the bright lights of oncoming cars blinded me. During the day I was blinking more than normal to try and refocus my eyes, and by the end of the day my eyes were tired and burning. I knew I needed to get an exam, and so I partnered with Visionworks to make sure my eyes were healthy. It was very timely too because April is Women's Eye Health Month. Who knew, right?

It had been about seven years since I had my eyes examined. We didn't have vision insurance, and so I just kept telling myself I didn't need glasses that badly. I had some glasses for reading, but I barely wore them because I felt I could read just fine without them. Truthfully, I couldn't. I just ignored the signs: tired eyes, holding objects too close and blurry vision. It turns out that my right eye with perfect vision learned to compensate for my left, and that's how I was getting by. But this past year, my right eye just started getting too tired. It was time to take care of this problem.

Setting up an eye exam with Visionworks was easy as pie. I located my nearest store, called ahead and chose a time that worked with my schedule. I filled out some paper work, and right away a technician walked me through the four different eye tests. I didn't even have to dilate my eyes because they have a new machine that can see all of the way back to your eye without dilation. It was really fast and easy. After 20 minutes I was sitting with the optometrist figuring out the right prescription for my eyes. From start to finish, it only took 45 minutes to make sure I was healthy. That's the fastest doctor appointment I have ever had.

I learned so much while I was there, and I thought I would pass along some of this helpful information with you:

1. You should be getting an annual exam if you have an existing prescription. Your eyes and prescription can change every year, so it's important to make sure nothing has changed.
2. For adults that don't need glasses, they should get their eyes checked every two years.
3. Children should get their first eye exam around the age of three, and definitely before they go to school to make sure they have the best learning experience. They will need to have their eyes dilated though, so be sure to anticipate that before the exam.
4. Certain mascaras and makeup removers can cause blurry vision. Make sure you are using the best one for your eyes and pay attention to any change in vision after use.
5. The distance that you should be holding your book or computer can be found by putting your hand to your nose and sticking your elbow straight out. If you can't read well at that distance you need to get your eyes checked.
6. Your eyes change during pregnancy and you can experience dryer eyes while carrying a child. It should go away after delivery, but if it doesn't you could have Dry Eyes Syndrome.

You can check out the below graphic for more health information. I don't know about you, but I didn't realize that I wasn't doing a good job taking care of my eyes until this appointment, and I definitely am committed to doing a better job in the future.

I got my new pair of glasses after my appointment, and I LOVE them. I tried on about 30 different pairs, and these stood out among the bunch. I'm wearing them as I type this post, and I can see much better than before. If you need new glasses you can be confident in knowing that Visionworks has everything you need in one place. I highly recommend a visit!

Photography by Rennai Hoefer. 

Sleeping In Luxury

I love sleep. As a mom of littles, sleep is what I crave more than anything, and if there is something that can increase my quality of sleep my dollars won't hesitate. This should not be a surprise to anyone that has seen all that we have put into our bedroom. Haha! 

When I get ready for bed I take my time as if I'm getting ready for a date, but it's a date with the sandman. I slather on yummy smelling face creams and spray aromatherapy to ensure sweet dreams. And as far as sleepwear goes, well, up until now I just wore a t-shirt and comfy shorts, but Natori has changed all of that for me. I had no idea silk satin could feel so luxurious. 

I have a fondness for luxury goods just like anyone, but when it comes down to putting my dollars where my eyes are I'm pretty reluctant unless I'm going to get a lot of use out of it. I never considered luxury sleepwear to be one of those things, but after experiencing Natori I get why people love it so much. Slipping on these jams is like slipping on a second skin and waking up in an evening gown. Do I dare even call these pajamas? 

If you're a fan of cotton they have you covered there too. They carry the softest, prettiest cotton sets. When people talk about wanting to wear sweatpants all day they just don't know what they are missing out on because Natori is truly what you want to wear all day long. 

Check out other styles here, and tell me what your favorite is. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; This post contains affiliate links. Product was given for this post.

SPRING COMFORT

Comfort is what I seek in every expression of my personal style whether it's in fashion, home decor or beauty. To me, feeling comfortable allows me to be myself, and being authentically me is my aim. 

LILLA|P is a brand that is exudes comfort, simplicity and style, and, therefore, is a brand this is true to my style. Every piece of clothing on their site is well-made. Their collections are all about building on a foundation of quality basics, and then adding your own twist from there. 

These chambray pants had my name written all over them. I love that they are cropped because, well, everything is cropped on my legs. I don't have to worry about the length being just right. They have a drawstring for comfort, but the flat front has a zipper and structure so that you avoid the bagging waist appearance. 

Some days I wear these pants with a basic white t-shirt and other days I pair it was a breezy trapeze top like this similar one from Nordstrom Rack. I've worn cork wedges with these pants, but I typically opt for flat sandals like my trusty metallic ones with an ankle wrap (similar ones here).  If you're looking for quality basics that are comfortable and well-made look no further than LILLA P.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer; This post contains affiliate links. Product was given as compensation for this post.