eShakti Retro-Inspired Custom Dress! {review}

 

It's always exciting to get to do a review with eShakti. 

I absolutely love their clothes! Last year I got to review a dress of theirs and that was a blast. I still love wearing that dress. I'm sure many of you ladies have heard of this company before and even checked out their clothing line. It's not every day that you get to work with such an awesome company.

 

The big draw with eShakti is that they offer customizable options, and most everything they sell is modest and feminine. If you want a higher neckline or longer hemline, the option's available. In fact, just about everything is customizable, even down to the sleeves. Very handy! I love it because it's one company that I know will make dresses that fit me just perfect. Being tall, it's especially hard to find frocks that don't fit like a shirt or tunic. Never have to worry about that with eShakti!

 

So, this year in particular I've really been digging the whole retro/40's era style. I saw this dress and fell in love with it! The floral print is so springy and adorable. This is the perfect spring dress. The fabric is lightweight and cool which is great for the hot summer months - which, as you can probably guess, are abundant in Florida.

 

 

I just feel so classy and beautiful in this. It's unique and feminine and so much fun to wear with heels, if you want to go for that perfect retro-inspired vibe!

 

Classy enough to wear to church but comfortable enough for to a casual get-together or lunch in town, this is a dress I have no complaints about. The quality is evident and it's so cool to know that it was crafted with my own measurements in mind. How nifty is that?!

 

 

 

The dress is fully lined, and even has pockets which are discreetly hidden at the sides. An optional sash also comes with it, which ties at the waist. The fit was slightly big at the neckline, but overall I think it fit perfect. Pretty much true to the measurements I gave.

 

Simply put, this is my new favorite dress. (Yes, I said the same thing about the last eShakti dress I reviewed!)

 

eShakti is the only women's apparel online company offering sizes 0-36W & Custom!  eShakti's custom capabilities allow shoppers to easily tailor any item to their specific requirements ensuring a flattering fit and unique look. 

 

 Sign up with eShakti and get $25 OFF your first order!   Also, make sure you take advantage of this APOC reader exclusive coupon code to get another 10% off! 

 

The code is: classypinch (valid 07/01/2014 – 08/01/2014)

 

You can find out more info at the eShakti Facebook page, or on their Pinterest account. Also, follow on Twitter and Instagram!

 

eShakti's motto is "Real fashion for real people". Even though I think models are "real people" too, since we're ALL created by God, it's nice to have a shop that offers apparel for people of all different sizes and shapes!

 

Now go check out eShakti for yourself! I guarantee, from personal experience, you will probably find yourself spending quite a bit of time looking at all the lovely things they have to offer. So many choices, so many possibilities! Gah!

Note: This item was provided in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

The Perfect Storm - Guest Post by Chard Phebe

 

You could say I’m a sailor of sorts.

Now before you get the image of me in a parka on a dinky old boat yelling “Ahoy mateys!”, hear me out.

Why do sailors sail? Some do it for fish, others for the adventurous feeling it gives, still others do it because they want to explore the world. Every sailor sails for a reason.

God calls everyone out upon the waters of life at its fullest, yet most of us fear leaving the shore.

We’re like Veggie-tale Jonah.

One of the saddest things about that is one of the reasons God calls us out, one of the reasons He designed us the way He did, is to co-labor with Him in solving the world’s problems. (1 Cor. 3:9)

Did you ever wonder why you felt so strongly about a problem in the world few people, even your closest Christian friends felt the same passion for? Maybe it’s because that’s not their problem.

I believe God will show us two or three problems in the world that we are to make our passions. (1 Cor 12:4-6)

(Now just a disclaimer, I don’t really know if the number is two or three, I’ve just never met anyone with only one passion, and having four or more seems like you’d start to slack in one of them.)

I believe God shows us these in a variety of ways, through hard times (2 Cor. 2:4), visions and dreams (Isa. 6:1-8), prayer and meditation (James 1:5-8), and also having seen/experienced things that move your heart for the things that move the heart of God (Matt 9:36-38).

Now, thinking back on your life, I’m sure you can probably name at least a couple things that had truly weighed on your heart. Don’t tell yourself what you felt was superficial, the person say who feels saddened at there not being any entertaining Christian movies to watch, may be the next filmmaker for a wholesome blockbuster.

I also want you to get a weight for the importance of you pursuing the thing you feel God pulling you toward. Not only the world, but the Church needs you.

If you haven’t found out yet, the Church is full of sinners.

