A Love of Mugs and Muggles

The fun things about this outfit:

Shoes & Bracelet & Shirt - Thrifted, Necklace - HandMeDown from Mom, Jeans - Old Navy

This may have absolutely no relevence to you right now...

But I love mugs! 

I just love them.

I'm not a glass or a cup kind of girl. I like drinking from mugs!

(and straws but that's a different story)

I'm not sure where this strange love started, or how and why

it had developed, but alas, it has. 

My lovely mother and I went to Vegas to visit my sister

a while back and we all three went to see Love... the cirque

amazingness featuring Beatles music. In the gift shop, I totally

purchased a mug. It's huge and awesome... 

but the next day we hit up a local thrift store... 

and I found this gorgeous turquoise mug for only about $1 

and I purchased that bad boy too... Love it just as much!

(after I washed it).

Next week I am about to unfold the story of the best mug I have ever

held in my hands in my whole life. You wont want to miss it!

It's getting a little bit crazy up in here, and I might as well

tell the world because life is just that strange and beautiful sometimes.

P.S. I've set a goal for myself to read at least the first 2 Harry Potter

books this summer (big deal because I'm not a reader by any definition of the word)

.... and I'm Nailing It... halfway through book 2 and can't put it down. 

Maybe I should start setting more lofty goals! 

But hey... Muggle goals... whatcha gunna do?

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, 

open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

4Days of Red, White, & Blue: #3 (5 Things)

The fun things about this outfit:
Shirt - Hand-Me-Down, Pants - Thrifted & Skinnied,
Shoes - Nordstrom (from back in the shopaholic days), Necklace - Antique Shop

June was ridiculously busy for me. There was events galore, fundraisers for high school camp, and much more...some involved tie-dying...

Because of this, I decided to make a few July goals so the entire summer doesn't pass me by before I have time to blink. I know I could add a lot of things to this list, but these are a few of the things I want to accomplish this month:

1. Read 2 short books. 

(I'm working my way through Chronicles of Narnia for the first time ever.)

2. Complete 4 DIY projects. 

(Notice I didn't say "start" because we all know we have a bin of DIY projects past that have not been finished. I missed DIYing in June!)

3. Tan it up. 

(I'm not one to spend to much time in the sun. My mom had skin cancer a while back and I am pretty aware of how long I linger in the golden rays, but I do want to have something resembling proof that the sun made a visit to the Northwest.)

4. Run once a week. 

(Sounds less than ambitious, I know. But don't forget I'm doing crossfit 4x a week.)

5. Get my passport. 

(There may be a trip in my future...I've been doing some serious procrastinating when it comes to preparation.)

P.S. My month is cut a week short because I'm taking high schoolers to camp. So I'm realizing as I write that I need to get crackin' on this stuff! Pronto!

1 Timothy 6:13-16
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Half-Hearted? No Thanks.

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - $4 Thrifted, Shoes - $8 Thrifted, Belt - $1 Thrifted, Pink Bracelet - $2 Thrifted

I'm pondering the effects of only giving half effort on things today.

Asking myself, what in my life could I be doing better? 

What could I be giving my all to, that I'm only running the motions through?

Where am I half committed? Where is it only about, what's in it for me?

And thinking through what needs to change to make sure 

I don't stay at a place of half-hearted self motivated effort.

Here's the thing, I don't want to be viewed as someone who is only somewhat reliable, somewhat committed, or somewhat passionate. But more so, I don't want to reflect Jesus as only somewhat reliable or somewhat committed. And I'm repping Him. It's a big deal.

Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

P.S. Once again linking up with Faith & Fashion! Check it out! I was spotlighted from last week in today's post.

Polka Dot Tank & The Beginning of It All

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Dress - F21 from highschool

2. Knotted Tank - Mom's sewing room discard.

3. Shoes - Target

4. Bracelets - Thrifted

5. Necklace - Yard Sale

That's right! My mom has a sewing room. Two Mother's Day's ago, she went out of 

town to see her mom and I couldn't go. So I surprised her when she got home with a 

totally clean sewing room. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but that place looked 

chic! It was like walking into a cute little sewing boutique! I'd organized all the fabric 

by type, then color. I sorted pre-started projects in one place away from patterns 

that haven't been opened yet. I even received the dreaded battle wound...bare foot 

stepped on a pin. Yep, straight through my foot, people. But it was a price to pay for

a wonderful surprise for my oh-so-wonderful mom.

Little did I know, that she would come back and with the new visibility of all she had accumulated over the years decide, "I don't want a lot of this junk."

JUNK?

Nope, I'm coming over now! 

And over I went, to collect fabric and thread, buttons and zippers, ribbons and elastic. 

And let's not forget to treasured vintage tank I'm wearing above. 

That was swept up with the rest of the loot, and I took it all and ran home.

An so began my passion for refashion, on that bright mother's day of 2011.

The End....oops...

The Beginning!

John 3:27

John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing 

unless it is given himfrom heaven."

Am I Armed?

