 Being a millennial I hear the negative stereotypes and comparisons to my generation in the workplace ALL the time. Whether it be comments by coworkers, social media, news articles- it's everywhere and I finally decided to break it down and share my real thoughts and interpretations on my generation and why these negative stereotypes exist! According to DynamicSignal.com millennials are quickly taking over as the majority of the workforce as we make up nearly 50%! But there have been some negative stereotypes that really plague our generation: 1. Millennials are entitled so they change jobs constantly. This statement could not be farther from the truth. Personally, I know my worth and I will fight for it no matter what. I also have no problem owning up to my mistakes or opportunities/ weaknesses, so when I change jobs it's definitely not due to entitlement. The reason millennials change jobs "so frequently" is that we refuse to tolerate shortcomings that previous generations may have. We refuse to tolerate bullying in the workplace- no matter your status you should always be treated with respect and professionalism. We refuse to tolerate clear deficiencies in a company, a culture, leadership, etc. and will only communicate and try to work toward resolution for so long before we have to stand up and move on to somewhere that hopefully does value positive change/ growth and does not shy away or put blinders on to issues. Again, we know our worth {not to be mistaken for entitlement} and strive to find a company who values us and aids in furthering our career in our desired direction. We in turn, hope to make that company a better, more valuable place as well- furthering its growth! If a company is not meeting our basic needs {after many chances for improvement} then we must move on because loyalty to a company that makes us unhappy or is a poor representation of our values is not worth staying with. Period. If that then means we change jobs 12 times in our 20s then that's what it means- or some of us get lucky and do find a perfect fit and we do not have to change our job at all! ** Top Qualities Millennials Look For: -great work/ life balance -paid time off for travel/ mental health -collaborative, open work environment -strong, positive company culture -competitive pay and benefits -appropriate, up-to-date use of technology -strong, positive management ** 2. Millennials are lazy and do not work as hard as previous generations. I recently read that millennials really value the quote "work smarter, not harder" and I think sometimes this comes off as "lazy" because our "smarter" way may actually involve less physical work than our older coworkers. However, this definitely does not make us "lazier" than previous generations and I think it is a complete disservice to society that this stereotype is even floating around. I truly believe this must stem from jealousy or envy as millennials may have more knowledge of technology from growing up with it/ being taught more technology skills in school than our older generations did. This is one reason why millennials prefer a more open, collaborative workspace- so we can not only teach/ aid others in areas we may be more skilled in, but to also learn from others that may have strengths in areas that we do not! Embracing a new "smarter" era of business instead of labeling and creating divide based on envy would not only help businesses, but society as a whole {so friendly reminder to be open and accepting of positive change!} 3. Millennials need to be praised often. We often get this label because we were the generation that grew up getting participation awards and praise for what seemed like everything we did. However, we never did/ nor do we now NEED praise for every little thing. Although, we DO value consistent feedback from our management that does not only include opportunities, but ALSO praise or recognition. Something I have personally grown to value in a job is feeling valued. It is really hard to feel valued at your workplace where you give your all every week, but then routinely just get told how you could improve or do EVEN better. That is greatly appreciated since we are a generation that is so passionate about our impact and career development, but we also need to hear what we are doing right. So while there is some truth to this stereotype, I think it is often blown up and negatively reflected that we need to be babied and can never be told of wrongs or hear hard conversations. To be honest, I think praise or encouragement should be shared and practiced by everyone weekly {if not daily}. A simple "hey, great job on that project" or "I really loved your idea in that meeting today" is so impactful and takes so little effort, so why make it something that has a negative association?! On a related note really quick: Leadership is something I am SO passionate about. I have held various titles and degrees of leadership and as I grow in my career I see so much opportunity in this field. When you are a leader your number one goal should be being a leader that others WANT to work under {as everything else should then fall into place}. Sadly, I see far too many fail at this {I think this is part of the reason I strive so hard to be a positive one}. It is so SO important to listen, communicate clearly, spend time with team members and get to know them, do not be stingy on praise or encouragement, be open for change, and know how to respectfully and appropriately deliver hard conversations. I am sure I missed a few other good truths about leadership in that short list, but honestly I think so many leaders lack one or more of these key qualities and this is why millennials {and others} leave jobs. When you work under someone who lacks one or more of these leadership skills, it can literally make your life and job miserable and I think if we all took time for honest reflection and made a conscious effort to develop any skills that we lack then millennials {and others} would leave less and we would see company loyalty rise again. People don't typically leave companies, they leave leadership. **So to all the leaders- let's do better and watch how our success rises** {we rise by building others up!} Lastly, my little leadership motto is that I strive to live a life where at the height of my career I can look back and say that if most {if not all} previous employees I was directly over were interviewed about me they would have positive things to say and stories of how I lifted them up or helped them grow. I strive to leave a trail of positivity/ encouragement instead of battling my way "to the top" having little to no regard for those around me.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out!
