Our Soul Waits

Honestly, life has felt like a whirlwind lately. My soul waits for God, but I am not always doing the same. I've been feeling like I'm constantly a few steps behind and in trying to catch up, I leave God out of the picture. Oh Ginny...what are you doing????

I am so thankful that God is there for us, even when we aren't making Him a priority. I've felt disconnected from my usual devotion, so I've got to find an alternative and be getting that daily time I need!

I'm working to pray these words about and cling to the God my soul loves. He is our hope and I know I am such a better mom, teacher, wife and friend when I'm putting my hope in him than in myself.

Hoping those of you who are also feeling discouraged or disconnected now know that God has not forgotten you, even though you might not be focusing on Him.  There is always a change to return to him and be renewed!

Life Lately

Today I thought I'd share what's been going on in life lately. This is Sis and are getting ready to head to church. Grant is quite the photographer ; ). I've had this outfit for a few years and love that it's maxi season again. I really like this option from Gap and the Clare cardigan is a J.Crew factory staple and currently on super sale.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I recently had a friend share the Sophie Kinsella series Confessions of a Shopaholic with me. It's normally not my typical read, but after reading a lot of "heavy" things lately I was excited for something for light.

The title obviously lets you know that the main character, Becky, has some major shopping issues. While reading the first book my jaw was continually dropping as she continued to dig herself into an almost impossible amount of debt. Even in the midst of this, Becky is a really likable character and does (eventually) begin to come around in the debt department with a redeeming storyline. 

Throughout the series we see the different phases of her life unfold: getting married, finding a long lost sister, and having a baby. I've only read the first four books, but am excited to get the rest from the library. There were definitely fun, light, reads. The one thing I will mention is the use of the "f" word though out. The author is British and I know it's very commonly used in England, but if that is something you aren't ok with when reading, I might steer clear of this. Otherwise, I think this would be a great series for you to work on this summer while your kiddos are playing at the park or swimming at the pool. 

40% Loft in Stores and Online

In stores and online everything is 40% off, yay! Here are some things I'm loving:

I love an interesting top and this teal lace top is super cute and $30 today! This flutter sleeve top is also my jam completely and only $25 today! I love how interesting this plaid ruffle top is too, perfect for summer and it's only $30 too!

As for dresses I love this floral dress and it's silhouette and it's only $45! This shirtdress is also so fun and and only $40! 

I got these denim jeans  earlier this week when everything online was 50% off and I adore them! the fit is perfect and  I love that I can wear them ankle length or cuff them.

I don't know about you, but I love a good Loft sale, so I'm excited to go check it out after work today! 

A Time for Everything

Sometimes I find myself with a case of the "hurry ups." I want what I want, when I want it. I have my plans, my timing, my idea of perfect. I plan-God laughs. I can find myself forgetting about God's perfect timing. I think back on all the major milestones in my life, and they never happened when I expected them or had planned them myself, and I'm actually grateful for that. 

Then I'm reminded what Ecclesiastes 3:11 says: "He has made everything beautiful in it's time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

God has the perfect timing, so why do I try to take control of that? He has also set eternity in our hearts, a desire to be with Him.  Even in the midst of this, we still can't quite fathom all God has done, because we can't see things the way God does. We try to put our plans and thoughts into a neat little box that is way to small to really encompass all of who God really is. 

It's through spending time in God's word and soaking up the quiet I have in the morning before everyone is up for the day that I can focus on how great God is and how He has me covered. I don't need to be the keeper of all the answers because I know the God has the answers before I even ask the questions. 

Easter Weekend

This last weekend was crazy busy! We had family in town, egg hunts, and all the festivities included with Easter.

We went to church as a family. Love these spring temps and the time we can spend outside!

Girls....

I'm going to fill you in on a little secret, being a mother to a girl is no joke. Sis has more sass and personality than I was prepared for. Grant is not perfect by any means, but I definitely did not had the same challenges with Grant as I am having with Hannah.

