Gingham & Green || Second Semester Aspirations

Hey my dudes and dudettes! There's no better way to kick off spring semester than featuring a new fashion post! Hope you enjoy. You are WINNING at life!! 

Gingham Button Down: Colovos 

Jeans: Paige 

Sneaks:  Chuck Taylor Converse 

Journal:  Moleskine

Necklace: CHG Studios 

Ring: Forever 21

With such bright colored pants, it's always fun to pair them with a basic patterned top.  The gingham pattern adds some sophistication to the outfit without getting too flashy.  

The necklace was given to me as a gift from my wonderful godparents.  CHG Studios is an Ohio based company that creates hand crafted jewelry with one of a kind beads.  I wear this necklace almost everyday, and on the back the word "create" is etched onto the metal plate.  

GOALS FOR SECOND SEMESTER:  

1.  Experience more of the culture around me.  From fine dining restaurants to sweet hipster cafes, local bands to salsa nights on Main Street.  Maybe a spontaneous trip to Philly.  Whatever it may be,  I want to explore more in and out of this campus.  It's crazy to think there's so many possibilities for happiness in this small place I'm in.

2.  Create more through different mediums.  Definitely pursuing the piano clomping, fierce doodling, authentic blogging life. Live, work, create.  

3.  Understand the material I'm learning and apply all of it to my life.  Tell me it's NOT cool that sociology and the knowledge of how society affects our thoughts and ideas is the changing factor to how we go about living our lives? That is SO cool! And the goal is to bring something out of each of my classes, so statistics... I promise to make you a life-changing course - in whatever way I possibly can.

4.  Take more pictures.  Not senseless, meaningless pictures.  Memories and moments.  It's a highlight reel of my life! 

5.  Slowly steer away from social media and the negative effects of it.  One thing I learned this past month: social media can be dangerous.  It's so easy to look at other people's lives against my own, drawing out all the parts of me I'd wish to change.  I can't allow myself to do that anymore, it's not healthy nor is it at all beneficial.  In the pursuit to find love for myself, I have to stop obsessing over being better than everyone else, and instead, find the better in me.  

6.  Delve in the Word.  Recently I've been filled with unnecessary anxiety and the root of my worries lies in my unstable foundation.  To trust him more, I must dive deep into His word and embrace the plan he has for me.  His will is perfect, and his intentions are good.  Sometimes it's hard to trust in something I can't see.  But by his grace I am here, and by his word I am transformed and renewed.  

7. Journal more.  It's important to memorialize my experiences and see how God is constantly working through everything in my life.  Prayers are essential!  

8. Love others.  I don't want to be superficial.  Saying hi to someone in the hall may be the "nice" person thing to do, but I want to do more.  God has been calling me to reach out to more people, and actually get to know them.  There's so many lovely beings out there who have the possibility of changing my life, so I will never cease to take an opportunity to make a fool out of myself or go through an awkward exchange just so someone knows I care.  

On that note, here's a randomly magnificent quote I found on pinterest that soothes my soul: 

Have a fabulous day, you cool cats.  Keep spreading the love and may you be filled with unending, amazing joy.  

Special thanks to Mikayla for taking some mad artsy pictures yo!

For the praise of His glory, 

XOXO Gracie