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Losing a pet, for us, was the hardest thing we have ever dealt with. Emotionally, the process was exhausting. I learned there is no ‘right way’ to grieve, and that this is a cycle that will surface from time and time again. We miss our boy dearly; Humphrey Bogart, you are one magnificent dog who we miss so much.
This post is sponsored by Visit Indiana and French Lick Resort, but all thoughts and opinions are my own!
Praise the Lord, it is our summer vacation!! My family and I were counting down the days until our summer could begin and finally, it is here! It was so fun to surprise the kids with a mini getaway the weekend that their school let out. We had heard GREAT things about French Lick Resort, and my husband and I are so glad we got to experience it for ourselves.
First off, for such a short drive from Louisville, it really feels like you’re ‘getting away.’ Not really an interstate close by, but two lane state roads wind you through beautiful country side. Then you pull into French Lick and there are these two MASSIVE resorts. They are historic, stately and offer such truly beautiful architecture and exploration. We pulled up and low and behold…FREE VALET. Sorry, but we aren’t typically fancy enough to have someone else park our car. That’s really a great way to start any vacation, someone willing to do mundane tasks for you. They even brought the luggage to our room free of charge as well!
We stayed at French Lick’s sister hotel West Baden Springs Hotel. You walk through a giant atrium to get to the hotel lobby, and oh my goodness, y’all—it’s magical. All of the beautiful natural light pours through, and when you stop and look straight up to the top, you can’t help being completely in awe at such a spectacular building. (I’m also blown away by whoever constructed it because holy heights, that would be kind of terrifying.)
Admittedly, French Lick is a small town, but for our weekend getaway it was perfect. Plenty of restaurants to choose from, games and activities for the kids, and the resorts have PLENTY of swimming options both indoor and out. The food at Ballard’s in West Baden, the charming train that will shuttle you back and forth between the resorts, bowling alleys, all of it was just super charming and relaxing. (PS, when you go and ride the train hopefully Todd is your conductor, he was MADE for this. Such a sweet and kind gentleman to everyone he gave rides too. He even gave our kids wooden train whistles, which I now have a love/hate relationship with; but regardless, sweet gesture!)
Outside of the resorts there were plenty of places to eat, shops to look through, and fun activities for everyone to enjoy. I recommend 33 Brick Street, which is where we had dinner one of our nights. Its a casual sports bar filled with cool memorabilia. Apparently I’m lame because I don’t really know who Larry bird is, but he has lots of things on display there!! We also enjoyed Pluto’s Pizzeria, which is where we bowled and ate pizza—a really fun experience and activity for our kids who are five and seven! For breakfast both days we went to the Grand Colonnade Restaurant Buffet. Saturday morning I had some girl time with my daughter; my husband drove our son to his basketball tournament back in Louisville (dedicated sports dad!) and she and I went to breakfast and explored some of the shops.
Big Splash Adventure is minutes down the road from the hotel, and a great activity for families who visit! It is a 40,000 square foot INDOOR water park, but get this—it has a retractable roof! All year round you all can enjoy this destination for some great family fun! Just outside of town there is Wilstem Ranch. There you can actually meet giraffes and elephants, and there is also zip lining and horseback riding here. The ranch is just ten minutes from Paoli and French Lick.
You all know me and my obsession with horses, right? We obviously had to check out the Stables at West Baden, which has trail rides available. (The minimum age requirement to ride though was eight, so we didn’t do a trail ride since our kids were too young; however, you know we cuddled them and got to know some of the staff, which in my mind, was pretty much just as awesome.) The staff there were super friendly! I’d highly recommend snuggling with the horses (and going for a ride, haha!)
We spent one of the afternoons at the pools, West Baden Springs has a great indoor and outdoor facility. It was sprinkling when we started, but the weather held off and we were able to enjoy a good couple of hours in the water!
