May Desktop Wallpaper

It's May!  Spring is definitely my favorite season, and to celebrate the wonderful change in weather (at least here in Michigan ... it's 80 today!), I'm giving y'all a free desktop wallpaper.  *Tip: if you don't want the graphic to fill up your entire screen, select the centered alignment option (vs. stretched) under your display properties, and simply change your desktop background to white.  I did this because I have so many icons on my desktop that I use regularly.  But it looks great both ways!  

Click which size you prefer in order to download the background (in Google Docs):

1680 x 1050

1440 x 900

1024 x 640

Happy May Everyone!

{B}

Spring Picks for Littles

Ok, this is probably going to be my last spring-related post for awhile - until spring actually gets here.  Just being real, I have been thoroughly annoyed with the weather this week.  No, it's not snowing here like it is in Minnesota (please God, keep it away), but we do have a "wintery mix" in our forecast.  And the rain, low temps, and wind have made it pretty undesirable to be outside.  I just want 50-60 degrees and sun!  I'd even take a rainy day if it was warm.  Anyway, enough complaining.  I'm praying the spring beauty will mean that much more to us all once it finally arrives.

Now here are some of my favorite items to dress your littles in this spring.  Hoping we can bust all of these things out sooner rather than later :)

1) Double Arrow Leggings

2) Anchor Collage Leggings

3) Platinum Moccasins

4) Pink Polka Dot Swimsuit

5) Arrow Leggings

6) Little HipSqueaks Headbands

7) Blue Whale Soft Soled Leather Shoes

8) Tane Stripe Baby Dress

9) Teddy Print Short Sleeve Onesie

10) Young Glow Hunter Boots

11) Appaman Kids Sunglasses

12) Fish Embroidered Shorts

13) Denim Pocket Shirt

14) Polka Dot Print Dress

Other shops I'm obsessed with right now: Little Boogaweezin, The Printed Palette, Tnee's Tpees

Happy Friday Everyone!

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Taming My Tongue

{image found here}

We all have different struggles.  We all face different demons.  Sin looks different in each of our lives, but the commonality we all have is His unending grace that covers our messes.  Today on Good Friday, I recognize my personal battles, the sins I struggle with more than others.  Confession: God created me to be a very passionate and strong person.  Yes, these are wonderful and God-honoring qualities, but they can also get me into trouble.  And they have.  More than a few times.

Taming my tongue is something I'm always trying to work on, with His help + grace.  I've come a long way I think, with Him by my side.  It's hard, though, definitely hard.  We live in a world today that constantly tests me in this area.  A world where we face people everyday opposing Him, twisting His Word, and just to put it personally - talking crap about my Father.  This is where I get tripped up.  I don't want to be that Christian who damns people to hell for their sins or gives others the impression that God accepts some people more than others (trust me, I've never said either of these things).  However, I'm sure I've come off a lot more angry or defensive or frustrated than I should have in the past.

I want to make one thing really clear to y'all, not for the sake of my defense, but for His Glory: I don't get defensive of God or my faith when people disagree with me because I just don't like that they disagree with me.  I'm not perfect, but I know He's working in me more than that.  I get defensive because He is who my life is for.  He is who saved my life.  He is who has redeemed me from unimaginable crap that, if He had it His way, I would have never faced.  Don't get me wrong, I choose Him because I trust His Word and Truth, but I also choose Him because I've seen Him personally move in my life.  Nobody can take that away or deny it, well, unless they think I'm crazy.  And maybe they do, but that's ok with me.  

But bear with me for a second and imagine a loved one you cherish more than anything.  Imagine that person has helped save you from an addiction you thought you'd never overcome, or from abuse, or has provided for you financially in unfathomable ways.  Whatever it is, they've blessed you beyond comprehension.  Now imagine someone telling you that person isn't worth defending, honoring, living for.  It's hard.  And I'm definitely not perfect at it.

That being said, this weekend is Easter.  This weekend He reminds us that we don't have to be perfect at it.  He's covered it all.  We just have to love - Him + others.  And seek His grace.  Now that's something I'm definitely better at :)

Happy Easter Everyone - He is Risen.

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Free Spring Art Print

{this preview isn't the downloadable file}

Friends.  I don't normally give art prints away for free, but spring approaching has put me in a wonderful + giving mood.  I also want y'all to have something new to put on your walls when you're spring cleaning this year.  Hopefully you guys love this one as much as I do, and I'd love to see your pictures once it's framed!  Tip: it will look best if it's professionally printed on heavy weight cardstock.  To download the file, click here (in Google Docs).

* This design is for personal use only.  Please do not sell or use commercially in any way.

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

{B}

What I Wore Wednesday || Discoveries

It's true folks, selfies/individual photo shoots freak me out, but I've recently discovered two things: 

- I can handle one a month, only for the sake of linking up with The Pleated Poppy :)

- They're not so scary when I don't really have to pose (aka having the camera in shot)

So on Saturday, Jon and I made plans to go out with friends from church + out to dinner after, but I had no idea what I was going to wear.  To Pinterest I went, and soon found some awesome inspiration:

If only my photos turned out like that!  Anyway, I loved the emerald/kelly green paired with chambray and black and white stripes, so that's where I went:

Necklace | Tank | Chambray (similar) | Jeans (similar) | Boots (not pictured)

Also, can I please mention how much I adore Kate from The Small Things Blog?  I watched a couple of her hair tutorials recently, and she seriously taught me how to curl my hair like an adult ... at 27 years old.  As you can see above (yep, the picture where my hand looks like a giant claw), no more spiral toddlers and tiaras curls for this girl!

Have a Great Wednesday!

{B}

The Extras

You know those days when you can't remember the last time you took a full shower, you have milk on your clothes pajamas, you have a million errands to run, calls to return, and the Thomas song won't get out of your head?  Am I just speaking to moms here?  Anyway, on those days, looking like an ad from J Crew is usually out of the question - at least for me.  But accessories always make me feel more put together, and they literally take seconds to add to your look.  I also feel a lot more like me, the woman behind the mom and wife, when I put on something I love.  Here are just a few little extras I'm loving this week:

1) Gold From Any Angle Earrings

2) Redeemed - Trust - Antiqued Gold Finish Ring

3) Gold Chevron Necklace

 4) CleobElla Mexicana Clutch, Neon Yellow

5) Hunter Original Fuchsia Womens Boots
6) Marc Jacobs Glasses

7) Sukan Handwoven Infinity Ikat Scarf
8) Wrapped Turban Headband - Kelly Green
9) Kitsch Golden Goddess Hair Ties

What are your go-to accessories?  Happy weekend everyone!

{B}

Shop My Closet (update)

Hey Friends!

On Monday I let you all know I was planning to do a "Shop My Closet" Instagram sale later this week.  Well, change of plans.  I decided to join a clothing resale site (Dresm) instead, making everything a lot easier on you guys and myself.  No invoices, posting clothing pictures to multiple social media sites, etc.  Plus immediate checkouts, more info. on each item, and just more security all around.  So go here if you're interested in updating your closet on a budget!  I promise I do not sell anything that I wouldn't buy myself.  I actually still love almost everything I'm listing, it just doesn't fit anymore.

Oh, and I only have eight things listed so far - much more coming in the next couple days (denim overload *cough*).  And of course I had to make a shop banner/name too, just couldn't resist myself.  That's the Etsian in me.  Sorry I'm not sorry :)

Love you all!

{B}