I have been wearing this top so much lately! This one is from Shop Mazzy and is still available in sizes medium and large. I'm wearing size small, but I am a very petite person so the medium or large should work on most people! It has the ultimate versatility, because it comes untied, almost looking like a cardigan in a way. So you pull the sleeves on and wrap the looong sides around to whatever your preference may be, and there you have a cute top!

As shown above, I styled it 3 different ways for this post: workwear, casual, and semi-formal.
I'm not one for bearing a lot of skin, so it's nice to pair with high waisted pants or over a dress or a cami with jeans! The material is so soft and it also comes in a blue shade if you'd rather have a different color.

If these looks inspired you and you want to go ahead and buy this top, use my 15% off discount code for an even better deal - which is sayin' something because it's already on sale for only $21!!

code: KATLIN15


Now that I've talked nonstop about clothes haha... If you've seen my Instagram posts lately you may have read something more real life related. I think it's important to be real and to use platforms such as this to talk about more than just clothing. So as I mentioned on the gram, I haven't really been feeling all that much like myself lately. For months actually. Yeah every now and then occasionally a moment comes along when things feel normal. But for the most part, it's just been a long wait of feeling tired and just done with it all. I've been all sorts of in my head, making it difficult to have normal conversations or even small talk with people.

With that said, now that I have opened up about what's actually going on behind the mask of the pretty photos and Instagram filters, the weight has started to lift. You see, it's easy to fall into a "pity party" mentality or to think that nobody else could possibly understand and that you're all alone in this. And I think that part of it is God's way of turning your focus back to Him, rather than turning to other people for help over Him.

So I think that the "cure" of sorts (not sure if that's the right word but let's just go with it for now), is to first turn our gaze back to Him. Pray, cry, let all of those emotions out. But the moment you start feeling like it's only you who feels this way, take a minute to open up to people as well. Whether it's in a post on social media or to actual people in real life. You'll be surprised by how many will let you know that they relate, they've been there, they know what you're going through, and that you're not alone. I was taken back by how much love was written to me and how people actually cared.

Some also gave incredible feedback that has helped so much. They mentioned practicing more thankfulness and positivity. In those times of feeling like a weight is pressing on you, a great deal of negativity can come from that, only making things worse. How we go through life is all about the perspective that we hold and the choices that we make. Of course things happen that are out of our control. But it's how you think of it and how you deal with it that makes you a better person or a bitter person.

I don't want to be a bitter person anymore. It's draining, it's tiring, and it's just plain frustrating. All it does is deepen the pit of loneliness and turn everything into a negative feeling.

Instead, I want to turn this life into a good thing again. Hand it over to Jesus, and let what's out of my control be in His. See the good in everything and everyone. Forgive. Move on.

It really can be that simple. It's just a matter of if we choose for it to be. I'm making that choice today. Are you?

Galentine's Day is here!!! Second to Christmas, this just might be my favorite holiday because it's all about celebrating your gals! In honor of this day, I wanted to put together a fun post on how to through a galentine's party - because who doesn't love a girl's night?!

This past Friday I threw a small get-together with a few of my closest friends that turned out to be so fun! Only thing better would be if all of my gal pals could get together at the same time. With this, I rounded up the best tips for throwing a party of your own!

First off, decorations are key to a cute party! Heart garland, flowers, and table confetti/center pieces are the best accessories. I didn't go all out like I normally would, just because it was only a few people and not a big party, but it's just festive and fun to have pretty decorations up!

Girl's night themed food and drink menu's are also a must. If you're having a brunch or people staying over to the next day, why not put together some heart shaped pancakes with all the fixin's - fruit, chocolate chips, maybe even some bacon?! So simple yet so good. For dinner, pizza is probably the most ideal option, because most everyone loves a nice pie. Make your own and shape it into a heart or order out - it's up to you! And don't forget dessert, the perfect way to top off the party. Anything from chocolate covered strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, brownies, ice cream....you name it!

Once the food is taken care of, you can move on to tasty drinks. Keep in mind, this doesn't have to mean alcoholic beverages! One super sweet, girly drink to make for you and your gals is this pink drink that I love. Start off with something bubbly - whether it's champagne or sparkling soda, the choice is yours. Add pink lemonade, pink sorbet (raspberry or strawberry flavor is ideal), and there you have it - a fluffy, sparkly, girl's night drink!

