Thrifted

Dallas finally had its first real cold snap, and of course that meant all five of my boys suddenly needed warmer clothes right now. Normally I’d dive into the mountain of hand-me-downs, but with our office and the kids’ rooms mid-move (…three weeks in and still not done), the thought of dragging out more bins just felt like adding chaos to chaos.

So I took the easy route: the thrift store.

I ended up finding two pairs of pants for each boy 10 pairs total plus the cutest jacket for myself, a couple of dresses for my daughter, some workout pants, and the sweetest tiny swimsuit for the baby. Absolutely nothing to do with cold weather, but when you see a little 12-month-size swimsuit? You grab it.

I walked out having spent $83. On one hand, that’s a steal for probably 20–30 items. On the other hand… I remember when thrifting meant walking out with a whole wardrobe for like $40. Everything has gotten more expensive, even the secondhand stuff.

And now I’m sitting here surrounded by a trash bag full of old clothes I’m clearing out, realizing how overwhelming the sheer volume of stuff in my house has become while also hauling in more. But honestly? At least with thrifted finds, if my kids don’t end up liking something, we can just donate it right back. The circle of life… or the circle of laundry.

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Mama, I know how easy it is to get lost in the swirl of kids, work, and life. That’s why I love creating space for moms to pause, breathe, and be reminded of their beauty. At Kristian Hutchings Portraits, you’ll be cared for from start to finish, and you’ll leave with images that show you the grace and strength your family already sees every day.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

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