Thursday, December 5, 2013

Christmas Music!



Here's a list of 10 of favorite songs that will be on repeat this Christmas season! I love looking for new Christmas songs - songs that incorporate faith and the Christmas story in a unique way - but I also love twists on old classics!

1. Light of the World - Lauren Daigle
2. The Night Before Christmas - Brandon Heath
3. Come Now Our King - Chris August
4. Christmas Must Be Something More - Taylor Swift (I have to say - I was super surprised by this one!)
5. The First Noel - Lauren Daigle
6. Joy to the World - Jeremy Camp
7. Winter Snow - Audrey Assad & Chris Tomlin
8. O Holy Night - Scotty McCreery
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Carrie Underwood
10. God With Us - Jeremy Camp

** these are in no particular order, but the first one has been on serious repeat since I found it! I love that she's not super well known (she does a killer cover of Love Alone is Worth the Fight by Switchfoot) and that it's definitely a Christmas song, but it can be played all year just because it's such a phenomenal message! Needless to say, I am a Lauren Daigle fan and I can't wait for more stuff from her (she just got signed!)

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Architecture

Instead of mentioning for the millionth time how in love I am with Jonathan Thulin's music, why don't you just listen to his latest song instead?

YouTube won't let me put it here - so click on this to go to the video!


My top Christmas songs for the season coming soon! As well as a post on being single. Hope your December starts off well!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Two Trends, One Outfit

Two Winter Trends
1. Winter Lace - - pair a summery lace dress or tunic with thick grey tights, boots, and a colourful cardigan to keep it in season.
2. Equestrian Boots - - these type of boots are popping up everywhere. Try them out with a pair of dark wash jeans and a bright winter sweater for a pulled together but cozy look.
2 trends


One Winter Outfit
This season its all about juxtaposition (also known as pairing two things together than don't normally go). Like lace and winter, girly and tough, sparkles and tweed. Here's an example of a girly and tough outfit. A rockin' leather jacket can take you far, especially when paired with a cute skirt and a kicking pair of leopard flats.

1 outfit

Saturday, November 9, 2013

But if not

I've had the huge privilege this year to walk along side an awesome team of talented, Christ-loving volleyball players. As with all highly competitive teams, their goal is to win the championship, but along side this goal they have a motto: "But if not."

We play to win, but if not we will still give God the glory.
We want to win, but if not life will go on and God will still be good.

Every time this quote is brought up, I am reminded of how powerful this outlook can be in my own life. I may have plans, but if they don't work out, God is still God and He still has a wonderful plan for my life. As David wrote: "In your heart you plan your life. But the Lord decides where your steps will take you" (Proverbs 16:9). 

So let us live with this outlook. That God is in control no matter what and His love is better than anything else. Let's live for His glory, not our own. 


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

City Harbor Loving

Have I recently mentioned how much I love City Harbor? No? Well let me tell you... I love them! The mix of their voices, their lyrics and their beautiful hearts for God.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, they're new EP came out today that's why! Check it out on iTunes!

Monday, October 14, 2013

A Mosaic

I've been reading Jeff Bethke's book Jesus > Religion and so far it has lived up to all the expectations that I had! He is a phenomenal writer and offers a lot of things to chew on. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book (I have highlighted too many to count though!):


Friday, October 4, 2013

Oceans

As I mentioned in my last post, the song "Oceans" by Hillsong United has been on some serious replay here in my little world. Today as I belted it out I was reminded of how powerful and how scary the lyrics of the song actually are...

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior"

To be lead by God to where our trust is without borders is a HUGE prayer. It means letting down our guard and letting Him overtake our lives.

To be taken deeper than our feet will ever let us wander is a BOLD statement. It means that we have to give up our plans and let His be the only ones that matter.

Maybe you've never heard of this song or maybe, like me, you've sung it a million times... Either way, take some time to dive into the lyrics (for this song and of other praise songs). Take time to understand what you are singing because you may not realize how huge and bold a prayer those words actually are. And if you do, awesome! Sing them like you really mean them.

My challenge for myself this week is to not sing these words because they are a pretty melody, but I want to sing them because that is what I want God to actually do in my life.

Happy weekend!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

I Am Mountain

Indie music is not always my thing, but Gungor is always just edgy enough to maybe be considered indie and they have so much depth in their musicality and lyrics that I love listening to them! Check out their new single:

Song: I Am Mountain
Artist: Gungor

**disclaimer: I had to listen to this a few times before I fell in love, and I have had it on repeat (along with Hillsong's "Oceans") ever since!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Powerful Stuff.

