Should-have Staples: Wellies

All of us, from time to time are caught in this sticky situation: It's cold, wet, and rainy outside. You don't want to mess up your cute flats or heels, and sandals are definitely a no-go. You also definitely want to avoid getting your pants soaked half-way up the calf from having to navigate through puddles. So what are you to do?

Put on wellies, of course!

Wellington boots, also known as rain boots, are the perfect solution to these predicaments, and if you think that they're not stylish, think again. Case in point: Hunter Boots.

That is all. :)

So, my pretties, as you can see, it is entirely possible to look good and stay dray all at once.

Much love,
Kate

Cold as Ice

My second Polyvore posting. This one goes for a much sleeker look than the last and was originally created four months ago. It features studded rings, a gray, silky top with strongly embellished shoulders and a tie at the waist, gray booties, and slim black pants. Full product listing here.

Over and out,
Kate

Fresh As a Daisy

A Polyvore creation. Not very sure what it was inspired by, but whilst creating it I aimed for a nude color palette accented by girly and flowry details. YSL bracelet, Juicy Couture and Louis Vuitton rings featured, along with a wedding band. Full product list here. :) Hope you like!
Love,
Kate

And now for a fashion-related post...

Since I've promised myself and you (if you've read my first entry) that this blog would also be about fashion and things of the like, I thought that I might direct you to the inspiration of this blog: my Polyvore profile.
  Around nine months ago I created a Polyvore that would serve as an outlet for my need to put outfits together. If you are anything like me, I recommend starting a Polyvore, as it is a very satisfying thing indeed. And so I ask you to please check it out, because although I know that I have a bias, I personally believe that it showcases some very nice work. I've also decided to feature my Polyvore creations on my blog one by one for those of you too busy to click on the link and explore for yourselves, and mostly because I want my blog to have some pretty pictures. Enjoy.

Over and out,
Kate

Spirit.

Lao Tzu once said, "At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and what you want." This is so much more true when you put the Holy Spirit, your Helper, Comforter, and Guide into the equation. The center of our being is our spirit man, renewed by the Holy Spirit. God is calling us to look within and listen to His voice, where the answer to every question that we have is found. When we begin to live for Him, His desires become our desires, and we are able to walk in the plan that He has for our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His Will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” If you put the will of God above your will and submit to Him, it will be easier for God to show you which way to go and for you to have the answer that you need waiting within yourself.

Hugs and Kisses,
Kate

P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-E-S

In today’s world there are so many things that may contribute to stress, and finding a solution is not always easy; however, one does exist—it’s setting one’s priorities straight, with Jesus at the top of the list. If a person takes the time to really think about what is important to him or her, and makes a quality decision to act with their priorities in mind, then their lives will gain order and balance, two qualities that lead to peace. However, ultimate peace begins with an intimate relationship with Jesus. It was he that said,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27, NIV).

If people would take this verse as it is and not allow themselves to worry or fear, and realize that God will take care of them if they place Him first, they could live a life of peace, in the hope of making life better for everybody.
Living a life of peace is simple. If people acted unselfishly, all strife would cease, and all arguments would disappear. How? Those involved in conflict would realize that their relationships are more important than being right, and they would make the conscious decision to walk in love. How much further would people be in their relationship with God and their relationships with one another if they didn’t allow such frivolous details in their lives block their love for them, hinder their walk with Him? Hebrews 12:1 tells us to,

“throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

We are unable to live out God’s ―will, “which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2, NLT),” as long as we focus on the things that aren’t important. As a bonus, stress and worrying would alleviate themselves through increased productivity –the result of prioritizing—and the simple act one deciding not to thinks about the problems in his or her life and finding rest in his or her Savior’s arms.
I believe that thinking about the positive rather than the negative has the ability to make a big difference in a person’s life. In one of my personal experiences, I was worried about a test I had taken, and sure that I had gotten a bad grade. When I got it back, I realized that my grade was an A. I came to the understanding that all along I had been focusing on the things that I didn’t know rather than the things that I did know while taking the test, and I had allowed that to get me concerned. This stole my peace, as well as my hope for a good grade. Focusing on the negative left me feeling very stressed out, and as a result I could have been less than nice with my family and friends, damaging my relationships. If I had focused more on the positive, on the things on the test that I did know, the outcome could have been much different. I could have felt confident in my abilities and, in the hope of excelling, moved on to my other assignments more efficiently, rather than hindering myself by wasting my time worrying, because in Jesus’ own words,

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life (Matthew 6:27)?”

