5 Tips to Spring Cleaning Your Closet

Happy Tuesday! Like I said on Friday, I have been wanting to Spring clean my closet. Well, Today I plunged deep into my messy wardrobe. I have to say that it was a bit time consuming, and maybe a little bit boring, but so worth it! I thought that it would be cool to share my tips for Spring cleaning your closet.

1. First, pull everything out. And when I say everything, I mean everything.

  

These are various piles of all of my clothes pulled out of my closet. I say to pull all of your clothes out because I believe that it is much easier to evaluate and see all that you have, if you can SEE it. I found as I was pulling all of my clothes out that I had a few (or maybe a good bit) of pieces that I hadn't worn in a good while.

2. Next, sort out Winter clothes

I had a few heavy sweaters and Winter pieces that I would not be able to wear anymore since we have had a considerable weather change. So, I sorted those out to put in a box in the attic for next Fall/Winter.

3. Once you weed out your Winter clothes, you'll need to sort into three different piles: keep, throw out/give away, and a pile of clothes that you need to get altered/tailored (or, you may be able to do that yourself. If so, good for you!).

I actually only had two piles: keep, and give away. I didn't have any clothes that were too big, only too small, or I didn't wear them enough. Which brings me to my next point: if there are clothes in your closet that you never wear, give them away! If your never going to wear it, give it to someone who actually will so that it is not collecting dust and taking up space in your closet.

4. Sort your clothes in a way that would be perfect and productive for your closet

By the way, yes that is my foot. :)

I sort my shirts by rainbow order. Then within each color, I sort tank tops to sweaters. I sort my completer pieces next by rainbow order, my pants by rainbow order and from shorts to skirts to pants, and lastly I sort my dresses by rainbow order. That way I can find everything that I need in a snap.

5. Put everything back in your closet in your desired order

My order was the exact order that I told you in step four above. I combined some of these steps. This is just the spelled out order of how I did it.

This is my finished product:

A nice clean closet for all of my new Spring clothes! Come back next week on Tuesday to see all of my new Spring clothes!

An Encouraging Devotion for Your Monday

This encouraged me today, and I wanted to share it with you.

Guard your heart more than anything else because the source of your life flows from it. Psalm 4:21
Your heart can make some bad choices left to it's own devices, mainly because your feelings demand immediate attention and want what they want when they want it. But just because your heart feels something, that doesn't make it true. A lot of times your heart lies. That's because your feelings are mostly based on your experience of the world around you, not necessarily on God's truth. The beauty of knowing and obeying God's law is that it is unchanging and sure; it doesn't go back and forth based on the actions or feelings of humanity. It doesn't tease you by saying one thing only to change to something else when the wind picks up. No, God's law is constant, and it's stability gives you a chance to rise above the trials of this life. It's an outstretched hand in the storm, and it helps you find your way safely through the fog of emotion.

When God's word says to guard your heart, it doesn't mean the beating organ in your chest, but your mind, your thoughts, and your emotions-all that is you. You have to guard your thoughts and feelings because out of those come your love for God and His commands, and out of that comes your ability to serve, to find joy, and to trust God. If you let your heart be led astray, then your faith gets derailed. A lot of girls let emotions alone guide all or most of their decisions. They say, "I feel it, so it has to be real," but that isn't always true. Faith isn't about a feeling; it's about knowing. We don't say, "I feel like I believe in Jesus." We either believe and follow Him, or we don't. And before, during, and after we believe, feelings go with that. But feelings can be fickle. They rise and fall like the wind, and are prone to rebellion, but you can overcome them if you refuse to think things based solely on how you feel, and instead, you judge everything based on God's word. So guard your heart and let truth be your guide instead of random experience.

This is devotion number 108 in Devotions for the God Girl by Hayley DiMarco

It's so refreshing to know that our feelings don't have to control us. That we are set free in Jesus Christ! There is so much truth in all of this!

High Five for Friday!

Happy Friday! How has your week been? Mine has been wonderful! Check out the five high points of my week:

1. First off, I have a pretty open weekend, so I have lots of brainstorming for the blog planned. I am most likely going to finalize some new things that I hope to start! Look out cause some really neat stuff is coming soon! Make sure to stop by soon!

This is my cute blogging notebook! Just in case you were wondering. :)

2. Yesterday, I posted a compilation of some of my favorite beauty products. I really enjoyed figuring out which ones that I like the best! This blog was originally supposed to be a style and beauty blog, but I posted my first ever beauty related post yesterday. You can find it here.

3. I have a pretty open week coming up, so I am looking forward to a little bit of relaxing, but a lot of checking things off my to-do list!

4. In continuation of number three, some things that are on my to-do list are Spring cleaning out my closet, and shopping for some new Spring clothes! I am pretty excited! I am a fairly organized person and would rather have a clean room than a messy room, so I am definitely looking forward to getting rid of some unwanted clothes, and just overall reorganization of my messy closet! I am also ready to put some of my heavy sweaters back up in the attic for next Fall/Winter so that I can have some more room!

5. Don't forget that every Thursday I post a My Favorite.... blank installment! I will hopefully be posting My Favorite.... Shoes, or My Favorite.... Ways to Add Color to Your Outfit on Thursday. You are going to want to pop in on Thursday to see which one that I chose to post!

