Stitch Fix Summer 2021

Hello!  Happy end of summer!  I'm back with another great Stitch Fix to share!  In the styling note, I mentioned I was looking for some dresses and tops - and they delivered!  I really loved each of these items and it was difficult to decide what to keep!  

Nine Britton - Peggie Back Detail Knit Dress - Navy 

This is a super soft, spaghetti-strap dress with a fun floral print.  I liked styling it with a bright cardigan to make it a little more modest.  Ultimately, I did not keep it but it was very cute!

Kaileigh - Kaela Faux Wrap Knit Dress - Navy 

This dress is adorable and the first one I knew I would keep! I really like pairing it with a light pink camisole to make the pink floral pattern pop.  I have worn this dress to church and several different gatherings and been complimented on it every time!

Kaileigh - Amandine Knit Dress - Green 

This dress reminded me a lot of the navy one above.  It was cut just a tad different but had the same overall style.  Since these two dresses were so similar I went with the navy one because I liked the print and the flutter sleeves better. 

Market & Spruce - Irene Strappy Sandal - Cognac  

These sandals are adorable and surprisingly very padded and comfortable for how thin they are.  They would pair nicely with everything since they are a neutral light brown color.  Since we're heading into fall, and sandal season is almost over, I did not end up keeping them.  Super cute though!

Market & Spruce - Alora Twist Back Knit Tank - Navy 

I appreciate that this top can be dressed up or down.  I tried it on with shorts since it was warm outside for a casual look, but it could also be dressed up with white pants and a colorful cardigan.  Lots of options for this top!  I knew it had to stay with me. :)

Treat yourself to your own first Stitch Fix and get $25 towards anything you keep by using the coupon code below!

https://www.stitchfix.com/invite/dcw7cv3zv3?sod=w&som=c

Until next time,

Emily

Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy 4th of July, Friends!  I hope you have a blessed day filled with celebration!  

Elisabeth Elliot Quote

"Where does your security lie?  Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your savior, your guide?  If He is, you don't need to search any further for security." - Elisabeth Elliot

A Delicious Summer Cooler

With the summer heat upon us, a cold drink is a refreshing afternoon addition.  This iced tea is one of our favorite treats, and we always keep a box of tea bags handy for this purpose.  

What you'll need:

1-quart mason jar filled with water

2 "Raspberry Zinger" by Celestial Seasonings tea bags

2 Tablespoons sugar

Optional:  1 Squeeze of fresh lemon

I start out by stirring the sugar into the mason jar of water until it is dissolved completely.  I then drop two tea bags into the mixture, put on the lid, and let it sit in the fridge for at least eight hours.  After the time has passed, I pull out the teabags and squeeze some fresh lemon juice into the tea if I have some on hand.  The last thing to do is enjoy!

Flowers Cross Stitch

 

With school out and a little extra time on my hands now, it was time for another fun cross stitch!  I picked this one out with my Mom in mind and so enjoyed making it for her. I am intrigued by the realistic appearance of the glass jar.  Now that this project's finished, it's time to plan out my next one!  :)

Elisabeth Elliot Quote

 

"I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done."

-Elisabeth Elliot

 *Isn't this the most beautiful painting by a sweet lady from church??  :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!  Take a moment today to share your appreciation for the moms in your lives!  :)

"On the whole, there is nobody like one's own mother...I wonder if, after all, mothers are not the best friends there are!"  

- Elizabeth Prentiss

Modest Clothing Ideas

Source

It is possible to be both stylish and modest at the same time!  Finding modest clothing can sometimes be a struggle, so below I have compiled some tips and tricks that have served my sister and me well over the years. 

Layers!  Layers are your friend.  Camisoles and tank tops are great for wearing under a low neckline.  I like to look for camisoles and tanks at thrift stores and department store clearance.  Lightweight ones are the best for summer, and the thicker ones provide extra warmth in the winter. 

Sweaters and wraps to go over sleeveless tops or dresses.  Even if it's a short-sleeved cardigan to keep you cool in the summer, it works well to cover up sleeveless tops. 

Leggings under shorter dresses can provide modesty and peace of mind.  