First off, girlfriend has an opinion about every everything. She knows what she wants and she gets pretty upset if she doesn't get it. She also is still trying to learn to talk, so I think that adds to the frustration. Here she needed both her snack and cup and we would have had problems if I tried to take it.

Small Great Things

Last week I finished Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. I have been a long time fan of hers and this story did not disappoint. Here's what Amazon has to say about it:

"Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong."

This story was not only compelling, it is a story that will stay with me. Because of the color of my skin I have not shared the same experiences as someone who is of color, and even though I thought I understood blatant racism, I think in many cases I was unaware of how aversive and institutional racism are interwoven into so much of our society.  In my opinion, this book should be next on your to-read list.

Spring Outfit Inspiration

Today I thought I'd show you all some outfit ideas for spring! I hope you get some great ideas! Here's a shopping list, in case you're interested:

Essential Tops: floral top / stripe top / solid top

Essential Bottoms: denim jeans / ankle pants / white jeans / linen skirt / pencil skirt / shorts

Essential Dresses: floral dress / stripe dress / colored dress 

Essential Layers: Clare cardigan / denim jacket

Essential Shoes: Tory Birch sandals / Espadrille sandals/ ballet flats / block heels / wedges

Essential Jewelry: Rebel pendant / Elisa Pendant /  leather earrings

When I chose all the Spring Wardrobe Essentials I worked to chose pieces that would mix and match easily, which makes creates outfits super easy. I made the following 17 outfits in less than a half hour.  I bet you could easily work with the pieces you have to create similar looks right now at home!

This first look is a more casual one, perfect for the weekends or a night out with friends. As a teacher, I could wear this to school too!

floral top / white jeans / denim jacket / wedges / Elisa Pendant / earrings

Spring Wardrobe Essentials

I've really enjoyed share my spring wardrobe essential with you guys. Today I've put it all together in one graphic and have links to everything for you down below!

Essential Tops: 

Florals: I love this one. The colors are bright and perfect for spring. I also love the shape as it can be easily dressed up and tucked into a skirt for work or untucked with white or denim jeans for a casual too.

Stripes: Honestly, I'm crazy about anything stripes, but I especially love this one. The sleeves are one of my favorite trends right now and this could be dressed up with black ankle pants for work, or down with jeans too.

Solids with Interesting Details: I love this one from Gap. It also comes in gray and white, which are great. I love a good basic colored top, I also like a fun detail to make it seem special though.

Essential Bottoms:

A well-fitting denim: I love a good skinny ankle jean or boyfriend jean and prefer a dark wash. I really like these ones. They are from J.Crew factory and actually come in three different inseams based on if you want an ankle or to cuff them.

Black Ankle Pants: These are definitely the most worn bottom in my closet and I have three pair I really like.  These are one's I've heard a lot of good things about. My favorite are these from Loft.

White Jeans: I wear these like crazy for work and weekend. I like these and just like the jeans mentioned above, they come in three different inseams.

Skirts: I love a good pencil skirt with a blouse for work and this one comes in a number of neutral and bold colors. I also love these linen ones which are more casual. I have a number of them and they wash and wear really well. Unlike typical linen, these don't seem to wrinkle like crazy and they are easy to iron too.

Shorts: In the summer I wear shorts daily, since I'm home with the kids. I prefer a 5" or 7" inseam and these ones are great! They also come in an inseam varying from 3" to Bermuda, so they can work with whatever your short's preference is. I keep my outfits pretty basic in the summer, so I like to have colored shorts to add interest, but having some neutrals is great too.

Essential Dresses:

Floral or Print: I am crazy about prints and florals! I think everyone needs at least one in their closet. I love this one and I think it's perfect for spring, summer and fall with this color combo.

Stripes: I am also a huge fan of stripes. I adore this dress and the bell sleeves. It could easily be worn alone or with a denim jacket layers for a more casual look.

Color: Pick a color you love and find a dress, you'll feel like a million bucks every time you wear it. I love this one with the fun scalloped details. It also comes in multiple colors, which is cool.

