Casting Shadows

Every year I try to find a quote to guide my life through the next, and this one by Walt Whitman jumped out and slapped me in the face. No need to look any farther, this one is a winner. 

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine--and shadows will fall behind you."

Walt Whitman

2017 has been an AMAZING year. Seriously. So many things have happened personally and professionally, that have shaped our lives and made my friends and family closer and stronger. There's always bad out there, but I vow to treat the bad like the past, turn my face away and let the shadows fall behind me.  

But before I turn toward the sunshine, I want to pay homage to 2017. All the GOOD of 2017.  

The husband. he has been home with us the majority of the year! Other than typical trainings, and a brief mission in Texas after Hurricane Harvey, we have been blessed with another year with no deployments. Fingers crossed for 2018 too! He has not only supported the huge changes I made this year, but has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Don't tell him I called him that though.  He didn't bat an eye when I suggested I quit my full time job to stay home with the kids because my work schedule made summers hard for us all.  He didn't flinch when I began talking about Merce & Me Necessities in addition to Merce & Me Photography.  He has given input into product, colors, and helped me streamline the inventory and shipping processes.  He is truly a gift.

Our oldest son turned 15. FIFTEEN. I'm officially old. He has outgrown both of us, and is in the process of restoring a '61 Bel Air. This time next year he will be driving, and I will be curled up in a corner crying. 

The middle child....who tells me frequently "It's haaaaaaaaaarrrrd being the middle child"...keeps us on our toes. He's now 10 and our sports kid.  If we aren't at soccer, baseball, or basketball practices, then we are at games.  It's wonderful and I'm going to miss it someday. 

And Merce. She turned 7. Her personality is getting stronger and her soul is still pure. She requested to go to church this year, so we go.  She loves the children's programs and I'm thankful she is such a determined young girl. She has done nothing but changed our lives for the better, as well as taught us to be much more understanding and patient. 

This wouldn't be a kids fashion blog without some fashion, so let's get to it. My favorites, and Merce's, from 2017. <3 

Winter 2017....Nelly Madison released the Coney Island Carousel Collection. This hand drawn fabric was an amazing shade of bluish-mint, and so beautiful and fun all in one.

Nelly Madison Clothing Co Coney Island Carousel Marissa Tunic
NMCC Pink Polly Pants
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

Winter 2017--another favorite! The Nelly Madison Easter Hannah collection. This Violet Bouquet Hannah is still a favorite! her fabulous bunny ears were made by Avry Couture, and her gladiators were Joyfolie.

Nelly Madison Clothing Co Violet Bouquet Hannah
Avry Couture Designs Bunny ears
Joyfolie shoes
@Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

Now this is where things get out of order. I lost my hard drive 1st quarter and am missing months worth of photos. :( But this, is an all-time favorite. Nelly Madison's America the Beautiful Hannah dress. it's not so much about the dress, but the moment caught. She loves him so much, and I don't blame her. He's pretty great. She's convinced that she will marry him someday, and I don't want to burst that bubble. So I promised her that when she is 30, if she still wants to marry him, he's all hers.

Nelly Madison Clothing Co America the Beautiful Hannah
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

Mid 2017 we found this gorgeous maxi on instagram from hello Rhoen. It was our first purchase with them, and is one of her favorite dresses of all time. It moves beautifully and, unlike a lot of other maxis, was a great length for her long-legged self!

Hello Rhoen maxi
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

2017 is the year that we went to Colorado for a week as a family. Just to hang out in a cabin in the mountains (with no wifi), go hiking and fishing, and meet up with a "BST friend" for a photo shoot. This little girl with Merce is so beautiful inside and out, and I hope that we can meet up again every year and recreate this shoot.  The dresses are gorg yes, but this memory, is definitely a keeper from 2017. 

Nelly Madison Clothing Co Gypsy Pink & Sweet as Sugar Hannahs
Bow Gladiators from Zulily
Boots from Trish Scully
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

When we returned from Colorado it was time for school to start. She went blazing into 1st grade, tackling all the reading and spelling tasks thrown at her. She has amazed us all. This dress from Upper Looper was absolutely perfect for her first day!  Her Adorable Essentials backpack and lunchbox are still holding up strong at mid year, which is more than I can say for her shoes. The mary janes she wore looked perfect with her outfit, but she came home in her PE shoes b/c the sole literally came off her shoe. And her socks, are our own brand--Merce & Me Necessities. They are fabulous, they stay up all day and there's no toe seam complaint.

