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I recently received a one piece white bathing suit in the mail from Rosegal (along with this cute pair of oversized sunnies)! This has to be hands down my all time favorite bathing suit that I have ever owned. It's just so different and style-forward, from the comfortable one piece to the flowy layer on top. I can't get enough of twirling around in this suit and am definitely going to the beach more often as summer comes to its close. I had actually originally planned to post this last week, but as unpredictable as Florida weather is, it decided to pour down rain for days, which doesn't make for the best beach or photo shoot day. But it is what it is, and the post is up now! (also, while I'm touching the subject of rain, prayers are definitely going up for those who have been affected by this recent hurricane in Texas. praying for an end to the suffering and for comfort to those who have survived but found themselves without a home or a loved one.)

As summer comes to its close, many other parts of life do as well. Some think of it as a new start, whether with an upcoming semester of school or a job/career change or even in the relationship department. Things tend to change up in the fall, even if you don't plan on changing. Lately I've been faced with these inner conflicts, two opposing things or feelings that just completely contradict themselves and leave me pretty much in an emotional whirlwind.

There's one end of the spectrum which is where I am currently living in. Easy, moving along slowly, finally getting in the flow of things....it's comfortable. But at the same time it's not comfortable at all. Because there's this other part that's longing for more than just this little comfort zone of a bubble that I have trapped myself in. But the thing is, I am absolutely terrified of the other end of the spectrum. I don't know what it holds, or if it even holds anything at all. But I am also terrified of living like this my whole life and never having seen or experienced anything more.

They say to do the thing that absolutely terrifies you. And let me tell you, it takes so much faith. Not just because it's scary but because more than half the time you won't even know what that thing even is that you're going for. I don't have a clear path. Only this simple, practical one that I have put together for myself. But I'm afraid that once I arrive at the end of this path, I will feel just as desperate for more as I do now.

I'm not sure what the right path holds or even what the next step is. All I know is that tonight I was on my knees whispering "Jesus" in a more desperate plea than I have ever cried before. And I think sometimes He doesn't always answer with a clear voice, or even with a whisper. Sometimes it's just a feeling. God knows people like me, who function a whole lot off of inner feelings. I tend to feel things too much, even if it doesn't always look it on the outside.  But because God knows how much I respond to what's going on inside of me, that's the medium through which He personally speaks to me. All it takes is that touch of comfort to know that He's there, He is listening, and I am not alone as I thought before.

So if you're faced with conflict of some sort, or an upcoming decision in which you have no answer to, go get yourself a cute swimsuit and sit out on the beach (or whatever is closest to a beach if you don't live near one) and let life dissolve for a moment. Then come back home, to your personal hiding place, and cry out to Jesus. Cry like you've never cried before. He will provide the answer, even if it's just a feeling of comfort within your heart for the time being.

♡

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Time for a new outfit!



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"I wish I looked like that."


As soon as I saw these photos, I just thought they belonged in an issue of Vogue. The quality is just that good! (All thanks to Chelsea Images - one of the best up and coming photographers in Florida!) I initially intended to hold out on posting these for a later article, but this idea of something to write began to weigh on my mind and these go perfectly along with it. 

How many times have you scrolled through someone's Instagram/Facebook, watched an influencer's Snapchat, seen a YouTube video, or flipped through a magazine and thought "I wish I looked like that"? 

If I'm being completely honest here, I've done this more times than I can count. It's so easy to sit there and wallow in self pity because someone is so pretty or successful or fashionable or what have you and you're not anywhere near like that. We watch YouTube tutorials and strive to recreate the looks because we want to achieve that same kind of beauty. We scroll through Instagram almost to the point of tears because everyone else seems to have it so much better and have something you don't. 

Because I've been there so many times, I just can't shake how raw I need to be about this with you all. I have put a lot of effort into my appearance. You can see it yourself in my clothing, makeup, and hair. I always want to look my best, because that is when I feel my best. But I think somewhere along the way it started to become an idol in my life. I watched YouTube makeup videos, working tirelessly to make my face look as perfect as in those videos. I followed bloggers and fashion icons, memorizing their styles and trends and going out and buying those kinds of clothing pieces so that I could be stylish too. I curl my hair almost all the time because I don't prefer its natural straight texture and wear individual false eyelash extensions that without I just feel plain ugly. What I'm basically saying here is I'm a fraud. Sometimes it's difficult to find the line between what is real and what's not anymore. Yes I do love fashion and I do love makeup and that in itself is fine. But what makes it not fine is that I ended up altering myself so much and conforming to standards that have been placed by not only social media but by myself just so I could "look like that." 

But the thing is, when we place appearance this high as a priority,  we tend to forget what we're really about. We care more about how we look versus how we act. We think "what lipstick should I wear today" before asking "what can I do to make someone else's day or to be a kind human being today or to share God's glory today." We think what would this person do instead of what would Jesus do. 

I know this because I've been there - because I am there. I have let it gone too long, too far, to the point of making excuses for it. What can I do to fix it? 

