Baby V

So, I realize that it may seem that I have fallen off the face of the blogging earth recently…but I have a PERFECTLY good explanation for all this. And by “perfect” I mean…PERFECT All 8 pounds 0.3 ounces of perfect…meet my LOVELY and gorgeous new niece, Victoria Elizabeth Ainsworth:

Isn’t she just a doll? Seriously though…this is the most perfect reason I have been neglecting this blog lately. So, “Baby V” or “V” as I like to call her…made her grand entrance into this world on 10/29/2009 – her momma, my sister Lyn, was AMAZING!! And we’re all so excited to have her in our lives…finally! After nearly a month of “almost-time” times and trips to the hospital for what we THOUGHT was going to be her birthday…Little Miss Victoria entered the world a week ago – absolutely beautiful and she captured the hearts of all that laid eyes on her! I had the amazing priviledge of capturing her birth and was SO amazed at God’s creation throughout the whole four hours of my sister’s labor. I will save the most precious and personal photos for my sister’s personal collection, but  I do want to share just a few from that special day. Enjoy!!

working on her ‘pouty’ face already

momma Lyn and baby…both BEAUTIFUL just moments after V was born

ten little toes

And lastly…of course…I HAD to have my picture taken with the princess of the day

so…worry not, Blog-land I’m back…and I’ve got lots to update you on in the next week or so…including a FABULOUS family photo session with a family of Texas Longhorn Fans, my sister’s beautiful belly pics, and a couple more family photo sessions…and of course, my top-tens and wardrobe wednesdays! Thanks to all our friends and family who have congratualted, supported, prayed and loved on my sister and her family! They are SO thankful and so very blessed!

Welcome to the world, V – Auntie Sarah loves you VERY much!!!! <3

Wardrobe Wednesday…The Essentials (Part 1)

Happy Wednesday to all! So, today’s Wardrobe Wednesday’s feature is called “The Essentials”. There are a lot of GREAT trends hitting the fashion scene right now, but for the classically chic fashionista in us all – I thought I’d dedicate this post to bringing you a short, but definitely sweet list of fall’s essentials.

Numero Uno…this one has been a STAPLE since Audrey Hepburn. Yes, that’s right…the LBD…or “Little Black Dress”. The typical LBD is usually knee length, though if you’re daring enough and have the gams to back it up, try an over the knee look. A classic LBD is not a Little “little” black dress…ie mini-skirtish. This should be your ‘go-to’ dress for most ‘dress up’ occasions. The LBD is not usually worn for a black-tie event, but something like a great dinner date, a company dinner, a night at the theater, an semi-formal evening wedding, etc…etc. You will probably spend a pretty penny on the classic LBD. Why? Well, like I said this should be your ‘go-to’ and you’ll want it to LAST. LBD’s are not usually uberly trendy, though if you want to trend it up by all means PLEASE do – however don’t spend a hefty amount on it…A great way to update the LBD is with accessories (jewelry, hair pieces, great looking nails, shoes, and a clutch). You can take a very classic sillohuette and spice it up with colorful gems and still be up with the times. So, posted below are some great LBDs I found…use for inspiration!!

1. the CLASSIC A-Line, Empire, or fitted LBDs: A-lines are great for most body types and ages. the Empire waisted dress is wonderful for those of us who are a little more conscious of our mid-sections, and the fitted LBD is a little more WOW factor (though watch the length on this one ladies…keep it at the knee) For a youthful look (ladies in their late teens/20s) try more colorful accessories or a fun and funky hair style. For a more sophisticated look accent these with a classic strand of ivory pearls and a great clutch. As far as shoes go, most anything goes with this one. A great pair of pumps in any color, strappy heels (though careful that they’re not TOO high), or even a satin flat would work for a less dressy occasion.

2. The strapless LBD: The strapless LBD is great for a youthful vibe. They come in ALL shapes, sizes, and lengths. A little shorter one paired with some black stockings and a great pair of pumps makes for a bold statement – mixed with great jewelry (lengthy necklaces and chunky bracelets) can bring a lot of fun into the look. Or try a strapless LBD with a little more flavor! classic up top, fun on the bottom or vice versa.

