denim & dresses

 

my mood is pretty much always influenced by the weather. and when we have a random 68 degree day in this bitter cold January, I'm in a stinkin good mood.  which leads to happy things like actually getting dressed, looking presentable, and styling! these kind of days have happened a few times this month and on both days I've run to both dresses and denim. they make quite the dream duo, and an unexpected pairing that I very much enjoy!

this was a fun day of frolicking around all over the city and taking fun photos along the way.

 hat & dress- anthropologie
 shoes- urban outfitters

 on another day of winter 60+ bliss, I twirled around anthropologie (my job) in this new favorite layered outfit.

cardian - gap
denim shirt - goodwill
dress - free people
necklace - anthropologie
shoes - cole haan

here's to more unexpected sunny days to twirl, hop and skip through this winter.

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE.

a few friends and I went hiking on MLK day!

so much laughter and happiness, I have to wonder why more time isn't spent exploring the simple and beautiful outdoors.

there was no cell phone signal, no (real) food, no expectations, no limits. there was us, the world, and the sun.

(and water. LOTS of water.)

 

whether it's in the mountains or the backyard- make 2014 a year of carefree unadulterated adventure.

overall, excited.

I am a little late on the subject..but when I think of the possibility and promise that this year holds, the strongest and most frequent feeling I've had thus far is excitement. there are many opportunities for failure, growth, adventure, discovery, risk taking, and +++. possibility. the unknown. doesn't that make you squeal like a small child, or am I alone in that?

so, 'overall' I'm excited about it. and I hope you are too. but we don't need a new year to start over. every day is a second chance.

caridan- UO
overalls- freepeople
boots- f21
shirt- AA

& here's to 2014.

the bright side

recently, I have felt like my life has been one small trial after the next. in small trials, I don't feel like I can really complain because I know how much worse things could be and how blessed I am. but there comes a point where I have to stop and ask God what he is doing. I know that He is here and real because not much of me makes sense without Him. but I don't know why I have felt so alone in my trials. if He is here and He is good, why the pain in the midst of prayer? why the struggle in the midst of faith? I got to a place of frustration with God, which He is more than big enough to handle, and I just wanted to understand. not for it to get better or for a magic solution, just for an answer from Him. He always answers us in ways we don't expect, but he does answer.

I finally sat down and did something this morning that I actually haven't done in a while: I opened up the bible and read. if you want to hear from God, why not go to the direct source of His words? and it was wonderful. here is what I read:

" Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. ² One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. ³ The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. " Romans 14:1-4

I was so humbled and grateful and delighted to see how the Lord defends us, even when our faith is weak. and even in our weakness, He is "able to make us stand." that is amazing. that is the God I serve. He does allow trials, but trials are edifying and we are actually supposed to be grateful for them. (Romans 5: 3-5) I'm far from there, but I understand it. in the same way that I am grateful for my mom taking away a lighter that I was having so much fun playing with, the Lord has taken and with held what will only harm me in the future. I'm too small to see the harm it will bring. we all are. He is good.

another thing that helped me greatly was a sermon by Joyce Meyers and I HIGHLY recommend this to any and everyone. so many gems in this I can't even name them all. but one thing I will say is that how we feel and what we believe ARE two different things. so it really helps to stop and get back to what we believe. and for me, that is that the Lord is always with me and works all things together for my good (Romans 8:28... so much goodness in Romans!)

today was almost 70 degrees in the middle of december and just days ago there was snow and ice on the ground. also, I feel like I got clarity from the Lord. I'd say this is as bright a side as any.

sweater: anthropologie
shirt: gap
jeans: urban outfitters
dr martens: nordstrom rack
brahmin bag: dillards

season of awk

so we're nearing the end of my fav, fall, and into winter. and you know what that means!

"tis the season!"

aka. tis the season of awk-weird:

• black friday shenanigans (thanks for scheduling me, Anthro, luvs ya XOXO)
• belting mariah carey's chrsitmas album (and realizing you weren't actually alone...)
• ice skating FAILS - the only time there's laughter in the presence of wet butts and bruised knees
• burnt tongues on peppermint hot cocoa, but it was KIND of worth it
• until said cocoa finds its way onto new cream sweater. joy.
• the man most victimized on counts of identity theft: mr. claus.
• fake smiling your face off at that gift "kind of love", per say....
• attempting to avoid the tacky christmas trend
• or overshooting and setting records in tackiness
• two unfortunates: egg nog & car wreaths. yes these fall under the same category: no. 
  
  
  just wanted to point out that there are quite a few other things that are awkward about this season.. not just me. (but mostly, me. )
  
  

some personals

• attempting to take my grad school test and being the only one who's test just isn't working
• not knowing what the heck is goin on with my life. but I'm ok with it. (Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11)
• grandma driving on the ice
• attempting style pics (see below......)
• laughing at inappropriate times during the hunger games (those silly people at the capital just crack me up)

background story on that last one, I went to see the hunger games with a few friends and it was so stinking GOOD. as a reader of the books, I recommend everyone go see it. they did a great job with the time they had and the visuals were just A++. there were a few parts that me and my friend Kyndall couldn't help but laugh at. and our neighbor sitting next to me didn't appreciate that. we weren't being obnoxious at all - Lord knows I can't stand those obnoxious laughers - but we were laughing at certain scenes that probably weren't meant to be laughed at. which made it ever more funny. something Kyndall has helped me to realize is that life shouldn't be taken so seriously. no one gets out alive anyway, right? too many laughs go suppressed.. many that's what's wrong with the world after all.

 so, I come to you  with some unfortunate and awkward pictures. I'm choosing to laugh at them and "c'est la vie" it.

 happy winter, yall:)

hat:f21 , jacket:free people , sweater:f21 , cords:jcrew , boots:lesportos (from etsy)