It's a Graham Life

What I wore

Jenna — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:20:27 +0000

Another week of what I wore, Oregon style .

What I wore…

1. Trouve Top (over 2 years ago, Nordstrom), Urban Outfitters Jacket, F21 layering tank, Guess jeggings (2 years ago), black canvas Toms.

2. A comfy outfit. American Apparel top, Free People polkadot tank, Aritzia leggings, B.P. layering tank (Nordstrom), Converse slip ons.

3. Zara White T, Rag & Bone yellow capri’s, Sam Edelman gladiator sandals. Also a mixture of J.Crew and F21 jewelry.

4. Tahula black dress (Aritzia), Urban Outfitters belt, F21 cardigan, Aldo sandals, J. Crew bracelet.

What she wore…

5. I just love this little Naartjie outfit. Love coming home and going to this store! Seriously perfect for Fl weather and I cannot see why they don’t have these stores there.

I’m linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy! Join the fun! It’s a great way to keep us all accountable to dressing up each day!

Project 52 | Refreshing

Jenna — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:37:10 +0000

52:17

Motherhood is

Refreshing.

This coming July will mark two years that S and I have been married. What an exciting, emotional, wonderful, humbling and trying two years it has been! While I have been truly blessed with an amazing and loving husband and father to my children, it of course came at the expense of leaving my old life behind. A life that I have held onto with a very strong grip. Whenever the opportunity arrives to visit home, I am usually racing to the computer to search flights trying to find an enexpensive yet efficitient option. Am I homesick? Having a hard time adjusting to the weather or Florida lifestyle? Whatever it may be, I find myself yearning for things that only Oregon can give me. Trips to my favorite restaurants that are not found anywhere else in the states. (Mucho Gusto, Dickie Joes, Lucky Noodle, Original House of Pancakes, Buritto Boy, and Cafe Yumm to name a few.) The vast amounts of green, (that I took for granted as a child and young adult) green trees, lots of green grass and an overall “green” lifestyle that I didn’t even know I would miss until I left. There’s the Saturday Market. A definite must do when visiting Oregon. There are clothing stores, children stores and cute eccentric shops that can’t be found anywhere else. Finally, but most importantly, the community. My family and friends are what my heart misses the very most. My family in FL is amazing and as the months go by I am loving them more and more, and the few friends I have made are comforting yet new. It’s just not home. Home is is where I can breathe. Where I literally get off the plane and walk out of the airport and take a deep breath. I am good. The only thing that would make this reunion a true moment of bliss is my husbands presence. But since that is not an option I am very content with my family, friends, food and Oregon lifestyle. I am refreshed.

Want to know more about my project 52? Click here.

I’m linking up with Shawna at Styleberry blog.

Insta-Grahams

Jenna — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:22:21 +0000

I really can’t believe it has been another week since the last Instagram post! I left my computer at home so it’s been difficult to post anything other than Instagram pictures. So here we are with another week (OR style) of our family through the lens of my iPhone. Follow me on Instagram @mrsjleegraham.

The “Insta-Grahams!”

J loves to play on the floor!

They love each other .

We went to the Saturday Market! One of my favorite places to eat! The people and shops are one-of-a kind .

Then we went to the mall! Family came to visit from Washington! Here are the girls posing in F21.

Campfire at night!

What an amazing relaxing Sunday afternoon! (Love nap time)

Then this little guy woke up from his nap so we had some one on one time.

G’s favorite cousin P! They are just growing up so fast!

Time for the entertainment of the night! Performances for us all!

Another fire, but roasting marshmallows this time!

At the park! He loves the swing.

Coffee date with best friend A!

Got my hair done! “Ombre” look and loving it!

Shopping with mama!

Cute boy .

So happy I got to go to my favorite store!! Got my fix for sure.

Playing in the front lawn on a pretty day.

I really like these sunglasses (top pair). They are different but so perfect for Florida and summer to me. What do you think?

G and her other best friend G after dance class! Such cute girls.

