Hi, my loves!
If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably seen this look before..yes..I'm super late in blogging about it! But better late than never right... ;D aaannndddd, I have some exciting news to share!
This has been one of my favorite outfits...but also one I most likely will never wear again :(
aannddd here's the news: I have SO many clothes stuffed into my closet that I have no intention of wearing (some new, some gently loved). And I want to give you all a chance to shop in my closet! Interested? Send me and email! Stay tuned to find out more details!
Outfit Details:
Black Tunic + Distressed Denim: Local Boutique
Black Chunky Heel Sandals: Primark, London
White Handbag: Aldo, London
Sunnies: Aldo, London
Post a Comment
Heyyyy!!!
Okay so you guys know how much I adore frugal finds, right? This is something I probably ramble about in every other one of my style posts, teheh! Let me tell y'all about how I scored this pink coat for £10 and these distressed denim jeans for just £1. Yep!! :D
Outfit Details:
Denim Button-up: Levi
Distressed Denim Jeans: New Look, London
Over-sized Pink Coat: Primark, London
A lot of us have heard that famous West African gospel tune, sung in a call and response:
Call: "When Jesus says yes, nobody can say no!"
Response: "When Jesus says yes, nobody can say no..."
These affirming words probably resonate with a lot of us. We sing it with confidence, closing our eyes, smiling, and nodding our heads thinking of all the things we are sure Jesus is about to say yes to...and cheesing hard because we are just so confident in these "yeses"
Yes to the new job we just interviewed for.
Yaaasssss to the new bae we are sure God brought to us because of our fasting and praying.
Yes to the new flat we just know God opened the door to.
But while singing these tunes what we fail to realize is that YES, when Jesus says yes nobody can say no..but when Jesus says NO nobody can say yes!
We often miss the counterpart of this song. We are too busy rushing through doors we think are open for us and opening our arms to embrace "opportunities" that we think are set aside for us.
Let's pause and take a second to consider these words: when Jesus says no nobody can say yes..when Jesus closes the door nobody can open it.."
Yes, it's true. His no's and closed doors are just as marvelous as His yes. It's time we understand that His no's are guiding, protecting, and covering us - just as His yeses..
Consider these examples:
Disclaimer: some are real life personal examples, others are purely hypothetical ;)
Your prospective new job:
I recently scrolled through my old emails, coming across SEVERAL jobs I had applied for in the past. These jobs were seemingly sooo easy to get. I remember sending my resume in and interviewing for a Telefund position (whattheheck is that??). After the interview, I just knew I would get a call to start working there the next day. I was so sure. But Jesus' no was loud and clear!
Your new bae:
You've gone on 4 dates with this person after all of which you've stayed up all night planning your wedding and filling your Pinterest board with wedding ideas and baby names. Unfortunately (or fortunately) this failed relationship is another version of Jesus' no. A few months or a few years down the line you meet The One! Now imagine if Jesus didn't close that door???
Your new flat (home):
You find the perfect flat. Complete with a newly refurbished kitchen and freshly painted bedroom. On the interior, this place has everything you need. You're so ready to move in but suddenly 30 minutes before your second viewing, your prospective landlord calls you to let you know someone actually just moved in. What? When? How did someone all of a sudden move in? A few weeks later God opens the door for a much better place, less expensive, and closer to your brand new job (which you didn't have at the time you initially viewed this first flat)!
Turning 25 yesterday allowed me to sit back and reflect on my past and dream of my future. Believe me when I say His no's have truly been a saving grace. The last few months of 24 I experienced a period of NOs and slammed doors. Yes, y'all. Slammed and sealed, not just closed. What surprises me is the way in which these doors are slammed sometimes. For example, I'll be so close to an opportunity I thought for sure was set aside for me. Then that door will be slammed shut. No explanation. Nothing I foresaw. Just closed.
Let me pause and say that while 24 was indeed filled with amazing opportunities, renewed faith, abundant provisions, it was also filled with gaining a clearer understanding of my purpose. These no's and closed doors served to guide me and bring me to the exact place I stand today.
So basically, thank you God for seeing in me what I could notsee in myself. Thank you for your infinite wisdom in knowing how to prepare me for today. At 25 I'm ready and willing to let you lead. Thank you for protecting me from your "good enough." I'm ready and willing to put aside what I believe is good enough and accept what You know is BEST.
I urge you: trust God. Praise Him for the no's with as much confidence and as much joy as you praised for the yes. Lean not in your own understanding. Trust that all things are working for your good, in His time. Trust that He is simply not allowing you to accept "good" and wanting you to wait for the absolute best.
Here's to the person God designed, desired, and has determined you will become (in spite of those no's).
---
As some of you know, I recently graduated with my master's in psychology and flew back to Los Angeles in time to bring in my 25th birthday yesterday :D
I spent the day at The Grove in LA and finally got to try a delicious Chai Tea Latte cupcake from the famous Sprinkles!! I was in heaven. I tried to save it long enough for a photo, but as soon as I licked the frosting it was a wrap!
I was so happy the weather was nice and hot for 25! As a February baby this is a rarity! I got to bring out my denim jumpsuit which I purchased from Topshop London several months ago. (If I find it online, I'll link it below)!
