Summer Outfits: Floral & Lace

 I am pretty sure the last style post that featured clothing larger than a size 3T was sometime in early 2012, so today's post comes with some hesitation and some excitement.  I will never classify myself as a fashion blogger, because I am still figuring out my own personal sense of style.  During a season of my life a few years earlier, I donated most of my wardrobe before setting out on a crazy mission trip across the country, shortly after, I added fashion back into my life just in time for my wedding and honeymoon, but then a season of lack forced me to stop buying and by the time I was able to purchase a thing or two I had become a mom - with a new identity to figure out.

 I figured our Hawaii vacation was a good enough reason to get myself back into some stylish clothing, I mean, who doesn't like to look good while they are on vacation?  I did a lot of shopping at Target and Plato's Closet.  To tell you the truth, I'm still quite unsure of myself in terms of what is right for me as a mother or even as a 30 something woman.  I'm hoping that I will grow as I continue to share my Summer outfits, as well as my Fall looks.  I was recently told during a twitter party that moms above 30 should not shop at Forever 21, I know, I know, how dare they say that! At the same time, I don't want to be dressing inappropriately for my age.

Floral & Lace Denim Shorts c/o Target

Woven Ankle Boots c/o Target

I will admit that I picked up these floral and lace denim shorts from Target's Juniors section, so I guess that means I'm throwing all of the rules out the window.  I love these shorts, how could I pass them up!?  Oh and please disregard my pasty white legs in these pictures, I promise I got some sun in Hawaii so future pictures shouldn't be so blinding! Ha! Have you found your sense of style since becoming a mom?  Do you dress age-appropriate??

      

Oahu Beaches: Ko OlinaJW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa

 We just returned home from our Summer vacation to the Hawaiian Islands.  As first-timers to the beautiful island of Oahu, we weren't entirely sure what to expect, though we hoped we'd find beautiful beaches and lush tropical scenery.  Our hopes were far exceeded.  When we booked our room at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, we weren't sure if we'd regret not staying in Waikiki.  We couldn't have made a better decision!  Of all of the Oahu beaches we visited while we were there, the Ko Olina lagoons were, by far, the most calm, serene and family friendly.

 We arrived at the resort in the evening after a long day of traveling, so after a quick meal, we headed immediately to bed so we could start the following day with plenty of energy.  When we woke up in the morning (quite early due to our 3 hour time gain) we immediately took delight in the sky's soft pastels as the sun rose on the opposite side of the island.  In no time at all, the sun was shining, showing off the gorgeous blue waters of the Pacific ocean and the vibrant greens of the palm trees.  It was time to get out and explore the resort.

 The JW Marriott Ihilani resort has three main towers connected by a triangle courtyard.  The resort is very open, allowing the soft tropical breeze to flow freely into the building.  Within the resort are several restaurants, including the signature casual dining experience at Naupaka Terrace.  There is also a fantastic open-air Starbucks in the lobby, which we frequented.

 The resort property has a beautiful habitat for sting rays, fish, and other low tide creatures, as well as a shark pool.  They offer a fun kids program to learn more about these creatures.  As you walk out of the resort toward the beach area, you immediately take notice of the large circular swimming pool and palm trees.

 The JW Marriott Ihilani sits on the right side of Ko Olina Kohola Lagoon, a beautiful man-made lagoon that has pristine blue green waters, and plenty of beach space to spare.  The water here is always calm, and the beach is never crowded, making this Oahu beach the perfect spot for taking your small children.  There are rentable cabanas on the beach, complimentary lounges, and tons of water activities to participate in.  Our favorites included snorkeling, kayaking and relaxing in a water hammock.

There is a beach walkway that you can explore which passes the other three Ko Olina lagoons, as well as the other resorts in the area.  The path is about 1.5 miles each way, making it perfect for a 5k run (roundtrip).  This is where our vacation starts and I can't wait to share with you all of the fantastic adventures from our trip, including all of the other gorgeous Oahu beaches we visited!

      

10 Blogging Etiquette Tips for Newbies + eBook FLASH Giveaway

Happy Friday Lovelies! I'm ridiculously excited that tomorrow morning my little family of three is hopping on a plane to the beautiful islands of Hawaii!!  While I'm busy running around today making preparations, I have a special guest post and giveaway that will be extremely helpful in your blogging toolkit.   I have had the pleasure to read a complimentary copy of Jacy's eBook that you are going to learn about below and can honestly say it contains invaluable information to help you navigate the blogging community!  With that, I warmly welcome Jacy to BaxtronLife!

Hey beauties!  I'm Jacy Lee Pulford, an author/artist from New England. I blog over at, well, a blog with the same name as mine and have a shop, well, with my name as well. You can call it lazy. I like to call it branding. This week I am on a blog tour to promote my new eBook "10 Blogging Etiquette Tips for Newbies" which is available right now for only $2.99. Blogging can be so much fun...am I right? As a new blogger, I've made a lot of mistakes. While someone might say it's fine, some mistakes had lasting effects on how readers interacted with my blog and with me.

This is why I'm passionate about blogging etiquette and the do's and don'ts of being a new blogger. Even if your blog is just for you and family, there is a code of conduct that should be learned. No worries, it's not rocket science. Back in March I wrote a blog post entitled "5 Blogging Etiquette Tips for Newbies" which is still one of my most popular posts ever in my three years of blogging. Do you know what this tells me? That you guys care too!