That was our busy week and we are loving our trip home!

I’m linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged and you should too!

What I Wore

Jenna — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:52:02 +0000

Here we are with another week of what I wore. I have been in Oregon for the last week Or so and I’m dressing a little differently. The shorts and tanks have turned into leggings and long sleeved cardigans. And the Toms, Oh the Toms. I wore them almost everyday this week! Not only are they super comfortable but they are very lightweight and fit quite well in a suitcase. As do my leggings and they showed up quite often this week too. Hope you enjoy!

1. Forever 21 cardigan, top from MetroPark (out of business), Guess jean leggings. Black canvas Toms.

2. Cardigan from Free People, F21 tank, Aritzia black leggings, black canvas Toms.

3. Aritzia Top (TNA), Aritzia leggings, black canvas Toms.

4. F21 cardigan, F21 top (borrowed from my sister) Zara pants, black canvas Toms. Necklace from my gmas antique store (also my sisters).

5. American Apparel top, F21 under shirt, Aritzia leggings, Aldo gladiator sandals. Also wearing my chewbead necklace.

I’m linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy! You should join in too! It’s a great way to hold us stay-at-home mommies accountable to getting dressed everyday, because sometimes thats hard to do!

Insta-Grahams

Jenna — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:51:09 +0000

This week is a little shorter since we traveled back home to OR. You can see how that went here.

It’s been an amazing and fun-filled week with family and friends! Follow me on Instagram @mrsjleegraham.

The “Insta-Grahams”

G at the fountains (still in Florida, hence tank top and shorts).

Packing for last minute trip!

Playing at Nummie’s house!

Look at this gummy smile. I LOVE HIM!!

Jackets and long pants on and ready to go!

Playing with one of her best friends!

Princess G and Princess A!

The aftermath of playing hard all day .

Went to uncle’s house for dinner! Here he is with J .

My little bathroom companion haha.

Peaceful baby sleeps.

How was your week!?

I am linking up with Jeannett at Life Rearranged.

April Photo challenge

Jenna — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:15:50 +0000

April Photo-a-day Challenge!

Last month I participated in a 30 day photo challenge. Each day there was a word or phrase to somehow interpret in your own way through iPhone photography. Chantelle from FatMumSlim creates these challenges and people who decide to participate post their pictures daily with the hash tag, #photoadayApril. It has become quite a large community. I really love interpreting each day and I do try to get creative. Here is the list for the month of April followed by my interpretation.

Last minute trip home…

Jenna — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:39:58 +0000

Daddy got a great opportunity to go to China for work for three weeks so we made the last minute decision to fly back home to Oregon! I purchased our tickets on Friday and we left on Sunday! It surprisingly wasn’t too stressful to pack and I was able to accomplish getting all our clothes (2 babies and momma) in one large suitcase. I also packed a small carry-on sized suitcase for diapers, toiletries and baby monitors that I checked. All-in-all I am VERY proud of myself for packing so light! That may be the one of the hardest parts of traveling for me.

Now traveling across the United States with a 9 month old and a 3.5 year old is no small feat. I’m positive that God sent an angel down that stayed right by our side because this trip was one of the smoothest I have EVER experienced (not including ones without children).

We had the amazing help of brother-in-law and aunt who drove us to the airport. One stayed with kids, one stayed in line and one unhooked all the carseats and brought them to the check in counter. It takes a village haha. After checking the two bags and two carseats (for free I might add. Thank you Southwest. ), I put G into our awesome umbrella stroller, and threw J inthe front pack. With one small carry on suitcase and one diaper bag, we were ready to go.

Security was a breeze and I swear the TSA workers were EXTRA accommodating for us. G took on the role of mommy’s best little helper quite nicely. We got our water and apple juice and made a quick stop to go to the bathroom and we loaded the plane!