Lately I've been really convicted about my prayer life, or rather my lack of prayer life. I don't know what it is, but when life gets busy praying seems to be the first thing that slips my mind. The Bible tells us to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6) and it's our direct communication route to God, so to say it is important is definitely an understatement.

To keep myself from falling into a lack of regular prayer slump I've developed three tricks...

1. If you find yourself getting distracted or lost in the middle of your prayers pull out your journal and write it down. Sure it takes a bit more time, but it is an easy way to stay focused. It's also cool to look back at your prayers and see how they've been answered. And on that note...

2. Write down the prayers you see answered! I used to get really discouraged because I felt like I didn't see God answering my prayers. I started keeping an "answered prayer log" in the back of my journal and I was surprised by how quickly the page filled up. It could be things that you specifically prayed for (like health or doing well on an assignment) or just little praise things (like it being sunny or a text from a friend that you haven't talked to in a while). Doing this has really opened my eyes to the different ways that God responds to our requests!

3. Keep a prayer calendar. Ok, this sounds weird and slightly confusing but all it is is a list of people/things to pray about - one for every day of the month. Write down 31 people or things that you want to pray for/about and keep it someplace that you will be able to find it again, then start praying. On day one, pray for the person/thing on day one and so and so on. I love this because it helps give me a purpose to my prayers. Sometimes I feel like I just ramble on and on, or I have way to many people I could be praying about. Writing down a prayer list helps to focus my prayers and keeps me from getting overwhelmed.

I hope these tips help you out!

Monday, September 9, 2013

A 10 Minute So-Worth-Watching Video

Ok, I can't believe I haven't freaked out about Jonathan Thulin on this blog yet!!! (If I have, then I kinda apologize, except not really because he's that good!).

New Release Tuesday called his music video for his song "Bombs Away" the best music video of the year, I believe, and that meant I had to check it out even though I hadn't heard about him. The video is incredible and the song is just as good. It's about sin and God's love for us. Now who wouldn't love a song like that? So powerful!

What was up next for him? Well, a 10 minute music video about the desperate state of our human souls, that's what. It's beautiful, thought-provoking, and something that has to be watched all the way to the end.

 

So... do yourself a favor and check all of this guy's stuff out - you won't regret it!
p.s. "Coat of Arms" and "Graveyard" are 2 of my other faves of his.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Side Note

One of my favorite (non-Christian) books is FREE on iBookstore right now. "I'd Tell You I Loved You But Then I'd Have To Kill You" by Ally Carter. Come on, you know you want it... plus what's free these days?

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

New Beginnings

Just a quick thought since I haven't been around here much lately.

Spring has always been thought of as the time for new beginnings, but for me new beginnings are in the Fall. With school starting especially, but Fall is also the time where you get into a new routine after slacking off (or maybe working harder) during the summer. It's a time to get your head back into the game and start focusing on what you want to do with the rest of this year. We're already more than have way through 2013 people! It's crazy time!

Basically what I mean by this rambling is take hold of the rest of this year. Look the unknown in the face and be confident that God walks along side you all the way. He's in control and He's got your back as you take your first few steps into this season of new beginnings.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Remain (Sotw)

Though this band is kinda hit and miss with me, this song is definitely a hit.
This will be on replay for sure!


Song: Remain
Artist: Royal Tailor

Friday, August 23, 2013

Transitions.

I love summer. Actually I think that I like all seasons (winter with it's snow is definitely my favorite though). But fall is kinda iffy for me. It brings colder weather, kinda in between hot and cold, and lots of rain where I'm from, which I don't always enjoy. Here are some pieces that will be helping me transition into the autumn season, and hopefully they'll help you out too!

1. Denim Jackets - a perfect layering piece to add a little warmth to your favorite summer dress!
2. Khakis - I've got a cute pair of these in purple and I love that they are light enough to be worn in the warmth, but they're pants so they transition right into fall.
3. Midi-Skirts - these skirts are all the rage right now, and they add a little swing to an autumn step. They might even be able to replace your summer dresses? (ok, that might be asking it to do too much, but still - they can be cute)
4. Bright Rain Jacket - well, if you can't beat it, join it. Try out a fun rain jacket in a bright hue or pattern to liven up a drizzly day.
5. Sheer Tops - these give the allusion of long sleeves but not the warmth of a sweater or a true t-shirt. They are also extremely on-trend right now.

Fall 2013

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

You Are More - SOTW

I've noticed that I've been posting a lot on music lately and not much else... I've also noticed that I'm going to do a throwback and it's not Thursday... Tough!

Love the message of this song, especially the bridge. 
Plus the band is amazing - music and life wise!

Song: You Are More
Artist: Tenth Avenue North

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Jessa Anderson (FCAF pt. 2)

Welcome to  C&C's "Female Christian Artist Feature" part two! This week I am featuring the beautiful voice of Jessa Anderson.