We’re all broken in some way, and you living out God’s call for your life might just be a blessing to dozens, hundreds, thousands, even millions of other believers...and God only knows how many countless unbelievers.

You can’t believe the lie that you aren’t important, and you don’t matter (Ps. 8:5). That’s from the pit of Hell and it’s just what the Enemy would want you to believe.

Which brings me to what may be my most critical point: spiritual warfare.

As I said before, I am like a sailor. I’ve begun to answer God’s call and it’s taken me out from shore so far I’m not really sure where home is anymore. Out here on the water, there are waves, big ones that take you high and low. There’s pouring rain, lightning, and fear.

So much and so often I want to quit, give into temptations, start believing the lies and settling for an alright life knowing Christ.

But I can’t, the call is too strong, you can’t the world needs you too much.

I would love to tell you that as you begin to pursue the callings God has on your life, things will nice, fun, and safe. I would love to...but I can’t.

Fact is the few years I’ve now spent looking for ways to pursue God’s call on my life, interacting with people the way He’s told me to, and trying to conform with who He’s making me to be have been some of the hardest years of my life.

And most the joyful, rich, and fulfilling as well.

We need to be ready to keep our eyes on heaven even when the waves are 50 feet tall and we think we’re going to capsize, God is bigger than the problems, the need is bigger than our fear.

The Bible says when we resist the Devil he flees from us (James 4:7), we have no need to fear the world for greater is the one is us (1 John 4:4), and our flesh is exactly that ours and we can discipline it by God’s grace into obeying us (1 Cor. 9:27).

See what I just named there? The Enemy, the world, and our flesh? Those are our biggest opponents with chasing our dreams. They’re what would feed us lies, what would cause us to stumble, what would make us want to quit. They are the waves, rain, and lightning in this Perfect Storm...and by the Holy Spirit, you've already gotten the victory over them!

So what’s stopping you?

Remember, having the victory doesn't mean these things won’t still rear their ugly heads, it just means when they do you can fight if off with God’s power.

Start small and move on to bigger goals as you complete the smaller ones. Pray to God for guidance and for comfort when you fail. Remember failure is a learning experience, and you really can’t get success until you've failed a few times. Constantly refocus yourself so you can keep the main thing the main thing.

Remember, your Creator is proud of you and your world thanks you.

So go, and I hope to see you out there on these waters very soon.

 

-Chard Phebe

 

 

Aquarian Bath Naturals {review}

 

Hey ladies! Sorry for the absence in posts. I just got back from a week-long beach vacay, and besides that have been just super busy with life in general.

 

Anyway! Several months back I was sent some natural bath products from Aquarian Bath.

 

"Aquarian Bath, Inc. is your source for all natural gentle soaps, herbal balms, and salves. All my soaps are either unscented or lightly scented with only pure essential oils. My soaps are orangutan friendly. I do not use palm oil, which is a threat to orangutan and rain forest; jungle habitat is cleared to make way for palm plantations." - quote from the Aquarian Bath Facebook page.

 

I've been trying to find natural alternatives to shampoo and conditioner for years. But most things I've discovered either don't work, or are too expensive for my limited budget. Have you ever been in this situation?

 

So, I enjoyed getting to use the hair bars and sea salt scrub that were given for me to review. I definitely made them last!

 

1. Ocean Waves sea salt scrub bar.  This is the bar furthest to the left in the picture above. It has a good lather and excellent exfoliating properties. My only complaint is that is doesn't really have a scent, and I prefer soaps with strong scents. Nonetheless, this is definitely a practical bar and it lasts a long while. You get your money's worth, so to speak. I liked using it as a facial bar to help with my oily skin.

 

2. Lavender Patchouli Hemp shampoo bar. This has a mild, pleasant scent. I liked it well enough. It worked decent as a shampoo, although a little harder to use than traditional shampoo. But that's expected of any shampoo bar versus liquid shampoo.

 

3. Key Lime shampoo bar.  This was my favorite of all the bars I was sent. I liked the smell, which was very fresh, citrus-y and tangy. Invigorating! It was the same as the lavender bar in consistency. I would use this one again. I don't really have any complaints here. The only thing is that it takes a little getting used to making the transition from liquid to solid shampoo, but like I said, that's expected and I'm not going to make a fuss over it!

 

***

 

Aquarian Bath is a family-owned business in Daytona Beach, FL. They don't use GMO oils of any kind which I'm pleased to see. I appreciate that they are keeping their product line completely natural and organic. Overall, I give this business a thumbs-up and suggest you go check them out for yourself!