xoxo, Jess
0 Comments
 I absolutely love making mood/ trend boards so I decided to change it up a little bit this Easter and do one instead of a gifting guide! Overall: I'm loving blues and neutrals this spring so I wanted the overall feel for this board to exude that! Of course, you can't have a spring board without flowers so I found this picture of these pretty little orange-y ones that resemble Pantone's color of the year: "Living Coral"! {& floral hair scarf from Anthropologie!} * Anthropologie Hair Scarf: TBH, I am loving hair scarves this season and this one would pair so well with any Easter/ Spring outfit! The versatility of hair scarves is so vast and they really add to an outfit! I also adore how the color matches so nicely with the bold earrings!:) * Orange Flowers: As said above, every good trend board should try to coincide with the color of the year so I used this gorgeous picture for that color inspo! {follow me on Pinterest for more inspiration!} * Color Block Dress: This dress is SO cute! I normally go more "dressy" or "formal" for Easter, but this little linen sack style dress was too cute to pass up. It is such a blank slate, making it perfect for dressing up with accessories! The plainness also makes it a great staple closet piece too! * Winky Lux Flower Balm: I have posted about this lip balm before, and probably will again. It is THAT good. Works the pH of your lips to form a unique shade of pink just for you, while still being a moisturizing light lip balm! I can't say enough good things! I gifted one to each of my friends for Christmas and every single one of them reached out saying how much they loved it too! The subtle color is perfect for completing an Easter {or spring} look! The specific one pictured is a limited edition one in gold packaging {that is the only difference between it and the regular one}. * Baublebar Statement Earrings: I stumbled upon these lemon drop earrings and fell in LOVE. How cute!? Perfect sparkly way to dress up this simple look! These are pretty reasonably priced, but if you are wanting something even more inexpensive then I highly recommend looking at some of the great pieces from Baublebar's collection with Target called Sugarfix. Most pieces are under $20!:) * Blue A New Day Purse: When I saw this at Target recently I fell in love with this bag. The laser cut design is so stylish, and as mentioned above I am on this blue kick recently, so this was a perfect addition to our Easter/ spring look! If you're not as crazy about blue as I am then there is a black option too.:) * Supergoop Shimmershade: Recently I have been so intrigued by this new product by Supergoop. I can't wait to try it out! I currently use a similar product by MAC, but decided to add this one to change it up! I love a simple makeup look! The color featured is "First Light". * Blue Watercolor Eggs: I found this picture on Pinterest and how cute are these eggs?! I couldn't have created a more fitting pictured for this board than this one. Even fits the simplistic mood/ style!:) The link has a lot of other fun egg ideas too! * Girl, Read Your Bible Quote: By Alisha Illian. I found this the other day and just adore the simple yet TRUE nature of it! This quote speaks so well to me because one of my favorite parts of being a believer is the PEACE and PURPOSE it brings to my life. Like AMEN...So this was just too fitting not to share in my Easter board!:) * Sam Edelman Natalya Mules: This is my favorite shoe this spring. I am obsessed and cannot wait to purchase a pair of my own! I normally do a heel or more fancy option for Easter styling, but I just think this shoe goes too well with this year's look. Also, it's probably even comfier than a heel so WIN!:) I definitely plan on doing more of these mood/ trend boards so I hope y'all enjoy them as much as I do!
