Inspiration

Am I the only one who, when they think about an upcoming vacation, they get a sort of "feel" they know it will have and then plan out a wardrobe accordingly? I'm the only one? Okay... 
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Seriously though. I do that. For example: our Mediterranean cruise last summer. In my mind, it would be all water, wind, sun, and old-world-y, and the wardrobe I thought of would be breezy, loose, coral, aqua, and navy. I literally constructed a wardrobe out of all the coupons, gift cards, and thrifting that in my mind, encapsulated what our trip would be like.

Murano, Italy

Leaving Venice, Italy. Ignore Mike's creepy facial expression.

Somewhere on the Mediterranean.

It's really fun for me. It feels like a more productive and practical way of designing a line of clothing (which I've always wanted to do. Ask to see my notebooks full of designs sometime.

Anyway... we have a trip coming up this June. We're going to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We're going with my parents and brother, and I'm really excited because I've never been out that way before. We plan to go to Yellowstone and see Old Faithful, do some horseback riding, try fly fishing, and all that sort of stuff.  We are staying here.

And I'm thinking there should be a whole lot of chambray, worn denim, tribal/Native American prints, plaid, flannel, and olive-colored shorts, with awesome hiking boots. That's just what I'm feeling. Here's some of my inspiration:

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Are you feeling it too? If you want my whole inspiration board, check it out on Pinterest here.  

I know there's not much depth to this post. But hey. It's Saturday. :)

xoxo, A

Inspiration Monday: Fall Wardrobe

I'm a fashion girl.  I think I always have been and I know I always will be.  It's not that I always dress well.  If you were to visit me at home after work or were to attend an evening meeting with me, I'd be wearing sweatpants or knit gauchos with a baggy t-shirt.  Really.  But I have an eye for it, a love for it, and honestly, an obsession with it.  There is just something about fashion that I find so beautiful and inspiring.  It's an art form-- using clothing to make people look their best.  


So when each season comes around, I have an overwhelming desire to create a new color palette and pick out fabric swatches... and go searching for new pieces for my seasonal wardrobe!


Autumn especially inspires me, even though it doesn't exist in Florida.  Let's play a game of word association: a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils (name that movie); pencil skirts; skirt steak... ?  OK maybe that game failed.  But seriously folks, this fall, I was inspired by rich hues with surprising brights, blousy shirts with little cardis, pencil skirts, belts, and polka dots.  Can you catch my vision?

I love the colors: mustard and PURPLE! And I love the layering on top, and the POLKA DOTS!

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I love the rust color and pencil skirt, and POLKA DOTS!  I wouldn't do that with my hair though.

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Below, a blogger to the above look and made it her own.  Love it!  Note the nude heels.

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Again with the mustard and polka-kinda-dot, and layers!

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I've wanted nude heels for a long time.  Now's the season!

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Polka dot sweaters! I want the upper right and bottom left!

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Polka dot blouse. :) 

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LOVE this look: the blouse layered with the cardi, and the colors!!

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Look at this lovely, professional look.  I like the pencil skirt and belt.

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xoxo, A

Fashion Fun!

Alright folks, the cruise is coming, and I'm in packing mode.  Yes already.  Today is all about outfit choices. I had to get some special new clothes just for the trip, of course.  No really, I did.  I didn't have many summer clothes, and what better time to get some than for our "honeymoon"?  The good news is, I didn't spend any more than about $10 for most of these pieces.  I do love a bargain.  Anywho, I decided to put up some of the potential outfits for the cruise, and have you all tell me your favorites, or suggest other combos!  Maybe that bores you, but I happen to love this kind of stuff.  

Next will be packing tips!  I'm going to try three different methods and see which works the best!

So be prepared for some travel-themed posts in the future... I know I'm looking forward to them!

 From top left going right, then the middle row, then the bottom row:
1.  top: Kohl's; shorts: JC Penney a few years ago; shoes: Kmart.  2.  top: Kohl's; shorts: JC Penney a few years ago; shoes: Kmart; hat: JC Penney 3.  top: Kohl's; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Old Navy; scarf: Italy-- a gift from my mother-in-law.  4.  top: Ecko outlet; shorts: Ross; shoes: Kmart.  5.  top: Kohl's; shorts: Ross; shoes: Kmart.  6.  hat: JC Penney; top: Target; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Kohl's.  7.  cardigan: Target a long time ago; top: Old Navy; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Old Navy.  8.  cardigan: Kohl's; top: Old Navy; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Old Navy.  9.  top: Kohl's; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Kohl's.

 1.  bikini top: Target; top: target; shorts: Kohl's; sandals: Kohl's.  2.  hat: JC Penney; cover up: Victoria's Secret outlet; shoes: Kmart; bathing suit top: Target; bottoms: Target.  3.  hat: JC Penney; cover up: Ross; shoes: Kmart; bikini top and bottom: Target.  4.  hat: JC Penney; scarf: another Italy gift from my mother-in-law; bikini top and bottom: Target.

1.  cardigan: Old Navy, years ago; top: Target; shorts: Kohl's; shoes: Kmart.  2.  dress: Target; cardigan: Target a long time ago; sandals: Old Navy.  3.  dress: Target; shoes: Kmart.  4.  dress: Charlotte Russe; 5.  hat: JC Penney; dresses: Target; cardigan: I have no clue; sandals: Kohl's.  6.  dress: Target; sandals: Kohl's.

So if you please, could you tell me your faves and your ideas? Cast your votes! Thanks! :)



xoxo, A

Inspiration Monday: Vows

Inspiration Monday is taking a bit of a different turn today.  Instead of rounding up a collection to inspire you to have a party or decorate a room, I thought I'd give you inspiration for your marriage, whether it currently exists, or it still lies in your future.


