"Everything is held together with stories"...

I love that quote.
It couldn't be more true about life.
That's what this blog has always been about for me...storytelling.
And through storytelling I share bits + pieces of my life...things that may inspire you, recipes that make me happy, things that add sunshine to my soul, and maybe even things that add a little sunshine to your own life.

My story today is about the beauty we can find in change.

Our move almost a year ago has certainly presented us with some tough days.
• tearful afternoon carline pickups with Ella missing her old school.
• getting lost + turned around a time or two trying to find our way around a new town.
• tearful prayers for me as a mom, missing my two older daughters who chose to stay behind.
• loneliness and disconnect at times.
• tearful tuck-ins at night with Ella missing friends and "home".

All of that is normal.
Those of you who have moved away from home know what I'm talking about.
You just miss the heck out of everything you ever knew and loved - people, places + familiar faces.

There's also soooo much beauty in change.
Although we've had some hard days and sad moments having moved away,
we have also thoroughly enjoyed the new experiences we've been able to have in our new town.
In fact, it truly has been an adventure of sorts.
There have been so many new places to see, restaurants to try, friends to make + meet, a beautiful neighborhood to explore and ultimately a new house to make into a home.

And then there was the daddy daughter dance this year.
If you've been following along for some time you know Ella's been enjoying this annual tradition at her old school since she was in pre-school.

This year, of course, was a much different experience for her...for us...since it brought with it a number of significant changes.

First of all, she didn't get to attend with her best friend Elise, like she has done every other year. (2016, 2015, 2014)

Second, her new school didn't end up hosting one, (even though it was on the schedule at the beginning of the school year).  When I found out they had changed the "Sweetheart Social" to a "Dance Party" for the entire school, I originally thought we just wouldn't even be able to continue our annual tradition.

However, here's the "beauty" part of things.
Our neighborhood made a surprise announcement it would be hosting an inaugural Daddy Daughter Dance  - right in our own neighborhood at one of our own beautiful amenity centers. Yes!!

So although Ella was missing her bestie, (and I was missing all of the usual traditions of the evening photographing Elise + Ella and their daddies together), she still had a very special night with her dad.

And they literally walked to the dance together, hand-in-hand, down the sidewalk and across a pretty grassy field.

Our neighborhood spares no expense in creating fantastic, memorable events and this one was no different. It was a small scale Daddy Daughter Dance compared to what we're used to but it actually turned out to be quite a magical night since it was more of an intimate setting; filled with sweet treats, photo booths, hula hoop competitions, daddy's on their knees holding their daughter's hands while exchanging daddy daughter promises to one another and of course dancing the night away.

I wouldn't change a thing about how the night turned out.
And I wouldn't change a thing about us moving either.

It's not been easy at times but there have been more than enough wonderful things that have happened since our move that have opened my eyes to the true beauty that can be found in change.
And for that, I am so grateful to be able to add this experience to our story.

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
It also doesn't hurt that the area we have moved to right along the St. Johns River is so gorgeous.
The sunsets here are absolutely stunning.

PS - I kind-of-sort-of made Ella's wrist corsage this year.
J brought home a boutonnière from Publix instead of a corsage by accident so I deconstructed it a bit and turned it into something she could wear on her wrist. Ha!!
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LIFE | Daddy Daughter Dance 2016

Well let me just tell you, Miss Ella had some very specific requests this year for the Daddy Daughter Dance...gloves, tiara and shoes with a heel. *wink*

I guess with this being her third year attending, (1st dance and 2nd dance) she had a vision of exactly how she wanted to look. I wasn't sold on any of the extras but I'm really glad I listened to her on the tiara request because the week after we purchased one, I received the "official" invitation from the school stating it was a "Tiaras and Ties" themed dance this year. Perfect.

We kept the tradition of finding her dress at a long-time favorite shoppe in our charming little town of Mt. Dora called The Secret Garden. In fact, the dress, sweater, purse, barrette and tiara were all from there. (links to every little detail of her outfit are at the end of this post).

Ella chose a beautiful white, sleeveless dress after having tried on at least 20 different dresses while also rounding up a crowd of onlookers in the store who had become mesmerized each time she stepped out of the dressing room in something different. Although she was a bit embarrassed from all of the attention, she most certainly got a lot of helpful feedback in the form of "ooooh's and ahhhhh's" to help her make her final decision.  Since the white dress looked a little "wedding-ish" and I knew there was potential for the temperatures to be a little cool on the night of the dance, I took the opportunity to mix in some creamy white accents by adding the darling sweater and a purse she fell in love with. The sweater really added some vintage charm and is something she can now wear with jeans for a more casual look too. (I want one in my size). *wink*

Ella was exceptionally excited this year...not only requesting a dress rehearsal prior to the dance but also asking for a night of "practicing twirls and dancing" and most importantly, "walking" in her new little heels.  She really looks forward to this special night with her dad every year and it was even more fun this time around when she met up with her bestie to take photos together before they were whisked away by their handsome daddies for a night of fun.

