Fireworks

Hey friends! How was your 4th of July? Hope that your heart is full from spending time with those you love, cool treats, and bright lights (fireworks, hello!). A group of sweet gals are meeting at my house each Tuesday evening to do a summer study called "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minteer. Let me tell you, it is a good study!!! She has a book and a workbook, we are studying the latter. At the end of each week she provides a yummy recipe and a playlist. It's such a good time to take a break out of your week and refocus. Focus on what the Lord is saying, and listen to what He is teaching others. So, if you are looking for a sweet (and booty kicking) little study, I encourage you to turn the fan on hi, open a box of popsicles and invite you friends over for a great time with the Lord.

Oh, and as for the fashion? How about buying something for a dear friend that you enjoy. Or give one of your pieces away. Does the same person always compliment you on the same earings? Make her day. It feels good to get rid of things. Be a firework in someone else's day :)

Accordion Pleats

If you are looking forward to the fall as much as we are, start look for accordion pleats. They will be a great addition to your closet. Keep this trend towards the front as you will want to wear this piece all the time. I like the monochromatic look off the Zara skirt with shoes in a similar hue. Plus, if you are vertically challenge, this will elongate your look. Dress it up with a blouse, and play it down with a tee. As for a dress like this one from Alice + Olivia feautured on Kaboodle, find a shape that fits your body type and color that compliments your skin tone. I think it's fun to look for a trend before anyone else, because there isn't a high demand for it (you won't have the same piece as everyone else), and you will find something unique. Try looking at vintage stores, like Bess & Evie's. Have fun with this trend! Post your findings so that we can all "oooh and awww". 

 

Spotlight: 

2 Timothy 4:2 says "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.^"   

Ladies, you know that Timothy wasn't concerned with our wardrobes in this verse. He is encouraging believers to be ready at all times for whatever trials should come our way. I want to encourage you to be prepared for all circumstances. Be ready to share your testimony, to encourage or confront a friend. Be ready to move or to stand still. Listen to the Lord and He will help you to be prepared.

Easy Breezy

One of the things I love most about the summer, is getting away with doing your hair however. It's basically hot and sticky all summer long, and your hair seems to be on summer vacation too. Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray is a perfect product for indecisive hair. All you do is spray this on wet hair. Let it dry naturally or diffuse with a blow dryer. After that, just keep your hands out of your hair and let it do what it wants to. This product works great on all lengths and textures of hair too. Embrace this chill summer style!



Spotlight: Read Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." As a women, I find myself worrying about all kinds of crazy things I have no control over. That's one reason I think it's nice to give my summer style a break. There are plenty of other things that deserve more of our attention besides our hair. So, I encourage you to take it easy. Don't sweat the small stuff, and enjoy the sweet things of our days.

Ice, Ice, Baby!

In lieu of the pending snow, I thought it would be fun to show you an icy trend for the upcoming season. These obviously are faux, from Forever 21. As with most the trends we show you, this can add oomph to a dressy or casual fit.

Spotlight: Job 38: 29 says, "From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?" The first thing I noticed from this verse, is that the frost is from the heavens. When I see dew or frost in the morning, my first thought isn't always that it's from God. The more time you spend with God in prayer, and in the Word, the more natural these thoughts become- that when you see something beautiful such as frost, you automatically think it's from God! Spend time with God this week, and see what beauties he opens your eyes to!

Help Me!!

Okay ladies, I am the one who posted my dark sequined dress that I was planning to wear on New Year's Eve, and have since found myself in a fashion dilemma (scary I know)! Originally I had planned on hitting the town with my favorite girls and luxe-ing it up until past 12.... but now I am going to a super casual party at a friends house - a 'couples party' if you will. What should I wear????? I'll have to buy something for sure ;)
These are my options:
A) my ever faithful joe's jeans with stilettos and a super fun top
B) a dark sequined mini skirt with tights, boots, and a hane's v neck
C) wear the over the top dress and rock the super glam dress regardless of what else anyone else is wearing



Send me your votes- A, B, or C!

Pencil Me In

The pencil skirt is a classic that your closet will appreciate. This shape makes it's way onto the runway and into your favorite stores season after season. If you do not currently own a pencil skirt, may I suggest a neutral color (grey, black or brown) to ease you into the classic trend. It is ideal to wear pumps, not only for your self esteem but also to make you look more like a super model and less like an office cubicle extraordinaire :) Depending on your work environment this trend can be worn several ways. May I suggest looking on J.Crew's website, they have countless ways to wear this look.

Spotlight:

"1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3

Can you imagine what your life would look like if you were completely humble and gentle 100% of the time? Or take it one step further, if others were like that??? I know! Crazy. This verse is such a challenge! Our pray for you is that you will love others, and have patience for everyone in your life, just as Christ has patience with you. When you are feeling at your whit's end we pray that you take a step back and see where they are coming from. Look at the situation from another perspective. Have grace towards one another, and towards yourself. God gives it out endlessly.

