Fab Finds Friday: Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Her

Friday, January 31, 2014

TGIF friends! 

Can you believe it's almost February?  Valentine's Day is right around the corner so I thought our gentlemen would appreciate this gift guide. (Don't worry guys, I'll do one for you next week with Josh's help.) 

Before we get into the details, I have a very important tip for the men. Do NOT, I repeat do NOT, buy clothes for her unless she gives you the exact SKU number, URL code, description and size. Trust me on this one.  Your best bet is one of these:

I have been drooling over these gorgeous flats since I saw them a few weeks ago. I promise if you buy her these she will be very happy.

This perfume smells amazing. It's my top pick for fragrance. 

Gentlemen, she needs a gold Michael Kors watch. Yes, it's a necessity!

I love Gigi New York.  My sister bought me a blue clutch for Christmas and I can't wait to get more.  This beautiful magenta color will make her smile for sure.

5 - Wine of the Month
The gift that keeps giving all year!  This one would be a win-win for both of you.

6 - Birchbox
This is also a gift that keeps giving!  She will receive a package each month with fabulous health & beauty products. Every girl I know who has birchbox loves it!

7 - David Yurman Albion Ring
Do I really need to say anything? Stunning!

8 - Alex & Ani Bracelets
I love this anchor set from Bloomingdale's. You can't go wrong with Alex & Ani!

9 - Flower of the Month
I love having fresh flowers in my house. If your lady-friend is the same way, get her this!

10 - Spa Day
Oh how I would love a spa day! Take my hint and buy her a gift card from Spa Finder that she can use at participating spas.

11 - Kendra Scott Earrings
If she loves earrings, she needs Kendra Scott's! Again, it's a necessity.

Well fellas I hope this list helps!

Ladies, feel free to share with your men or buy some for yourself. You deserve it!

As always, thanks for reading!

With love & gratitude,
Heather

5 Friends Every Girl Needs

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Source

The older I get the more I appreciate my friends. 

My friendships have helped to mold me into the person that I am.  I can be stubborn, brutally honest, mean - and yet I still have friends who love me.  They see me for the person I am most of the time - caring, uplifting, funny, protective.  While I'm so grateful for the friends I have now I'm also grateful for those broken friendships.  I truly believe people come into our lives for a reason or a season and sometimes those seasons end sooner than expected and that's OK. There are lessons to be learned from each of them.

When I survey the friends I have now they each have certain overriding characteristics that I love.  Every girl needs at least one of these types of friends.  You may even have a few friends who fall into multiple categories - score!


1 - The Cheerleader
No, I'm not talking about literal cheerleaders (although many of my friends are retired cheerleaders).  I'm talking about the girl who has your back no matter what.  She is always there for you supporting whatever you do.  She is in your corner and will fight for you without thinking twice.   

2 - The Free Spirit
This friend is up for anything!  Need a night out? She'll drop everything and go!  She has nothing tying her down and is always up for making memories.  She lives the impromptu, spontaneous life and sometimes you just need someone like that to remind you to relax and have fun.

3 - The Goof
In my opinion, someone who makes me laugh is invaluable.  This friend knows how to cheer you up in a second.  She is most likely equiped with so many random, hilarious stories about her life that you can't help but think they're made up.  She can quote entire Will Ferrell movies and reinact your college shenanigans.  When you find a friend like that, don't let her go!

4 - The Scholar
Again, I'm not talking about a literal scholar.  I'm referring to the friend who's been there, done that, and gives you amazing advice about what to do.  She's experienced things you haven't and has learned from them.  What distinguishes her from most people is that you actually WANT & VALUE her opinion.  You find yourself running all major life decisions by her.

5 - The Time Traveler
This is the friend you can go months & years without seeing and when you finally have the chance to catch up it's like no time has passed.  Perhaps you live in different cities or your lives are just too hectic to talk or see each other as often as you'd like.  That doesn't matter with her.  She understands.  She's not going anywhere.  Bonds like that are priceless.


So, what kind of friend are you?  What type of friend would your girlfriends say you are? You may be a different type of friend to different people.  To some people I may be a Scholar but to others I'm a Time Traveler.  I like to think I'm always a Goof but I'm probably not as funny as I think. Haha.