French Lick truly was a GREAT weekend getaway place. Not far from home, but far enough away that life and responsibilities just slow down—and rest and laughter become the two most important things to take care of. I’ve heard from several friends that the decorations they put up at Christmas time are unreal, so my family will definitely be going back! Thank you, French Lick Resort for hosting our family this weekend, what an incredible place it is.
I was listening to a Podcast recently and they were talking about the clothing store Evereve. Have you heard about this clothing brand? Megan Tamte is the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and I can relate with her the most because she is a Mama, just like me. Her dream was to open a store that loved and empowered women and fellow moms, and to create a comfortable and kid friendly space. Not only did she do that, Y’all, she actually now has 80 stores across the country, as well as an online site where you can purchase from, and she stands passionately behind her message to mamas around the globe: “We’re cheering for you as you balance playdates and date nights, work and weekends, the daily routine and your dreams.”
All of that being said, I am so excited to have partnered with Evereve to spruce up MY spring closet. I have been rotating outfits for a very, very long time, and it was so nice to be given the opportunity to shop and choose new styles that I feel comfortable and beautiful in. I remember my first email with the company, I told them that I am not a fashion blogger or someone who writes often about clothes/style, and she responded saying, “Don't you worry about a thing. We just expect you to be you. You take beautiful images and we want them to feel authentic and real to you.” I was immediately in and gave a very excited YES when it came to collaborating. I work with a lot of different brands and companies, but when you get the ones who actually fully BELIEVE in you and empower you to be 100% yourself?? Those are the keepers, my friends.
Here are 3 outfits that I absolutely love from Evereve, and I think they are great for spring AND summer!
These cut-out wedges can be worn with almost anything! Jeans, skirts, dresses, even cropped pants! I’ve worn them with several outfits now and always get so many compliments. I’m also a fan of how comfortable these white pants are; they can easily be dressed up OR down. I like wearing these pants with this striped woven tee, but I also wear this tee with dark jeans and sandals. Being able to mix and match the same pieces is definitely ideal for me as a mom who is always looking for ways to save money and be conservative with what I buy.
Now let’s talk about color! I so often am prone to getting grays or neutrals when it comes to tops and blouses, I literally think 90% of my closet currently consists of navy, gray, olive green, and white. When I saw this tank top, I had to get it to add some sunshine to my closet, and it can also be worn with so many different pant options. These are my new skinny ankle jeans, and they’re definitely my new denim favorite. I have also gotten so many compliments on them (especially from my husband, which always feels good am I right??) ;)
This black jumpsuit I purchased with weddings in mind. I am a professional photographer and I always try to wear comfortable and breathable pieces while I shoot weddings. This one will absolutely do the job, and I can also wear it to work, on the go, and when running errands with my kids. I’m wearing it with my new Dr. Scholl’s sandals, which are SO SO SO comfortable! They’re like walking on clouds! The platform wedge gives me just enough boost that I feel taller (something I’m all about since my husband is 6’4) without making me feel like I may break an ankle :)
I think all my Mama friends are going to want the necklace I’m wearing in all of these looks: it is dainty and elegant, and can be worn with literally any outfit! At the price of $34, I really think this is a piece you’re going to want to add to your collection!
So what do you think after scrolling through this post and looking at these outfits? Does it make you want to shop? Mom or not, this store has something for every female! Check out the Evereve locations here, and important for my Louisville gals, they are opening a BRAND NEW store over at Oxmoor and it’s coming June 2019! I cannot wait to go IN PERSON to do some shopping, especially on those ‘treat yo self’ days. Something I want you to remember: you are important. You are loved, you are beautiful, and you are YOU. If you’re already a fan of Evereve and shop there, yay! This is SUCH a good and authentic brand!! And if you are brand new to this company, also yay, because I hope you will be inspired to do some browsing and pick a piece or two (or ten) that screams your name.
Happy shopping, Friends! And thank you so much, Evereve for sponsoring this post and being a company that I 100% believe in.
