A time to bring it back to the Mainstay

So as I was getting dressed the other day, I had all the elements to my outfit planned out....but then the shirt I was intent on wearing was no where to be found and I mean no where. What in this crazy closet of mine was i gonna finagle an outfit with now! 
After trial and error I found it. My favorite: blue and white stripes. Though it was not the beautiful grey blouse I originally had in mind, this nautical basic T is my old-reliable, my mainstay. 
Mainstay: chief support
Much like this shirt was not what I planned on or thought I needed, it was a time to bring it back to the basics, when all else had failed, this shirt would work.  My Mainstay, Jesus Christ, the chief support of my life. Where I must return day in and day out when all my feeble attempts fail. He is there always. 
The new mercies and unending love He has for each and everyone of us can not compare to that of a tirelessly worn top, but only as a humble reminder of how I under estimate  the faithfulness of my Lord just as I sometimes overlook the beauty of a basic-T :) 

shirt - AE [mens;old]
pants - Crewcuts [boys {$4}]
shoes- Target
necklace- The Limited
ring- The Loft

A time to replay the weekend & a reminder from Matthew 11

Saquish Beach on Saturday

This week flew by for me, very busy but very fun :)

On Saturday some good friends and I drove out to the beach for the day. The weather was beautiful and the water was warm enough to go for a little swim too. I love the refreshing feeling of a dip in the ocean! {hair after the ocean = my favorite} 

After a day at the beach, we enjoyed dinner out and then saw "The Dark Knight Rises"in IMAX, which made for a very thrilling experience. 

Mitchell and I before dinner&movie
[checkout my instagram for more pics from Saturday]

Today I got to wear my new white jeans from crewcuts, they are actually boys! Crazy, I know! 

But hey, {boy's or not} the jeans are cute, fit well, and were a great deal [under $10]. 

jeans - Crewcuts
scarf - J.crew
tank- J.crew
sandals- Roxy
earrings- Target

Thanks Mitchell for snapping some photos this afternoon!

And friends to close out this Sunday, I would like to leave you with a few thoughts on resting in the Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,  for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Whether it may be the bore of a lackluster crawl through the mundane week; the anguish and heartache resulting from a devastating loss; or just somewhere in between, we must always remember Jesus has  made Himself available to us! He is our rest, and not just a holiday or a break, but in every minute of every day we have the privilege, opportunity, and choice to "take His yoke upon us": to be coupled, linked, and tied to the gentle and humble heart of Jesus. 

I thank God for this tremendous blessing He has made available to us! 

Rest in Him 

~Shannon

A time for picture potpourri

top: J.Crew
shorts: AE (old)
ring: Loft

Love the Klorane shampoo with Chamomile {via July's Birchbox}
Shampoo for blonde that actually clarifies, protects, and intensifies
Top: J.Crew

Today I prepped an asian-slaw salad for my lunch tomorrow:  Combining these two recipes {Asian Cabbage Mango Slaw&Asian Slaw with Ginger-Peanut Dressing} (+ a little improv) to work with what I had on hand.

The dressing: oil, ginger, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce,
spicy Thai sauce, vinegar, and peanut butter

toasted some cashews for a little crunch 

shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, mango, and pepper

Can't wait to eat this up! So easy and delicious :)

~Shannon

A time to set an intention

Yoga is often misunderstood by onlookers, much like Christianity. But as I have been practicing hot yoga, I see such a unique illustration of my walk with the Lord.
At the beginning of each class, yoga students are given the opportunity to 'set an intention for this practice.' Much like I have the opportunity with  everything I do to 'set an intention to honor God.'
Throughout a yoga practice, students are reminded to stay focussed on the present and let everything else take the back seat at this time. I think of Priscilla Shirer in The Resolution for Women , when she expounds on the wisdom of a friend's words regarding priorities. "When you choose to do everything, you can't do anything well. But when honoring God is your focus, it pares down your purpose and narrows your focus." Just like I focus on my yoga mat, I need to have the priorities of my life in balance  for this time, this place: this season of my life. 
As a yoga class continues, the exercise intensifies and the body is stretched to new lengths with every inhale and exhale; and as a relationship with the Lord grows and develops we are stretched and challenged more and more with each experience presented before us.
I hear the voice of the yoga instructor, "reach" "grow" "hold here", not much different from the words of instruction, direction, and promise the Lord has pressed upon my heart and mind 

I find it amazing the ways God reminds us of all His blessings; even through a hot yoga class ;)

Of course,  a little red mango after yoga 

A time for some sunday fun, fashion, photos, and psalm 100

In the last few weeks, sunday has been my morning to wake up early and go for a run... and inevitably jam out to some Ben Rector. His cover of "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" is my favorite lately, who couldn't love it ! Check out the link above


And yesterday Allie and I had some precious sister time where we found some fabulous deals at Lands End Canvas ! 

White Blouse- lands end canvas ($17)

Denim Jacket- lands end canvas ($17) 

Necklace- J.crew (gift)

Ring- Loft

Shorts - J.crew

Sandals- J.crew

you will be seeing the famous J.Crew sandals from an earlier post this week !

A smile in the sunlight 

The extras that personalize a wardrobe: accessories!
Denim Jacket, Necklace, Ring

Photos by the little brother; not too shabby for a 7th grader :)

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; 

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations. 

{ This is such an uplifting reflection. I love the imagery which the Psalmist uses to display our worship to God. "Entering His Gates with thanksgiving"= how I should approach the thrown of grace, daily. We are made to worship Him.

What a huge challenge and encouragement wrapped up into one small chapter!}

~Shannon

A time to indulge the senses via Birchbox

Since I can remember, one of my favorite things is getting mail. Even my monthly bank statement carries some element of excitement and maybe even a hint of surprise ;) So when i discovered Birchbox through Kate @TheSmallThingsBlog, it immediately sparked my eye. 

The Birchbox

For a $10/month subscribers receive a sample assortment of "high-end beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products."

July `12 GLAMOUR: the senses 

               This month Birchbox teamed up with Glamour to provide the full sensory experience. 

So here it is! 7 amazing products

        Color Club - Blue-ming: polish

        Jouer - lip enhancer  *so smooth and rich, definitely restorative yet leaves a polished glossy look

        Juliette Has a Gun - Lady Vengeance *Bulgarian rose and vanilla perfume 

        Klorane - Shampoo with Chamomile *gentle, intensifying soft and shine for blondes

        stila - in the garden eye shadow palette *earthy shades <3 

        Extras:

        Tea Forte - minteas *refresh 

         Birchbox exclusive: earbuds 

     

I am in love with the blue-ming shade of nail polish and can't wait to get it on my toesies 

Of all the products in this months box which I can't wait to test out the earbuds were a total God send! Not only are they super adorable cotton-candy colors but they fit so comfortably in my tiny ears :)

Happy Friday everyone!

       ~Shannon

A time for fabulous shoes

Since Mitchell now works at Apple, I have one more great excuse to take a trip to Derby Street! And today after meeting up for a yummy yummy lunch, I stumbled upon a fabulous deal at J.Crew. 

The Olympia Leather Sandals. In my opinion, an adorably flexible and fashionable sandal for any occasion this summer. But it gets better.... These totally great italian leather sandals originally priced at $128.00 were mine for less than $30.00! 
Yes I know, what an incredible bargain! :) 

Though these shoes have only been mine for a matter of hours, I am already thinking of the many ways to wear them throughout the summer and even into the fall. Cant wait to share the outfits with you later on! 

Comment below and share some stories of your great shoes and great deals.

               

~Shannon