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I had the opportunity to travel to Bryson City, NC earlier this month with Dawn Burns of The Nashville Mom and Crystal Brown of Southern Snippets for a quick girls getaway! Bryson City is a charming small town in the Great Smoky Mountains. We had the best time trying new restaurants, exploring the town and of course lots of shopping.

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We stayed downtown at A Loft in the Smokies and it was absolutely amazing! It was in walking distance to several great restaurants and shops.

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We enjoyed dinner at The Everett Bistro, which was in walking distance from the lofts. They had a charming rustic atmosphere, delicious food and even better desserts!

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The next day, we spent the afternoon shopping at Humanite Boutique, a give back brand owned by my sweet friend, Erin Smith. 10% of profits go to local and global organizations. They offer on-trend clothing, shoes and accessories with most pieces priced at under $100. They also offer $3 shipping!

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Bryson City is surrounded by beautiful mountains and breathtaking views. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities from trails for hiking to the famous Deep Creek for rafting, kayaking and tubing. Bryson City is the perfect small town getaway for a girls trip, a couples trip or even a family vacation. We had such a wonderful time and I can’t wait to go back!

For some, Mother’s Day isn’t a day of joy. It’s the harsh reality that your mom isn’t here on this earth anymore or maybe she’s here but you don’t have a good relationship with her. It can also be a painful reminder of the babies you wish you had and can’t or the children you have lost. For others, Mother’s Day is a joyful day spent celebrating with your mom and the little people that call you “mom.”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are commanded to “give thanks in all circumstances.” This can feel difficult if you have lost a loved one too soon or if you are simply walking through a challenging season of motherhood. No matter how difficult or unfair life seems, there is always something to be thankful for if you look hard enough. This doesn’t mean your pain will go away or will hurt any less. It just means we can make the choice to focus on the good and be thankful for the people in our lives that are here today.

Whatever this day looks like for you, be sensitive to the fact that it may be a painful day for some of the women around you. And if you are one of those women, be encouraged you are not alone. Be kind to the women in your life today (and everyday) because there could be sadness hidden behind their smiles.

“Motherhood is a million little moments that God weaves together with grace, redemption, laughter, tears, and most of all, love.” Lysa TerKeurst

One of my favorite ways to give life to any outfit is to add statement earrings. My go-to is typically Sugarfix by BaubleBar. You can shop the entire BaubleBar collection here and receive 15% off your first order. The Sugarfix by Baublebar Collection is sold exclusively at Target and their prices are so affordable! Two of my current favorite statement earrings are shown below. Shop the tassel pair I’m wearing here and the pink fringe pair here.

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Spring is right around the corner and Draper James has you covered. Spring 2019 has pieces for everyday that keep you looking stylish and feeling confident. Draper James has a new head of design and trust me you’re going to love all of the new styles!

One of my favorite pieces is the Chambray Faux Wrap Dress. It is a great dress to wear now and into the summer. It is perfect for the fall too, just throw on an oversized cardigan and some booties and you’re good to go! I think it’s important to have versatile pieces in your closet. I love owning pieces I can wear throughout the year.

My go-to look is cute, casual and comfortable. And one of my favorite ways to do that is by finding what I like to call “dressy” sweatshirts. You know what I’m talking about, sweatshirts with ties, ruffles and all the cute prints. Any excuse to wear a sweatshirt and I’m all in! Draper James has the prettiest sweatshirts this spring. My favorite is the blue and white gingham. It can easily be dressed up or down. It’s also available in pink and white gingham, which is really cute too. An easy way to “dress up” a sweatshirt is to throw on statement earrings with a great pair of jeans. A big pair of sunnies and a fancy bag make great accessories too!

If you haven’t already, head over to Draper James to check out all of the pretty styles for the spring. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!

Happy Shopping!!

Most of us were taught at a young age to treat others the way we want to be treated, but how many of us actually live by that golden rule? Being kind is easy when others treat you with kindness… but what about when someone “bumps into your happy” by cutting you off on the interstate or when a friend calls to tell you something hurtful she overheard someone saying about you? What about when your toddler yells “Mommmmy!” for the fiftieth time before lunch or your husband comes home at the end of the day and complains about the house being a mess?

Colossians 3:12-14 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” This scripture tells us how to treat other people. We are to put on love & kindness and have compassionate hearts. We are also to be patient, humble and show forgiveness when people mistreat us.

No one is kind all the time, but if we become more intentional with treating others how we want to be treated, I believe the world would be a better place. I love smiling at strangers and seeing them smile back at me. I believe that one small act of kindness, even if it’s just a smile from someone you pass on the street, can completely turn around someday’s day.

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