This talented momma released her CD "Not Myself Anymore" a while back, but it  still gets a lot of play time on my iTunes. Her style is a mix of Audrey Assad, Natalie Grant and some of the other great female Christian voices, and the lyrics to all of her songs are extremely thoughtful and thought-provoking. Basically, I can't say enough good things about her.  She's best known for her single Fireflies which is phenomenal, but Offering and Return are two of my faves from her album. If you're on the lookout for a contemporary mix of beautifully written songs, look no further than "Not Myself Anymore"!


Check out her website
and her Facebook page

There will be at least one more Female Christian Artist Feature up on the blog so check back next week! I'm thinking an Indie Christian Band Feature next, what do you think?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Animal Crossing

Not a fan of animal print? Why not try fabrics printed with animals? 
This trend has been popping up all over the place. It's whimsical and fun, and on a dress or a skirt it's perfect for summer!
I love how Kendi styled this adorable bear (or are those cows?) dress. 


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Shine Bright Baby!

Fun, upbeat and a great message, is how I would describe this song in a sentence. 
Perfect for blasting through your car speakers with the windows rolled all the way down!
 
 

Song: Beautiful Love
Artist: Shine Bright Baby

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Jenny Simmons (Female Christian Artist Feature pt. 1)

Great female Christian singers have been a little on the down low lately - excluding the big names like Natalie Grant and Audrey Assad, of course - so I want to be able to showcase some of my favorite Christian ladies who have big voices to go along with their boldly proclaimed faith! Each week will be a different lady, and this week I'm featuring Jenny Simmons!



Jenny was a part of the amazing band, Addison Road, who were famous for their songs Hope Now and What Do I Know of Holy. Recently, she released her own single album after the band decided to part ways (you can find my review of her album "The Becoming" here). She is passionate about her faith and it comes through in all of her songs, and through the writing that she does on her blog, wonderfully called Cupcakes, Sprinkles and Other Happy Things. She also has an amazing voice and is an extremely talented songwriter. All of these things and more, make "The Becoming" CD a must buy for anyone looking for a new female Christian artist to listen to.

Check out Noise Trade for a free sampler of her songs
or her Facebook page
or her awesome blog!


Stay tuned next week for another Female Christian Artist Feature! And keep coming back all summer to learn more of my favorites!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Isn't It Beautiful (sotw)

I thought this song was a little weird the first time I read the lyrics, but I love how powerful the chorus is.
It's beautiful when we come to the end of ourselves and find God's strength there.

 

Song: We Fall Apart
Artist: We As Human

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thursday Thoughts

Sometimes I have moments where I can pretend that I know exactly what God was feeling when He looked over His beautiful creation and said that it was good... This past weekend I had one of those moments as I sat on the back of my uncle's quad, zooming through the untouched wilderness on an old train track route. Minus the few times I got hit in the face with branches (I was too distracted by the gorgeous forest and mountains), it was one of the best moments of my life. Flying past the river, gazing at the tall trees, checking out the mountains that few people have dared to climb... moments like these need to be bottled and sold to people who are having bad days.

Where am I going with this? Well, I think that sometimes we get so caught up with the itsy bitsy bad things - like getting hit in the face with branches - that we forget about the big picture - in this case the gorgeous creation.

Phillipians 3:13-14 says: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes we need to stop getting annoyed and caught up by the little things in life that aren't going our way, and look at the big picture; the picture that God is carefully weaving together. Don't worry about a few branches, take a better look at the things that distracted you from seeing that branch =)


p.s. is anyone else getting this song stuck in their heads?

Thursday, July 11, 2013

TBT

Song of the Week meet Throw Back Thursday...
This song is one that I go back to time and time again. 


Song: Stand in the Rain (Symphonic Version)
Artist: Superchick

Monday, July 8, 2013

Collapsible Lung - CD Review

Collapsible Lung - Relient K
When I heard that Relient K was releasing their first original album in four years I was ecstatic. They are one of my favorite bands because they are always changing their sound, always challenging themselves musically and keeping God in the picture without cutting off their non-Christian fans. When I heard the first few songs that released from the album (That's My Jam, Don't Blink and Lost Boy), I knew that we Relient K fans were in for a completely different album from them. The pop sound and upbeat lyrics reminded me a lot of their "Birds and the Bee Sides" EP and some of the covers that they did in "K is for Karaoke."