The stroller I brought was perfect for flying because it is so easy to close down. Usually one of my least favorite parts about flying is after you walk the long tunnel down to the plane door. You have to stop and somehow hold your baby and your luggage, bags, food, blankets and somehow close up your stroller all at the same time. The added stress of people flooding the door way and walking around you to get the good seats while you struggle, doesn’t help either. Well this stroller made all the difference, allowing a very smooth transition.

Once we boarded the plane I had two little angels that slept and played on their iPad pretty much the whole time! Oh, the iPad. What a life saver! One of the “must haves” for traveling. Load it up with free children’s learning and artistic apps along with a couple cartoons and your set!

This flight was also great because we didn’t have to get off the plane to try and catch a different one at our midway. Southwest has flights that uses the same plane from Tpa to Pdx and just stops in Denver. BEST FLIGHT OFFERED EVER! After everyone got off in Denver we moved up to the fourth row and secured our new seats! We had just enough time to get food and go potty and didn’t have to bring any of our stuff! AMAZING! The rest of the flight went well although both children had their moments, the over all trip was more then I could have asked for. Thank you Lord!

Once we landed in Oregon, Papa was there to pick us up. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to come home. When you grew up in OR your whole life, it’s hard to be grateful for all it has to offer. The fresh air, all the green (trees, grass, mountains), the fresh water and a nice breeze. After living somewhere else and visiting other cities, it makes me really value the fresh outdoors Oregon has to offer

Home Sweet Home. The next 3 weeks should be refreshing. In more ways then just one.

And yes, my last recommendation for a full day of travel with babies, a nice glass of red wine (another Oregon perk). Relax and unwind, You flew across the US today!

Project 52 | Training

Jenna — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:14:50 +0000

52:16

Motherhood is

training.

As I lie on the couch at night half way listening to the TV show and half way listening for any sudden movements from the baby monitor, the dreaded moment has happened. I hear stirring. I think to myself “Here we go, he’s waking up. Do not go in there.” Five minutes later, he’s officially awake and crying. “It’s okay.” I think to myself. “He is just wanting me to comfort him, he is not hungry!” Fifteen minutes of crying. “The Dr. and I agreed, he is too old to be waking up every two to three hours. Keep waiting, he’ll go back to sleep soon.” At twenty-five minutes of crying the frustrated and confused whimpers have become full blown shrilling screams. “Okay I’ll go in, maybe he’s poopy something is definitely wrong.” Twenty six minutes and 22 seconds; I walk out of the room from a perfectly dry and now screaming even louder baby. “Dang, I shouldn’t have gone in there.” At thirty minutes, he’s still crying. “Okay if he is still crying after forty-five minutes I’m going in to soothe him.” At forty-four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, no crying. Silence.

He’s asleep.

In motherhood, there are so many different occasions of training. It can start as early as day one, with training your daughter to suck from your breast in order to get nourished and grow. Training that same daughter two years later how to go potty on her own, and after three and a half years she finally gets it! (yay G! You’re a big girl now!) Training her to tie her shoes someday soon, to ride a bike, to brush her teeth on her own. So much of motherhood is about raising and training your littles up to the independent young adults they will someday become. But what about training yourself? How did becoming a mother mean I had to be trained too? Well at this house there has been a lot of that in the last week. Yes, it is that time again, time to get that cute little boob obsessed, every three hour waking to eat, little bundle of joy out of my bed!! I can’t even believe these words I am typing. Co-sleeping with my baby, who me? I really don’t even know how it happened. One minute I am judging Sally Sue over there for co-sleeping with her baby and the next I look in the mirror and who do I see, Sally Sue herself! I blame the breastfeeding and I will also admit the utter laziness that lead me to this path. But oh what a wonderful path it has been. I get it now. I see why mother’s do it. Not only is co-sleeping (when done safely) easier for middle of the night feedings, but it is such an amazing way to bond with your baby. I believe that having more than one baby can really cut down on the bonding time that you may share with each of them. Sleeping with J in my bed really gave me an opportunity to have our time together. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and after nine months of waking up every two to three hours I knew that end was very near. I also knew my husband was eager to get his wife back all to himself. After J’s nine month check-up with the doctor, I decided it was time. Time to move him to his own room. Time to train him to sleep.

