it's all about flannel

This pic makes me think of those cartoons where the angel is on one shoulder saying "be good" and the devil is on the other saying "be bad!" I have angel and devil doggies on my shoulders!

My good friend M- came down and visited I think it was in October.  She took these outfit pictures for me! I wish she lived closer, she didn't take many but they came out good. She's also an artist! 

So in the morning I believe it was kinda cool so I put this layered outfit on. As the day went on I was to to warm! I had leggings on and the boots are lined with some plush and I also had a cami under the flannel tunic. Oh! I was too warm!! I striped off the scarf and cami. 

It's been a bit of a struggle within the last two months or so to know how to dress.  It may be cool in the am then warm up later or it seems that the day will be mild then the temp drops!

I think in this tunic I look almost pregnant ;) What do you think?  I've worn this tunic/dress since with skinny jeans and a girl told me she loved it! 

I am not wearing much make up if any.  Because I am so light I think I need a little "something something."  It helps. As they say, "if the barn needs painting, paint it!"  (it cracks me up.)

In Januaray I am going to Liberty University to study pre-nursing!  I am lookin' forward to it. God has led me and is opening the doors for me to go.  I still have a ways to go before I start classes on Jan. 16th. Details and logistics to follow through with. I believe orientation is Jan. 12 and 13. Don't worry I will get that straightened out too, the day that I actually have to be there ;)

boots: from Belk, Bare Traps $70 ?

flannel dress/tunic: $10 Gabriel brothers

black scarf: $5

leggings: ?

black cami: thrifted?

earrings: from a set that cost $1 (earrings .10?)

(glasses: $12.95 from Zenni)

estimated total: not including glasses $86

My Thai date with Dad

There was a NOISY bird in this bush!! Someone was excited!

Awhile back my dad took me on a date. We went to one of my favorite restaurants: Winchester Thai!  On the way to the restaurant we stopped on the walking mall and he was so kind as to take my "outfit pics."  He did a pretty good job, don't you think? 

I got Curry Chicken and he ordered a rice dish. My food was good! I can even smell it now.

We went and saw the movie "The Help."  Which is now one of my favorites.  It's a great movie that explores civil rights and relationships and what can happen when people speak out against wrong

My brother Adam is home from university on Thanksgiving break. I usually don't stay up to 2, 3 or even 4 am normally. Last night I went to bed after 4 am. I feel a little off :P  It's my own fault but he's influencing me, hehe. (Those college kids!)

I bought a new computer! It's such a blessing to have a computer that is not a dinosaur so full of crap that it runs as fast a s a dinosaur :/  For one thing I am thankful for this computer!!!  I've already spent a lot of time working on my pictures and editing. I uploaded Picasa onto my computer. Nice editing program. 

Hopefully I will be posting more often.  But let me tell you life is busy!!!

cowboy boots: leather made in spain thrifted $1 or $2

striped dress: target $10

denim blouse: thrifted $4

leather belt: made in Morroco, thrifted $3

bracelet: $1

earrings: came as a set w/ 2 other pairs $1

estimated total: $21

(Zenni eyeglasses $10?)

Asian Circles

My mom took these pics at the park in town awhile ago.  I had a "Tokyo" perfume sample on to go with the Asian flair.  The whole red lip and top knot remind me of a Geisha.  

I love adding pops of red to an outfit.  Try pops of red with light blue or even chambray blue! I'm telling you the red will POP!  Try a burnt red with lime green.  For a long time I wanted to get red shoes.  Since I've acquired 3 pair, a dressy pair of flats, these sandals and a pair of casual red with white anchor rocket dogs.  I stay away most of the time from large swaths of red in an outfit. I recently picked up a red shirt but still haven't worn it.  I can wear red but it's a powerful bold color.

sandals: on sale Michigan $1?

dress: thrifted H & M

skirt under dress: thrifted

cami: Walmart?

necklace: from my sister, from Africa

hair flower: made by me

red pearl studs: from Valley Discount

The dress is actually one I've had for a long time!  

Side note on my life!! Wow I've been busy. I'm going to college in January. Starting pre-nursing classes.  Ummm I got my hair chopped off, sometime I hope to put some pics up.  I went to a singles retreat this last weekend, it was awesome!! I'm going to a Square dance this coming up weekend.  

