The Cake by Hannah

A small town girl spreading kindness like buttercream frosting

What The Heck’s “The N Sale”?

Hey friends!

If you follow any bloggers at all, you’ve surely seen “N Sale” for the last couple of days all over your feed. If you’re thinking, “Good Lord, what the heck is this N Sale business?!”… don’t sweat it. That was me just a couple years ago, but when I found out JUST HOW GOOD this sale is… I became a N Sale promoter, too.

See, the N Sale isn’t old items Nordstrom is trying to clear out. The N Sale is actually all the fall and winter items coming for the upcoming season on sale for crazy prices. It can feel weird buying your fall sweaters and winter coats when it’s 90 degrees outside, but I swear it’s worth it. I got some amazing pieces last year, like a North Face quarter zip for under $60 (!!!), and I can’t wait to see what they have this year!

If you are a Nordstrom Card Holder, you get what they call “early access” to the sale. You can apply here. Starting the 12th, you can see what items are included in the sale, but cannot purchase them for the sale price unless you’re a card holder. But, if like me you don’t do credit cards of any kind, we get to start shopping come July 20th. The benefit to being a card holder is, obviously, you get to buy items right when they go on sale without risking something you really want going out of stock (which does definitely happen). But, to be honest, a lot of the time Nordstrom will restock items throughout the sale once it goes public. But, again, it’s a risk.

I will be keeping a sale guide on the top of my site under “SHOPPING CART” where I keep curated shopping carts at all times. But, this one will be devoted to the N Sale with items you can actually afford. I promise to curate items I would/am actually buying rather than showing off boots that are cut from $900 to $600. That’s just not realistic for me to purchase, and I know it’s not for a lot of you looking to get the most for your money for your fall/winter closet.

Can’t wait to shop with y’all! Hope this helped you also with this whole N Sale buzz. 😉

xoxo, Han

Hey, I Have Missed You!

Wow, y’all. It’s absolutely crazy how much has gone on in the last couple of months. I have felt so behind on EVERYTHING, and work honestly has come last in the overwhelming race against the clock every single day and constantly just trying to keep it together until nap time. (I get two times a day that bubba goes down- I will share Knox’s latest schedule in the coming weeks!) Now, because we are family around here, I wanted to just fill you in, say “hey!”, and keep this good thing we’ve got going. Because, listen, I like you. I want to keep you and I connected. 😉

To be frank, The Cake by Hannah has taken a back burner the last two months to a baby who has discovered he wants to always be vertical (and is now crawling like a champ!), the month of May that was swallowed by sickness (multiple times for all three of us!), and the month of June which was dominated entirely by travel/camp/Paul gone for 10 days. You guys, sending your husband off to a remote village in Africa with zero contact for any amount of time is unsettling, but DANG 10 days. We had never been apart for that long before, and definitely not without contact! I feel like I have been out of my routine since the beginning of May. And in case you’re wondering… it’s July… JULY. I went to the gym today for the first time since May, because I can’t ever figure out how to align getting someone to watch Knox so I can go to barre. I often start writing posts and can’t finish them. I literally have 5 open documents at the bottom right corner of my computer of posts I haven’t finished yet. It’s just so hard -all of it- when you are trying with every fiber of your being to be a good mom, good wife, good mentor, and oh yeah… when I get the chance, good writer and find “me time” to do what I love.

Because of the challenge this season of life has brought, I have longed for simplicity in every little nook and cranny of my life. What I focus on and who I focus on. How long I take to get ready. How much less I care about what I am wearing. How much more I care about if I am investing my time and thoughts in something that matters. You see, the best part about the last couple of months has been that despite this season being a challenge, it’s also been so life-giving and helpful. I have never been happier, I don’t think. I have never felt so sure of myself, despite the chaos around me and my (countless) shortcomings.

Sure, there’s a lot to figure out in this act of balancing life, work, motherhood, being a wife, and… well, everything. But here’s what I know: I have never been more happy with simple than now, and I am just glad you guys want to be part of whatever that looks like. That my friends is so freeing. I have never been more content with less for the sake of more than now.

