Ruffled with Grace

Hi friends,

Happy Sunday! Hope ya’ll have had a wonderful weekend! This past week and weekend, I have focused on truly cherishing time. Time is something we often take for granted, (at least I do without realizing it)! And often, we can’t seem to get enough of it. As a mom of three, juggling children’s schedules, two dogs, my husband, and running a full time business, I can relate with feeling like I never have enough time. It really hit me this week with something Henry said to me. He said “Mom, I am not always going to be little, I am going to be a grown man soon”. As silly as that comment was coming out of my 4 year old’s mouth was, I held back tears as I thought he was completely right. We are going so fast all the time. Going from thing to thing, deadline to deadline, and life is just passing us by. Our children are only going to be little once, and whether you have children or not, we only in the present ONCE. We have to make the most of our time and truly cherish it! I personally took time to slow down, made a schedule for what works for me and my team, so I can have a better balance of being the best business owner for Little Boy Blue, as well as, the best mom I can be for my children and family. So whatever stage you are in, whether time feels like it is standing still or it is passing you by, know that we are only in the present once. Be still and present and see how much joy it brings you! With my new mindset, we enjoyed lots of family time, snuck in a date night, finished a few home projects for some work being done the next two weeks, put together the boys new trampoline, and I set aside some work time to finish several custom orders (I can’t wait to share!). It was so nice to be still and in the moment. Something so easy, but sometimes hard to do when so much is going on around you. That is my challenge for ya’ll this week! My favorite quote is from Maya Angelou- “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be in the present…gratefully”. I am so grateful for this platform, this community, and this shop. Thank YOU for being here! Every interaction, communication, and order means so much. Being able to do life alongside you all, dream, and cherish time is what it is all about. Always remember to shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you will land among the stars! Keep dreaming friends, keep smiling, and always cherish the time 🙂

Today I have compiled our favorite red, white and blue things just in time for July 4th! The 4th of July is one of our favorite holidays! It is a time for family, fun, and of course food 😉 We have been going up to the mountains for the 4th, as long as I can remember, so the Haynes crew is excited to head up there for a fun long weekend! What do ya’ll have planned for the 4th of July!? I have shared our favorite activities and outfits below!

Little Boy Blue ships ready to ship items same day, so it is not too late to snag your July 4th outfits! We have so many cute outfits in stock ready to head your way! Use code: JULY for FREE shipping!!

Hope ya’ll aren’t facing any Sunday Scaries! It is a great week to have a great week, so let’s crush it together!

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xo,

Ashley and The LBB boys

Dress // Shoes// Boys Polo// Boys Shorts// Wagon// Truck Jon Jon

Splash Pad // Patriotic Bingo

Fun Fact: Henry (our oldest) was born on Father’s Day. 6/18/17. I told my husband I will never be able to top that Father’s Day present 😉 It is safe to say Henry has impeccable timing!

I try to always think of fun ways to incorporate the boys to do something sweet for their Dad! Who else loves handmade gifts?! They really are the sweetest! But goodness, now I know why I am not a teacher. The patience and mess are next level. HA! But totally worth it for the final product and the looked on loved ones faces!

Okay, so one of my big boys favorite activities is painting! I know, I know… for a type A mama this makes my heart cringe a little every time they ask. But to see the look on their little faces painting their hearts out just makes it all worth it. Plus, now I have learned my lesson on what paints to use. I have gone through our fair share of paints, ruined all the things and finally found a winner. I am talking it leaves NO trace that it was even there. That is my kind of paint!! So spoiler alert, we are about to get messy and do something sweet for Daddy!

Now the real question is-Who wants a super cute and easy Father’s Day Craft idea!? Girl, I got you! Let’s DIY and have some fun with your kiddos in the process!

