to thine own self be true.

JOY.

Dress by ASTR at Nordstrom | Necklace by J. Crew

This season of my life has been filled with so much joy. Things I once prayed, yearned and desired for so greatly in my heart have come to reality in ways I would've never imagined and in such abundance.  I feel like I've gained so many genuine friends and engaged in such wonderful relationships in such a short period of time. Truly a rush of grace and favor has come upon my life. I've been asked to partake in projects I never would've even imagined I would have the opportunity to do. I've felt that my opinion, my effort, and my work has been desired and cherished. And though I'm not really someone who has ever looked to man for approval, it's a nice feeling. I've been able to collaborate, contribute, listen, share, pray, think, empathize, and grow.  It's absolutely amazing how God delivers. 

In this period, I've found at times that you don't need to have an explanation for everything. If you're joyful, it's okay to take time out to simply be. To simply be happy and to enjoy life just because. Just because I feel like it, just because God's grace moves me, just because life is good. Like sit and paint outside, or get myself a frappuccino with caramel and mocha AND a shot of expresso, or to go out of my way to serve or give or share love and compassion with someone. This weekend, before one of my best friend Esther's birthday dinner's, was one of these times I wanted to do something just because. I asked my best friend Thuy-An if she would wanted to go take pictures in a field before we headed downtown, to which she graciously agreed, with heart eyed emojis and everything! The sun was setting so we parked and ran across a few lanes of traffic to frolic in some wheat and catch some warm rays.

Clean Lines + Smooth Times

Madewell blazer | BR similar denim | similar wedges | BR similar oversized t | Daddy's raybans

Let's face it. Sometimes life is truly a breeze. You're finally pursuing the things that drive your passion, you're getting recognized for your hard work, you're growing in areas you've prayed for, and things finally seem to be falling into place. And then there are times in life when things feel a little rocky. It may be your organizational skills, study habits, your quiet time, a relationship, or maybe something internal.

Growing up, whenever I was faced in a difficult situation, my mother would pray over me and then always say to me "Mind over matter, Kelsey. Mind over matter." And though that was probably the very last thing I wanted to hear, sometimes it was the very thing I needed to. 

An Upcoming Fall Fashion Soiree

So life can be whimsical, wonderful, overwhelmingly great, overwhelmingly stressful, but rarely mundane. If life is mundane you're doing it wrong. I'm positively sure of it because there are too many amazing things in this world for you not to be excited about something! If it's stressful, you may ALMOST be doing it right, but may need to scoot some things off your plate, get a sense of what items you find irresistible and want more of, which you might not want to go back for seconds to get, and what proportions work best for you. Food analogies are my favorite if you can't tell... I will try to work food into nearly any situation... bacon.

Which is totally where I'm at right now - not with bacon, but the rest of that paragraph. I know what I like and what I dislike. I like interacting with people who are passionate, who also like interacting with people, and who like to make working fun. I like people who focus on the positives, but who are also willing to be real and express a frustration or concern now and then. I like writing and painting and drinking tea outside. I like reading my Bible and realizing what a doofus I've been and how great people are and how good I have it. I like Jesus and how great He is. I like the fall, the warm air and the cool breezes. I like layering, the cozy color palettes and dark hues, slipping into something comfy and cute. I like the changing colors and all the frozen frapps I can't seem to get enough of each weekend. I like small gatherings, warm hugs, and smiling faces. And last but not least, I'd really like to see you this Thursday if you can make it! I will be hosting a little event in Via C at Nordstrom at NorthPark. There will be great people, sweet treats, killer tunes, and overall it will be a pretty darn neat time. Stop by between 6 and 8 to meet me and awesome new people, chat, shop, take a few pics with me or in the photo-booth and have a great time!

I would so love to see you guys there! Hope you can make it out :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Fall...

On Friday, fall hit us. Hard. Giving us a break from the hot hot, all encompassing heat and possibly ushering in an early winter. In Texas's temperamental weather, there's no guarantee how long it will stay, but with the damp air, the cool breezes, and the number of hot drinks pumped out at Starbucks today, I'd say fall is definitely among us and winter is probably quickly following suit.