Thrift store shopping.  Oddly enough, I often find more modest clothing at thrift stores than anywhere else!  

Women's sizes. Girls' and Junior's clothes are often the worst as far as modesty goes, so if you are big enough to wear women's size clothes, go for it!  Extra-small and petite women's clothes are pretty small and you may be surprised that even younger girls can wear them!  

What modesty tips have you used over the years?

Piggy Paint Nail Polish Review

Hey friends!  Today I wanted to share about Piggy Paint - a natural alternative to nail polish that my sister and I have been using for over eight years now.  My mom gets migraines from any strong smells,  so painting our nails at home was out of the question. We were thrilled to read about these nail polishes many years ago and they have stood the test of time.  Below I have attached some pictures of the different colors at various stages of wear and tear. 

Angel Kisses - Day 5 of wear.  This is one of my favorite colors!  It is a soft pink color that seems to go with everything. 

 

Periwinkle Little Star - Day 4 of wear.  This color is periwinkle with a strong purple tone to it.  I also wear this one a lot these days.  The color is bold and fun without being obnoxious.  

Wild Child - Two weeks of wear.  This is a very bright coral.  Another one of my favorites!

Something we have discovered over the years is that the Piggy Paint basecoat and topcoat make all the difference in the world with these polishes.  Since Piggy Paint doesn't have all the chemicals and "staying power" of traditional nail polishes, I do find that it chips very quickly.  Like within 24-48 hours.  Eek.  Not good.  But I've made it up to two weeks before the first chip by using the basecoat and topcoat.  I wouldn't recommend it without the basecoat and topcoat unless you're only looking for short-term wear. They do have their own non-toxic nail polish remover, but I have always gotten away with using rubbing alcohol to remove it.  The glitter polishes are the hardest for me to remove without the real remover, but I think that's true for any nail polish - natural or not. 

My sister and I have derived a lot of enjoyment from these polishes over the years and recommend you take a look at these if you're considering a natural option :).

Hummingbird Cross Stitch

This hummingbird cross stitch is the newest addition to my ever-growing collection of cross stitches hanging on our walls :).  I started this project many years ago but messed up within the first few stitches.  It took me quite a few years to find the motivation to unpick all the stitches I had worked and start anew - I'm so glad I did though!  

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Hats....

We know several families who have recently welcomed new little ones into their families. Knitting and crocheting have always been some of my favorite pastimes, so I took advantage of the opportunity to make some hats to bless these families with.  I chose some bright colors that remind me of spring and got to work! These little hats are now on their way to keep some sweet little heads warm!  

Cricut Designs for Notebooks

With the help of our resident Cricut, I designed and made a few notebooks for my mom and me. This fun notebook has quickly become one of my favorite school notebooks.  I have been using it to write notes as I study for exams.  When I start studying for finals, I can look back through the notes I took throughout the semester and use it as a great review source.  

This notebook and the following one are gifts that I made for my mom with her favorite colors and designs.  She has already started using them for recording notes from her homeopathy classes and studies.  I look forward to making more notebooks in the future now!

A Baby Hat and Card for a Friend

 

We LOVE babies at my house.  I was recently blessed with the opportunity to make a little gift for a friend who just had a beautiful baby girl.  

For the hat, I made a preemie pattern with thicker yarn and larger needles than the pattern directed to make a newborn-sized hat. It has a sweet eyelet pattern and was simple and easy to make.  The card was a Cricut Joy project with some fun pink paper.  :)

A Knitted Hat for a Friend...

This is a hat I completed for a friend a little bit ago!  I used a soft navy yarn that has great stretch but maintains its shape.  I don't knit much these days, but it is so relaxing when I do!  I love to listen to an audiobook or watch a movie while I snag a few minutes to knit here and there.  In the midst of the hustle and bustle of things, it is important to take care of yourself too!  What do you like to do to relax and reset?

