(Lov) // A not so little secret...

(Lov) // Lydia's "Tea-f" Party

On Tuesday afternoon I thought it high time that Lydia experience her first real Tea Party!  When she was just about 6 months old, her Essie bought her this lovely porcelain tea set during a trip to Fredericksburg that we made while she and Brendan's Father were visiting us in Austin. It has sat high upon a shelf waiting for Lydia to grow old enough to partake in this little girl ritual.  

If there is anything that Lydia loves... it's a party. I asked her if she wanted to have a tea party and she said "Teaf Party? Let's do it!" I told her she needed to pick 3 friends to invite to her party and she immediately gathered Big-Eyed Kitty (favorite), Bear (protector and confidant) and Rudolph (newest). She carefully chose where everyone would sit and then watched as I unpacked all the elements.  "Oh Mama, SO pretty! Uh oh! Only two cups. What do Mama?" I showed her how we could use the sugar and cream holders as cups for Kitty and Bear. "Oh yes Mama, Bear needs a BIG cup."  

She loved pouring the tea and we had a few spills. Usually she is quite the clean freak and would have demanded that we "clean up" right away... but she was having so much fun she just asked for a towel to keep in her lap. The party was in full swing when Daddy came home. When she saw him, she immediately kicked Rudolph to the curb and asked if he would join. Cuteset thing I ever did see. 


(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // What a Doll!

Taking Lydia to the Pumpkin Patch each October at the church where my Mother works has become an Vlass family tradition! Last year, she was a cute little Lady Bug. This year, she's got quite a thing for dolls so I thought a Rag Doll would be perfect! She has been "bursting at the seams" to put this costume on since it arrived in the mail a few weeks ago and has pointed to it EVERY morning and squealed "Halloween!" with great delight. So let's just say that today... she was one HAPPY little girl. 

For those who have asked about my skirt, you can find it here. 

Happy Halloween! 

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // Rainy Day Fun

1//Lunch at Frank  2//Hot dogs and fries  3//Daddy Horse  4//The Austin Children's Museum  5//Train  

6// Bridge  7//Little Chef  8//Elsie and Brendan  9//Playing the Pipes  10//A blur of kids  11//Build an arch  12//Happy Mama

(Lov) // LIFE goes on...

On Monday night it became obvious that we had lost our baby at what would have been 11 weeks. Last night the process was completed along with tears, hugs, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. We are grateful that God is in control. We are grateful that we have each other. We are grateful that God has given us a little smiling and dancing miracle that is our beautiful daughter. With all of the things that can go wrong, it really is a miracle when a health baby comes into this world... and not only lives but grows and thrives in a place where death is always looming.    

I looked at Lydia with new eyes on Tuesday. "Mama sad?"  she said when she found me crying in the bathroom. "Yes baby, Mama is sad. But it's ok to be sad sometimes. Mommy and Daddy lost something that we loved, but we are so happy that we have you... we love you so very much."  "Oh Mama. Baby loves you SO much." She wanted to be by my side all day... constantly checking on me, giving me extra hugs, kisses, and snuggles as I waited for it to all be over. I don't think words can express or contain how much I love my daughter. If anything, this experience has helped me love and appreciate her in a new and profound way... which I didn't think was possible.

It is a sad day... but alas, LIFE does go on. Even this "little life that never was" will go on...returning back to the light from which it came. And even in my sadness, I KNOW that God's grace and provision are perfect. I have felt a peace and strength about what was happening from the very beginning... a comfort that can only come from "the God of ALL comfort". I trust His ways... I trust His timing... and I trust that His love will never leave me.

Do me a favor would you? Hug your children a little tighter today and remember that their life truly is a miracle... and thank the Lord for letting you hold one in your arms.

Thank you for your love, support, and prayers. We appreciate it so very, very much.

(Lov)e,

-k.  

(Lov) // It is well...

source

It has taken me a bit longer this time to fully wrap my head around the fact that I am pregnant. Brendan and I had given ourselves this summer as a deadline for conception and I was honestly feeling like it wasn't going to happen. I was perfectly content envisioning our little threesome going about our lives together and was fairly indifferent about having another child. I knew Brendan wanted one... so I was willing to try. Since I was not expecting this, it has caused me (a women who is always thinking about the future) to pause and fully experience the present. I've had to swiftly make some lifestyle changes, ditch some not-so-good habits that I let creep back in after Lydia was born, and face the new found "I'm so tired I can hardly think" first trimester exhaustion with a very energetic toddler. And yet, after some time to process this wonderful news, I can now truly say... it is well with my soul.  

