Mod Memento: The Blog

This is happening

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:51:00 +0000

...more to come.

Reading & Listening 5.25.12

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:02:00 +0000

My girl has changed waaaaaay more than I realized until I put these photos side by side. Wow.

This week I'm reading this.
And I'm loving Mat Kearney lately and completely obsessed with this song and the creative video.

Happy Friday!

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A Guest Post: Daddies are always more fun.

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:01:00 +0000

I am happy to share a guest post with you today. I've mentioned my friend Molly here on the blog before. And besides how cute and inviting her house is, it's her sense of humor that I find the most endearing. So when she wrote this hilarious essay for our monthly M.O.P.S. newsletter, I just had to share it here on my blog as well. If you're like Molly and I's households, Daddy is the favorite parent. Read on...

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I Can't Get No Respect by Molly Henry

I should have known childhood affections are fickle when, at 2 years old, my daughter Sylvie announced that she didn’t want to read a book with me because, in her words: “I don’t care for the pants you’re wearing.”

It’s hard being a mom, and not just because your daughter doesn’t like corduroy.

It’s tough because, long after the spinach has been force-fed and Barbie’s Pegasus Adventure has been read for the 32nd time, your male counterpart can breeze in, toss the kids on the living room carpet for a quick game of ride-dad-like-a-horse, and leave behind children satiated and beaming from even the briefest of fatherly encounters.

But who can blame them, really. When my husband Matt is home, anything goes. All reasonable standards of nutrition and grooming are up for grabs-- we’re talking Dunkin’ Donuts and Gatorade for breakfast, and no one hovering with a cold washcloth to wipe the Bavarian Cream mustache away.

It’s not just his flagrant disregard for the food pyramid that elicits their devotion. Each weekend I marvel when he’s able to drum up their exuberance with the lamest of offerings, eliciting screams of pleasure by announcing a quick family jaunt to Sears Hardware for a bag of grass feed. Meanwhile, my carefully planned play dates and excursions are met with begrudging grunts of appreciation. “Guess what, kids? Mommy’s taking you to an amusement park featuring all of your favorite Bubble Guppies characters! I’ve packed donuts and Skittles for lunch! I’ve rented a limousine driven by a clown to take us there! And maybe we can buy a pony on the way home!”

The irony is that he’s actually a stricter parent than I am, the one more likely to enforce a rule or discipline an infraction-- which means I unfortunately can’t chalk up their affections to pushover parenting. It’s just his innate daddy-ness that does the trick.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy. I’m thrilled that my kids adore their father. And I recognize how fortunate I am to have such a strong parenting partner. He is always willing to bear the brunt of unpleasant obligations: taking them to the gas station bathroom, removing their splinters, strapping them into their car seats in the freezing cold. He’s let me sleep in on Saturdays for the past 5 years, for heaven’s sake.

It’s just that, deep down, I think I believe parenting should be a meritocracy wherein the one who makes the most peanut butter sandwiches and teaches the most phonics wins.

And it’s clearly not.

I recently fell ill with a bad case of strep throat and was confined to my sick bed for the better part of 2 days. My children responded to my incapacitation in much the same way that one would to a Cinco de Mayo parade or a free appetizer. For them, it just meant the joy of all daddy, all the time. While I tossed and turned in my feverish state, our 3 year-old Jude, the very definition of a mama’s boy, could be heard enthusiastically high-fiving his newly christened “Best Buddy”.

At one point I stumbled downstairs for ibuprofen and saw the artistic handiwork of 5-year-old Sylvie prominently positioned on the kitchen table. What a sweet rendering of our family, I thought. Until I saw that the giant Play Dough figure in the center of the display, with the carefully proportioned limbs and finely etched facial features was her father and I, well, I was the little smiling ball next to him, a decapitated afterthought in the corner.

Sylvie, I gave up soft cheeses for you in pregnancy. I endured several rounds of mastitis as I nursed you into toddlerhood. I allowed you for two years to put your favorite stuffed puppy in the freezer each night before bed, lest his room temperature fur disturb your odd little tactile sensibilities.

At the very least, don’t I deserve a torso?

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Butterflies & Tea Parties

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Sometimes our backyard is unexpectedly magical.

Life is not always butterflies and tea parties. But yesterday it actually was.

My girl's love language is quality time. She soaks it up. She gets filled up when I lay in the grass with her sipping pink lemonade and chatting. And this time, a butterfly actually stayed to hang out too (that was quite the luck).

