Bullett.

Here's what has been inspiring me lately. 

Photos (all found on tumblr):

Reading:

I bought this magazine called Bullett yesterday at Barnes and Noble and was astounded at what it contained. 

 There were so many fantastic interviews inside...

 Like Betsey Johnson, 

 Lydia Millet, 

 and Justin Bartha. 

 And some beautiful photographs...

As well as some cuties, like Nicholas Hoult from the UK series Skins, 

 And Tom Felton. 

Truly refreshing, I highly suggest you pick it up. If you didn't know about this fantastic magazine already. 

Blogs:

Style In The City had a great beauty products post this week that was very helpful. 

Make Shift Model posted some beautiful pictures of her wardrobe.

and

In Her Stilettos always has beautiful outfits! 

And a beautiful song instead of a verse. 

Light Up The Sky-The Afters

Have a great Saturday.  

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Butter.

 shirt-unknown; shorts-Levi's; shoes-Kork-Ease

 I have been slightly obsessed with neutral nail colors this summer. I bought my first Butter color today and am instantly in love. This color is called Tea With The Queen and is exactly what I wanted. A perfect nude color. 

The struggles go on, but I want to trust Him on this one. It is so much easier said than done. But I am doing my best to trust. It always makes so much sense after the fact. So why not get ahead of the game?

 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

I've got a great post prepared for tomorrow, I think. But for now, have a great night, or morning, wherever you are. 

Artful.

Some pictures I took of my sister yesterday. I think they turned out quite lovely. 

I finished reading Swamplandia! by Karen Russell today. I wish I could say I loved it, but I do not concur with the rave reviews. Maybe it was the less-than-ideal storyline for my taste. But I felt that it began slow, and continued at the same speed until it was over. But still entertaining and if you are looking for a relaxing summer read, I recommend it. 

I apologize for my lack of post yesterday. There have been so many wonderful posts I have read this week, I almost prefer reading them to posting my own! There are some great bloggers out there. I will be picking some to spotlight this Saturday. 

Summer is winding down. I am returning to Columbia, SC for school next Saturday. I am thoroughly excited for the semester, however I may have to cool it on the posts. 3 a week would be ideal. I will do my best to make them good ones! Until then, enjoy the photos and almost daily posts for the next week. 

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last two posts. So encouraging!! 

"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

1 Peter 1:6-9

I love how this verse compares our faith to gold. Even more valuable, in fact. And if gold must be refined through fire, so must our faith. Figuratively speaking. These struggles we go through are the fire that makes us that much more precious. So if you are struggling right now, remember that it takes fire to make gold into something beautiful. 

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Surprise.

top-Velvet; shorts-Volcolm; shoes-Michael Kors

Saturday was a slightly belated surprise party for my Dad. It was definitely a success. He had no clue. I mean, who expects a surprise party two days AFTER your actual birthday? Genius. 

The first picture was my attempt at making caramel cake. It tasted delicious, but the caramel frosting hardened. We had to get the candles in with a knife. The icing crunched. I am not posting the recipe...sorry.  At lease not until I get it right! 

"The LORD has done it this very day; 

   let us rejoice today and be glad."

Psalm 118:24

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Casual Monday.

 Welcome to my summer uniform. Michael Stars tank, Levi's shorts, Kork-Ease shoes and Mom's brooch. 

I have been quite the movie connoisseur this weekend. I FINALLY saw the Shawshank Redemption on Saturday night. It was just as fantastic as I had hoped, if not more. And then yesterday I watched Cool Hand Luke. Not my favorite, but Paul Newman was looking good. (lots of prison movies, not intentional.) Last night I spent the night at a good friend's house and we watched Catch Me If You Can. I loved it! Frank Abagnale is a genius. And of course, young Leonardo. What more can I say? 

Church yesterday was just what I needed. It's funny, this has been a hard summer, but when I actually let God in and comfort me He tells me just what I need to hear. I don't know why I ever doubt or run from Him. He is truly all I need, but so often I look to other things for comfort. And they leave me empty and then finally returning to Him. Jesus Calling, my daily devotional, mentioned yesterday that a way to learn to trust Him is to thank Him for as many things as you can. Just see how much you can be thankful for. It is truly surprising, and so uplifting to focus on what you have instead of what you want. 

‎"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s SPECIAL POSSESSION, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 

1 Peter 2:9

Illumination.

Saturday Inspiration...

Photos:

All photos found on tumblr or pinterest. 

Blogs:

The Provocative Couture 

ChiccaStyle

My Little Fashion Diary

Books:

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. The story of a family of alligator wrestlers struggling to keep attracting tourists when an amusement park opens up nearby. Funny, dark, and heartbreaking. 

Movies:

Waking Ned Devine: a funny, lovely movie once you can get past the heavy Irish accents. 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

1 John 5:14-15

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Have a great Saturday!! 

Midnight In Paris.

Here's what I wore to dinner celebrating Daddy's birthday last night. 

dress-Testament; shoes-New Directions 

 I don't think this is my most flattering dress, but I love the ruffles on the back. And it is so comfortable. I would love to go dancing in this dress. 

And after dinner I found my movie soulmate. Five minutes in the movie I was tearing up. Because I knew I was going to love it, I knew that I would never want it to end. It was my life up on that screen and I am so glad Woody Allen captured the life of an old soul. I am someone who wishes she lived in another time, but I was enlightened after seeing this fantastic film. The people living in my "golden age" were wishing they lived in another time as well. So I have a slightly new outlook on my old soul-ness. I can appreciate and study the past, but still enjoy the present for what it is. I will never get to go back in time, so I need to be thankful for modern life and all it has to offer. 

The movie was so fantastic. One could say it was a little cheesy, but not over-the-top. So many of my favorite people were featured, including: Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein and so many others. I don't want to spoil it for you. I know how it feels, I have yet to see the new Harry Potter (I know, calm down) and so many of my favorite blogs are posting screenshots. It's killing me. Want to see it with me? Anyways, you must see Midnight In Paris. I mean it. And it is very rare that I truly enjoy a movie from this century. 

A few other things I am excited about:

Borders Books being liquidated (I know it sounds bad, but 40% off all books? That's my dream come true. I am heading there later today.)

And Mac OS X Lion. I downloaded it last night and am very satisfied. My only struggles are that the scroll has been reversed. I understand why, they are making it more like the iPhone and iPad scroll, but it is going to take some getting used to, and that my version of Microsoft Word does not run on it. Thankfully my writing can be opened in pages. Phew! I about had a panic attack before I figured that one out. 

 "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you!"

Acts 7:51