(Lov) // Water Babies

This past weekend, my Brother, Sister-in-Law, and Nephew came to Austin (from Dallas) for a quick visit.  We spent most of Saturday in my Father's backyard watching the kids have an absolute blast! When it was time to water the lawn, we found out that the real fun had just gotten started...

I think this was the first time either of them had ever played in a sprinkler.  Lydia LOVED it, while Samuel was a bit unsure.  It was such a sweet day with lots of laughter, baby hugs, and kisses.  We are very grateful that Lydia has a cousin so close in age (Samuel is only 10 days younger).  We all look forward to many more fun times at my Dad's house and are already thinking about the next visit... SLIP AND SLIDE! 

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // I heart Instagram!

I posted my first picture on Instagram on October 17th, 2010.  My initial usage of the app was for enhancing my not-so-great iPhone pictures with it's varied selection of filters.  I didn't "follow" anyone nor did I have any "followers" for at least the first 8 months.  As some of my Facebook friends joined, I began to follow a few people's feeds. I continued to use IG mainly as an editing tool and never "liked" or left comments on other's posted photos. As with a lot of social media, I was only scratching the surface of it's capabilities and wasn't really interested in going any deeper than satisfying my initial needs.  The turning point for me was when I began, on occasion, taking a peek at the "popular" page.  One day I saw this lovely picture posted by Miss James aka bleubird...

@bleubird

This picture lead me to her even more lovely BLOG... which has honestly changed my life.  I began "following" her that day and still find her photos to be some of the warmest and most beautiful on IG.  She shares pictures of her day to day (family, food, home, travel etc.) which are nothing short of pure magic. It was bleubird who helped me open up to the COMMUNITY aspect of IG.  I saw how she used it as a spring board for her blog, how she connected with other blogging Moms all over the country, and was weaving a uniquely personal tapestry of photos for her family.  It was by her example and though our connection that I was inspired to find other wonderful women who have greatly enriched my life...

@murrjohnson

A beautiful blogging Mama who just had her second little girl almost 3 weeks ago!

(Murr is VERY dear to my heart)

@kerigiordano

A fellow graphic designers, Mama, food lover, and ETSY shop owner. 

@bc_m

  A homeschooling Mama to 4 (I know!) amazingly cute kids.

@frecklewonder

Another blogging Mama and ETSY shop owner who is a master thrifter and chicken keeper.

@missmessie

Wife, Mama, ETSY shop owner, lover of vintage pyrex, and wearer of super cute glasses. 

@mrsjasminedee

A wife, mother to 5 (blows my mind), and women of faith.

These are just 7 of the many ladies I have gotten to know over the last year on IG.  Through pictures and words... we get to peer into each others lives, sharing our thoughts, feelings, encouragement, and advice.  Some I would consider friends even though we have never met in person. I pray for these women, I celebrate their milestones, I look forward to seeing their lives each day, and am very grateful that they (like myself) chose to fully use this app to make our lives a bit more connected. If you are on Instagram, I am @kellyvlass... come find me!

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Lov) // Home Sweet Home.

Welcome to our little home!  

Our dining room.  You may notice the Salon chair... I seem to always have one to do friends and family cuts. 

Lovely flowers from my husband. 

View from our front door. Yes, in Texas we proudly display our fly swatters.

Peeking around the kitchen. Would you care for a banana?

  Doing dishes in is an endless task, so it would have been unrealistic to put them away for a picture. :)

Lydia's room. 

Lydia's desk is a table that Brendan's Dad made many years ago. 

It is her favorite place to color and do her puzzles. 

Our Bedroom. 

This room is in the SW corner and  has the most light.  It is the where I grow my herbs. 

Brendan's practice space.  

A print I got from ETSY that hangs in our room.  So very, very true.  Thanks for stopping by!

(Lov)e, 

-k.

(Lov) // Three Years.

