HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween! Hope you all have a great time tonight! I thought Halloween was fun before, but with a toddler now its a whole new world of awesomeness!

Fashion Friday Link Up

When I am out shopping, you can usually find me at SAVERS or Goodwill. It's so amazing all the designer brands (in great condition) that I find for next to nothing. When I first started thrifting, it was a little nerve racking and overwhelming with racks and racks of clothes all mixed together, but now its like a giant treasure hunt for me to search and find little gems of clothing. This dress was one of those "gems" I found. One day when I was at SAVERS, I was having one of those shopping days where you just can't find anything. I was about ready to leave when I noticed the sleeves of this dress sticking out from the rack. I went over and picked it up and immediately fell in love with it! I was able to pick this dress up for $6.99! Come to find out, this dress is from Nordstrom's and retails for $148! 

Woot Woot! Score! I love the gathered fabric in the front, how form fitting it is and the fact that I can wear it in the spring, summer, fall, and in the winter too! See how I wore it for the winter HERE

LINK UP HERE

Let Your Light Shine: Hope Is Never Lost

In Acts 27, there’s a great story about the apostle Paul. He was travelling by ship with some people when a violent wind came bursting down from the island. For a few days they were caught in the storm, and at one point it was so fierce, they were dangerously tossed about by the violence of the storm and had to throw the ship’s equipment overboard. They ended up without food, hungry, stranded – seemingly without any hope.

In that moment, Paul stood in the midst of the survivors and said to them, “I beg you to be in good spirits and take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you…” He then shared that an angel of God told him this, and said (verse 25), “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as it was told me.”

How could Paul, in the middle of this horrible storm, ask the people to “be in good spirits” and have a good attitude? Because he believed in his heart—without a doubt—“that it will be exactly as it was told me.” I love that! It’s a great picture of the power of faith in God when all hope seems lost. And we can have the very same faith that Paul had if we will overcome doubt.

I love this quote from President Holland (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

"Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there. Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. 

Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." 

We all face storms in life. Some are more difficult than others, but we all go through trials and tribulation. That’s why we have the gift of faith. Ephesians 6:16 calls it the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Doubt is a type of “flaming arrow” that the enemy uses to attack our faith.

We usually experience doubt after we’ve made a decision. James 1:6, says having doubt is like being tossed about like the wind, which feels like you’re trying to go in two different directions at the same time. It’s miserable to be torn between two places, not able to decide what you really believe. It’s in those moments we have to choose whether we are going to believe God or the enemy…God or our feelings…God or what people tell us…God or our circumstances…

In James 1:5 that when we need wisdom, we can go to God, ask Him for it, and He will give it to us liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding. Even with all our imperfections, God will be faithful to us and give us what we need if we will ask Him for help. He loves us and wants to help and bless us because He is faithful! And we never have to doubt that.

I’ve learned through my own relationship with God that He’s not expecting me to be perfect; He wants me to do my best to be in His will and take steps of faith as He leads me and the promptings He speaks to my heart. Remember.....He wants us to put our confidence in Him. 

With putting God first and having confidence in Him, we can be bold in faith and overcome every attack of doubt during the storms of life.

Leaf Printed Wrap Dress with Belt Detail

Yes! We are 1/2 way through the week and Halloween is in just 2 days! What are you going to be? I am going to be a gypsy and E is going to be Sophia the First. Hubby has to work on Halloween (boooooo) because right now is one of our busiest times of the year for our company. But......we are doing Trunk or Treat tomorrow night at our church, so at least he will be able to go to that! 

Okay.. lets move on here and talk about this fantastic dress that I am wearing. I am in love with this leaf printed wrap dress. Everything about this dress is amazing. The quality/material, the detail of the print and the gold attached belt. 

If you didn't get a chance to read my previous post, I started my own online boutique company called Sassy Sweet Modesty (about a week ago) and I couldn't be more excited about it. I have had such a great response and have been shipping out orders. Thank you for your support and your business! 

These days, its so hard to find modest clothing that is chic, stylish and fashionable, yet modest. I have a huge passion for all things modest. Personally, when I dress modestly I believe it sends a message of purity and honor. It shows that I have self-respect and self-control over my body. When I dress modestly, I am saying that I posses inner qualities for which I should gain appropriate attention and value from others. I want to show and prove to others around the world that you can still dress modestly and look absolutely amazing! Right now my website is in the works and hopefully (fingers crossed) will be done soon. In the meantime, I have been accepting orders on Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions or would like to order a specific item(s), you can contact me on FB, Instagram, or through email: kimberly@sassysweetmodesty.com

10 Ways to Prepare Your Finances Before the Holidays Arrive

It's now October which means the holiday expenses are about to roll in. October means Halloween costumes, decorations, and candy. November means a 20-pound turkey and travel costs, and December means gifts for your family and friends. It’s amazing how quickly it adds up! Though the holidays are meant to be a time of peace, joy, and relaxation, the season often leads to stress, anxiety, and fear.