I'm not always in tune with this quality time thing. I mean I do stay home with her all day. I spend every waking moment with her so you would think it would be obvious to me. But I think this actually makes it more difficult to stay tuned in. Because much of my day is spent checking off my to-do list, chores, housework, computer time, preparing meals, and running errands. It's easy to overlook how important it is just to lay down on a blanket and let her talk. Pay attention to every detail she is interested in. Talk about butterflies and summertime and if I like her outfit (yes, she always wants to know). I can overlook how influential those moments are when I'm just going through the motions instead of focusing on the quality of the time spent and what it actually means to her.

I don't always feel like having a tea party. I don't always feel like playing barbies. I don't always feel like reading her a book. But I do want her to feel loved in every fiber of her being. And it's easy to find little ways to speak her love language, even when I don't necessarily feel like it. That's true with any relationship right? It's true with your spouse, with your friends, and with your kids. Quality time is important.

So lay out that blanket in the grass. Look up at the trees and just talk. Maybe a butterfly will even stop by and make it even more magical. And if you're like me, document the whole thing with instagram. ;)

FYI....A fantastic blog for mothers of daughters is MODSquad. They have such great ideas for relating to your daughter, both spiritually and emotionally.

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Reading & Listening

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Today I'm reading this.
And listening to this.

Happy Friday!

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Photo Shoot with the little man

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Had a fun MomTog photo shoot this morning with my little man and some friends.

I love our little downtown area. So many great backdrops for shoots. The brick sidewalk is my favorite.

If you love taking photos of your children, I encourage you to grab some friends and find a fun place to go and capture a few moments. It's always more fun when you're with other people to help with camera questions or just assist in the background. Jamye and I are a great team! I chose the location and she thought to bring the chalk and balloons. And when I told her I was having trouble finding the right exposure, she told me what her settings were and I was able to make the same adjustments. We enjoy learning together.

If you have done a MomTog photo shoot recently and posted it on your blog, please leave a link so I can come and visit you!

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Service & Surrender

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:27:00 +0000

It was a lovely Mother's Day weekend. I felt celebrated and esteemed in the most simple and perfect ways. But mostly, I just felt thankful to be called 'Mommy'.

My loves gave me a pot with my favorite flower, an orchid.

We went out for my favorite dinner (Sushi) and a stroll downtown.

....and Ice cream afterwards of course.

Sunday breakfast at the diner.

A reminder that she will always be Daddy's girl. And I'm totally ok with that.

I was given a potted Marigold and a handmade card at the preschool Mother's Day program.

Unfortunately, this guy was out for the count all day yesterday. He spent the day fighting a fever and sleeping in my bed.

My view looking up during a fantastic jog.

Loungin with my girl.

Dreaming.....

A moment captured.....He handed her a flower, so she gave him a kiss. It's a Mother's Day Miracle!

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As I held my sick baby in my arms yesterday....burning up, clinging to me for comfort from his fever, I breathed in the moment. So thankful that I am the one who gets to take care of him. We had to cancel some fun plans for the day but I didn't care. All I want to do is love him and hold him and let him rest. I laid in bed and watched him sleep for almost an hour. It's ironic because most days I can't WAIT until he falls asleep so I can get a break. But yesterday, he was so weak and pitiful. All he wanted to do was sleep. And all I wanted was to have his usual spunky, wild self back.

To all you hard working mamas out there.... remember that your service and surrender are not unnoticed in the heavens. You're doing the most valuable work in the world. Love those kiddos with all your heart and soul.

~I was inspired to write this post after reading this amazing mother's day post on (in)courage, one of my favorite websites.

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The lucky one

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:34:00 +0000

I'm reading this.
And listening to this.

Happy Mother's Day Weekend. I'm one very lucky lady.

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Some thoughts on technology consumption in the home

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:02:00 +0000

We had an interesting speaker join us at M.O.P.S. this morning to discuss how Technology has an impact on our lives as mothers (both good and bad). It was eye-opening in many ways but at the same time, very much par for the course in terms of how I've been feeling about my own technology consumption.

I am, without a doubt, addicted to my iPhone. I'm addicted to the instant access to internet and texting throughout the day. I want that constant flow of information at my fingertips. As the speaker mentioned this morning, "It used to be that we got mail once a day. Now we get it every second of the day and night."

