Brighten My Day

Here are the fun things about today's outfit:

1. Earrings - Thrifted for $0.25 (YES you read that right. Only 25 cents)

2. Yellow Coat - Thrifted for $12.50 (YES, yesterday was a great thrifting day!)

3. Sweater - Target

4. Red Tank - H&M

5 Bangles - Sorry, no idea where these came from but I love them so they're fun!

I love wearing bright colors when it's raining outside. And I live near Portland, OR so it's raining outside almost 75% of the year. Bright clothes brighten my day. They almost trick my brain into thinking it's bright outside (even if my bright colors are on a sweater and I'm freezing). 

I had something else to brighten my day today, too. Great conversation seriously warms my heart! 

I love just sitting with a friend and talking about life, and the Lord! It's one of my favorite pass times. 

Not to mention I spend a large percentage of my life in coffee shops anyways, so to add a great conversation just makes my day...bright! 

Philippians 2:1-4

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love,being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

DIY: Crate into Chair

The fun things about this project:

1. This crate started as a shipping container for a new piece at a Portland art museum.

2. A friend grabbed it from their trash to make a dog bed out of it. So he cut out one side.

3. I bought the fabric for 70% off because of some legit couponing I did that day.

4. This chair is soooo a cuddle up with a book chair!

DIY Chair instructions:
1. Remove all foam from inside of crate.
2. Paint crate to your desired color.
3. Choose fabric to wrap foam.
4. Wrap the foam with some extra batting between the existing foam 
and your chosen fabric. I would wrap the batting around the entire 
foam so that your edges are nice and clean.
5. I used Gorilla Glue to attach my fabric to the back of the foam. 
That probably wasn't the formal-I'm-a-pro way to do it, 
but it worked for me and it wasn't very messy at all. 
6. Put fabric covered foam back in it's original place. 
Add pillows to dress it up a bit!

You know what I love? I love that we can take random ordinary, and seemingly trashy things and create something new. I love that I will use this chair until it's old and worn down. And even then I might just redo the project with new foam and fabric. I love that an old thing can be used for sweet new purposes that were never envisioned until it hit the hands of someone creative! 

That seems to be true for me also. I was old and worn down. I was headed toward the trash. But Jesus got ahold of my heart. He made me new. And then... He gave me a new purpose; one that I never envisioned for myself until He came into my life!

Jeremiah 29:11-13
 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

DIY: Blue Shirt

The fun things about today's outfit:
1. Rock & Republic Jeans - Thrifted for $35
2. Scarf - Christmas Gift from my lovely sister and brother-in-law
3. Earings - Thrifted for $1
4. Blue Shirt - Hand made by ME! Check out the DIY instructions below.

DIY Shirt instructions:
1. Pick a stretch fabric that you love. I picked a spandex-ish lace I found for 50% off
2. Get a fabric writing utensil. These come right off with water. I have a white one for dark fabric and a blue one for light fabric.
3. Use a t-shirt you already have as a guide. Cut along pink lines. 
4. Sew along pink lines with about 1/4inch seam allowance. Don't forget to fold under the edges of the sleeves and neckline. The fabric I picked has a sweet, already finished, base so I left it as is. 

Today was a whirlwind. I didn't really do a ton of things but they were all one right after the other and it seemed to go super quickly. I'm excited for the morning to spend some quality time with the high school girls I mentor, reading the Word. I'm also very excited to spend some time with Hannah, my photographer and new friend, thrifting! 50% off Wednesdays, here we come!

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Outfit Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Productivity

Fun things about today's outfit:

1. Sweater - Thrifted for $7

2. Shoes - Target

3. Scarf - Gift from my mom a few years ago.
4. Belt - Thrifted for $1

I'm guessing I'm not the only one here with at least an ounce of lazy in every day of my life. Sometimes it really bothers me. Why did I sit there so long? Why didn't I write that down so I'd remember? I can't believe I missed that!

Recently I read a book on organizing and productivity. It's main focus was at the office but it absolutely can apply to my whole life. I don't work a ton on Mondays, it's my errand day both for the office and personally. Well, I've been keeping an errand list this week based on the book I read. It doesn't have tasks on it like "drop off dish at mom's house" or "grocery shop" it has specific things on it like "Buy 8oz foam cups" and "pick up some egg noodles for chicken noodle soup." I know that sounds super simple but it sure was efficient today. I was out and back home in an hour and a half. 