If you have any questions or need help styling your Easter outfit, please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess  Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays to gift/ decorate/ style for! I just love all the colors and symbols and LOVE!:) Sharing my fav gift ideas for all the men in your life! 1. Trolli Sweet & Sour Mashup Hearts. Whether it's sweet or sour candy is like a staple of this holiday so I chose these because currently I'm obsessed with the sour! Candy also makes the perfect little basket filler!:) 2. Ember Mug. This is a little bit more of a splurge, but for any coffee lover it is simply THE best. Keeps your coffee hot by literally heating it. SO cool! 3. JV x NJ Cologne. Y'ALL. I got this cologne as a sample and let my boyfriend have it and it smelled AMAZING. We both approved so this is definitely a great buy! I was not expecting to be impressed so it was a great surprise!:)I always think a new scent is a fun gift because it's something you don't often think of buying for yourself! 4. Adidas NMD C2 Shoes. I found these shoes and fell in LOVE! How handsome are they?! Another bonus: they are 50% off making them under $100! I seriously think these are so versatile. Could be worn casually or dressed up for the office! 5. Wire Heart Photo Holder. Found these little heart photo holders on Etsy- how cute would they be to hold a little picture on his desk?! I also love that you get to pick 2 for under $10! I personally love wire photo holders because they are easy to change the photos!:) 6. Personalized Wallet. I love the idea of a personalized wallet. I think this is such a perfect guy gift! They look so good! 7. Valentine's Boxers. As you can tell from my last gift guide, I am such a fan of fun undies! So obviously these are a must! I can't get over how cute Valentine's underwear are and they make the perfect little gift filler! 8. Sports Water Bottle. Perfect idea for the sporty guy! Everyone needs water bottles and they are perfect to express personality + bring water to the office!:) Of course, I featured this Cowboys one! For finishing touches I get my wrapping supplies from Target & typically any little add-ons there too! If you have any further questions about these products please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess  Being in the retail industry, I really appreciate experiencing great guest service and finding companies that are "doing it right" so I decided to share with y'all who I discovered in 2018 and absolutely fell in love with! 1. Hulu I really discovered Hulu at the end of 2017, but they are too great not to share about. I could honestly write an entire post on just how great they are. First, when I moved into my own apartment after college I did A LOT of research on what TV provider/ streaming service would be the best value. I legit looked at them ALL (Dish, Netflix, Sling, PlayStation Vue, etc.). Hulu by far was the most accessible, easy to use, best price, and best channel offerings. I have their Hulu Live package and not only do I get all the local channels (so I can watch the news- I know I'm old), but I also get ALL the specialty channels I love like HGTV, TLC, and A&E (+ tons of others). I ALSO get access to all regular Hulu content and DVR, all for $44.99/ month. Honestly, I think Hulu in general is better than its top competitor Netflix because Hulu actually has movies people care about, like they have several popular FULL movie series, including all the Harry Potter movies! If this wasn't already convincing, I had an issue with their app and my new smart TV last December so I called their customer service for help. Not only did the man on the phone patiently help me solve my issue, without prompting he looked into my usage and saw I had barely used my Hulu package so he gave me a whole month free of charge. I was stunned. This was truly going above and beyond and now I am very loyal customer who tells anyone who listen how great they are! If you are ready to switch over to the best TV experience you can use my link to sign up here 2. BarkBox Another company that truly understands exceptional guest service. I prefer emailing their customer service best as I always get a prompt response that is consistently very helpful. Real people email you back and they are VERY personal. They even have a picture of their dog as part of their signature at the bottom of their email, which I think is so cool. I love BarkBox so much that if they had offices in Dallas I would 100% apply. Their office space and culture looks amazing and I just adore their company. Their merchandise is honestly the best of the dog industry and their brand consistency is unparalleled. The quality and originality of their toys is my fav and my dog is obsessed with her box each month. Being that my pup is a 7lb mini Dachshund she can't always fit her mouth around every toy so I emailed asking if I could add any preferences or specifications and they were more than happy to customize her boxes just for her. She LOVES crinkle toys so after they added that on she has gotten at least 1 crinkle toy in every box, which makes her even more happy! If you want to sign up for your pup you can use my link here The ONLY thing I would change is that their treats be a little bit healthier/ natural as there have been a few my pup's tummy disagreed with or I have felt leery of giving her. Otherwise, another absolute FAV company! 