Wear it Always

 {this is a different outfit, don’t get confused :-P}

It’s not grammatically correct to say you’ll, “wear it always,” like that one line in the article I just got published. It was right when I handed it in… and definitely wrong in print…grrrr. But anyway
I like to say “always” things. I think I got it from a Shirley Temple movie when I was really little.  So this J. Crew sweater? I’m totally going to wear it always. I’ve worn a variation of this pink top/dress, striped sweater and Hunter wellies combo for…oh, the last week.

Style Secrets
Outfit One
Sweater: J. Crew via local store
Dress: C&C California
Handwarmers: Local store
Umbrella: J. Crew
Necklace (wooden heart): ???
Tights: TJ Maxx
Boots: Hunter, gift
Outfit Two
Hairpin: J. Crew
Necklace: Vintage
Shirt: Target
Ring: Local store
Jeans: Ernest Sewn
Legwarmers: self-made from my favorite socks
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Take Heart

I’ve got a lot on my mind and heart, you guys. And this morning’s verse was just, JUST, what I needed.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 
Isaiah 41:10
This spoke to my heart directly. It spoke to my heart overwhelmingly. 
I looked up ‘dismayed.’ It means, ‘disheartened thoroughly.’ 
But we must be strong, and take heart, and wait for our Lord. 
“Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and take heart, and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14

Blossoming Beauty

The boy bought me these perfectly pink gerbera daisies (that he picked out all by himself!)…they make my heart sing 🙂 I posted the picture and a friend and mentor commented, “What a special man that gives you such beauty.” 

A man that gives me beauty, as in beautiful physical objects…what a blessing! To have someone that I love, bring me things that I love, things that he knows will make me happy, just fills me. He wants to make me happy and to bring me beauty. He wants to make my heart sing and to see my face light up. Such a small thing that can make me happy all week!

A man that gives me beauty, as in, makes me a more beautiful person…what a blessing! Someone who makes me shine from the inside-out. A man who sees my femininity and works hard to make me feel like a beautiful woman…and tells me every day that I am beautiful and worthy. That makes me long to be more beautiful for him…more beautiful physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as a woman of God. He makes me long to be closer to God!That is the way it should be.

Girls, our men should absolutely make us feel that we are God’s feminine and beautiful women. We are our man’s feminine and beautiful woman too….inside and out. He spurs me on for the Lord! Don’t settle for any less in a man.

Vintage Sunday


Style Secrets: 
Shirt: Gap
Necklace: Local store
Scarf: hand-me-over (one of my faves!!)
Belt: Thrifted
Wool skirt: Vintage hand-me-over
Tights: TJ Maxx
Heels: F21
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Monochromatic

I really need some gray booties to go with this outfit. On the list!!!
Style Secrets: 
Hat: local store
Head scarf: Pucci
Turtleneck: Banana Republic
Sweater: hand-me-over
Neck Scarf: Walmart
Fuschia Wing Earrings: Local store
Belt: from another shirt
Jeans: F21
Shoes: F21

Stripes and Baubles

Style Secrets:
Striped shirt: Gap
Necklace: Urban Outfitters
Belt: from another shirt from a local boutique
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: Thrifted
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Sharing is Good

Boy looks good in this hat. I like his hat. I like my aviators. Boy looks good in my aviators. We’re good sharers. But we finally got the boy a pair of his own aviators…now I just need to wait for this hat to go on sale so I can nab one for myself 🙂 Ok, so you guys, I’m kind of like totally in love with this new shirt and this hat. Can I wear it always? And always have it look this good and never smell? The shirt has buttons up the back. The details make this outfit: shiny red nails, my favorite ring, the J.Crew-esque necklace, the buttons on the shirt, and…duh, the hat 🙂
Style Secrets:
Coat: F21
Hat: Gap
Sunnies: Local store
Scarf: Hand-me-over
Shirt: Gap
Necklace: birthday prezzie
Belt: Coach
Cords: AG
Bag: Longchamp
Boots: Walmart

Skirts and Dresses in Winter

 {one of my fave casual oufits of 2011 so far…polka-dot tights plus thick wool socks plus thick skirt plus corduroy}

Kendi, gorgeous girl over at Kendi Everyday, posted the other day that she was freezing in her little lace skirt in the 19 degree Texas cold-snap. Her question, “How do you wear a skirt in 19 degree weather?” prompted me to do my own little post. I absolutely love wearing skirts and dresses in winter, in New England, where the weather is often negative degrees.