Father’s Day Card

What you will need:

–Paper

–Paint

–Googly eyes

–Glue Gun

–Sharpie

-Paper plate

-Little fingers

–Apron (optional)

Find a table and set out all of the items you will need. Place your little one in a smock/apron and you are ready to go! By the way, if you are looking for a smock, we have so many cute styles for both girls and boys! Did I mention we can put a monogram or name on them? Yep, I know (too stinking cute!) Okay, back to business! First step is to ask your little one what color paint they would like to paint with! Grab a plate and dab about a golf ball size glob of paint on it. Take your little ones hand and have them cover the entire surface of their hand print and place the painted hand on the piece of paper lifting up carefully. Repeat if you have multiple children or want multiple “fish”. Yes, their little hand prints are going to be fish! Grab several sheets of paper and let the littles play with the paint while you take over. After the paint is dry, its time to put the finishing touches on your card. Grab a glue stick or glue gun, and glue a googly eye to each handprint aka fish. Then cut a small sized string and glue it to make a “rod”. Once that it glued down, simply grab a sharpie and write any caption you’d like at the top, “You’re a reel cool Dad”, Oh’fishally the best Dad ever”, “You are my reel hero! Happy Father’s Day!”, “Hooked on you!…possibilities are endless. Then last but not least add the hook and you are completely done! If you want to take it up a notch, simply buy an 8×10 frame and frame your masterpiece, so Dad can put it in his office or special place of his choosing.

What did I tell you..easy peasy! Plus the kiddos have fun in the process. Win, win!!

Henry and Harrison loved today’s activity and they are so excited to give it to their daddy! It is so no surprise that they picked orange and blue! It is not hard to tell where Mommy and Daddy met (War Eagle!), but also that it happens to be Blippi colors 😉 Any Blippi fans in the house?! I think I hear those songs in my sleep haha not going to lie they are pretty catchy…Tractor…Tractor… so much fun! Anyone else’s favorite the Tractor song? Cool, mine too! Anyways, Hayden was not so sure of the paint quite yet, so he decided to sit this one out! I explained to the big boys that it was a secret and we could not tell Daddy until Sunday. They were too funny walking around putting a finger near their mouth saying “shhh, don’t tell daddy” while we waited for him to come home. Well my husband walked through the door and the first thing Henry said is guess what I made for you Daddy!….(Shaking my head LOL smooth dude!) Don’t worry I stopped him right there, but we shall see if we make it to Sunday before the big day!!

If you make this craft be sure to tag us @littleboybluega!

We hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day weekend celebrating all of the wonderful dads! There is no job more rewarding than being a parent! Today and everyday know that you are doing an amazing job raising your little ones!

We will be sure to take you along this weekend on Henry’s birthday getaway! His favorite place ever is the mountains so we are headed up there to celebrate our FOUR year old. How is our little guy 4 already…cue the mama tears!

Happy almost weekend friends! Until next time!

XO,

Ashley and the LBB boys

Hi, I am Ashley. Living in the burbs of Atlanta, my husband and I had 3 boys in 3 years and I decided to start a business in the middle of a pandemic. Yep. Crazy right?! Here’s my story below!

Growing up in Atlanta, I always knew I would want to come back here and raise a family. Right after high school, I moved to Auburn, AL where I attended Auburn University. It did not take long before I met my now husband. We met through a mutual friend and I was still seeing my high school sweetheart at the time. His exact words to our mutual friend was ” I am going to break them up”. Ha. Well funny thing is… he did! I played a little hard to get for a while (had to make sure it wasn’t too good to be true, right?) But after 4 years of dating in Auburn, he popped down on one knee to ask me to be his wife. Spoiler alert- I said yes 🙂

I was all over the place when it came to my major. Not even going to sugar coat that one. But what is a girl to do when she has SO many interests. One day I wanted to do this, the next I wanted to do that. I finally settled on a business degree, but soon found my creative mind wanted to challenged. So what did I do right out of college with no business experience. I decided to open up not one but TWO fitness studios back in Atlanta. Don’t worry, I wasn’t completely solo- I just had the best business partner ever- my mom- and let me tell you she’s one incredible business woman. So it is safe to say I hit the jackpot with learning from the best.

• Life happened and we un-expectantly got pregnant, and then got pregnant again, and you catch the drift got pregnant again. Managing a 7 days a week business, teaching classes, all while learning to be a mom and then a mom of multiples was getting more difficult. My mom and I decided to pray about it. We absolutely loved our jobs, the communities we built, and to think about giving that up was heartbreaking. We came to the conclusion that we would put it in God’s hands and if we were meant to sell one day everything would fall into place.
• Well, fast forward God opened up the door to sell not one, but both studios. It was one of those moments that my heart sank. It is so bittersweet to sell your “baby”. Something you worked day in and day out on, something that defined a major part of you. To think about giving that away was truly gut wrenching. But after much thought and prayer we decided to sell and move forward with His plan- fully trusting the process.