While food can be the center of the party, why not throw in some fun activities as well? I bought a couple of little games from Target, including a simple word scramble and a Chinese fold-up silly truth or dare/fortunes thing. The best part of that was actually trying to fold it correctly haha! If you're not too into games, don't worry, I'm not really either. Round up some of your all time favorite rom coms and you'll be sure to have a great night in! We watched He's Just Not That Into You during my girl's night and bonded over our lack of finding any good guys out there, haha.


I hope these tips help in planning your next girl's night or a galentine's party this coming weekend! Spending time with your girls is so beneficial, especially when they're good people that you can lift each other up and laugh with. I haven't always had the best luck with finding friends, but I've realized the difference between having a lot of friends and having a select few close ones. I know, it's cliche, but how true is it?! It doesn't take much to make a party - just a couple of friends that you love. I have recently been blessed with some good people in my life, people that I have been asking God for for a long time! While oftentimes I can withdraw and keep to myself, they always continue to have my back and be there when all I have to do is ask. Dependable, reliable friendships are just so important.

And if you're someone reading this thinking that maybe you don't have those kind of friends in your life right now, take your worries to the feet of Jesus. He will bring just the right people into your life at just the right time. Make sure to take some time to focus on your life and priorities, keeping His relationship highest and coming to terms with who you are as a person. It will all work out soon. Keep your hopes up. And know just how amazing you are! ♡

As promised, here is another Valentine's inspired look - this one more Cali chic with blush tones! I'm trying not to space these out too much but to also leave time in between, so about a new outfit post every couple of days. Let me know in the comments if you prefer to see posts at a different time or this is good for you!

This slit sleeve wrap blouse is from Shop Mazzy and I absolutely cannot get enough of it - especially with Valentine's and the spring season just around the corner! It's still available in sizes small and large and can be ordered here under Baby Love Long Sleeve Bodysuit. Use my code KATLIN15 to get 15% off as well! Shopping with small boutiques like this is always such a great way to go, as it supports up and coming business owners and makes shopping a personal experience again! Oh, and did I mention that this top is already on sale, so you can get an extra discount with my code on top of that?! Seriously, what are you waiting for? The perfect vday - or galentine's day - top at a great price!



I shared on the last post with y'all about not being all that into Valentine's Day, for reasons which were explained in that post. But, I am so not opposed to going all out for Galentine's! A time to get together with your girlfriends and celebrate your friendship is a time well spent if ya ask me. Even if you don't have many of them, just round up whoever you love dearly and make a day or night or weekend of it.

Recently I've been weighed down by this longing for approval and acceptance from others. It's been difficult, going from Christmas time when I was with friends often and didn't have those questions of whether or not they actually liked me hanging over my head so much. But now that the holidays are over for the most part, I haven't been with friends as frequently, just doing my own thing with a career focus mainly. But I almost feel like with the change of attention and turning it to something other than people, I've sort of just withdrawn a bit. And now there's all these thoughts and questions going on in my head, like do they like me, am I too quiet, do people see me as something I'm not, am I portraying myself right, etc etc.

It's those thoughts that really get to me. Because even if I haven't done anything to make someone not like me, it's still so simple to fall into that trap of questioning if they do. I withdraw, and then others withdraw, and then it's just this whole back and forth thing that creates unstable friendships. All I really want is to be at peace with everyone and not have those questions lingering in the back of my mind. And I think that in order for that to happen, I really have to surrender those friendships, those thoughts all to God. Just let go if it and let it be. He's the only One that can put me at peace about these things. If it were all up to me, I'd be driving myself absolutely crazy at this point.

But it's not. And I am so thankful that I don't have to go through this life on my own, trying to take on every obstacle with my weak amount of strength. Truth is I can't do this on my own. I need others, and most importantly I need my Savior, my Creator, my Father to take things into His steady hands, to finally feel at peace about it all.

I can't make people like me. But I can come to see Jesus's love for me, an unconditional, everlasting love that I can't even begin to comprehend. Nobody else can love like that, and frankly, I don't need anyone else to love me like that. Of course I need people, and we all need love between each other. It's what creates bonds and relationships. But the greatest one to focus and rely on is His love. Because while others may fluctuate or bring confusion, His always remains the same. A stable, steadfast love that provides all that I need and more.

My hope is that you find that peace and that love too. All it takes is opening up your heart to it. ♡