I know I haven't blogged in forever. Just keep coming back, eventually I get around to blogging. I have more outfit posts to edit and put up.

summer days

I came home one day and the house was HUMID so I put this outfit on.  Yup we don't use our AC even though we live in Virginia and boy does it get HOT and/or HUMID. Our AC don't work too hot. (um no pun intended ;)  

This outfit isn't that wonderful but it's a taste of something simple I might wear.  When I get home from work I often change. Sometimes in the am I'll put on an outfit in my half awakeness that throughout the day I don't feel attractive in. (Happened once or 2x's this week ;) Can anyone say a shirt you have to tug down all day... 

To be honest I've gained some weight over the last year or so and some of my clothes don't fit as well or don't fit (umm many pairs of jeans).  I'd like to loose some weight.  I've thought about taking up Zumba. To me exercising is boring! But I love dance. Thank the Lord I haven't struggled much with being really self conscious of my body. I know many girls have.  Hey Marilyn Monroe was not a "skinny" girl and she was hot in her day and is still thought of as one of the most beautiful people.  Isn't it weird how often girls can totally accept a guy who is definitely overweight but hates herself for gaining 5 pounds.  

It's funny, when I was in Thailand one of my kids had just gotten back from staying at the clinic (think hospital). He had had Typhoid. He was already a skinny guy and had lost even more weight. I remember sitting by him and noticing his thin wrist. And commenting on his weight loss.  He told me he wished that he was fat like me. ;) In other countries it's more attractive to have some meat on your bones than to be skin and bones, because, get this, it means you have money therefore you have food to eat.  It's ironic that in our culture girls have this idea that to be skinny is to be more beautiful and than how people also struggle with being very overweight. 

Oh wow, maybe I should be thankful that I live in a country where it's easy to put on an extra 10 pounds, because that means I have more than enough to eat. It just really hit me. 

I'm also getting it drilled into my head (thank you "What not to Wear") that you dress for your body type.  

Speaking of dressing for your body type. I found a little summer dress that does just that. Here's the back story:  I found this really cute $10 dress at Target, (I'm planning on wearing it to church Sunday.)  To be honest that was a day where I wore strange clothing to work. (I wore shorts with vertical stripes and a 3/4 length button up with vertical stripes, it was a yucky outfit! ha!) So I ended up going to Target found this little betty boopesque summer dress, bought it and changed into it.  I had neon red lips that day and felt like a million bucks in that little dress.    The dress looks a lot like this one , except it's for a more  more mature body.    

Yes I do think about clothes a lot. I have for years.  I grew up not having a lot and having to dress super modestly and different than all the other kids. I had to wear skirts and culottes to a public school.  I understand what it's like not to be like the other kids. To be different and not to blend in.   To be honest, I dream about clothes. I really do and I've had many dreams.  I'll dream about finding a stash in an attic or even dreamed about some being in a trunk of a car. I remember a couple of dreams about being at a thrift store. One morning I dreamed a queen showed me her collection of clothes.  Yes I have dreams where there are even vintage pieces.  Isn't that weird how I dream about clothes so much?  (Another dream strain I have a lot is about bridges, I won't get into that now.)

flip flops: $2.50 Old Navy

skirt: thrifted $3/$4

tank: free from my sister

earrings: 75 cents

head band: free

bracelet: gift from a friend

ring: from my Grammie

total: $7.25

sumthin' for Sunday

I threw this little number together for goin' to meeting in.  It's interesting how one shirt works with something and another doesn't. I tried on another shirt that was too big for me also with another white belt (this one was wide) but I had heels on and it just looked OFF. I looked strange. Changed the shoes to flats, (if pants are too short, they look WEIRD with heels ;) got another "too big shirt" and cinched it with a tiny belt.  

I have more time right now, because I'm short one client.  The client didn't pass, they wanted me to work different hours that weren't good for me.  In time, Lord willing, I'll pick up a 2nd client to fill that time.  

I like this added free time.  It feels good to have it.  I like "space." If you know what I mean.

Last night I went to a good friends house for a party and bon fire. She's amazing, she's moving to Australia! soon and will teach little kids, and she will attend the Hillsong church.  I met a lot of NICE people at the party.  I want to go to their young adult meetings sometime.  Many of her friends all go to the same church and small group.  (Um, yes there were a lot of  young men ;) when there's bait the fish will come. I've been in a mostly guppie pond too long.Hehe)

metallic flats: $2 Gabriel brothers

cream trousers: free

blue top: thrifted a long time ago, gave to mom and got it back (it's had a long life)

belt: $1 thrifted

beaded faux pearl earrings: $1 Valley Discount (<3 that store!)

faux pearl ring: $2 Valley Discount

rhinestone ring: gift from sister

pearl bracelet: I made from vintage(most likely) beads from my Grammie

*Valley Discount is this amazing store in Winchester Va. that has this HUGE rack of mostly earrings, (necklaces, and braceletts.) I mostly buy earrings, they are $1!! and I've bought some rings, for $2 :) so so fun!

