Being a Role Model

When I was in 6th grade, and just entering the youth group at church, I looked up to older and much 'cooler' high school girls.  It occurred to me a couple of months ago that I am the same age as those other girls that I looked up to so much.  

A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about being an example to Believers and non-Believers around us.  During this conversation, she really emphasized on how the younger girls in our youth group look up to us and mimic our actions.  That kind of hit me hard.  I knew others were watching what I did and how I acted, but it never really occurred to me how powerful the impact was.  Not only were the younger girls at church watching me, but people of all ages watch how I act.

Looking around in your daily life, you don't know how many people your actions will impact.  How you react, how you treat other people, how you stand up for yourself, all affect a person's image of you.  Sadly, all it takes is one small bad reaction and a person's view of you is tainted.

I find that especially true with Christians.  It's not uncommon to find an un-Believer who doesn't like Christians because they had a bad experience with someone before who was somehow connected to a church or a Christian themselves.    

There's nothing we can do about that person's previous experiences, but to just be a role model for them.  Just showing them the unconditional love of Christ through our actions will hopefully soften them with time.

(I'm not saying that I am a perfect role model, nor do I expect anyone else to be except Christ.  I hope that I  can strive to be like Christ and show his love to those around me.)

Paul, to me, is a great role model.  The great transformation he went through on the Damascus Road, to imprisonment, ship wrecks, and helping churches get on the right path is a great influence in my life. 

'Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ'-1 Corinthians 11:1

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.' -Hebrews 12:1-2

Amazing Grace

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This is one of my all time favorite hymns.  Probably one of the more popular ones that we've all memorized since childhood =)

Amazing Grace was written by John Newton in 1779 with inspiration from his own life.  In a way, I think we can all relate to this hymn.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

The last verse gives me chills every time I hear it.  Just imagine praising God for eternity with no end in sight!  

 

Full Length Lace Tee {Product Review}

A couple of weeks ago I bought the Full Length Lace Tee from Deborah and Co.  I absolutely love it!  The length is really long, which is great since most shirts tend to be short on me.  There is broad lace around the hem adding a feminine touch to it.  The neckline isn't quite as high as I imagined it would be, but it's still pretty high up.  One thing I don't necessarily care for is how wide the neckline scoops out.  I have fairly broad, square shoulders, so I don't know if that makes it scoop out more or if it's supposed to fit that way.

I ordered in the size I normally wear and it ended up fitting like a tank top (pretty form fitting).  I knew I wanted to use it as an undershirt only, so that wasn't a problem.  If you want to wear it by itself, I'd recommend ordering a size or two larger.

Overall, I really like the shirt.  I plan on ordering a white one sometime in the near future. =)

 

Disclaimer: I bought this shirt on my own and am under no obligation to review it (good or bad).

Putting an Outfit Together

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Being 'stylish' or 'classy' doesn't have to be difficult.  Look at the above formula.  You start with a basic piece (I usually start with an interest piece), then add the other three pieces in.  Right there you have a complete outfit.  This formula an work for any type of outfit: casual, work, dressy, church, etc.  

A couple outfit examples:

Interest Piece: Plaid shirt

Basic Piece: Jean Skirt

Completer Piece: Tank Top

Accessories: Bracelet and Chucks

Interest Piece: Tank Top

Basic Piece: Skirt

Completer Piece: Jean Jacket

Accessories: Shoes, Purse, Earrings

Interest Piece: Dress

Completer Piece: Jacket

Accessories: Shoes, Necklace, Purse

Interest Piece: Maxi Dress

Basic Piece: Cardigan

Completer Piece: Belt

Accessories: Scarf, Shoes, Purse

Interest Piece: Cardigan

Basic Piece: Jean Skirt

Completer Piece: Tank Top

Accessories: Purse, TOMS

All outfits via Polyvore

Use this formula to change up your wardrobe.  Mix and match the clothes you normally wear together with ones you normally wouldn't wear together.  

In Christ Alone

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I usually prefer hymns over praise music, but this is one of my favorite worship songs.  The lyrics are so powerful, they give me goosebumps.

