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

Don't Be The Great Somebody

I think we all have this inclination towards glitz and glamour. -- Or if you don't, wow you're really cool, can we be friends because I need a little bit more of someone like you in my life.-- But I often have to reel myself back in and remind me what it is I'm called to do in this life.

It's so easy to just keep reaching up, reaching for more, seeking out people who are doing what you only hope to be doing, to inspire and teach you. And this is great. Really, mentorship is a great thing you guys. But this isn't how we are supposed to live. It's not all about what can be done for us. No, when we are reaching up, we need to be reaching to God, for greater compassion, for greater love, for greater strength, so that when we serve, we serve through Him. Looking up to Him, so we can then fix our gazes lower to see those we can help and serve. I mean yes, I get this excitement, something inside of me is just ignited when I'm in a room full of talent and surrounded by a community of artists where I just feel overwhelmed and inspired. But honestly, Ive learned so much more about the fruits of the spirit in moments when I've been able to connect with or aide someone that was in need of a service that I was able to provide. I've experienced most of my greatest, most in depth moments with God when I've been able to pray over and for people in my generation, who are confused, hurting, lost, and yearning for more.

I think this reminder by my sweet insta friend, Meshali is just great summary of this.

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:9-11

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully". -  Romans 12:6-8

 "Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody." - Romans 12:17

Each of us has a desire inside of us to do something great, as we see greatness in our own eyes.  Whether that be to become famous or helping to discover a cure for a disease or saving wildlife or to serve The Lord with all of our being. And that's wonderful. But I know I have to remember to lock my focus on the greatest things I've been called to do in this life:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:37-39

A shot in the dark can be a shot towards the light.

I could say being a woman, or being a young adult, or being a millenial-- but I can't really speak for everyone so I'm just going to say being me. Being me, the older I get, the more I learn, the less I'm sure of. Everything becomes more of a possibility. The world becomes smaller, yet infinitely vast all at once. I know they say that you dream much less and much smaller as an adult, but I wouldn't say the same for me. I mean, my thoughts might have been more scattered in my youth and then seemingly indefinitely focused for a few weeks and then off to chase the trail of the next misplaced dream. But now, everything seems so much more tangible. Like it's all so much more of a reality.

But being me, I don't want to be committed to being one thing my entire life. With some exceptions. A girl, yes. My parents daughter, yes. A child of The Most High, yes. A wife to a husband one day, of course! But to one thing, no. To one profession, definitely not. Do I want to be a wedding photographer forever? No. Do I want to continue to capture moments for the rest of my life? Yes. With a camera? Why not- or whatever medium it may be - through writing short stories or poetry, or painting, wherever creative endeavors may take me. Do I want to be an artist forever? Most definitely. I feel like the word artist can be so vague, but maybe it's best that way. Some people are artists in the way they think, the way the speak, or just the way they view things. Art is obviously something you can't easily put into in a category, and similar to beauty, it's something that's subjectivity lies in the eye of the beholder.

I love dabbling in different mediums to express art, but it's hard to call myself one thing. A calligrapher, a photographer, a writer, a painter? But I often cross the fear of labeling myself as everything - when I don't know if I'll ever be thoroughly developed in anything! I begin to sound like that scatterbrained little girl again, huh? But it's quite the opposite. Because what then I only hoped for, now I know is within arms length. (Well it's still a little similar, but give me a break I'm 22, I don't have it all together). And truly, I believe at the depths of it all, we all just want to do something great.

As I've gotten older, I've found one thing I know is that I relish in greatness. I love great voices, that make me dance without regard to who's watching. I love great design, that makes me just want to take a solid moment to delight my eyes with the immaculate creativity of another's imagination. I love great food, that makes me wish I had more in my plate after I've only taken the first bite, knowing that I won't be able to even finish what's before me. I love great people - now let me pause this for a moment and say I have met some really, really great people. I kind of have a hobby of befriending amazing people, and it's wonderful. I've met some of the most incredible people I could've ever hoped to meet in this lifetime, with such amazing stories, such depths of love, intelligence, passion, vision, and artistic talent. The kind that stun me with their neverending generosity, and the depth of their hearts, and tickle me with the sweetness of their laughter. And I love a great God, that makes all of this possible. That has granted me with these passions, and placed me where I can fuel these desires and dwell in surroundings that make my heart swell. And I'm so grateful.

So maybe you're not sure what it is you're exactly hoping for. Maybe you're not positive in what it is that you want to do. But trust in this - do your best. Surround yourself with those who identify your talents, lift you up, and push you in the infinite directions that your potential may lead. Try something new - something you are absolutely positive you'll suck at. Go somewhere by yourself, even if it's to the local coffee shop, and strike up a conversation with a stranger (old people are always easy to do this with, or someone who looks like they're having a bad day or that has particularly tasteful style is always easy to whom to pay a compliment.) Be ready to jump on that friendship bandwagon!

Just don't stay stagnant.

Keep moving, keep dreaming, keep ACTUALIZING. You know, making your dreams & vision, an ACTUAL thing.

And take a shot.

a shot in the dark can be a shot towards the light.

d e s i g n r o o t s w o r k s h o p

This past month, I had the opportunity to attend another class at the beautiful Grit + Gold Studio. This time it was held by the incredibly sweet and talented Heather Bloem of Design Roots. It was my first calligraphy class, and I've been itching to take one. When I heard this one was taking place at this beautiful studio with amazing natural light, I knew I had to sign up!

> >  d e s i g n  r o o t s  w o r k s h o p  < <

I had such a lovely time meeting the girls at the event, practicing calligraphy, and sipping mimosas, that I wanted to document this experience! So I ended up taking video and a few photos throughout the event. (Be sure to keep up with the sweet Charla Storey, the event photographer, to see images she captured from the event as well!) Heather and her creative assistant Chelsee were so nice and encouraging, as well as my sweet table mates. I'm loving getting to indulge in this creative classes. They even inspire me to get back into blogging and documenting some of life's little joys.

I hope you enjoyed!

xoxo.

Kelsey

# c h a m p a g n e a n d c r o w n s

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a beautiful floral crown making workshop. I sincerely love being able to attend events where I'm able to meet other creatives -- whether it's in photography, the wedding industry, or artists of any sense. It makes me so excited and there's really this strange type of instant connection that's formed, as if we're all old friends. My experience at the Floral Crown Workshop by Raquel Lovern of R Love Floral at Grit + Gold Studio spurred that same chemical reaction! Plus the studio, and all of the attendees, were just the cutest.

I love being able to expand my creativity and try new mediums. Even though I often put pressure on myself to try to make everything look perfect, I like to be able to take a step back and smell the figurative (and literal, in this case) roses.

After the workshop, I came home to find my best friend sitting on my couch, patiently awaiting me -- ready for a night out on the town! Haha, but of course I had to make this porcelain skinned beauty model my flower crown a bit for me before we got ready.

And then finally, once I got home from a crazy but wonderful day, I found my mother cooking in the middle of the night like the amazing and interesting woman she is and requested her hand at taking a photo of me. Hahaha my mom and cameras do not mix, at all. But after a lot of instruction and strategic placing, she finally got what ended up being one of my favorite photos! The things this woman does for me! 

Lastly, I just wanted to thank you all for reading and/or keeping up with my blog. It means a lot to me and all of the encouragement and feedback I receive from friends, new and old, really warms my heart and pushes me to continue pursuing creative outlets. Your encouragement is invaluable to me.

xoxo, Kelsey