Start a new trend for your holiday season and consider these 10 tips for financially preparing now for the upcoming holidays.

1. Make Budgeting Easier

Budgeting (and keeping on track with your budget) is not easy, but budget-savvy tools can help. Look for a free download of an Excel spreadsheet formulated to do all of the adding and subtracting for you. If you are willing to spend a little, there is also budgeting software that boasts features that not only do the math for you, but also help you stay on top of your budget. Many programs track your spending and offer free financial classes and lessons. The one-time fee for a budgeting program may be worth it for financial stability.

2. Build Savings Now

Your biggest holiday expenses will most likely come at the end of the year. If you begin now, you have approximately two and a half months to save. Assess your budget and determine the maximum amount you can set aside until then. Put some of each paycheck into a savings account, and don’t touch it. That savings account is your ticket to a stress-free holiday.

3. Create a Plan to Pay off Debt

Although eliminating your debt before the holidays is virtually impossible for most people, a solid strategy for eliminating financial obligations can renew your hope this holiday season. You could consider the ideology of a financial guru, or you might look into a debt consolidation plan if your obligations are simply too many to handle.

4. Shop for Better Insurance Premiums

Too often Americans fall into the routine of paying a monthly expense and then forgetting about it. While it may seem convenient to stick with the same insurance premium, in reality, you could be losing hundreds of dollars a year. Car, health, home, life, and other insurances often change rates, meaning that your current plan might not be the best deal anymore. Take the opportunity to compare rates and prices to ensure you are paying the least amount possible for your premium.

5. Examine Your Spending

Online banking and apps make it easier than ever to track your spending. Take a look at your accounts and add up how much you have spent on certain categories, such as food. Once you are aware of how much your little purchases are affecting your budget, you can plan to cut them down. Pack a lunch every day rather than heading to the nearest restaurant, or get as much out of that tube of toothpaste as you possibly can before buying more. You’ll be surprised how much you save when you make small changes.

6. Avoid Impulse Spending

It probably doesn’t seem like it could hurt your budget to spontaneously take your family out for dinner on the way home from a sporting event. And maybe such a whim wouldn’t hurt just once. However, repeated impulsive spending can quickly become a financially damaging habit. In regards to shopping in general, remember that you can often find certain products online or at other stores for a better price. Instead of purchasing the first bicycle you see at the first store you visit, shop around before making a calculated purchasing decision.

7. Reevaluate Your Mortgage

If your current interest rate on your mortgage is doubling your payments, now’s the time to review your options. You might find a new mortgage with low enough interest that your monthly payments decrease and you can put some of the extra into savings.

8. Consider the Necessity of Each Monthly Expense

Take a good, hard look at such things as gym memberships, cable and phone bills, and other consecutive monthly expenses. If you are only visiting the gym once a week or less, your costly membership is probably not worth it. Likewise, you might not need unlimited talk and text on your cell phone if you are using less than 1500 minutes a month. For more information about cutting such expenses, see this article.

9. Don’t Underestimate Couponing

Couponing often has a negative connotation, since nobody likes to be in the checkout line with someone fumbling through ten different coupons for the cashier to scan. However, collecting coupons can cut some purchase costs in half, which will show in the long-run.

10. Set Goals for Next Year

If you plan months in advance for the holidays, your finances can be in tip-top shape. Take a minute to set some realistic goals for the following year. You might consider opening a high-interest savings account dedicated solely for the holidays. Then, plan to set aside a small portion of every paycheck to help make next year’s holiday season the best yet.

(Author: Amber Brubaker)

I Am a Mormon Monday: Meet Courtney

 Follow me on Instagram // Facebook // Pinterest // Bloglovin // Twitter

About Me:

My name is Courtney and I blog over at All Things Unpredictable & Chic! My blog focuses on affordable fashion and encourages women to express their own personal style. I also love sharing DIY projects, new recipes, modest fashion trends, and my newlywed adventures living and working in downtown Salt Lake City!

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope is what fills my life with happiness. Hope is often misunderstood and hints at uncertainty. I believe it is a gift of the Spirit allowing us to look forward to the things ahead. I hope for a happy life! One filled with happiness, laughter, and memories with the ones I love. I want to have a life I can look back at with no regrets and fill contentment with the things I have done here on Earth.

