love loud enough...

Over the weekend I went to a wedding for a longtime family friend. Sweet Lindsay Smith grew up as a dear friend of my little sister Julie and on Saturday, Lindsay married her love at Bates Nut Farm. It was a beautiful afternoon and evening as we all watched the sun set under the trees just dancing with twinkle lights. Lindsay’s dad, Dennis, was a mentor of mine all throughout Junior High and High School, so I was a smidge weepy as I watched him give away his little girl. It was a ceremony full of God’s presence and intentionally grounded with Christ as the center and foundation upon which their marriage and love will stand and that is my idea of a beautiful wedding. 

This weekend was ALSO the weekend of the Bush Family Reunion, so I had to get gussied up for the wedding in my parent’s fifth wheel. It’s not exactly the ideal location and if we’re really honest, beach air is a NIGHTMARE for taming my hair. It’s a combination of curly and straight but not specifically one or the other so with the slightest bit of humidity we are off to FRIZZ TOWN in the worst possible way. There was no question, it had to go up in some form or fashion. So I went to work with some texture powder, a dutch braid, and the bobby pins. All in all the hair turned out alright. Then it was onto makeup, which really just meant a darker eye and a bolder lip. I used my standard Maybelline 24-hour color tattoo in "barely branded" as the primer and layered on some wet and wild shadows (I know, I’m SO CLASSY like that) and my lips rocked a serious red “in love with ginger” by Rimmel. I’m a drug store makeup lover through and through. I busted out my favorite target skirt and a ridiculously bold necklace by Kate Spade and called it a day. 

Anna said I looked hot and I believed her. I didn’t have a date on my arm - I went to the wedding with my parents and my little sister and the bride was 5 years younger than me…but Anna sent me enough text messages of encouragement to make me truly feel beautiful. If you ever get the chance, be that kind of friend. The one who knows the wedding might be a little painful and therefore demands pictures so she can heap on the love. The kind of friend who takes the potential for a tinge of pain as an opportunity to bless. The one who isn’t there in person and yet finds the way to soften the ache and longing and becomes a part of God’s whispers of hope and promise. We really do have the capacity to be healing balm in the lives of our loved ones - we just have to hear their hearts, listen to their needs, and lean in…it isn’t easy and it won’t always eliminate the tears…but together is so much better than alone. A dutch braid and side bun with bold eyes and shockingly red lips isn’t really a big deal, but on Saturday night feeling beautiful mattered more than I can explain - and Anna knew - and she decided to love loud enough to make me hear her over my noise. I want to choose to be THAT kind of love - THAT kind of friend - to draw close - and to make a difference because I really do believe it matters. 

white legs on the loose...

2014 was marked as my year of the colored pant. I thought that was adventurous - I branched out in REMARKABLE ways and started rocking red and blue and even took it WAY outside the box with a polka dot pair. I had a pale pink and a turquoise at one point - but they were from Old Navy and l’m just going to say it how it is - Old Navy pants stretch…horribly…after approximately 2 minutes of wear. It’s ridiculous and annoying and entirely unfortunate so they were quickly retired from my collection. 

2015 has been known as the year of the leggings. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE A LEGGING GAL. NEVER. IN MY WILDEST DREAMS. NEVER. Are you catching my drift. I’m not what you would call small. I weigh significantly more than 115 pounds when dripping wet. So leggings just didn’t seem like a good move. However, I mentor these amazing girls at Biola (I call them my biola loves - you’ve probably red about them if you follow this blog) and they convinced me to try leggings. I bought the HUE brand from Nordstrom on their recommendation and they changed my life. Completely. One of my closies Amanda has now said to me on more than one occasion “I love that you basically rock the leggings all the time now.” That’s not to say that I’m boring and lacking in imagination with cute outfits - just that I have fully embraced the legging love. 