**Literally just stopped writing this post for a good 40 minutes, because Knox just said “mama” for real for the first time. I about died. And I then proceeded to lay on the floor making him say it over and over again… Case and point… this is why my focus is so divided, but I don’t mind it one bit. My family and being a mom will ALWAYS trump work. I will share videos of him saying “mama” at the bottom of this post. You will also see how much of a monkey my child is all of a sudden… literally none of this is staged. (Feel like I have to say that O_o) **

For a quick update on us: Knox is crawling and climbing over everything. And, as of .2 seconds ago, apparently saying “mama”. I am still absolutely freaking out. Paul just traveled to Africa for 10 days where he served with Mission Massai, preached to the village at their Sunday service, and helped lead a VBS for the kids. We then had camp for our students, and then preached this past Sunday with Emma Mae Jenkins. *She is actually my pastor’s niece. And, she is just as amazingly kind and precious in real life as you hope she will be.* This was my first time to ever PREACH from the stage (I sing from it all the time!), and despite being incredibly nervous… I had so much fun and have a new love for speaking. Not a bad gig to work and experience so much in life with my hubby literally at my side. I am so grateful for life, y’all. SO GRATEFUL. You can listen to our’s and Emma’s message from Sunday here.

Anyways, clearly life has been wild. I have been trying to figure out what to focus on and how much time to put into things. Here’s what I can guarantee you will always get from me:

  1. Instagram: I am always there. Let’s hang out. And if you like following along with my life, my family, my faith, and just keepin’ it real… tell yo friends, too. 😉
  2. Sweet Thoughts: Every single Tuesday, without fail, at 6 AM you will receive my weekly devotional. (Except this past Tuesday, because it’s a holiday week and I gave myself off.)
  3. The Blog: I will continue with weekly blog posts. Some weeks there may be more, but I am promising myself and you at least one a week.
  4. The Cake Shop: This is ALWAYS there! I currently have Signature Tanks, Because He First Loved, and Sunny Days ball caps in full supply for the summer. The Cake Shop is an extension of the heart behind The Cake by Hannah. The mission to always be sweet, find joy in the little things, and to spread kindness like buttercream frosting.

I love you guys so deeply, friends. You celebrate and cry with me, and everything in between. I am grateful for each and every one of you. I am grateful for what we’ve got. 😉 I was going to do a photo shoot for this post, but honestly… I just found it fitting to share some pics from the last few weeks from the every day simplicity of our life lately. Like, 4th of July parades, lake days with friends, our first movie theatre date in years, a breakfast date, and such. You know, life. *insert a shrug here*

Love y’all. I have linked everything I am wearing to the best of my ability.

xoxo, Han

What’s in my closet:

Free People Denim Shirt (similar) | Knox’s 4th of July Outfit | Kortni Jeane Striped Swim Suit | Diff Eyewear Sunnies (Paul) | Diff Eyewear Sunnies (Hannah) | Nike Sports Bra | BareMinerals Face Make-Up | LAW Designs Earrings | LA Ball Cap

 

Videos as promised of Knox today:

 

IMG_0301-1 from Hannah Cheves on Vimeo.

Dresses for Every Summer Occasion

Can you believe it’s summer, y’all? It’s time to whip out those beach towels and swimmies, and your favorite summer dresses. Here in Texas it’s a good day if we are under 95 degrees, so I can assure you I pretty much live in my swimsuit or a light dress from now clear through September. I love summer brunch on the patio in a cute, flowy dress. Or shopping in a cute maxi that’s easy to run around in. And, it seems we always have so many weddings that vary in formality during the summer! I love a good casual wedding as much as I love a more formal attire wedding. (Have I ever mentioned before how much I just love weddings?) I have curated my favorite dresses for you, from casual summer days out and about to those summer weddings! Everything in the “Middle Ground” section below can easily be dressed up or down, depending on shoes, hair, and jewelry!

My top favorite dress brands right now happen to be two bloggers who own their own dress lines. If you’re looking for a classy dress, you cannot go wrong with Rachel Parcell or Gal Meets Glam! My dress featured in today’s post is a beautiful dress by Rachel Parcell. Check out the sleeves! I love simple elegance when purchasing a fancier dress with a higher price tag. The more simple, the more timeless. The blush is currently sold out online, but the black is still available! Who doesn’t need a beautiful LBD year-round?

Happy summer, friends! I hope it’s filled to the brim with watermelon, wet swim suits, and great friends. Well, and show-stopper dresses, of course.

xoxo, Han

All photos by Cottonwood Road Photography for The Cake by Hannah

Casual
Middle Ground
Fancy

How To Curate Baby’s Closet On A Budget!

Someone asked me recently, “How do you keep up with Knox growing so much and his closet?”

It’s true, your baby grows by the day. I have literally walked into Knox’s room multiple times in the morning and been like, “Oh my gosh, you grew. I just know it!” I have some tricks, and found certain types of items will last longer for your growing babe. Do not spend a ton of money on clothes, y’all. Here’s how to curate a wardrobe for your growing baby that will last longer!