I got it the day that it released, and despite all the flack that they are getting, I have to say that I actually am really enjoying the album. The album is not their usual, yes, but what is Relient K's usual? It is an extremely pop based album, but when asked about this Matt Thiessen, the band's lead singer, said that this was just for this album and who knows? they might do a grunge album next time. For me, it is a great crossover album to reach new fans. The songs are upbeat and fun, ranging from the Bruno Mars-y song Can't Complain to the Michael Buble sounding intro for Disaster, with a little classic Relient K in Collapsible Lung.

Yes, I do think that some of the lyrics are a little questionable (especially in Sweeter), but I think that these guy's pulled our their inner Taylor Swift and wrote from the heart for these songs.

My favorites so far are Disaster and Lost Boy, but I really like blasting That's My Jam (featuring Owl City) with the windows down in the hot weather.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Perfect Summer Song

Relient K's CD just came out last Tuesday and already it's one of my favorites for the summertime! 
This song is super catchy and cute, perfect for cruising in the sunshine!

Song: Can't Complain
Artist: Relient K

p.s. there should be a review of this album coming soon so stay tuned!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Ok. So.

Well, my July 1st goal didn't happen... but I'm back! And with a new schedule. A more relaxed schedule. I will still be around every Monday with a post but the rest of the week will be a bit more relaxed. Look, Song and Quote of the Day won't be scheduled but will arrive on the blog throughout the week! I might go back to a more scheduled schedule in the fall but we'll have to see! So... without further ado...

Easing You Into 2 Summer Trends
Here are two ways that I am easing into two of the hottest trends this summer: peplums and matching sets! Both of those things usually make me cringe, so I devised a way to sport both of these styles without going all out.

1. Pretty, Flowing Peplum
Wary of peplums? Try out a loose, flowing peplum instead of the stiff ones that you see everywhere. It still adds definition to the waist and a fun, flirty look to an outfit, but it's not stuffy and over-the-top trendy.

Easing In {Peplum}

2. Matching Sets?
Matching tops and bottoms are definitely something that I'm not game to try, but matching big, bold patterns in the same colour palate is something that I can do! Go big and bold with your mismatched prints and ground the outfit with some neutral accessories. 
Matching Set?

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Quick Note

Just dropping a quick note to say: I'll be back on July 1st with a new-ish blogging schedule to go with this new look! I'm really proud of the new look that I've made and I hope you all like it too! Talk to you soon!

Monday, June 3, 2013

June Hiatus

Just looking at my calender these days is making me cringe, let alone attempting to get through each day. For this reason, I'm taking a hiatus from blogging for the month of June. I will plan on being back blogging on July 1st, but who knows! Until then... here's a quote and a song...

"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful."
- Sigmund Freud

 
Song: Lost Boy
Artist: Relient K 
*Look for their latest album out soon!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Trending - Black & White

It's "Look of the Day" time again and this time it's black and white outfit time! One of the hottest spring trends is also the easiest to pull off. Try pairing a shirt with horizontal and vertical black and white stripes with classic staples - white shorts and black sandals. Or go for all white with only a few touches of black in the accessories. It's easy; pretty much everything works together with this trend and you can use pieces that you already have in your closet! What are you waiting for? Try it out!

black && white

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Grace

When I read this quote on my Facebook news feed it blew me away. I hope you find it as powerful and thought-provoking as I did!


Monday, May 13, 2013

A Different Question

As I listened to my pastor read from Romans 5 this past Sunday, I thought through why I really like this verse. I mean, rejoicing in suffering? It doesn't seem like the greatest verse... It assumes that we will suffer, and suffering sucks. But I've been learning a lot about different perspectives lately and I think that's why this verse really sticks in my heart right now.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5 ESV). 

When we are faced with hard situations, I think that, as humans, the first thing that we ask is "where are You, God?" I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing, but I think that it can diminish the idea of what suffering is. Metal needs to be put into the fire before it can be bent into a beautiful shape, and we need suffering to be shaped into who God wants us to be. I think that a better question when we are faced with hard times is "God, what are You teaching me through this?

Having a different perspective on your situation can make all the difference. Instead of seeing suffering as a place where God has deserted you, try looking into the heart of the matter. God is in the business of changing hearts. As the famous saying goes, "God loves you just as you are, and too much to keep you that way." 

I love the way the Message portrays these same verses in Romans:

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

This week, take a moment to see your situation through a different set of eyes. God will never leave you or forsake you, and He has a purpose for every breath you take. 



Thursday, May 9, 2013

All the Poor and Powerless


Beautiful lyrics and a beautiful message. 