I've been thinking about this post from a few weeks ago in which I put forth my intentions on beginning two new series.  In light of my being newly pregnant, I can tell you it's just not meant to be. I still plan on making posts to my "The Grace Life" series, but it will not be weekly and I'm scratching the "Do Unto Myself" series altogether because I just don't have the energy. This blog is supposed to be a fun and creative outlet for me...and I just can't bare the thought of it becoming an obligation that weighs on my mind at the end of the day. Lord knows, I have enough swimming around in my head each night as it lays upon my pillow. Good things mostly... precious, tiny, life changing things. 

Lydia has been going to sleep much more quickly since we began a nightly ritual of reading "Charlotte's Web", my favorite book from when I was wee one. It only takes about one chapter, read in a soft and quiet tone, before she's sound asleep. I'm going to take advantage of this and get some much needed rest myself.  

Side note ~ My friend James over at bleubirdvintage is getting ready to bring her 4th sweet soul into the world! Please send her and her family lovely thoughts and prayers for a smooth and successful home-birthing experience. 

Good night all and may you have the sweetest of dreams.     

(Lov)e,

-k.  

(Lov) // Oh Baby!

We are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our second child! I believe I am just about 7 weeks along... which makes baby about the size of a small blueberry. It's a sweet surprise and we are absolutely over the moon (although it took me about a day to recover from the shock). While I was trying to take this picture, Lydia came over and grabbed the blueberry to shove into her mouth. I yelled, "NO, that berry is supposed to be your brother or sister!" She then looked at the berry, kissed it, and gently handed it back to me. She's going to make such a great big sister. It is still early, so your prayers for a smooth and healthy first trimester are greatly appreciated! Praise God...for He and his timing are so very, very good!

(Lov)e, 

-k.

(Lov) // Focus.

I'm not exactly sure where all this inspiration is coming from lately, be it travel, growing in my understanding of God and His word, or just the momentum of participating in life, but I'm simply a blaze with ideas and find that I have a genuine desire to make them happen. A huge part of this inspiration has been squarely focused on this blog. I have often found myself asking....why do I have it? What have I learned over the last year after stepping into this strange and wonderful world? What do I want to contribute to it that is unique and needed in this community and how can I help mold what it is to become?  

I am not here to imitate the successful so that, I myself can find success. I do not care about popularity, but rather I care that the few people who do read my blog will be changed and moved by the quality of my content. I want to teach, and share, and document my life for my daughter. I want to be honest and brave and not fear how my words will fall on the person who reads them; knowing that I am only truly accountable to God for what I speak and write. I need a place to focus my thoughts, feelings and imaginations so that I can take them captive and hold them up to the truth.  I want to get vulnerable. I want to do what scares me most. I want to inspire others to do the same.

As you know, be.lov.ed is already broken down into three categories:

-(Be)auty // beautiful people, places, or things:: the "art" of beauty :: the beauty industry

-(Lov)e // all things lovely, lovable, and loving.

-(Ed)ification // anything that encourages intellectual or spiritual understanding

I have had an overwhelming amount of "love" entries this year, as they tend to be about my family, while "beauty" and "edification" have been sorely neglected. As in life, the love just comes a little more naturally and I need a bit more structure to bring about the beauty and edification. Go figure. So, starting this fall, I am committing to doing a new weekly series in both theses categories! That means I will be posting at least two posts a week! 

The "beauty" series will be called --Do Unto Myself-- where I will perform ALL of the services that I offer to my clients...on myself...and documenting the entire process! From waxing my upper lip to redesigning my blog...I plan on giving myself the full treatment! Not only does this make for good "blog fodder" but my hope is that this series will give YOU, the reader/my clients, useful information and an insiders look into how I navigate the world of beauty and design. For me, it will no doubt offer deeper insight as to how I can better myself as stylist and improve services. PLUS, it will obviously help me maintain a bit of self care when I most often just stick to the basics. I'm very excited to step forward and share myself and my work with you a bit more (a BIG step for me--- more on that latter)! 

The "edification" series will be called --The Grace Life-- a teaching series about biblical living in the age of grace with a focus on marriage, parenting, and family. These will not be your typical "Christian" blog posts. With this series, my goal is to simultaneously share with you what it is that I have come to understand and believe through studying the Bible and how I am living out those beliefs in my day to day life. I plan on getting very frank, real, and will no doubt invite some critics. So be it. It could also open up a healthy discussion! My darling and wise husband Brendan will be guest posting in this series from time to time. He and I have allot of "collaboration" in our future and I am so pleased to welcome him here!

I am grateful to be moving forward in this realm with more focus.  I am also very grateful for those who take the time to move with me. Thank you for reading. 