One of my favorite stories in the bible can be found in Genesis 22 where God tests Abraham.
God speaks to Abraham asking him to "take [his] son, [his] only son, whom [he] loves, and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain."
After reading Abraham's reaction to God's request, I can never help but to laugh out loud! The next morning, Abraham simply rose and did exactly as God asked. (Find full story here: Genesis 22).
Can you say obedience on fleek!? Imagine God asking you to let go of something that you love dearly. To take your hands off what you thought was yours. To surrender your will, and your possessions. Now imagine you had the same response as Abraham. He asked Abraham to surrender his only son, who he loved. And without any questions, Abraham marched right up to that mountain ready to do exactly what God asked.
I laugh (nervously I must admit) because I imagine myself having obedience like Abraham. Letting go of all I am and all I have and offering it unto God. I laugh because I imagine the unrelenting trust Abraham had for God. I laugh because I wonder how it must feel to be worry-free like Abraham. He didn't contemplate the what ifs. He did not stop to ask God "why?" He did not consult with his wife, or any other human being. He simply did. He simply let go. He simply submitted.
He was simply obedient.
Sometimes God may require us to let go of and sacrifice the very thing we love- requiring us to only hold on to His promises, requiring us to hold tightly to faith, requiring us to cling unto Him - in order to bring us to the greater thing He has set apart for us.
As this year draws to a close, I urge myself (and of course my dear readers) to consider obedience like Abraham. Imagine how our lives will look if we simply surrendered all?
**Have you heard the Sunday school song:
Father Abraham had many sons, many sons are Father Abraham's. I am one of them, and so are you. So let's just praise the Lord!
Yup! All those sons are a product of Abraham's obedience!
lObedience on fleek = blessings on blessings! (lol)
Top: Topshop (London)
Black Skirt: Friends Closet :D
Shoes: Primark
God speaks to Abraham asking him to "take [his] son, [his] only son, whom [he] loves, and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain."
After reading Abraham's reaction to God's request, I can never help but to laugh out loud! The next morning, Abraham simply rose and did exactly as God asked. (Find full story here: Genesis 22).
Can you say obedience on fleek!? Imagine God asking you to let go of something that you love dearly. To take your hands off what you thought was yours. To surrender your will, and your possessions. Now imagine you had the same response as Abraham. He asked Abraham to surrender his only son, who he loved. And without any questions, Abraham marched right up to that mountain ready to do exactly what God asked.
I laugh (nervously I must admit) because I imagine myself having obedience like Abraham. Letting go of all I am and all I have and offering it unto God. I laugh because I imagine the unrelenting trust Abraham had for God. I laugh because I wonder how it must feel to be worry-free like Abraham. He didn't contemplate the what ifs. He did not stop to ask God "why?" He did not consult with his wife, or any other human being. He simply did. He simply let go. He simply submitted.
He was simply obedient.
Sometimes God may require us to let go of and sacrifice the very thing we love- requiring us to only hold on to His promises, requiring us to hold tightly to faith, requiring us to cling unto Him - in order to bring us to the greater thing He has set apart for us.
As this year draws to a close, I urge myself (and of course my dear readers) to consider obedience like Abraham. Imagine how our lives will look if we simply surrendered all?
**Have you heard the Sunday school song:
Father Abraham had many sons, many sons are Father Abraham's. I am one of them, and so are you. So let's just praise the Lord!
Yup! All those sons are a product of Abraham's obedience!
lObedience on fleek = blessings on blessings! (lol)
--
Outfit Details:Top: Topshop (London)
Black Skirt: Friends Closet :D
Shoes: Primark
If you're anything like me, you thrive off busy days, lack of sleep, and a constantly filled calendar (with no time scheduled for R&R). There's just something about the busy life that I absolutely love! (Maybe it's the fact that the more busy I am, the less time I have for those socially awkward encounters...which I'll talk more about later)..
While in London, my schedule has been nothing but (organized) chaos. While studying full time, I found some way to keep even busier with one full time job and one part time job. Now that I'm no longer a student my schedule seems even more hectic. When I'm not jumping from train to tube to bus, I'm zig zagging though Oxford Street or preparing things for a client.. I've realized that while I love keeping busy, the pressures of all my deadline was slowly getting to me and suddenly realized how anxiety can slowly creep up!
I've found these 5 tips useful in finding rest and maintaining balance in my seemingly hectic life.
- Respect your time. This means creating a schedule. Sticking to appointments. Ensuring that colleagues, business partners etc also follow suit and also respect this space. (and making sure that this is reciprocal)!
- Be vocal. Don't be afraid to let those around you (i.e. boss, colleagues, etc) know when you're feeling stressed or getting anxiety. If your work load is too much for you to handle, speak up!
- Learn how to say "no." While balancing academics and work, I've learned to hard way that it is okay to tell people when you are unable to deliver. This can apply to almost anything: no to meeting up with friends for a night out when you just have way too much on your plate; no to taking on another client for business services...
