Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just two weeks away.  It seems like the year passed so extremely
quickly since my first Mother's Day.  I have been looking forward to Mother's Day
for months.  I'm ready to admit, my love language is gifting.  Nobody
loves a present like I love a present. I love to give and I love to receive. 
Especially when the gift is thoughtful or sentimental. Don't get me started on
surprises. It could be the smallest thing in the world but if it is thoughtful and a
surprise, my heart soars! My husband's love language is words of affirmation, so
we often miss the boat with making each other happy on holidays. I try to make it
very easy for him by telling him exactly what I want for each holiday, but then I
get disappointed even if I get what I asked for, because I told him what to get and
it wasn't a surprise. (If you haven't read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, stop now and order yourself and your significant other a copy right now and thank me later.)

I will say, last year for my first Mother's Day, William’s gift did not disappoint! He
surprised me with roses and a piece of McCarty's Pottery (a bunny, and bunnies
are particularly meaningful to me...more on that later). 
The card in the roses said "Happy Mother’s Day. Love, Hanson".  I keep the framed card on my bedside table next to the McCarty bunny, and both are so special to me. You could honestly not offer me a million dollars for them. 

I love when other people post gifting guides and I have SO many amazing ideas
for Mother's Day gifts because I've been mentally shopping for myself for
months. HA!  Hopefully, this list will make it super easy for some of you to shop for
your moms, MILs and all of the other important moms in your life.  You could also
totally send your man this link and have him pick something for you (it still kind of
counts as a surprise/guided suggestion).  Or, you can take the guesswork out of
it for him and just order yourself something like I'm probably going to do! We
mamas deserve a little treat from time to time. 

I think all women - whether mothers or not - can agree that the one thing on our
must- have list for any holiday is just time with our family.  Time spent with those
you love is one gift you will keep forever in your heart and look back on for the
rest of your life with a smile on your face.  It is non-refundable or exchangeable,
and somehow that makes it the most priceless gift of all. 

Although, a little present never hurt nobody.  ;)

xx
holly 

photography by Masa Kathryn 

Hi, I'm New Here

Hi!

I'm doing it ! I'm starting my own blog.

It's been a long time coming, and now that I've bitten the bullet and I'm actually putting word and thought into action, I'm asking myself why it's taken me so long.  I love writing. Not that I have much of anything profound to say, but it feels so good to see your thoughts spelled out in front of you, and I already know what an amazing outlet journaling can be, so I have faith that my new blog will serve me the same way a journal would in a lot of ways, and hopefully I will also find ways to serve and inspire whoever comes here to read.  I want this to be a place of sharing ideas and making new friends and connections.  I really don't have any specific plans for this blog other than to share bits of my life--things I love, places I go, plans for the future, maybe stories from the past, beauty secrets, family and home life. So, let's get into it.

Deep South Pout by Masa Kathryn Photography

Naples, August 2018

photo by Masa Kathryn

Let me start by introducing myself. 

I’m Holly Byrd Harrell, 26 year old wife to William Harrell and mama to 15 month old baby Hanson. We live in West Point, MS after a brief but fabulous stint in California.  I've been a professional model, a drop out, an honor graduate, a children's book author, a part-time cashier, and a heartbroken caregiver to a terminally ill family member.  I'm now a loving mother, a wife, and a beauty consultant with an affinity for true crime podcasts. I still model from time to time and love when I get to jump back in front of the camera. I grew up in a tiny town in south Mississippi called Brookhaven, and lived in New York City, Jackson, San Fransisco, and back again to a tiny MS town, this time West Point.  I love to travel. I love movies.. name one, I've seen 'em all. I love exotic food. I love the Lord and I'm proud to say that I'm called to be His. 


This is where I'm at and I'm truly blessed to live the life I have.  

I'm super excited about sharing bits of my life with you and can't wait to see where this leads.  I obviously have a lot to learn as far as the technology side of doing this with layouts and such, but I decided to not let that hold me back from getting started.  Nobody begins anything as an expert. So, clinching onto that train of thought, I'm pressing publish.  

Thanks for coming here, I hope you'll come back soon! 

xx
holly 

from my modeling portfolio circa 2008

a shot from Magnolia Rouge Wedding Magazine William and I shot together in Napa Valley

1996 on a tractor with my dad & brother

modeling for Dolce & Gabbana in 2012

being young, dumb, & in love at the Flora-Bama 2014

The first and third photographs are by Masa Kathryn photography & outfits are provided by Deep South Pout.  Thank you for your partnership!