3. And the last example of the LBD I’ll share (buy by NO means are you limited to only these three! There are TONS out there) is the “trendy” LBD. Again, like I said this little number shouldn’t break the bank – as it is, like I said, TRENDY. However…these are always FUN alternatives to the classic LBD. Dress it as fun and funky as you wish – these trendy LBDs are made to make a statement…weather its a little pop of color or a LOT of glam – wear these LBD with confidence and shine like the star you are!!!

And the second essential I’d like to share this week is the DARK WASHED JEAN. An absolute staple in every woman’s (and man’s for that matter) is a classic dark-washed jean. Jeans come in all washes and colors these days – and as fun as it is to try the latest trend in denimware…every girl needs a great pair of dark-washed jeans. Straight cuts are usually the safest ones to go with as they do not go out of style, but if you want to expand your jean inventory pick up a pair in straigt, booth cut, skinny, and even a pair of dark-washed jean shorts. Darker washes are way more versatile as you can dress them up AND down depending on where you are going. Add a simple tee for a more casual look or top it off with a satin blouse for a more evening look. And please don’t neglect this detail…when investing in a pair of great dark jeans – I use the word “invest” because it is more than OK to spend on your jeans…usually, the more expensive they are the longer they will last (they won’t fade and the stitching is usually stronger and the jean material of better quality), So…like I was saying – BE SURE that they are one wash (aka: ONE color) the WHOLE way through. As fun as the distressed look is…the more distressed the less versatile. Also, if there is a lighter wash in the thigh area this will attract attention there and make your thighs look larger – which we ALL don’t want, right?? So, enjoy the photos below of a few collections of my favorite dark-denim looks!!

Top 10 :)

Well, well…I’m back for another round of my favorites!! Today’s top ten..as I scroll down and look has obviously been influenced highly by my love of all things fashion! Hahaha! So, here goes!!

1. H&M Clothing: Oh, boy…I could get lost in this store for hours and hours and hours! Shawn and I took a trip to the mall on our way home from San Diego last week simply because I needed to visit H&M. *sigh* LOL! So, needless to say, about three hours after we arrived at the famed Fashion Valley Mall in SD we made the trek home…both uber happy to have some new threads from H&M. Next year, I’m hitting the one on 5th Ave in NYC!

2. Colorful Winter Wear: I’m SO over the whole “darks” are in for winter! I love LOVE color and why would I be subjected to wearing ONLY my black and darker hued ensembles just because the weather is bleaker outside? I’m all for bringing BRIGHTNESS into your winter wardrobe. As essential as the perfect black coat is to every woman’s wardrobe…I say come on over to the dark-side and purchase that ROCKIN’ red/purple/yellow/blue/green coat that is SCREAMING ‘wear me!!’ – you KNOW you want to!!!

3. Arnold Palmers: no…no…not the golfer! But rather the tasty liquid concoction named after said golfer. This was apparently a favorite of the avid sportsman after a rousing round of chasing the litttle white ball. He ordered this mix of iced tea and lemonade so much that it was aptly named after him! Thank you Arnold for creating one of my all time favorite thirst quenchers!

4. RED Sunflowers: my flower of choice and the FIRST bouquet of lovelies I ever received from my amazing husband (or boyfriend at the time). Such a timeless flower, yet with a POP of originality! My FAVE!!!

5. My bestie and her future-hubby: Meet my bestie, Hazel and her soon-to-be, Mister Aaron. These two crazy kids are about to tie the knot in about 6 weeks! Hazel and I will officially be ‘related’ at least by marriage as her Aaron is first cousins to my Shawn HOW COOL!!! I cannot wait!!

6. Yearly trips to the ‘motherland’ : One of my all-time most favorite times of the year is our mission trip to the Philippines! Seriously, if you are thinking about overseas missions, I would highly recommend this trip! We are on coming up on year 4 of 5 this coming March and will be continuing our building and expanding of an amazing church’s ministry located in the Northern Philippines! Every year we take a visit to the local hospital to pray with/for families and their children…which is where we met this beautiful little lady…isn’t she precious!!!

