Antsy for Spring

               

Have you ever had a very interesting piece that you love, but can’t seem to wear enough because it is just so hard to coordinate with other pieces? I definitely do! These fun pieces are usually the first ones to catch my attention while browsing online or entering a store, but actually coordinating the piece to work in an outfit can be a feat. It sometimes seems that the piece may be too overbearing if I add anything else to it, but my friends, pattern mixing here can save an outfit!

              

How fun is this maxi dress!? The red ants crawling on it makes me think of spring picnics at the park and croquet on the front lawn. Where is my lemonade and strawberry tart? This silk dress guarantees an immediate happy boost when I slip it on! The muted green color is perfect for spring and downplays the funky red ant print. This Charlotte Taylor Fire Ants Maxi dress was a lucky find from a few years ago!

               

One of the hardest choices I had to make with this dress (since it is sleeveless) was whether to layer over the dress or under the dress. I have tried adding a simple cream button down blouse underneath with a glitzy gold collar, and this usually worked with some gold heels. However this Polka dotted blazer is definitely my new favorite piece to layer with this dress. The polka dot pattern doesn’t take away from the ant pattern, and since it is in a simple black and white, it creates some balance for the dress.  



I love these clear and black heels paired with this dress. You can find some similar ones here. The heels seem to draw the eye back up to the black and white blazer, creating a completed look. And finally, a cute accessory I added in was this little fortune cookie purse I bought on my recent trip to Israel. The color matched the ant print perfectly and the added pattern (and beading!) only made this purse pop against the dress.

                

Do you have those fun pieces stashed away in the back of your closet because you don’t have the right top or shoes to go with it? The truth is you probably already do own a great item to pair it with! Don’t be afraid to mix a few patterns together, and get the most out of all of your iconic pieces!

                 


xoxo,




*This blogpost also appeared on the Dainty Jewells blog*

Joy Unspeakable

Life is so amazing. The growing and changing happens so slightly and by the smallest of increments that you hardly notice until you have changed to be something completely different. The ups, the downs, and the turnarounds. Things you once considered to be of utmost importance fall into place in the grand scheme of things and you see it from a birds eye view, the great big world.

                                And no, 

                            it doesn't revolve around you anymore.

You are only one little person in this vast earth we inhabit, and yet Jesus wants your attention and dedication more than anything. We make our plans and decide what we want to do and become, but are you consulting Jesus along the way? Do you make your plans and then claim He was involved or are you taking the time to ask for His guidance at every step of the way? More than anything in this whole entire world, I want to be what Jesus wants me to be. I want to be a child of God that obeys his commands, a child that is dedicated to His ways, and a girl who is in love with Him more than anything. I don't think there is a higher calling than that, to serve God. So serve Him with your all, serve Him with your time, and serve Him by loving others.

I am at a point where time seems to be zipping by and I find myself in a state of "hold on!" and  "wait!". I am aware of the clocks, I am aware of the time being near. Everything that I want to accomplish I can as long as Jesus is on my side. He has never, and I repeat NEVER, let me down. How often can you say that about someone? What a privilege it is to be loved by Jesus, and to have an actual relationship with Him. Knowing He is near in times of trouble and that He is not worried about losing any battle. When I feel like things are holding me back from pursuing these dreams and from growing closer to God, these issues must go. I don't have time to lose, I don't have time to waste.

It is such a joy living this life. 

It simply is.

I find myself enjoying it more and more as time goes by. I have a sense of peace within my soul that will never fade, as long as I have Jesus.






xoxo,