 

How I live my faith:

I live my faith through service. It is important to look for opportunities to serve others, to give the benefit of the doubt to someone in need, to look for ways to comfort others when they are in difficult times. When you love someone and prayerfully seek ways to help them, your service speaks more than your words.


Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be featured on your blog Kimberly!!
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Interested in being featured on my blog for I Am a Mormon Monday?
Email: bostonksox@gmail.com 

Fall Decor

Fall. My favorite time of year....especially here in Arizona. After a few months of intense heat, I look forward to it cooling down a bit. I love the crisp mornings where the air is cool. Makes me want to sit outside with a cup of hot cocoa and read a good book or take our dog Shadow for a nice walk early in the morning. One of the other things I love is the chance to decorate our home. It makes me smile to come home and see my house all cute and decorated! I have added a few touches here and there, but still would like to add a few more things. Have you decorated your home for Fall? 

Noori Dresses: Black & White Flower Dress

When Noori Dresses contacted me about a week ago I was so excited. Don't get me wrong, I get excited when companies contact me wanting me to model or feature their product on my website, but I get even more excited when they contact me wanting E to model their product. I love bringing dresses or shoes home to her and see her face light up as she opens it up. 

Noori Dresses offers any type of dress you would need for your little girl. Christening, Holiday, Infant, Flower Girl, and First Communion. All their dresses are so beautiful and are well made with high quality material. 

E definitely looked and felt like a princess in this dress. "Come on Mama!! Take a picture of my pretty beautiful dress! Watch me spin and make a bubble!!" I love all the detail on this dress. From the white detail at the top to the flower, sequins and the bow that ties at the back. 

A BIG thumbs up to Noori Dresses!!!

Announcement.

Announcement! I have started my own online boutique called Sassy Sweet Modesty and I couldn't be more excited about it. At first I was going to wait to announce it here on my blog until I got my website up and running, but I couldn't keep it a secret any longer! While my website is under construction, you can view my shop on Instagram and Facebook to see all my products for sale. Below are some of my favorites...

$34.99 plus shipping

$29.99 plus shipping

$23.99 plus shipping

$23.99 plus shipping

$24.99 plus shipping

$21.99 plus shipping

Love Your Boobs Love Yourself Movement

Most of you know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to most women it's a month to bring more awareness to breast cancer, to remind women to get their mammograms regularly, to celebrate those who've survived, and remember those who've lost their lives to breast cancer. But this month isn't just about that. It's about reminding women to embrace ourselves and recognize what makes us beautiful, unique, and what defines us as women. My friend Courtney from the eclectic lifestyle blog Fry Sauce & Grits started a movement called LOVE YOUR BOOBS, LOVE YOURSELF. Courtney is a bra fitter, bra educator, blogger, and is passionate about women issues. She created a video where she interviewed a group of women and asked them questions about their relationship with their breasts, how they've experienced breast shame, how they feel the media depicts breasts, and how we as women can come to love and accept and love our breasts.
"I find that most women have a hate relationship with their breasts and that makes me really sad. They're either small, large, lopsided, saggy, or too wide, and it made me realize that we need to stop this breast and body shaming because our bodies are beautiful and powerful," Courtney said. "I hope to inspire women with this Love Your Boobs, Love Yourself video that to completely love ourselves as women, we need to love and accept our boobs. There's a direct relationship between our self image of and the relationship we have with our breasts. Breasts don't define us but they are definitely a part of us. I want to bring awareness that this dysfunctional relationship we as women have with our breasts and with our bodies are directly stemmed from what the media portrays to be what is perfect and the ideal of beauty. I want to push the message that we aren't defined by our breast size and how we as women are defined by something greater."

 

Me along with a group of other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and yes breast sizes have decided to come together and to love ourselves and our breasts! You can join in this movement too by sharing a picture of yourself and type what you love about your breasts and what defines you as a woman! You don't need a blog either! Just tag your photo with #LoveYourBoobsLoveYourself on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. So go ahead and watch the video, it will truly inspire you to stop breast shaming and start loving your breasts and yourself more!