3. Drop So I discovered this (free) app around halfway through 2018 and was extremely leery at first. I don't love giving personal information to just any site/ app, but I scoured the internet and couldn't find any bad reviews so I decided to trust and give it a try. A few weeks later, I saw why. I LOVE it. It links to my bank account and identifies when I spend at the places I picked in the setup process and then gives me points that QUICKLY turn into gift cards. The end. It is that simple. There are no sketchy gimmicks or catches, you just earn points when you spend at the places of your choice and then you can turn your points into gift cards (there's a ton of choices, places like Target, Lululemon, Starbucks, AA, etc.). You have to be invited to join so you can use my code to join + get $5 to start out: ycsy7 4. Coinout Coinout was featured on my fav show Shark Tank and has since grown a lot! While it requires a little more effort than Drop, I still really like it. Once you download the free app you just scan any receipt and you earn a small portion of money (for me it's usually $0.01-$0.20 per receipt). Whenever you are ready you can cash out your balance via gift card, PayPal, or directly into your bank account. It doesn't sound like very much, but you'd be surprised how quickly it adds up! In the last year I have probably received about $20-$30 all for just scanning receipts. There's a varying limit of receipts you can do per do and there a few easy requirements, but all are clearly stated on the app. There are also other ways to earn, like shopping through links to popular websites from the app, and checking out the "badges" at the top of the app. Unlike Drop you can get rewarded for any receipt, not just ones from a set amount of merchants you choose. You can join with my link to earn a bonus here 5. Lemonade For home/ apartment insurance I love Lemonade. I discovered it in 2018 and was skeptical at first since the company is so new, but like Drop I could not find any real negative reviews. It is SO user-friendly and the app is the easiest way to understand and customize your coverage. Not only is it simple and easy to use, but it is also the best value I have found (and I also researched this A LOT). 6. Ring Another Shark Tank featured service, I love this company for my home security. Ring also has great customer service! Home security is really important to me so last year when I was changing providers I again did a TON of research, looking at all the main competitors. I chose Ring because it had the best product for the best price and the best assortment. Most others either charge way more for the initial purchase of equipment or way more for the 24/7 monitoring (or some don't even offer the 24/7 monitoring at all). I spent around $150 for the home security bundle and then pay $10 a month for the professional monitoring. The equipment is extremely reliable and great quality (along with their app). They are always coming out with new products and services/ capabilities too! 7. Spotify Premium I caved in 2018 and jumped on the music streaming service and I am so happy I did. Choosing the right provider though was actually pretty difficult. Initially I wanted to go with Apple Music because I love Apple and have many of their products already so I knew it would sync well to everything, etc. After doing my research though I learned that Spotify was the better choice for one main, important reason: if ever you cancel your paid premium subscription with them, you still get to keep access to all your downloaded songs. No other music service I could find allows this and I think it's a game changer. I also love all of their playlists and the ones they curate just for me!:) If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess **Referral links included in this post. This means that if you click and/or make a purchase through certain links on this site, I may make money.**  {this top is old from Francesca's & I can't find a similar one} Leggings: Victoria Sport I had such an incredible 2018 & I know God has an even bigger 2019 in store! I've taken the 1st week of the year to really reflect & have developed a list of things I'd like to do & be more in the new year. 1. Explore Dallas more I LOVE this city & after living here 2 years I feel like I haven't seen even half of the hidden treasures. So my mission this year is to do just that! Seek out those treasures much more frequently. 