 

The fun things about this outfit:
1. Skirt - High School (used to be a dress... I grew... dress was too short... chop chop top)
2. Sweater - Taken from friends closet (2 years ago)
3. Shoes - Ross
4. Belt - Thrifted $1
5. Tank - Target
6. Floral Bracelet - Thrifted $2
7. Earrings - High School Days

When most people think of things that we classify as "hard" or "trials" in life certain 

things come to mind. Major illness or death of a loved one, huge fractures or breaks 

in relationship, loss of a job, financial difficulties, get the point? Well, last night I 

was feeling particularly underwhelmed (all you 10 Things I Hate About You fans 

know that's a word right?). I was smacked upside the head by feeling alone, 

and all day I'd been feeling distant from friendships of any kind. 

This morning I found myself reading 1 John 3:24-4:6 which then tossed me over 

to Ephesians 6 where I read about these trials and battles we face are not tangible 

all the time. They are battles of the spirit. And my spirit was aching and feeling 

particularly parched. What I loved about Ephesians 6 is that it continues on to tell 

me how to be prepared for these spiritual battles. It describes the Armor of God, which

 sounds funny to me at first. But, like I've said before, I love word pictures! So I jumped at

the parallel drawn between tangible battle armor and unseen preparedness of the heart.

Let me say this: I don't believe in quick fixes. 

I know that I have to work for attitude changes and it seems that my work is never done. But I also believe I don't have to go it alone. So I'm determined to arm myself.

Ephesians 6:12-18

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, 

against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, 

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the 

whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having 

done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, 

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, 

having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take 

up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Soft as Spring

The fun things about today's outfit:

1. Sweater - Hand-me-Down

2. Shirt & Shoes - Target

3. Necklace - Hand-me-Down

4. Jeans - Buckle

Well today was nice and laid back... Well all except for my 7am Crossfit workout. That was intense. I'm sure tomorrow my body will scream at me, "What Have You Done?"

But back to being laid back - I took my time sipping coffee while I made myself breakfast and started watching Devil Wears Prada (which is one of my fav movies, and may just be why I enjoy my closet so much.) Then I wandered out of the house to the bank and then sat for hours at, can you guess... Yep, a coffee shop: where I read for a while. I studied some verses in 1John and read a little in a group study book about heaven. After which I came home to put next months schedule on my calendar and alter some thifted treasures. (A pair of crazy flared white jeans into skinny jeans, and a sleeveless chambray taken in so that it would fit well.)

I hope everyone else had a somewhat easy breezy weekend!

Proverbs 1:5

A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

I love days like today when I don't feel rushed but I still feel like I got a few things done. 

Spring Showers Anyone?

The fun things about today's outfit:

1. Chambray - Thrifted

2. Skirt - Thrifted (Pretty sure it was originally Target)

3. Shoes - Target

4. Earings - Buttons (I've been doing this for years, but never taken pictures. But here's a great tutorial)

5. Necklace - Original design by ME!

6. Giant Bracelet - Thrifted

I tried to bring a little spring into my outfit with some color in the skirt. It's still raining here in strange ways. The sun will shine for like 10 min. Then it will rain for 10 min. Then the sun sneaks in again real quick, right before the down pour. Then the sun is impatient and doesn't want to wait its turn, so it comes on out while it's down pouring. 

This is a serious tease to my desire to run outside because in the time it takes me to look out a window and think, "wow, I'll go running now" to the time I get my clothe changed and hit the road, the weather changes dramatically. Good thing someone invented a treadmill. Not my fav, but it will work when needed.

I co wrote my sister's blog post today. She's doing a Friday series on a book titled The Purpose Driven Life. Check out our thoughts on chapter one here. I'm excited to be going through this book. Chapter One is focused on us understanding "It's Not About Me."

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, 

but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live 

by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Polka Dots & Forever

The fun things about todays outfit:

1. Boots - Steve Madden (not my cheapest purchase)

2. Bracelets - Thrifted

3. Sweater - Thrifted

4. Polka Dot Button Up - Thrifted and altered by me. Check out the how-to HERE.

As I mentioned yesterday I'm a little scared of button up shirts. So today is ultra risky for me with this added bow. I found the instructions on pinterested and it took me 6 months to find a thrifted shirt to use for this particular DIY. Although the week after I finished the project I found a shirt much more similar to the one in the instructions and was a little bummed because I really like that material better. Oh well. Still a fun DIY.

Aside from todays outfit, I wanted to talk about what I'm reading on Heaven. Seriously guys, why haven't I thought about this more? Don't get me wrong, I'm not racing toward death or anything, like it's the goal. BUT WOW. Seeing Jesus, forever. Being in His presence, forever. Having the perfect relationship we were created to have restored to us, for forever. WOW. Now, that I'd like to race toward! That, my friends, is a great goal! It really makes me think about what I do with my day. Are my choices influenced by my thoughts of forever? Are my relationships? My conversations? My Outfits? My time management? I could go on, but I think you get it.

There's a book called In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn. I haven't read it yet but it's on the list as I study eternity. There's a quote on the back that I love.

Then there's this great song Psalm 62 that has a lyric saying,
"Though life is but a fleeting breath, a sigh to brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death, and I am His forever."
"Your life's greatest adventure is ahead of you. And it will last forever."

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.