To say it was an adjustment going from full time business owner to SAHM was an understatement. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely adore my boys, but a huge part of my heart was missing. I love loving on people and serving.

Shortly after we sold the studios, I found out I pregnant and then miscarrying. Granted we found out very early in this pregnancy because we were trying for a third, but the hurt was still the same. In a short amount of time, I went from identity crisis to miscarrying and the emotions were coming in from every angle. I went from happy to sad, relieved to angry- you get the drift.

However, it was in that moment I had a choice to give into my emotions or to GIVE them to God. It is truly amazing about His timing. In that moment, I realized and cherished the beautiful gifts that God had given me through Henry and Harrison, and that my calling of loving others in community was not by any means over.

So during that time I decided I needed a hobby. Yes, I know a hobby with two kids, that’s funny. But, no really, I think it is so important for you to find just ONE thing just for YOU. Mom or not, everyone needs a space for them to be able to able to grow and enjoy themselves. I found my hobby through embroidery. I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing, but with the help of Google and Youtube, I began to learn something new everyday. To say I ruined my fair share of things would be an understatement. If anything, this hobby taught me a good deal about patience and waiting to see the “beauty” in the final product. I started a little “side hustle” and truly enjoyed my time making things for others children. It was when I took my focus off of ME, and shifted my focus on God and others, we became pregnant with our third boy, now our sweet Hayden.

One day it came to me, that THIS was my next chapter. Combining everything I knew, loved, and enjoyed to serve. One day, it ALL came together and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

Sometimes when there are a million reasons to not do something, there are a million and one reasons you should. In the midst of a pandemic, the last thing I should be thinking about is starting a business. But you do not grow inside your comfort zone. You take that LEAP OF FAITH and you PUSH. Whatever dream you have, are thinking about, or maybe you have something holding you back- STOP and do it. If this past year has taught us anything it’s that time is not guaranteed; in fact nothing is guaranteed.

I decided to turn all my passions into one thing. Business, fashion, children, photography, blogging, serving, and most importantly community. Little Boy Blue got its name by being surrounded by all things BOY and all things BLUE. These three boys have completely changed my life and continue to push me to be better every single day. This company is for them. The work I do is for them. The juggling, the late nights, the early mornings, it is ALL for them. I want to show them that when you work hard and serve others, amazing things happen. That success isn’t born overnight, you have to put in your time and always give it your all. That sometimes you may not come in first, but if you give it your best-that is always a win.

Little Boy Blue is a children’s boutique for both girls and boys dressing them from the crib and beyond. Offering classic, luxury styles with the option of adding timeless embroidery. Little Boy Blue wants to be a part of all of those special life moments and grow up with you and your children!

So what are you going to see on the blog? Well, a little bit of everything because that is kinda how life goes with three kids. I am just running by the seat of my pants to be honest with you 🙂 Let’s be friends, not sweat the small stuff, and just enjoy motherhood. Sound good?! Cool. Did we just become best friends?! I sure hope so.

XO,

Ashley and the boys

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Raise your hand if your toddler asks for approximately 100000000 snacks a day. Yeah girl- I feel ya.

I wish I had a solution to fix that problem, but at least we can work towards “healthier” options for snack time. Baby steps…

The boys are big muffin men over here. No joke I contemplated making them dress up as THE OG muffin man and his muffin for Halloween, but then we ended up having Hayden 3 days before Halloween. I am sure they are super thankful for that. Basically though, if you catch my drift they love muffins.

• Muffins for breakfast, for snack, for lunch, for snack and for dinner.

I eventually said enough is enough and we ditched the Little Bites and have started making healthier versions of their favorite mini muffins.

Here is our favorite recipe so far:

Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 cup very ripe mashed banana (about 2 medium)
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup milk (dairy or plain unsweetened nondairy milk)
• 3 tablespoons almond butter (or regular butter, melted and cooled)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

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INSTRUCTIONS

Step by Step Guide

1. Mash the banana until very smooth.
2. Add the dry ingredients to a medium bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients.
4. Stir together.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Add to a muffin tin and bake.

