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Besides Coryn’s shop, which remains my favorite, here are some other things I love…
Mokokokat’s cute little robots (she needs a girl red one)…
Nest Pretty Things by Tamar….
Paris Charm Necklace – I love the gold crown!!
Charlotte Charm Bracelet – I like the crown better without the flower
I even had Sunday’s post prepared ahead of time and yet somehow forgot to do it.
I’m experimenting with posting the Royal Daily Devotional on Sundays. So far, I’ve failed.
SO>>> late Sunday post.
From Sunday’s lesson in the manual…
“[We] pray our heavenly Father that you may be very prayerful, very humble, and very charitable; working diligently, spiritually and temporally, for the redemption of Zion, that the pure in heart may return with songs of everlasting joy to build up her waste places, and meet the Lord when He comes in His glory [see D&C 101:18].”
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith page 188
I love the steps outlined for us here:
be VERY prayerful, VERY humble, VERY charitable
WORK diligently
Then:
we’ll build up Zion and meet the Lord when He comes again.
The church is true. Just do it.
Since March, I have been on a quest to discover what “my style” is. And so far, it has been a long, unfocused list a little something like this (and this is probably more what inspires my wardrobe):
- Betsey Johnson’s crazy girly, funky, fun frilliness.
- Anthropologie’s country, folky, eclectic down-to-earth-ness.
- A little bit of vintage (like LiebeMarlene’s Vintage Lookbook).
- A bit of inspiration from a slew of magazines including (but not limited to): Nylon, Elle, Lucky, TeenVogue, Real Simple, Self, Blueprint (now gone, RIP), Country Living, Vogue, Rachel Ray (I don’t know if that’s stylistically, but I’m sure it rubs off somehow), Domino, Eliza Magazine, and the occasional Glamour or National Geographic.
- Country casual roots (from spending summers at my grandpa’s farm in Idaho) like Wiksten or Country Living (the magazine, again).
- A bit of glam, like Beyonce, and rock, like… a rock star.
- Other words include: chic, tailored, styled, in vogue, bohemian, nautical, preppy, classic, children (they have the BEST clothes and the COOLEST outfits, especially when they dress themselves), whimsy, and many others I cannot recall…
- Important details like my red flats, red peep toes, orange Franklin Covey purse, ankle boots, turtle pocketwatch necklace, pearls, my freaking awesome wedding ring, plastic hairclips (the old school kind), hair flowers/pins, brooches, ethnic purses, and also many others…
Well, today it all came together (maybe) in a way I’m really excited about!!
photo by jack thompson
I have always LOVED this article in Country Living about a year ago about the Junk Gypsies. They “gypsie-fied” country singer Miranda Lambert’s tour bus into an AMAZING haven with vintage details fit for a rock star with country roots. This spread in one of last summer’s issues has always been bookmarked and is a major source of inspiration, comfort, and just plain fun. It made me want my own tour bus (or to design a room with many bunks like the ones in the slide show – perhaps when I have grandkids?? that’s a LONG ways away).
Anyways, they are a truly genius mother-daughter-daughter trio with great taste and style.
I also ran into a great article on CountryLiving.com about the “Junk-O-Rama Prom” that the junk gypsies throw. It seems like a big outdoor party where people get dressed up in wonderful combinations of frilly dresses and denim and country accessories (with your occasional glam, earthy, rock star appropriate, quirky accessory too… see where I’m going?). How much fun would it be to have a Junk-O-Rama prom and be able to eclectically combine all kinds of different elements into fun party looks? I seriously want to throw one…
photo by brook slezak
two women hanging out at Junk-O-Rama Prom
So, I decided to finally head on over the gypsyville.com and learn a little more about them.
from gypsyville.com
Gypsyville.com? What a treat. I love the design, style, and wares! You just have to go check it out because I tried so hard to find a perfect picture to encompass it all, but I couldn’t. This one hardly does it justice.
My favorite part is in the Style section where they almost perfectly describe my style (at this moment):
“We combine chippy-peely fleamarket furniture and elegant chandeliers with a little bit of hippie texas flair, some southern-fried cowgirl pride and a splash of MOULIN ROUGE eccentricity to achieve the JUNK GYPSY look. We believe in decadent junk and FUN, spirited styles coming together to create a space that defines who you are.”