7. AVEENO Daily Moisturizing lotion: this works wonders…a little pricey (an average bottle is about $7.99), but SO worth every penny. This stuff works like a charm for this a little too obsessed about moisturizing girl…made with oatmeal and completely natural with no icky smells or sticky residue AVEENO got it SO right with this stuff!! Try it out!!

8. Slouchy Knitted Hats: the bigger ones are my FAVE but these are just SO absolutely perfect for throwing on your noggin if you’re 1) having a bad hair day, 2) don’t have time to wash/style your hair or 3) cause it’s super cold out and you need something warm and toasty YET ultra fab to keep your head warm! I’m super so stoked to bring my favorite hats out of hiding…though there is a BONUS…they made lighter weighted ones to sport during the spring and fall months too…or for those chilly evenings at the beach in the summer! Gotta love them!!!

9. BUFFALO EXCHANGE: I’ve been shopping at this super kitchy and unique fashion spot since my sophomore year of high school when a girl with little cash needs to find something fun and funky to wear! Buffalo is home to some rad vintage finds as well as higher end designer threads all for a low low price! Plus…you can bring your old threads in and trade them for either cold hard cash or in-store money to replenish your wardrobe! There’s one off of Mill Ave. on University Dr in Tempe…the lesser known is located in Phoenix…and my all time fave is in San Diego in Pacific Beach!

10. And TEN…Manicures: Oh, my I just love getting my nails done. Whether it’s at a trendy salon, or your local neighborhood stops (you KNOW what I’m talking about… ) – a great manicure can brighten my day…lol! I have super simple joys! I have to keep these nails short b/c of working on a compy all day, playing the guitar, and the fact that if there is a nail to break…I WILL…so I’m all about funky and fun nail colors! Though, I always get the thumbs down for getting designs painted on my nails cause apparently – according to my nail lady…”no honey, your nail too thin for design…all I give you is flower”…whaaa? No fair! hahaha!

The Zoccoli’s Part 2

So, I decided to forego my weekly ‘Tuesday’s Top Ten’ and ‘Wardrobe Wednesday’ for a week to bring you more photos from the Zoccoli Family shoot this past weekend. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE doing my weekly posts…I already have my top-ten waiting in the wings…but, those can wait when you see the reason why I am putting it aside.

I just can’t get enough of this beautiful family. I sorted through about 1700 photos from the day (YEAH! There were REALLY that many) and I had a hard time trying to choose only 50 or so…so, I cheated a bit and ended up with about 70ish final photos Anyhow, the more and more time I spent looking at their photos the more and more I grew to love these guys even more!

Mike and Alisa…you guys have such amazing hearts! To take in three little ones on top of your own three…to give these boys a hope, a future, and to show them love that only a mom and dad can! Seriously, you guys are true heroes! I love the smiles those little guys give…so true and genuine. You can tell that they love you two and your boys SO much and they fit right into your family! And to your three boys (Tyler, Joey, and Stephen) you guys are troopers! Thanks for putting up with me, thanks for hamming it up for the camera, and you guys are wonderful older brothers!! My prayer is that you will all grow up as strong men of God, full of integrity and character! To the little ones who made me smile SO much during this shoot! I love your energy and I absolutely love your smiles! I love the joy you guys bring to Mike and Alisa and to the whole Zoccoli family!!

Now, with that said…I want to share a few more photos from this session…a few more candid as the ‘posey’ posey ones (don’t get me wrong…I LOVE those, there’s just something different about the ones that you get in the moments when people are not looking that make them SO special) So, I bring you the Zoccoli Family Part 2

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rolling down the hill was one of the highlights of the night

The Zoccoli’s

Meet the Zoccoli Family

Dad, Mike – Mom, Alisa and six boys!! YES you heard correct…SIX boys!!! Wowza…what a FUN shoot! This absolutely beautiful family are dear friends of ours who jumped on board my ‘People’ project and took it by storm! This was seriously one of the shoots I was looking most forward to adding to this fun project.

Mike and Alisa are amazing friends and incredible parents! Their boys radiate fun and love and on a warm and windy afternoon (THANK YOU God for holding back the dust storm) we trekked to Joe’s Farm Grill for this shoot and finished off the night with Milkshakes, french fries, and onion rings!

