My View From Home

Three weeks ago, I was starting a new job. It was my first week in the office. It also happened to be the week when everything turned upside down because of Covid-19. For weeks prior, the virus was some foreign issue most people were not paying much attention to and now it suddenly became very real.

Three weeks ago I was feeling so excited for a fresh start and I was starting to feel settled in Charlotte, but alot has happened. Self-isolation/quarantine is being extended, schools are cancelled, businesses are closed, people are dying and the impact of it all is heavy.

As each week passes I feel a little more anxious. I have been fortunate to still have a job and the ability to work from home, however that could change tomorrow. My company has been doing it's very best to protect our jobs, but business is tough so I feel like the rug could be ripped from beneath me at any point. We recently received some discouraging news with Noah's job too.

This quarantine is not a vacation. It is affecting the lives of so many. I know our family is feeling it. Like others, we are worried about the bills to pay and our 4 beautiful kids to protect. I think about the people on the front lines of this pandemic and they are risking their lives so they can try to get a handle on this. These are unprecedented and scary times.

I also feel frustrated. Frustrated at those who aren't taking this serious. The more people ignore the advice from medical professionals to adhere to self-isolating, the worse this situation will be.

There is so much we cannot control at this time. That is a very hard thing for anyone that suffers from anxiety. I try to put on a brave face and I've been doing my very best to keep my stress from showing to my kids. We are spending some great quality time together as a family, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't also terrified. I know we aren't the only families that live paycheck to paycheck. So we feel the effects immediately if one of those paychecks doesn't come. I don't share that because I am looking for help or seeking pity. I am just sharing a real concern of ours. I am also worried that every trip Noah and I make to the grocery store is adding more risk to our health and the health of our babies.

On a more positive note, our family is choosing how we respond to this situation as best we can. We choose to do our part in flattening the curve by staying home.  We choose to be kind to the grocers that are working hard to stock the shelves with the essentials to get us through this. We choose to support others when we can. We have been watching our spending because of the job situation but when we do eat out, we are picking places local to us to order from. We are choosing to not be too hard on ourselves when trying to homeschool. We are choosing to make the best of this isolation and getting outdoors as much as possible and staying connected with friends and family virtually.

Here are some photos from this weekend. The weather was so nice and warm enough to break out our mini pool. We took advantage of both Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the sunshine and splash around.

I am praying so hard for everyone. I pray that this will all be behind us soon and we can resume our lives. It definitely puts into perspective what we have taken for granted. I do miss strolling down the Target aisles, but I am very grateful that my family and friends are staying safe and are healthy. We will get through this!

Floral T-shirt: 3 Ways to Style a Floral Tee

Yesterday, I wrote a post and rounded up a few of my favorite spring items. One of them was this floral tee from Target. They had a similar one last year and I didn't end up getting it. It must have been popular because they released it (or a similar one) again and this time I snagged it right away.

I love a good graphic tee and this one is perfect for spring. I love the colors and all the different flower prints. Did you know that tulips are my favorite flower? That, along with hydrangeas, peonies and I love the smell of gardenia. That makes me want to go out and by myself some flowers right now!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share 3 ways I styled it in today's post. So let's get to it!

I love mixing prints so for my first look I paired the tee with my favorite leopard skirt and threw on a denim jacket. I was inspired to pair these two prints from my friend, Emily, of @emily_soto. She posted a picture last year and I just loved it. 

My next look is one inspired by Heather of @lifegardenstyle. We have the same pants and I love how it brings out the yellow in the tee. This is probably my favorite look of the three! 

My next look is another great one. I took the greens from the tee and paired it with my green pants and animal print mules. Also, I added my most recent DIY beaded necklace. This was a last minute pairing but I like how it turned out. 

I love finding new ways to remix clothes. This tee is $8 and such a fun add to your spring wardrobe. I linked some similar items just in case you want to recreate any of these outfits! I hope you enjoyed this style session because it was a lot of fun! 