Song: All the Poor and Powerless
Artist: All Sons & Daughters

stay tuned for a Lady Antebellum CD review!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Peace, Patience and Prayer

"Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ." - Sheila Walsh

"Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting." - Joyce Meyer

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?" - Corrie Ten Boom

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Look of the Day - May Days

I've been seeing neon pop up all over the fashion blogger world lately and another trend is lace skirts, so why not combine them both in one item? Add a cute, patterned blouse on top and keep your accessories to the basics - neutral sunglasses and neutral sandals - so that your shirt and skirt are the stars. Maybe even add a cute french manicure with a pop of colour instead of the traditional white tip for a fun twist on a classic! 


Polka Dots and Lace



As we breeze through May don't be afraid to play with bright colours and fun patterns. You'll get even more wear out of your favorite pieces and maybe even come up with a few new favorite outfit combinations!

Through My Father's Eyes v. 2

I've shared this song before but the wonderfully talented Holly Starr just released the music video for it today! It's a phenomenal video!

Song: Through My Father's Eyes
Artist: Holly Starr

Thursday, May 2, 2013

3 Spring into Summertime Products

Here are three of my favorite products to keep in a summery mood through this rainy spring weather!

1. Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion {Body Shop}
Perfect for dabbing onto blemishes, with a fresh scent. It works wonders for your skin!

2. Grapefruit Body Butter {Body Shop}
Slather this on your dry skin for intense moisture and an amazing fresh scent!

3. Fresh Picked Tangerines Hand Soap {Bath & Body Works}
This fresh scented soap will keep you smelling nice all day and moisturize all at the same time!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

We Have Hope

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
- 1 Corinthians 13:12

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." 
- Romans 8:18

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light monetary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18




As you go through this next week, I encourage you to take a look at your life and your struggles with a different perspective. I have said this before on this blog, but when we look at our lives in light of eternity it changes things - at least for me it does, and hopefully for you too! When we fix our eyes on Jesus, it lets us see that these struggles that we go through aren't for nothing... we have hope; we have heaven.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Double Back

It's nice to be back! I will try hard to start regular updates again! For those of you who are new Mondays are a bigger post usually on fashion or faith, and sometimes books or music, Wednesdays are quote of the week days, and Fridays are song of the week days!

The title of the post is "Double Back." Why? Because I'm back but also because the Song of the Week is from a group that is finally back after a few years without new music! Enjoy!

Song: Don't Blink
Artist: Relient K

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A Crazy Book Deal!

Just wanted to give you all the heads up about Jefferson Bethke's book. It's on pre-order right now for 13 dollars (CDN) which is crazy! It's going to be an incredible book. For those of you who don't know, Jeff Bethke was the poet behind the youtube sensation "Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus" (look it up if you haven't seen it yet - it's got over 24 million views!). I got the chance to read the first chapter of the book and it is awesome! It's definitely going to be a must read!

Pre-order here
Free Chapter Sneak-Peak here

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Week off

Hey everyone! Just wanted to say that I'm giving blogging a week off! Things have been pretty crazy lately, so I'll be back updating next Wednesday night hopefully! Hope you have a wonderful last bit of April!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Honest Faith

Two songs this week.
They may not be extremely uplifting, but I love their honesty. 
Honesty is a beautiful thing, especially when you're honest about where you're at faith wise.

Song: Through the Fire
Artist: Hawk Nelson ft. Mike Donehey (Tenth Ave. North)



Song: You Must Be Here
Artist: Paper Candle

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

What A Guy

If I could go back in time and meet any person in history my first choice would be Queen Victoria of England (because she was pretty amazing for such a young Queen) but coming a close second would definitely be C.S. Lewis. He has penned many, many phenomenal words including these gems:

"When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind."

As Christians we are called to live apart from the world and sometimes this is really hard, but we have to remember where and to whom we are running. Earth is now and Heaven is forever.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Spring Trends 2013

Here are four trends that I keep spotting at the beginning of the beautiful Spring 2013 season!
They're things that can be easily integrated into any outfit and are pretty versatile as trends go!

Spring Trends 2013


1. Peplum Tops - If I'm being honest peplums are probably one of my least favorite things fashion wise. Nevertheless, they have been popping up time and time again in the blogs that I follow and on my pinterest pages, so some people must love 'em. And as long as you're going peplum, why not try a super cute striped one (this one's from Target)? Pair it with your favorite pair of jeans and sandals for a casual outfit, or with a straight skirt and a pair heels for a fancier version.

2. Blazers - These have been everywhere for the past year or so. For a spring version, why not try a blazer with a pop of colour like this lovely blue one? Pair it with a pair of jean capris, a white shirt and sandals for a school day, or try it over your LBD with some sparkly heels for a date night!

3. Cambray Shirts - I have never owned one of these little beauties but, again, this is a trend that has popped up everywhere. Layered under this and pair with that... Jessica of What I Wore loves to wear cambray and has some great outfits that are easy to replicate using it! I would try pairing it with a cute skirt and floral flats for a night on the town, and with a pair of white jeans and sneakers for a casual outfit.