Here are a few sneak peaks…Enjoy!!!

And the Boys…First up, Tyler

Next, meet Joey

This guy is a joker, he had too much fun on this shoot…Meet, Stephen

And this guy…hammed it up for camera all afternoon! This is Kenny!!

ca-utie patootie, Isaiah

And, of course, the baby of the bunch…watch out for this little heartbreaker, Little Rashid!!

And lastly… My fave of the day!!!

so, there you have it!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU to the Zoccoli family for allowing me to capture your amazing family! Thank you for the laughs, thank you for adding some fresh grass stains to my ‘photo-shoot’ jeans, and thank you for letting me share this special time with your family!

-sarah bel

Wardrobe Wednesday

So, I thought I’d start a new weekly post. I’ve been seriously loving my Tuesday’s Top-Ten that I wanted to start another weekday blog. And today, being Wednesday, I wanted to share with you all a little fun wardrobe advice. I have loved LOVED fashion for as long as I can remember. I love designing and thinking outside the box when it comes to the ‘fashion rules’ LOL! White after labor day?? WHY YES! Lighter colored purses in the winter/fall…SO WHAT? LOL! And I think you all know I have a healthy love of shopping…key word HEALTHY! Right?? Haha!! BUT, one of my favorite things is shopping FOR other people. And because of the current economy, it’s been rather difficult to entice people to go shopping. So in the spirit of being frugal, I thought my first Wardrobe Wednesday post would be about how to ‘make it work’ and take pieces of your summer wardrobe and use them as part of your fall and winter collections!

First up…how to take your favorite summer dresses and turn them into fall favorites! You can wear your summer dresses in the fall too! All you need is a GREAT pair of tights (it can be solids, colored, lace, or printed), a scarf, a great pair of boots (ankle, knee high, or over the knee), closed toed heels or ballet flats, and take a sweater or jacket with you! And TA-DA! Instant fall style! One of my favorite things about an outfit like this is the color you will add to your fall wardrobe. So many women feel like they can’t wear bright colors in the fall…do you wan to know what I say to that? I say…BAH!! ;P Wear that beautifully bright dress and a pair it with more neutral accessories and voila!

And, a great way to take a lighter fabric dress and use it for fall is to add some heavier pieces on top. In this example this fabulous gal has paired a beautiful light/flowy dress with some harder materials with an awesome hip-length leather jacket (which is a SPLURGE for fall…if you can, DO IT! If you can’t shell out the couple hundred bucks for a great leather jacket…there are some awesome alternatives out there that won’t break the bank!) , a great wool cap, and a pair of patent leather ankle boots! LOVE! LOVE!

Another super chic way to make a fabulously colorful summer dress work for this fall is to layer! Take your favorite summer dress, layer with a fitted top, sweater, add a great skinny belt and you have a great work look! This is a perfect way to transition into fall, especially here in AZ when it’s October and STILL 80 degrees!

Last but certainly NOT least…I’d like to end this Wardrobe Wednesday blog some fun fall trends that I think every woman needs to try this season!!! Enjoy!!

1. Lace Tights

2. Peep-Toe Ankle Booties I LOVE these!!!

3. AND finally… The classic black-blazer…GREAT to pair with your favorite jeans, a flowy dress, or top it off with a distressed jean skirt!

fabulously colorful photo shoot with a special little lady :)

Ask her what her name is and she will tell you: REAGAN CHRISTYNE GARCIA CLARK

Meet my niece, Reagan…or when she’s being sassy, we like to just call her Christyne! LOL! She’s all of 11 years old and she’s a super cute little one if you ask me! Often mistaken for much younger…”you’re smart for a SEVEN year-old” Hahaha! She says (and I’m quoting her)…”I’m not little. I’m FUN-SIZED!” She’s VERY petite (I think she’s about 4′6″-ish) and all of 70 some-odd pounds. LOL!

Hahaha! This little girl makes me smile…and speaking of smiles, hers in particular is absolutely contagious and that smile is au natural…she’s one of those kids who’s blessed with perfectly straight teeth from the get-go!