 {thick sweater tights plus cute wool cardigan}

Legwear: First off, Plush Apparel fleece-lined tights/leggings. Did you hear that? Fleece-lined. Tights. It’s like staying at home wrapped in your blanket, but being work appropriate. Super-score. Thick sweater-knit tights are great, too. Make sure your regular, opaque tights are thick and quality-knit. Or double them up! I also have some super-thick leggings I wear alone, or, on ultra-frigid days, I’ll layer my silk long underwear under my leggings.

{a swool jumper and wool socks}

I have a large collection of knee-high socks and Smartwool socks, too. In those boots, there is almost always a pair of Smartwool socks. But you don’t want to layer your socks/tights too much on your feet….restricting air flow to your extremities is a bad idea.

 {my heavy silk-tafetta skirt that I simply love to wear in winter!}

Your Skirt/Dress: I tend to choose heavier-weight skirts and dresses to wear in winter. I love to wear my silk slip underneath, it always seems to add a bit of warmth and helps smooth static-cling. Thick wool skirts or jumpers, corduroy, heavy denim, heavy-weight silk skirts, velvet, or turtleneck dresses all work best for me.

 {heavy silk skirt again, plus a merino wool turtleneck}

If it’s a dress you’re wearing, be sure you have your decolletage thoroughly covered so you don’t catch a chill. That’s where scarves come in! I’ve also heard that keeping your lower back warm is extremely important, so I try to do that, too. Wear your longest layer on bottom.

 {lots of layers on top to keep core warm and you can even wear a mini in winter!}

Other Layers: Make sure to keep your core warm. Then focus on keeping those extremeties warm, too. Layer on gloves, hats, and scarves. I am always wearing gloves, hats, and scarves in winter, you just don’t see them very often. I take them off quickly to take my photos and put them right back on! I also keep several pairs of fingerless gloves in my tote bag.
   {velvet skirt, silk long underwear layered with thick leggings, and Sorel boots}

Footwear: Your boots and shoes are extra-important in cold climates. If I’m wearing cute shoes/heels in a photograph, you can bet I am only wearing them at work, indoors, where it’s warm. Whenever I’m outside, I’m always wearing my Sorel boots, my Northface boots, or fake-Uggs (which still keep me extra warm).

Etc: Wait for a sunny day! Even if it’s still 5 degrees, the sunshine will give you motivation to get dressed in a skirt/dress, and to feel a bit warmer. I hope that helps. Nothing ground-breaking, but it really helps lift my mood to wear dresses and skirts in winter. Plus, I think they are warmer and more comfortable if you layer properly. On a day that is single digits, with a windchill of twenty-below-0, you’d better be comfy and you’d better be warm!

 {snowshoeing!!}

Kendi, come visit me in New England! We’ll do all the fun stuff you can do when it’s cold AND there’s snow! Texas-cold must not be much fun without snow :-(Stay warm!

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Life is Short Eat Your Greens First

I’m a dessert girl. My life motto is, “Life is short, eat dessert first.” Well, not my life motto per se, but at least my motto when it comes to, well…dessert.
So often my God has another idea. A better idea, I’m loathe to admit. God says, “Eat those greens, girl.”
“Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” ~Proverbs 24:27
There see, He just said, “Eat those greens, girl,” basically. Waiting is difficult. Waiting when you have something wonderful in front of you {that proverbial house or a piece of chocolate cheesecake} is even more difficult. We must be faithful to our God. We must be patient, steady, trusting. We must be willing to do the hard heart-work God asks us to do. He calls us to prepare our fields, to eat our greens, to grow up.
  
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” ~Psalm 127:1 
If you eat the greens, the dessert tastes sweeter. And being a dessert girl, I’m all for that.

This catchy song goes so well with this….