2. Do more fun activities, like weekend trips {spending more time with those I care about} There's nothing I love more than travel & I think in 2019 I need to think small more often. Plan a weekend trip to Austin, Waco, OK, somewhere just far enough for adventure! I also want to do more of these with friends & family. I am notorious for doing things alone or with one friend, but I'd love to plan more group adventures! I also want to just be more intentional with my time away from work/ responsibilities. This for me looks like reading a book, going to play frisbee golf, having a stay-in spa night, etc. 3. Be a more involved Auntie This is one I always strive for. I have several nieces & nephews & there is nothing I love more than being an aunt. So I want to be more present: watching their football games, having weekend dates, etc. 4. Be more punctual Another one I am constantly striving toward. 100% a weakness of mine that I don't like to admit, but I know I need to be more punctual in all areas of my life & I believe I can make a big improvement in 2019! I know how important timeliness is so there is no reason not to just do it!:) 5. Be more philanthropic I love the feeling of giving back & being part of something bigger than myself & to be honest, I do not do it enough. At this stage in my life I do not make much extra money so I tend to use that as my excuse, but it is a terrible one. In 2019 I vow to make a bigger impact in my community as I get more involved with giving of my time & skills. 6. Find more peace {get back into yoga!} Currently heavily researching the best studio for me to join, but I honestly can't wait to start back in yoga regularly. I used to go weekly back in high school & it was so calming. I totally need that in my life again & I can't wait to see the impact that it has on my health!:) 7. Get Violette into a doggy daycare we love! I am sadly gone so much for work that I feel bad for my super socialite puppy so I've decided to find her a daycare to go to twice a week so she can be her best self! Violette is such a sweet puppy who LOVES friends & play so I can't wait to be able to get her into one she loves. 8. Be more financially stable When I graduated college I took a position I was overqualified for with the promise that I would be promoted quickly & unfortunately 2 years later & I am still waiting on that promotion. This is the year I make that happen. I really want to be able to put more into my savings & to have more money to give back & spend on travel. In addition, I always feel as though God gives me a word or phrase for my year or season & late last year I felt Him put the phrase "Don't let your preferences get in the way of your paradise" on my heart. Since I was a little girl, my stubborn tendencies have led me to let my "preferences" spoil many "paradises" in my lifetime & since God put this phrase on my heart I have seen so many instances where its been applicable. I am really excited to see how He helps me grow in this season & let this rooted bad habit grow small. So I pray that this year I can accomplish all of these "wish list" resolutions along with finding more ways to give up control & let me find all the paradise in store! With that being said, I also know that at the end of the day {or year} I am still happy. I love who I am & I am still my core "me". Just as my shirt reads "fashion is my religion" {AKA my passion & focus}, the Lord is my guide, & my admiration for Taylor Swift is strong as ever.  xoxo, Jess
 The biggest shopping weekend of the year has arrived! This is probably my favorite weekend & I've been SO looking forward to sharing this year's gift guide! My top picks for both men & women for this year's holiday season!:) 1. Found these gorgeous monogram coasters from Anthropologie & I think they are GREAT because they fit any girl's decor. I would use them more for decoration- not an actual coaster for drinks on a table, but either work!:) 2. These cozy, fuzzy slippers from Target are one of the top styles this season & you can't beat the quality or price! This would also work for so many women on your list! 3. I featured this lip balm in my Easter gifting guide earlier this year, but it is SO great that I had to feature it again. I can't get over how much I love it, how cool it is, & what a great gift it makes! Works with your pH to tint your lips a unique shade of pink + hydrates + smells great + feels great on + has a flower on the inside! I really don't know how much more you could possibly desire from a lip balm! 4. I saw these earrings & I can't get over how cute they are + love this brand! These would look SO cute with an ugly Christmas sweater so this might be a perfect little self gift this holiday season. I mean, shopping is hard this time of year! So many crowds, long lines, & lots of people to buy for, so why not treat yourself?;) Lol 5. I love a good candle & how much better can it get than one with a bow on top of the lid?! So cute!! Love Francesca's for gifting so had to add this one to the list! Candles are such a great gift for really anyone! 