Royalty and a Commoner

 {practicing my wave, should Prince Harry come a'callin. Look how adorable he is, chuckling here}

 {failing at curtsy-ing}

 {This is the 'commoner's' version....jeans to keep things more casual for errands!}

 {new fave nail polish!}

I wore this outfit yesterday, on the day of the Royal Wedding. It was, of course, inspired by the outfits of the guests. Unfortunately, I don't have a 'fascinator' to wear, so this large bow headband will have to suffice! I was so glad I got up early to watch the beautiful, elegant wedding. I'm certainly not a Royal fan or aficionado of any notable level, but a few of my observations:

1.) If there is as much God in their marriage as there was in that ceremony, I'd be totally amazed! Loved how they used a prayer they wrote together.

2.) It definitely felt like a 'normal' wedding, just on a Royal scale. Lots of personal touches that any girl today would want in her wedding {like their get-away car}

3.) They seem so genuine. I just really like them! I think the first little peck Prince William gave Kate seemed totally like an accident, just a sweet little thought-less kiss that he couldn't hold back. 

5.) Loved their evening attire! So elegant.

4.) I kind of wish there had been a bit more formality. Like, when William put his hat and gloves on, he looked SO dashing. I think he should have had them on earlier. I also wish Kate's brother had read from the traditional KJV.

Overall, I loved Kate's dress, the whole affair (trees in the abbey! gorgeous!) and wish them the very best. I hope they can survive and thrive as a newly married couple! Hooray! I am such a sucker for pomp & circumstance! 

Style Secrets

Headband: F21

Necklace: F21

Dress: Charlotte Russe

Jacket: Rebecca Taylor

Shoes: Target

Royal Rain

Ok, so this outfit has absolutely nothing at all to do with the Royal Wedding. But the Wedding is tomorrow and I'm excited.

WAIT!!!!!!!!!!! I just realized this outfit does have something to do with the wedding! Hunter Wellies are the wellies of the Queen of England...so says the royal seal on the inside!

Anyway, on that note, I think it's time I go to bed. See you in the morning, Queen Mother, Prince William, and Kate! Can't wait to see that gown!

P.S. --> The tornado devastation in the Southern states is heartbreaking. Prayers!

Style Secrets 

Umbrella: J.Crew
Earrings: F21

Fur vest: F21
Turtleneck: Banana Republic

Scarf: Walmart

Trench: Target

Cords: AG

Boots: Hunter

Random Interlude

Ok, so I'm obviously way late to the game with this one, but I just realized Bethany Dillon (who was one of my favorites back when I was 15) wed Shane Bernard of Shane & Shane a couple years back. How did I not know this?!

And then I stumbled across this wedding video of theirs, and it is just seriously the sweetest and happiest thing and it made me tear up (I'm such a mush pie). And if you already knew this, just reminisce, remark on how darn cute it is, and then laugh at how I just realized this.

Update: They also have a kid. I'm super-way behind.

Easter Happiness

Look! See:

That's my Easter basket from my sweet boyfriend: Reese's and Lara Bars. Boy knows me well.

 {totally fit for a six-year-old right? and silly girls in their twenties!!)

And my bestest friend pointed out that I wore the exact same blouse last Easter in a similar outfit:

{Last year's Easter post: complete with ways to procrastinate on thesis writing, click here)

 {we're going to dub this the Easter blouse and see how many years in a row I can wear it, haha}

Easter really does make me SUPER happy :-D Jesus, pretty outfits, my favorite colors, chocolate, and a froufy Easter basket: I'm so there. {Psssst....can you imagine my boyfriend buying this Easter basket where he WORKS? Awwww. He must really like me :-P)

Easter Sunday

I really love Easter. Reaaaaalllllllllllllly love it. 

And I love the fact that my boyfriend gave me an Easter basket that is fit for a six-year-old. And I am totally as excited about it as a six-year-old would be...check yes.

Also, I'm totally excited that JESUS IS ALIVE! I love that fact even more.

Style Secrets

Smile: Courtesy my Savior, Jesus Christ

Sunnies: Local store

Earrings: ?? (super old)

Tank (under): Old Navy

Blouse: Thrifted, FEI (prob Anthro?)