4. Nude Shoes - Versatility is a key word when you're talking about nude shoes. They go with pretty much everything and they even elongate your legs! Pair them with a striped shirt and a pair of rolled up jeans for a school-appropriate outfit, or try them with a floral dress for a church-ready outfit.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Oldies but Goodies

Here are some CDs that aren't so recent, but that have been on my playlist lately. Hope this can help you mix up your music listening as you study for finals or whatever you have to do!

The Saving One ~ Starfield 
Worship, a little rock and some beautiful lyrics.

Pieces of a Real Heart ~ Sanctus Real
This one has a bit of rock in it to and some awesome, Christ-centered lyrics.
Well Meaning Fiction ~ Mainstay
These guys aren't well known and they aren't around anymore, but if I could only bring one CD to a desert island, this might be it!
All Things Bright and Beautiful ~ Owl City
This is probably my favorite Owl City CD. It's got dance music all the way to more thoughtful music.
Hundred More Years ~ Francesca Battistelli
A little bit of this and a little bit of that. Perfect if you want a female Christian artist coming through your speakers. 


Have a great Sunday!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Being In Love...

I know that it's not anywhere near Valentine's Day anymore but I saw this online today and I loved it! It's a short excerpt from an awesome book by C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity. Enjoy!


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Sunday



Jesus came so that we might live.
We love because He first loved us.
We are forgiven because He took our place.

Happy Easter!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Thought for the Week

I was listening to a Passion City Church podcast today and the pastor, Louie Giglio, said something that really caught my attention (this may or may not be a direct quote :)

"The miracle is not that Jesus did what He did but that He wanted to do what He did" (this was about healing the blind man in John 9).

Easter is coming and I want to challenge you to think about the amazingness behind the Easter season. God didn't have to come and save us from our sins but He wanted to. Jesus didn't need to die for our transgressions, but out of perfect love He did.

This weekend, take a few moments to be in awe of the fact that God loves the sinners that we are and that He wants a relationship with us, His beloved children. This is the true meaning of Christianity.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Thankfulness

My Bible Study and I had a "50 Days of Thankfulness" event where we wrote down one thing a day that we were thankful for for 50 days. It was so great that we did it twice - once around Thanksgiving and another time in the new year. I love taking a few seconds out of my day to focus on being thankful. I think that we get caught up in focusing on "me me me" in our society rather than on God. This is a small way to counter that.

Here are a list of what I have been thankful for these past few days. I hope this list inspires you to write your own!

- Springtime sunshine
- Laughing with friends
- Peanut Butter and Chocolate ice cream
- Finishing a midterm
- Checking off lots of things on my to-do list
- Skype dates with friends



p.s. you can listen to Hawk Nelson's new CD (coming out April 2nd) all week here! Check it out - it's awesome!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Your Glory

My life is Yours
My hope is in You only
My heart You hold
'Cause You made this sinner holy

Your glory is so beautiful
I fall onto my knees in awe
And the heartbeat of my life
Is to worship in Your light
Your glory is so beautiful.

- Your Glory by All Sons and Daughters

Monday, March 18, 2013

Struggles


Spring Has Sprung

Spring is almost here and I don't know about you but I'm ready pull some of my favorite warmer weather pieces out of the closet! The only problem is... it's still cold! Here are some tips to add some spring into your outfit while you wait for the warmer weather!

1) Layer up with Pastels!
Layering is key when transitioning into and out of winter but put a warm weather twist on things and pair pastels together. My favorite pairing is my blush leather jacket, a short sleeve green cardi and a black and white stripped shirt. Here's another version of my favorite:
Spring has Sprung v.1


2) Roll It Up!
Pair your favorite cozy sweater with a pair of rolled up jeans and a pair of flats or nude heels. Adding cuffs to your jeans helps you show a little skin  and adding a pair of nude heels can make your legs seem suuuuper long.


3) Color on Color on Color
Jessica on What I Wore has featured two outfits in the past few days where she has worn color on color on color (coral pictured here, find a purple outfit on her blog). Her tip for this is to ground it with a basic like dark wash jeans. Wearing a bunch of the same color is a great way to let everyone know that you're reading for spring! Try an outfit like the one pictured here - a cardigan, shirt and necklace - in your favorite color with your favorite pair of jeans!

Friday, March 15, 2013

Carry Me - SOTW


This song has quite literally been on repeat all week around here.
Enjoy!

Song: Carry Me
Artist: Josh Wilson

[note: the acoustic version is just as awesome!]

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Tough Truth

"Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want.
It is the belief that God will do what is right."
- Max Lucado

What is faith to you?