All I can think is to first give it up to God. Release the idol that has taken my life captive and make God the center priority. Surround myself with people who know and understand me on the inside - or at least try to. People who love me for who I actually am and push me to be myself when these kind of things take over. People that say "I love your heart" before "I love your outfit." I also need to be one of those people. I too have found myself commenting the second compliment far more than the first. 

It's important to remind ourselves and each other of who we are and whose we are. We were created to look at our hearts. And to live from our hearts. But now we live in an unauthentic world, because one too many of us have thought "I wish I looked like that." 

But I'm here to tell you that you don't have to look like that. That you are beautiful, and it is your inside beauty that radiates and shines onto the outside. 

So if you enjoy makeup and clothes and looking nice, that's okay. Just don't let it go so far like I did. Remember that your confidence comes from Who is within. And it's a stronger confidence that will never fail you. Just know that you are beautiful, because God made you beautiful. 



"The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:17




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I recently received these samples from Yes To fresh from their new collection of Single Use Mud Masks, and let me tell you - these are ah-mazing. This company stays true to their product, keeping it 95% natural, cruelty free, and no parabens, phthalates and SLS. The new mud masks are for different skin types/concerns, whether it's sensitive skin, soothing irritation, or just brightening the skin.

The first mask that I have used from this collection is the pink Grapefruit Single Use Vitamin C Boosting Mud Mask. (I mostly chose this one first because it was pink.)

As soon as I opened and started to apply this, I fell head over heels. The product in the package is so smooth and soft, unlike other masks that can be stiff even before putting it on your face. But this one went on smoothly, smelled amazing, and had plenty to cover the entire face twice. After 5-10 minutes, the mask began to stiffen up (as all masks do) and dry on my face. So I washed it off, and the results were just as captivating as the application. My skin felt smooth, clean, refreshed, and so bright and glowy!

If you're not as into pink as I am, try the blue cotton mud mask for sensitive and allergy-prone skin, the green cucumber mud mask to calm sensitive skin, or the brown coconut mud mask for hydration!

You can pick these up at your local store like Target or Walmart or simply on the Yes To website for only $3.00 each.  It'll easily become your favorite mask and way to relax!

While giving the face mask time to set, I thought it was the perfect time to have my quiet time. So often we get into these daily routines that force us to go through life so quickly, no slowing down or time to spare. And then we wonder why we aren't happy. Why we feel agitated in our jobs. Why we just can't seem to feel at peace. Here's the only answer that I can think of: it is likely that missing quiet time with God is causing everything to feel too loud on your own. It is essential to take at the very least just 5-10 minutes a day to have no noise or distractions and just focus on God. Read a devotional, take notes, and after make sure to sit there in silence and talk to Him. 

Nothing else has made me feel the way that this quiet time does. It immediately puts me at rest and peace, following me through the entirety of the day, because I have put God first and given it all up to Him. I don't know at all how to handle every situation that I encounter. Most of the time I fail pretty badly when trying to take it into my own hands. But when I give it up to God, cry out in pain, say thanks in joy, whisper in the chaos or the standstills, I know that He hears me as that feeling of Him inside of my heart swells with warmth. Trust me when I say that He wants to hear from you too. 
Are you setting aside quiet time? 



If this has left you in a state of pondering, go out, grab a face mask and take some quiet time to add some peace into your day. ♡
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I haven't posted a simple lifestyle look recently, so I thought these photos taken by my new photographer friend Chelsea (@chelseaimages1 on Instagram) would make the perfect opportunity!

And because I am already writing this, here's a quick life update. :)

If you've known me for any period of time, taken a look at the blog/Instagram, or just seen me walk past at some point, it's most likely that you have assumed I have a thing for fashion. Over the past couple of years, styling outfits has become one of my favorite things to do, especially for shoots. I am blessed to have had the opportunities to shoot with some incredible up and coming photographers over the last few months and have the chances to style looks for it as well! Taken my styling experience, I have signed up for a personal styling course online through a school in New York. To me, it is more valuable to do and learn about things that interest you and grow you as a person rather than just taking a class to make someone else happy. Further education doesn't have to be all dull and boring, after all!

When thinking about planning ahead for the future, as in schooling or career, my mind just continues to go back to what I call "this one moment." We spend so much time living for the next moment - making preparations, day dreaming about what's to come - that we forget about this one moment that we're living in right this very second. But the thing is, we're not guaranteed the next moment, the moment when you have your next outfit planned for or when you tell your crush those words you've been rehearsing all day long. The only thing we have is this one moment. God gives us the hope of this one moment. And Jesus gives us the anticipation of the next. Because even if the next one doesn't come along, He made that ultimate sacrifice of His next moment so that we could have ours. So that even after this one moment has passed, we have an eternity of moments to live for. And it's all because of Him.

Thank you Jesus, for this one moment. Now please help me not to blow it. ♥



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{saved by grace, stylist, thinker, writer}


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