What makes you SMILE

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Featuring Smile Generation Dental

#whatmakesyousmile #smilegenerationallsmiles

There’s a lot that makes me smile, especially with having kids. This weekend we took the boys up north for our last Christmas of the year to celebrate with my parents. They live on a lake where there is a small hill leading down to it. The boys have been sledding before but this time they went on a much bigger hill and their smiles were from ear to ear. One of my favorite things about being a mom is taking the kids on new adventures. It doesn’t have to be far away or something grand, but rather nearby and something so simple like sledding! Getting outdoors and feeling that fresh air is so good for our souls and the boys always have the best time.

Keeping my smile white and clean is a major priority to me. Did you know that finding a local dentist is just one click away? With Smile Generation, you can find local dentists that offer a full range of services for whatever kind of smile you have, with comprehensive dental care and advance technology, Smile Generation has it all. Booking an appointment is easy with their online appointment booking software and budget friendly financing. They offer dental plans and finances for every budget, and will tell you upfront what your insurance will cover so that together you can come up with options for the remaining balance. They also offer specials across all Smile Generation trusted dentist offices, just another great benefit of modern dentistry available today. Lastly, they offer services even if you’re uninsured, and provide options available to you to help you get the care that you need and deserve.

Whether it’s been a while or you’re looking to book your next appointment, schedule with Smile Generation and see for yourself just how easy it really is! This is the future of Dentistry, and I’m here for it. You can BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

My dental health is a priority for sure, and I’m excited to keep showing my pearly whites and most of all smiling with my boys for years to come! For more information on Smile Generation, the services they provide and finance plans they offer visit their website at www.smilegeneration.com

Warmly,

Mari








Wagamon Family 8/2019

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Erika has a way of capturing your family effortlessly. Her documentary/lifestyle type photos draw you in and make you relive that moment. That’s what I love about all of the pictures above, it’s our entire family, doing our thing, goofing around, not always cooperating or “cheesing” but that’s life and that’s how I want to remember us! Happy, chaotic, and loving.

Prior to our session I sent Erika some “mood board” inspo or photos that resembled the style, vibe that I was going for. I think that’s super important when taking family photos. You usually have an image or style that you are looking to recreate, so by giving your photographer those ideas, they can better please you by attempting to replicate those images. I say attempt because you’re session is not going to always go as planned, you may not get those “perfect” images, but if you provide your photographer with the ideas you have in mind, they will capture those images but specific to YOU and YOUR family which is the really neat thing about photography. So, take into effect that your kids will not be smiling 100%, you won’t get the perfect picture where everyone is looking, but you will get images of your family all together and that to me is soo sooo special.

If you’re interested in booking with Erika please click on the link below or inquire to her email provided.

All photos taken by Erika Schmidt Photography or visit her instagram @holy_schmidt33

Email her at erika.schmidt333@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed a glimpse of some of my favorite photos. Now go do yourself a favor and go book your next session with Erika!

Family Photos 2019

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If you’re debating having family photos taken, do it. You will never regret looking back at those sweet babies even they are not cooperating! Hope you enjoyed

xoxo Mari

Family Pictures #2

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Women

My outfit inspo above for women was simple and easy attire that you may already have. Skinny jeans paired with cute fall booties make for the perfect bottom half. On top you could either wear a long sleeve with a cardigan or nice jacket, possibly a scarf (some of my favorites linked above) or just put on an oversized sweater and possibly tuck it in the front of your pants!

Always do your hair and wear makeup! Pictures make you look washed out usually, so I always have a lip gloss or lipstick on hand to give my lips some color! You can shop my current favorite HERE

Men

I think dressing men is the easiest part of family pictures. They usually look good in just about everything and all they have to do is their hair and put their clothes on! (Must be rough) Above I’ve linked again some super simple and easy ways to style your man. Both of the jeans I linked are pairs that Jay has and loves! I dress him in those all the time, and truly think that dark jeans are the way to go as they are sleek and can be dressed up. Pair those with a nice pair of shoes, which both pairs I link Jay also has and loves that brand! Super comfortable and stylish. As for the top I usually go for a long sleeve Henley, the button down spices the plane t-shirt up and is a nice option if you don’t want to do the whole flannel or complete button down! You can add a layer like a nice coat or if they’re into sweaters, a nice clean neutral sweater would go nicely as well!

Little Boy

I always thought finding cute boy clothes would be hard but I tell ya what.. I buy more shit for my boys than I do myself! It’s just so dang cute! Oliver is a bean pole so I always put him in skinny jeans and nice oxfords or recently I bought him a nice pair of winter boots that can be worn when we’re out and about! (linked above!) A button down top with either a jacket or cardigan or vest is always a cute option!

