I feel like I've been discussing this a lot with different people, possibly maybe mostly just Tiana ... and in my head, but it's been an important subject to think about: Not letting other people's definition of success define yours... or you. 

background image via Kai & Sunny

I think it's easy to find ourselves saying oh my goodness, they just got featured or landed x client or whatever it may be. Looking at a zillion different people and their successes and forget about the big or small ones we make everyday. I personally, don't know what it is I want to do for the rest of my life. And so when I get so caught up in all of the awesome things others are doing I start to look at myself like a dumbdumb because though that might be what the world or industry defines as success (and would be awesome to add to my list of achievements) it's not MY definition of success. It's not what's going to leave a huge smile on my face as I lay my head down at night. What excites me is when I make a new friend who clicks, when I get to share Jesus with others and they're excited about it, when I do something out of my comfort zone and it feels rewarding, when I have something really delicious in front of my face and the first bite makes me melt into a puddle of happiness. Those things that keep my head spinning when I know I should be long asleep. Apparently these are the things I value and the things should seek to fill my life with.

As Meg Conley put it, "color OUTSIDE the pinterest sized boxes & fill up the storyboard of your life!" There's so much more in this world that what you've already seen done and created. HEAVEN is the limit, and with the big G-O-D, anything is possible, so what lies have you been believing about your life? You don't have to like Beyonce, or gold accessories, or need to be good at calligraphy, or be addicted to coffee! OR YOU CAN BE! If you you dig it! We are all different for a reason. This is a blessing to be able to push each other forward, to collaborate, to stretch and grow each other. You don't have to be the next big thing in order to create something new and different and inspiring to others. And you certainly don't need anyone else's approval to be awesome or for someone to tell you that you're doing a good job to know it. YOU KNOW IT. You're doing your best and you're so freakishly awesome. Like if someone could see the potential inside of you they'd probably pass out from sheer excitement. Haha or at least that's how God looks at you - with adoring eyes, so I know it's true. What I'm constantly reminded is that instead of striving to achieve things I'm not so sure I care about or striving to impress others, I should be striving to love and honor God with my whole heart. I share these things not because I'm great at them but because I constantly, constantly need to be reminded of them. In Him, joy and purpose are found. If you feel inspired or moved by this, it's not because of me but because of something He is igniting within you! It's amazing. If we constantly seek to please man, we'll just end up lost and displeased with ourselves. But God is a neverending source of everything we need in every moment of life - in the silence and in the chaos. My little told me the other day I should practice what I preach and she's right. I wholeheartedly agree. So hopefully here's a shift towards seeking first to love God and love people wholeheartedly, pursuing the passions He's given me specifically - not anyone else's, and allowing myself to fall more and more in love with the life I've been fortunate enough to receive.

chin up, buttercup!

So I've noticed something that's really popular among females currently is this signature pose, looking down and away, hand possibly placed in hair as if to be caught right in the act of pushing a few pieces away from your face. I mean, if you need an example, please shift your eyes to the right to my about me picture haha!

And don't get me wrong, this is a pretty flattering pose. It captures the gentleness of a lady, it might hide the blemish on the other side of your cheek, catch your awesome eyeshadow and wing tipped liner that day, the rosiest part of your cheek and your amazing countour job to boot! Why wouldn't everyone take a photo like this?

But it got me thinking about how sometimes, even in these times that's how women are seen or prefer to be seen. To be looking down and away, to be gentle, soft, afraid to speak up or to speak out, afraid to make a mistake, possibly even dare I say submissive?

But I say, bunk that!
(I really like using that terminology because it sounds so feisty and like it holds a lot of weight but it really means little to nothing far from forget that!)

Chin up, buttercup! What's so bad about looking at the camera head on? About looking something or someone in the eye and saying unapologetically, "This is who I am!"? Humanity appreciates sincerity. We appreciate genuine hearts and vulnerability. Now I'm not saying you have to go around shouting your loudest opinions and deepest secrets to everyone or that you shouldn't make yourself self deemingly presentable in the morning. I'm just saying people will appreciate you being authentically yourself much more than any version of you that is wrapped up in the bits of you that you're trying to hide. And I bet you'll appreciate yourself that much more too.

A fashion post? What?! I know.

So I've been hanging out with my dear friend Tiana, quite a bit recently and let me tell you, this girl has serious style. I'm pretty shocked I haven't included any of our escapades on the blog yet! I'll have to fix that soon. Each time we hang out, we are always up to something creative, snapping photos, arranging items, "elegantly" stuffing our faces, laughing at the ridiculous things that come out of our mouths & striking up conversations with strangers. But in all seriousness, being around her not only encourages me to be kinder and to love on others really well, but also to actually try with my appearance. Now don't get me wrong, I do make an effort to make myself presentable everyday, but in general I'm just extraordinarily lazy when it comes to it. I usually don't like matching and I'll throw on a bag and shoes that will round out an overall feel of an outfit instead of trying to put pieces together that really work. And then I'll grab whatever accessories I have laying around and voila! So it usually takes me about 2-5 minutes to get dressed, including scouring the area for something that I don't have to iron. My mentality is that your attitude contributes to your overall look a lot as well. So I just put together whatever I feel like and then believe I can pull it off haha. However, for this special blog post, I figured I would throw in a little more effort and show you guys a few different ways I would style a black leotard. I wanted to make this fun, so I figured I'd go for a few different looks. One out for a casual brunch downtown, one for a concert and one out for a night on the town with friends.


out for brunch

An Interview with Chasing Linen's Dianuh Kim

Today, I am sososo excited to feature my very first interview! This has been something that has been on my heart for almost two years now and has been falling from my lips for at least a year. I'm so excited to have finally begun this process.

It's also a double fold event to celebrate because it also happens to be my very special guest's 1 year anniversary for her watercolor business!

Our featured guest today is:

blog//etsy