So, anyhow…she has decided that she would like to try her hand at modeling/acting. She is much like myself…trying ALL sorts of hobbies and still yet to find one that really sticks. But, after our lovely little photo session I think this one just might be here niche. As you will see from the photos below…this little gal is most definitely a natural at it!

I kept her shoot very fun, low-key and laid back. Making sure to keep the bright colors all around her…as she exudes ’sunny’ and ‘fun’ I was her principal clothing stylist in the shoot (although at first her looks of apprehension made me snicker a bit…she actually LOVED the outfits her auntie chose!) Haha! She also modeled some of the fun hairpieces I made and even rocked it in some handcrafted jewels!

So, without further ado – I present to you the lovely little Miss Reagan Christyne Garcia Clark!

Happy Tuesday!!!

and…finally…she was SUCH a trooper! It was about 100 degrees out…lol!

Tuesday’s TOP TEN and a side note of photo-love :)

Good Tuesday afternoon! Well, I guess it’s totally that time again, huh? So, today’s post is two-fold. First, of course is my current top-ten, which I am stoked to share about. And second is a tiny glimpse into my current week full of photo sessions and edits galore! I have FOUR shoots I’m trying to squeeze in this week, and still work a full week at my ‘paying’ job…lol! So, here goes today’s top-ten!

1. Music while I edit photos…currently, I am all about female singer/songwriters. Gimme some Sara Barilles, Ingrid Michaelson, A Fine Frenzy, etc…But there’s something about their music, their lyrics that causes me to want to be creative. I’m really enjoying Ingrid Michaelson’s newest album, visit her website to hear all about it!

2. Thai Tea…I sit and write this as I am currently enjoying one of these lovely sweet treats! Them Thai’s really knew how to make one awesome cup o’ tea! Two parts black tea, one part sweet coconut milk, and one part awesomeness

3. Leather Bracelets…I’m not sure, but I currently have a crush on all things leather. And I’m all about my new colored leather bracelet ensemble They came in a pack of 5, all different colors. Wear em’ together or separate, they make for a very fun alternative to the ‘bangle’ bracelet Love them!!!!

4.  My new GUCCI sunnies I don’t really need words for this fabulous accessory, do I? LOL!!

5.  Going to the gym…granted it’s been a couple days since I’ve gone, but it’s really one of those love it/hate it relationships. I loathe the idea of going, but when I’m there I’m ALL about it! Plus it’s an added bonus getting to share gym time with my uber awesome hubby – and on occasion my parents happen in on our work out! It’s a family affair! LOL!

6.  30Rock episodes! So, recently, Shawn and I decided to get NETFLIX for his XBOX live.  Shortly after enjoying the latest HEROES season, we scratched our heads and asked ourselves WHY didn’t we do this much earlier???  Anyhow, after finishing Heroes and several other TV seasons, we stumbled upon this little comedic lovely. We’ve finished the first 2 seasons, and we cannot wait to see more of it! For those of you who doubt Mister Alec Baldwin’s comedic talent, give this one a shot and laugh your self dizzy!! LOL!

7. Vintage Cameras This one makes me smile! My friend, Ashley Bugg currently has some awesome finds and I’m working on my collection as well. Hers put mine to shame, as I only have four…a couple from antique stores, one from a ‘yard sale’ and the last from my father’s collection (which he bought in Japan) it’s awesome…I have yet to try my 1960’s polariod that I bought for $10 from a little old lady in Strawberry, AZ. I do hope it works….

8.  Bath and Body Works’ C.O. Bigelowe Mentha Lip Shine...just a fancy shmancy name for AMAZINGLY awesome mint flavored lip-gloss! I never leave home without this stuff!!!