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // OREGON

Our family trip to Oregon was truly one of the best vacations I've ever had.  Going to a place I had never been, to a place so very different from where we live, was exactly what we all needed.  Texas is a pretty awful place during the month of August, and it was such a wonderful treat to be able to leave the heat and allergies behind for a week.  It was a time filled with much laughter, walks on the beach, exploring little towns, and a chance to reconnect with family and friends we don't get to see often enough. I took SO many pictures and thought about trying to blog them all...but decided rather to upload them into an album on my Facebook page.  If you would like to see all the fun we had...stop on by and take a look! My mind has been  a buzz with new ideas and inspiration for my blog since returning home.  I'll be back a bit later to tell you about what all I have planned for be.lov.ed... I'm super excited!  I hope you had a lovely summer too!  Fall is  just around the corner.... woo hoo!

(Lov)e,

-k.

P.S.  I'd like to give a HUGE thank you to @leslielauth for making trip this possible.  WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

(Lov) // MARFA, TX (Dirty Projectors)

The main reason we took this trip out to Marfa, other than my long held desire to visit West Texas, was to see the Dirty Projectors at the Crowley Theater.  It's not very often you get to see a band of this magnitude in a teeny tiny little venue that seats about 170 people.  To give you some perspective, they played a sold out show a few days later in Austin at one of it's largest venues (Stubbs).  

We got there pretty early (there's just not a whole lot to do in Marfa) and chatted up some of the people also waiting for the show.  El Paso, Dallas, Houston... most were BIG fans who had come for all over Texas.  The opening band was Wye Oak  who, despite some technical problems and obvious touring fatigue, did not disappoint.  I chose not to post those pictures as most of them were of a blurry drummer (he moves CONSTANTLY and plays the drums, keyboard, and sometimes guitar at the SAME time and a I don't use flash at shows) and a grump faced lead singer who pretty much looked like this (below) the entire time.  Nevertheless, they put on a fantastic show.

       

Over the last year, the Dirty Projectors has quickly become on of my favorite bands.  There music is complicated, multi-layered, effects laden rock with some of the most amazing vocal harmonies you will ever hear.  We had incredible seats (second row center) and the sound was perfectly mixed.  The vocals bouncing off all of the wonderful wood in the theater coupled with drama of the lights and shadows gave me goose bump multiple times. Brendan and I both agreed that this was the best show ever- true musical perfection.  

This young fellow was just a few people down from us and I don't think he would mind being called a "super fan".  He was having a true religious experience - so familiar with there songs that he was able to determine which effects were being left out of the live performance and added them by either clapping of singing.  Normally this would have annoyed me to no end, but it actually added to the experience.

After the show, I was hanging out in the merch area and doing a little "shooting from the hip" action and didn't realize I had gotten this picture until latter that night.  This guy's shirt just about sums it up.  We had such an amazing time going to a place neither of us have ever been.  We will definitely be back to West Texas (with Lydia) and hope to explore Big Bend and Chinati Hotsprings... but I think we will do it in the Spring or Fall.  :)

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // MARFA, TX (El Cosmico and El Sol)

Our second day in Marfa was spent mostly at El Cosmico.  I prefered to call it "high end camping" while Brendan like to refer to it as "low end hoteling".  Either way, it's a pretty great place to stay...but maybe not in August. 

We chose the "safari tent" which was perfect except for not having any air conditioning or fan.  During the day it gets brutally hot and it's really all about laying low and trying to escape the sun. 

There are super cute trailers scattered throughout the camp with most having a private shower or bath on the front porch. I never did peek my head inside, but was aware they also had no AC.  I can't imagine staying in one unless during winter or fall... talk about hot! 

This is one of two GIANT teepees which were both occupied the entire time during our stay.  Besides having two twin beds, I think this would be a marvelous choice the next time we come for a visit... Lydia would have such a blast running around this fun, adventurous space. 

By mid day the sun is just inescapable.   

   

Thankfully the main building (photo 1) has a common are with Wi-Fi,  a gift shop, records and a record player, great coffee table books to read, and over priced refreshments if you are desperate.

Brendan and I played "sweet checkers", messed around on our phones, and learned how to play gin thanks to a lovely employee who taught us the basics.

This is what he preferred to do (hammock time).....for hours.  

This is what I preferred to do (take pictures) ... for hours. 

And then we were off to McDonald Observatory which is home to one of the world's largest optical telescopes!

A trip to the Dollar General to get a fan made coming back home to the tent much more bearable. 

And a bottle of Champagne brought from home made it down right lovely.  

More to come...

(Lov)e,

-k.