Inspiration:
These looks are what my dreams are made of...
All images taken from forever21.com
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Retro Active
I am a big fan of vintage & retro. With that said I am ecstatic that these two things are bursting this fall. Banana Republic has an amazing Mad Men collection full of tea length dresses and drool worthy trench coats, but also comes with somewhat of a hefty price tag. These looks can certainly be attainable while thrifting and/or hitting up your grandma's closet, but if you want the look and don't feel like digging through thrift store bins or depleting your bank account then may I introduce the fall collection at Forever 21. Same great style but extremely budget friendly! I mean and who doesn't love a good deal?
Inspiration:
Inspiration:
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Teachable moments
I cannot comprehend the love of God. In my humanness I try to compare it to the love I have for my husband, because it is the deepest love I have and continue to experience, but even that's no comparison. I fully believe that love is an action word and not just a feeling, but the love of God is so much more extravagant than anything else. I don't have to work for it, I don't have to date it and see if it's lasting; it's poured on me everyday no matter what I've done the day before.
This blows my mind. It really does.
Ben & I are in a teachable moment. We are experiencing our first year of marriage and all of the new value that it brings. I love our story. It's wrapped up in God's perfect timing and will and sometimes I can't believe that I was picked to be Ben's wife. It's wonderful.
At the beginning of this year we decided to start looking for our first home.
It has been an extremely raw and emotional experience.
We have been out of a place of our own for four months now. We found what we thought was a perfect place at the beginning of June. One week before we were set to close we found out that it had fallen through. We were staying at my parents house during that time and we had no idea what we were going to do. I remember searching for houses one Sunday evening and feeling so hopeless. We prayed together, believing that God was in the midst of this process and that He would open doors for us.
That following Thursday we offered on our perfect home. We felt peace.
I woke up that same night with a comfort in my soul that the Lord was ordering our steps and that everything would work out.
Two weeks before we were scheduled to close we hit a major hault.
I don't know if I have ever cried so much in my life. I felt confusion and anger and disbelief. I wondered if I had really heard the voice of the Lord. I felt very inadequate.
So here we are, almost a month later with no house or set time frame of when we will have our house or if it's even going to happen at all, but we have God's love. His grace has been with us during our confusion and sadness. I know there's a reason for it. I know we're learning patience & humbleness. I know He's writing a bigger story. I know He's in control... sometimes that's all I know. But that's enough.
I've had moments of doubt, but i'm quickly reassured that no matter what happens, He is with us. I know wanting a house seems trivial, when there's so many needs far more desperate than this, but it's significant to us and I know that God cares.
I want to be able to say that I didn't waste away this moment, but that I sought God everyday, and His grace met me where I am.
That's where we are.
Technically homeless, staying with my in laws, seeking Christ with everything we have in us.
Hebrews 12:28
"Since we are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe."
This blows my mind. It really does.
Ben & I are in a teachable moment. We are experiencing our first year of marriage and all of the new value that it brings. I love our story. It's wrapped up in God's perfect timing and will and sometimes I can't believe that I was picked to be Ben's wife. It's wonderful.
At the beginning of this year we decided to start looking for our first home.
It has been an extremely raw and emotional experience.
We have been out of a place of our own for four months now. We found what we thought was a perfect place at the beginning of June. One week before we were set to close we found out that it had fallen through. We were staying at my parents house during that time and we had no idea what we were going to do. I remember searching for houses one Sunday evening and feeling so hopeless. We prayed together, believing that God was in the midst of this process and that He would open doors for us.
That following Thursday we offered on our perfect home. We felt peace.
I woke up that same night with a comfort in my soul that the Lord was ordering our steps and that everything would work out.
Two weeks before we were scheduled to close we hit a major hault.
I don't know if I have ever cried so much in my life. I felt confusion and anger and disbelief. I wondered if I had really heard the voice of the Lord. I felt very inadequate.
So here we are, almost a month later with no house or set time frame of when we will have our house or if it's even going to happen at all, but we have God's love. His grace has been with us during our confusion and sadness. I know there's a reason for it. I know we're learning patience & humbleness. I know He's writing a bigger story. I know He's in control... sometimes that's all I know. But that's enough.
I've had moments of doubt, but i'm quickly reassured that no matter what happens, He is with us. I know wanting a house seems trivial, when there's so many needs far more desperate than this, but it's significant to us and I know that God cares.
I want to be able to say that I didn't waste away this moment, but that I sought God everyday, and His grace met me where I am.
That's where we are.
Technically homeless, staying with my in laws, seeking Christ with everything we have in us.
Hebrews 12:28
"Since we are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe."
Monday, September 12, 2011
My fitness Monday: comfortable.
"I forget that in order to really want to go, something has to happen to make me want to leave where I am."