Little Girl

We obviously don’t have any girls but Oh how fun would that be to dress a little girl! I think that little girls in dresses or skirts paired with tights and cute booties or mary janes is just adorable! You could put her in a nice blouse or sweater on top and layer with a nice coat or furry vest! Lots of cute options linked above!

Baby

I linked outfits for both a baby girl or baby boy above! Other than the obvious girl choices like dresses or ruffle overalls, if I had a little girl I would dress her similar to my little boy but I’d slap a bow on her! Of course, tights or leggings paired with a dress or romper is absolutely adorable, overalls with a cute under onesie would be cute for either a boy or a girl! Dress them in a hat or cute turban hat I linked above for a little girl! Shoes aren’t necessary if you’ll be holding them the entire time, just put some warm socks on them and they’ll be good! Don’t stress over baby shoes, they fit for like 2 seconds anyways.

Tips

  1. Bring a cozy but cute blanket to either snuggle up with or sit on during your session!

  2. Like I said in my last family picture post, bring layers. The weather can be unpredictable and that way you have choices to warm up or take layers off!

  3. Bring a cute toy! A lot of times I bring a wood truck or toy that will help keep them engaged but also will look cute in the photo! DON’T bring that obnoxious colorful toy that you’ll regret later on lol

  4. Don’t stress. Easier said than done but get your outfits ready a couple days prior and start thinking about your outfits probably a month in advance in case you do need to order a few new items! REMEMBER to start with what you have and then add new items as you see fit!

  5. Keep smiling! You may get frustrated with un-cooperating children, but it is what it is. Actually these tend to be my favorite photos because they are candid and that’s life! Just keep your smile on your face so that when you get your photos back you aren’t upset that you aren’t smiling in most of them! Plus hey! At least you look good... right!

Hope you enjoyed today’s post! Happy shopping and get those family pictures scheduled! You won’t ever regret having pictures of your family to look back on!

XOXO Mari

Fall Family picture Outfit Ideas

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When it comes to family pictures there is a sense of stress that comes along with it simply because you want to make those photos PERFECT and that usually means everyone cooperating, mother nature being good, and adorable outfits for the whole fam! I think I will split it up and share a couple different outfit ideas each week incase you don’t like what’s in todays post or aren’t the dress type of gal. So be looking for my upcoming Fall season Family photo shoot blog post, along with a couple tips that I usually like to do to help ease the stress!

Tip #1: First think of a COLOR PALLET you would like everyone to dress around. I usually stick to neutral colors, and then add in pops of colors. Think of tans, browns, whites, and then add in denim, mustard yellow, burnt orange, burgundy or navy (My favorite fall colors)

Tip #2: MIX AND MATCH. It’s okay to mix up your patterns and textures. For instance, I like to mix sweaters with denim, vests with cotton, stripes and flannel. Mix up the layers everyone is wearing to create depth.. add a vest on someone, or a sweater over your flannel, a hat or bonnet on your baby. It’s also okay to dress in a variety of one color. Last year I dressed Oliver in jeans, an ivory long sleeve, and a brown knit sweater.. and he was adorable!

TIP #3: COLORS MATTER. You will want to dress yourself in a different color than your significant other and your children. Do not all wear the same colors, you will all blend in together and there will be no depth to your photos. So DON’T dress yourself in a white top and your husband and baby that you will be holding in white because you will not have any definition to your body.. make your colors pop against each other! Notice here I am wearing an ivory top and Attikus is wearing a mustard yellow so that we pop when I’m holding him!

TIP #4: DRESS FOR THE SEASON. If you’re doing fall photos, pick more fall colors to accent the nature outside and the leaves changing and greens becoming more brown. Come prepared for colder weather and bring layers that you can take on and off to make a quick and easy outfit change without actually changing outfits. This is where a vest would be a great option to have on hand and put on half way through the session when the little one is too cold, or a bonnet for baby to add on half way through. That way you have some photos of what you really want them dressed in, but have the option to dress them warmer as well!

TIP #5: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY EVERYONE NEW HEAD TO TOE OUTFITS. Chances are you actually have pieces in your everyday closet that you can match together. Start there, pile everyones outfits together and then look at what your missing or could add to the outfits. A lot of times I pick neutral outfits for the boys, and then go buy Jay a new stripped or patterned shirt from Old Navy to help bring it all together.

Most everything listed below is from Old Navy , H&M or on sale! Just hover over the picture and it will show you the cost, where it’s from and then from there you can click on that picture to purchase!

Women

Below are easy and simple options for women to throw on a dress and some booties! You can always add a scarf and tights if it is too cold out!