I, by worrying, could not add a single ounce of productivity to my schedule or work—in fact, I took it away. Not worrying would have produced more peace in my life and added to its quality. I could have enjoyed spending time with my family and friends more, and taken time to rest and relax. I know that this situation is minimal, but if one takes a moment to consider how often this must happen in the life of the average person, he or she would realize that letting go of worry and letting go of the negative in favor of the positive has a very big impact on the average person’s quality of living.
In a world of conflict, there is only one way to gain peace and hope. We, as people, must clear our thinking, decide what is worth our time, and put God at the top of our lists. Then, and only then, will we find hope and peace in such a chaotic world.
Be blessed. Live in Him. Let His Peace reign in your hearts and realize how far you will go while resting in Jesus’ care.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7, NLT

 Love,
Kate

On a Certain Subject

Jacqueline Kennedy as a bride

   Proverbs 18:22 in the Message paraphrase says, "Find a good spouse, you find a good life--and even more: the favor of God!" This scripture is obviously true, but the thing about this translation (and I’m not saying it’s flawed) is that you really don’t ever have to and shouldn’t ever spend your time looking for a spouse. The more that you study the Word of God in its entirety on this subject, the more that you begin to realize that God has your life planned out for you and that at the right time will draw you and your mate together - by His Spirit. This is why Song of Solomon exhorts us to not stir up love before the time is right. We are to allow Him to direct our steps and guide our every decision. Psalm 139:16 says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Every single moment of our lives has been planned by God, the Master Planner. Romans 12:2 in the New Living Translation says that the Lord’s Will for us is “good and pleasing and perfect.” Jeremiah 29:11  says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.’ (NIV)” God has nothing but good in store for us. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that the path of the righteous “shines ever brighter.”
            Proverbs 14:12 tells us that, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” True life is found in the Word of God. For something to be alive, it must be quickened by God and have its root in Him. The relationships in your life must be ordained by God in order for them to be full of the life of God. I remember one of my favorite preachers saying she didn't want anything if she made it - in other Words, she wanted everything in her life to come from God as a result of her obedience to Him. Think about Abraham. When Abraham was trying to have a son, he impregnated his wife's maid Hagar. That son was named Ishmael. Ishmael was born out of Abraham's earthly attempt to bring God's Word to pass. Any time we get impatient and take a situation in to our own hands and try to make things happen in our own strength, it ends up a failure. I don't know about you, but I don't want anything to be an Ishmael in my life. I want it to be an Isaac. I want it to be a result of my obedience, faith, and trust in the Lord.  I want it to be straight from God. That is why it is so important to listen to Psalm 37 verses 5 and 7 in the Amplified Bible when they say to, “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and he will bring it to pass…Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him.” If you give your life over to God and His Will for you, you’ll never have to worry about anything. Be patient rest in Him. Follow His voice. Listen to and obey the direction of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you. Colossians 3:9-10 says that God will “give you complete knowledge of His Will and…spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.” Listening the God’s voice on the inside of you is what will allow you to know which decisions (and the best decisions) to make. If you completely give your romantic life over to the Lord and obey Him, you can never go wrong. You’ll never have to worry if the person that you’re in a relationship with is only after you for your money, looks, reputation, last name, personal connections, or anything else. You’ll know that what you’re doing is right and the very best thing for you because you’re obeying the Voice of God, and your relationship with that person will begin to bear fruit. This is made clear in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His Will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” When you take the path that the Lord has laid out in front of you, it opens the door for him to “give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. (Ps. 37:4, AMP).” This is why I don't believe in dating. God has so much for His children, if they'll only submit to Him. You don't need to experiment with your own choices or try to force something to work. You don't need to enter into a relationship with someone "just for fun." Protect the anointing within you. Especially teenagers and young adults: right now you are in a forming time in your life. You don't need someone to distract you from God, or badly influence who you are and whom you'll become. God is placing things within you. He is molding you and shaping you into the person whom He wants you to be.  Separate yourself unto Him, and He will prepare your for your reward. I encourage you today to listen to the voice of God and draw near to Him, because when you draw near to Him, and your desires begin to match up with His desires, you’ll be more than on your way to receiving every good gift in your life.

Much love and blessings,
Kate


Photo Attribution: By Toni Frissell (Library of Congress[1]) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Hi There.

Well, then. I've begun a blog.

A few things about this blog. The content of this blog will be somewhat vast, maybe. This blog isn't my first blog (I had a tumblr), and I plan on re-posting some of my favorite entries from my other blog into this one. I hope that through this blog I can do some fun fashiony things while still encouraging others in spirit. That's my main goal.
And so ends this excessively short post. More to come. 


Until next time, my darlings!

Love,
Kate