Well friends, today is the day I have come to tell you that summer 2015 is going to be ALL ABOUT THE BOLD SHORT. You read that correctly, this girl is now rocking shorts. Up to this point, I don’t think I’ve exposed that much leg since high school or early college, so at least 10 years, but I’ve lost a significant amount of weight and although my legs are a shocking white that is all kinds of scary and is likely to make you wonder if I’ve ever seen the sun, I’m finding new confidence (and maybe I’ll get a tan, or at least invest in a good tanning lotion). I now own a total of three (3) pairs - two from kohl’s - one in a bright floral with a teal undertone and the other a navy blue with white polka dots. The third pair is from target in the most darling bubble gum pink. This is SHOCKING to say, but I really love them all! Who would have thought! I wore the florals to a baby shower with a white lace top and got several complements (even down to a fb message from a friend asking me to be her personal shopper because my outfit was so stinking adorable) and the pink ones paired PERFECTLY with this casual chambray for a weekend excursion with the nieces and nephew (and also a casual monday if we're being honest - I work in advertising, I made it work!). So, you heard it here first - I’m fully embracing that short life…watch out world, these white legs are coming for you! 

30daysocardi || the finale

Well, #30daysocardi is officially complete. Yesterday I wore my whale cardi in celebration of my very last day and it took the silver medal - it was the second most liked image in the series! It is undoubtedly whimsical and has a lot of flair! ha! Plus, who doesn’t love whales (well, other than my friend Carrielove who abhors all things sea life).

Last night I looked through all the outfit pictures I’ve taken in the last 5 weeks and decided which cardigans just weren’t up to par, they promptly went into a donate pile alongside a collection of those I couldn’t even force myself to wear during the challenge. Obviously those aren’t my fav and someone might actually LOVE them - so out of my closet they go. I managed to pull 10 cardigans OUT of my closet to giveaway and I still have several that didn’t make it to an instagram post. I think it is clear I have a fashion bent. I also want to be more vigilant about giving away what I do not use. I am vastly aware that the word “need” is so relative and there are people who might actually have a true need for an item of clothing. My closet is FULL and I still stand there pondering what on earth to wear. That’s ridiculous and I so don’t want that to be my heart. I want to be generous and live intentionally even when it comes to what I purchase. I think it’s totally ok to buy that new top here or there or pants that fit (I’ve lost a bit of weight, so right now clothes that fit are a BIG deal) but then I want to GIVE AWAY what I don’t use - it’s just taking up space and going to waste.

A friend asked me if I was now going to embark on a #30dayswithoutrockingacardi challenge - truth be told, that sounds WAY harder. I have lots of clothes that don’t require a cardi - but I’ve found that cardigans are a security blanket, a fashion crutch, an easy option for a day when I can’t seem to make a clothing decision. So we’ll see. For now, I’m just gonna do all the laundry and re-group, but first I’m gonna pit stop at the clothes-drop because I’ve got some stuff to give away!

30 daysocardi || part 2

The cardi party has continued strong and I’m MORE than halfway done! It is February 5th so that’s not QUITE the accomplishment it should be since I originally set out to wear cardigans for 30 days straight - but I haven’t repeated a cardi yet and I’m up to 22, so that is a win. OH and I haven’t even delved into my collection of three-quarter sleeved options! I really could probably build an entire wardrobe JUST out of my cardigans, but I won’t because life just looks better with more options! ha! I didn’t realize how much I loved normal sweaters, and t-shirts, and jackets until I set out to wear so many cardigans. AHHHhhhh. OK this post is ridiculous - here are cardigans 11 - 20.

30 days o' cardi || part 1

I have a lot of cardigans - they’re kind of my jam - I love them. Short sleeve, long sleeve, striped, solid, polka dot, floral, super long, buttons, open front, seriously CARDIGANS ARE MY FAV! So, in December I decided I would kick off the New Year with a 30 Day Cardigan Challenge. For this particular cardigan challenge I decided I would wear cardigans for 30 days straight #30daysocardi. I have ALMOST followed my rules. I bent them just slightly to allow for some weekend wear and determined I will just continue my cardi based fashion love until I hit the magic number 30 even if I am well into February (which I will be since it is January 21st and I am posting the FIRST installation of the cardi challenge which will include a grand total of 10 cardigans. For your information, to date I have worn a grand total of 12 cardigans [technically 14 but I didn’t take pics in 2 so they don’t count, I am a brutal judge, I know!]).

I must say that after reviewing these images, cardigans are still TOTALLY my favorite. They make getting dressed SO easy. Every outfit is cute. I’m almost always warm. Add a scarf or a necklace and the outfit changes entirely. Dress them up, dress them down - totes appropriate for work and still comfy enough for home. I mean seriously can we talk about the versatility! AHHHhhh. And a lot of YOU must love them too because my instagram is getting a LOT of love on these cardi posts.