-Beth Moore
I was reading one of Beth Moore's books yesterday and when I read that line it really spoke to me about health & fitness. Of course, I believe that it can be applied to a lot of day to day issues, but it spoke specifically regarding my journey to better my health. I have the tendency to rest on complacency and comfortability. The Lord is graciously working through, what I feel, are problem areas in my life. I never want to grow complacent with my life. I always want to dream bigger, work harder, and be passionate in loving life. I was entrusted with a body and I never want to take that for granted. I'm so grateful that I don't have to stay the way that I am, but that I'm offered fresh, new beginnings in Christ.
Everyday.
-Beth Moore
I was reading one of Beth Moore's books yesterday and when I read that line it really spoke to me about health & fitness. Of course, I believe that it can be applied to a lot of day to day issues, but it spoke specifically regarding my journey to better my health. I have the tendency to rest on complacency and comfortability. The Lord is graciously working through, what I feel, are problem areas in my life. I never want to grow complacent with my life. I always want to dream bigger, work harder, and be passionate in loving life. I was entrusted with a body and I never want to take that for granted. I'm so grateful that I don't have to stay the way that I am, but that I'm offered fresh, new beginnings in Christ.
Everyday.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Bare Necessities
My sister and her family visited town last weekend and Andrea and I got a little chance to go shopping saturday morning. She has recently lost quite a bit of weight and needed new clothes for her new body, and was basically starting her closet from scratch since she is a couple sizes smaller than what she was. Therefore, she was my first client! I helped her pick out flattering pieces that are necessities for a woman's closet. My sister is the complete opposite of me, fashionably speaking. She loves clean lines, structure, and matching, so it was a fun challenge for me to pick out pops of 'my style' with some structure.
Our shopping spree got me thinking, what does every woman need in her closet? So I jotted down 7 things I feel are bare necessities for every woman, no matter what her style is.
1. Black pants
- a nice, tailored pair of basic black pants that fit well! Black pants are everywhere so you don't have to spend a fortune, but make sure that the material is durable and will hold up over a long period of time.
2. LBD/ LWD (little black dress/little white dress)
- nice enough to wear to work, but can be dressed up with accessories for evening wear.
3. Blouses
- I believe you really only need 5 or 6 blouses to survive. The key to this is buying different arm lengths, material, patterns so that you can mix and match with pants or skirts that you already have to create a new look.
4. Cardigans
- wear them over a blouse, a dress, or buttoned up with a pair of pants, It's the perfect piece for a year long look.
5. Pencil Skirt
- I would choose a black or grey color so that it is more versatile, but this little item is the answer to a lot of my 'what should I wear today' questions.
6. Boots
- I can't say enough about a good pair of boots. I realize that we southerners only really have about 4 good months to wear these, but it is worth the investment! Boots go with dresses, skirts, pants, leggings, jeans... the possibilities are endless.
7. Jeans
- No matter what the fit (skinny, boot cut, flare, trouser) every girl needs a good pair of jeans.
If you're starting from scratch or re-expanding your wardrobe, I suggest looking into a few of these key essentials that will never leave you standing in front of your closet aimlessly looking at your clothes.
This sums it all up:
http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/outfit/outfit%3Acat50008/ANN-Must-Have-Outfits/cat50008?supCat=cata00002
Happy Labor Day!
Our shopping spree got me thinking, what does every woman need in her closet? So I jotted down 7 things I feel are bare necessities for every woman, no matter what her style is.
1. Black pants
- a nice, tailored pair of basic black pants that fit well! Black pants are everywhere so you don't have to spend a fortune, but make sure that the material is durable and will hold up over a long period of time.
2. LBD/ LWD (little black dress/little white dress)
- nice enough to wear to work, but can be dressed up with accessories for evening wear.
3. Blouses
- I believe you really only need 5 or 6 blouses to survive. The key to this is buying different arm lengths, material, patterns so that you can mix and match with pants or skirts that you already have to create a new look.
4. Cardigans
- wear them over a blouse, a dress, or buttoned up with a pair of pants, It's the perfect piece for a year long look.
5. Pencil Skirt
- I would choose a black or grey color so that it is more versatile, but this little item is the answer to a lot of my 'what should I wear today' questions.
6. Boots
- I can't say enough about a good pair of boots. I realize that we southerners only really have about 4 good months to wear these, but it is worth the investment! Boots go with dresses, skirts, pants, leggings, jeans... the possibilities are endless.
7. Jeans
- No matter what the fit (skinny, boot cut, flare, trouser) every girl needs a good pair of jeans.
If you're starting from scratch or re-expanding your wardrobe, I suggest looking into a few of these key essentials that will never leave you standing in front of your closet aimlessly looking at your clothes.
This sums it all up:
http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/outfit/outfit%3Acat50008/ANN-Must-Have-Outfits/cat50008?supCat=cata00002
Happy Labor Day!
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