So I've compiled a list of 10 tips for newbie bloggers discussing how to behave in certain situations, using proper manners and even how to act towards other bloggers. Let's face it: people can be rude. Online or offline, it's the truth. Etiquette is about respect, politeness, integrity, honesty and trust among any and all groups of people. Etiquette is for everyone but just like anything, if you don't have it, you must learn it.

Here are some topics covered in the eBook:
- "Link to actual source"
- "Leave a comment, not a sales pitch"
- "You're not the gramma' police"
- "Respect personal lives"

You will learn how to hold yourself to a higher standard within the blogging community and what we "older" bloggers really think about how newbies behave. 17 pages packed with knowledge, real-life experiences and links to great resources.

Does this sound like a book you would love to read? Do you want a FREE copy? I'm giving away one free copy of the eBook to a lucky reader! Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. I also have a BIG 15% discount code for my shop over on my Facebook page! Oh yeah, along with another giveaway where one Facebook fan will win a custom blog or business logo. Whoa. I know. So after you enter below, head on over to my page, like it and enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
As a writer, I want to inspire hearts and enrich minds. I've been blessed and I want to bless others. God's love is so amazing, isn't it? I love how He can transform a life and turn ashes into beauty! That is what my next book project is about. A devotional featuring real-life stories from fellow believers about how "No One Will Ever Love You...{like Jesus does.}" It is because of His unselfish love that we have life and are able to love others.

So I will leave you with a prayer and hope that you will support this project:
Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing us the freedom to choose You. It is in our choice, in our own personal devotion that our relationship with you can grow deep. Let us be like the trees by the river; unmovable and rooted. Bless each reader on this blog. I pray we will put you first and learn to love and respect one another the way You love and respect us. In Jesus Name, Amen.

      

In Less than 48 Hours I Will Die...& Go to HEAVEN!

Ko Olina Lagoons with permission via DJSlane

In just over 48 hours we'll be touching down in Honolulu, Hawaii for a vacation we've been dreaming of for 5 years.  To say we are excited is a vast understatement - for we are jubilant! We feel so blessed to be able to make this dream a reality - these islands have been calling out to us since our engagement.  And the best part is that without our "sacrifice" of business travel to Alaska for the past several months, we wouldn't be able to take this trip either!

We'll be enjoying ourselves on the island of Oahu, with lodging at the JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Spa & Resort, and access to the gorgeous and calm lagoons of Ko Olina.  We have our bags packed with our beach essentials, and plan to spend at least 50% of our time soaking up the sun, building sand castles, playing frisbee and perhaps flying a kite.  The forecast is showing upper 80's and sunshine every day with a low of 72/73 in the evenings, doesn't that sound PERFECT?

Waikiki with permission via DJSlane

Of course a trip to Oahu wouldn't be complete without a few excursions!  We chose a hotel outside the crazy hustle and bustle of Waikiki, on the leeward side, but we'd be missing out to not take some time exploring the other parts of the island.  We plan on renting a car occasionally from the onsite Hertz while we are there to take part in island excursions.  We'll visit Waikiki one day and get a taste of the beautiful beaches, restaurants and shops there.  We love the idea of this Waikiki food tour.

We've also been looking at other adventures - including the Polynesian Cultural Center, a catamaran cruise, ziplining and putt-putt golf.  Of course there is also Pearl Harbor and the several memorial museums, snorkeling at Waimea bay, and the beautiful Ihilani Day Spa.  A huge perk of staying at the Marriott resort is that they offer onsite babysitting, so we will aim to get out for some couple time while we are there as well.  When we asked Zion what she'd like to do, she said she wanted to see dolphins and eat yummy food.

Dolphin with permission via Merala

She is going to be so thrilled when we take her to the Sea Life Park for their Dolphin Cove Show!  And then after a day of checking out the sea animals, we'll thrill her once more at the Chief's Luau, voted best Luau in Oahu!  That is going to be one fantastic day!  I'm also hoping I can get us out on one outdoor hiking/walking excursion to see the lush tropical flora and fauna of Hawaii, maybe even see a waterfall!!

After spending six nights and six full days on the island, our fun doesn't end, as we head to Seattle for three days to spend time with family.  We are so excited to be celebrating my sister Jessica's graduation from the University of Washington's school of Nursing!!  She has worked so hard, and this is a huge accomplishment - so let the party commence!  I'm hoping to get together with all four of my sisters for a coffee date while we are there, and if we can make it work, I'll have gorgeous pictures of us together for the first time in a long time!

Before I go, I just wanted to get you excited for what will be coming up in the next several weeks on BaxtronLife!  With all of the excitement of our Hawaiian vacation, I decided I wanted to officially launch my "style" section on this blog, so I'm going to be doing outfit posts!!  I have a heartful of words to share about why this is meaningful for me to do, so look for some fun and fashionable beach fashion.  As September approaches I also have two things on my mind: my 32nd birthday and my 2nd blog anniversary.  I'll be doing my long-awaited Anchorage Coffee Tour highlighting the best coffee I found while in Alaska, and will definitely have some fun giveaways lined up.

I may be a little quiet over the next week - but you can follow along on our Hawaii & Seattle adventures with Instagram!