Nineteen Degrees

It was 19 degrees outside when I woke up this morning. Brrr.

Where did fall go? Thanksgiving is this week and I'm so excited about the time I'll be off work and with my family.

It's technically still fall, but here are some things I love about winter :

1. Bundling up! Heavy coats, scarves, gloves, hats, boots :)

2. Seat warmers in my car (LOVE this feature!)

3. Peppermint Mocha creamer in my homemade coffee

4. Starbucks anything. I love Starbuck's white chocolate mocha year-round (my fave), but it's somehow so much more delicious when the temperature comes down outside! Side note: I had a white chocolate mocha from McDonald's this morning also (later after the Peppermint Mocha...) and it wasn't that great. I'd rather splurge another dollar and get one from Starbucks. Their hot chocolate is good too for you non-coffee people out there. I feel deeply for you. Truly.

5. Cozy-ing (so not a word) up on the couch with a blanket, a good book, and a cup of coffee. Or even swap the book for a good movie. Or the cup of coffee for homemade hot chocolate.

6. Christmas music. Yes, I have already started listening to it. Especially Michael Buble. Enough said here.

7. Holidays coming up! This means Christmas shopping. I love shopping, even when it's not for myself ;)

8. Christmas parades!

9. Christmas lights. Okay...it's a little early to be even talking about this. But starting next week, perhaps?

10. Charlie Brown holiday specials.


And I made it to ten. My plans for this week? Work through Wednesday, church Thanksgiving dinner Tuesday night, Thanksgiving with family Thursday, Black Friday shopping and Catching Fire on Friday!

May the odds be evah in your favor.

Making the Most of My Closet

I have come to reeeeally love blogs. I have a list of blogs that I look forward to reading on a daily basis, which I actually wrote about here. Of course I've mentioned The Small Things Blog is my absolute favorite. If you've somehow haven't experienced the greatness that is Pinterest, and you therefore haven't seen her many hairstyling tutorials, she's definitely worth checking out! She's the best at natural-looking makeup tutorials. They have pretty much changed my life...dramatic much?

I love reading about all types of things, like encouraging spiritual posts, delicious recipes, crafts, and clothes. I really enjoy the blogs that inspire me to mix things up a little in my closet or try out things that I wouldn't usually wear.

In fact, I just read an old post of Janssen's about how she ruthlessly took the plunge to go through her closet and get rid of things that she never wears (twice, actually!) I really related with her when she said she hates to throw out things because she equates it with throwing out money. Unless an article of clothing has a stain that won't come out or a rip of some sort, I usually won't throw it away right away. I'll stare at the piece, wondering if there is some way, some how, that I could just make it work.

But then I realize that I just don't like it. It's that simple, huh? So why do I allow it to take up a hanger in my closet that could be used by an article of clothing that I absolutely love?

That's my plan for slowly perfecting my wardrobe. I want it to be so much easier to put together outfits, and I want to have a closet that can be easily mixed up to create many different options.

Some tips I've learned from blogs:

1. Neutrals are your best friend. The great thing about neutrals is in the name itself : they go with anything...include each other! If you have a closet with mostly neutrals, you can basically mix and match your entire closet to create endless outfit possibilities.

2. You can't go wrong with solids. Once you've laid a good foundation of neutrals, the solids will be a second group that you can bring into the mix.

3. Don't have too many different patterns. This is really a tip I'm going to try to apply to my own wardrobe. I feel like it's going to work for me...so do what you feel is best for you! A wild patterned blouse could really go well with a solid black skirt, but it may not match much else in your closet. My plan is to stick with only two of my favorite patterns: polka dots and stripes (for the most part...I will probably still have some other patterned options, but very few). Pattern mixing is huge right now, and polka dots and stripes are easy, classic patterns that will probably never go out of style. I really don't ever wear plaid to be honest, but that would be another easy pattern to mix. Gingham is another favorite :)

4. Have a good selection of accessories. Necklaces, earrings, belts, bags...you name it! They are an easy way to add a little fun to an overall simple wardrobe.

The Habitual Meek and Quiet Spirit

I'm your typical girl. I love shopping, makeup, getting dressed up, learning new hairstyles. (Let's just sum it all up in the one simple word, Pinterest, shall we?) Sports and the other "guy stuff", eh whatever.

I believe God made us women with the intention that we should be beautiful. Beauty in of itself is not a vain or negative thing whatsoever. God is the epitome of beauty, and He chose to showcase His beauty in creation : the museum that is this world. We women are meant to be part of His museum - each of us capable of manifesting a unique portrait of the beauty of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says:

Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

 1. God intends for women to be feminine. You would think this would be more obvious than it really is. Men are meant to be manly, strong, and confident. Women are meant to be sensitive, lovely, fragile, and of all things, feminine. Women have adapted the mindset that femininity equals weakness, but that is not true. Godly femininity is so strong it has the ability to help shape men to be the men that God intends for them to be, the men that we desire for them to be. If women try to be like men, then what are men left to be? Allow (and encourage!) the men in your life to be the manliest they can be simply by being the most feminine version of yourself you can be.