Monday, March 11, 2013

All that is Gold does not Glitter

- J.R. Tolkien 

All that the world offers is not enough,
not all who don't know what's next are truly lost;
A strong faith from long ago will not wither,
a faith rooted deep will not be shaken.
From a spark of hope faith can be renewed,
darkness will not win out over the light;
returned to perfect the world will be;
Jesus again shall be King.

{my take on this beautiful poem}

Don't lose hope. Don't stop fighting.
God is holding onto you even when you forget to hold onto Him.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Never Gone - SOTW

I think I might be half of the hits on this video. 
Love the lyrics, love her voice, love the promise.

Song: Never Gone
Artist: Angie Miller (from American Idol Season 12)

Original by Colton Dixon here

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Blaise Pascal

"In faith, there is enough light for those who desire only to see, and enough darkness for those of a contrary disposition."
- Blaise Pascal

" Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made. So people have no excuse for what they do." 
- Romans 1:20



Monday, March 4, 2013

Lavender Jeans - 3 Ways

I recently bought my first pair of colored pants... yes, I'm a little behind with the times... and I was lost at how to style them at first! Here are three ways to style this pair of lavender pants (which is the pair I have). One way is girly, one is colorful and preppy, and the other is a bit more relaxed!

Lavender Jeans - 3 Ways

Sunday, March 3, 2013

My Prayer

Here's my prayer for the week:

Lyrics from: More Than Words by The Museum

Friday, March 1, 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

One Liners

It's sorta a quote. Mostly it's a beautiful reminder that 
what is to come is an infinite amount more important than
what is going on here.


Monday, February 25, 2013

Narrow Road

There are moments where words just fit together in a way that perfectly makes sense. Usually they come as a surprise, a random stroke of genius at a time when you least expect it. This was what happened to me last night. I had been tossing and turning in bed when a sentence floated through my mind. And then it floated through a few more times... So I pulled out my journal and wrote it down.

"Plan things on your own and you will fail, but follow God's path for you and you will succeed in ways that you would have never imagined." 

This reminds me of a Sanctus Real song that I've had on replay for the past few weeks. The lyrics of the second verse go:

"I'm starting to see why this is called the narrow road
Cause if I wanna walk this way, oh I've gotta stay close
I'd leave anything in the fire to bring us together
I want nothing between my soul and my Savior"

We are called to walk a narrow road. And we are told in Matthew 7:14 that few will find it. I don't know about you but for me that means that I want all the help that I can get! Psalm 37:23 tells us that "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." God wants to be a part of every single little detail in our lives. He doesn't want to leave us hanging. He wants us to prosper. The key is that we need to have our plans lined up with His. Sometimes that means that we will have to discard plans totally and other times they might need to change just a little bit. We also need to trust that He always has our best interests in mind.

So if you're feeling discouraged by what is going on in your life right now and you don't know why God hasn't placed you where you want to be, don't worry. Trust. He will provide answers, and though they might not be the ones that you want hear, they'll be the answers that you need to hear.

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. 
Trust him, and he will help you."
-Psalm 37:5

"God intends to give us what we need, not what we now think we want."
- C.S. Lewis


Friday, February 22, 2013

Chariots - SOTW

This is a little different than stuff that I usually post... but since I was
on an Indie roll this week (see my Wednesday post here on another Indie band)
I thought I'd share this one. I love how unique it is!

Song: Chariots
Artist: Future of Forestry

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Here's My Hallelujah

I know that Wednesday is usually reserved for quotes but this Wednesday I want to share a beautiful song from an unknown artist with you. Listen to it here!

"My Savior, I'm broken down and speechless
And all that's left is a simple melody.
But I offer it, so hear my words, O Jesus

From the depths of my soul, I'm crying out

So here's my hallelujah
So here's my hallelujah
I'm gonna sing it to You
So here's my hallelujah

There are no words that could ever describe Your greatness
There are no songs that could ever be enough
And though I'm not perfect, I'm giving You my worship
From the depths of my soul, I'm crying out

I'm pouring out my heart
My soul is singing out hallelujah
God, You are so good I can't keep from singing
Hallelujah

So here's my hallelujah
So here's my hallelujah
I can't keep from singing
My hallelujah
"

~Here's My Hallelujah by Imani Worship

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Monday, February 18, 2013

CD Review - Run

Run by Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real has been around for quite some time now but I haven't been a fan of theirs for very long. Their last CD (Pieces of a Real Heart) made their way onto my computer and after a quick listen it was on replay for a looong time after that original discovery. This CD, Run, is one that has been on repeat since I bought it as well. Though they aren't a band with a particularly unique sound, this band's lyrics hit the mark every time. Their song Pray is a beautiful, honest song that is relaxing and easy to relate too. They have a great mixture of deep, soulful melodies and fun, upbeat songs on this CD, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new Christian worship CD to listen to.

