c/o Boden Trench & HUNTER Backpack

I am so in love with these colors! They make my heart happy and I thought this outfit would be a great fit for a Casual Christmas Outfit for church or a party or a brunch date! May it help you be inspired to bring in a little cheer, a little sazz, and a little comfy into your wardrobe!

Friends! This skirt color is sooooooo good! I first saw it on Meghan Markle as I researched a Fashion Editorial I got hired for this summer. She had this emerald green color skirt on, only in a leather material, I just fell in love with her look, so I put an emerald green satin skirt on my shop list. I waited for the Madewell sale to happen to buy it! Got it 30% during Black Friday. This weekend I knew I wanted to style it in a casual-cozy sort of way that still gave me Christmas Party Vibes! So I added a chunky gray knit. I love seeing the textures in Glorious Symphony! The sweater I linked is similar to what I’m wearing because what I have on, is not available online, just FYI

Casual Christmas Outfit Tips

I love pairing an unexpected item with my outfits and today the Hunter Backpack was the one item that didn’t really “fit”. The ruggedness of the backpack toned down the femininity, giving the outfit my favorite aspect; JUXTAPOSITION! And red shoes had to be the pick here since we were going for Christmas Vibes. Besides, I love me some red accessories!

I just love that this skirt will be my go-to as we are in celebratory mode around here! It’s one of those lengths, fits, and color that I think will really stand the test of time as a staple in my wardrobe and not only that but it really can go in all seasons of the year! And the color can be paired with dozens of other colors! What I’m waiting for and excited to try is doing an all green monochrome outfit! Ooohhhhh, yeah!

If you can tell my hair is really a mess. So I threw in some cute bobby pins to sort of distract form the whole shebang! I only had so much time to get ready this morning before church so I felt nervous to publish these photos not having my hair at the “level” I think I should. It was also rainy and windy and my recovering-perfectionist-little-self said, “You need to get ready better and re-shoot this look.” And my sober more grace-filled, marked by Jesus self said, “Just post it and be okay not always having “it” all together, mmmmkay?!” Thank God for FaceTune I was able to tame my locks and my face a little bit for the sake of your eyeballs! Are you okay?! I hope you are. LOL Any way just want to show you real parts of me and some of the little roadblocks that come my way as I’m trying to create content. Nothing is perfect aside from Jesus!

Lessons From Hardship This Christmas Season

It’s been amazing to look back at how God has helped me evolve into the woman I am today. So many things happened to me that would have me believe I am not enough. So many wounds onto my spirit that have whispered to me, “You should give up. Give up your life. You should give up. Give up your marriage. You should give up. GIve up on your children, you’re not a good enough mother anyway. You should give up on your dreams because you’re not going to make it and you aren’t who you think you are.” So many circumstances have belittled my dignity to the point of nonexistent, and because of the wounds inside I’ve believed a lie for so long that I’m not worthy of love or connection. I’ve believed a lie that there is something terribly wrong with me and that people will always leave me once they really know WHO I am.

But God….

I might not be enough on my own. I might want to give up at times, but God’s power raises my hope and joy in the midst of doubt. I might not know how to fix our marriage…. But God has both of our hearts in the palm of his hands and him all things hold together. I might not know how to be a good mommy on my own….But God is both a mother and a father to me so I can rely on his Holy Spirit to lead me as I lead them. I won’t do any of it perfectly but what a great way to share my testimony with my children.

I’m not enough but BUT GOD IS. For me through me and in me. And you are or could be enough in him too.

God has had a relentless pursuit to correct those lies and help us to see the truth of WHO’S we are. He is allowed me to experience the worst of some people so I could choose to be the best of myself. Through adversity, I’ve learned that no matter what I experience, I will always get to finish my own story because of what Jesus has done on the cross to forgive me and those who have hurt me. I get to sing a new song, no matter what. I might not be able to fix myself, but I can count on a Heavenly Father that so powerfully rose Jesus from death, to raise any dead parts within me. He rose Jesus and that same power is in me because I’ve professed I am not enough and I need Jesus’ help. That’s the most simple prayer I’ve ever prayed yet the most POWERFUL decision of my life. I’m a witness of the faithfulness of God’s true love and power! He is worthy of trust and praise! His ways are good and I have come to know this only through my nervous decision to give Jesus my life, back seven years ago! It was the best choice I’ve ever made. Jesus has resurrected life in me I didn’t even know I had. And he is healing me from the toxic beliefs I once was captive to. Not easy. I’ve experienced more pain than ever before, but I’ve also experienced life and hope and peace like never before!

God was sacrificed so that you and I could have life and life abundant. He died that you and I might live. (John 10:10) What a wonderful way to start this Christmas Season to know that our Savior has given his very life so that you and I would have hope in hopeless situations. To know that our joy extends the Christmas Parties and shopping and even the family traditions we’ve so come to love. I’ve learned to really believe that I am victorious over the trauma and betrayal that I’ve experienced in my life. And I’ve been able to see myself and those who’ve harmed me with the glasses of Jesus’s grace. Listen, if God has forgiven me, I have the power within to process the EXTREMELY PAINFUL emotions of the miracle of forgiveness.

I’ve gone through so much trauma I don’t know if to laugh or crawl into a hole sometimes. I have been the victim of horrendous betrayal and yet I stand because of who stands within me. Jesus of Nazareth.

Sometimes I stand not very tall. Sometimes I stand laying down in my bed crying out to God to be the light in my very dim state. Sometimes I stand on my knees in supplication that God would give me hope in the middle of a dark hour. Sometimes I stand tall. Like for real so tall, I can’t even see the ground. I stand on the wings of my Heavenly Father and I catch a little glimpse of Heaven and the hope of Jesus that helps me to catch my breath and get fueled with Faith so when I’m crying and feeling depressed at a different time, I’ll have enough hope to last me through the night. Sometimes I don’t even know how to stand at all and my God supplies every need I have and helps me to understand that no matter what I walk through.No matter what the enemy has stolen, GOD will have the victory. And there will be justice! He will give healing. He will bring a miraculous end to all that came to destroy our joy. All we need to do is ask and have faith!

Beloved friend, I don’t know what it is you’re standing on today. I don’t know what your soul and heart look like today. You might be in an amazing season, or you might be walking, maybe crawling into this Christmas season thinking how in the world am I going to sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” I might not know what you’re going through but God does. He cares for every bit of you. I rejoice with you if you’re in a season of rejoicing. I mourn with you if you’re in a challenging season. But no matter what. I believe in you. I believe that God can restore any part of you and I believe that you are going to be freed into knowing exactly who’s you are and who you are! You have a purpose, friend. You were made for this season for a reason! Don’t give up and don’t lose sight of Jesus. May your Christmas Season this year be pregnant with joy and hopeful expectation that the same God who started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!” Philippians 1: 6

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