   
When it comes to breast size or looks in general, I think we are all very hard on ourselves. We all wish we were skinnier, more toned, had a different nose, different hair, different body type and different breasts...whether bigger or smaller. I have found that that body is constantly changing. One day I am happy with my body and the next I am nit picking at every little thing that I would want to change. Lately I have been realizing that I need to be grateful for and take care of this body that God has given me. I am learning to love my body. All the little extra fat on my tummy, my not so toned arms and the tiny pockets of cellulite on my butt and thighs. 
Below are other brave and beautiful women who are sharing their stories of breast shame, breast love, what they've learned from their breasts, what they mean to them, and how we as women we can learn to love our breasts and ourselves more! So don't stop here. Get clicking around, its a blog hop! I hope as you click around (and YES pin these different posts!) you will feel the importance of women loving themselves, the empowering effect sharing each of our voices will inspire others in some way. 1. Feel Great in 8 2. Life in My Heels 4. Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl 5. Utah Mom Connection 6. Lionesses at the Gate 7. Ashlee Marie 8. Tara Made It 9. Dreaming About Someday 10. MOMentity 11. Dana Ohlsen Photography 12. Lucky Blogs 13.A Ruffled Life 14. Laura's Crafty Life15.  Fry Sauce & Grits 
 Are you ready to share your story?
 Make sure to tag your picture with the hashtag #LoveYourBoobsLoveYourself and @courtney_frysauceandgrits to participate in this powerful movement to inspire women to completely love themselves!
 

I Am a Mormon Monday

About me:

I am a thirty-something wife and mother of four little ones. I have degrees in Marketing and Finance from Texas Tech University. I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors (as long as it's not in 100 degree heat), and blogging over at The Mrs. & The Momma about my personal style, my babies, and our crazy happenstances with a family of six.

What is hope and what do you hope for?

Hope to me is intertwined with faith, which is hoping for things unseen.  Hope is seeing the glass half full.  Hope keeps me going when part of me wants to be a pessimist.  I hope for all the dreams I have to come true...for my children to be righteous individuals, to be a blessing in others' lives, for my family to be healthy, and that my family and I can and will be blessed for keeping the commandments.   

I hope for an eternal family.

How do I live my faith?

I live my faith both in the home and at church. At home, I fulfill my responsibilities of teaching my children the ways of the Lord, and being a faithful wife and supporter to my husband. We say family prayers together each and every day. We read our scriptures as often as we can. We designate Monday nights as "Family Night," where my husband and I lead our family in learning more about the gospel of Jesus Christ....this involves singing, games, story-telling, scripture reading, and usually a yummy treat! At church I work with the children in primary.  I enjoy serving the children in this capacity and feel grateful for the opportunity to aid in bringing up our little ones in faith.

Thank you so much for having me Kimberly!!

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Interested in being apart of this fun series? Email me and I will add you to the list! 

Email: bostonksox@gmail.com

Chairish Style Board Challenge: Vintage Rugs

Last week I was contacted by Holly from Chairish, asking if I would be interested in creating a style board based on one of their vintage rugs from their latest collection online. I am so glad that I was introduced to Chairish. Their stuff is so unique and one  of a kind. Chairish is a fabulous, curator approved, online marketplace for vintage furniture. It’s a such a great way for designers to sell and purchase pre-owned pieces. After visiting and browsing through their website, I was excited to take on the challenge! 
The theme of this challenge was to create a style board around one of their colorful vintage rugs. It's actually kind of funny that Holly contacted me about rugs, because we just bought a really nice leather sectional a few days ago. My Husband Josh and I were just talking last night agreeing that we need a fun and color rug to add to our living room, so this challenge is perfect for me!
This is the rug I chose......

I am such a lover of all things vintage and shabby chic. I picked the rug above because I love mustard and grey together. With my style board, I chose colors and items that I thought would tie into the colors in the rug. I love mixing texture, style and different colors together. Here is what I came up with.....

I AM A MORMON MONDAY: MEET PAOLA

I am a wife to a very handsome man, a mom of an energetic little flirt, a dedicated, loving, committed friend and an individual that knows that faith can move mountains. I am a social butterfly, a great Colombian cook, I am an individual that feels honor to serve and love others. I am a fun kind-hearted gal, I am a MORMON! 

ABOUT ME

I could probably write a book about my unique life, but I'll do my best shot to make it short... Hey I can talk and talk and talk for hours. I was born and grew up in Bogotá, Colombia ( South America ), and yes,  I have an accent and a lot of people have compared me with Sophia Vergara's personality. A little sweet and corky! I was raised by an incredible loving mom and a very social and talented father who sacrificed the best they had to give me a good education and a comfortable life. 

I learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 2001 during an open house of the Temple in Bogotá. I remember entering and thinking that I was in the most beautiful and peaceful place in the world. I felt purity, love, a feeling I never felt before...my life was never the same after that day, I knew I wanted to learn more and I didn't want that wonderful feeling to go away.