Try:  Pray, Promises or Run

Friday, February 15, 2013

Heaven Waits for Me - SOTW

This lady is beautiful inside and out. She is also amazingly talented
AND she uses her gifts to glorify God. 

Title: Heaven Waits For Me
Artist: Jenny Simmons

p.s. review of her full cd here

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Presence of God

"We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God.

The world is crowded with Him."

-C.S. Lewis

Weekly challenge: Look for God's presence in the little things. 

-- Romans 1: 20 --
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Monday, February 4, 2013

CD Review - The Becoming

The Becoming - Jenny Simmons
I have been a fan of Addison Road for a few years and have seen them twice in concert. When I heard they had gone separate ways I was very disappointed. Then I found out that Jenny was coming out with her own CD! Any fans of Addison Road will not be disappointed with this CD, and those looking for a new awesome female singer to listen to look no further.

It's a beautiful mix of Addison Road and a cleaner sound with awesome lyrics (of course). Jenny is able to showcase her voice and songwriting in a fantastic way in this album. Broken Hallelujah is my favorite so far after hearing the album a few times, but I enjoy all of the songs on the album, especially the lyrics. Jenny is beautiful inside and out, and her love for God shines through this album.

Try: What Faith's About and Heaven Waits for Me

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Small, petty happenings

"My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God."
- Oswald Chambers

Challenge: This week I challenge you to have this attitude about your circumstances. I'm doing this too and I'll let you know how it goes!

Dark Horses

 
Song: Dark Horses
Artist: Switchfoot

Monday, January 28, 2013

In the Light of Eternity

"It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah."
-Ephesians 2:2-6 (The Message)

It's not often that I refer to the Message interpretation of the Bible but in this case I love this interpretation. In particular I love the line: You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. It's a powerful truth.

This makes me wonder... Why do we settle for less? We seem to have this idea that God doesn't know what's best for  us. Didn't He make us? Didn't He make our desires? If you believe this than it makes sense to believe that He knows what's best for us. So why don't we believe this? Probably because of our sinful nature and also because we get instant happiness from the things of the world. Sure, heaven is going to be great, but heaven isn't here right now... so why not have fun here, right? Wrong.

I wrote something powerful on my quote board this weekend after attending an awesome speaking session of how to find God's will for our lives. I wrote: "When we see things in light of eternity, we start seeing things with a different perspective."

We aren't meant to live here. We are meant to be creatures of heaven. We are aliens here. If that is the case, why are we so easily satisfied?

We need to start looking at our lives in light of eternity. Eternity doesn't start when we get to heaven, it starts now and it's affected by the decisions that we make now. So stop letting the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, affect your perspective. If we have heaven and a relationship with God as our goal then we need to start letting that affect our outlook on life.

Don't settle. God embraced us with incredible amounts of love that we don't deserve and He made us alive with Christ. Why don't we make the most of this new life?

Friday, January 25, 2013

Promises - SOTW

A great reminder of holding on to God's promises 
in tough times.

Song: Promises
Artist: Sanctus Real

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

When you are truly in love...

Very powerful and challenging words. I hope that they impact your week!

 "When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. You'll drive for hours to be together, even if it's only for a short while. You don't mind staying up late to talk. Walking in the rain is romantic, and not annoying. You'll willingly spend a fortune on the one you're crazy about. When you are apart from each other it's painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; you jump at any chance to be together. We need to be like this with God."
- Francis Chan


Thought: Does the amount of time that you spend in prayer with God reflect how close you believe your relationship with Him to be?
 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Florals and Stripes

Just because it's winter doesn't mean that you need to shy away
from floral patterns. Here are three easy ways to pattern mix using stripes and florals
that are winter appropriate.

Stripes and Florals Level One
Pair a bold striped shirt with a subtle floral patterned scarf.
Top it off with a textured blazer for a put together look that is right on trend.

Level Two

pattern mixing - florals and stripes

A bold floral shirt goes really well with a neutral toned stripe. 
If you live in a colder area, try a pair of nude heels or brown boots instead
of the heels pictured above.


Level Three

pattern mixing - florals and stripes v.2

Ready to go a bit bolder? Try a full on floral skirt and a bold 
striped shirt. Add neutral accessories to keep the outfit appropriate
and rock it!

Friday, January 18, 2013

One Thing Remains - sotw

Simple truths with awesome accompaniment.
My kind of song!

Song: One Thing Remains
Artist: Kristian Stanfill