Greek Style Summer Sandals

Silk scarves lace up this exotic Greek sandal.

Just imagine your pair of white shorts. Now picture slipping on these sandals and watching your entire outfit go from typical to instantly adorable.

It’s as if they take you to the streets of Greece.

The chic but fresh look adds character to any outfit. Flowing sundresses and skirts steal these sandals from poolside to out on the town.

Their versatility makes them a necessity for your summer wardrobe this year.

I found this pair on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104509182/gladiator-leather-sandals-handmade?ref=fp_recently_viewed_0

My Thoughts Today

Today, I tried out a new church for the second time. One that I found on the internet several weeks ago. I scrolled through the website and perused the information within every tab.  It sounded about right.

Finally, a church that fit me—at least by the looks of the website. I was, honestly, impressed by the website itself. Most churches I have attended in my life have poorly developed websites and that is probably because they have been lovely, traditional churches.

Churches with members who truly care. Churches that are a home. A perfect website just seems to belong to those big, almost commercial churches, of which I have never belonged.

I was slightly wary of the appearance of this beautiful website, but slipped these hesitations to the back of my mind since the description of their core beliefs and values aligned perfectly with mine. It actually reminded me of my church back home. I miss it dearly.

Since I moved further south to finish up my degree, I have searched for a real church home. It has been hard to find one, though there are many great churches here.

They just weren’t for me.

I went for the first time about a month ago with my friend who was visiting. I fell in love with it. The people, the pastor, the service, the worship, and the sermon fit my beliefs and the way I grew up in church. It even looked similar to my church back home. When I left, my heart filled with joy and my face held a smile.

I thought about that church for weeks.

Spring break happened and then I visited my family, but finally I was able to attend a second time. Two sweet ladies sat next to me on a cushioned pew. They gabbed about how nice it was to see me and asked if I lived nearby. This was the first time I had ever met these women, but they seemed truly delighted to spend their Sunday morning with me. I felt genuinely welcomed for the first time in months.

The sermon began and, with my journal flipped open, I delved into the message documenting as much of it as I could. I was a sponge soaking it all in. My pen started to fade by the end of the sermon, and I realized how much I took in at church this time.

He spoke about freedom. And I was there to stay.

Introducing: the Ankle Strap for Spring 2013

This spring, start loving ankle strap heels, wedges, and flats. Bright colors ranging from blues and minty greens to corals are the colors of the season and will add a burst of happy color to your fabulous ankle strap shoes.

The ankle strap embodies almost any style you want to pull off with leg-lengthening powers. Even ballet flats with a strap around the ankle add a lengthening touch.  Look professional with a pair of mid-length, black ankle strap heels. Or rock a pair of tall, brightly colored heels under a trending high-low hemmed skirt or sundress.

Don’t forget to wear sheer blouses with skinny jeans and crops. Ankle strap wedges add an adorable touch to these outfits and ease the walk to class or around town.

My Coffee Shop

Local coffee shops are my favorite places to go.  And I’m talking about the one-of-a-kind coffee joints.  The ones with atmosphere.

Coffee is a comforting, social drink. Yes, it still wakes me up every morning even when I’m alone, but it is the drink that created the essence of a coffee shop.

Because of this magical drink, these shops provide an oasis from daily living and allow you to catch up with friends or get in touch with your own thoughts and creativity.

You can be alone in a coffee shop without people looking at you funny. In fact, it appears just as normal as being with someone.  This makes it different from any other establishment.

I love discovering coffee shops with unique atmospheres. Maybe a girly shop with a touch of frill and cute drink names. Or a country coffee shop with wooden walls, a gigantic floor rug, and a fireplace. When the person making your drink and serving you is the owner, the coffee shop seems welcoming and authentic.

My coffee shop is right down the street, owned and operated by one woman, and decorated with an earthy style. The walls are covered with paintings by local artists, several journals for customers’ thoughts are left on a wooden trunk between two cushy couches, and a fountain trickles by the door.

The owner of this heaven makes the best coffee in town and displays a love for creativity and community. I doubt I will ever find a coffee house more enjoyable.

“Typing with razor blades.” ~ Phil Donahue

Writing is an art.

Color, voice, description, sound. The picture painted through the written word explodes from the page. The ultimate goal of delighting and capturing readers’ minds challenges every writer.  The constant drive to improve writing style and creativity plagues writers and haunts us in hindsight.

Even the sound of the keys clicking away inspires writers. This is our home, our journey–our success and our failure.

We create interesting out of boring, pictures out of thoughts, stories out of scenes. We describe, entice, thrill, and report. Expression migrates from our fingertips as quickly as it arrives.

Reading, writing, and thinking steal most of our time. Writing is a love that continually grows and guides.

The beauty of writing is always in the mind of the reader. The stream of words flowing seamlessly together tugs the reader in for more.

This is the accomplishment of a writer: delighting readers.

Colored Socks and Loose Tank Tops

Loose tank tops, bright colored socks and sports bras, yoga pants, running shorts. I love looking good when I workout. I’m especially into those loose tank tops that are trending now. Long or cropped, these tanks pair really well with bright colored sports bras and socks. I love to wear them with spandex crops or shorts. These tanks flatter every body type and are comfortable whether you are running on the treadmill or lifting weights.

Looking cute while I workout is one of my biggest motivators to go to the gym and workout hard. As silly as it may sound, it works. Studies have even shown that when a woman invests in cute workout apparel, she tends to workout harder and more often. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Everyone wants to feel confident about their looks at the gym or even at home while working out. Expressing your own personal style reflects your personality and provides that extra push of effort. Investing in trendy exercise outfits can even get you to the gym more often.

I like to feel sporty and free while I jog away my surplus calories. I even add some colored socks to peek out of my sneakers and a woven boho headband to pop my outfit.

As Spring Break approaches with its “perfect beach body” expectations, grab some cute tank tops and colored socks and see how your workouts improve. Have fun and remember how good you look sweating it out at the gym.