Men

Below are easy and comfortable yet handsome looks for men to wear. I usually go towards men wearing a patterned shirt because they can rock it and help bring everyone together in that one shirt. Try pairing their top with khaki pants, dark jeans, or a colored pair of jeans to mix things up. You can also have the man wear a vest or jacket if it’s too cold! I always have Jay wearing cute shoes for colder seasoned sessions because you will see his feet and you want them to look nice. ( I will say Jay usually has to size up in Old Navy jeans)

Baby Girl

I obviously don’t have any little girls to dress but if I did I would most likely put them in tights with either a cute ruffle romper or dress! You can add a long sleeve underneath for warmth and a hat or bonnet!


Baby Boy

I prefer to dress my boys in the atypical button up flannel shirts and instead a plain colored shirt or onesie and a pant romper or cute pants and suspenders. It’s fun to dress them up every once in a while in clothes that you usually wouldn’t put them in so this is a great time to break out that uncomfortable outfit for them to wear for a couple hours! Baby Bonnets are my thing, I’m obsessed, and would definitely dress my baby boy in a bonnet if it’s cold or add it on half way through the session to mix things up!

Toddler Girl

Toddler girls have so many cute options! Dresses are always a go to for me when buying gifts as I think they are easy and comfortable. Add cute patterned leggings or plain colored tights to mix with a patterned dress for an adorable easy look. Little booties are perfect for fall otherwise mary janes are what I would buy my little girl! Hats and cute jackets can always be added as well if it’s too cold out!

Toddler Boy

I actually LOVE dressing little boys! There may be lots of little girls clothes out there but there are also a lot of little boys clothes! When it comes to fall think of layering and sticking to a neutral color pallet. I rarely buy my kids clothing with graphics or writing on them because I like every opportunity to take pictures of them and when you have plain jane clothing that you can layer and mix and match it just makes it so much easier and personally I find it to be much cuter! This year I had Oliver wear a cute vest, with a plain grey long sleeve underneath, skinny jeans, and boots! I also like to roll up his jeans at the bottom and have him show off his high patterned socks. Adds a pop of wild without being too crazy!

This is my first family picture post where I post ideas of what your family could wear so I hope you enjoy what I’ve posted. Much of what I posted above are items that we currently own or items that I would buy for myself and my family! Keep in mind that you do not need to use everything posted to make a great outfit, you can take items that you currently have and then pick a few items from above that would go perfectly with your outfits. I chose to stick to browns, ivory, maroons, navy blues, or olive greens.. all colors that I believe are perfect for fall.

You can also visit one of my favorite motherhood/style bloggers Lynzy and Co for her most recent family fall picture ideas post too! I will be posting another fall family outfit blog next week so be sure to message me or comment below to let me know what you want to see!!

Thanks for stopping by

XOXO Mari

Fall Family Photos 2018

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We had family photos this past Monday. Some people might say we get our photos done too often, but to me it’s so worth that time and investment because these are pictures that will last forever and help me remember those memories when I’m old and grey. If you’re on the fence about getting family photos done, do it. I honestly don’t think you will regret it and you will have beautiful pictures to look back on!

I uploaded a few of my favorites from our session and listed all our outfit details below!

All photos above taken by: Samantha Cater Photography

Jay’s Outfit: Shirt // Pants // Shoes

Mari’s Outfit: Dress // Boots or Here // Necklace

Oliver Outfit: Long sleeve // Vest // pants // shoes

Attikus’s Outfit: Onesie // Romper // shoes // Bonnet

Hope you enjoyed today’s post and I inspired you to just go for it when it booking that family session!

XOXO Mari

Attikus 9 Months

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Where does the time go, a common saying that many moms say when referring to their children, but it’s so true. The days can be long, but the months even years go by wayyy too fast! Taking professional milestone pics is just something I’ve done since Oliver was 6 months old and I am so happy I do because I have timeless, pictures to look back on that are not only on my iphone.

I love to keep things simple when dressing both myself and my children for pics. I find that when I feel most comfortable is when I look and feel the greatest. As for my kids, they’re always cute (not biased lol) but I love to dress them in simple and timeless outfits. These are pictures I am going to look back on and I want to remember those days by just looking at these photos!

Attikus’s Outfit:

Onesie Jaimie Kay

White Bloomers: August Bear

Just click on any image below to purchase directly or hover over and see the price and brand!

XOXO Mari

Family Pictures: Attikus 1 year

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June 2018

Shop My Dress// HERE

Shop Jays Shirt// HERE

Shop Oliver's Shirt// HERE, Shorts// HERE

Shop Attikus's Outfit// HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed today's post and all the adorable pictures of Oliver and Attikus! Please feel free to ask any questions below and I'd love for you to share the love and like this page, or share it with your friends or on pinterest! 

XOXO MARI