I bet you thought of at least a handful of friends, share this with them!

As always, thank you for stopping by my blog today.  I really appreciate you!

With love & gratitude,
Heather

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Workout Wednesday: New Kicks!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014



Hello friends!

Who's ready for some motivation on this hump day? 

Here's a thought that always seems to work for me: just put on your shoes and go! Really, it sounds so simple but as long as I get my running shoes on there's no way I'm backing out of my workout.

As some of you know from my Instagram, I'm doing the Love Your Body series with the lovely ladies of Tone It Up.  One of their challenges is to get 100 miles of cardio by Valentine's Day.  You can log your miles from running, walking, swimming, the elliptical, whatever works for you!  I'm really proud of the miles I've already logged in the past few weeks - just over 46 miles! With all of this extra running, I'm in need of some new kicks. 

My tried and true brands are Asics and Brooks.  They have always been the best for my style of running (picture me gracefully prancing on my toes, haha).  There are other brands I'd like to try as well along with some styles that have caught my eye.

Here's a roundup of my favorites:
1 || 2 || 3
4 || 5 || 6
7 || 8 || 9

Help! Which pair should I get? 

How To Wear Chambray: One Piece 5 Ways

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Happy Tuesday everyone!  

Tuesdays are technically my Mondays since I work Tuesday through Thursday.  I'm actually ready to get back to work after the excitement of Graham's birthday. I truly never realized how tough birthdays can be.  My baby is growing up so fast which makes me over think things. I need time to stand still for a bit.

Now on to the topic for today: chambray! 

One of the staples of my closet is chambray. Chambray tops and dresses are my go-to pieces.  My favorite chambray top is this J. Crew one that I'm featuring today. So without further ado, here are some styling options for your favorite chambray shirt.

1. Chambray & Tulle - I'm loving this tulle trend and the casual look of chambray pairs well with it. It's a nice addition to tone down the "fanciness" of tulle.

Chambray, J. Crew (here) || Tulle Skirt, Modcloth (sold outsimilar)
Necklace, J. Crew Factory (here) || Belt, Target (here) || Bangles, Bourbon & Boweties
Wedges, Banana Republic Factory (sold out, similar)


2. Chambray with a Maxi Skirt - There aren't many wardrobe pieces more comfortable than a maxi skirt. Can I get an amen?  I love wearing mine with chambray and a colorful skinny belt.

Maxi skirt, Poshmark (similar) || Pearl necklace, Derng (here, only $18!)
Red belt, Target (here)


3. Chambray with Fur - Oh how I love fur & chambray right now! I snagged this gorgeous fur vest on Poshmark for $25. Have I mentioned how much I love Poshmark? 

Fur Vest, Poshmark (similarlove this) || Red Pants, Gap (here, on sale!)
Necklace, Brina Box (here)


4. Chambray with Maxi Dress - I love pairing my favorite maxi dress with my chambray tied in the front. It's a great way to use what you already have in your closet for a new outfit!

Maxi Dress, Gap (sold out, similar) || Bangles, Bourbon & Boweties
Necklace, Brina Box (here)


5. Chambray with Radiant Orchid - Don't these colors look great together? I just can't get enough of the color of the year.

Skirt, Forever 21 (sold out, similar) || Necklace, Bauble Bar via Poshmark (here)
Bangles, Bourbon & Boweties || Shoes available in my Poshmark closet! (here)

Which look is your favorite? Thanks for stopping by!

With love & gratitude, 
Heather

My Baby Boy's First Birthday Party!

Monday, January 27, 2014

Good morning friends!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend, we sure did! Graham's birthday party was on Saturday and I'm excited to share the details & memories with you.  

We decided to go with a basketball theme since Graham already has a love for dunking into the various basketball hoops we have around the house (start them young, right?).  Instead of buying basketball decorations from the big box stores I wanted to do my own thing.  I started with Etsy and quickly discovered that there aren't many options for a baby boy's basketball themed birthday.  Looks like we're doing this from scratch! 

Obviously the colors had to include orange but as a Seminole I refused to use blue - so I went with turquoise.  Those colors paired really well together. 