 

Here are some social media sites they're on:

"Like" on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Pinterest | Google +

 

 

Note: I was provided these items in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

Monday Scripture Encouragement

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

 It seems so silly that people find the Bible hard to understand when it is written out so clearly for all of us to see and learn and apply to our lives. Take this scripture for example. It promises that if you trust God with your whole heart, instead of trying to understand things yourself, and you give glory to Him and acknowledge Him, He WILL direct you path! 

 I think sometimes we try to learn things by ourselves instead of praying for the Lord to provide us with understanding. But He is so amazing and holds the answers to so many Biblical truths and understanding. 

 

Proverbs 31 Woman

Well, hello y'all. First of all I wanted to apologize for having been gone most of this past year. Once again, things in my life have seemed to pile up. I've recently had to take a long break from blogging/writing for health reasons, but thankfully I am back for the summer! With that being said, I am here to ask you wonderful girls what you would like to see over the course of the next few months. More Classy Garb posts? Or devotional styled posts? Posts on being modest in a world that promotes immodesty? The questions could continue on forever. I also have some idea's of my own...

While on my personal vacation I was able to read several books I had been wanting to read. His Chosen Bride by Jennifer Lamp Neef was at the top of my list. This wonderful book is tagged 'single girl secrets to living out Proverbs 31' and is absolutely a must read for girls in their late teens throughout their single years. While I plan to do a review of the book sometime later this summer after I read through it again, I do plan to talk about one thing that really stood out to me.

In the description (verses 10 through 31 for those of you who didn't know) of who we call a Proverbs 31 woman, there is a continuing picture of a woman who is resourceful and keeps busy with her hands. One of the ways she does this is by weaving and clothing her family.

The more I thought about this trait, the more I started to realize that sewing within the home (whether it be clothing, quilts, or other needed items) is a dwindling art. In a world which has become almost completely industrialized, it seems almost pointless to know these skills. Except, to me as a future wife and mother, I think these skills would be pretty handy to know! Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned, but their is also something very satisfying about wearing clothes you've sewn for yourself. Maybe my family is a bit old-fashioned as well, because ever since I can remember, at least several items in my closet have always been handmade. We've also used our sewing skills as a way to reach out to those who are less fortunate (by sewing blankets and scarves etc. for different ministries), which is another trait of a Proverbs 31 woman.

To get to the point of things, my mother and I are going to spend the summer sewing so I can build up my wardrobe for college (Yikes...only a few months till I move out of the house and into a dorm...). That's going to include different styles of dresses and skirts. I'll probably also be making some purses and pillows to decorate my bed with. Sooooo, how would y'all like a series of sewing tutorials this summer? Perhaps for a simple skirt or two? If that's something that would catch your eye, let me know in the comments!

God bless! 

JLR Designs Wearable Art! {review}

 

Are you an artsy sort of girl? Do you like accessories that are different than 'what you see in the stores?'

 

Then JLR Designs is just the shop for you! I was sent an elegant fabric pendant necklace a while back (sadly I've let things slip with this blog and gotten too wrapped up in other life affairs to actually get to this post - apologies!) and this is one of the most artsy - and original - pendants I've seen.

 

 

It's pretty big, and wears like a slightly longer-length choker. Definitely a statement piece.

The construction of the entire necklace is very solid. The pendant itself is semi-heavy, which I like because sometimes some necklaces are so light that you forget you're wearing them.

 

I love the combination of gray soft jersey-type material with the black lace overlay. Very subtle and classic.

 

 

(Never mind my chipped nail polish. I'm a country girl - nail polish and I don't work together very well. Between washing dishes and digging/weeding in the garden with my bare hands, well...)

 

Elegant. Sophisticated. Unique.

 

 This would be perfect paired with a red solid-print blouse and black skirt. Throw in some heels or ballet flats and voila - the makings of a stunningly classy ensemble!

 

I love that this is homemade, and how professionally it was put together. The pendant's construction is flawless. Everything feels like quality material.

 

Overall, I like this necklace a lot and you are encouraged to check out JLR Designs for yourself!

 

Have a blessed day!

Note: I was provided this item in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

 

The Foolproof Guide on How to Treat Guys

 

The opposite gender will always be a mystery in many ways.

 

We spend so much time trying to figure out what they're really thinking. We muse on what makes them tick. We bite our lip and try to imagine life in their shoes.

 

But in the end, it's in vain.  Guys are guys, and they were made to be quite different than us womenfolk. This is how it's supposed to be! And you know, they do see us as equally perplexing, anyhow.