6. I have THE hardest time cleaning my brushes so tbh I rarely do it {yes, I know that's so bad}, but when I saw a video of this brush mat I was hooked! I don't own this, but it's on my list for sure! This looks like the easiest, best way to clean your brushes & any girl who wears makeup would definitely love this one! 7. Being a hairdresser's daughter I was SUPER skeptical about this shampoo & conditioner I was seeing everywhere, but I love the concept of taking a hair quiz & having customized hair products! Also love that they don't use bad ingredients & are made in the USA! I linked the page that comes up after you take the hair quiz so y'all can see the cute holiday colors and scents to choose from! This would be a really cool gift for sure! 8. This balloon dog figurine seems to be everywhere & I think it's adorable! Perfect little decor addition just like the coaster!:) 9. The Tile tracker is definitely a perfect gift for anyone on your list this year, but I feel like guys are a littleee more likely to lose track of their things soooo this makes it especially great for any of the guys on your list! Lol 10. I have this WonderBoom speaker in the pink color & I LOVE it. Seriously the best little speaker, with not so little sound quality. It is SO good + it's waterproof! Another great gift for anyone, but really perfect for any guys on your list! Also, if you have one then you can connect 2 & have even bigger sound! 11. Love this cocktail shaker for men because it is so simple & great for any of your guys that are always making the drinks! 12. Loving this Every Man Jack men's gift set I stumbled across this season. I am always in search of the best men's skin/ body care products- I feel like there is such a shortage in the market, but I do really like this brand! 13. Holiday boxers from American Eagle are always so fun & the best little addition! 14. Herschel small travel bag is great for any guy! I feel like everyone needs a good travel bag for bathroom essentials & this is just that with a more masculine look. 15. With all the sports games to stream, game apps to play, & social media to browse guys' phone batteries don't last long so a power bank is the perfect gift for any guy who always needs to borrow the charger! I really like Heyday by Target because it's great quality & price, but also stylish! For finishing touches I get my wrapping supplies from Target & typically any little add-ons there too!
If you have any further questions about these products please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess 
I absolutely love the holidays so I am so excited to share with you my Thanksgiving outfit details! I styled this outfit 2 different ways for y'all & love them both!
So I've spoke about this before, but I just can't get over how much I am loving this comeback A&F is making! My jeans and flannel are both from there and I could recommend them enough. I wear these jeans ALL the time {if y'all can't tell already lol} and I love the colors of this top! Jeans run true to size, I'm in a 25 and the top runs small so size up one! My red vest is something I just found, but I have been searching for the perfect quilted vest for FOREVER. No surprise I was able to find it at the classic J. Crew. It runs true to size, I'm in a XS. My fur vest is actually from Target 2 years ago lol, but I love it so I linked this years version from their Universal Thread brand! I can't recommend a fur vest enough. It just makes any fall outfit and they are actually really warm so you don't have to worry about wearing on cooler days. I just purchased these riding boots and I already adore them. I have been searching for a two tone riding boot for the longest time. This was definitely a splurge, but I really felt it was worth it because they are such a classic staple and I am loving how nice they make every outfit. Also, you can't go wrong with Ralph Lauren! Being in the fashion industry, more specifically in retail, I have to work on Thanksgiving evening and basically a million hours within that weekend following {wouldn't trade it though because I love the hustle/ bustle of this weekend!}, but I will get to spend a little time with family in the morning!:) I hope y'all have a wonderful holiday and remember all the things we have to be thankful for! If you have any questions or need help styling your Thanksgiving outfit please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess  
 Top: A&F {similar} Skort: Missguided Shoes: Steve Madden {similar} Necklace & Bracelet: Kendra Scott Choker Necklace: Claire's Lipstick: MAC "Back to my thoughts on a reputation... I think that what scares us so much about having a bad reputation is the idea that we might miss out on finding something real like real love, real connection, because of something fake like a reputation. So when it comes to all that, I just think it's really 'Delicate' ya know?" *que "Delicate" song* -Taylor Swift
