Saturday, September 10, 2016

Sunday Best

What do we actually mean when we say "Sunday best"?  Are we just referring to nice clothes that we wear to church?  Is any skirt or dress enough to count in that category?



As a teacher, one of the strategies I use is to answer one question with another (often one that starts with "why"); this helps to get students thinking for themselves.  When I can ask guiding questions and let students figure it out on their own, the concept sinks deeper and sticks longer for them.  I've found myself using this same strategy in my own cognition on multiple occasions.  In this case, the question I ask myself is, "Why do we wear Sunday best?"




Sunday is a day of worship. The activities that we participate in reflect that, since we go to church, we put an emphasis on family, and we avoid certain other activities. Our attitude reflects that. We try harder on Sundays, because of the reminder we've had in church that day to be a little more Christ-like. Our clothing, therefore, should also reflect that. The reverence that we have in our souls can be reflected on our bodies, which is just another way to show our devotion.

With reverence and devotion as our motivations, would any skirt or dress fit the bill? To me, the answer is "no." The dress that I use as a swimsuit cover up just doesn't bring to mind a sacred feeling. The shoes that I use to ride my bike, that are scuffed and dirty, don't make me feel holy and clean. Now, these comments are made based on MY wardrobe, where I am blessed to have better than tennis shoes and swimsuit cover ups. Not everyone is so blessed, and to someone else, those tennis shoes might be the only shoes they have, and that is ABSOLUTELY their Sunday best. The attitude behind the clothes means much more than the clothes themselves.





Our Sunday best is comparable to the widow's mite. If we are doing all we can, the very best we can, to be as clean and holy--inside and out--then that is definitely enough in the eyes of God.

So what does "Sunday best" mean? It's an attitude, first and foremost. We are putting our best foot forward, spiritually and physically, to show our devotion to God.

**********************

This post is in partnership with other LDS bloggers and vendors, bringing a General Conference giveaway from some great creators!

For more information and to enter the giveaway, visit:



Saturday, September 3, 2016

August Round Up


This was my favorite outfit for August.

That week the morning air had just a touch of chill in it and I was craving fall. Fall is probably my favorite season, all of the best things happen in fall---my birthday, all 4 of my kids' birthdays,  Halloween, Thanksgiving---how could I not love it??

So, this outfit is my version of a rain dance, but instead of beckoning rain, I'm begging fall to come.


I don't wear a lot of bright colors,  so the rich neutrals that accompany fall are in my go-to color palette.




This was one of my favorite looks in August! I don't usually gravitate toward printed fabrics--I stick to the stripes or colorblocking--but this shirt was love at first sight. It feels very professional while still being fun, and the colors are somehow bright and understated at the same time. Does that even make sense??

I paired the shirt with some trusty slacks and another super comfortable pair of shoes from Famous Footwear. Those shoes save me; they are the only heels that I can actually wear for work and last the whole day!

This outfit is one that I can always put on and feel comfortable and confident.




It was hard to choose a favorite outfit from the past month, because honestly, I don't think I've ever put so much concentrated effort into my outfits for a whole month straight. I feel really good about every single look, and I'm proud of myself (and my sisters!) for our diligence.

Even though it was hard, I did manage to choose a favorite. Obviously it's the above outfit. I love this look because it's such a wonderful combination of what I'm comfortable with, and challenging myself to try something new. Tying shirts has become a thing, and I've loved the way it completes an outfit on others, but I had never tried it for myself before this day. And I loved it! This outfit, though overwhelmingly blue, made me feel anything but! And it continued to inspire with my makeup as well. I've been perfecting my cut crease, and I've got to say that blue eye shadow DOES NOT have to look like you're an eighth grader learning how to do makeup.

I have absolutely loved August and I can't wait to see what September has in store!