Tuesday, January 16, 2018

With Style and Lots of Grace

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a great week so far! I just realized today that it's been almost three years since I renamed my blog. It started out as a pregnancy diary so the first name had to do with that... I think it was something related to a pea in the pod. Next, was our family's name as I captured memories as we began our journey as a family of three then four. Then my blog was Sugar and Spice and Everything {Mostly} Nice as I documented my thrifting tips and journey through being a mother to two little girls! So three years ago, I decided I wanted a change as I moved forward in the blogging world. To help me choose a new name, I wrote down tons of words and phrases that described me and what I loved. I just kept coming back to two words: style and grace. 

Style: I adore fashion, getting dressed, and sharing pretty things. Posting my daily outfits on Instagram started as a way to motivate me to change out of pajamas when I had my second daughter and I left my full-time job back in 2012. Even though some people I know in real life may find it silly that I share my outfit each day, I have been able to connect with so many amazing women. These women inspire me and encourage me in so many ways beyond just clothes, jewelry, shoes, and purses. I have been able to collaborate with so many amazing companies and I'm so thankful to see my hobby come to life each day. I love encouraging other moms to be as confident as possible!

Grace: This is Olivia's middle name and it was my one word in 2015, the year I changed my blog's name to With Style & Grace. God has shown me so much grace and it's my goal in my life to show grace and love, even when it's hard. I want to act gracefully in all situations so that everyone will know that I'm a follower of Christ. I strive to show kindness, give forgiveness, and serve others on a daily basis.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

I say all of that but I'm here to tell you that it isn't all puppies and rainbows all of time. Social media is just a highlight reel for most people, including myself. I don't always show off my unmade bed, my face with no makeup, the destroyed living room, all of the dishes in my sink, my hair when I first wake up, or the unfolded laundry that's been in the basket for days. I also don't share about the arguments, the disagreements, or the struggles that I go through but it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist because it does. I find myself being put to "the grace test" every single day. Choosing grace on a daily basis isn't easy. Sometimes I just want to be mad and I don't want to forgive. But the Bible tells us over and over that we must show grace and forgiveness to others because even though we are all sinners, God always forgives us if we put our trust in Him. We don't have to earn it, it's freely given to us. I don't know about you but that just gives me peace. Perfection has a tendency to be my enemy but I don't have to be perfect and it's okay if the laundry has been piled up for three days. Grace... rest in it for yourself and freely give it out to others because life is messy but God is so good!
 
And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16 ESV

P.S. Shoutout to my amazing photographer, Julianna Soto. She's seven years old and up for hire for all of your photography needs. She took all of these photographs for just "one green dollar" so I'd say she is super budget friendly, too! Lol.

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

style and grace, style on a budget, mom style, north carolina blogger, what the bible says about grace

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1 comment:

  1. I love your blog name! Actually, when I was starting mine, it was a name idea that popped into my head. Searching to see if it was used actually let me to your blog, so you were one of the first bloggers I followed! I love the word grace, what it represents and the baring it can have. It certainly is a lifestyle, to live with grace!

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