Fun fact: I have been to every Taylor Swift concert since Speak Now. I can honestly say my favorite part about going is the inspirational speech she gives and a little bit of song insight. This year I captured it so I could listen again and again and above is a direct quote from the Reputation Tour speech. As always her concert was wondrous, dreamy, and everything I could have hoped for. She is amazing and I am forever obsessed. Anddd I only cried 3 times {much improvement from last concert where it was 7 lol}! Onto the outfit details: So I decided to wait to post about this closer to the holidays because living in the south sometimes our holidays end up on the warmer side. Like 75 degree Thanksgiving is not unusual. This is what I wore to the concert, but I love it for warmer holiday season too! The top is literally like 4 years old from A&F so I found a cute sparkle tank from this year that has an open back that I love so I linked it above! The skort is SO cool because Taylor Swift was actually photographed wearing it and I LOVE this asymmetrical skort trend! The better news is it's actually SUPER reasonably priced! Use the sizing guide to figure out your size. I wish I had sized up, but when I ordered the next size up wasn't available, sadly. This skort is so versatile so I definitely recommend! My shoes are a last year purchase and I LOVE them. Sparkles are so me and I loved how they were perfect for the concert {& also a holiday party!}. I am so sad they are no longer sold so I linked the taller pair in a silver metallic- still cute! Target also has really similar options for even less! Jewelry is mostly my go-to choice: Kendra Scott. The silver choker and all other jewelry except the black choker are Kendra. I linked the drusy necklace, but all the matching pieces are featured if you scroll down on the page. The black choker is a classic must that I really enjoy styling. Linked mine above from Claire's! I also linked my lip color above because I am OBSESSED with this formula. It legit stays all day. I do not have to reapply, only MAY need to touchup after eating/ drinking, but honestly not always! And it's not as harsh on my lips as similar formulas have been. It's a MUST. If you have any questions or need help styling your concert/ holiday outfit don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess 
 Top: Wild Fable by Target Jacket: Universal Thread by Target Shorts: Levi's Shoes: Famous Footwear Butterfly Hair Clips: Amazon Chocker Necklace: Icing This past weekend I had the privilege to attend Launch Retreat with Watermark Community Church/ The Porch and it was an absolutely amazing experience. It was 90s themed so of course I went all out and rocked that denim on denim trend, complete with a choker and butterfly clips! I LOVED it. I sized up to a small in both the jacket {check out the full blog post on this jacket!} and top for a more relaxed fit and everything else runs true to size! The new Wild Fable line from Target is super 90s inspired so it was PERFECT and it is priced even cheaper than Target's other brands- closer to those of competitors Forever 21 and H&M! YAY! This top was only $10 and such great quality! Dressing up was SO much fun {so I had to share with y'all} but what God revealed was even cooler. Therefore, I thought I would share with y'all what I learned: -WORRY: -Matthew 6:24-34 {I especially love verse 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -there is a great relationship between what you are devoted to and what you worry about... and between how big our worry is compared to our faith. {belief>worry} -worry never helps and always hurts us. -God promises He will meet our needs so we do not have to worry. The Bible repeats 366 time not to be afraid/worry/fear. -relieve your worries by replacing your agenda with God's agenda. You can have peace and not get everything you want OR you can worry and not get everything you want. -when overwhelmed, PRAY. -HOW TO HAVE A BOLD FAITH: -you know the one in charge in the midst of all things. It always works out- the short run should not intimidate you. -until God breaks you in your most confident area He hasn't really broken you yet -we always go to Him in our last resort when things aren't working. Instead, invite Him into EVERYTHING, right from the beginning. He always cares, so if you consult Him in everything from the beginning then you will pray less "God why don't you care?!?" prayers. -live boldly for His glory. -WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO USE OUR FAITH: -what is faith if you aren't going to use it?! Put faith into action and SHARE! -you never run out of faith, you just have to choose to access it. -faith without deeds is dead. Faith has to work, move, and create. -have the faith to follow, to forgo, and to be forgotten. Forgo things that do not glorify Him and give up your plans to follow His {you aren't actually in control anyway, plus His plan is always greater!