You can go here to see a music video for In Christ Alone.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand

 Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

Slips and Petticoats

We focus so much on what others see, that we don't really talk about the nitty gritty of clothing.  So, that brings me to slips and petticoats.

I love my slips.  I have a longer (mid-calf one) for longer skirts and then a knee-length one for shorter skirts. Not only do slips make thinner skirts no longer see through, they help them hang nicer.  

Slips come in two styles: full and half.  Full slips are basically a tank top and half slip in one piece.  They work great for dresses that tend to cling or are see through.  

The half slip is looks just like a plain skirt with an elastic waist.  They come in a variety of lengths and are super easy to whip up yourself.  In the winter, wearing a flannel lined slip keeps you quite warm.  

Most slips are made of rayon, but you can find some made of cotton (Etsy is a great place to find cotton slips).  Cotton slips are great for hot, muggy climates, while flannel-lined slips are great for keeping warm in colder climates.

1950's petticoat (poodle skirts anyone?)

Petticoats are a little harder to find and once again Etsy is a great place to find them.  Petticoats have been around for centuries.  They started gaining popularity around the 1600s to help the wearer achieve the small waist fashion.  The petticoats were elaborately decorated and worn under split skirts.  

During the early/mid-1800s multiple petticoats were worn to create a full skirt, especially for dancing.  Then during the Edwardian era slender skirts became more popular, so the number of petticoats worn at once decreased.  In the 1950s, petticoats became popular with teenage girls especially with poodle skirts.

Petticoats are slowly making a comeback.  Today, petticoats are typically worn under bridal and formal wear to create a full skirt appearance and are made of a variety of materials (cotton, tulle, etc.).  You can wear petticoats under everyday dresses or jumpers for fuller skirt, plus they are a lot of fun to twirl around with =)

All images via Pinterest.

 

Mother {Book Review}

 Mother by Kathleen Thompson Norris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a refreshing read about being a stay-at-home daughter.  Something a little different compared to most of today's contemporary fiction books.

 About a girl with 7 siblings who lives in a small country town and works as a teacher. She then gets a job in a big city with a rich employer. While she is there, she listens to the "rich" peoples' conversations about how having so many children is such a burden. She, herself, starts wondering how her mother can be so content with housework, children, etc.

I loved the ending to this book!  I would recommend this to anyone looking for a refreshing read on being a stay-at-home daughter.

Smile

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I was trying to figure out what to post about (seems to be a recurring problem =) ), so I was browsing through some of the other girls' posts.  I noticed several of them touched on the topic of smiling and how it makes you look or feel classier.  

Not only does smiling make you look and feel better, it brightens the day of those around us.  A simple smile while passing someone at the store or smiling at those we work with can make all the difference. I feel so much better when I smile.  I feel happier and have a better outlook on everyday things.

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What a better witness we can be when we are smiling!  Would you want to listen to someone who was witnessing to you while frowning?  I know I usually rather listen to those who are happy rather than frowning all the time.

  

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Be classy and smile more. =)

 

Modest Resources

I love making my own clothes.  More like I love the idea of making my own clothes, seeing as I'm not especially talented when it comes to sewing, nor do I have the time to sew; a bad combo.  I've compiled a list of sorts that I've either had good experience with or have heard good reviews about; and hopefully you too can find useful.

Ready-Made

~Maurices~

I love Maurices' skirts!  They tend to be on the pricier side (about $40 for their denim skirts), but they last forever.  I bought a denim skirt there last summer and it's my favorite skirt I own.  Their longer skirts tend to be looong.  They hit me around my ankles (I'm 5'6"), so if you're shorter be ready to shorten it.  They offer quite a few knee length skirts also.  Most of the longer skirts I have a harder time finding in store, so the internet might be your best bet.

Maurices also sells blouses, cardigans, tanks, jewelry, etc.  The shirts tend to run a little tight and low for my liking.

~New Creation Apparel~

I won a New Creation Apparel skirt in a giveaway about 2 years ago and it's still going strong.  They're skirts also run a little more expensive than what I like to pay, but the skirts are durable.  They have a sales section for their skirts that would be worth paying attention to.  They also have a good variety of maternity skirts, jackets, vests, and tops.   The skirts tend to run small, so order up a size or two than what you normally wear.