Proverbs 19:15

Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,

And an idle person will suffer hunger.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Racing Time

Here are the fun things about this outfit:

1. Scarf - Straight from my Grandma's closet into mine! Thanks Grandma!

2. Pink Sweater - H&M

3. Boots - Thrifted for $16 

4. Sparkle Bracelet - $1

5. Coat - Funny story time. I saw this coat at Ross at a time when I really didn't have any coats at all. I just happened to notice a lady walking down an isle wearing the same coat I was looking at. So I skipped on over to her and asked her how she liked it. After I convinced her that I wasn't a crazy person, she convinced me to buy the coat!

The sermon at church today was wonderful. Funny enough, it was a topic I posted about a few days ago. Hebrews 12:1-3 used comparing running a race (training, prizes, etc.) with our life and walk with Jesus. Great reminder. And I love that I get the opportunity to learn a lesson over and over. Sometimes it takes a while for me to "Get It."
Again, it's a cool experience to be training for a half marathon while learning this lesson.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Green Pants

Fun things about today's outfit:
1. Necklace - Gift from a friend tossing some stuff out. Check out the random mirror on the flip side. Well that will come in handy when I need to powder my nose.
2. Scarf - Christmas gift from my lovely mom over 5 years ago. Funny thing is, I did not like it when she gave it to me, but last year I wore it at least twice a week.
3. Pants - I purchased these white flair leg petite pants form a thrift store. I colored them and skinnied them and poof... love them!
4. Tribal Pattern Shirt - H&M

DIY PANTS: 
Step 1. Soak them in a dye bath. (follow instruction on the package of your dye.)
Step 2. Put pants on inside out and pin along the line you want to sew.
Step 3. Sew them! (Don't forget to cut off extra fabric.)
Step 4. Wear them!

I spent a good chunk of my day today sitting in a coffee shop(in true northwest fashion).  I'm in a small group of 5 ladies who are studying 1 John together. By some series of events I became the facilitator of this particular study. This is quite the humbling role. I jumped right in, reading commentaries and listening to lectures & sermons expecting to gain some great insight to bring to my group. We've met once so far and my time today in the coffee shop was in preparation of our next get together. A friend from church dropped by with her family, who was out on a family bicycle outing and gave me some great insight. She reminded me of how great it is just to read the Bible. We don't need to add a ton to it. In fact we don't need to add anything. It's good at teaching us just as it is and without any of our so called profound insights.

So I changed my approach on facilitating. Keeping it simple and in the word. I'll still study, read, & listen. But I'll slim down the "study guide" to mostly scriptures for my dear friends & I to look up as we study the book ourselves.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Fall Colors in Spring Showers

Ok, here's the fun things about today's outfit. 

1. Dress - Home sewn by me, pattern free! I bought this jersey fabric a few years ago and last year finally made it around to creating this.

2. Sweater - $5 at J.C. Penny (Talk about a sale)

3. Scarf - Christmas gift from my sister & brother-in-law!

4. Beaded Bracelet - Purchased in Mexico. Memories locked up in that one!

 

Mixing a color blocked sweater and a bold print pattern wasn't always a go-to thing for me. Slowly I learned to love color so much that I disregarded all the "rules" I had set for myself and my closet. I started mixing everything up! I'll be sporting this look again in the fall, I'm sure. These colors are just asking to be worn in October! The thing is... is it's almost spring time. Not a lot of pictures today because it was raining on Hannah and I the whole time. (See the link below to see more of Hannah's photography.)

 

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, 

that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, 

I have overcome the world.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Clothes on the Cheap

I love pairing an over sized sweater with some skinnies or leggings and a comfy scarf. Super cute and cozy to wear all day! I have to laugh a little about this look though. I'm already pretty tall, and to add some lil wedges and a high messy bun makes me tower over people. Sometimes I get people doing double-takes in public when they notice my height.

Ok, here's the fun things about today's outfit. 

1. Scarf - My batting eyelashes swiped this from my mom's closet, never to return again.

2. Sweater - Thrifted for $7 (on the high side in my opinion for a thrift find, 

but I made an exception on account that it's RED)

3. Jeans - Thrifted for $6. I originally bought these to create polka-dot jeans...But I was lazy and used regular paint so it washed off. Until I get the time to recreate the dots with fabric paint, I'll wear them as boring old blue jeans. Below is what they looked like with a little polka in the dot!

