Officially a snow day

Well, it's still snowing and no stopping in sight! I only snapped a few photos because my camera was getting all wet :)
I know that at least a few schools around the area were canceled-so it is officially a snow day!
I had some plans to maybe go to town and do a little shopping today (just browsing, no buying-I'm poor :) ) But I think I will just stay in and read and gaze out at the snow. That and my car has about 7 inches of snow piled on top of it and I'm too lazy to want to clean it...
I start my online class this week. It was supposed to be my only class, but everyday now it's looking more and more like there is one class that I'm going to have to drive the hour to campus to take because it isn't offered online-but I have to do what I have to to graduate! I really don't like school at all.

How is the new year going for everyone? I hope you all are enjoying the snow, if you have it, soon enough it will be spring and then we'll probably miss it (har har)

Blessings to you all :)
KJA

I know that was a very long passage I shared yesterday, so I wanted to pick out some of my favorite parts of the Psalm in the next few days:

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him

I know this is something that I struggle with a lot. I want things to go my way and happen when I want them to happen. This verse encourages me greatly in the fact that patience is so important when it comes to God's timing. He knows what is to come and we do not :) I just have to remind myself of that daily!





















Wearing:
Sweater-Hand me down
Sweater dress-Target
Tights-Walmart
Shoes-Hand me down
Scarf-Taken from a sweater set :) haha

Naptime

Well, all-I am sooo tired today so this might be a short post. Sean and I finally made it to a church here today-it's the first one we've been to since we moved here. I really enjoyed it! The music was great-which is a huge thing for me! Now we're home on the couch after eating homemade pizza and I'm thinking it's naptime. :)
What a lazy weekend we're having. Yesterday Sean and I just sat on the couch and watched Chuck, what a great weekend! I finally ordered some new glasses off of Zennioptical today though-I'm excited to receive them! You can get a totally new pair of glasses for as low as 7 dollars-complete with lenses and everything! Here is the site. Yippe!

Hope you all had a great weekend, I'm going to drink hot chocolate and stare outside at the snowstorm :D God Bless!
KJA

Since this was a short post I'm posting an entire Psalm for you today :) It's really beautiful and one of my absolute favorites-so much truth to it :D

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.

23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.[b]

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.[d]
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future[e] for the wicked.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

































Wearing:
Earrings-gift from sister
Gloves-Isotoners from Walmart
Scarf-Walmart
Belt-Thrifted
Dress-Grandmother's
Cardigan-Target
Boots-Walmart

Winter Wind

It is so super windy out today! Mix that with temps under 20 degrees and you have one cold girl. It's a good thing I made sure my hair was dry before going outside or it would have turned into little icicles!

How was your week? Somehow I can't believe it's Friday already! I feel like I do nothing throughout the week except the dishes and laundry-and looking for a job! I really need one of those...

Sean and I have plans with a couple of his friends tonight to go to Chedds. It's this restaurant that is all about gourmet grilled cheese! I haven't been there yet, but I'm pretty sure you can get any type of cheese on any type of bread that you want-it better be good because Sean sure has made it sound like the greatest thing in the world! Of course he's a guy...and what guy doesn't love fried cheese?

I love mixing colors that shouldn't really go together. The stripes on my shirt are red and my sweater is orange, but the stripes are so muted that I think it works! I also threw a little green in the mix with my scarf. :) This is such a comfy outfit too! Perfect for curling up with some hot chocolate on the couch and reading "The Chronicles of Narnia" which I received from Sean's parents for Christmas. However, I also have to be on guard for the maintenance guy coming to fix our patio door lock as well. He came to fix it yesterday and left and said it was fixed...but it still won't lock and that makes me nervous. It will lock for about one tug, but if you tug just a little harder it comes right open. So hopefully that will get taken care of today!

I sliced my finger open today using one of those apple slicers. I thought those were supposed to make it easier so that you didn't cut yourself with a knife? I guess I'm just not good with sharp objects...hmmm...But it's a pretty small cut so it shouldn't cause too much trouble :)

Well, the sun is peeking out and I want to get some more reading done while it's still light out! Our place doesn't have good lighting so when it gets dark outside it's hard to read much of anything. Have a lovely day!
God Bless,
KJA


Psalm 72:17
May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.








Wearing:
Earrings: Corridor of Hope
Blouse-Charlotte Russe
Sweater-Flea market (1$!!)
Scarf-vintage, Thrifted
Jeans-Old Navy-Thrifted
Boots-Walmart (3$!!)

Helping Out

I wanted to share a couple of websites with you chock full of pretty things that you should buy. Now, not only should you go on a shopping spree at these places, but you should buy tons of gifts for others as well. Oh, and you don't even have to feel badly about it! Let me explain...
My sisters, without discussing it with each other, both got Christmas presents for the family from places which help out poverty stricken children, or women who have been rescued, released or escaped from a life of forced prostitution. I don't know why I didn't get the memo to buy all of my gifts from places like these, but I already knew my sisters were amazing. ANYWAY-My eldest sister got my other sister and I some beautiful pajama pants from a place called "Punjammies." This is the organization which helps out women who have been formerly sold into prostitution. Many times they have no where else to turn once they are free of that life and so Punjammies gives them a place to learn a skill and receive the care they need after coming out of horrible circumstances. Here is the website. I got a beautiful floral, black and white pair and they are super comfy! I really recommend checking out the site and buying some :) It goes to such a great cause.
My other older sister got my eldest sister and I some beautiful jewelry from a place called "Corridor of Hope." This is also a great place to help out those in other countries less fortunate than we are. I got a beautiful pair of earrings which I am wearing in my photos. They are just gorgeous and I love that when I wear them it makes me think about how blessed I am and how the money went to help those in need.
Just think about the incredible excess of things that most of us are blessed with. We have many clothes, several pieces of jewelry, tons of shoes-and we're always wanting more, while many are struggling to just meet basic needs. I'm not saying this to make anyone feel bad, I'm as guilty as anyone-just wanting you to know that there is a way to help others in the process. If you're interested in the jewelry go to this website and buy it from a place that helps out others! You'll be aiding a cause and getting something beautiful to wear :):D Here is the site.

