Monday, April 21, 2014

30x30 Week 2

There isn't much commentary for today's post. I didn't have too much of a challenge this past week. I only ran across one problem.

The dress I picked out to wear for Easter was see through (although I wore the dress before and didn't realize, no bueno). I need to pick up a slip skirt to go underneath so I can actually wear it for the challenge. I know the rules are I can't buy anything but I won't be actually buying it. I still have a Macy's gift card from Valentine's Day that I have yet to use.

Anyways...

Top: Old Navy / Bottom: American Eagle / Shoes: Academy

Dress: LC by Lauren Conrad / Shoes: Academy

The belt is actually from a shirt a bought a few months back from JC Penney but I thought it paired perfectly with my sandals to make this outfit look dressy yet casual all in one. BTW, this isn't the see through dress. I will have to rework my Easter dress for another occasion.

How have you been doing in the challenge if you joined?

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stormieariel

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Friday, April 18, 2014

Spiritual Growth

Change of Heart

Posted by stormieariel

Around this time of year, I think most believers start really thinking of where they were before Christ changed their hearts. Let me rephrase, I'm sure they think about it often but Good Friday probably puts a little more emphasis on the leading up to them being saved. I know it does for me.

I recently watched this clip by Jackie Hill Perry were she addresses Christians dealing with same-sex temptation. The point that stood out to me and convicted me the most was when she said:

"If God was to completely save you from

homosexuality but not give you the power

to walk by the spirit in everything, you'd still be a liar...

we are holistically in need of God in every area..."

It made me think of when I first started going to church on my own as an adult; the very first thing I changed was my cursing habit. I simply made a behavior modification to make myself feel better. I think this is something we as humans typically do by thinking we fixed a certain behavior in our life that said we are sinners, we are now okay with God.

I stopped cursing yet I was still an adulterous (having sex outside of marriage), a coveter, a liar, etc.

Instead of trying to focus on one sin in our lives, we need to focus on the root of all our sins: our heart.

But that change can only come from God and by the work that was done on the cross by Jesus Christ.

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stormieariel

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Wednesday, April 16, 2014

30x30 Fashion

30x30 Week 1

Posted by stormieariel

I survived the first round of the challenge!! Honestly, I had my outfits planned all week but that is when I didn't have any plans for the weekend.

Wednesday, I get a call from my mom asking if Anthony and I would like to join her at the Toyota Center on Sunday because her church was throwing this big event so we agree to go. On Thursday, we get an invite to go to the beach on Saturday and we agree to that as well. Boring weekend suddenly full.

The problem is my outfits were perfectly picked out for a Saturday at home and a cute outfit for our church service. Therefore, I had to rethink my entire plan. This may not seem like a big deal but it took such a long time for me to come up with the outfits I already had!

But hey! That is why I took this challenge.

So challenge accepted!!

The plan on Saturday was kind of up in the air between the actual beach or going to Pleasure Pier in Galveston. If we did the latter than my outfit would still work but we all pretty much really wanted to go to the beach more than anything.

The beach it was and this is were the struggle got real. I had my swimsuit to wear but none of the clothes I chose really worked as a coverup (at least not to me). A little voice in my head told me I needed to make a teeny tiny exception this one time and go out to buy a coverup or buy new swimming bottoms. Sooo...

I shut that voice down! I will make something work and I did. I just didn't get a picture of me wearing it.

Boo me!!

UPDATE: This is the outfit I wore.

Top: Aeropostale / Bottom: Old Navy / Shoes: Academy

After the beach, we decided to go to dinner which would be the perfect chance to choose another outfit and actually take a picture.

Top: Old Navy / Necklace: BD Boutique, LLC / Bottom: American Eagle / Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Let's talk about this outfit for a bit. I had to go with this color shirt because it distracted a bit from my tomato face (go me for not applying sunscreen). However, I wanted the outfit to look a little dressy for dinner without being tooo dressy which is why I added the necklace and sandals. I think the look came together very well.

Sunday was easier to dress for, I knew I wanted to wear my LC shirt because I'm obsessed with it but I needed a way to dress it down so it looks more casual which is why I paired it with my capris and these sandals.