I have been super overwhelmed these past few... weeks and sometimes it becomes easy to feel misunderstood. And as odd as it sounds to me, nature has been a place in which I've felt peace. Sitting on the porch, walking across campus, down the street, shooting in parks, at the water, whatever. It's been so nice to just take moments to experience peace.

In these past few weeks, my spare moments have been filled with so much life-giving time, surrounded by women of Christ of different ages, from different backgrounds, each with particular gifts and crafts, each with their own unique stories to tell. 

In these times I've been able to hear heart aching moments of uncertainty, hurt, and confusion, and sweet moments of peace, joy, healing, and redemption. One thing that seemed to be consistent despite whatever the circumstances placed upon these women, was a woman who was at one point in life left feeling unworthy. Unwanted. Not good enough. 

I feel that so many women struggle with not feeling worthy, with feeling alone, with comparison. Much of it is probably engrained in us from what we see in the media, in society, in the lies we don't even realize we begin believing. But so much of it is also pressured upon us. From loved ones, from ones who tell us or give us the feeling that we aren't good enough. That we should be more like x, y, or z. Not even due to a flaw in our character, but a flaw on our faces, in our weight, in our art, in our personality.  From circumstances that leave us feeling used, mistreated, abused, alone. That who we are isn't enough. And though at times we may tell ourselves this simply isn't true, time and time again we find ourselves at the same point. Possibly a different day, a different offender, or a different person we place upon that pristine pedestal to compare ourselves to. And we find ourselves at that same point asking "Why can't I be more...?"

Why can't I be more like ___________?
Why can't I be more beautiful? Funny? Artistic? Talented?
Why can't I be more?

Well today ladies, I want to break the clouds of confusion and shed some light, the truth, on you. 

God created us with amazing plans for each of us in mind. Specific to each of us. To fill the heart of each of us. He has crafted each of us with immense care, attention and detail. No one knows more of the endless intricacies which beautifully weave together create you, than He. In His love and grace there's no room for envy or doubt, but for peace, faith, and joy. Lean into His truths and have faith that He crafted you perfectly (meaning just as HE intended), with a God sized purpose for your life in mind. He loves and cares for you so immensely and there isn't a force above, below, or on this earth that can make this any less true so you might as well get to believing it! If we really believe this, the opinions of those around us or the seeds of doubt that begin to toy with our minds really wouldn't have vacant space to establish roots. 

There are so many amazing things to do in this lifetime. People to see, meet and love on. Places to visit, that grow you, that you may one day call home. Please, please don't waste your time living with misconstrued beliefs that someone who obviously doesn't even know you that well placed upon you. And even worse, don't live with the self doubt and uncertainty that you've allowed to grow and fester within you. If you allow yourself to believe the way He sees you is the only way which truly counts then you will be free to live freely. You will be able to meet people, SO MANY PEOPLE, who inspire you, encourage you, and push you and will be able to thank God for the new relationships He's allowed you to foster, rather than wondering why another person to be envious of has traveled across your path. You will be able to relish in life's little joys and find beauty in fingerprints, in the shapes of clouds, and an entire slew of other things that may make you feel undeniably cheesy--- but the best part is, YOU WON'T EVEN CARE! You will be able to laugh that once deemed "obnoxious" laugh, to cry that once named "ugly" cry, to dance that once labeled "awkward" dance. You will be able to create art that might not be what everyone else thinks is cool, but that matters to YOU. 

You will be able to enjoy a life that truly has your name written all over it, but even better, one that has God's hands all up in it!

Though we are each given a limited, unidentified amount of time on this earth, believing that we have to be more of anything than who God created us to be does nothing but cut away from the time given to us to be more of OURSELVES. Which is truly when we are able to be the happiest us, when we are living and enjoying life authentically. When we are honoring God by embracing, loving, and being all of who He has called us to be. We will be able to touch the hearts of the very people God has called us to with our individual stories. To leave the impact He specifically, intricately, and purposefully designed each of us to do.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.        

- Romans 12:3-6

Defining Success

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.