I purchased this adorable felt birthday sign from Jane. (I highly recommend registering with Jane to stay up-to-date with their daily deals.)  Since I loved this sign so much and could reuse it I bought various shapes and colors but only used these for Graham's party. It matched perfectly!




As most of you know I took monthly pictures of Graham to document his growth during the first year.  I thought it would be fun to display these photos at the party so I set them up on our island with the food.  I used binder clips to hold up the pictures.  I also used sticky putty underneath the clips so they didn't fall.  Pictures were included on both sides since we had food all around the island. 


I always love using my Mason jar drink dispensers from Walmart (yes, Walmart) during parties.  We had sweet tea and lemonade and used these adorable straws from Target (here).



I'm very lucky to have a coworker who makes amazing cupcakes. She made these yummy s'mores and vanilla cupcakes as well as Graham's smash cake. She also cut out these basketballs that we used throughout the house to decorate. I'm so thankful for her help!


I saw this idea with the pictures arranged in the shape of a 1 on Pinterest and hoped it would turn out the way I wanted. Luckily it looked great! I thought black & white pictures would pair well with the colors and I used a turquoise tablecloth from Target to hang it on. I also used the same color tablecloth under Graham's high chair.






It took Graham a little while to really dig into the cake but he eventually started to like it.  And how about that adorable onesie with the bowtie? My cousin Kelly made it! We all had a great time and Graham loved opening his gifts. Here are some more of my favorite pictures. As always, thanks for stopping by! 




Paisley Top - Poshmark (similar) || Jeans - Gap (here)
Graham's Top & Jacket - Target (Top hereJacket similar) || Jeans - Gap Baby (here)
Josh's Shirt - Brooks Brothers Outlet (similar)



With love & gratitude,
Heather




Party Time!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Good morning! 

Graham's birthday party is today so I'm just stopping by to show you a preview of his decorations.  I'm so happy with how they've turned out so far. Come back Monday for all the details! 


As always, thanks for visiting!

With love & gratitude,
Heather

Happy Birthday Graham!

Friday, January 24, 2014


HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fun-loving, handsome, kissable baby boy!

It’s hard to believe that one year ago today I delivered Graham at 8:58 AM.  That was the best week of my life.  Yes, I was in the hospital close to a week.  During the latter part of my pregnancy I was experiencing high blood pressure. As a result, as soon as I passed my due date my induction was scheduled.  I wasn’t opposed to being induced however I hadn’t dilated so I knew it might take longer than expected. 

I was admitted on Monday night around 9:00 and they started with the Cervadil since I wasn’t dilated.  Honestly one of the worst parts of the whole experience for me was getting my IV.  I hate to even think about it so let’s leave it at that.  My contractions started in the middle of the night but they weren’t strong enough to wake me up.  By the morning I could definitely feel them and they were consistent.  I just knew that the nurses would have good news for me.  I was wrong.  They checked
me and I hadn’t progressed.  I hoped for at least a centimeter and I was barely a fingertip (buzzkill). 


The next morning I woke up and was checked again and again I hadn’t progressed.  My doctor (whose patience I am so thankful for) discussed why she didn’t want to start me on Pitocin or break my water.  With my contractions already 2 minutes apart she didn’t want to send my body into overdrive and risk causing stress on Graham.  He will let us know when he’s ready.

By Wednesday I just knew that something was going to happen.  I was checked in the morning and progressed some but not much – barely 2 cm.  That’s when my doctor (who was fairly new at St. Vincent’s) decided she wanted to try something on me.  Something they hadn’t tried on any other patient (oh no this can’t be good) – the Foley Bulb.  I’m not going to get into details here but you can google it.  Well that didn’t work
either. Apparently my cervix is made of steel – who knew?  


I was really starting to get frustrated.  I felt like I was on display, a specimen in a petri dish.  Eating nothing but ice cubes.  At one point I had to ask everyone but Josh to leave.  I needed a break.  I didn’t understand why my body wasn’t doing what it was supposed to be doing.  That was when God spoke to me.  It was almost like a light bulb went off (He’s done this a few times before so I knew it was Him).  He reminded me that things are not going to go my way but they’re going to go

His way.  He knows what He’s doing. 