}. If you are called to be a prophet, do not stoop to be a king. Have the faith and confidence to be forgotten for His glory/ kingdom. -you're behavior always follows your belief -be 100% committed. Change your playground and your playmates. -do not let your preferences get in the way of your paradise {when it comes to faith/ the church/ etc.}. -HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT WASTING OUR LIFE: -we touch our phones an average of 2,617 times a day. This equates to almost 2.5 hours a day. So you HAVE time to do more life-giving things. -be self controlled. Obstain from sin- it is a complete and total waste of time. We spend more time winding down from sin than it takes to actually commit it. -get dead serious about Jesus. You cannot do it without Him. -love people well, your actions are louder than sin. -be selfless. Do something for others any chance you get as it is far more rewarding. -be a steward. Be a steward of the time, talent, and treasure that God has given you. These talents aren't really to benefit you, they are to benefit others- don't be a hoarder! -boast only in the cross! So overall I didn't really "learn" anything new, but more so was reminded of some great truths that I desperately needed to hear. It was so renewing. I was reminded in the importance of inviting Him into every day, just talking with Him casually makes such a difference and brings a peace over your day. Inviting Him to be present in your every day helps you live for Him and see what He has for you. I was also reminded not to worry or try to seek control, that His plans are always better. Also, not to let my preferences get in the way of what He has for me, and to continue to be a light for His kingdom. This results in a few next steps for me:) I am starting to read "Welcome to Adulting" by Jonathan Pokluda. I want to seek out a community group {currently praying over this}, I am making more time for friends to pour into these treasured relationships, and I am trying to talk more with God, especially in the mornings to bring Him to the forefront of my mind and see what He has for me each day. Lastly, I was reminded of the beauty and peace that worship brings, so instead of always turning on some of my favorite secular music, I am choosing to listen to more worship music and I LOVE it! I thought for fun I'd share my current top 5 fav worship songs: -So Will I -Let Go -Oceans -Holy Spirit -Spirit Break Out  If you have any questions about faith or need help styling your 90s outfit, please don't hesitate to reach out!:)
xoxo, Jess 
    Top: Victoria's Secret PINK Sport Leggings: Victoria's Secret PINK {similar} Shoes: Famous Footwear Bracelet: Ringly Hi friends! It is SO incredibly HOT here in north Texas right now- I'm dying. I just had to share my current fav athleisure outfit {AKA: what I am wearing when I get home, escaping this heat}.
I love so many things about this outfit, but the color scheme is at the top of that list! I am obsessed with mint and obviously black goes great with everything! My crop tee is cotton and so comfy. It's a little warm to workout in so that's why I prefer it more for an athleisure look. It is currently sold out, so I am linking a VERY similar crop tee I also love from Madewell here. I have a striped version of this {wearing in my last post} that I adore and they are so similar- promise! If you shop at VS PINK often you know their leggings change out so quickly so unfortunately I couldn't find the exact one, but I linked a similar option above. It's a marble print {which I am also obsessed with} but it has the same mesh pocket detailing and inserts along the legs.:) In the second to last picture you can see my hand tucked into the mesh pocket- I think this is such a cool design detail!! VS PINK has the best sport leggings- I have way too many pairs, but I just can't stop. They are always coming out with new designs and prints that are must-haves! I feel like I post about these shoes like nearly every post, so if that doesn't tell you something..lol! But seriously, they are just so versatile and comfortable! A closet staple! Lastly, I have also spoke about my Ringly bracelet before and I JUST learned that they are no longer manufacturing new products!:( I AM SO SAD ABOUT THIS! Their products were SO cool and inventive so I will definitely be on the lookout for a similar design to come out through another brand because I know this will not be the last we see from stylish wearable technology. I will keep y'all updated, but until then you may still be able to find a Ringly product for resale somewhere! They are so cute and functional so I totally recommend! If you have any questions or need help styling your athleisure outfit, please don't hesitate to reach out!:) xoxo, Jess |