Upper Looper dress
Adorable Essentials Backpack and Lunch box
Merce & Me Necessities white Clara socks
Sweethoney/Smallwoods mary janes
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

I will be the first to admit I haven't been an Eleanor Rose fan for several years. No offense meant, just nothing I found to suit our style. But I have to say, this Penny Lane Marilyn dress from ER is pretty fabulous. The colors were so vibrant, and Merce felt beautiful in it. Her socks are MMN again, and her shoes were from Payless! She has worn those shoes so many times and they have held up amazing!

Eleanor Rose Penny Lane Marilyn Dress
Merce & Me Necessities blush pink Clara socks
Payless Shoes
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

As fall drew closer, a friend sent us this gorgeous Well Dressed Wolf dress to borrow. And it resulted in one of my favorite pictures of Merce of all time. Her white Clara MMN socks and white SweetHoney Mary Janes (the sole is still intact on these!) just completed the outfit perfectly. 

Well Dressed Wolf dress I can't remember the name of.
Merce & Me Necessities white Clara socks
Sweethoney/Smallwoods white Mary Janes
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

2017 not only brought the start of Merce & Me Necessities, but also a boys boutique line called Sawyer & Finn from an amazing person I met through Madison Grace Clothing.  It's the 'brother' company of Madison Grace and releases boys clothing from infant to older boys that compliment the girls clothing. This is the sage Lulu dress and Nashville Henley coordinated perfectly! Gunner wasn't exactly thrilled to be taking pictures, but Merce's enthusiasm won him over (briefly). The henley is so well made, and is very soft. Gunner has slight tactile issues when it comes to clothing. he can't/won't wear a lot of fabrics, but even he said this shirt was soft and he didn't complain about it! The jeans and shoes, he complained a lot, but not the shirt!

Sawyer & Finn Clothing Henley
Old Navy jeans and shoes on Gunner
Madison Grace Clothing dress
Merce & Me Necessities Gray Clara socks
Joyfolie boots
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

And now, we move towards the end of the year. Two holiday outfits because I can't choose just one, and then I'll leave you all with the last picture I took of 2017, and one of the first releases of 2018!  

This outfit came together perfectly if I do say so myself. She was 6 at the time, and looks like she is much much older. We recreated this look for Christmas Eve service, with a couple sizes up in the skirt. She's wearing a size 4t in this picture. A very very sweet person expressed interest in the skirt, and so we mailed it off to her. We were able to find a 6 on Ebay, it was a little big, but she'll be able to wear it next year too!

Jak & Peppar lace shirt
Gymboree skirt
MMN Holiday Green Clara socks
Elephantito boots
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

Another favorite Holiday outfit picture involves a Nelly Madison turquoise Gretta shirt, Matilda Jane knot dress, Holiday Green Clara socks again, and red Livie & Luca red bow shoes. It was a last minute decision to try to shoot and the sun was going down quickly with a gorgeous red glow reflecting off the trees. One day I'll have a studio and this will hang in it. not because it's technically perfect, but because it is beautiful and makes me happy. Isn't that the point of art? To evoke emotions? 💗

Nelly Madison Clothing Co Gretta shirt
Matilda Jane knot dress
MMN Holiday Green Clara socks
Livie & luca red bow shoes
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

And now, the last shoot of 2017....Valentine's Day for Nelly Madison Clothing Co. This dress is called Candy Stripe Verna, and it releases Tuesday 1/2/18 at 10:00 am EST on their website: www.nellymadisonclothing.com.  Merce is currently 50", 53# and is wearing a size 6 with little growing room. We feel it fits her perfectly. Nelly designs are deliciously vintage, so if you do not prefer a short, vintage length, size up! They also have several bloomie and dollie options for layering under the dresses right now on their site!

Her lace capris are from Adorable Essentials (size 6-8y), her boots are Sweethoney/Smallwoods, bow is a Bestie Bow from Merce & Me Necessities, and her necklace/bracelets are from Calista & Co. She styled this herself, head to toe. I couldn't be more proud!

Merce & Me Necessities Ballerina Pink Bestie Bow
Calista & Co magical necklace and bracelets
Nelly madison Clothing Co Candy Stripe Verna Dress
Adorable Essentials lace capris
Sweethoney boots
©Merce&Me, LLC 2017/2018

That completes our favorite looks of 2017! I'm looking forward to 2018, we've already shot several styles that I cannot wait to share! And I'm taking Mr. Whitman's advice to heart. I'm looking forward, casting shadows on all those that choose not to take this journey with us. No longer allowing others to effect us, and to move forward and be happy.  There are major changes coming to Merce & Me Necessities this year, along with the plan of bi-monthly blog posts, and new brands to try out and follow.  From my family to yours, Happy New Year! May you always face the sunshine and bask in it's warmth and positivity.