That’s when I started talking to my Aunt Beth about a caesarean.  I was blessed to have my Aunt with me through the whole labor & delivery process (she works for my OB).  I trusted her knowledge and guidance and needed some of my fears to be relieved.  After talking to her and Josh I was at peace with my decision, which was God’s plan all along.  He has a way of humbling me when I need it.  I was scheduled to have my c-section first thing the next morning.

You know what that meant?  I got to have a full dinner, real food!  And a shower!  Thank you, Lord!

Thursday came and I woke up nervous but excited.  I was about to have major abdominal surgery but I was about to meet my baby.  Nothing else mattered. 

I was prepped and so was Josh.  For those of you who don’t know Josh he is not comfortable in the hospital setting.  I was actually more nervous for Josh throughout the whole labor process than myself or Graham. The c-section was actually a perfect situation for him.  Everything was hidden behind the sheet!  Plus, my aunt was right there with us the whole time – mostly looking after Josh.

You know who else was there?  Who was going to be the first person taking care of my baby?  My sister, Graham’s Aunt KK.  She was scheduled to work on Thursday.  Thank you, God, you were right.  You knew what you were doing.

The whole c-section went much faster than I expected.  After my spinal things progressed quickly.  The next thing I knew I could hear Graham, he was finally here!  (The boy has some lungs!)  I couldn’t wait to see him.  My sister took him to get him cleaned up while the doctors continued to work on me.  That’s when they said something that made everything make sense.  What they said next reaffirmed my decision, God’s decision, for a c-section.  The umbilical cord was wrapped around Graham’s neck – tight.  So tight it popped as soon as they got to him.  They said I had the shortest cord they had ever seen.  If we would have continued down the path we were on there’s no telling what could have happened to my baby.  I probably would have still ended up with a c-section but it would have been an emergency situation.  My doctors told me we made a good decision.


Thank you, Lord.

Thank you for protecting my baby, thank you for protecting me.

Thank you for the amazing first year we’ve had with him and thank you for however many more you give us.

Happy birthday Graham, Mommy loves you more than you know!



Fab Finds: Radiant Orchid

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Happy Thursday friends, the weekend is almost upon us!

Typically I would post my Fab Finds on Friday but since Graham's birthday is tomorrow (yippee!) I'm sharing them with you today.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for spring which is why I'm especially loving Pantone's Color of the Year.  Radiant orchid is a gorgeous cross between pink and purple that pairs well with so many other colors and patterns - black & white, chambray, leopard, I could go on and on!  

I spent some time pulling together my favorite pieces for you. Perhaps you could include one or more in your Valentine's Day outfit this year. Also, Sephora will be coming out with their Pantone line soon.  You can sign up to be notified when the products are available here.

Let me know what you think!





Workout Wednesday: Lulu Lookalikes for Half the Price!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Lets talk about something that most of us have a love-hate relationship with: exercise.  On one hand you'd rather watch TV on the couch all night but on the other hand swimsuit season is just around the corner (and that corner is quickly approaching for those of us in Florida). 

You know what makes a workout better for me? The right clothes! And I'm not referring to fashionable workout gear ("ain't nobody got time for that"), I'm talking functional pieces. I was lucky enough to get a fabulous pair of leggings from Santa for Christmas (I wonder how he knew) that are so much like my Lulu's but half the price!

I'm sure those of you who are lucky enough to have a Nordstrom in your city know about Zella. Us Jacksonvillians are impatiently waiting for ours to be completed. However, I couldn't wait any longer. I've seen the reviews, I've heard the testimonies and this momma needed a pair of Zella Live-in Leggings. I got the black ones and wear them all the time - to the gym, under tunics, lounging around the house, you name it! They provide that same figure-flattering lift and are true to size.

I've selected some of my favorite colors and other styles I'd like to try. Let me know what you think. Do you have a Zella obsession like me?




Also, don't forget to check out the interval workout I did on the treadmill last night. Make sure to cater the speed to your comfort level to avoid injury. Enjoy!


With love & gratitude,
Heather
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Breast feeding Mommy Style: Shirt Dresses

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Welcome back friends! 

Today I'm excited to share with you what initially motivated me to start a blog - fashion for breast feeding moms!  After I had Graham I was so excited to get back into non-maternity clothes. Like I always do I searched blogs for outfit inspiration. 

