This week {H54F}

This week has been great! Here's a little peak into my life. 

My kitty's looking pretty in her Merry Christmas bandanna. 

My dad found his old film camera. I'm excited to shoot with it :)

Wednesday Style {stripes 2 ways}

This stripped shirt from F21 can easily be casual with a scarf or broken up with a blazer.

Scarf from Target. Jeans from Delias

Encouraging Word {Romans}

Thanksgiving should be daily

We should give thanks daily.

Everyone reading this is blessed. 

You have access to a computer, 78% of the world does not. 

You have adequate shelter, 23% of the world does not. 

You have an abundant amount of clean drinking water unlike 13% of the world (source). 

You are reading this, a billion people could not do that.

If you got sick, you could easily go to a doctor where 270 million people do not have that option. (source)

While you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast, 16,000 children will die today, hungry.

Maybe you're not wealthy based on US standards. Yet, you probably make more than $10 a day, where 80% of the world makes less than that.

I don't want to write this to make you feel guilty. God has blessed you.

But, 

God has blessed you for a reason. 

Share your wealth.

Focus on what what you can give, not what you need.

Wednesday Style {Maxi + Sweater = Thanksgiving outfit}

I made this maxi skirt. I found this black knit fabric for less than $10 and had to make a skirt out of it. Maxi skirts are just so comfy and pair with a sweater like this, fabulous.

Maxi skirt made by me ($10) similar to this target skirt ($30)

This sweater cardigan from Charlotte Ruse.

Necklace made by me: see this. Shirt from Len.

Check out my shoes! From DSW.

Perfect thanksgiving outfit! Look here tomorrow for a great post on being grateful every day. 

Encouraging Word {First Corinthians}

the sun rises & the sun sets

I sat by the fireplace in my porch and looked out the window at this beautiful sight the other morning. This is so rare for me to do in the morning because I like sleep :) I love sunsets for that reason. 

Here's a few taken by me or my family on recent vacations we've been on. 

 The view from the backyard of the project I stayed in while in Guatemala.

 Flores, Guatemala

Wednesday Style {Scarf Styling}

I'm wearing the scarf I made! See the DIY project here.

It was way to cold outside to take pictures! It snowed on Monday... not sure what to think about winter. Tuesday it was 35 degrees and I thought it was warm outside! 

What is wrong with Minnesotans?

Shirt from Target

design desires {colorful doors}

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I love a red door pop of color on the exterior of a house but other colors have been becoming more popular. Check out some of my favorites:

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This blogger created her own distressed turquoise door. I also love the autumn wreath. 

Encouraging Word {Philippians}

Forget the past.
Look ahead.
Our goal is heaven.
Keep our eyes on Jesus.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

knitted infinity scarf {DIY}

If you're visiting from Pinterest, thanks for stopping by! I've had an overwhelming response to this DIY. Please check out my other projects here.

I just learned how to knit about a week ago and love it! I decided for my first project I would make an infinity scarf. It's a big trend right now and usually sells for $40. I made mine for $10.

Here's the supplies I used:

Boye Size 15, 10" anodized aluminum needles 

2-81 yd skeins of Lion Brand, Super Bulky, Dallas gray (#149) yarn

This is the pattern I used (from here):

Cast on 22 stitches

Row 1: (k1, p1) x 3, knit 10, (k1, p1) x 3

Row 2: (k1, p1) x 3, purl 10, (k1, p1) x 3

Repeat alternating row 1 and 2 until you run out of yarn. My scarf ended up being about 50 inches. Seam ends together. 

The end result:

This took me about 5 days. I usually knit when I was watching TV or in between classes.

Here's how the inside (knitted) side looks.

Here's a close up of the outer (purled) side.

The early stages.

My cat liked playing with the yarn ball or just staring at it.

Here's the scarf in a couple different outfits:

Wednesday Style {Red & Rain}

Posing when it was cloudy outside.....

Oh hey sun! The sun broke through the rainy day clouds. I guess thats what happens when I wear my rain boots (from Target). My legwarmers used to be old sweater sleeves :)

Encouraging Word

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I think this is a great reminder to live by. 

Psalm 86:4
Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.

hair {ombre}

I decided I wanted to do something different with my hair. Here's my inspiration:

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I love these colors but I wanted to keep my roots as my natural hair color. Like this:

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Here's how it turned out! I also got more layers in my hair.

I love it!

Here's my hair with soft curls.

Inspiring {Kisses from Katie}

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This is Katie and her 13 adopted daughters. I just read her book Kisses from Katie. 

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Here's the biography from her website.In December of 2006, 18-year-old Katie Davis from Brentwood, Tennessee, traveled to Uganda for the first time. She was immediately captivated with the people and the culture. 

"In the summer of 2007, Katie returned to Uganda to teach Kindergarten at an orphanage. As she walked the children home, she was shocked to see the sheer number of school-aged children sitting idly on the side of the road or working in the fields. She learned there were very few government-run public schools in Uganda, and none in the area where she was working. Most schools in Uganda are privately operated and therefore require school fees for attendance, making impoverished children unable to afford an education. 
God laid it on Katie's heart to start a child sponsorship program, matching orphaned and vulnerable children who are unable to afford schooling with sponsors anywhere in the world. A gift of $300 will provide allowance for one child to go to school,, providing school supplies, 3 hot meals each day, spiritual discipleship, and medical care. Originally planning to have 40 children in the program, Katie had signed up 150 by January 2008. Today the program sponsors over 600 children. Shortly thereafter, Katie established a non-profit organization called Amazima.  The organization seeks to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people of Uganda who need it most. In the Lugandan language, Amazima means "truth." Also, Katie became a mother for the first time in January of 2008 to three orphaned girls. 
Katie also reached out to the Karimojong people of the Masese community. The poorest of the poor, and losing their children to malnutrition and starvation at an astounding rate, she noticed their desperate need for nutritious food. She started a feeding program to the community, nourishing over 1,200 children Monday through Friday. This allows the children to attend school and therefore not go to the street to beg. Also provided is medical care, Bible study, and general health training. 
As friendships developed with the Karimojong people, Katie wanted to help the women in the village provide for their families. She initiated a self-sustaining vocational program to empower these women to make unique Ugandan magazine bead necklaces. They are also taught money management skills. The necklaces made by the Karimojong women are purchased and sold in the United States. 
Now the mother of 13 daughters, Katie offers, 'People tell me I am brave. People tell me I am strong. People tell me good job. Well here is the truth of it. I am really not that brave, I am not really that strong, and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am just doing what God called me to do as a follower of Him. Feed His sheep, do unto the least of His people.'"

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Her heart is inspiring. I had a wonderful summer serving our Father (read about it here) and would love to be a missionary if God calls me to do so. This is a great book to read and will change your heart. Follow her blog for a shorter read if you'd like. 

Here's an excerpt from her book that I love.

"People often ask me if I am afraid, if I think my life is dangerous. I am much more afraid of remaining comfortable. Jesus said to not fear the things that can only destroy the body but to fear the things that can destroy the soul (Matt. 10:28). So I am running from the things that can destroy my soul: complacency, comfort and ignorance. I am much more terrified of living a comfortable life in a self-serving society and failing to follow Jesus than I am of any illness or tragedy. (Davis)"

Please support her by visiting her website.