Except, of course, I am not a chandelier, nor am I a space. But I have decided that wardrobe style and living style can often be interchanged (Domino magazine turns outfits into rooms quite frequently). Not saying that this is my LIFEstyle, but perhaps it’s a jumpstart to finding out my real style.
I feel like their description covers most of my list (with Moulin Rouge also usable for glam) as long as we add “as well as some fabulously tailored, classic pieces that may have a bit of preppy to them.”
Please feel free to contradict me. I am very open to constructive criticism.
Plus, I have no idea if this is REALLY “it” or not.
** For the record, this does make me excited to pull out my cowboy boots and sport them – which I am doing **
Part One:
Today when I checked the mail, I was excited to find that these little presents were waiting for me in the mailbox!
One pair is a gift, but my pair went straight to my ears.
Thanks Miss Sailboat!!
Part Two:
In less than two weeks (AHH!!) I will be leaving this lovely valley, and Betty Girl Boutique, and NorMar Fabrics, and this new find - The Red Bead. Luckily, there will be an online store, but I do love going in and the friendly owners and just looking at all the fun things to buy. Today I bought these Czech glass beads that are only fired in one spot so it looks like they are glowing. Seriously, I looked for a mini light or something (I know I’m an idiot) inside. I call them my glow worm beads and am thinking of maybe making a fairy necklace? I don’t know yet, but I do know I love them…
But first, these beads will become a lovely necklace…
Aren’t they just cute!!!
And so the packing begins….
I am exhausted from a free day at Six Flags and attempting to muster the energy to begin packing up my clothes to leave this place.
But, in honor of my pledge, a {pretty sorry} sunday post.
GO TO WORDLE.NET for hours of fun to make up for how much this post is lacking.
I swear, it’s amazing.
{and it will make up for my lack of posting}
I was so excited to read Tuesday’s devotional because the “small and simple things” has been on my mind for the past two weeks.
Alma 37:6 says, “…By small and simple things are great things brought to pass…”
Alma 37:46 says, “…do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way…”
(hopefully this all comes together right)
Often, we are prompted to spiritually lift another and care for each other. However, these promptings are often muddled with our good intentions of being elaborate in our cause. For example, sometimes when I find out my sister is having a rough day, I’ll feel the need to go buy her a present, make her some mini cupcakes, and a card, and deliver the package while taking her out to lunch. Then, because the task seems too large, I’ll bypass the whole thing all together without even a phone call. I think often, especially when prompted, we can feel inadequate because of the easiness of the task, and I find myself complicating what could be a simple gesture.
I think there are plenty of examples I could list how a small think has meant a lot to me…
Anyways, so listen to the Spirit and follow those promptings even if they seem simple and silly. I think Pappy is pretty good at that, what with all his emails (which constantly seem to be bearing testimony, regardless of the topic).
The church is true. Own it.
Love.Whitney
The picture is one I took at Jenn’s wedding reception at Oakridge Golf Club and really doesn’t relate to this post at all except for the fact that I like it.
I guess my unintentional rethinking my wedding will continue on for t
he rest of time… But here’s another thought…
I just LOVE this inspiration board from Snippet & Ink entitled Something Blue. When I saw the inspiration photo (the top left corner) this morning on Oh Joy!, I thought, “I need my living room to look like that with touches of red and black.” (Since red, blue, black, and white is the color scheme I picked, inspired by this photo from my bridals)
ANYWAYS, the royal (so appropriate) blue and white DOES work for the winter and would have been so clean and pretty. I love the thought of either dresses in cobalt blue or the blue of the J.Crew dress in the photo. Or a variety of blues, in a spectrum of different shades. Or even different blue skirts with white tops like in a previous post (bridesmaid dresses are very important to me). Of course, I would have still stuck with an array of flowers since blue flowers almost don’t exist. But white vases with a blue ribbon tied around them and accented with vintage pins (probably a combination of brooches and earrings remade into brooches from Decades) holding vases of multi-colored flowers would have looked fabulous! And our letterpressed invitations could have only changed in color alone (printed in a royal blue ink instead of black) and perhaps the envelope color.