Essential Layers: Depending if you dresses for the work or casual, depends on if a layer is necessary, so having a few basics on hand is essential.  It may be 90 degrees outside, but your office is a freezer. These easy pieces will save the day.

Cardigans: I am a huge fan of cardigans. During the winter I primarily wear boyfriend cardigans, but I don't think they translate very well to spring and summer clothes, so I prefer a more standard version this time of year. The Clare cardigan from J.Crew is one of my favorites and it comes in a million colors. I find myself wearing tan, and gray the most during the winter, but white is so great for warmer temps!

Denim Jacket: I love a good denim jacket, especially in middle to darker washes and it's definitely my go to for a layer when spring temps are unpredictable. I love this one.

Essential Shoes: Blush and nude shoes are all the trend right now and they are in my opinion worth getting in your closet ASAP. The neutral color will go with pretty much anything and they will also elongate your legs, which is definitely a plus!

Sandals: Having a go-to sandal is definitely important and in my opinion investing in a good, comfortable pair will pay off, they will probably be worn more than your other shoes. These Tory Birch sandals are definitely and investment, however they have over a thousand five-star ratings on the Norstrom website, and I have found this to rather reliable. I also love the espadrille and these are super cute! 

Dress Shoes: Depending upon your work attire, sandals like the ones above might be just fine, otherwise I am a big of ballet flats and these come in pink, nude, and black. I also love the these and they are super affordable too!

Wedges:  Hands down, wedges are my favorite thing! I love these and they come in multiple colors too!

Essential Jewelry: It seems as though the trend of big, bold, jewelry has come and gone. Now, simple jewelry is where it's at. I am a big fan of Kendra Scott and it's a good happy medium for quality without costing a million dollars. I love my Elisa Pendant and for long necklaces I still wear my Rebel pendant from Stella and Dot more than any other necklace I've had. As for earrings, I really love leather ones right now. I have a mix between Nickel & Suede and  The Leather Drop.  these which I wear more than any other. 

Stay tuned, next I'm going to share some outfit ideas!

Essential Shoes and Jewelry

I'm back again to share with you all some essential shoes to add to your wardrobe this spring. I started the series by sharing essential tops and bottoms , then followed it up by sharing essential dresses and layers, so if you missed them, make sure to go back and check them out!

 Essential Shoes: Blush and nude shoes are all the trend right now and they are in my opinion worth getting in your closet ASAP. The neutral color will go with pretty much anything and they will also elongate your legs, which is definitely a plus!

Sandals: Having a go-to sandal is definitely important and in my opinion investing in a good, comfortable pair will pay off, they will probably be worn more than your other shoes. These Tory Birch sandals are definitely and investment, however they have over a thousand five-star ratings on the Norstrom website, and I have found this to rather reliable. I also love the espadrille and these are super cute! 

Dress Shoes: Depending upon your work attire, sandals like the ones above might be just fine, otherwise I am a big of ballet flats and these come in pink, nude, and black. I also love the these and they are super affordable too!

Wedges:  Hands down, wedges are my favorite thing! I love these and they come in multiple colors too!

Essential Jewelry: It seems as though the trend of big, bold, jewelry has come and gone. Now, simple jewelry is where it's at. I am a big fan of Kendra Scott and it's a good happy medium for quality without costing a million dollars. I love my Elisa Pendant and for long necklaces I still wear my Rebel pendant from Stella and Dot more than any other necklace I've had. As for earrings, I really love leather ones right now. I have a mix between Nickel & Suede and  The Leather Drop.  these which I wear more than any other. 

Next, I'm going to put it all together for you!

Essential Dresses and Layers

I'm back again today to stare some essential dresses and layers with you all today.  I shared essential tops and bottoms earlier this week, if you missed it. Dresses are one of my favorite things, but today I chose three I think are essential for you to have in your closet.

Spring Essential Tops and Bottoms

A few years back I did a series about essential wardrobe staples, and  thought it would be fun to do an updated version.  These are just suggestions of course, but pieces that can be both dressed up and down and mixed and matched. If you're looking to re-boot or freshen up your wardrobe, these are the types of pieces I recommend.