It was three years ago today that I married my husband Brendan, although in my heart... I married him long before we said our "I do's".  I truly couldn't ask for a more suitable partner to share my life with. He is a kind and patient man whose love for me seems to only be getting stronger and yet more gentle as time goes by.  I am not the easiest women to be bound to... I can be very guarded, stubborn, and difficult. Yet, with all my faults, he continues to see in me what I often don't see in myself and sings my praises to music that I seldom hear.  He knows that rather than a feeling, love is a choice...and each day he chooses to be thankful for the one that he made in making me his wife.  And as his "chosen",  I am slowly learning how to be a blessing to him so that I might honor the love he so freely gives.  He is my best friend, lover, brother in Christ, and the Father of my little girl.  I certainly couldn't, and will never, ask for anything more.  

(Lov)e,

-k. 

(Be) // Spring Hair Trends

Source: PA PHOTOS/LANDOV

Short Layered Bob with heavy side-swept bangs. 

Source: Frazer Harrison/Getty

 Soft, short Pixie with lots of textured layers. 

Source: APEGA/ABACAUSA.COM

Face framing Bob with heavy, blunt bangs. 

Source: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Long layered Pixie with side swept bangs. 

Source: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Collarbone-length Bob with soft fringe bangs.

Source: Tsuni/GammaUSA

Long Bob with choppy layers.

Source: Larry Busacca/Getty

Long Layers with a light, sweeping fringe. 

A change in Season is a great reason to try a new hair style. These are some of my favorite Spring trends as features in InStyle.com.  Hop on over to their site and use their Hollywood Makeover Tool to see how YOU would look with these haircuts!  THEN... Come see me and get a makeover in real life!  Happy Spring everybody! 

(Lov)e, 

-k.

(Lov) // The Green Chair.

I asked my husband Brendan to write this blog for me since it is one of his all time favorite "stories of us". 

Roughly 9 years ago I found, sitting next to a dumpster across the street from my old apartment, a fully functional though slightly worn, green, stylist’s chair. Just a few weeks earlier through a good friend,  I had been introduced to Kelly who had mentioned that I “needed to do something about that”. The “that” she was referring to was my teenage ponytail, ill-fitting corduroy pants, and Birkenstocks. I was a kid from Colorado, newly 21, and new to Austin. I had long hair because I had no money to pay someone to care about it for me, as I certainly wasn’t capable of concerning myself with such things, being newly 21 and all. The next time I saw Kelly we made a deal: This old stylist chair in exchange for free haircuts for life. Neither of us had any concept to the magnitude of this agreement.

This month I turn 30 and Kelly has been my wife for almost three years. We have lived on the same street where the chair was found since being married. It has been our daughter’s highchair for the first two years of her life. I have had countless cuts and cups of coffee in this chair. Family, bandmates and other friends have come to our living room to get trimmed and styled. It has left ringed rust stains on the desk mat we have laid underneath it. We now own a salon, with many chairs. Some of which have made their way into our living room.    

We have decided to allow this chair to move along by placing it back where it was originally acquired, next to the dumpster, so many years ago. We also thought it a great occasion to take some family photos. I drove it around the corner, unloaded it from our truck, and placed it in the grass by the curb while Kelly and Lydia walked from our apartment. The first person to drive by stopped and got out of the car, looking at the chair in disbelief, “You’ve got to be kidding me! WOW!” I walk over to him and tell him the chair is fully functional, but if he wouldn’t mind waiting to take it away, as this chair has a bit of a story.   -Brendan 

And he patiently waited while we took our pictures. Goodbye and thank you, Green Chair!

(Lov)e,

-k.

(Be) // Enjoy the Season ~ Spring 2012

To make my client's haircuts extra special, I offer scalp massages using an essential oil blend of their choice; offering a new selection each Season. This Spring, I have chosen two of my favorite florals and one citrus for my latest *Enjoy the Season blend. Gardenia is sensual, soothing, and sweet...Jasmine (what I wore on my wedding day) is romantic and intoxicating... while Grapefruit is fresh, clean, and even believed to be a male aphrodisiac! It's SPRING...let me pamper you and then...make like a bunny and get to hoppin!  *all ingrediants: grapeseed oil, vitamin E, essential oils and distilled water. 

(Lov)e, 

-k.