I think from now on I'm going to do a lot more research on products like this and try in the future to buy gifts from places with a cause :)
Thanks to my lovely sisters for sharing these sights and giving to something so great!
God Bless!
KJA


This is one of my favorite verses, and one that we should all think on with great importance:
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.



Aren't these earrings just lovely?
























Wearing:
Earrings- Corridor of Hope
Scarf-Gifted
Dress-Walmart
Shoes-Target

Clothed with Joy

Well, lovelies how is your Wednesday going? Mine is going well :) A friend of Sean and I's just stopped in to say hello for a bit and it was really fun! I love having visitors and so far in our few short weeks of living here we have had 5 people visit-craziness! There are still some boxes to be unpacked...but it's coming along.
I am working on a special post for you all tomorrow so stay tuned! It has to do with a few items that my sister's gave me for Christmas and I wanted to share them with you-and the story behind the gifts :)
Just a short post today-Hope you're enjoying the week! Be praying for Sean if you will, he has a bit of the sniffles :)
Love you all and God Bless!
KJA

Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.























ps: I did not in fact cut my hair :) Don't worry it's all back there tied into a ponytail :) But I thought it was kind of fun to see what I might look like if I had short hair-which I haven't had since 7th grade! I really liked the look actually...hmmmmm :D




Wearing:
Collar-Flea market
Sweater-Flea market
Skirt-hand me down
Tights- Walmart
Shoes-Target-aren't these the greatest little things ever? They were part of my Christmas present from Sean. I adore oxfords and have wanted a pair for months. I almost stole a pair from the costume shop when I was in a play last year! But I didn't...I found this pair on target.com for only 15 dollars! Quite the low price compared to Steve Maddens at 44 dollars. Yippe!

Beauty Secrets of the Bible

I have been trying to read a lot more now that I don't have to worry about schoolwork for a little while. It seems that when I started college, I stopped reading books and now it's more difficult to want to sit down and just read. I am also very picky about books and if it doesn't interest me in the first couple of pages I will put it down and never pick it up again. However, my sister gave me a book to borrow and I sat down yesterday and read the whole thing. Ladies listen up: This book is awesome if you're interested in makeup and skincare, but also want to look at it from a Biblical perspective. It is called "Beauty Secrets of the Bible" written by Ginger Garrett.
You really must look it up, and I would recommend buying it! It has a months worth of devotions as well as chapters on skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care using all natural things that God has given to us, such as using a dab of olive oil as a face moisturizer, or keeping chilled green tea in a spritzer in the fridge as a refresher throughout the day. It mentions how Esther was preparing for months to meet the King, using various beauty treatments of the day. What did she do to prepare herself? It was extremely interesting to me to see all of the uses for things such as plain honey, milk, even Myrrh-which apparently is fantastic for the skin. Just look at this:

Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. (Esther 2:12)

Fascinating I tell you! The book is full of recipes for all natural ways to give one glowing skin and hair-all for less than the price of our harsh, chemically filled face washes and eye makeups. It makes me want to go out and buy some oils and honey and try it right now! There are also tons of resources in the back for websites where you can buy your own minerals to make your own eyeshadows, foundations, etc. how cool is that? One website is: Emani.com. It may seem a bit pricey if you buy really cheap makeup now, but it isn't any more than say, Mary Kay.
I just wanted to share some of what I read yesterday with you :) You should check out the book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible, and research it if it interests you-I know it caught my attention! You should also definitely read the book of Esther in the Bible :):D
Let me know if you have any natural remedies that you use or if you have any Biblical insights into this-it's so intriguing to me! :D
God Bless!
KJA


























Wearing
Top-Vintage, grandmother's
Jacket-Vintage,rummage Sale
Trousers-Vintage men's suit pants-rummage sale
Shoes-Target

2011

Whew! It's the start of another new year! Doesn't seem possible really...Where did the last year go?
We finally got to go spend some time with my family at my sister's house yesterday. It was fun! We got to watch the nephews open some gifts and sing and play-what a blast! We gave the eldest nephew a sit and spin for Christmas and he opened it first and didn't want anything to do with other presents for a little while-it was suuuper funny and cute. I got these wonderful new tights from my mama and also a huge curling iron! I was excited because my hair is so long I can't really do anything with it-but I love this curling iron she gave me-it's 1 3/4 inches-which is huge! Thanks mom~ :D

These pictures didn't turn out well at all..I need to shovel my picture taking spot again after we had all the snow! But I was too lazy this morning...:)Also, I took so many pictures of my nephews yesterday that there was no room on the camera card! I'm gonna have to clean that off tonight and see if I can't get things in order for the blog in the new year :)

Hope you all had a blessed New Year's and got to reminisce on 2010, hopefully it was a good year for you-but if not, I'm sure God has great things in store for 2011 :)

God Bless!
KJA

Ecclesiastes 3:15
Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.


















Wearing:
Earrings-Vintage, thrifted
Scarf-My grandmother's
Cardi-Rummage sale
Dress-Rummage Sale
Tights-From mama :)
Shoes-Target