Sunday Best and All the Rest

   Happy July, my sweet friends! I hope that you are having a lovely summer thus far. The days of outdoor adventures and backyard barbecues have wrapped my season in a social whirl. Today, I would like to share with you a coastal summer outfit (meaning it's meant for not-actually-hot weather  ;) ) and along with a few thoughts on Psalm 43.

   Readers, I have returned! This year, blogging has taken its place on the back burner. This was bound to happen eventually. Life seasons change, and in this stage of life I smile at my innocent teenage intentions to write here three times a week. Once a month is about all I can manage now. Nevertheless, the less often our visits, the sweeter they are.

   Greetings everyone! :) Today I would like to share with you the reason I only posted once last week - the latter part of my week was spent on a trip out of town! We attended a conference held by a Bible college which features speakers on Creation science and end times, with an emphasis on the inerrant nature of God's word. Not only were we able to enjoy the conference, but also spent time seeing sights outdoors in the warm weather. 

   I feel as if it's been a long time since I did an outfit post! Now I'm ready to remedy the situation. ;) Today's outfit was worn hiking this weekend, and is probably the most casual thing I've posted here thus far. Of course, I find it impossible not to strive for a level of cuteness, even on those (rare) days when I wear jeans and a t-shirt.    My Mom wanted to go hiking on a local trail for her birthday, so our family of three and several friends set out after lunch this Sunday afternoon. The trail overlooks the vast Pacific ocean, and the clear day offered spectacular views. Our afternoon was lovely as we enjoyed exercise in the fresh air and the fellowship of friends.

    In one of my first blog posts (here) , I discussed my essential clothing items and what makes them so dynamic to my wardrobe. Today, I would like to expound upon my neutral colored dress. When my inspiration is running dry, this is the dress that I turn to. With little effort, it can fit many moods, occasions, and climates. Below, I have modeled five outfits to show you how to make a basic dress look fabulous.      First, is my "spring" look. I spruced up the dress by adding one of my favorite elements, which is my red leather belt. The dress has short sleeves, so throwing a cardigan on over it gives it warmth and adds dimension. With my elegant flats and green clutch, I could be ready to head out the door for a birthday party or dinner at a friend's house.         In the summer, I can wear my button-up dress with sneakers and tooled leather belt for a more casual ...