Jumpsuits are where it’s at! I have found that the one piece playsuits/jumpsuits/rompers (whatever you want to call them) can be bought big, and therefore will last a lot longer! Just buy up a size! Knox is 5 months and wears 4-6 month outfits perfectly. But, I have been buying 6-9 mos. playsuits, because he can fit into them and they will likely last until 9+ months. Onesies are hard to make last, because it’s just true that once they’re too small.. they’re too small. You can’t get around making buttons snap together that just can’t anymore. With a playsuit, though, you can roll the pant legs if bought a little big, and there’s plenty of space for their body to grow without it being hazardous around the necks or face! Target’s Cat & Jack brand has two pack playsuits, and I am obsessed with them. Cat & Jack is our favorite around here, followed by H&M Baby. I literally cannot go to Target without leaving with a new $10 or less jumpsuit for Knox.

Packs of Cheap Onesies! Mostly the plain white, but Target has great cute ones for super cheap, too! Koala, Gerber, or Carter… whichever is on sale at the time… haha. We keep these in high supply because they’re so cheap and can be soiled without getting upset over something cute getting ruined. Knox is in these the most around the house and it’s what he sleeps in. Like I said above, onesies are hard to keep up with the growth in. But, a good pack or two of plain white ones are so cheap and are great for everyday stuff without the fear of a blowout ruining your favorite outfits for baby!

Mixable and Matchable Sets! Short and tee sets with matching onesies or bibs (I will link some below!) are great, too. Buy three piece sets that are interchangeable. I love that you can get a tee and pair of shorts that not only go together, but can also be paired with a white onesie, or a tee with another pair of pants you have. Think about buying what you can get the most wear from!

Variety of pants! Like your jumpsuits, buy these a size up in the jogger fit. Nobody will know! They are supposed to have a saggy bum- that’s the jogger look- and as long as the waist isn’t hanging off, it’s a great way to purchase something they can grow into. As far as pants true to size, again, think “How many different onesies do I own that these can go with? If you have a bunch of white onesies… the answer is “A LOT.”

Sleepers WITHOUT Feet! Like a onesie, when you put feet on the jammies, you limit how long they can be worn! But without feet, they last longer. Your baby can rock some high-waters as long as the body fits still!

Forget Shoes… Unless They’re Super Cheap. Go For SOCKS! Shoes will either be pulled or kicked off, guarantee it. Unless they are $5, don’t even think about buying shoes. Socks are harder to get off, come in packs, and are much easier to buy as baby grows. I buy all kinds of cute socks for different outfits. They do the trick!

How To Use LiketoKnow.it & Shop With Me!

“Hey Hannah, where did you get…”

One of my favorite parts of my job is finding clothes that I know you would love and (especially) are a great price. I am strategic in the things I purchase, and actually keep a monthly budget in my business to find things that I think YOU would want for your own closets. Then, I style and photograph them for you!

There are two ways you can always shop what you see me in, and I want to give a rundown of those for you today.
  1. LiketoKnow.it App
    The LiketoKnow.it app is free, and the best way to shop what I link in my Instagram feed. You can screenshot my pictures on Instagram, and they will show up in your app. OR, the best & easiest way, is to simply “Follow” me on the app, and I will show up in your influencer feed with all my latest Instagram posts.There is no easier way to shop what your favorite bloggers are wearing than in this app. You can see our whole outfit laid out easily, it’s clickable, shoppable, and you can even “Wish List” items for later purchases if you cannot buy it right then. So many of the purchases I make come from the LiketoKnow.it app, shopping my favorite influencer’s feeds!Here’s a step by step for you:
    App Store | Download App to Phone | Click Magnifying Glass/ Type THECAKEBYHANNAH In Search Bar | “Follow” Me | Click Any Photo/ See All Linked Items | Click Item To Shop or Wish List It |
  2. “Shop My Looks” Tab
    If apps just really aren’t your thing, you can always shop my looks by going to the Shop My Looks tab on the top of my website. This updates in real time with my Instagram feed, just like the app, and has the same shoppable photos for you.

At the end of the day, whichever way you choose, it means the world that you shop with me. I put a ton of work into what I do, and the more you choose to shop with me, the better I can do this blogging thing full-time for you. I take it seriously that you have welcomed me into your lives as a lifestyle and fashion blogger. In an odd way, I really do feel like we are friends through these squares. This community means more than I can express through a computer screen. Grateful for each and every one of you!

xoxo, Han

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