 

You know what I'm doing??? A half-marathon!

That's right I'm in training right now for a mid-May 13+mile race. I've never done anything like this before so I'm nervous. Training started a few weeks ago. I'm following a plan that I found on Self Magazine's website.

 

What's cool to me is how training for this race parallels my life. If I train hard and regularly, I can keep building my endurance and stamina. I get better at what I'm doing and can do more as I work harder. But if I slack for a while, I lose momentum and have to start over again to get to the strong place I was in. That is such a sweet example of life. If I'm diligent in my job, then I'm confident and sure in the work I'm doing. If I'm consistently spending time with Jesus, than I see His presence more readily. 

 

Pilippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, 

that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, 

forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are 

ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Word Pictures

 

 

Fun things about today's outfit:
1. Black Hight/Low Shirt - Thrifted for $3
2. White & Gold Stripe Bracelets - Thrifted for $2
3. Thick Gold & Bronze Bracelet - Gift from a friend (AKA free)

Anyone who's spent time in deep conversation with me has discoveredthat I love word pictures. I supposes the word is "analogy" but I like calling 
them word pictures. I'm a visual learner so if I can imagine a scenario to 
compare something to I'm much more likely to understand it. If someone says:

"Nails on a chalkboard" ANNOYING.

"That person is my rock." STRONG.

"Fish out of water." AWKWARD.

 

Get it? I want a comparison to understand situations or a persons character. 
I think that is why I love Psalms & Proverbs so much. There is so much going on 
in there to get my imagination kicked into high gear. (you imagined gears 
on a machine going faster didn't you...didn't you. Word Picture people!)

When God is described as a rock and a fortress, and my times are in His hands. 
When I read that even the heavens declare his glory, I know He is big. Huge in fact. 
I love that He's immeasurable. It gives me reason to seek Him. It means I will 
always be learning more about His incredible traits.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the earth shows His handiwork.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Today's Pattern

 

 

Ok, here's the fun things about today's outfit. 

1. Bracelets - all thrifted for a total of $5

2. Necklace - antique store for $1

3. Belt - had it since high school!

4. Jeans - this is really the fun one! In a total of 8 days I ripped both pairs of 

my skinny jeans right across the butt. Yep so these ones are new!!

Now for a few fun facts about my day.

1. I bought coffee for the first time after my juice fast. 

It had this great pattern on the drink sleeve. I love it so much! 

I instantly started to wonder what it would look like on a shirt.

2. In the parking lot today I came back to my car to find a sliver of a space between mine and the car next to me. I literally would have had to squeeze in sideways to fit. Obviously I wouldn't fit into the door if it even opened. 

So... I had to crawl in through the passenger side. And yes, I too noticed I wore two different pairs of shoes during the days adventures.

3. Remember that pattern in #1? well I am not going to wait around hoping to find that on some sweet fabric so I can make a shirt. So... I invested in some fabric paint. Yep that's right. You're going to have to stay tuned in order to see some sort of shirt come to life from this!

Psalm 36:5-6

Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography

Green & Pink Go Good Together

Check out my DIY part in today's outfit. Pink pants! They started out as your good ol' flair blue jeans thrifted for just $5.00. Dunked for a while in some bleach and then a soaking in some dye, and finished them up with sewing them up to make them skinnies!

Well today was a typical Sunday. Church in the morning and my own mish-mash of getting things done the rest of the day. The thing about today was, it marked the 7th day of my 7 day juice fast. That's right. I've been drinking just juice for the past week. You saw the pictures. That's a lot of veggies and fruits! And that was only my first trip to the store. I know, I know, sounds gross - A big gulp of greens 3x a day. But surprisingly it wasn't bad at all. But I am absolutely glad to be eating solid food again! I will be buying bacon tomorrow!

You know what I love about creativity? It's such a cool reflection of how we're created in the image of God. It's amazing to have the wheels in my head start turning and my imagination starts whirling around with ideas of what something could be. I wonder if that's how God felt before He created us? Excited about what could be, what would be, what I am now. 

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

Images by Worlds Apart Photography