Brad could have worn a light blue shirt with a darker blue tie like in the picture (and I think he would’ve preferred a “not white” shirt), and his brothers/my brother could have worn white shirts with blue ties, or blue shirts with white ties, or blue shirts with blue ties (I obviously haven’t thought that part through as well).
Thinking of all the cute little blue touches we could have included makes me so excited! Plus it would have added a slightly kitsch factor since it was a “Royal” wedding!!
If anyone decides that a vintage detailed, something blue wedding is right for them, I’d love to be in on it and see!!
Ten things for the tenth of August! I will try to do this sans pictures since I haven’t done one of those in awhile….
1. Brad chopping watermelon today and yelling “hasataki HA!” as he whacks the knife from his shoulder through the entire thing at once.
2. My Toma Mood Changing nail polish… My toes are a cute bright orange tangerine when they’re cold and an ucky yellow-gold-orange when they’re warm. I also love mood rings… The whole color changing thing is AWESOME…
3. My mini-sized Book of Mormon – it has revolutionized my life. It is so convenient and compact and go-anywhere!! Fits perfectly in my purse. (I sound like an ad)
4. The old ladies in my ward…. they make me smile every week. Today, they had a discussion about signing the roll during the Sunday School lesson. And they can’t whisper/hear whispers so it’s hilarious. And they wear the coolest clothes/accessories.
5. Creating. Like sewing projects and arts & crafts. And my vicarious entrepreneurship through Coryn.
6. Buying presents. Self magazine (I think) says that gifting is better than buying for yourself because in addition to the purchasing high, you feel good about giving a gift!! And I love giving presents!! It is seriously so much fun. Also, wrapping presents.
7. My black dress. It’s from Target and very simple – black, straight skirt, sleeveless, darts… My mom bought it for me two Christmases ago and I’ve worn it with MULTIPLE sweaters, shirts, jackets, outfits – even for my engagement pictures!!
8. Hair bows/flowers/clips. Seriously. My grungy everyday ponytail can easily be updated by making a cute low bun. My cute low bun can be updated by putting in some hair accessory that makes it look like I meant to do that instead of just looking lazy.
9. Polaroids. One of the contributors in For the Love of Light hit it right on the head when she said, “It is the perfect combination of anticipation and instant gratification.” [on a slightly more negative note, it does NOT make me happy that they are quitting production]
10. Blog stalking. Please refer to the previous post.
I, WMHR, being of able body and blog-addicted mind, hereby pledge to make up for the lacking provision of Sunday posts on commercial blogs by updating my own blog on Sundays.
please help me (and britt) with our addictions by posting on Sundays!!!
(or maybe Saturday night so I have something to read on Sunday morning???)
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted one of these (my good intentions seem to dwindle quickly)…
Here was today’s:
The devotional. In Sunday School, we were studying Alma 37 – which is a chapter jam packed with good stuff (it has been my sole chapter of study since then). I really like verse 36:
“Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”
I think many important principles are included in this scripture:
- Pray for support from God – we cannot do it alone.
- Let ALL thy doings be unto the Lord – we cannot go wrong if we are doing the Lord’s will.
- Wherever we go, let it be in the Lord – this is weird, but EVEN in Utah. Often, I find myself not doing the same things in Utah because it feels really cheesy – for example, I just bought a mini Book of Mormon to carry in my purse (it’s revolutionized my life), but I feel SO DORKY reading the Book of Mormon in public in Utah, but never dorky anywhere else. Not a legit excuse.
- Always think of the Lord – for another devotional one day, I’ll have to bring up some scriptures Nephi wrote about ALL things pointing to Christ.
- Let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever – I think the best way to love the Lord is to recognize His hand in our lives. Counting our blessings. Like [was it Oaks?] said in Conference last year that everyday he wrote down ways in which the Lord was evident in his life.
Anyways, maybe one day I’ll write a devotional as long as Pappy…
The Church is true; don’t do drugs; write David letters (I’m so bummed he lost by one!!).
Love.Whitney
Presents! I gave Brad 22 presents for his 22nd birthday so I got 22 for mine!
Shirley Temples!
My Goodies
Cake
Birthday Polaroids