 

The opposite gender.

 

It shouldn't be such an ominous topic!

 

Yet you think a post on "how to treat guys" is a bit simplistic, right? I mean, it might seem like I'm writing a post on 'how to breathe', or 'how to walk'. We interact with people and oftentimes don't even consider if we're doing it the right way or not. This goes for both guy and girl interactions.

 

But guess what? There is a right and wrong way to do it. Like all other areas of life, there is a delicate balance.

 

These days, it seems we're being given mixed signals on how to treat the opposite gender.

You have the liberal, secular media which says you should put on something 'hot' and master the art of flirting. You have the ultra-conservative crowd which says to avert your eyes and just avoid male contact in general because it's 'a slippery slope'. And then you have the 'trying to catch a husband' crowd, which may not be doing anything wrong necessarily, but perhaps the motives are a little off.

 

Let's be honest: it's a mess out there! What's a girl to do in all the chaos? Is it possible to communicate with men and boys at all without everything being super awkward and weird?

 

Do you ever feel like you don't know how to treat the opposite gender? Do you wonder if, maybe you're being too stand-offish, or perhaps too bold? Do you question if perhaps you're being forward? Maybe wallflowerish? "Am I smiling too much?" "Or should I be more friendly?" "Should I view him as a potential husband or just a friend?" "How should I act around guys?"

 

 It's your lucky day!

Well...if you believe in luck, that is. I personally don't. But anyways. This is your day, because that's what this post is all about!

 

So here's a list of the basics I've learned on how to treat the opposite gender. Hopefully it makes your life a lot easier and clears some of those iffy questions floating around in your head!

 

***

 

1. Follow the golden rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Guys are human beings, too. And while they may seem vastly different, we share a lot of common factors. Usually we even deal with some of the same struggles. The difference is, guys handle reactions different. Guys may try to act tough and thick-skinned, but they still have feelings. Some are more sensitive, some have learned to just take it. Either way, it doesn't matter. Know when to open your mouth and when to shut it! Don't become a discourager, even if it's just in the name of 'joking around' or 'teasing'. There are times when us girls are allowed to get away with things that guys never would be able to get away with. Insulting and sarcasm for example. Bottom line, treat people the way you'd want to be treated! This actually covers everything right here.

 

2. Stop looking at every decent guy you meet as a "potential." Sometimes I think marriage is idolized in the conservative, Christian, homeschooling community. Not intentionally, no. But we place too much focus on finding Prince Charming. Marriage is good, but if you're single right now it's for a reason. View your guy friends and acquaintances as what they actually are - brothers in Christ, fellow warriors of the faith. Stop fantasizing and wondering if he is 'the one' and view him as a friend you can build up and encourage. It makes things so much easier and less awkward, trust me.

 

3. Smile! I've seen where some people think that smiling at a guy is a form of flirting. This is hogwash! Now, you can of course smile in a flirtatious way, if that's your intention (it shouldn't be), but if you're just trying to be friendly it should come across that way. Now, this being said, some guys will see any form of attention as a sign of romantic interest from you. I've experienced this. One time at a reenactment I met a young man and spent a little time with him and he thought I was flirting. All I was doing was smiling politely and listening when he talked! I hadn't considered myself to be flirty at all. Sometimes no matter how you try to /not/ appear forward, it just gets interpreted in the wrong way. It's not your fault and you can't stress out over it. Never, never stop smiling because you're worried a guy will take it the wrong way. A smile is the most beautiful curve you can have, and it is a sign of a radiant, Christ-following heart. Smile at everyone, whether they be male or female! (Did you know smiles release positive chemicals in the brain, too? So you even feel better!) 

 

4. Avoid flirting like the plague. It almost goes without saying. Flirting is bad, bad, bad. Just don't go there. Period. Unless you're trying to be some seductress as wise men are told to avoid in Proverbs....yuck. Some guys, even nice ones, will eat it up, but think about how it reflects on your character. Do you want to be remembered as the girl who was always fooling around inappropriately with the guys? Do you want to look boy-crazy? How would you like to see a girl flirting with your teen brother? Flirty girls aren't pure girls. A real man will recognize this, and a real woman won't lower her standard of dignity by flirting.

 

5. Just chill! If this whole topic is even an issue to you, you need to just take a step back and think about how much emotion and energy you're giving it. I think we girls tend to make communicating with guys a big deal when really it shouldn't be. Just take a deep breath and relax, cool down. Stop making it so dramatic! It's not a soap opera!

