High Five For Friday

This week has been so busy! I'm pretty thrilled to see it end. School and work are keeping me very busy these days but I did have a little bit of down time this week. These are the five highlights of my week!

1.

It's not every week that a Sunday sermon is still floating around in my head five days after I've heard it. I am so blessed by a fabulous church and a pastor speaking truth. This message was phenomenal and exactly what I needed to hear.

2. I was able to do a little much needed spring cleaning this week! I love how pretty my room looks when it is clean. Lately, it hasn't been often. 

3.

On Tuesday my mom, sister and I went out for an impromptu dinner; this was our delicious and gluttonous dessert.

4. Monday was the last class of the first session of a four session counseling/mentoring class I'm taking. I've learned so much and it's been so exciting to see God move already. I pray I can be a blessing to others and God would use me as He sees fit.

5.

Today marks officially one month until I graduate from cosmetology school! I am so excited for what's to come. I can't believe how fast time flew by. These are a couple of the girls I've met who are some of my best friends now.

I hope you all had a great week too!

XOXO,

K

All Dressed Up

When I purchased this dress I originally thought I'd save it for spring with a pair of sandals or wedges. However, I'm always trying to think of multiple uses for my clothing to get the most wear out of them; tights and a sweater were the perfect items to winterize this dress! 

I'm still longing for the sandals though!

XOXO,

K

Outfit breakdown:

Dress and clutch: Marshalls

Sweater: Target

Shoes: Payless

Neckless: Borrowed 

This One's For The Girls

Maybe it's just me but lately I've heard an overwhelming amount of girls around my age complaining about the men they're dating or just the men their age in general. They're always so quick to blame their struggling relationships or absent dating life on the men around them.

I'm blaming the ladies.

Don't get me wrong, I think we have a lot of men around us who are not treating women like they should- but I think the bigger problem is the women who are settling for way less than they should.

The number of women I've met who are or have dealt with an unfaithful significant other is absolutely horrific (and this is just my own little circle). I don't for a second want you to think I'm making light the pain you're feeling- I am not. I am so sorry that you aren't being treated like the princess you are. You have to ask yourself how many times you're going to let him hurt you. How many times are you going to find yourself in a relationship with the same type of men and the same outcomes before you start demanding better? It seems to me that being unfaithful to a significant other is so common now that people are starting to just accept it as a part of life, a norm. I've seen studies that claim an affair can make a marriage stronger. What!? And it's not just men either, it's women too.

We need to start expecting more. 

Ladies, you were not created to fulfill a mans "needs" and you were not created to feel unfulfilled without a man in your life, you certainly weren't created to be walked all over. You were created in the perfect image of Christ. You are perfectly designed by God. Your worth is more than you can imagine. Proverbs 31:10 says you are worth more than rubies.

Singleness can be a difficult season. We live in a world that makes us believe it's built for two. I encourage you to look at this time as a blessing. God knows what He's doing. Your future steps are perfectly ordained by Him. That is so comforting to me. Discover yourself. Take a trip. Volunteer. Use this time. Just don't settle.

There is a man out there who will treat you like the precious jewel you are and until you meet him YOU need to treat yourself like the precious jewel you are.

Men will start rising up when we stop backing down.

"Never settle for less than you deserve or you'll end up with even less than you bargained for."

XOXO,

K

*This is not intended to sound harsh or inconsiderate. I  am writing with a genuine concern because I've been there and I speak from experience.

Notes on Moving Forward

For those of you who know me well you know that I've been going through a bit of a hard time. If you follow me on Facebook I've alluded to this season of loss. If by chance you don't know me well then I'll spare you the details but just tell you that 6 months ago my little world that I had created shattered around me and I'm still sorting through the pieces. I'm trying to figure out what God wants me to piece back together and what God wants me to leave on the ground, right where it shattered. 

I think God works in wonderful, glorious ways. And I know that He knows what He's doing. Every single step of the way. With that said, I don't think a single person who's reading this that can say that there hasn't been a time where they seriously questioned his ways. I remember specifically driving in my car one day, I was so angry. Angry at what happened, angry because it felt like God must have forgotten about me and angry for having those feelings. Even through that anger I was crying out to Him, begging him for clarity-- I realize now how beautiful it was that in those devastating moments I was still seeking Him. He was still my strength.

During the first few months I just wanted to hit rock bottom, I begged God to bring me to the bottom because I just wanted to start working my way back up. Several times I thought I hit the bottom and then I realized I wasn't there yet. I've hit the bottom. I'm slowly working my way back up.

I think I've finally reached a place of peace. 

Don't be confused, this peace isn't equal to a place of complete happiness or joy. It's just peace. Peace in the circumstances. Peace in my heart. Peace in knowing that God has always had my best in mind. Peace in the promise that God will NEVER leave me or forsake me. Peace in knowing, really knowing that God alone knows what the rest of my life looks like.

I've worried so much about the future and how it's going to look. Would I ever be able to move on? Would I ever feel normal again? Would I ever be happy? These are dark thoughts that have crossed my mind on many occasions. But I've chosen to let these thoughts go and to simply trust God and His promises; to dwell in Him and to focus on the truth. I've let go of the dissatisfaction and anger with His plan. He has a beautiful plan for my life, yours too. What's holding you back from letting go of all the things that are causing you to doubt Him?

I can't go back and change how I started to walk down this road and I wouldn't if I could. I've learned so much, I've come so far. I have a much better understanding of what it means to fully trust God and to let go of control of my own life. To surrender to His ways. I'm grateful that I've learned these things.

This road I'm on, the friends and mentors I have, the steps I'll take tomorrow and even next year are all perfectly ordained by Him and I am immensely grateful that I am able to serve such a mighty God, that He will use me as He sees fit and that He loves me enough to do whatever it takes to make sure my eyes are fixed on Him.

It feels good to be moving forward. 

Maybe you're waiting for something... Anticipating what is to come. Anxiously seeking out what will be the next chapter of your life. I am praying for you. God will meet you where you are. He is not surprised by what is happening in your life. He knows what will happen next. Try to rest in that.

XOXO,

K

"To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises." - Oswald Chambers' Gracious Uncertainty

Spring Vibe

                                                       

With all the dreary weather we've been having, anytime the weather gets a little above freezing I start craving warm weather styles. Though I still needed to stay warm, this mint green top and these booties feel a bit like spring to me! I love the pop of pattern with the cheetah print belt. 

Now here's to hoping these temperatures will last!

XOXO,

K

                                                                    

Outfit Breakdown:

Top: Ralph Lauren

Jeans: New York and Company

Belt: Target

Boots:Kohl's 

Bow Ring: Kate Spade 

Beginning

I've been wanting to start a blog for a couple of years now and I'm finally taking the step and doing it! I've had lots of people tell me they think I would be good at it and I'm excited to see where it could go. Here goes!

Whether it is a thought or an idea that I think you might be interested in, an outfit that I found for a great deal or a new make-up product that I'm loving; I hope you'll enjoy what you're reading!

I am so looking forward to this new adventure.

Pull up a chair, I hope you'll stay awhile.

"Everyday is a new beginning, take a deep breath and start again" -unknown

XOXO,

K

(For some more information, check out my about me section)