  (one of the last photos taken right after Ella brushed the inside of her foot up against "stingin' nettle - 

we gave her a small ice pack for the car ride over to the dance and by the time she got there it wasn't hurting anymore). 

And these two...how cute are they?
Ella and Elise have been BEST FRIENDS since they were two years old and their friendship is just so adorable. Not only do they live in the same neighborhood, they've been lucky enough to have had the same teacher for both Kindergarten and 1st grade.
I look forward to continuing to watch them grow up together.

If you are in love with Ella's Vintage French Princess look, I've linked to the sources below.
And if you love her bestie's pink dress...you're out of luck...it's a one-of-a-kind made by her grandmother. *wink*

Sources: 
Dress, Tiara, Sweater, Purse - The Secret Garden
Rhinestone Barrette - used to help hold up Ella's bun in the back.
Satin Gloves - (ivory) - Amazon
Pearl Hosiery - (ivory) - Amazon
Shoes - (white) - Amazon

See THIS POST for a close-up of the accessories.

Love you guys! See you back here tomorrow for LTT!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I actually love the way Ella's hair looked in the messy bun for her "rehearsal" one afternoon (first two pics), compared to how I fixed it on the night of the dance. On the night of the dance, Ella had a gymnastics competition earlier in the day and by the time we got back from that and I finished making the corsage and boutonnière, I really just ran out of time. *blushing*

Tutorial coming on the boutonnière and corsage...promise.

LIFE | Charming Daddy Daughter Dance Accessories

A peek at the charming accessories Ella wore to the Father Daughter Dance she and her dad attended on Saturday. I'll be sharing the DIY details of the corsage and boutonnière I made for them to wear, as well as more photos of Ella's dress.

But for today...I'm catching up on life! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Wow! I am celebrating today my friends!! I can honestly say today is the first day since the end of January that I am not feeling completely under the weather. I am so incredibly grateful. Although I am still not 100%, I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and feeling some energy today - which is why I posted this on Instagram this morning!! *wink*

LOVE LETTERS | Dear Ella :: Keep on spinning

Dear Ella...

This world we live in can really "scuff up our boots" and leave us feeling as though we no longer want to dance and twirl with abandon.  My sweet, sweet girl...I pray with all of my heart that you hold onto your innocence, kindness, joy, laughter and selfless love for others with such a tight grip...that no matter what...you never stop dancing and spinning through life.

xoxo,
Mom

This girl...
I want to be THIS girl when I grow up.

She has my whole heart...
mostly because she loves life and everyone in it with her whole heart.

These are photos from her special night out with her prince charming to attend the Daddy Daughter Dance a couple of weekends ago.

SOURCES
Ivory Dress - see more details from THIS post
Jean Jacket
Brown Boots
Headband - a make + take from attending Snap Conference last year
Wrist Corsage - made by me - tutorial coming soon

KEEPiNG iT REAL
This post has been sitting for days...
waiting for me to post it.
I really thought it was going to take me longer than it actually did to write what was on my heart.
I love that I was able to keep it pretty simple and still convey my deepest thoughts and wishes.
I've really got an angel on my hands with this little girl.

LIFE | Father Daughter Dance

Ella's very first Father Daughter Dance was on Saturday night - the day after Valentine's Day.

She was a bundle of nerves for some reason and did NOT want to sit still for pictures.

I managed to snap a few good photos and I wanted to share with you the adorable handmade corsage and boutonniere I made for her and her daddy to wear for their special night.  The school was selling fresh flower versions for $30 bucks a pop *gasp* so I decided to make my own. I knew immediately I would incorporate the DIY paper flowers I recently shared with all of you and they took me a total of 30 minutes to put together! I think they turned out perfect! and darling! PLUS…Ella can keep them forever as a reminder of her special night with her daddy.

This was Ella getting irritated with the photo-taking...

and here she is…done with photos and ready to head to the dance!

I've never been to one of these things, obviously, but I hear it's all about the dancing and desserts! Come to think of it, isn't that what life is all about? *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
J doesn't like his picture put on the blog…
just so you know why his head is cut off in every photo! *wink*