My Spring Picks

Spring has sprung for most brands and over the weekend I saw so many awesome spring trends. It's all about pastels, flower prints, neutrals and fun accessories. I thought I would share with you my early spring picks. 

1. Kendra Scott recently released their spring collection and everything is just so gorgeous. I really love the Hallie Statement Earrings that were gifted to me. The details in the wire braiding are so fun and eye-catching. These make a great statement, but are so light and airy. 

2. I love a good t-shirt dress. They are so comfortable and make an easy go-to outfit. Throw on a light cardigan or denim jacket and pair it with sandals or some white sneaker for an effortless look. I really love this dress in green, but it comes in several colors too. 

3. If you need a shoe to go with everything this spring and summer season, you'll need to snag these sandals. They are comfortable with a nice block heel and they will be for sure be a repeat offender in your wardrobe. 

4. You will need a classic chambray top in your spring wardrobe. Just like the sandals I mentioned above, a chambray top will also go with anything your wear. I love the ruffle detail on the sleeves and it just so cute! 

5. It's not surprising that I would gravitate toward blush when I saw this dress. It's light and airy and so flirty. It comes in several colors too. This dress in white would be so fun too! 

6. I love my cognac Madewell tote I wear every day but mixing in a rattan handbag for spring is so fun and will instantly give your look some flair. How cute is this bag? 

7. White sneakers are one of the biggest spring trends right now and I found the perfect pair. The eyelet and scallops gave me instant heart eyes. It's another great pair to add to your closet. 

8. I snagged this floral tee over the weekend and I love it. I have seen it a lot recently when I scroll through Instagram and I've already been inspired to wear it so many different ways. Would y'all want to see how I mix it up? I think that would be a fun post! 

So, what are your favorite picks? 

4 Fun Ways To Celebrate Valentine's Day With Your Family + DIY Valentine Dessert Charcuterie Board

Valentine's Day has become more about showing my family love than it is a romantic holiday for us. Ever since I had the kids I have had so much fun celebrating with them. Since it's the start of Valentine's Day week I wanted to share some fun ways to celebrate this week of love with your family.

1. Festive Family Dinner - On this week's menu I thought it would be fun for us to make our own heart-shaped personalized pizzas. The kids always have a blast customizing their pizzas and it's a great way for everyone to get involved and spend time together over a yummy meal. I'll be sharing how our pizzas turn out later in the week on my Instagram Stories so if you aren't following me, make sure you do so you don't miss out on our adventures (@gitterandjuls)

2. Love Notes - I usually get small candy treats for the kids and last year I included handmade valentine cards. As part of kids' valentines this year, I am including love notes that lists 14 reasons why I love each of one of them. I can't wait for the kids to read them and I hope they feel extra-loved!

3 - Acts of Love & Kindness - I am challenging everyone to reach out to someone in an act of kindness each day this week. For every act of kindness they get a Hershey kiss. I  think it's important to spread kindness every day and this is just a fun way to positively reinforce it!

4- Friday Night In - This year, Valentine's Day is on a Friday. A fun way to celebrate that doesn't cost much for a family of 6 is to order take-out and snuggle up for a good old fashion movie night! I took a stab at creating my very first Valentine dessert charcuterie board. I thought it would be a fun treat for us to have while we watch a movie together. I did some Pinterest-ing for inspiration and I wrote down a few treats to pick up that I know everyone in my family loves like strawberries, Twizzler's, gummies, popcorn, pretzels and chocolates. You can create your own DIY dessert charcuterie board with your own family's favorites! Simply assemble everything on a big platter or board and utilizing any little bowls you own. Just have fun as there is no right or wrong way to create your own charcuterie board! Friday is a still a few days away so you still have time to create your own! Here is a closer look at my first attempt my own charcuterie board and I can't wait to recreate it again on Friday!

How do you plan to spend your Valentine's Day? However you spend your day/night I hope you're surrounded by love!!