2. There's nothing wrong with making yourself look good! Do not be deceived to believe that God doesn't want you to do your makeup or hair or care about what clothes you wear because those things are "wordly". He just said not to rely on those things alone to make up your beauty. Nothing ruins a pretty face more than an ugly, angry look. So...take care of yourself! Put on a pretty shade of lip gloss, wear an outfit that makes you feel cute, and fix your hair if you'd like. Allow your outer appearance to be a mere visible reflection of your inner beauty.

3. Most importantly, work on the inside. Like I said previously, there's nothing wrong with working on the outside unless you do so while ignoring your spiritual beauty. The only way to attain true, lasting feminine beauty is through reading the Word of God, allowing Him to softly smooth out the rough areas in our souls, and through prayer. It is God's desire to use us to manifest His own beauty, so if we seek Him, He will surely answer us and begin to do a work in us.

4. Pray for and work toward a meek and quiet spirit. God names a "meek a quiet spirit" has a very precious thing in His eyes. Truly, isn't the most lady-like of all women those who are just that: meek and quiet? Quiet does not necessarily mean introvert! It doesn't mean unopinionated, either! We should certainly speak up for what's right as well as be able to talk to anybody. God uses those characteristics to draw the lost to Himself. A meek and quiet spirit is not concerned with others seeing them, but others seeing HIM. A woman precious to God Himself seeks that all glory be directed to Him rather than self.

I pray that God would continually mold me to be a woman who is kind, sincere, gentle, has a quiet voice, laughs often, smiles at strangers, is humble, knowledgeable, organized, goal-driven, encouraging, and who, most of all, loves Him supremely and has a desire to share the love He has given me to the world.

How about you? :)

Near the Brokenhearted

During my time attending a Christian college right out of high school, I had the privilege of developing close friendships with girls my age who loved God supremely. I recognize this as a true blessing from God, since I attended public school and therefore had very, very few Christian friends in my teens that I spent time with regularly. Perhaps my public school friend attended a church every once in awhile to flirt and hang out, but none of them had a similar passion and love for Christ as I did. He really used these close friendships in my college years to draw me even closer to His loving arms, and their counsel helped get me through my time there.

These girls are still close friends of mine, and although I don't see them now nearly as much as I wish, they still hold a very special place in my heart.

While reading over a few psalms today, I happened to come across a particular passage that a very special friend (who was also my suite mate my freshman year) pointed to me at a time were I was, to put it simply, absolutely brokenhearted. I find myself returning to the comforts of this chapter often when I really need to feel that God knows and He understands and He is in control of it all and with me through it all.

Psalm 34:17-22:

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

 I'm not sure that if my dear friend had not pointed me to this passage in my time of sorrow that I would truly grasp the meaning of this passage or hold it so tightly to my heart as I do today.

God hears.
He understands.
He delivers.
He is near.
He saves.
He protects.
God is very, very good.

I thank Him for allowing me to come back across these words in my own personal reading. I thank Him for godly friends.

The Fun Part of Fall

Who doesn't love fall? Leaves on the ground in hues of bright reds and yellow, holidays just around the corner, and pumpkin spice flavored e v e r y t h i n g .

Bring it on.

My fun part of fall, of course, is the cute clothes that come along with it :) Scarves, cardigans, boots, and jackets anyone?

Here are some things that have caught my eye:

By the way, no I didn't post links. But I did post the website store that I found these all, so you can easily search for them there :)

1) Chunky infinity scarf (Target) : Aren't they everywhere? I can't go into target without taking a moment to admire this scarf. It's a perfect neutral that would match just about anything, and it would work perfectly to do just what a scarf is supposed to do (keep you warm, duh).

2) Brown wedged boots (Belk) : I have a pair of flat brown boots similar to this that I purchased last year (my first ever boot, can you believe that?) but I've really wanted a pair that were wedged because they'd look much more dressy, but they would also be much more comfortable. I think they'd be the perfect completer for a dressy- casual fall outfit.

3) This peplum cardigan (Target) : I almost died. Grey + white + peplum + cardigan all in one? I haven't seen this in my town's Target, so I just may think about getting this online.

4) Brown mini-wedge (Target) : I saw these the other day at Target and thought I need these in my life! I love these because they're a mini-wedge that really almost look like a flat. If I do a wedge, I do a very mini one, as you can probably tell. I love the color, too.

5) Black opaque polka dot tights (Gap) : Ahhh I love these. I have found that tights are actually something worthy to be invested in. Cheaper tights will hardly make it through the winter. I love the size of these polka dots, and they'd make a fun piece to pattern mix easily.

6) Navy and white scarf (Gap) : Navy, white, and polka dots? Enough said.

As you can tell, I really lean toward neutrals in the fall. They're that much easier to mix and match. Of course, I still like color, but these are all very versatile pieces that make for an awesome fall wardrobe.

Happy Fall :) Now to go get a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.