Cardi: Target

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: Thrifted, BCBG

Heels: MaxAzria

Delight in the Lord

Be faithful to enjoy the small things, dears. Be faithful to keeping your eyes open, your heart open, your self open. Keep space within yourself, so that you can be free to admire, to dream, to enjoy---to delight and to be delighted. I've been reading a book that said that our opportunity is to delight those around us. Can you imagine: families, workplaces, communities, where the sole purpose of fellowship with each other was to delight one another? How is that possible?! Well, when we delight in the Lord, He fills us to overflowing with joy. He is so faithful to overflow my life with joy when I spend quality time with Him. He allows my heart to be able and willing to delight others when I take delight in Him.

" ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart....

 ²³ The LORD makes firm the steps
   of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
   for the LORD upholds him with his hand." 

Psalm 37

We have a joy that is untouchable, because our joy lies in Heaven. This world cannot take it away. Our struggles cannot overpower our joy.  

Our joy has RISEN!

And that, my dear friends, we must share.

Good Friday

Don't let Good Friday slip by unnoticed. Don't let this A.D.D. culture of ours distract you: Jesus DIED on the cross for YOUR sins and MINE. He was held to a cross with nails, with the weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders. We cannot celebrate Easter Sunday until we pause and reflect over Good Friday. Oh weep, dear ones, oh weep, over the price that has been paid.

I am That Girl

 {Sorry about the lighting change...it was one of those cloudy/sunny/cloudy/sunny days...}

{diamond dot tights}

I love how cinematic these photos look. Hello, European vacation in the 60s.....

See, that's my European vacation photo from the 60s. Convincing, right? 

Oh, why am I *that girl* you ask? (you read the title, didn't you?) Well...I may or may not have picked out an outfit for my boyfriend to wear to Palm Sunday church that purposefully coordinated with this outfit of mine.  Then we took mushy-gushy photos together. What can I say? I'm that girl. 

 

Style Secrets

Sunnies: Local store

Earrings: F21

Striped Shirt: Gap

Sweater: American Eagle

Scarf: hand-me-over from a friend

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: J. Crew

Tights: J. Crew

Boots: Thrifted

God Time and On Time

My new motto for mornings is:

God Time and On Time

Homemade gluten-free cranberry-orange bagels help, too :-P

Get in the God time. Take out the morning computer time. Have enough time to have a casual chat with the other person at the parking meter box thingy. Enough time to happily look around Main St. and realize how blessed I am. Enough time to be settled in my mind for the day before it even starts. 

Yes, yes. God Time and On Time.

Funky Shoes

{nail polish is hot pink, it just didn't photograph well...it's pretty neon}

Style Secrets

Scarf: Walmart

Earrings: F21

Sunnies: Local store

Dress: Local store

Leggings: Danskin

Shoes: Payless

Simplify to Exemplify

Simplify Your Life to Exemplify Christ is my new motto.

The importance of this has really come to the forefront of my life lately. How we need to have our lives ordered: temples of God, where there is space for him to enter, without us needing to sweep an armful of junk aside.

I've been reading about ordering my life from The Gentle Ways of the Beautiful Woman (wow, there's a title for you!) by Anne Ortlund. Goodness, I have lots to learn from that title alone, not to mention the whole {rather thick} book.

After sifting through my life and reading lately, I've come up with a few guidelines:

1.) Simplify your thoughts.
2.) Simplify your commitments.
3.) Simplify your surroundings.
4.) Simply your devotion to Christ-like living.

One: Your mind is a temple of the Holy God. "Take captive EVERY thought, and make it obedient..." 2 Corin. 2:5b The Bible also reiterates over and over again how our minds are one of our most powerful (and therefore vulnerable) assets as human beings. There are many others who discuss this topic better than I do!

Two: Simplify what you devote your time to, where you invest your life. Think depth, not breadth. Another book, Only Angels Can Wing It, suggests these qualifications to any commitment: 1.) Will it matter in a week, month, or year? 2.) Does it fulfill a need of mine or of someone I love? 3.) Is there someone better suited to this who may be excited about the opportunity?

Three: Simplify your surroundings....I can breathe when I have a clean home, a made bed, and clean dishes. When we aren't consumed with the "dailyness" of life getting away from us, we can be at rest in our minds and focus. We can have time to be still, space to listen.

Four: This one I made up entirely, I think. Be like a child with your faith. Come to the throne in awe, with a heart full of wonder. Realize that this is a relationship, not a rat-race with the others at church to see who is the "most Christian." Live your life focused on GOD alone. Spend time getting to know where he wants you to put your thoughts and commitments.

~Discipline, you see? *my word for the year* The fruits of the spirit, right? Clearing out our lives so we are less likely to get lost in our negative thoughts, our commitments, or our messes. I'm working on it!