Oven @ 400 Degrees for 16-20 minutes. Allow to cool on wire rack.

The Haynes boys hope you enjoy these muffins as much as they do! Now that I have got the boys snacks taken care of for the next hour, I am off to play tennis AKA wear a cute tennis skirt and pretend to know what I am doing 🙂 Until next time friends.

XO,

Ashley

The caption says it all. Ain’t no body got time for stains or floods!

Is it just me or do you think our kids know when we put a clean, new outfit on them. It’s like they have telepathy… “Hey, lets see how fast we can mess this outfit up” Good thing they are cute right!

Well the Haynes boys know how to get MESSY. It might as well be their middle name. Maybe a name change is in order? Just kidding.

I could not get through toddlerhood without my laundry essentials. Speaking of laundry essentials-want to hear one of my most embarrassing stories before I fill you in on the good stuff. Well, we are about to get real close because this is up there with TOP embarrassing moments for Ashley. Yep, bestie status right here!

Okay, (phew breathe) here it goes…

I was in my third trimester with Hayden and it was a quiet afternoon. Henry and Harrison were getting picked up from school by my husband and I was taking it easy after some pregnancy complications. Well, I decided to get up from bed rest and start a load of laundry. I noticed the boys left me a little gift for me, yep you guessed it a stubborn stain. Our laundry room doesn’t have a sink so I took my special concoction and headed to our master bathroom sink. I got it all set up ready to go but the water was taking forever to fill up. I thought to myself let me run into Hayden’s room real quick to see if I can wash any of his clothes while I am doing laundry and I will come back and it will be filled up. Well, I got into Hayden’s room and I never left. I got folding and nesting all the things while sitting on the floor still following bed rest. Fast forward about 45 minutes, I ran to go to the bathroom and as I stepped over the threshold to our bedroom I looked to our bathroom to see water everywhere. Yep, it looked like a kiddie pool in our bathroom. Water was everywhere. I had left the sink on! I immediately freaked out, turned off the sink, and grabbed all the towels I could to “clean it up”. My first thought was I have to get this cleaned up before my husband gets home!! Who else can relate? I was now on my hands and knees trying to soak up this kiddie pool and it wasn’t budging. It was then I heard my phone ring. I saw it was my husband so I answered. He said can you come downstairs and open the garage door, for some reason my clicker is not working. I said sure and waddled downstairs. As soon as I opened the door to the garage, I flipped… there was water everywhere. The small “kiddie pool” upstairs had made its way through the floors and was now flooding our garage. My car looked like it was currently going through the car wash. This was NOT good. My towels were not going to hid this from my husband. LOL help! I proceeded to go through our front room door and walk out the driveway to tell my husband why he indeed could not open the garage door. Like any pregnant woman, the hormones and emotions were high so I am pretty sure the only words he heard come out of my mouth were water, car wash and kiddie pool. No I did not go to the car wash, or let the kids play in a kiddie pool. He soon found out our home was in fact the kiddie pool.

Two take away’s from this lovely experience, pregnancy brain is 100 percent a thing. Not even up for debate. And don’t leave a sink on and walk away. I am not sure what was more fun having the flood at 9 months pregnant or redoing the bathroom at 9 months pregnant. The awesome news is baby Hayden kept his cool and arrived the day before the bathroom was finished. Good timing, little man! Cool-so now that you know one of my most awkward moments, lets share this amazing “recipe” for stains.

I have tried everything. If it is a stain remover, most likely I have tried it or its in my cabinet still. ( I need to do some cabinet purging, but another day, another project!)

Okay let’s get to the good stuff. Stock your laundry room with these 3 essentials and you are set! Oxyclean, Dawn, and Miss Mouth Messy Easters

I soak the clothes with Oxyclean and use Dawn and Miss mouth messy eaters with a scrub brush. Any brush will do but this one if my favorite. It is so rewarding to see the stain immediately fade away! I recently got red wine, YES- red wine, out of a brand new sweatshirt. And before you ask how I did that? Only one embarrassing story a day, okay?!

Linking all of the deets below:

Clear Jar// Laundry Labels // Dress // Puppy Jon Jon// Scrub Brush// Detergent// Baby Detergent

Until next time,

Ashley