 After getting baptized in 2002 my life took a 360. To make the story short and not get into too many details, my family's life was in danger and we had to leave everything behind to protect our lives from a terrorist group that decided to threaten our family. To avoid risks,my parents had to rush our way out of the country. I was in school in class and the next thing I was hiding in the back seat of a car on my way to the airport. No goodbyes, there was no time to take it all in, everything happened too fast.

 I said goodbye to my parents and didn't know if that was the last time I will see them again. I was only 15 years old!  All of my goals, my dreams, everything had vanished and we moved to the United States with nothing, as a refuge of the USA, and had to start all over again. I remember that feeling.. it was like leaving the perfect life, closing your eyes and waking up in a strange place. 

I knew I could never go back and didn't know what to expect and what was ahead.

Years passed, and we learned how to live and cope with this event. I was a Catholic before getting baptized, but regardless of my religious background my parents made sure that we knew and loved Christ, and taught us to have faith. I became inactive, in a different country, not speaking the language, without any friends and with a new identity, what do you expect? Even thought my life was a little  complicated at that time, I always loved the gospel and regardless I kept my baptism covenants and tried my best to live a righteous life. Believe it or not, I attended more than 12 different religious groups and meetings for 3 years, but I never felt like l was in the right place.  When I turned 21, I started feeling empty hearted, I knew that spiritually I was missing something and started searching and attending a non denominational christian church, I really enjoyed the meetings, but I still felt like my heart was not where it belonged.

My life took another 360 degree turn when I met a new family that consisted of two brothers and a sister ( Herman, Carlos and Carolina) who just moved from Colombia, best part is, they were LDS(Mormon). I started attending their ward and became active again. 

I felt extremely happy and complete when I walked in that church building for the first time. 

But regardless of all the obstacles in my life I never lost faith, never forgot who I was, an important daughter of Heavenly Father, and never doubted for a minute that there was always a TOMORROW, a tomorrow to be better, to improve and succeed. All that pain that I endured was the best blessing I could ever asked for, it made me who I am today. I am a strong kind hearted woman who loves others unconditionally and is always willing to listen and help. These events shaped my character and through them my testimony grew so strong and it continues to grow today.

Two months after returning to church my parents moved and we were all reunited. Big YAY!  The best part was that I met an incredible man, who didn't care or was scared about my past. A man who took my heart, melted it with love and took my hand in marriage. I have an amazing husband, and incredible in laws!  We celebrated our 6 year anniversary just this past May and now have a gorgeous, incredible fun 2 year old boy. 

I can tell you that life cannot be better! I have no regrets, no sorrow, no why's, all I can say is thank you Heavenly Father for every blessing that I have and for making me learn the hard way. I love myself and who I am and always look forward to defeating any challenges.

 IT'S NOT THE DESTINATION THAT YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS INTERESTED IN, IT'S HOW YOU MAKE THE JOURNEY! 

So I feel like you don't know me that well yet, yikes, this defeats the whole purpose!!! I love dancing. I'm known for shaking my hips like there is no tomorrow. My favorite workout is Zumba, I love fashion ( just started a new blog (Fit Fun & Faithful), I love cooking and inviting friends over (I like decorating the table and plates, my friends get a 5 star treatment when I have them over for dinner) 

I love camping, shopping, traveling, making jewelry, socializing, movies and new adventures. I'm a very easy going person that is always in the mood to laugh and have a good time. But what I love the most is spending time with my family and creating beautiful memories. 

WHAT IS HOPE AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR?

I am in between the walls right now, I think because of all the life events I had to endure my definition of hope is very different and unique. Hope for me is knowing that there is always a tomorrow, knowing that here are better things to come and never giving up and dream big. Hope is knowing that there is a Father in heaven that wants the best for us. A Father that loves us unconditionally and that He has not placed us on this earth to fail.. in the contrary, to succeed and be the best we can be!  I like to be sarcastic and say with a little of tuff love! He knows us better than we know ourselves and that is the reason why we need to put all of our trust in him regardless of the situation.

I don't know what to hope for. Uh thats a bad thing to say, nutty me! I live day by day counting my blessings and trying to be the best person that I can be.  Oh... and needless to say, I hope to always be kind hearted and the best example for my children to follow.  Wow that's a big expectation!!! 

HOW I LIVE MY FAITH

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, very hard question! I know I am not perfect in anyway, but I'm conscious that I can live my faith by example.  I live my faith by serving and having compassion for others needs and  feelings and trying my best, with realistic expectations, to help them in any way I possibly can. I live my faith by trying to have a Christlike attitude.

Thank you my gorgeous friend for allowing me to share my story with everyone. 

I really enjoyed sharing my testimony! 

Want to participate in I Am a Mormon Monday?

Email me: bostonksox@gmail.com