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social media consultant | beauty + fashion blogger | model | undercover nerd

10.28.2009

in heels no less.

"The Lord announces victory, and throngs of women shout the happy news. Enemy kings and their armies flee, while the women of Israel divide the plunder" (Psalm 68:11,12)

Recently I've found myself reflecting on what it means to be female. Random, perhaps. But a topic I find quite intriguing.

For the longest time I rarely celebrated myself as a female. If anything, I viewed my gender as a source of limitations. Especially as a lanky, blonde female...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the stereotypes that come along with that image! :) Determined to prove myself adequate I overcompensated through competitiveness, perfectionism and the rejection of most things feminine. Heels were completely out of the question!

Obviously (if you know me personally), my mindset has since changed. I still kick butt - but often times in massive heels. Ha! I'd like to see a guy try that!

...But I've discovered there's a strength in women that can never be duplicated in men. Not an overly zealous, aggressive/forceful strength. Rather a strength that accompanies a gentle (not weak), beautiful (not provocative) woman who's source of confidence (not cockiness) comes COMPLETELY from the Main Man in her life. And by Main Man, I mean the Creator of the Universe - Our Heavenly Father. If you don't know what He thinks of you - get in the Word. Read it, pray it, believe it, speak it.

Yes, we girls were created uniquely for purposes only fulfilled when we stop trying to be something we're not! We were not meant as doormats, nor to achieve male domination. There are battles to be won as daughters of God. Daughters, not sons. In heels no less.

"We cannot become what we were created to be until we remember who we are" - Lisa Bevere

Just a snip-it for you girls to chew on.

xoxo

10.27.2009

closet raid

Fashion inspiration this week comes via my gorgeous mother. I made the trek to her house over the weekend and raided her closet. To my great delight my kid sis and I discovered this ah-mazing 80s sweater. Below is Whitney (my adorable baby sister) rocking out our great closet find!

My purchase of the week were these shoes. I swear I could do a little soft-shoe number in them! So cute! Shuffle, ball, change!
Until we meet again.
xoxo

10.19.2009

change is in the air

This past Friday night I FINALLY got to see Rosie Thomas in concert. I missed her show last year due to poor planning, but this year...second row baby! The concert was opened by Sheila Saputo, Rosie's alter ego. My sis and I about died laughing. Click HERE for inspiring words by Sheila...changed my life...

Here's some culture for ya: Check out Florence and the Machine. Singer from the UK. Big fan of the remixes on her MySpace.

To the topic at hand...
I decided that change is in the air. Not for me personally. I mean, I feel like "change" occurs daily in my life...but this is in regards to a change in culture. More specifically, change within Christian culture. I don't know what it is, but lately I've been sensing that there's a shift taking place. I can't even quite put my finger on it! Maybe this feeling is something weird that I ate (but I honestly doubt it's that), but I sense a stirring of something new. Something different. Innovative. Fresh. That God is raising up a generation, vastly different from anything we've ever seen before.

I see my friends, passionate about their love for Jesus, oozing with potential for greatness. Not greatness achieved for their own self-satisfaction, but rather greatness that glorifies God through unique creativity/originality/to choose the road less travelled...or the road NEVER travelled.

More thoughts to come...
Kuddos to my buds being #loverev wherever they are in the world!

xoxo

10.10.2009

home is where i am

If you know me, you understand randomness. Yesterday I had a friend confess that she believes my life will be forever plagued with unexpected twists and turns. Quite frankly, I'm okay with that. I mean, who knows what God has in store...He's always got something up His sleeve to keep me on my toes...

I wrote this a couple weeks ago on my flight to Amsterdam...

Blown to and fro as each journey sifts me through like sand. New day, new love, new adventure. The world -- far too grand to behold from a single perspective. To be fully alive. To savor each breath, each moment. To savor the beauty of the Lord's creation. To point others to Him. How can one not attest that the whole of creation must have been drawn from a single origin? All point to a mind beyond our human comprehension. Oh what creativity, intricacies, details...

That's it. In my moment of introspection, I couldn't help but write of the splendor of God's creation. He continually blows my mind ;)

...and from the 'culture nook' of yours truly: Indulging in my love for minimalist music ("Feel It All Around" by Washed Out)...Reading -- "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. Love, love, love this book.

Until next time...

10.06.2009

wet nails

The best way to dry nails - update the 'ole blog.

I selected a bluish-grey color for this week. It reminds me of autumn. Rather, it mirrors the color of the sky for the next several months. I don't mind the gloom. Clouds are an introverts friend. Especially after today - cloudy, leaves changing color, rain splattering again the window. It's the mood to feel inspired my friends! ;)

Currently listening to the album "Le Fil" by Camille. Although I'm a few years behind in discovering her, the album has awakened a new love for French pop music! Thanks Aline for the tunes!

This week I'm working on preparing a talk for an upcoming purity conference. Although I am passionate about the seriousness that surrounds purity/self-worth/image/etc - - I chuckle that I now find myself in the position of being the poster-child for purity. I would be mucho blessed for prayers as I prep for these conferences.

This is what I have so far. "Hi. My name is Ashley. I'm 23 years old and a virgin"...

How's that for an attention-getter?? ;)