9. Being a ‘Jane’-of-all-trades…master of none LOL! So I got called this today…without the latter part. I do highly enjoy doing more than one thing! I love to sing. I love to take photos. I love to make jewelry. I love interior designing. I love to design clothing. I am the queen of unfinished projects and to some that may seem SO terrible…but to me, it’s what makes me who I am. It causes me to create to press on toward learning something new! I despise being ‘bored’ and I embrace change…so, yes…I have been toying with a new idea of learning to paint! My dad is an AMAZINGLY talent painter/artist – my favorite that he has done is a portrait of my mom when she was a teenager. It’s  beautiful…and I’m wondering if any of that trait made its way into my genes…I’ll let you know if I pursue this further! ;P Haha!(if you are reading this, Shawn…I appreciate your patience and understanding with me! You are an incredible husband and I love that you encourage me to do the things I love and find new loves!! )

10. And to round of this week’s list…I will segue into the second half of today’s post…I LOVE PHOTO SHOOTS! To borrow from the previous post…I love LOVE taking photos. My love for photography began at a very early age and later blossomed in college where I devoted A LOT of my time to learning about it. My photography classes shared the top spots of all-time-favorite-college-courses alongside my music classes.   And, I’m really excited as I am getting the opportunity to continue on this wonderful path with some amazing people who have allowed me to capture their memories on ‘film’. Also in the works are some classes from local photographers that I am planning on taking! YAY! 

____________________ PART 2 of TODAY’S POST _______________________

So, a QUICK little glimpse of my current projects…I had the privilege to shoot on two FABULOUSLY colorful and equally fun photo shoots. The first was with my gorgeous 11-year old niece who is venturing out on a new adventure of  print-modeling and theater. She is super beautiful, very talented at whatever she puts her mind to, and is one of the wittiest little gals I know! For future reference, it’s a good thing she has two dads (her dad and her step-dad) and a very protective and very large older brother…because I KNOW she will be more than a ‘hit’ with the male population in the future

See what I mean??

And another…

and one more

And I also just had the opportunity to capture a beautiful little family…Meet the Serrano family. Julie the momma is our receptionist at the office I work at. And she and her husband, Berto, welcomed little Matthew into this world in July 2009. I had the pleasure of capturing this family’s first ever “official” photos and I am SO excited how they turned out! They are a precious family and super dear to my heart!!!

Aren’t they the cutest??

Little Matthew

Julie and Berto

And my favorite shot of the day…

Tuesday’s Top Ten

Back again for another top ten! I can’t believe it’s been a week since the last blog…jeepers! So, without further ado – I bring you this week’s current top-ten (again in no particular order, just happened to be the way I downloaded the pics! LOL!) Remember, bloggers – do one yourself, they are way too fun!

1.  Boutique Finds: My oh my…First I love boutiques. Why? Because you can usually find some very neat and very unique things! I’m all about unique…which is why I probably like shopping the ‘chain’ stores at the end of the season – there’s only a couple things of each item left, and they are SO past their ‘prime’ with other shoppers that many of the people that bought them when they were cool are totally over them! Hahaha!

2. Rhett and Link: two funny, FUNNY guys that apparently get paid to dress up and make fun of things! LOL! Check out their you tube site and watch all the hysterical videos! And BONUS, these guys are totally clean when it comes to their comedy! Which proves the point that you don’t have to be rude, lewd, and crude to be funny! Thanks Rhett and Link for making me laugh this week!!

3. Crafting Time: One of my greatest loves in my current life is CRAFT TIME! I love creating new things – no matter what it is…I just like to keep the right-brain juices flowing as much as possible in my life. Right now, I’m obessed with making jewelry and hairpieces. Next up? Who knows!

4. Project Runway: So, this season is on it’s way to making some pretty fun fashion memories! I have been an avid fan/watcher of this show since its inception! I wish I had Tim Gunn telling me to ‘make it work’!! check out the new season on Thursday nights on LIFETIME!! LOL! Are you In? Or out?

5. Arizona Sunsets: I will argue with anyone who wants to debate this one with me…Arizona Sunsets are the prettiest ones you can find on the continental United States! I mean, seriously? How can you NOT marvel at the beauty of God’s work when you look at this???? (and YES they really DO look like that!!!)

6. My husband’s music: Shawn Tyler Gray…what can I say about this man? LOL! First of all, he’s MINE – thank you. And second of all…he writes some of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. And NO, that is not just my bias talking. Check out the link below…yes, I posted a love song…lol!!

