winter

Trust God. When you run out of trust, just Obey Him.

It seems like winter is the time I learn a lot about myself and when I see how much I actually need God. I've had so many things I wanted to share on here about what I'm learning but didn't because I wanted this to be a place for "business". Yep, my creative online studio turned in to business...  I'm not sure how I got there and I'm not sure I'm gone either but I know that isn't how I want things to be. Business is good in the fact that it provides for my family, but the reason I am able to have a successful business isn't just about how professional my blog is, or how beautiful my Instagram account is. I'm not saying those don't matter, cause they do, but thats not the entire story.

This blog and business started as some place fun that I could share my heart. I talked about what was happening in my life whether it was art or budgeting or marriage goop. And when I was sharing and speaking boldly from my heart this blog and my business was much more successful. I think there are lots of reasons I could chalk that up to, like people just think I'm interesting, or I got hooked up with the right blog group, but what I really think it was was trusting God. I didn't have some big plan that told me how I was going to use this space and lead me to be successful. I just used what God gave me and knew that it was good.


One thing that I've been hit over the head with a lot lately is that my plans suck. Well, they may actually sound really amazing and it may look like I've got it all figured out. But God says, "Nope, stop planning and just follow me, do as I say and all your needs will be cared for". Like seriously, He says that in the bible in Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?".  I know my value in Christ, I know He sees me as priceless. For heavens sake He DIED for me!! So why do I think He has forgotten what my desires are or that if I don't succeed on my own that my family will never be able to move forward? Like seriously whyyyyy does that plague me so much.

Like I said earlier, that thought process of trying to provide always sneaks back up on me in the Winter months. I think it's because I have time to sit, its slow in business since because it follows the Holidays, our bills are higher than normal because of the cold. So basically the winter sucks. Except for the fact that I can always count on it to lead me right where I need to be. I hate the cold weather, and I hate not having much business come my way BUT each time this happens I am reminded that I need to trust in the Lord and when my trust runs out I need to OBEY Him. I need to boldly trust that if I follow His plan for me that I will not only make it through the winter but that I will be successful in all that I do.

So I pray that each of you will also learn that sometimes our plans aren't what we need. What we need is to trust that our Heavenly Father values us much more than the birds of the air. He is going to take care of you and your family. He wants you to have the desires of your heart so be patient in His timing, trust that He is good, and obey what He says to you.

Love y'all!!
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Crop Sweater - How to Keep Wearing Your Favorite Summer Dresses


So, I totally love my dresses in the summer time. I mean whats easier than throwing on a cotton summer dress and some flip flops and lookin appropriate for fishing or dinner :) But, sadly summer doesn't last all year. I've been trying to figure out how to transition my favorite dresses in to multiple seasons and I think I finally figured it out!


 I was on the look out for cropped sweaters for a while and couldn't find anything. I found lots of long sweaters that would be great with leggings but that wouldn't look too hot with my little dresses.
So my mom told me to just grab a $5 Hanes sweatshirt and crop it myself!

Perrrffeccttt!
So soft, so warm, and so cheap!!


So I hit up the Wal-Mart racks and grabbed me a cozy sweat shirt. 
Laid it out with my chambray dress on top. With my dress laying on top I was able to see where the dress tapers in for the waist and mark it on my sweater. 
Cut your sweater a little longer than you think because it will curl!!
Once I got my sweater cut all you have to do is pull along the cut edge and it will naturally curl! 
I'm probably gonna add some stitches to keep it in place but was happy to wear it for the day with out it :) 

So thats how you transition your favorite summer staple to a fall and winter outfit! Layering sweaters, dresses, and leggings may make me a little happier with the cold weather. How are you dealing with the chill?!
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