 I searched...and searched...and searched. 

And much to my dismay there were barely any styling tips or blogs for breast feeding moms. I want to change that.  At least once a month (or maybe every other week depending on how you all like it) I will provide links to some of my favorite functional pieces for nursing moms.  Don't get me wrong, those nursing tanks are great but they're not so much on the fashionable side. 

Today we'll focus on shirt dresses! 



I love a good shirt dress in machine washable fabrics (this is key - say goodbye to silk for now).  Shirt dresses are so versatile, they can be dressed up for work or down for the weekend.  The skater dress style has become a staple in my closet because it's so flattering. Skater dresses hide that little baby bump pooch we tend to carry around after delivery.  I also love investing in solid color dresses and pairing them with bold accessories like a leopard print scarf and neon flats. 
What you think of my favorites?  Anymore styles you would add? 

Thanks again for visiting!

With love & gratitude,
Heather

Motherhood: What They Don't Tell You

Monday, January 20, 2014

One year ago today I thought I would be delivering my son. 

God had other plans.

For a control freak like me, labor & delivery was a lesson in trusting The Lord.  I had planned out in my head how everything was "supposed" to go.  However, things didn't work out that way.  On Friday I'll share Graham's complete birth story with you. Let's just say it was one of the few moments of my life that God clearly spoke to me. 

As I mentioned above, I'm a bit of a control freak. Type A if you will. When I was pregnant I spent those 9 long months reading books, blogs, forums, whatever I could find to help prepare me. Looking back I've realized there are some facts that are rarely ever mentioned. With so many of my friends becoming moms I feel the need to share. 

1 - You will lose an OBSCENE amount of hair!  Seriously. I thought I was balding. No I take that back - I was balding! I looked at some beach pictures from this past summer and I definitely had premature balding at my hairline. Lucky me, now it's all growing back.  FYI - baby hair in adulthood is terrible. I can't control it, it's all over the place!  For me hair loss started around 4 months postpartum and lasted about 4 months.  Every time I washed my hair I would leave literally a ponytail in the shower. I felt like a shedding dog, my hair was everywhere. Poor Josh.

2 - You will be in pain.  And I don't mean the obvious pain of stitches, tears, abdominal surgery that so many of us experience. I'm talking about your joints! I literally thought I was 80 years old. I couldn't walk up the stairs without my knees popping and cracking.  It started a few weeks after I delivered so I had no idea what was wrong with me. After researching and finding some (barely any) information online, I realized our changing hormones affect our joints. Ouch, I was so glad when that was over and I could exercise again. 

3 - You will be a hormonal MESS.  You might think something is wrong with you. Don't worry, it's normal.  It started a few days after delivery for me and lasted less than a week. I had no idea why but I would just get so upset. Luckily my mother stayed with us that first week and she knew exactly what was going on (aren't Moms the best). It helped me to talk about it and take a break.  We were still living in our small 1200 square feet condo after I had Graham and it would feel like the walls were closing in on me. Mom would watch Graham while I took a walk around the neighborhood. The sunshine and fresh air helped tremendously. Then after a few days I felt like myself again.

(If you have similar feelings that seem to last more than a couple of weeks, contact your doctor. Postpartum depression is real and affects many women.  You don't have to suffer!)

So mamas, if you just delivered and start experiencing any or all of these don't worry! You're not alone! Just know that being a mother is the BEST feeling in the world. I wouldn't trade it for anything! Your heart is going to experience a love like you've never known. Get ready!

Did I miss anything? Was there something you wished someone would have warned you about when you were pregnant? 

With love & gratitude, 
Heather




Graham's Fashion Finds: Sunday Best

Sunday, January 19, 2014


1 - similar | 2 - similar | 3 - similar | 4 - here
5 - here | 6 - similar | 7 - here | 8 - similar
9 - here | 10 - similar | 11 - here | 12 - here

Happy Sunday everyone!  Typically we would all be at church this morning but Graham and I are fighting a cold so we're hanging out at home.  What better time to share some of Graham's favorite church outfits!  

