Introducing Rellas Bellas

Hi Friends! I want to introduce you to my sweet friend, Jen and her wonderful business Rellas Bellas. She is so talented and I love her products! She just did a re-design and launching a new product that I am over the moon to share with you!

Jen is guest posting today, so I'm going to let her take it away!

I have spent the last 5 months working on some new ideas for my shop, Rellas Bellas. I have come up with a series of new necklaces that I will be releasing over the next few months. I love items that are are fresh, modern and flirty. I wanted my brand to reflect the products I make.

Some times less is more. This single rosette necklace is perfect for those days. This fresh and modern necklace will add just the right amount of color to your outfit. It is simple yet the intricate details of the rosette make it just a bit flirty.  

Every day when I get dressed I don’t feel like I can leave the house until I accessorize. Some people can’t leave the house without make-up, for me is jewelry. An outfit isn’t complete until I’ve added the final touches.

Some days I like to match my jewelry to my outfit while others days I like to be a bold contrast to what I am wearing. Some days the juxtaposition of the sparkly necklaces with the casual tee just makes me giddy.

I also love to add elements of the unexpected. That is exactly what I did with the whimsical print I added to the back of the single rosette necklace. The grey and white polka dots add that extra hint of whimsy that I oh so much love.

The single rosette necklace is the perfect go to piece for those days when you are running errands, have 800 things to do but still what to look chic and put together.

They are also the perfect understated piece to add a pop of color to a pretty sundress for a night of dinner and drinks with your man or girlfriends. 

5 Things to be Happy About

1. Our neighbors cat has progressively been coming around our front porch more and more. I suppose this is what happens when you feel someone else's cat. I think it might think we're its owner being that it lays at the bottom of our stairs and purrs when we come outside.

2. I got to see Kate and Lauren this week as we are working on planning another blog meeting up! Stay tuned as details will be forthcoming!

3. I babysat the other evening for a family that just adopted a 6 week old kitten. Needless to say, I was in heaven. The little guy fell asleep on me during movie time.

4. I had a bittersweet goodbye dinner for one of the girls in my life group. We all have been a community together for years, so its been bittersweet as some of them have gone onto other jobs and adventures in different states.

5. I saw the Katy Perry 3D movie and absolutely loved it. There were lots of inspiration parts, and I love hearing people's backstories. I feel like we can get deceived into thinking people are overnight successes when we don't see how the heartache and rejection they experience behind the scenes.

On My Heart: Feeling Blank

I've been staring at the computer screen for awhile now, and its just kept looking back at me, blank as can be. It's how I've been feeling lately. I had some weird virus over the weekend where I felt knocked off my feet. I didn't feel sick in the least bit, just overcome with fatigue. I fell asleep at 4pm Friday night in my clothes. And if you no me well enough, you know that I am not a fan of dirty clothes or shoes on clean sheets. Period. I spent all of Saturday laying in my bed; thinking, and thinking, and thinking.

And then I realized that I've run out of words, which is a rarity for me. I could talk to anyone until the cows come home. I'm hoping this time without words will give me an opportunity to take a step back and find others to encourage. I'm working on cultivating an old habit of waking up every morning and doing something for someone else where I don't benefit from it. I'm hoping in the stillness and quiet of my spirit, I'll better be able to see the weary, the heartbroken, and the hurting. And when the time comes, I can only hope I find my words to bless them with!

outfit:

pants + top + shoes: target

Hello Monday

Hello sweet Monday!

Hello to finally being healthy! This summer has been full of one virus after another!

Hello to a super fun craft project with 14 giggling 6 and 7 year olds.

Hello to finding treasures for only $1.00!

Hello to my sweet lil' neighbor who has been visiting us more than usual these days.

Hello to a new week filled with so much laughter, fun and adventure to be had!

How Gratitude Changed Me

About three years ago, I started a gratitude journal. It dramatically changed the way I viewed things and softened my heart for others. Every day for months and months, I wrote down a small list of little things that I was grateful for or about at the end of each day. It refined me, grew up, and challenged me to count each tiny blessing as a gift.

But there are moments that I lose sight of gratitude, when I forget just how richly I've been blessed. The second I lose sight of it, I feel a bit of bitterness, comparison, and entitlement set in. It's ugly, really. It makes me want more for myself, instead of giving to others. 

So I remind myself daily, there is always something more I can give. Sometimes this means rejoicing with a friend over coffee or saying hello to a stranger as our paths cross. At the end of the day, sometimes I feel silly writing down little lists of tiny small almost meaningless things that happen throughout. But each teeny tiny moment that I put on paper serves as a reference point to how blessed I am. And the more blessed I discover myself to be, the more I am able to richly bless others.

sweater: loft

dress: old navy

graphic print: alexis june

photos: c/o chaotic beauty photography

She Needed To Feel The Sun on Her Face

This summer started by kicking my butt big time. I got really sick and was in my bed for days and days. Talk about a not fun way to start this fun season! Luckily it gave me some forced time off to slow things down. Not to mention, it helped me avoid the ridiculous heat wave that came through.

As I was in the car the other day jamming out when I heard the lyrics to a lady A song, "she said she needed to feel sun on her face." My first thought was, yes, yes, yes! This is exactly what I need! I need a little time to regroup, refresh, renew.I needed some sun on my face and some relaxing for my body. So my big sister and I planned a quick trip to hop into the car and headed down to the beach earlier this week.

I can't even begin to tell you how renewed I felt. I sat in my little pink beach chair and admired the beauty all around me. Not to mention, I finally got around to reading Quitter which was so inspiring and encouraging!

I got sunburned out of my mind but it was worth the peace of mind I gained. I came back ready to jump back into the swing of things! It was an incredible lesson in knowing that taking breaks actually leads to more productivity. I've spent so many months of long days filled with many hours of work. I discovered in this short trip just how valuable a little time off can be. I'm hoping to take more little breaks and trips like this in the future!

 bathing suit + towel : target

beach bag: lilly pulizer

polka dot bag: carolina pottery

linking up with Lindsey