Believe it or not this little boy was actually ready! The first night was the worst and I hardly slept at all. The the next night was not so good either, but the third night was better. By night four this guy slept a whole eight hours! Who knew all I had to do was put him in his own bed. Give him a little independence and he will grow and succeed. But the real training was for me. Not for my nine month old son. It was my lazy, stubborn and unable to let go, self that kept me from getting a good nights rest for all those months. I can’t help but feel sad because It feels as though I held him back. I know, that may sound silly because all we are talking about is sleeping, but I feel like because I can be somewhat selfish and a little clingy, I inhibited him from getting a full nights rest. I always want what is best for my babies and I will remember this small feeling of disappointment in myself. Was co-sleeping until nine months what was best for J? In the end, I really couldn’t tell you, but I do know that things are great now! It’s amazing what you can get done as a mommy with six consecutive hours of sleep. All it took was a little training.

Want to know more about my Project 52 click here.

I am linking up wit Miss Shawna over at Styleberryblog. You should too!

Insta-Grahams

Jenna — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:05:01 +0000

Wow! These Fridays are coming way to fast! I seriously cannot believe it has been a week already!! Here is another week of Life with the Grahams through my iPhone lens.

You can follow me on Instagram @mrsjleegraham.

The “Insta-Grahams”

These are my favorite times. When we all are home just hanging out. I love that they are playing together more!

Oh goodness, the curls came out for date night. Hubby’s favorite, not mine.

J just hanging out while I edit pictures!

My pretty little three and a half year old! Growing up and so beautiful.

But then again, this is really the G I know .

She found a swing at Pier1 Imports. I remember trying to keep myself entertained while my mom took me to home decor stores when I was younger. Haha.

Ooooh how I love some warm fresh Krispie Kreme doughnuts. I think they put some sort of crack in these.

Daddy brought home an apple infused with bubblegum flavor??? They both really liked it. Weird.

What a cutie.

My long lost first born son, Koko bean. Oh how I miss him so.

Got my nails done. Changed it up and got the color “Cajun Shrimp”, OPI gel. LOVE me some gel polish.

Early yesterday morning we saw these taking off. How fun! Add that to the bucket list!

Thursday evening we went to the outdoor mall and listened to Mr. Tommy play music. This is G and her little friend “lil G”, who shares her same name. Cutest little girl ever.

After Mr. Tommy we went to the bookstore to read stories! G is really getting into reading and asking me VERY often if I will read to her. I love that.

And what’s reading without a little “Nilla milk” from Starbucks?

We ended the night with a skype date with daddy who is all the way in China! We miss him so much!

Thanks for stopping by!

I’m linking up with Jeannett over at Life Rearranged.

What I Wore

Jenna — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:24:40 +0000

Here we are with another week of ‘What I Wore’. This is a little thing I have been doing for a couple of months and linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy. I love this because it really has held me accountable to dressing up more often, because us mommies know that fashion can definitely take a backseat. You should join in on all the fun and link up too!

This week I decided to take my pictures outside instead of inside with the same view day after day. It was so fun using the tripod!

Here’s what I wore this week!

1. American Apparel top and skirt, Forever21 cardigan, Aldo gladiator sandals and Urban Outfitters belt.

2. Express white shorts, BP white tank, Trouve top (Nordstrom), Sam Edelman gladiator sandals, All Saints Earrings.

3. Aritzia Polkadot Tank, Urban Outfitters high waisted shorts, Sam Edelman sandals, Necklace is unknown, Express belt.

4. My date Night outfit! American Apparel Tank, Free People Bandeau, Forever21 skirt, F21 belt, Michael Kors (Outlet) clutch, Aldo heels.

Close up of these amazing heels!!

*Option to dress it down, ditch the clutch and add Aldo metallic gladiator sandals.