 

6. Stop trying to impress and be who you are. Leading off of point #5, one of the best things you can do around the opposite gender is not put on airs. Just be yourself! Don't put on masks or try to be someone you're not. Be genuine, and it will be noticed. Nobody likes fakes and phonies. I'm sure a lot of guys will tell you a big turn-away is the girl trying to mimic somebody else. If God wanted you to look or be like that other person, He wouldn't have made you YOU. Embrace the individual uniqueness the Lord blessed you with!

 

7. Don't be afraid to carry decent conversations. This isn't flirting, y'all. This is called being a decent, interesting human being. Good conversationalists are hard to come by these days. Be one of the few who actually know how to talk in person! And not just talk, but listen. There are very few people who are willing to be quiet for a minute and just listen to what the other person has to say. Conversations are two ways...that's what makes them conversations. Plus, if you are wise, you'll be open to possibly learn new things - you never know what kind of insight the other person can offer!

 

8. Don't look down on them. Confession: I hate admitting it, but this is something I fall prey to at times. One of my weaknesses is my pride. I have a big ego. Sometimes I look down on certain guys because they don't seem like they have as much going in their lives as I do, or because they weren't provided with some opportunities/gifts I've been blessed with. I have to remind myself that this is very wrong! You never want to look like a know-it-all. It comes across as extremely stuffy and unattractive. DON'T fall into this trap! Pride is a sin, an abomination in God's eyes. Humility is such a beautiful virtue. "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life." Proverbs 22:4.  Never look down on anybody, for whatever reason. And if you ever do start feeling cocky, just remember that once you were a lost sinner with a tainted heart and that you are nothing without Christ!

 

9. Be honest, but don't get too personal. Tactful bluntness and transparency is one thing, but info-dumping stuff from your personal life is another. The main difference between guy friendships and girl friendships is that you shouldn't ever share the same kind of information as you do with your close girlfriends. Some deep, personal things don't need to be shared with your male buddies. You're never gonna have the same kind of connection that you have with best female friend, and nor should you. There is physical intimacy and then there's emotional intimacy, which happens when a guy and girl start telling each other their 'deep dark secrets'. Be honest and open with your guy friends, but don't give them really personal info that's not necessary. It's almost like showing off your body, only instead of skin it's your heart. "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23. You should always maintain a sense of reservation around the opposite gender. Some things you do with your girl friends would be fine if it were just you ladies, but if a guy were around it wouldn't be appropriate.

 

10. Stop being super-sober-Sally. This goes with the smiling thing again. Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." You may think you're doing the guys a favor by looking so serious and straight-faced, but you're only going to come across as a dried up, tasteless prune. My sources tell me that guys appreciate smiles and cheerfulness, and even more importantly God does. There are better ways to avoid flirting than putting on a poker-face and looking like a zombie. Refer back to #7. Would you rather be likened to a radiant sunflower, or a stony gargoyle?

 

11. Respect them. If you treat young men with respect, you are in turn respecting yourself. Every soul deserves to be treated in this manner, no matter who they are. Remember that we are all made in God's Image and this is reason enough to respect! 

 

12. Stop comparing them. We tend to compare people unconsciously. We compare ourselves to other women and girls. We compare guys we know to either our idealized mental image of what the perfect man is, or other predominant male figures like Christian 'celebs' and the like. Especially when 'in search of Prince Charming'. This isn't a sin, but it can become a nasty habit and a waste of time. We create a mental list of what makes the 'ideal man', but often the standards are way too high and unrealistic, so we find the 'real life guys' are disappointing and not up to par. High expectations can be good, but if they're too high they will be your downfall. This way of thinking cheapens your view of each individual guy and you are actually objectifying them in the process. Also, you probably need to stop and go back to point #2. Just cut it out with all this "single and seeking" stuff already, because it's what's making all your guy friendships and connections awkward. If you have a friendship going with a guy it doesn't have to be a potential 'relationship'!

 

13. Pray for them. Want to keep a clean, pure mind when interacting with guys? Pray for them, lift up their lives to Jesus in prayer. If you know a young man that's a fellow Christian pray for him to be an overcomer. Pray for him to become strong in Christ. This will not only keep things in perspective when you start thinking of somebody in a potentially inappropriate manner, but it will also benefit them.

 

***

 

So there you have it! Not that tricky now, is it? And the cool thing is, most of these points apply to other areas of communication and demographics, not just if you're a single girl around single guys. Basically if you follow point #1 everything else should fall into place...in anything you do or with anybody you're around.

 

Have a blessed week!