We took a moment to make two lists about our own personal consumption. One listed all the ways that technology enriches our lives and brings us happiness. And it's definitely a long list. But the other one listed all the ways that it can hurt us, mind, body and soul. It was a great way to sort out all the conflicting feelings I've been having about my time spent on my phone or computer. I definitely go back and forth between feeling in love with blogging and all forms of social media.... to feeling frustration, exhaustion and burnout at the inertia it throws me into.

What's ironic is that it really wasn't that long ago that access to the internet required a long, excruciating dial-up process that was less than dependable and only for those with giant cumbersome PC's and many many complicated wires. I didn't even have email until my freshman year of college. I didn't own a cell phone until I was 21. I look back now and realize that was a very good thing. I can't imagine navigating the temptations that cell phones and on-the-go internet access must be for teenagers these days.

I'm not sure what the right balance is for me right now. It's something I'm going to spend a lot of time thinking and praying about. But I do know that some healthy boundaries are a good thing. I made the decision recently not to use my computer on the weekends anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still check my iPhone! Let's face it, I'm not that disciplined quite yet. But it's been a really great boundary to know that my desk chair is off-limits on Saturdays and Sundays. That includes anything to do with Mod Memento as well. It's a break that I need for myself and my family.

I love technology and I'm drawn to all forms of it. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. My goal is to reach a consistent balance (if that's even possible). Where I use it with reason, purpose, and intentionality. Where I'm careful about what I allow to enter my subconscious. Where I model for my children what a healthy amount of "screen time" really is. It's a sobering visual when I think about how much time I spend looking at my iPhone during the day. And how inconsistent that is with the rules I plan to put in place for my children someday when they're old enough to own one.

It's quite an interesting challenge, we as new mothers are facing in this generation. It's not one that our mothers had to worry about.

What are your thoughts on technology consumption?

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A little melancholy reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:52:00 +0000

I've been such a sponge lately.... soaking up God's word and letting it settle on my soul.
I'm loving Psalm 63:3-8.

I've been listening to some really good music.
A new fav is Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

I've been taking the time to record the funny things the kids say.
Like when DR refers to his flip flops as, "fwop fwops".

I've been reflecting on how many prayers God has answered for me since moving to Pennsylvania.
Like sending forever friends into my life who encourage, challenge and bless me.

And I've just been marinating in the overwhelming feeling of gratefulness. I tend to ebb and flow between those moments of pure joy and those moments of fighting back discontentment. Then feeling guilty for having even a tinge of discontentment given the life I lead. I'm so thankful God has His mighty hand on my life, pruning me and not wasting any pain or discouragement. But instead, using those experiences to mold me and draw me closer to Him.

The older I get, the more I invite those experiences. I'm not afraid to face them. I'm not afraid to tackle them. Because the older I get, the more resources I have to tap into. I have God's word and truth imprinted on my soul. I have a family who loves me unconditionally. I have friends who will pray over me for even the smallest of concerns. I have my God who works all things together for good for those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

"I'm not gonna worry.
I know that You got me
right inside the palm of your hand.

Each and every moment,

what's good and what gets broken,

happens just the way that You plan."
-Lyrics from Steady Your Heart by Kari Jobe

Here are some scenes from my imperfect, beautiful, messy life.

Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000

This was a little bit of our Tuesday.

I have to be honest... I've been cheating on my Canon lately with my iPhone. It has been a couple weeks since I picked up my DSLR. But if felt really good to snap these shots on a lovely Spring afternoon. My trusty Canon Rebel is still my first love.

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Friday Favs

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Here are some favs from my week...

I Tried: Sydney's hair tutorial (highly recommend!)

I Read: Emily's thoughts on remembering her identity in Christ during this demanding season of motherhood.

I Listened: Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran ....and.... Love, Where Is your Fire by Brooke Fraser

I Cooked: Saucy Asian Meatballs

I Photographed:

LOTS more photos on my Instagram feed (@modmemento) or click here if you don't have the app.

Happy Weekend.

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A Perfect Friday afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:32:00 +0000

After a long few days of feeling sick {and lazy and blue}.... this was the perfect way to redeem the week.

A new picnic spot under the cherry blossoms.

A bouquet of carefully chosen dandelions.

Laying in the grass with sparkly pink flip flops.

And walking barefoot through the flower petals.

I needed this breath of fresh air this week. Happy Weekend!