Hband and I went to a wedding yesterday.  Well, "went to" is an understatement.  We actually drove nine hours round trip to see a dear friend get married.  The trip was fun because I got to be with my best friend the whole time.  This was the first time he and I got to attend a wedding together (besides our own).  Ironically, it was exactly one year after I attended another dear friend's wedding, where her mother told me I'd be next... and sure enough, I was engaged three days later!


I was unprepared for the emotions I'd experience watching a wedding with Hband.  I felt a rush of all those feelings I experienced firsthand just four months ago.  I told him I hope I never forget those feelings.  The tears I used to shed at weddings was different-- tears of happiness for the bride, tears for the changes that would occur... but yesterday's tears were tears of joy simply remembering the truly divine experience of entering into a covenant relationship before the Lord.


As I sat there, watching this couple become one, remembering my own wedding just a few months ago, I remembered how meaningful our vows were.  I remembered how we labored over the wording, careful to craft them to say exactly what we wanted to promise, and careful that they reflect a biblical marriage relationship.  We got the skeleton of our vows from some kind of bland "Christian vows" on the Internet, but we added Scriptural references and personal promises.  They are unique to us, they still give me the chills.


I remember pulling mine out of the pocket (yes, pocket) in my dress and barely choking back the tears as I promised my husband these things, and I'll never forget his precious, rare tears as he did the same.


I hope these vows inspire you to write your own promises for your spouse, or to keep the ones you promised long ago.


And by the way... if you're a bride-to-be, feel free to use these vows if you like them... but be sure to honor them.

I, Michael, take you, Amanda, to be my wedded wife. With deepest joy I receive you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church, so I will give sacrificially to you, as a loving and faithful husband.  Always will I perform my headship over you, even as Christ does over me. I promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I will continually seek to love you, comfort you, honor and cherish you, even as I care for my own body.  I will provide for you, pursue you, and protect you, as the weaker vessel.  I will set as my goal in life to please first God, and then you, in all things, and I promise that I will lead us spiritually in faith and hope in Christ Jesus. I will faithfully follow Christ as I entrust our marriage and family to Him, and I will let Him make me into the man you deserve.  Ever honoring God's guidance by His Spirit through the Word, and so throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband.  Forsaking all others, I will keep myself only for you as long as we live, so that in all things, God might be glorified.

I, Amanda, take you, Michael, to be my wedded husband. With deepest joy I entrust my whole heart to you, and the rest of my days as God wills. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you.  I will live first unto our God and then unto you, ever deepening my relationship with Him, as my first love and Savior. Loving you selflessly, patiently, gently, I will strive to obey you humbly; being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry; caring for you thoughtfully and always seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will strengthen, help, comfort, respect, and encourage you. I will strive to bring you good all the days of your life. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife, and promise to persevere until death alone shall part us, so that in all things, God might be glorified.

xoxo, A

Inspiration Monday: My Future Son's Room

I couldn't have a post about my future daughter's room and neglect my future son, now could I?  Again, this is hopefully years away, but when inspiration hits, there's no arguing. 


I kind of hope I have a lot of boys.  Which most likely means I'll have a lot of girls, but oh well.  All the better to soften Daddy's grizzly bear exterior, right?


So if I had a son, before he got too old to think this was fun, I'd give him a Peter Pan inspired room, because I'd probably never want him to grown up-- he could stay a little boy forever.  And this would be his room:

It won't be this dark or have a creepy light fixture, but there will be built-in bookshelves and bunk beds.

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It will have some kind of tent/teepee, maybe like this, but without the little chandelier inside.  Weird.

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It will probably have wainscoting as high as in this picture, and maybe this color, too. 

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To accent the above color, the drapes or bedspreads will be made with this, and varying tones/patterns of this: 

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With these pillows:

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And this: 

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And these, too! 

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And I'll paint Peter's shadow! 

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They'll have a campfire light:

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And posters like this: 

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And this: 

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And this: 

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Can you get the picture?  Built-ins painted taupe, with stripes and patterns of yellow, gray/taupe, red, and teal.  Cute, yes?

xoxo, A

Inspiration Monday: My Future Daughter's Room

I have plans.  Oh, I have plans.  Frequently God likes to toss my plans in a big old salad, but I still have plans.  I like when His plans and my plans are the same plans.  Those are the best.  Like with Hband. :) 


I am NOT pregnant and hope to not be for quite some time.  And even when I am, I kind of hope to have a boy first, just so other kids we have can have a protective older brother; something I always had wanted.  Not like I can control any of that.  But anyway... I just think girls' rooms are adorable.  So if I ever have one, here's some inspiration for what I want her room to look like:

She would have awesome bed curtains like this, only maybe ruffly and definitely a different color.

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This bunting bedding would be beyond cute. 

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How adorable would this be on the walls?  Or as throw pillows? 

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But this on the walls or as throw pillows is pretty cute too.  I love these colors. 

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Have you seen these Dutch doors?  I think they're awesome, and perfect for a kid's room.  Plus she'll have a window seat, too.  Naturally. 

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This graphic is fun and all the write colors.  Maybe it will go on her wall. 

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Then again this hot air balloon print is kind of perfect. 

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Oh ruffled curtains.  I love you and you will be in my daughter's room. 

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And ruffled pillows.  You will be there too. 

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A rug like this, maybe? 

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So here's to someday. :)

xoxo, A

Inspiration Monday: April in Paris

In my mind, April in Paris sounds incredibly lovely and romantic.  And these are the things that lend to that mental picture.  Enjoy!

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xoxo, A