One of the topics that I'm most excited to feature on the blog is baby/toddler clothes for boys. I don't understand why but its very difficult to find boy clothes that Josh and I like.  Most of Graham's clothes come from Baby GapOld Navy, and Carter's.  We love plaid, denim, vests and colored pants for our little man. We especially love when they're on sale so we frequent the outlets a lot. It helps that we only live 15 minutes away!

Here's a pic of Graham modeling one of his church outfits. Enjoy!



With love & gratitude,
Heather


A Little Bit About Me

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Hello friends,

First of all I want to thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you like what you see so far. I am by no means a creative writer, fashion merchandiser, or parenting expert but I know what I love and what has worked for me.  I love a good deal, cute outfit, uplifting song and I feel privileged to be able to share these things and more with you. 

As you probably already know by now I am a proud wife & mother. My boys make me tick, they're the reason why I do everything I do. They are my heartbeat. (More to come on marriage and motherhood in future posts.)  Family is everything to me. Family & God come first, everything else comes next.  I come from a large, crazy, supportive, loud and loving family. My parents have always been there for me and my sister is my best friend. (You mess with my sis, you mess with me!) I am also blessed to be able to work part-time as a financial analyst. I like to call work my "adult time"! 

One of the most important things about me is that I love Christ. He died for me and is with me every second of every day. I don't deserve His grace & mercy but He continues to bless me & my family. I will forever be indebted to Him.  I am certainly not perfect but I'm forgiven.  I often fall short but my goal is to be more like Him day in and day out. 

Here are some other fun facts that have made me who I am:

I was an Alpha Delta Pi at Florida State University (GO NOLES!) where I enjoyed making memories with some of the most beautiful, kind-hearted and well-rounded women I know. I am so grateful for them and the experiences we shared.  During my last semester of college I became a cheerleader for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I spent five seasons with the Jaguars (with a 2 year break in between to get married). During my last season I was a line captain and selected by my teammates to represent them at the 2012 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. There aren't enough words to describe how amazing that felt to be the ONE they chose. Cheering at the Pro Bowl was an incredible experience that I will always cherish (thank you again ROAR sisters).

So that's a little bit about me.  I feel extremely fortunate to have experienced so much in my life thus far and I know God has so much more in store!  I look forward to getting to know you all through this journey. Thanks again for reading!

With love & gratitude,
Heather

Devon Donnahoo Photography

On me: Old Navy Dress (sold out) similar here | Old Navy Scarf (sold out) similar here 
Seiko Watch (vintage from my grandfather | Bourbon & Boweties Bangles various available here
On Graham: Baby Gap Shirt (sold out) love this | Baby Gap Jeans here | Target Vest here
On Josh: Brooks Brothers Shirt here | T Harris Jacket (old) similar here




Fab Finds Friday: Current Craves

Friday, January 17, 2014

Fashion Finds Friday: Current Craves


Welcome back friends! Today I wanted to share with you some fashion & beauty finds that I'm craving. Some of these I've recently purchased and some I'm dreaming about. Can we just talk about these black Gap legging jeans for a minute? They are AHH-MAZING! They're made of ponte material so they hold their shape and are oh-so-flattering.
Use the link above to get them ON SALE!

I am also really loving the combination of lace and fur for early spring. This Asos dress is adorable and also ON SALE!

Lastly, every girl needs a gold glitter belt and this one by Guess fits the bill.

Which of these beauties will you be shopping for this weekend?

With love & gratitude,
Heather

Well Hello There

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Hello friends! I am thrilled to finally be taking this plunge into blogging. This journey has been on my heart since I had my sweet baby boy Graham almost one year ago. There are so many precious and wonderful things to appreciate in life and I want to share my favorites with all of you. With that said, here are my promises to you:

- I promise to be honest. Anyone who knows me knows I don't sugarcoat anything. If I review a product I will give you my opinion.
- I promise to show you my real life - even on the dirty hair, sweatpants, no makeup days. (wait, isn't that a Drake song?)
- I promise to bring you new and exciting ideas, outfits, products, recipes, topics, etc. If there's something you want to know more about, let me know!
- I promise there will be plenty of pictures of Graham - OBVI! :)

 Thank you for joining me on this adventure, I hope I make you all proud!

Devon Donnahoo Photography


With love & gratitude,
Heather


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