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

                                                       

*Photo found on the internet

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is another TV series I have watched on Hallmark Movies Now and enjoyed.  It follows four postal workers - the "Postables" - who work in the "Dead Letter Office."  Their primary job is to track down recipients of lost mail and deliver those lost items.  I would describe the series as quirky - the characters, the setting, and the job are all quirky.  Not in a bad way, just quirky.  There were underlying elements of mystery and suspense whether or not they would find the mail's rightful owner.  True to Hallmark's nature, everything always ended happily and the letters were always reunited with their intended recipients.  For some reason, I thought the main characters were kids before I watched it.  Not sure where that idea came from, but the four main characters are, in fact, adults.  :)  

There are 10 episodes and 12 movies thus far.  I enjoyed the 10 episodes more than the movies.  Maybe because of their shorter length?  Whatever it is, I enjoyed the episode storylines better. I also enjoyed seeing a lot of crossover actors from Chesapeake Shores on it.  

If you're looking for a fun, mindless, yet suspenseful show to watch, you might really enjoy this one - I sure did!

Fresh Baked Brownies

 

Does anything smell better than pulling fresh brownies out of the oven?  Not to me!  I was thrilled to find a vegan brownie recipe that we love!  

Matthew 28:20

 

Styling on a Budget

Like many people, I love fashion and shopping but don't always care for retail prices.  With a little planning, you can save a large amount of money on clothing and accessories.  These are a few strategies I have developed over the years to save money on clothing.  

Thrift Stores

I wouldn't be lying if I admitted over 90% of my wardrobe has come from thrift stores over the years.  Thrift stores generally give you a lot of bang for your buck.  Occasionally you can find items with tags still attached.  Thrifting is very hit or miss, so be patient and do not give up easily.  Visit other nearby thrift stores if you don't luck out after several visits.  Find out if there is a certain day of the week they restock merchandise.  Look at all the racks of clothing, including sizes you don't wear - I often find thrift store sizing to be odd and misplaced, so you could miss out on some great items if you don't look outside of your normal size. 

Consignment Shops

Second-hand consignment shops are generally a little pricier than thrift stores, but also stock a higher quality of clothes.  Nevertheless, they are still a great option for finding inexpensive clothing items.  Plato's Closet is a chain of consignment shops that my friends and I like to frequent.  Several of my favorite skirts and tops have come from there. 

Yard Sales

Some people have great success with clothes shopping at yard sales.  Though I have never had a lot of luck with this method, some people find amazing clothing items at yard sales for the cheapest prices around.  

Department Store Sales

Clearance racks can yield great inexpensive finds at department stores, especially for off-season items.  Sign up for promotional emails from your favorite department store - though these emails are annoying at times, the best coupons usually come through email, so keep an eye out for them.  Stay on the lookout for coupons that can be used in conjunction with other coupons to stack greater savings.  Be strategic with timing: most sales seem to run on weekends and holidays, so these are great times to add to your wardrobe. Likewise, if it's June 28th and you have your eye on an item, wait a few days closer to the July 4th holiday when sales may be running.  Belk and Kohls are two of my favorite stores for inexpensive clothing of high quality. 

 

Going Out of Business Sales

Though a sad time for the business involved, you can find items at a fraction of the original price.

Clothing Swaps with Friends

A great way to refresh your wardrobe and purge items you don't wear anymore. 

With a little strategy and perseverance, it is quite easy to save money on clothing.  What are some of your favorite inexpensive clothing finds?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  As someone who has never had a Valentine (wow, that sounds so depressing, I don't mean it that way!) I have always tried to make Valentine's Day cards for my family to remind them how much I love them on this day.  My family has blessed me as well with precious Valentine's Day cards over the years.  For many years when my sister and I were young, we looked forward to our annual "Valentine's Day Tea," where we would dress up, make tea using the fancy teapot, make little sandwiches and cookies, and use the nice china.  Last year I had the privilege of making Valentine's Day Cards for my patients in the hospital that day.  Being in the hospital is never really fun, so it was a sweet opportunity to bless others.  For those ladies like myself patiently waiting for a Valentine of our own, I encourage you to not lose hope, and WAIT for the right one!  God's timing is perfect, and if it be His will, I look forward to one day when I will celebrate Valentine's Day in that way.  Until then, I will pray for my future husband.  I will pray that God plants godly influences in His life and that He builds my husband's character.  God already knows exactly who He has set aside for me, and until He reveals to me who that is, I will wait patiently because the right man is worth every moment of waiting. 

