Searching for Brights

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Green Pants - Thrifted & Skinnied

2. Sweater - Thrifted and taken in.

3. Pink Shirt - Target

4. Shoes - DSW

5. Black Bracelet - Thrifted

I've been aching for some brights in my closet. The more I look the more I realize that my closet is pretty much a winter/fall closet. Soooo, A thrifting we will go!

Hopefully come May there will be some more bright additions including crazy prints and who knows, maybe something studded??? We will see.

But for now: Pink!

P.S. Check out what I've been doing on Rachel's blog this week. I contributed some thoughts on the 5th chapter in Purpose Driven Life. And I guest posted some of my favorite ways to wear one of my favorite pieces: Chambray of course!

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging 
one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Rain or Shine... Make Up Your Mind!

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Chambray - Thrifted

2. Jeans - Thrifted & Skinnied

3. Necklace - Gift

4. Pink Bracelet - Thrifted

5. Shoes - Target

6. Tank - Zumiez

Well folks, I can officially say that I feel 95% better from that dreaded head cold that attacked me this week. Yeah! Thank goodness!

So I'm not one of those people who lives in the Northwest and hates rain. (If you didn't know, it rains in Portland like 8-10 months out of the year.) I love rain. And I love sun! I love that I get to see all 4 seasons as they change! But boy oh boy do I get confused about what to wear when the day goes back and forth between pouring rain and sunshine 1,000 times during 24 hours. (maybe a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.)

We took the photos for this outfit, I got in my car to leave, and on my way home (3min drive) it was pouring rain. Yep, that's how it's been this week. As confused as my wardrobe is, I'm ok with it though. It means that spring is here and summer is coming!

The sun was so great in these pictures though, 
that I think it calls for a sidebar photo update.

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, 

in which you stand, For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: 

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, 

that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

Mean Truck Man

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Sweater - $4 JC Penny

2. Necklace - Hand-Me-Down

3. Boots - Thrifted

4. Jeans - Thrifted

Today I went thrifting. Just a super quick trip to goodwill. I'll be honest - I do NOT frequent goodwill. I think it's way overpriced for a thrift store. But I had a few minutes and was driving by so I stopped in for the first time in years. I found some extremely darling shoes. Well, now that I used the word darling it sounds like their girly. They aren't. Their simple and gray but I love them. I'm pretty sure you'll see them in the next couple days!

Yesterday's crossfit workout gave me the delightful experience this morning of waking up to dead arms. Yep, hardly moving this limbs today. But I guess that means I'm working hard. Right?

I have to share this story from my trip to the gas station yesterday. I'm never super pleased with the service at my regular gas station, but I still continue to use them because of my .03 off per gallon and the occasional .10 off a gallon... worth it. Because of their not so wonderful service I didn't think much of this truck across the way revving up his truck impatiently. But when I finally looked over he was revving it at the guy in front of him who was sitting there not moving and not connected to a gas pump blocking anyone from moving up into those spots. The truck creeped closer within inches of hitting the little car before the small guy moved forward to the first pump. Well mean ol truck didn't stop there. He crept forward and did the same not settling for the back pump. He wanted that little guy to just leave. This went on for a good 3 minutes, which in stress-induced time equals like 4 hours. The little car finally drove away right as the gas attendant was running toward them waiving their hands. 

"What the what?" I think to myself... Until I see the attendant whip their head around at the truck with a hand full of cash and say, "Excuse YOU sir, that car was waiting for their change." and walked away trying to find the little car. (Not a few pennies here people, she walked by me and I saw bills. I wouldn't have driven away without my change if I were them. But that guy was a bit scary.)

Finally a guy helped me at my car and ran over to the truck next. The guy in the truck gets out and yells, "Are Yoooooooouuuuuu going to finally help me?"

Lil high school aged gas guy, "Yep" (to chipper for his own good.)

Truck Man, "There was someone over here already and they just walked away without helping me."

Lil gas guy, "Well, They wanted to give that car their change. I would have done that too."

Truck Man get in his car slams his door and drives away. 

I didn't realize until now that my jaw was hanging like a Christmas ornament. I shut my mouth and looked around to see every single person at the gas station had been watching too. 

And that my friends is why I smile at those poor customer service people, where ever they may come into my life. You never know who just yelled at them.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that^[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

New Life

The Fun things about this outfit:

1. Shirt - Thrifted

2. Green Jeans - Thrifted (See the refashion here)

2. Necklace - Home Made

3. Shoes - Target

Today I met a sweet baby boy. Four days new to this earth. So precious. So sweet. So adorable. Seriously, it amazes me. Life that is. I know I don't have kiddos, so it seems strange that I would be someone to say this. But, I think the creation of new life is one of the most incredible, amazing, jaw dropping things ever. God is such an intricate designer!

Love it! 

Psalm 139.13

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

For the Love of Thrifting

The Fun things about today's outfit: 1. Green Pants - Thrifted for $4 and skinnied from a flair. 2. Sweater & Shoes - Target 3. Chambray - Thrifted for $2.50 4. White Bracelet - Thrifted 5. Paper Bead Bracelet - Gift
Seriously, I've been looking for olive green pants for a long time. I've looked at full priced stuff even, because I couldn't find anything in thrift stores. Well, yesterday I hit the jackpot! HOORAY! When I try pants on at thrift stores I really only look at the fit in my from mid thigh and higher. I don't really enjoy refashioning the upper part of pants but from mid thigh down it's pretty darn easy. 
I'm not proud of this, but I haven't been doing well on keeping my running goals. I haven't run once this week and it's Thursday already. Strange, because I had plans to run every single day. I probably even told someone each day that I was planning to run. Then the time came and something came up. It's time to buckle down and get to business. (Rabbit trail for a minute. When I say the words "Get down to business" I start singing Mulan in my head and getting ready to defeat the Huns)
Back to reality (Now my mind is rapping with Eminem). But really, this happens to me to often lately that I slack on commitments I make to myself. I need to start seriously praying for diligence and start setting lots of reminders in my phone for things. And maybe post some sticky notes around the house too. Determined to be diligent!
Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

From Scratch Olive Green Dress

 

The fun things about today's outfit:

1. Dress - Made from scratch, no pattern, wing-it-style by ME! 

2. Sweater - Marshals

3. Shoes - Target 

4. Necklace - Friend's Jewelry company.

5. Belt - Thrifted for $1 (real leather)

I seriously love wearing dresses made from jersey! They are so comfy and forgiving! I almost always try to find good jersey when I'm at the fabric store! What are your favorite fabrics to wear? 

I've been starting to study Heaven recently. More so, interested in the whole topic of eternity. That is such a long time. Eternity. It all started when one of my high schoolers asked me a question, "Why does it sound like people who follow Jesus are excited to die?" I love the students just come right out and ask questions. And I love that it isn't coated in religious type jargon and overly spiritualized.

I'm not sure "excited to die" is a way I've ever stated it before. But I am excited to be with Jesus! So I'm studying up on the topic of eternity. I'm widening my knowledge so that I can better explain the topic to them. And as a result I'm getting more excited myself. I love when that happens. You dive into something for purely non-personal reasons, and the lessons learned become deeply and personally meaningful to my own life.

Philipians 1: 23-24

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ,which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

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