(my Instagram username is @modmemento if you'd like to follow along)

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Linking with up Jeanette for InstaFriday!

A couple things...

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Make sure to head over here to read more about the details of The Photo a Day Mommy Moments Challenge! There are fun prompts each day to help you think creatively. And there are PRIZES ladies! .... First place prize is a Shabby Apple Dress of your choice! Hurry, the challenge started yesterday and I want to see your best work. Myself, along with several other lovely bloggers will be the judges. Winner announced on May 14th!

I also wanted to mention that one of my photos from this post was recently featured on The Stylelist Home section of The Huffington Post. Thank you to my friend Molly for allowing me to photograph her lovely {magazine worthy} home!

Click here to see the feature, "16 Inspiring Breakfast Nooks You'll Love".

And finally, with all the warm weather in PA this week, we are on a mission to find the most beautiful picnic spots in all the land....

I might have to invest in a cute picnic basket. Like this one, or this one.

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A Product Review: Fresh Produce Clothing

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:01:00 +0000

I recently got the opportunity to review an item from Fresh Produce's Spring Collection and I couldn't be more excited to tell you have much I love it! Fresh Produce is known for it's vibrant colors, original prints and comfortable, everyday clothing for women.

This is the What It Seams Swing Skirt.

I could live in maxi skirts all spring and summer so I fell in love with this one as soon as I put it on. It's honestly one of the most comfortable maxi skirts I've ever worn. It's well made, flattering and easy to pair with a plain white top. I can wear this skirt on the beach or also out to dinner. I love it's versatility. And since I love color, this bright one was right up my alley!

The flat waistband makes it extra comfortable and flattering at the waistline. I was also impressed that their online sizing chart was true to life. It's nice to know I can trust their sizing chart the next time I place an order.

And the seams are part of the design so I had to show you the back & side views as well. As you can see, the hem is slightly shorter in the front than in the back which I think is a nice touch.

And I also wanted to mention that this collection is MADE IN THE USA! How fantastic is that?

Here is the real model wearing it. It really is perfect for the beach!

And make sure to check out some of the other most popular designs at Fresh Produce:

Travel Skirts

Clothes for Spring

Casual Fashion

They currently have a 25% off sale going on right now. Go order something fun for the summer!

*A special thanks for my friend Jamye Shelleby Doerfler for taking the above photos of me.*

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DISCLAIMER: Fresh Produce sent me a complimentary item from their collection in exchange for an honest review on my blog. All the opinions state above are my own.
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Photo-a-Day Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:27:00 +0000

You know I love a good photo challenge right? So I am excited to tell you about an upcoming one happening over at Inspired by Family Magazine and co-hosted by my friend Andi from The Hollie Rogue!

It's called The Photo-a-Day Mommy Moments Challenge and it's a chance for you to capture various moments of your day for the weeks leading up to Mother's Day. And there are even 12 corresponding "prompts" to help you along the way. Prizes will be awarded at the end.

And the fun part for me is that I am one of the judges!

I am looking for creativity and originality ladies! Absolutely no professional cameras or experience is needed! Cell phones and point-and-shoots are perfectly acceptable!

You'll need to post your photo submissions to your blog and then link up to the photo challenge linky. All the details can be found here. The challenge and linky officially goes from April 16th - May 11th. But start snapping away now!

More details about the prizes as well as more info on my fellow judges coming soon....

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Life is colorful.

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:12:00 +0000

We painted rocks yesterday, just for fun. There's one for each of us. I'm the yellow one.

Artwork by AF entitled "Me & Jesus Holding Hands".

Artwork by AF entitled "Jesus on the Cross".

Crayons and paintbrushes make me very happy.

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Mic check, mic check....one, two, one, two.

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:56:00 +0000

I'm guessing not every kid gets a microphone stand in his easter basket.

But I know my little man well.

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Our week via Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Today I am remembering what Jesus did for me on Good Friday. This song is on repeat. The video makes me cry instantly. Thank you Jesus. Read the good news here.

My husband drew this for AF over breakfast one morning.

After a year of tweaking, my Pandora station knows me soooooooo well.

My little mermaid combing her hair with a Dinglehopper.

Boys on the riverbank looking for worms.

Starburst Jellybeans are like a drug to me.

Huge kids consignment sale. Stocked up on summer clothes!

M's favorite game of all time.

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My People

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:15:00 +0000

These are my people.

