Happy New Year!

I cannot believe another year has come and gone. To be honest, I'm not even sure where most of it went. We began the year in a new apartment in a new city, moving just before Christmas. I am not a very organized person, so the month of January was basically spent unpacking and becoming acclimated with our new surroundings. The next few months were spent working at Macy's and taking an online class in preparation for beginning my teaching residency which started last fall. Most of the summer was a blur. I know there were lots of weddings and I got to spend a week at camp with some of my favorite people in the world.

August was a whirlwind month, as I took a week long camping trip with my husband's family to Colorado and I also got to take a week long trip to Seattle with my sister to visit my aunt and uncle. It was my very first time on a plane! That was the most traveling I have ever done in my life, not to mention I got to see some beautiful mountains, rainforest, and countryside. August was also when I started my teaching residency and the past few months since then have been enveloped in that adventure-simply trying my hardest to get my schooling finished so that I can graduate in May and check school off of my list!

I've been glad to have this blog as some sort of a creative outlet for me. I think without it I would have probably wasted away in a pool of homework and housework. I'm also grateful that I have a chronicled way to look back on my day to day life to relive all of the good memories I made in 2011. I would have a tendency to forget the little things if not for some way to remember them.

God is so good and He has brought me through another stage of my life thus far. I trust Him in all of my endeavors and am so thankful for each opportunity afforded to me in my life. Without His guidance I would be so lost, but with Him I have so much hope and happiness! I know that 2012 will hold so many exciting adventures, including graduation and looking for employment! I trust the Lord that He will provide for me through all of these changes and can't wait to find out what is in store for me and my husband in this coming year. Here's to the New Year! :D

God Bless,
KJA



2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.



Here are my favorite outfits from this past year :)

It's New Year's Eve!

Well, here it is! My last post of 2011. I have a year-end wrap up post in the works, so I won't say much for today, other than we are finally getting some precipitation! Sean and I hung out at home for most of the morning and had pancakes for lunch (mine with raspberries...mmmm). We then headed out to the mall to get out of the house for a bit. It was fun to walk around and just poke around. We don't have any plans for tonight other than to simply relax and probably watch the ball drop on TV, which is what most of my New Year's consist of :) I'm not very adventurous or social I suppose.

See, here: Proof that we got some sort of rain/sleet/snow/hail/whatever you want to call this wet stuff falling from the sky!




Here is that amazing jacket my husband gave to me for Christmas. It belonged to his grandfather! He told me I look like a hipster today. I am sort of in love with hipster style, so I took it as a compliment. I find that my style is so very eclectic. I love everything vintage, but I also have kind of a secret love for a sort of rock/hipster vibe. I just don't own anything that is of that style, haha. I only look at blogs of those who can pull that off!


























Here is a great verse to think on for the beginning of the new year-take it to heart!

Isaiah 43: 16, 18-19
This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”


I hope you are all having a simply splendid New Year's Eve and looking forward to the new year ahead! It doesn't seem possible that a new year is upon us...but here we go 2012, bring it on!

God Bless,
KJA

Wearing:
Earrings-Forever 21
Hat-Target
Scarf-Gifted to me by my sister, purchased in Turkey
Shirt-Thrifted
Jacket-Vintage, Sean's grandfather's
Jeggings-Charlotte Russe
Boots-Vera Wang, Kohl's
Bag-Vintage Coach

Pineapples

I got my husband home a little early this afternoon for the holiday weekend! We've spent the afternoon vegging on the couch and watching some Avatar (not the movie, but the cartoon series...yes...I realize we are nerds :) )
It's been a dark and gloomy day, my favorite. I can't believe we're still getting rain in December. It's awesome!

My hubby also finally gave me my Christmas present this afternoon. He gave me some USB glove handwarmers which I am so excited about! Now my hands won't get cold when I am typing in class :)
He also gave me a vintage red leather bomber jacket that belonged to his grandfather. It is so awesome and I can't wait to debut it here on the blog!







I got this dress from one of my friends at school. It used to belong to her grandmother. I love the little pineapples going down the front of it and the sweet vintage collar.


















Hope you all had a great week!

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God Bless!
KJA

Wearing:
Belt-Vintage, thrifted
Dress-Vintage, given to me
Cardigan-Vintage, thrifted via Y's Buys
Boots-Vera Wang, Kohl's
Bag-Vintage, thrifted via 4 Season's Flea Market
Hat-Gifted to me by my friend Alex

Shades of Blue and Pink

John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

What a promise! It is one of my favorite verses. I wish I was more eloquent and could write down more of a devotional for my blog. I guess I just like to let the verses speak for themselves. The words on their own are so powerful and I don't really need to add anything to make them more so.











I feel as though I have so much to get done before the weekend comes. My break is turning into more of a workweek than I expected! Mainly because I am extremely behind from the two weeks when I was so sick. I'm up to my ears in laundry, dishes, schoolwork, errands...whew! I hope I can get what I need to get done for school before I have to go back next Tuesday.


I don't think I've taken these boots off of my feet since I bought them (except maybe to sleep). I just love how they look with everything! It's a good thing they're comfortable. I wore this to run some errands today, and just like yesterday-I didn't need a coat! I could certainly get used to this. It's madness.



























I hope you're all having a great week!
God Bless,
KJA

Wearing:
Earrings-Forever 21
Blouse-Vintage, thrifted
Blazer-Target
Skirt-Vintage
Tights-Walmart
Bag-Coach, vintage
Boots-Vera Wang, Kohl's

Rust and Cranberry

I got a little visit from my lovely sister this afternoon! We had some chili for lunch and then proceeded to run some errands around town. It was so gorgeous outside that I didn't even need to wear a coat! I can't believe this weather for December, it is so wonderful! I don't know that I have ever gone out without a coat after Christmas...it's craziness.










I received a Kohl's gift card for Christmas and I couldn't resist going shopping right away...it was burning a hole in my pocket! I really tried not to, but I ended up buying another pair of shoes...I couldn't help it! I found these awesome Vera Wang boots for under 20 dollars and I knew I had to get them. They are so comfy. I ran errands in them today, I've worn them around the house all day long...I just love them! I can't wait to pair them with my vintage dresses for church and even teaching.




















Have a lovely day! I hope the weather where you are is as gorgeous as it is here!
God Bless!
KJA

1 Peter 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.

Wearing:
Brooch-Vintage, thrifted
Sweater-Vintage, It was my uncle's
Pants-Vintage, free from rummage sale
Boots-Vera Wang, Kohl's (bought with gift card)
Bag-Vintage Coach