~Ringger Clothing~

I have never ordered clothing from here, but have heard good reviews about them.  They offer a wide variety of modest skirts, dresses, jumpers, and blouses.

~Simply Modest~

Simply Modest is like an online thrift shop with modest clothing.  They sell gently worn or new modest clothing.  They offer clothing for infants, girls, ladies, and pregnant women.

~Princess Modest Swimwear~

I haven't ordered from them before, so I can't say how their stuff fits or if it's durable or not.   I have heard a couple good reviews about them though.  Most of the women's suits have leggings that go down to the knees with a skirt over top.   

Patterns

~Fresh Modesty~

I love the way Olivia Howard is able to take items that might be a little questionable modesty wise and turn them into something new and modest.  She has two e-books out right now: one on denim skirts and the other on how to make your own modest swimsuit.  She also offers a couple tutorials on her sewing blog and modest inspiration on her main blog.

~Modest Handmaidens~

Modest Handmaidens offers a wide variety of patterns, usually lower than the price of what you could find them at their original website.  They offer patterns for everyone in the family ranging from pants to skirts, quilts to home accessories, headcoverings to aprons. 

~Candle on the Hill~

They offer patterns for the whole family.  We've ordered several patterns from them before.  The patterns tend to run small and sometimes the instructions aren't the best, but once you get the sizing right the items turn out great.

Skirt Tutorials

Skirts are a great wardrobe staple.  They can be dressed up for a more formal occasion or worn casually.  I found several skirt tutorials that I would love to try and decided to share them with you =)

Disclaimer: I do not necessarily support any of websites or the content on them.

Pleated Wrap Skirt Tutorial

Layer Cake Tutorial

Dip Dye a Spring Skirt 

(Dying your own ombre skirt)

Jean Skirt Tutorial

Elastic Waist Maxi Skirt

Happy sewing!

All tutorials were found via Pinterest.

UN-Classy: Gossip

Gossiping is so easy to do (at least for me).  It's hard to figure out where that line is between sharing general info and gossiping.  

Gossip:Rumor or report of an intimate nature; a chatty talk-Merriam-Webster

So many times an innocent conversation turns into a full blown gossip fest (okay, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea).  I've noticed especially when sharing prayer concerns its easy to fall into gossiping.

In Titus, we read about older women setting examples for the younger women.

The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior,not slanderers (gossipers)...Titus 2:3

In Timothy, Paul writes about the qualifications of deacons and among those is a list for their wives.

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. I Tim. 3:11

I love this first sentence from this passage in Proverbs.  It really puts it out there and is an eye-opener.

Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.  In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.  Prov. 10:18-21

We have the power to build people up with our mouths, but one ill gotten word or phrase can cause the trust to crumble away.   So many times we don't mean anything bad by our words, but the other person doesn't know this.  Better to be safe than sorry.

I've found the best way to deal with gossip is to have a close group of friends or family help you out.  Keep each other accountable and steer the conversation a different direction if you start gossiping.

I have an amazing group of friends that help keep me accountable.  During our prayer times we mention names of other friends that might need prayer, but we don't go into a lot of detail.  This helps us to stay away from the temptation of gossiping.  

Like I mentioned above, it is so hard to draw the line on what is gossip and what isn't.  Get a group of friends and help each other out.  Keep one another accountable and we'll stay classy together!

(All emphasis in above Scripture is mine.)

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Here's a twist on a classic recipe...snickerdoodle muffins!

They taste just like their cookie relatives and are absolutely delicious!

-1 cup butter, softened

-1 cup sugar

-2 tsp vanilla

-2 eggs

-2 1/4 cups flour

-3/4 tsp baking soda

-3/4 tsp baking powder

-3/4 tsp cream of tartar

-1/2 tsp salt

-1 cup sour cream

-1/4 cup buttermilk

-1/4-1/2 cup sugar

-1 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350*.  Prepare a muffin tin with liners.

Cream sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla; stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Add half the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture and stir to combine.  Add the sour cream and buttermilk.  Add the rest of the dry ingredients and stir until batter is smooth.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.  Using a scooper (a small ice cream scooper works best) and plop a glob in the cinnamon sugar.  Gently roll around in the sugar until covered.  Put the batter into the liners.  Then, sprinkle the leftover cinnamon sugar over the top of the muffins.  

