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One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids

The holiday decorations are finally put away and my last 2018 task is to wrap up our family yearbook (more on how I organize our family photos and memories in a post soon!). I try to work on the book throughout the year and as events happen but let’s be real–that isn’t always the case. I do love flipping back through the pages and re-living all of our fun memories for the year.

One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids - The Lovely Lou Lous

In 2016, the year our daughter was born, I was scanning through the pages and selfishly realized how little I appeared in our family photographs. Now, I know exactly the reasons for this. I’ve never had the strongest body image and am absolutely more comfortable behind the lens than sucking in my belly and angling my body to look more flattering in photos. I realized though, that while the while my daughter would assume I was there because someone had to be taking the picture, those memories of us together weren’t. I want the happiness my daughter brings and our experiences together to be captured.

One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids - The Lovely Lou Lous

In 2017, I asked a close friend, who’s also a photographer, to take some photos of my daughter and I. On the surface, I had the goal of getting some images for this blog I had been planning but deeper than that, I wanted some photographs of just my daughter and I smiling, playing in the park, and enjoying each other. To date, these are some of my most very favorite images. My friend captured our bond so well and I’ll forever be grateful.

One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids - The Lovely Lou Lous

I really think this is one of the best gifts you can give your children; a collection of images of you together. Hire a professional, ask a friend/family member, or set up a tripod if you have to. I would encourage you to take these photos outside of your normal photo shoot for holiday pictures or birthday parties. If the focus isn’t about matching outfits or everyone looking the same direction, everyone is just a bit more relaxed and in it for the true purpose; to have fun.

One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids - The Lovely Lou Lous

The start of a new year is always a time to reflect on goals and aspirations and one of mine will be to make an effort and get in front of the camera lens this year.

Happy New Year.

One of the Best Gifts You Can Give Your Kids - The Lovely Lou Lous

Our Thanksgiving Recap

Nothing like a little November in December, right?  I spent the last few weeks getting the house decorated, making (and eating) the Christmas cookies, and mailing out our Christmas cards.  I’m feeling pretty content with the level of holiday accomplishment so I wanted to share how our Thanksgiving went. We’re so fortunate to have a

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Reusable Bags Make the Best Souvenirs

Sucker for satchels.  Hoarder of handbags.  Titan of totes. Call me what you will, I’ve never met a bag I didn’t like.  I’ve also never met a tote bag that I didn’t STRONGLY feel deserved a good home…with me. Maybe it’s my need to organize or my need to look like a Sherpa wherever I go.

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Magnolia Silos: The Best 15 Tips for Your Visit

The Magnolia Silos. Oh lordy. Over Christmas, I made it to the promised land. We spent Christmas with my in-laws in Austin and on our last day, my sister and brother in law graciously offered to watch our daughter and dog so my husband and I could have a day trip to the Magnolia Mecca.

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Never Lose Another Kids Sock in the Laundry

Can I get an amen from all the parents out there who do laundry and wonder WHERE. THE. HECK. DO. ALL. THE. SOCKS. GO?!? I had a hard enough time keeping adult socks paired up in this house so after I had our daughter, I figured missing baby and toddler socks would compound the problem.

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Pesto Turkey Wrap

Time is of the essence when you’re starving and have kiddos to feed and look after.  This is one of my go-to lunches that can be assembled in minutes, doesn’t require any measuring or cooking, and is on the healthier side. Bonus: You can eat it with one hand while child wrangling in the other.

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The Very Best Way to Make Cocktail Sausages

Swimming in a crockpot filled with BBQ sauce.  Wrapped in crescent roll or puff pastry. There are some pretty delicious ways to eat a cocktail sausages but my all time favorite (and the very best in my opinion) is the most plain jane way.  But you have to do it right. Pan fried cocktail sausages

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