2 more blog installations and a total of 18 days (and instapics) to go…

my love language...kate spade...

I am anything but educated in the world of fashion and high-end products. I’m totally a target / gap / sometimes old navy / nordstrom rack / TJMaxx kinda shopper. However, I do have a slight obsession with and deep love for almost all things Kate Spade. She is my love language. Everything is bold and bright and striped and polka dotted and she believes in glitter, which makes my heart beat just a little bit faster.

My friends know that Kate is a sure-fire way to my heart. Over the years, I have developed a fun little collection thanks to generous and lovely people like Megan McAlpine, Jenny Redmond, Emily Diaz, Rachel Williams and Rebecca Madsen. I love putting on jewels and thinking about the person who gifted them to me…the bracelet Emily gave me for being her maid of honor or the bracelet R left on my bed for our one-month friendiversary, the bracelet Gan gave me for my 29th birthday and the perfect pink earrings Kenz gave me the morning I left for my first trip to Hawaii. Every memory is special and I love that jewelry encapsulates all that.

In addition to gifts, I’ve also invested in the collection myself in celebration of birthdays, graduations, tax returns, and sometimes just a job well done or a week survived! Thankfully Kate has sales from time to time and I often find her stuff at heavily discounted prices in places like Nordstrom Rack and TJMaxx and just cannot help myself. Her stuff is just my favorite.

Do you love Kate Spade? Do you have a different “favorite” designer?
 
(The picture above includes most of my collection, but there are a few pieces I couldn’t find online and lots LOTS more that I’m sure I would LOVE to have!)

matchy mcmatchersons

I have this awesome friend named Ally. She is hilarious and quirky and always looks super cute. She wears BOLD brights and lots of polka dots and has the confidence to rock absolutely anything she puts on. She also manages to find the BEST chunky accessories at Kohls, which BAFFLES ME because I almost never find anything there (other than all the Lauren Conrad stuff, which is right up my alley!). Anyway, Ally and I are in the same Bible Study this summer and TWICE now we have shown up wearing the same EXACT outfit. The first time it happened I was shocked. I saw her walking across the parking lot and thought, “no, surely she is not wearing the same navy blue and hot pink striped dress I am…” and sure enough she was…with gold accessories and similar shoes to top it off. Then, the VERY NEXT WEEK, we both arrived wearing (brand new) pink polka dot tops (thanks Old Navy - so cute!). I literally could not believe it. What are the chances. I am still totally tickled. We did not plan it either time, but obviously we both have AMAZING taste and look darling virtually all the time! We have bible study tonight and I'm wearing stripes...I wonder what my girl Ally has on...

birthday wishes

My birthday is quickly approaching and out of the generosity of my heart, I've been putting together a little wish list so family and friends alike know what to graciously gift me! HA! Truth be told, I really do love birthdays - and look forward to celebrating with those I love the most. I know that most of these items will not be coming my direction this year, but it's always fun to dream! From Kate Spade to Michael Kors to makeup and jewelry galore, any and all of these items would make me squeal!

people's choice awards

Last night was the very first award show of the season - The People's Choice Awards. It is definitely a more casual event and the celebrities present are a mixed bag as the categories, nominations, and winners are all selected by viewer votes...thus the reason there are winners in categories like "Favorite On-Screen Chemistry" (that went to Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev, just for the record). In my opinion, it is a night to wear something a bit more adventurous and fun and my best dressed picks definitely reflect that.

Kaley Cuoco takes my top spot in her darling black and blue dress with giant flower embellishments. She looked put together but not stuffy the girl has the personality to pull off anything! Her speech was also adorable as she praised her {very} new husband, Ryan Sweetings. He accompanied her to the event and they just seem over the moon happy! Other favorites were Melissa Rauch in neon pink, Allison Williams in a bold and somewhat architectural blue and white number, and Nina Dobrev in black with plenty of sparkle.

Finally I had to throw in this pic of my college friend, Brent Kutzle and One Republic - a featured musical guest and winner of "Favorite Band". I went to CBU and Brent and I were in the University Choir and Orchestra together. Now he is a big-shot musician - playing guitar, singing, traveling the WORLD, meeting celebs (perhaps BEING a celeb) so seeing him on tv just makes me laugh!