A small town girl spreading kindness like buttercream frosting
I think I may have enjoyed compiling this shopping guide more than I would one for myself. I am team imagination over here, which means I love more than anything toys that require a kid to develop, discover, and create. I have a list full of fun gifts, toys, and imagination inspiration for the kiddos in your life. And, majority are battery free!
I am so giddy to unroll this new series on The Cake by Hannah. I have shared a little bit about why I will be doing it, but in case you missed it- here’s the deal. I believe in always being a little overdressed rather than under. I mean, who doesn’t love feeling put together? Also, if you’ve ever walked into an event underdressed… you likely take to the “over dressed rather than under” theory as I do. Ugh, face to palm. In my opinion, dresses are the quickest and easiest way to feeling put together. They also happen to be my favorite thing to buy for my closet. (Shoes are a very close second!) I was thinking about how I can best serve y’all here on the blog, and that’s how I made it eventually to the Dress of the Month series idea. It can be really hard to know what to buy for an upcoming event or holiday with a million options, and my hope is that this will help make things a little easier.
*Also, shout out to Leanne Barlow who does a Dress of the Month of stunning, over the top dresses that SHE SEWS!* Oh no. Believe me, that will not be the case here. I am not seamstress, my friends. However, I do love a good dress for a great price. So that’s exactly what I am doing every month for you!
I am on the hunt to find you the BEST dress for every month -taking into account what holidays and occasions are coming up- and making certain it is both affordable and versatile.
I love finding the perfect dress for every occasion, and believe me when I say there’s definitely a dress for every occasion. 😉 Today’s is a beautiful rust color, which is definitely a trend this season. Check it out here! I love the style and fit- chiffon, flowy, cute details on the sleeves, ruffles… it has it all. AND IT IS ONLY $45 Y’ALL! <<< YOU CANNOT BEAT THAT!
This is the perfect dress for a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving Day. It most certainly will expand with you as the day goes on, two or three slices of pie in! I have it paired here with my Fall Investment Bootie of the season, but you could totally wear this with a cute OTK boot, a brown boot, or a cute ballet flat. It’s so versatile!
Happy shopping, friends! It means the world to me when you choose to use my links and shop with me. When you use my links, it helps me keep doing this blogging thing as a job and pouring into it as much as I want! SO THANK YOU!
xoxo, Han
Today I have a VERY special guest on The Cake by Hannah, and I am so excited about it! Meet Hannah Hagaman, the talent behind basically everything you SEE on this blog. Hannah has been my photographer for over 3 years, and I am so thankful to work with someone who is both a dear friend and is seriously so talented. We were sorority sisters at DBU back in the day if you can believe it (8 years ago!!!), and we reconnected after college when we were first diving into our own businesses and pursuing entrepreneurship. Hannah has taken our last 4 family Christmas card photos, starting in 2015, and every year she knocks it out of the park. Our little family has morphed and grown since our first session with Hannah, but what doesn’t change is that her photos always capture us in the season we are in so perfectly. From a wildlife ranch to a beautiful white barn, a goldendoodle and a baby bump… We have had some fun shoots!
Follow Hannah at Cottonwood Road Photography, here. AND, at her personal account, here.
Hey everybody! I’m so honored to be writing to you guys today! I’m the other Hannah- the Hannah behind the images here on The Cake! I wanted to bring you guys a handful of tips today to help you have AMAZING family photos that you will love forever.
Here are our family photos for Christmas 2018! We went casual this year, because it just seemed fitting for the season of life we are in. Ain’t nobody got time for gowns and tuxedos with a 10 month old. 😉
Shop our outfits:
Hannah’s Top | Jeans| Shoes | Lip Color
Paul’s Jacket (Hubba hubba- I am so obsessed!!) | Jeans | Shoes
I am a sucker for traditions, and sometimes to a fault. I stick to what I have done exactly the way I have always done it for the sake of keeping tradition arguably more than anybody I know. This time of year, as the holidays approach, I am reminded of just how many colder weather traditions I actually have. Food is important to me. I live for making good food for people I love, and eating certain types of foods at certain times of the year to commemorate certain things.
For me, lasagna is for Christmas Eve, corn casserole is for special holiday parties and meals, mulled wine is for brisk evenings, chili cannot be eaten until the first official cold front of the year, and baked french toast is made for special fall and winter breakfasts but PARTICULARLY for Christmas morning.
I love this baked french toast recipe, and the best part (aside from how tasty it is) is that it’s so easy to make! I hope you implement this recipe into your own traditions and love it as much as I do.
Baked French Toast
You will need a 9 x 13 pan. (You can get mine shown above, here.) Set the oven for 350 degrees.
Spray or butter the bottom of your pan. Lay first layer of sliced bread (6 slices). Mix together milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Pour half the mixture over the top of first layer. Repeat with second layer of bread. Place dollops of butter on top of each slice if you’d like, and cover. Put in the fridge and let sit for 8-10 hours. (Not necessary, you can bake it right away, but it makes it fluffier!)
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees (give or take- watch for it to brown on top and all egg mixture is no longer liquid).
Take out and let cool off, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with fresh fruit, pecans, syrup, and whipped cream!
Photos by Cottonwood Road Photography for The Cake by Hannah
I have dreamt of this collection from the second I got pregnant with Knox, and I am seriously bursting at the seams about it. This collection means so much to me, because I believe so strongly in teaching our children to be kind. Our world needs sweet kids, and it STARTS WITH YOU, parents/friends/family. It starts in your homes. It starts in your class rooms. It starts with teaching your children to change their world, and empowering them to do so.
I believe in raising up young men who believe chivalry isn’t dead. Who believe in being both strong AND sweet.
I believe in raising up women who believe that encouraging is empowering. Who believe that there is enough room at the table for everyone.
Children who look for the kid who doesn’t have somebody to sit with at lunch. Children who see bullying and not only step away from it, but say something. Children who have a voice and feel confident to use it.
Please, join me in fighting the fight to raise kids who believe that kindness really does win. Who believe in spreading kindness like buttercream frosting in their homes, their schools, their teams.
It really does take a village. Whether you are a parent yourself or don’t have any kids of your own… We all play a role. You are so important! We all are playing an active part in seeing the next generation win.
ALL PHOTOS BY COTTONWOOD ROAD PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE CAKE BY HANNAH
The Spread Kindness Onesie and Tees for our first Mommy & Me option! Tees available in multiple colors!
Kindness Wins Tees and Onesies, because we want our children to speak with confidence and bravery, and to fight the battles worth fighting. Kindness really does win in the end! Available in 4 colors!
RAWRRR Onesie and Tees! Because we believe in being fiercely kind, fiercely imaginative, AND fiercely cute.
