Leggings are (not) Pants

I keep seeing & reading things like this

Maybe you have too. And, I tend to agree, leggings are not pants. If they were, they would be called pants. However, I fail to see the difference between wearing leggings as pants, and say, wearing super right, require butter to get on, skinny jeans. I do not think their is a difference between wearing these

               

And say, any of these things

These are yoga pants...note the word 'pants' as well as the fact that they look exactly like leggings.

Or even these. Also yoga pants, but with a wider leg. However, I think objecting to wearing leggings as pants doesn't have anything to do with how form fitting they are from mid-calf down. It's how closely they cling in...well...other places. These yoga 'pants' do exactly the same thing.

How is wearing these more socially acceptable then wearing leggings? They are equally tight, these are just significantly more uncomfortable & have pockets (which is actually not as handy as it would seem because the jeans fit so tightly you can't actually put anything in the pockets).

                    

But it this last thing that baffles my mind....The image on the rightis leggings, and the one on the left is 'jeggings'. WHAT THE HECK???

There is no difference. Why does not one object to jeggings, but people throw down right fits about leggings. Whhhhhhyyyyy?

Now, do not get me wrong. I don't think leggings are pants any more then the next person. I do own them & they are the most comfortable piece of clothing I own for my lower half. I wear them when I am home alone, I wear them to bed, I wear them with a long sweater and boots when I am too lazy to put on real clothes to leave the house. I am pro-leggings, assuming you wear them appropriately. Like, say, in any of these ways..

I mean, just be smart about it...modest is hottest ladies, remember that. Cover up your cute bottoms. 'Bottoms up!' was not referring to being able to see your booty through tight, stretchy fabric.

Love ya'll

Emily xo

Part 1: Good, Bad & Ugly

Here's a quick haul/review of some of some items I have recently purchased & used.

Warning: My younger brother, Mark, helped me while I was doing this and contributed with some random photos of some random things. We had fun, and I included those randoms at the end.

Skin Care:

The first item is this St. Ives body lotion in Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract. I have been absolutely loving this! I will admit, I purchased it mostly for the scent, which is ah-mazing! But, as with all St. Ives items I have tried, it truly does do an incredibly job at what it's meant for, moisturizing my body.

I bought this after hearing many people rave about how wonderful it is. I am here to dispute all those lovers of Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream. I really, really dislike it. I find it doesn't absorb into my skin, and kind of smears over my face, leaving it looking cake-y. And, throughout the day I notice that it actually rubs off my face, and forms weird coagulated clumps.

Not a hit with me, at all!

Lastly, I have the Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15. It does claim to be a sensitive skin sunscreen, which I do agree with. I had no problem at all with it breaking me out, or drying out my sensitive skin. However, I do not really find it to be moisturizing. I typically use another facial moisturizer in addition to this product.

It does protect my skin, which is excellent. But, I was thrown by the scent. For some reason I didn't anticipate it smelling quite so strongly of sunscreen. If you don't like the sunscreen scent, I would steer clear of this.

* I am going to divide this up into sections, so consider this Part 1: Good, Bad Ugly.

Emily xo

Feeling like a Princess

As I have grown up over the past few years I have realized a couple things;

1. I no longer have to ridiculous metabolism I did when I was 13, and therefore cannot consume endless amounts of chocolate...at least not without serious consequences to my health and my waistline. Sigh...it was a sad realization.

and

2. Being a princess doesn't necessarily include pretty dresses, as Disney would have us believe. Growing up I loved Barbies and Princesses. I had a Cinderella poster on my wall. Yup. I thought I was going to be her.
Yes, when I have a dress on that is lovely, fits me well and makes me feel good I do tend to equate myself with a princess. In reality however, the occasions for such dresses are far and few between.

For some reason ball gowns are not appropriate work attire.

Sometimes the moments I feel most like a princess is when I am wearing a tank top and p.j. bottoms and having a movie night. It is moments when I feel confident in how I look and who I am. And, as time passes I have noticed that moments I feel like a princess have less and less to do with how I outwardly appear and more and more to do with my interior disposition in each moment.

I realize this is an incredibly gift that some young women will never enjoy. I am incredible thankful I have been blessed in this way.

I hope and pray you can begin to recognize the princess you are, despite how you may appear on the outside and any imperfections you think you have.

You are truly His Princess.

Emily xo

In the Eyes of the Beholder

There is a crisis in today's young ladies that surrounds one word that should never, under any circumstance, cause immeasurable pain, stress, illness or sorrowful tears.

beau-ti-ful

Adjective
1. Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
2. Of a very high standard; excellent

Synonyms
handsome-lovely-pretty-fine-fair-nice

That is the definition that appears when we Google search the word beautiful.

This is the image that appears when you Google search the words beautiful woman.