Wear Your Underwear

When it comes to the intimate details, never be caught off gaurd. Underwear for the eyelids is just as important as wearing Spanx underneath your new jersey dress. Skipping the step is a major faux pas at both ends. Get your eyes ready to embrace the smokey details of this Fall's eye trends with Urban Decay's Shadow Primer Potion. This creamy shadow primer does the work for you by establishing a base for your eyeshadow to stick to. Color is more bold and will stay for hours on end. I put my word on it.

Simply dab on a few dots of this everlasting goodness, blend out with your finger, and let your eyes scream...Let's Go!!!

Spotlight: The opening sentence to this post could never be more true. No one ever wants to be caught off guard, especially when it comes to the intimate, or personal issues of our life. Personally I cannot think of anything more personal than matters of the heart. Proverbs 4:23 says,

"Above all else guard your heart, for out of it flow the issues of life."

Could there be a more true statement?! I cannot tell you how many times I have let people and things penetrate my heart that later nearly caused cardiac arrest. How and why does this happen? Often times it is because we forget to cloth ourselves properly. In essence we leave off our underwear. Ephesians 6:10-20 has much to tell us about being properly clothed. Verse 11 tells us,

"Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."
I encourage you to read the rest of Ephesians chapter 6. If you do not have a bible, check out www.biblegateway.com, where you can read it for free. When it comes to the intimate details, we don't want to be caught off gaurd. Remember your underwear, I mean armor (opps), and shout, Let's Go!!!

Name-Brand Makeup Targets Cheap

I just learned that Target has put out all of the resets for their name-brand cosmetics such as Boots, Jemma Kidd, and Pixi. Unlike department store, Target puts the products that are not part of the Fall story on clearance. Ask a Target store associate where they place all of their cosmetic clearance items. I just purchased Pixi glosses for $4.00ea, regularly priced at $18.00, Jemma Kidd concealer and i-radiance for $3.75, regularly priced at $18.00 a piece. I also found several formulas of Boots lipstick for $1.98, regularly priced from $7.99-$9.99. Also if you get super lucky you might find the brush sets, gloss sets, and evening sets on the cheap all from Pixi. Happy shopping!

DIY Hair Accessories

Making your own accessories for your hair is definitely in this season. Although, I have to remember not to avert back to what I originally think of when someone says this (hello NKOB, Hangin' Tough, anyone?) This is a trend anyone can incorporated into their style. I found these delicate flowered bobby pins on etsy, the designer is HandleSpout, and they are just perfect! Now I'm not saying that these would be easy to make (I'd prefer to buy them thankyouverymuch)! But you get the idea. These would be great to dress up an evening look, or perfect to wear with a tee and rock and republics on the weekend. Also, in InStyle this month they have a section on how to DIY. How would you make this style your own? Feathers, gemstones, twigs, go on and be creative!

Spotlight: According to Luke 21:16-19, those who are believers in Christ will be betrayed by relatives, friends and the like. It says we will be hated because of Christ. For any of us that have experienced this. It can be really tough! The hope of this is in the later two verses. "But not a hair on your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." In Jesus we have the ability to face anything form life's greatest challange to a bad hair day. Remember that with Jesus and a few hair accessories we can face anything life throws our way.

Fall Eye Rescuers

Even though fall is not quite here yet, the fall schedules definetly are! Everyone is feeling the effects of Red Eye. The must haves for this not so pretty face are simple. Visine, Green Tea and mascara are to the rescue! The makeup maven suggests saturating 2 green tea bags in cold water and resting them over your eyes for 5 minutes. Almost instantly you will see a reduction in puffiness as your eyes scream "Oooh la la"! Secondly grab a lengthening mascara and swipe a few coats on, such as Boots Extreme Length Mascara. A lash lengthening mascara creates the illusion of a more awake eye. This particular mascara has an amazing brush that makes creating full lashes a breeze. Lastly, spritz on a beautifully smelling fragrance to add pep to your step, and don't forget to toss Visine into your clutch for all day redness relief.

Spotlight: Perhaps you are saying, "It is more than just my eyes that need a rescue! I'm just down all around. Fretnot! There was a psalmist that felt the same way. He jotted down his thoughts in Psalm 43:5&6. "Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbedwithin me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praisehim, my Savior and my God." Isn't it so awesome that in the middle of his depression the psalmist is commanding his own soul to praise God. Wow! What a lesson. The next time you rest for 5 minutes with green tea bags on your eyes, command your soul within you to praise God and put your hope in Him. Let us know how it goes. God we praise your glorious name for giving us victory over the fall days.

Long Sleeve Mini Dress

For the fall, the long sleeve mini dress is certainley a must have item! You can wear it in a bold hue, a flirty pattern, or a subduded tone for a sophisticated look. You can easily fit this trend into your closet rotation by personalizing it to match you. For example, take this gray jersey dress from James Perse (www.revolvingclothingcom). By itself it may be a little too scandalous for you, even if it is jersey. But pair it with black leggings and shimmery ballet flats and you are on your way to a great look! There are so many ways to wear this trend! Tell us how you would make this look your own!