- Be intentional about "me time." I've recently learned the essence of taking just a small amount of my day to focus on me. In this time, I often spend time with God and work on spiritual growth and refuel what my day has taken out of me. I love reading the book of Psalms and perusing those calming passages. I also find it refreshing to take some time to watch a comedy..(lately it's been The Proud Family!!! Yesss...I found it on YouTube, y'all...and it's been giving me life and laughter!). So, be intentional about taking some time out daily to do something you you! (Maybe even a mani/pedi!).
- Protect your resting space. During this past summer and early autumn, I struggled to maintain a normal sleep pattern and had so much trouble sleeping. I would often fall asleep by 2am and wake up around 6am every day. What kept me up? Work. Or the thought of work. I'd often fall asleep with my notebook right next to my pillow and my laptop not too far away. I had to learn to protect the one space I had for rest.My bedroom. For some time I did not allow myself to work in my room and made it a rule that I would do work everywhere but that space. Soon after I started separating work and rest, my bedroom became less associated with anxiety and my sleeping pattern was once again back to normal.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
- Matthew 11:28
October marks one year since I moved to London. This year has been completely life changing and God-filled to say the least.
Let me tell y'all about my God.
When I first arrived here mid October 2014, to say I was scared would be an understatement. (You can read more about my experience here). Yes, I loved London so much that I wanted to live here (it was not by force loll). However once I did, I was in tears literally everyday for the first few weeks. I wanted to quit and move back to California ASAP. But as luck would have it, God had other plans. I learned to cope with homesickness, depression, and downright dissatisfaction. I learned to be grateful, appreciate life, and vowed to travel the world. I told God that if he wanted me to stay here he would have to give me an amazing testimony. He sure did (and it is still blossoming).
How I coped:
- Having an amazing support system: When I first arrived, I didn't have many friends. Yes y'all. I was all by my lonesome for sometime. I went to school and came home. So I leaned heavily on my stateside family and friends. (Thank God for apps like What's App, Viber, and Skype). My family and friends kept me sane with their love, prayers, and understanding. I knew I could call them whenever..for a laugh, pep talk, or prayers.
- Holding on ever so tightly to the word of God: 'Til this day, I believe that God used my period of loneliness to draw me nearer to Him. It was in the time I was fully able to talk with Him. I read, prayed, read, prayed and repeated. My relationship with Him grew as I learned more about who He is and more about who I am through Him.
- Therapy: (Okay retail/food therapy is still therapy y'all!!). The weather here can be very gloomy and coming from Southern California, the lack of sunshine led to so many depressing days. I learned what made me happy. Sometimes it was upbeat/inspirational music, other times it was ice cream, but most times I would just shop (or window shop) at my favorite stores. (I know all my chronic shoppers can relate to this! lol).
- Travel!!: I challenged myself to break out of my comfort zone and explore places I've never visited. I found amazing places in London (like coffee shops, parks, etc) to simply sit and do homework. I had the opportunity to travel to some parts of Europe to explore, visit friends, and learn.
 |
| St. James' Park, London |
 |
| Sitges Beach, Barcelona |
Although it is still developing I'll share a little bit of my testimony with you all:
God has never left my side. Throughout my whole journey He has been guiding, protecting, and providing for me. He has given me countless opportunities.
Academic wise, I was successful in all my courses. Job wise, He has opened and closed so many doors which have blessed me tremendously. He has ordered my steps accordingly and caused me to cross paths with people and experiences that have changed my life. I'll definitely share more later, but I wanted to write this post simply to share how good God is and hopefully encourage you.
If there is nothing else I have to give God all the glory for allowing me to pursue my dream of living in London + completing my masters degree.
That dream you've been holding on to..that goal that's on the top of your list...go for it. Allow God to lead you. Trust Him and he will never forsake you. He will provide for you, He will keep you, He will love you.
Don't allow your fear to disrupt your progress. Don't allow those what-ifs to hinder your drive.
That country you've been wanting to visit? Go.
Allow God to make a way.
That program you've been thinking about applying for admission? Do it.
Let His will be done.
He is faithful.
But, fortunately, I did get to attend two weddings, witnessesing some dear friends tie the knot; fellowship with my family; and catch up a little with good friends. One highlight of my visit to Cali was meeting up with my dear friend, Seyi and catching up with this DC chic chick! We did a mini-shoot together and you'll definitely want to add her blog, In Fashion I Trust, to your list of faves!
Right before I headed to Cali, I had to do a little shopping in Londontown (yes, had to..teheh). A friend of mine invited me to a sample sale at New Look corporate office, and I picked up some amazingly frugal finds for one pound. Yes. One pound, y'all. *Note: In this post, I'm wearing only one of the items I purchased. The rest of the outfit was collected from different stores :)
DIY Denim Cut-offs: Thrifted
When searching for the best pair of high waisted denims from your local thriftstore, here's a tip that might be helpful: search in the men's (or boys) section. The cut of the jeans often offer a better fit (especially if they are old school Levi or Gap denim).
Tan vest: River Island, 10 pounds
Gabor Oxford Shoes, Thrifted, 12 pounds
Men's Blazer, New Look, 1 pound
xoxo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)