Encouragement for Today

“God's viewpoint is sometimes different from ours - so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things...In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains but simply because He has made us.”
― Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place 

How To Make Fun Glass Magnets

Hello, friends!  These fun magnets are a blast to make and are the cutest addition to your fridge, dishwasher, locker, or any magnetic surface. 

Fortunately, they don't take a lot of supplies and are not difficult to make.  All you need are some glue, paper, magnets, and glass beads.  The clear glass beads are the ones you would find at the bottom of a fake floral arrangement and come in many different colors and sizes to suit your tastes. 

To start off with, pick out some fun patterned paper and cut out circles roughly the size of your glass beads.  I used a circle hole punch to speed up the process.  This paper pad came from a Hobby Lobby clearance section several years ago and has been one of my most-loved paper collections. 

Place a good-sized dollop (very technical term here!) of glue in the middle of the paper cutout and press the flat side of the glass into it until the glue is evenly spread out and covering all surface area of the paper. 

The backside of the paper glued onto the glass bead will look something like this.  Wait for the glue to dry. It's hard to be patient for this step, but the results are worth waiting for. 

Next, I used Aleene's Glass and Bead glue to adhere the magnet onto the back of the paper-covered glass.  The Elmer's glue I used previously dried clear on the paper which was great, and this Aleene's glue has a super-strong bond so the magnets will not fall off or get lost.  After a few hours of drying, you are ready to enjoy your new magnets!   They make great gifts, too!

Surviving a Secular College as a Christian

Being a Christian while attending a secular college can sound like a daunting experience.  I know I had my hesitations about the environment I would be entering.  These are a few thoughts I have compiled below as I begin my eighth semester of college classes at a secular public university. 

Remember you are not alone.  Though they may be hard to find, there are people on campus who share your Christian beliefs.  I remember my first semester thinking I was literally the only person on campus who had a Christian worldview.  Fortunately, I was wrong. You may not meet every Christian student within the first week, month, or maybe even year.   It can feel very isolating, especially if you don't know anyone at first, but refuse to give up hope!  It may take time, but they are out there somewhere!   

Find a religious group to plug into.  I cannot emphasize this enough!  Look to see what type of Christian organizations are on your campus!  I was blessed enough to find TWO Christian groups that are full of loving, Godly people.  If there is not a Christian group already established, maybe God will lead you to start one.

Rely on relationships from your family, friends, and church.  If you're attending college away from home, find a church home for the time you're there.  Someone from the church will likely be willing to pick you up and drop you off if you don't have transportation. 

Be the one to reach out to others.  It is more blessed to give than to receive, and truly he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.  The world is full of broken souls who need to be reminded that they are valued, loved, and needed.  

Be confident in your faith.  Read an apologetics book if it'll help you be more comfortable with your responses to tough questions.  I really liked "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel.  Never apologize or be embarrassed to confess your faith.  Your beliefs are just as valid as anyone else's, and you have every right to them.  

Keep up your Bible reading and prayer time. Life gets super busy with college classes, so keep your time with God a priority.  As Corrie ten Boom says, "Don't pray when you feel like it.  Rather, have an appointment with the Lord, and keep it!" Pencil it in your schedule if it'll help you keep your appointment.  As wonderful as outside Christian friends, groups, and churches are, they cannot take the place of your personal time alone with the Lord.  

Be rooted in your beliefs, but have an open mind.  I started college with the mindset that I had to shield and protect myself from everyone and everything that I might come into contact with because it would go against my beliefs.  I am blessed to say this has not been my experience.  I've had my share of outspoken atheistic professors, but the good far outweighs the bad and they did not succeed in pushing their beliefs on me. 

Remember God is with you ALWAYS (Matthew 28:20).  You are never alone because God is with you and has gone before you.  He is the One who will give you strength and keep you safe in His loving arms.  Rest in the promise that He will never leave you or forsake you.  

Blessings,

Emily