Bake for 15-18 minutes.  The tops will be golden and crackled.

Original recipe found here.

  I substituted 3/4 cup honey in place of the sugar in the muffin.  You can also use 2 1/4 cups of this gluten-free flour mix to make them gluten free.  They taste just the same.

Keeping the Home

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Bread baking in the oven, kids laughing and playing in the yard, clean laundry blowing gently on the line...  That is my idea of a picture perfect home.  I've always wanted to have a home of my own (with a husband and kids of course!).  A place to decorate the way I want and to keep cozy for my family.

When I think of a keeper of the home, Proverbs 31:10-31 comes to mind.  The women described in the passage is the ideal homemaker, wife, and mother.

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. v 13

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and 
portions for her maidens. v 15

She looks well to the way of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her. vv 27, 28

This woman works hard to keep her family clothed and fed.  In the end, her children and husband praise her for her efforts keeping the home.

As women we are called to be keepers of the home.

(Older women)...so train the young women...to be self controlled, pure, working at home, 
kind and submissive to their own husband. Titus 2:5
(Emphasis mine)

Young women are continually pushed to go to college and establish well paying careers.  Being a keeper of the home is pushed aside and pretty much frowned upon.  Young ladies aren't being taught the skills how to manage their own homes

Note: I'm not against college or working (I currently work outside the home).

Even while we are living at home we can gain good experience on how to one day run our own home.  You can help with meal planning and preparation of meals, help with laundry and cleaning, or help take care of younger siblings (or help with a little kids' Sunday School class).

We shouldn't think of being a keeper of the home as a burden or form of slavery, but as a privilege and an honor.

 

What Does the Bible Say About Modesty?

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Modesty. That word alone is enough to turn most conversations sour. It's a subject that's difficult to discuss. Why? There are so many different views on it. So many different thoughts about what (especially clothing) is modest and what isn't.

mod-es-ty---Regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

(from dictionary.com)

What exactly is modest? What isn't? Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't make it completely clear to us what is modest or what isn't. Should we be wearing floor length skirts all the time or are pants just fine? We are given no clear answer.

The Bible does give us some guidelines, of sorts, to use when we consider modesty.

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...I Timothy 2:9

We are told to consider modesty when dressing ourselves. It is not an option. I've found that if an article of clothing makes me feel slightly uncomfortable, whether it be too low or too tight. It probably isn't the best thing to wear when considering modesty.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Romans 14:13

This verse brings two more things to consider when thinking about modesty. We are not to be a stumbling block to our fellow Believers. This is especially important when considering our dress around men. Are we wearing this to create attention for ourselves? To make ourselves noticed? I'm not saying to go out in a feed sack or clothes with no shape, but going out in that shirt that's a tad bit too tight or that skirt that's a little higher than you feel comfortable in probably isn't the best.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. I Corinthians 8:9

This verse isn't necessarily for modesty, but I think it can be applied. Our liberty is to dress anyway we would like, but again we are told not to be a stumbling block to fellow Believers. We are to behave/dress in a way that does not cause others to sin.

One of the most common things I hear is, 'Well, it's their (meaning, men) sin. They're the ones looking.' Yes, but if we are dressing to draw attention to ourselves then we are helping them to sin. In helping our fellow brothers, we should dress to help them not to sin.

The second part of Romans 14:13 I would like to point out is let us not therefore judge one another any more. We can judge the other girl for not dressing like us. For wearing the slightly tighter shirt, the slightly tighter pants, but we are told not to judge. It's something I struggle with. Trying to build myself up because I'm the one wearing (in my mind) the modest clothes. It's not Christian-like and it's not my place to decide whether they are dressed to my standards of modesty.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2 (emphasis mine)

It's not my place to judge how others are dressed. For how I judge others, so shall I be judged on the same thing. 

 

So remember, dear sisters, modesty is a powerful thing. I believe there is a fine line between modest and unmodest and certain clothing is most definitely unmodest. How we dress is our choice, but we are to keep in mind our fellow Believers.

Keep it classy! (and modest!)