Photo taken on New Years Eve 2011

You know, the friends who are more like family? I am lucky to have them. We've been through many weddings, new homes, new jobs, and new babies together over the years.

And the cool thing is that my people keep procreating. Yay!

Here are the two newest members of the crew. I had the honor of taking their portraits recently.

Baby Chase & Baby Eric - we love you both!

And here's a post I wrote last year with some tips for photographing newborns. They truly are my favorite subject.

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A happy song

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:04:00 +0000

Loving this new song & video from Tim Halperin shot and edited by Casey's talented hubby!

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And on another happy note... did you know that 33 has been deemed the happiest age?

This article says that, "The age of thirty-three is enough time to have shaken off childhood naivety and the wild scheming of teen-aged years without losing the energy and enthusiasm of youth. By this age innocence has been lost, but our sense of reality is mixed with a strong sense of hope, a 'can do' spirit, and a healthy belief in our own talents and abilities."

I couldn't agree more and this is great news considering I'll be 33 in just a couple months!

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My Example

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:10:00 +0000

"You cannot impart what you do not possess."
- Howard Hendricks

I spend a lot of time thinking about the example that I am setting for my children. Somedays, I think I do well and other days I cringe at what they witness. I struggle often with setting aside my own desires to put my children's needs first. Far too often I find myself sneaking to sit at my computer instead of giving them one-on-one attention. Or I am quick to yell when a more gentle tone would be more effective. Or I hear myself complaining about something silly in front of them. These are all normal things I know. But each day that passes, more habits are formed. More of their beliefs about right and wrong are being solidified. More of their worldview is being developed. And as a stay-at-home mom and their primary caretaker, and I am the single biggest influencer on all of those things. It's a huuuuuuge job.

This quote has been burned in my brain since hearing it recently at a M.O.P.S. meeting.

"You cannot impart what you do not possess."

It's so true. I can try my hardest to teach my children what I believe to be the most important things in life. But if I myself do not possess those particular traits and tendencies then it's going to be a whole lot harder to impart those to things to them. I don't want to be the mom who tells my kids to do one thing, but I myself do another. What a confusing message.

I am far from perfect and I know my children will be too. But I do hope I can *attempt* to be an example to my kids. Something they can be proud of. Someone who does not say and do conflicting things, but rather is predictable and comforting for them. I want to leave a legacy they can be proud of.

Lord, help me.

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Our Week via Instagram

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Dear Instagram:
I love you more than Facebook & Pinterest.
BAM.

Follow me on Instagram at @modmemento or click here if you don't have the app.

Picnic

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:03:00 +0000

The kids and I love a good outdoor picnic. So a cloudy day certainly won't stop us from setting out the blanket and enjoying. (less crumbs for me to clean up.....high five.)

By "picnic" DR thought I meant run around the yard like a wild man while stopping to inhale a bite of his lunch every 10 minutes or so.

I see leaves!

5 minutes after I took these pictures, it started to rain.
Cool, I'm going inside to blog.

Linking up with The Hollie Rogue!

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Web Favs of the Week {3.27.12}

noreply@blogger.com (Bri @ Mod Memento) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:11:00 +0000

We had a fun weekend in Pittsburgh and now I'm back and keep forgetting it's Tuesday instead of Monday.

Here are my Web Favs of the week!

Two {new to me} blogs I'm loving....here and here.

One {new to me} Etsy shop....here.

One of my favorite pins from this week....here.

This book is next on my reading list, it's called That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to become Men of Character.

I want to live in this dress all summer.

Love this album for all my Instagram photos.

My fam loved this white cheddar chicken pasta recipe.

Fun list of ideas for soaking up the small moments with your kiddos and enjoying motherhood during the tough seasons.

Telling a story with photos is my favorite way to blog. So I loved this post from SITS girls with some tips.

Also from SITS girls, a great article about using Pinterest to drive more traffic to your blog.

I've had the honor of having loyal blog followers for many years as well as loyal repeat Mod Memento customers. So I loved this article about why we shouldn't be seeking MORE followers & customers, but take better care of the ones I got.

This is my favorite post I've read in a while. Who else loves Jami Nato? Her personal story, her blog, her sense of humor, and her writing are all inspirations to me. Loved this post about making sure we're seeking the actual word of God and not just getting it secondhand via books, studies, sermons, friends, etc. Very true. Loved every word.

Another great post entitled "A Letter To My Children about Marriage".

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