7. The iPhone: one day…you will be mine…until then, if you have one and you are within a ten foot radius of me – be prepared to hand it over to me so I can play with it! LOL!

8. The BED HEAD: SUPERSTAR line of hair care/styling products: Oh.MY…if you want BIG hair…this is the stuff to use! Plus it makes your hair smell like berries and cream! This is the only stuff I have found that makes this little Asian girl’s stick straight, super fine hair – actually have what other girls call normal hair! LOL! I love this stuff!! (Note To Self: you need more root lifting spray…go buy some! )

9. Our Puppy: okay, okay she’s actually a “dog” now, but she will forever be that cute little puppy that pressed herself up against the wire fence of the doggie kennel that beautiful March afternoon. She’s one of the sweetest dogs you could ever meet, adorable, and incredibly loyal. I adopted Kallie in 2006 and I am SO blessed that Shawn decided that we could have her as a part of our little family…my day is a little bit brighter because of this little sweetheart!

10. And to round out this week’s Tuesday Top Ten…let’s indulge in a little retail therapy, shall we? Meet Urban Outfitters! This is by far one of my most favorite-est places to shop. They have some of the most interesting outfits here! I love that they offer clothing from unique designers! Every time I’ve gone in, I’ve found a new designer whose clothes I absolutely adore! We just went yesterday and I found some super rad pieces to add to my collection! LOL! Thank You Urban Outfitters!!

Tuesday’s Top 10

So, I’m trying a new thing…I have been inspired by some fellow bloggers and friends to do a similar post AND since my personal taste in things changes as often as the color of the hair on my head (for those of you who know me well enough…it’s quite often). And, to borrow a page from my church’s quote book “The only thing constant about me is Change” I have decided to document this ever changing self of mine in a new blog called TUESDAY’S TOP TEN. For my first attempt, you will find below some very random (and in no particular order), yet very relevant and current “loves” of my life…ENJOY and IF you blog, I would encourage you to do something similar…it’s TOO fun!

SO without further ado, here’s this Tuesday’s Top Ten!!

1. Iced White Mochas from Starbucks…I cannot tell you how much these mean to me right now…lol

2. My lady friends…these gals are seriously some of the most amazing women in the world!!

3. NIKON SLR cameras…my first “real” camera Was a NIKON and I cannot for the life of me bring myself to use anything else. I’m a loyal customer for life!! THANK YOU NIKON!

4. Savers Thrift Stores…I was first introduced to Saver’s sister store, Value Village when I lived in Washington State about 12 years ago and I haven’t looked back since…This place has certainly saved me a lot of money and added some incredible pieces to my wardrobe!! I love this place!!

5. Kim Walker- Smith…if you haven’t heard this girl sing, you MUST! No, seriously…she is my current and is up in the running for most favorite of all time Female Worship Leader/Vocalist. This girl has pipes, a heart for God, and the spirit to match! Look her up or catch her on all the Jesus Culture albums (which their new one, “Consumed”, just came out!!)

6. Black Blazers…clothing, of course, couldn’t NOT make this list…it is me we are talking about after all…and, I believe a great black blazer is just as important to have in your wardrobe as the little black dress! And what’s better? It’s FALL in the fashion world, so these are sure to be out on the racks now! Go get one…you won’t regret it! Throw it on with a pair of jeans or on top of your favorite summer jersey dress and get instant fall style! Love it!

7. ROCK POINT CHURCH’S worship band…cream of the crop, and the tops in my book. These guys are AMAZING musicians, friends, and they all have a passion for worship music and love love LOVE playing music for God. It’s the best!!

8. Filipino Food…there are no words…comfort food doesn’t even suffice for what Filipino food means to me…LOL!!!

9. A sense of personal-style : no matter what you ‘define’ as your personal style…make it JUST THAT… YOUR PERSONAL STYLE. Glean from what you must from other friends, magazines, celebs, or anything around that inspires you…then, make it your own! And wear it proudly!!

AND #10. Devo Time and Prayer Time with my husband…I love that Shawn and I can come to God together, not just on our own (which, of course, we do) – there’s just something special about learning about God and praying together that strengthens our marriage and walk!