So, what is the crisis, and where is it coming from? I think it's fairly clear from the images that filled the screen when I searched 'beautiful woman'. It was not filled with the Audrey Hepburns of the world, that is for sure. Or any modestly dressed, classic beauties. No...it was filled with scantily clad women, with huge chests, miniature waists, flat stomachs, long legs, glassy hair and sultry looking faces.

Who has defined beautiful in that way? The definition of the word suggests 'beautiful' should be associated with not only looks, but mind. It says that what is beautiful will be pleasing. That beautiful is excellence. If that's the definition, where has this image we associate with beauty come from?

I think it's easy to blame it on men. Women are often quick to say that if men didn't respond so readily to woman like in the photo then we wouldn't be dressing and acting that way...and we certainly wouldn't be defining beauty by those standards. But think about it. That does not make sense. We are the ones to blame. Yes, men have a part in it, of course. But it comes down to us.

It is no secret that attraction to another person beings with appearance. This is not shallow, it is truthful. If you are not attracted to the appearance of a person then chances are you will not have a relationship with them. That is because our sight is the first of our senses to be ignited when we meet another person. We notice how they appear. This is why it's so important to dress presentably for a job interview and such things. People notice us first by how we appear.

However, no two people find the exact same things attractive about other people. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. How can we take it upon ourselves to define beauty in such a way, when that definition is not ours to make? Each man finds different qualities-both physical and otherwise-attractive about women. This is why we cannot assume we are or are not beautiful.

Yes, some women who are tall, slender, well endowed and wear very little clothing command the attention of men. However, sometimes that is not because they find them beautiful, but because they hormonally respond to women who are barely covered. We have come to associate beauty with the hormonal reaction of men...not to true attraction and excellence.

You are beautiful. Know and remember that. Someone will always find you the most attractive woman in the world, no matter your shape, size, hair colour, height or weight.

You truly are lovely.

Emily xo

Milk n' Honey Face Mask

If you're anything like me, your skin is probably so very dry in the winter. It has been really windy and cold here in the last couple weeks and I have noticed that my skin has been extra dry, especially my face.

I had been in search of something to aid the dry patches on my face, and all the moisturisers and facial cleanser I had found didn't seem to be helping. After some research on home face masks and the likes I tried  something that really worked, and was really easy!

What you need:
- small bowl
- spoon
- honey (1 tsp.)
- milk (1 tsp.)

All you need to do is combine the milk and honey in a bowl. Mix it really well until it is all combined and looks like a pale honey. Once it's mixed, use your hands to apply it all over your face and neck. I left mine sit for about 40 minutes. I found the simplest, least messy way to wash off the mask was to shower.

My skin felt so smooth and silky after the mask. I applied my regular daily moisturiser to my face afterwards and, voila- a perfect way to remedy that dry skin.

Hope it works for you as well as it did for me.

-Emily xo

3 Step Dress

So, as promised, here is my take on what dressing modestly looks like.

I think so many young woman take modest dress & wearing a potato sack are the same thing. The real question is, is it possible to look lovely AND dress in a way to respect our bodies. The answer is yes!
Does it take more time, and more work? Yes, but all good things do. Is it going to cost me more? It can, but doesn't have to.

Dressing modestly does not mean all your clothes have to be loose fitting, baggy and gross. There is a line between wearing something too tight and wearing something baggy. Here are some quick, easy questions to ask yourself when you are getting dressed to help you find the perfect line:


1. Can you see my underwear/bra line?
 -If the answer is yes, chances are the pants/shirt are too snug. It doesn't mean just throw on a thong or camisole and you're good to go. It means, strive for something that doesn't hug every curse so tightly.

2. Do they flatter my body type?
 -Just because you're not wearing something that resembles a second layer of skin doesn't mean you can't wear something flattering. Find something that fits your form. I don't mean stuck to you, but that flatters your body shape, and compliments your curves, and size.

3. What are your motives (conscious or not) behind the outfit?
- Who doesn't dress to impress a guy? Everyone does it, and there isn't anything wrong with dressing nicely, and putting a little extra time into your appearance for him. But, when you're putting on your shirt are you trying to attract a guy by the amount of cleavage it reveals? Or, are you wearing leggings as pants to attract his eyes to your legs, or butt?
Try dressing nicely, and appropriately and a gentleman will notice. He will notice they way you carry yourself with dignity and how your body looks lovely in nice clothing, but not like a sex symbol.

Anyway, I hope that these are helpful!

Have a beautiful weekend

-Emily xo

Modest Dress- Archaic or Relevant?

Is modest dress in our current world an outdated idea, reserved only for the pushy religious and Amish? I am no expert, and by no means a saint, but I have some strong opinions on this. I think that probably stems from my passion for young women ministry. I so badly want for all young women to know their value and to know how stunning and precious they are. My heart hurts for so many young ladies I see walking around with hardly enough fabric around their bodies to be considered clothing.