the girl in the green dress

My brother was down a few weeks back. We were driving on our way home from church. I wanted to drive a different way home. And We stopped by the train tracks, and he was so kind as too take some pics of me. (My family puts up with me, some do anyways, with takin' pics for me ;)  

I bought this dress for a friends wedding. I'm glad I didn't wear it because my ensemble would have ended up looking very similar to her going away outfit, even the brown camisole with lace I would have worn was so similar to hers. ;)  

I know I haven't done a "fashion post" in forever. I have been busy!  With work, life, and  family vacation. I have been soo busy with work.  Thank you God for work. I'm also thankful it will slow down for now.  I still have work but am moving on from one of my clients.  No problem there, just a change in scheduling.

A lot has happened since I last blogged maybe someday I'll catch you up a bit. I'm just not in the mood to do it now. I feel kinda groggy. I've been super duper lazy today. :P  I will leave you with these words, "enjoy your Sabbath, your day of rest.  Shalom!"  

shoes: $1 sketchers (thrifted)

dress: $20 Target

belt: $2 (?) made in Morocco (thrifted)

black cami: ?

tortoise glasses: Zenni Optical

large disc earrings: Gabrial brothers

Blake and Beth, April 17th, 2011

A special friend of mine, Beth, married her best friend on April 17th.  I walked with Beth, through the process of her interest in Blake; the struggle of the unknown and her desire for something she was not sure was God's will.  She prayed and He led her into a lifetime of love with the man of her dreams.  

Which sounds like a fairy tale.  Beth's life is not a fairy tale ... life has been hard for her.  She's told me about her ups and her downs.  God knows all of that.  He knows that her heart is to follow Jesus. And He gave her a second chance.  Our Father God gave her a good man.  One of integrity, honor, devotion and  righteousness.  Her heart was for God, she delighted in Him, and He gave her the desires of her heart.  

Oh! On the way to the wedding my car decided to drop the muffler. The equivalent of breaking a hip for an senior citizen.  Yeah that really stunk!  I was driving two other mutual friends of Beth's and mine to the wedding. When it decided to let go. "Oh crap! What's going on?!" We pulled the car over.  We got out and I got down, in my wedding clothes, on a street in Richmond, and tried to tie the muffler up with shoe laces. I found the shoe laces on a pair of hiking boots in my trunk.  A stranger drove up and offered his assistance.  He tried to help but didn't have the materials to help.

[Later when we came back to rescue the car after the wedding the muffler was neatly tied up.  An older gentleman friend of mine drove me to pick up my car. He asked me if I had tied up the muffler. I ignorantly said I had. Since I'd tied it up with shoelaces... I then got a look at the underbelly of my car and saw that "No!" it was NOT my shoelaces holding up the muffler.  The stranger had come back when we were gone and BEAUTIFULLY tied up the muffler with clothes line. It was gorgeous :) for reals.

(here's proof!)

I felt like I could cry about what the stranger did. God was definitely watching out for me with my car problems.  Did I mention the older gentleman had tried to find the car without me and couldn't. We were wondering if it had been towed. But I went out with him and low and behold it was there where I had left it. He just wasn't lookin in the right place.  God's got my back!!]

One of the girls called another friend who was already at the wedding.  Thank God she came and got us.  We ended up being 10 mins. late or so to the wedding :(  which was sad. But I am thankful we did not miss the whole thing.  

The wedding was special.  Blake and Beth shared communion together.  Pledged their lives to each other and exchanged rings. Each set of parents, Beth's mom and Blake's mom and dad said a blessing over the couple.  Then they marched triumphantly out of the church as Mr. and Mrs! 

We made our way to a lodge in the woods for the reception. We hung out, ate and laughed.  Beth and Blake danced.  At the end of the reception, many had already left. We gathered in a circle around the new couple.  In advance Beth had asked some of her close girl friends, myself included, to pray for her and Blake. Some of his sibling and a close family member also prayed.  It was a special time of committing their relationship and the start of their family into God's capable and loving hands.  

They quickly rushed to their car bedecked in cans, crepe paper streamers and "just married", through a gauntlet of joyous bubbles and attendees.  

They drove off in a cloud of great expectations to an undisclosed, to Beth, location for their honeymoon. It was a secret!!  

Beth and Blake are now settling into a small house in the woods outside of Richmond. With God's blessing, leading and grace I know they will live "happily ever after."  

I love you Beth and am soo happy for the gift God placed into your life, of marriage to a good man.