LOOKING BACK 2016

Hey Everyone! I have pulled my favorite outfit posts, January through December, from 2016 to recap my year of fashion! So many amazing memories this year and so many moments to be thankful for! Also, below I'm sharing about our life this past year and the number one thing I have learned during 2016!

xo, ash

Heels: Valentino | Handbag: TJ Maxx

Dress: ChicWish | Coat: Alice & Olivia (similar) | Booties: Sophia Webster

Wore this outfit to my sister's rehearsal dinner! This past January she married her love and I gained a new brother in law!

Sweater: Banana Republic (similar) | Denim: Frame | Boots: Sorell 

This photo was taken in Ireland. My husband, Haddie, and I got to travel this past February with our jobs and this photo was from my favorite day when we got to tour the North Coast!

Fur: Revolve | Turtleneck: J Crew | Leggings: old, similar | Booties: Gap (similar)

Can't wait to go back to ROME one day! It was easily one of my favorite cities I have ever been -- and this is easily one of my favorite jackets!

Blouse: Similar | Skirt: J Crew (similar & similar) | Heels: Valentino

Again, in beautiful Belfast, Ireland. This photo was taken at The Manor, the home we stayed at for the month.

Coat: J Crew | Denim: Frame | Booties: Gap (similar)

My little family in Florence! Haddie loved it as well! 

Tee: Gap | Denim: Frame | Heels: Target (similar)

Best White Jeans!! 

Skirt: Self Portrait (sold out, similar) | Top: Zara | Heels: Target (similar

Saved up for this skirt and it was one of my favorite purchases from this year! 

Cardigan: TopShop (similar & similar) | Tee: Free People | Denim: Frame | Booties: Joie | Necklace: Forever21 | Handbag: TJ Maxx

In Denver, Colorado, on a mini trip we did with some of our good friends! 

Shirt: J Crew | Denim: One Teaspoon | Sandals: Rebecca Minkoff | Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff | Earrings: J Crew | Hat: J Crew

Top: TopShop (similar) | Denim: Frame | Wedges: Dolce Vita | Necklace: Banana Republic | Sunglasses: Miu Miu

Favorite wedges this spring/summer - on sale now!

Haddie Outfit: Gap | Dress: Free People

One Year Old pics with my Haddie girl! Can't believe how much she has grown and changed in this short amount of time! Treasure every day!

Dress: ASOS | Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff | Heels: Target (similar

Dress: Kendall & Kylie

Announcing the Baby Bump! We found out the week of Haddie's 1st birthday (April 21) that we were going to be having baby 2!

Dress: Nordstrom | Wedges: J Crew | Hat: J Crew

Top: Zara (similar) | Skirt: Rachel Parcell  | Heels: Aquazzura 

Love this skirt from my favorite blogger's line!

Dress: Martina Liana | Heels: Target (similar) | Sunglasses: Prada 

Dress: Anthropologie (sold out, similar) | Heels: Valentino | Handbag: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Prada | Necklace: J Crew

Sweater: Free People (similar) | Leggings: Lululemon | Booties: Jeffrey Campbell

...and the growing bump...

Cardigan: Similar | Leggings: ASOS (non-maternity here) | Booties: Vince (similar) | Handbag: TJ Maxx | Sunglasses: Prada

Sweater: J Crew (similar) | Denim: Denim: Joes(non-maternity version) | Boots: Steve Madden | Sunglasses: Prada | Necklace: Nordstrom 

Dress: Nordstrom | Jacket: BLANK NYC | Sunglasses: Prada

Fur: Zara (similar) | Leggings: ASOS (non-maternity here) | Booties: Joie | Sunglasses: Miu Miu

Picture from our time in Dallas on our mini babymoon, 2 weeks, before James Louis arrived!

Coat: J Crew | Denim: Denim: Joes(non-maternity version) | Boots: Stuart Weitzman (similar for less) | Handbag: similar

FAVORITE purchase of the year hands down! SW OTK boots. These will be a staple for years to come!

Coat: Calvin Klein (also here) | Turtleneck: J Crew (love this style too in yellow!) | Denim: Joes(non-maternity version) | Beanie: CC (love this for under $5!) | Sunglasses: Prada | Handbag: TJ Maxx

2016 was filled with so much change!! Change can always be difficult but it can also be so good! In the midst of the beginning of the year, I felt God leading us every step of the way as we left a home, friends, and jobs we loved, worked at a summer camp during the summer, and moved to Ft. Worth for Seth's new job in August. Throughout all that, we found out we were pregnant with baby number 2 and decided I would become a stay at home mom once we moved to Ft. Worth. This is our 3rd move in 4 years and so I felt better equipped with what to expect but that never changes the challenges of getting plugged in and feeling at "home" in a new environment. We joined a church once we got to Ft. Worth which helped us feel a sense of community and I have loved getting plugged into our women's bible study. Seth loves his new job in Ft. Worth but he works his BOOTY off. Adjusting to being a stay at home mom this year wasn't always easy but Haddie and I learned that we liked to keep ourselves busy! It was tough when we woke up and didn't have a plan for the day, would play dishes, babies, blocks, and books and then it was only 1:00, and your hubby wouldn't get home till 7:00! The days could feel SO long but I think that was the thing that I learned the most this year despite the hard days; SAVOR THE DAYS.

Savor the small mini moments at the kitchen table in the morning when there is milk running down your daughters face and belly and blueberries all over the floor. Savor every time she wants to read Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious even though I don't feel like reading that book again. Savor the way she tells me the same stories over and over again throughout the day with her hand motions. Savor the way she loves saying "bump bump" when we go over the speed bumps out of our apartment and asks for "Mor!" Savor the moments of daily routine, of diapers, of naps, of baths. Savor the nights of continual waking up with a newborn and breastfeeding, pumping, and snuggling. Savor the quiet looks between you and your hubby when it's been a long day and all you can do is laugh. Although the days can seem long, days turn into months and a month turns into a year. 

James 4:14 ... "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

The Lord continually tells us in his Word how quickly the days on this earth will pass and reminds us that we are not even promised tomorrow! Although this year took some adjusting to with all the changes, I do believe I savored so many small moments and for that I will forever be thankful. 

I plan on continuing to savor the days with Louie into 2017, and holding him and snuggling him as much as possible over the next couple months in his infant stages!

I can't wait for 2017 and plan to post next week my goals for next year!!

Happy New Years Eve Everyone! Cheers!

xo, Ash