I don't think I am a prude...maybe some would consider me to be so, but I really think that I just value people, and our God, and that means believing in some ideas that some may consider archaic and silly. Whatever your opinion on the matter, I challenge you to read on, and see what I have to say.

I believe what so many people in our world seem to have forgotten. Our bodies are holy. We were created in the image and likeness of God. Of God. I mean, God could have made us to look however He pleased, He is God after all. But He cared so deeply for what he was about to create that he wanted to make us like Him in all ways but sin. That is the highest of honours.

Maybe you think you mother, or aunt or some other relative is simply stunning. When people tell you that you resemble them, you are incredibly flattered because you take that to mean you are nearly as beautiful as they are. So, is being made in the image of our God not also high praise? He adores us! There is no greater flattery.

I believe this to mean that are bodies are made with such care and love that we need to respect them as such. We need to veil them and care for them in a way that reflects the glory in which they were created. This point could be argued both ways I suppose...

I see it to mean that we need to cloth our bodies in a way that reflects the glory we were made in, but others may say that if God made us like Him would He not want us to show it off?

I think the answer to that is, no. Time and time again we see and hear that God is a gentleman. He never forces himself where He is not welcome. He waits to be invited into our hearts, our homes, our schools, our jobs and then He enters with grace. I believe He calls us to do the same.

We are ladies, and we need to act as such. This means dressing our bodies in a way that reflects that. We don't need to display all we are to the world. Rather, we reserve it. Not in shame, but in respect, not only for ourselves, but for those around us. Our bodies are beautiful! No matter the shape or size, they are stunning. That being said, we do not have the right to expose ourselves in a way that disgraces what God has made or in a way that leads others to sin.

I don't want to make this post to long and rambly, but I think this is an important topic. So, over the next few days I am going to touch on what modest dressing is (in my opinion), and how how we dress can impact other's temptations for sin.

Have a wonderful, blessed day, and dress your best!

Prayers,

Emily xoxo

11 Things Every Girl Should Know...

I was looking back over my past the other day, and I realized how thankful I was for the things I was told/taught before dating, and what I wished I'd known. I decided to put together a list of what every girl should know before entering the dating world. Number 10 & 11 are the most important...don't stop reading before you get there!

Without further ado, 11 Things Every Girl Should Know:

1. Trust your parents/caregivers. Believe it or not, they are not looking to ruin your life and destroy your chances with every boy you know. They have intuition and insight you may not have because time, experience and parenting has taught them a thing or two.

2. You don't want to be 'hot'. Hot is a temperature. You want to be gorgeous, beautiful, intelligent. Sometimes young men don't understand the difference, and it's okay to teach them. Hot suggests you have a nice, sexy body, which is great. But is that body not also the host of a beautiful soul, and intriguing mind? The answer is yes. Yes, you are so much more!

3. Be a lady, always. Being a lady doesn't mean strutting around like a princess, it means demanding respect by your polite charm. Use manners like they're going out of style, dress your body in a way that would make your grandfather proud, not blush with embarrassment, speak in a way that is uplifting and encouraging, never swear. 

4. Let men be men. Men need to know they are men, so let them open doors help you out of the car, put your coat on, fix your vehicle and talk about how tough they are. Don't let your pride get in the way of those things. Take them as a sincere form of flattery. 

5. Say what you mean. Don't say flowers are a waste of money when you secretly are dying for a man to show up at the door with a beautiful bouquet. You will confuse the poor fellow!

6. Even gentlemen are still men. Men are physical beings, they can't help it. Just like we are emotional and can't help it. Avoid situations for too much physical intimacy, because it can lead you down a dangerous road. Just because a man is a gentleman in every sense of word does not mean is immune to temptation, especially in a dark room, on a bed, with the door closed. Avoid it, for his sake as much as yours.

7. Be smart. Too much to drink or staying out too late can also lead you down a road to temptation, so monitor your alcohol and be home at a reasonable hour.

8. Affirm him. He needs to know he is doing things well. So, thank him and build him up.

9. Defend him. He loves you and you love him. Don't criticize him in front of your friends for the sake of popularity or a laugh. 

10. Discern Marriage. This may be one of the most important things on the list (with the exception of number 11, obviously). Do not date for the sake of dating, or for social status. Ask yourself, "Could I marry this man? Would he be a good husband and father?" You both need to have the expectation that this relationship is for the discernment of marriage and your forever. Pray, pray, pray!!

11. God is always first. Always. You may be head over heals in love with someone, but if God is not first it is all for not. Love God before anyone! Place God first & he will lead and guide you in your relationship. This is the most important thing!! This means praying about your relationship, both alone and with him. Praying together is a beautiful thing and you will be tremendously blessed! Go to Church together- another critical and beautiful thing!

I hope that these are enlightening and useful! May God bless you, and the one you will marry!

-Emily xox