Splendiferous scripture

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

Wishing you a splendiferous Christmas!

splendiferous: splendid; magnificent; fine

inclination: a disposition or bent, esp. of the mind or will;

a liking or preference

(definitions via dictionary.com)

After much thought, I decided to rename my blog.  Since the birth of my baby, er, blog, I've struggled with whether or not it suited my personal style and outlook on life.  I also wondered whether it was creative enough or captured the feeling I wanted to instill.  I feel this new name is more appropriate.  It still has the whimsy that I love, but I think its more catchy, unique, and memorable.  What do you think?

I hope you're having a splendiferous Christmas, and I wish you and your family many blessings!

Lay out your stockings

It's Christmas Eve!  Don't forget to put out your stocking for Santa to stuff with goodies!

Speaking of stockings, I am obsessed with tights this season.  I have been stocking up big time!  My sister's entire Christmas present to me this year was tights.  Yep.  That's it.  She let me pick a bunch out, and I loved digging through all the colors and patterns at Kohl's.  They had tons of great options at a fantastic price, so be sure to check them out!

The pink stockings I wore today were part of my selection.  I layered them over a pair of thicker tights to keep me toasty, and it worked rather well.  It was pretty cold and wet here in Hot Springs, Arkansas, so I definitely needed all the extra warmth I could get.  Texas has been pretty warm lately, so it was nice to layer up.  Although I learned quickly that fashion blogging is not for the weak...I was freezing when Caleb was taking my pictures!  The view we had was gorgeous, though.

Shop: Skirt, Earrings (similar), Ring, Tights, Boots

Up for the challenge?

I have arrived in Arkansas.  And let me just say...the water tastes great.

I think exhaustion finally kicked in today.  I've been travelling and running around doing errands nonstop it seems, and several hours on the road really took its toll today.  I slept a little in the car, but I felt so groggy.  And grumpy.  Which basically means I complained.  A LOT.  And then on top of that, our GPS took us to the middle of nowhere and couldn't get us out, so we were lost.  No fun.  [insert more complaining here]  Poor Caleb is usually so patient, but I know I probably drove him crazy today.

Reflecting on my experiences today, I'm reminded of a post by Joanna Goddard on her blog, A Cup of Jo, about taking up a challenge to not complain for a week.  I think I did enough complaining today (probably a week's worth), so I think I'll take up this challenge for the duration of this trip.  What better time of year to stop complaining than during the holidaze holidays?  I have so much to be grateful for, and I fully understand and recognize this, but somehow massive amounts of complaining seem to sneak into my life when my routine is interrupted.  I should really work on this.

Something I was very grateful for today was my over-sized, comfy sweater that was perfect for a road trip.  Snuggling under my beanie also provided a great environment for little snoozes.  Since I was in a car for several hours, I kept it comfortable and casual, but I l-o-v-e love the ring I wore.  It added a simple, non-fuss touch that added a little something to a simple outfit.

Is a dose of the holidaze hitting you this season?  Any suggestions for remedies?

Shop: Shoes, Necklace 

The above picture has absolutely nothing to do with my outfit choice today.  I just love my niece Keira, and I thought you should know.  She's a doll!

Today was another very eventful day.  Caleb and I are heading out of town tomorrow, so I had to finish up some last minute Christmas shopping.  I also met a friend for lunch, which somehow turned into dinner, at a restaurant called Bliss.  It's a vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, raw cuisine restaurant.  It was quite delish.  It was interesting to see (and taste) how foods can be recreated to satisfy people with special diets.  But I'll be the first to admit that I need bread and ice cream to survive, so I could never commit to a raw food lifestyle.  Nevertheless, it's good for a tasty, interesting treat every now and then.

Since I was running all over town, I kept my outfit simple today: just a button up over a cami, belt cinched at the waist, and skinny jeans.  Unfortunately, the picture with my boots in the frame turned out fuzzy, but you can see them here.  They have a very vintage-inspired feel to them that I quite like, and they are on sale for super, super cheap right now.  If you want them, snatch them now ladies!

Now I shall return to wrapping gifts reading blogs until my eyes just can't take it anymore.  Pleasant dreams!

Lack of consistency

I am back home and can return to normalcy for, well, one day.

Thursday Caleb and I head to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where we're spending a long Christmas weekend vacation with the hubby's family.  What does one do in such a place?  I'm not quite sure yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out.  Hopefully it includes finding more time for photo-taking of outfits.

I loved being with my family, but I did miss writing for this blog daily, as well as reading (and viewing) the work of others.  Learning how to manage a blog while travelling is something I will have to learn.  I really want to maintain consistency no matter what, but I haven't learned that craft yet.  Any suggestions?

I won't bore you with today's outfit.  Five and a half hours on the road=jeans and tee.  Nothing overly exciting.  But you know what is exciting?  Christmas is almost here!  What are your plans this year?

Packing for events

I have missed my blog posts!

I have been visiting with family to celebrate my older sister's college graduation.  I've had a wonderful time, but, unfortunately, have fallen out of my nightly routine...including my blog posts.  But I promise my outfits have been just as fabulous as ever!

It's always fun to travel, especially when you get to see family, but I absolutely hate packing.  It's so difficult to narrow down a closet to a small suitcase.  I often ask myself, "What do I feel like wearing today?"  But it's so difficult to predict this several days out.  I've been notorious for overpacking for years, but I've gotten a whole lot better.  Some things that have helped me are :

1) Pack mix and match items.  These kinds of items can be worn in several different ways, so you can figure out how exactly to create an outfit once you get to your destination.

2) Pack multiple accessory options.  Accessories don't take up much space in a suitcase, and they can easily transform an outift.

3) Pack key staple.  These are go-to items that are reliable and easy to style and incorporate into outfits.  This time around, my staples were a pair of black flats and brown boots, a great pair of jeans, and a couple basic tops. 

4) If you're attending a special event while travelling, always plan that particular outfit ahead of time.  Also, try it on before you pack it to make sure the entire ensemble looks the way you planned.  You don't want to get ready for an event to find out that the zipper on your dress is broken or your tights have a run in them.

Of course, the special evening this time around was my sister's graduaton ceremony.  Unlike most, this one was short, quick, and to the point (which the audience and graduates appreciated).  My family went out to eat afterword at a wonderful Italian restaurant.  I anticipated sitting at the ceremony much longer and filling my belly with lots of food afterward, so I wanted to be comfortable but still fashionable.  I chose a looser fitting dress with a ribbon tied at the waist, paired with some fabulous tights.  I liked the look and thought it was appropriate for a graduation ceremony and dinner.

What do you think?  Would you have styled the dress differently?

Smile worthy:

Floral print tights

and a flower in the hair.