Linking up at Bright on a Budget, Coffee with Caitlin, Cup of Tea, and Della Devoted

My Favorite.... Beauty Products

For today's installment in the My Favorite.... blank series, I have my 7 favorite beauty products for you. This blog was originally supposed to be a style and beauty blog, but so far this is my first post that is related to beauty. Anyway, here they are:

1. Clear Scalp and Hair Shampoo and Conditioner
I have suffered from a flaky scalp. And, I have always had a fairly oily scalp plus pretty dry ends. Weird combination right? Anyway, I discovered Clear Scalp and Hair shampoo and conditioner from a television commercial. I ended up trying and have loved it ever since! They have different types special for long hair, colored hair, etc, but I just usually buy the Total Care kind. It works really well for me and smells great, too!

2. TRESemme TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray
My hair is pretty normal in that it is not too thick and not too thin. But, I have A LOT of hair! Having so much hair requires an extra hold hairspray. My favorite is this TRESemme kind. It holds really well, and the aerosol works good so that you don't get too much and your hair doesn't end up plastered to your head. :) Also, it has a nice fragrance!

3. TRESemme Flawless Curls Extra Hold Mousse
I have VERY curly hair! It also tends to be frizzy. Enter TRESemme Flawless Curls Extra Hold Mousse. It has enough hols that holds well for a good 24 hours if not more! It doesn't weigh your hair down which is always a plus! It is also alcohol free, so it does not ruin your hair. I love it, and it is definitely a must have in my book!

4. EOS Lip Balm in Summer Fruit, Lemon Drop, and Honeysuckle Honeydew
I LOVE EOS lip balm! It comes in such cute packaging, and it works extremely well! It stays on forever! It lasts so long that I can put it on at around 7 or 8 o'clock at night, and when I wake up in the morning, it's still on! It is very smooth! Also it is 99% natural and gluten, paraben, and petrolatum free! And to top it all off, they have such great flavors. Plus the Lemon Drop flavor has SPF 15.

5. Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Cinderella, Hazard, and Rise and Shine
I love doing my nails and trying lots of cool designs. So, naturally, I would look for a really good brand of nail polish. I would want something that lasts a while and doesn't chip too bad, something that goes on pretty easily, something with nice colors, and something that is relatively inexpensive. For me, Essie, OPI, and China Glaze are WAY too expensive! I ended up trying Sinful Colors. (Awful name, but great nail polish). I love it! It fits all of my parameters!

6. Pure Ice Top Coat
Continuing what I said above, I love doing nails, but wanted a really shiny, fast drying, cheap, and long lasting top coat. Pure Ice Top Coat is just that! I love it!

7. Goody Bobby Pins
These here are the blonde kind, but they also come in black and brown for whatever your hair color is. I have blonde hair. Seeing as I have lots of hair, I tend to get it layered when I get a haircut. And when you have layers and want to do an updo, you have to wear LOTS of bobby pins. These are the best!

That's all!

What is the one beauty product you can't live without?

Chambray, Leopard, and Nude Heels

Outfit details:

Top: Old Navy (exact, similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact, very similar)

Belt: Kohl's (exact)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar, similar)

Heels: K-Mart (similar, similar)

Watch: (similar, similar)

Purse: Amazon (similar, similar)

In this post, I told y'all that I would be (hopefully) posting some outfits with nude heels since I had just gotten my first pair. Well, that was over a month ago, and I still haven't posted any outfits yet (besides today, of course). Truth is, this is the only way that I have worn them. I guess I have been waiting for it to warm up. Then, other things like rain, and me deciding to wear other outfits instead of the ones that I said I couldn't wait to wear here, permitted me from wearing them. I also think that I kind of forgot about them! Oops! Oh, well! Here's to wearing them more often. :)

On another note, I will be posting my Favorite.... Beauty Products tomorrow. You don't want to miss it! Also, every other Thursday, I will post something else that is my favorite. For instance: favorite shoes, favorite free apps, favorite kinds of pants, favorite ways to add color to my outfits, etc. Here are the ones that I have already posted: Favorite.... Purses, Favorite.... Jewelry, Favorite.... Completer Pieces, and My Spring Wish List.

Mix it Monday: Blue Maxi Dress

Outfit details:

Maxi: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Cardigan: (similar, similar)

Belt: Target (similar)

Flats:  Target (similar, similar)

Necklace: Claire's (lots of simple jewelry here)

Purse: (similar, similar)

Happy Monday! I am doing something different that I have never done before. Today, I am linking up with Lauren and Vicky over at Fizz and Frosting for Lauren's weekly Mix it Monday link up.

Every Monday, Lauren hosts a link up of ways that she wore a dress, shirt, skirt, necklace, etc. I have noticed it and loved it before, but never joined the link up.

I love this maxi because it is so versatile. I also like it because it has some character. It is not just a plain grey or black maxi (not that those are awful! I actually have a plain black one), it has a fun color and a pattern while still maintaining the "remixable" label.

I also wore this maxi with all black accessories and a statement necklace for a more sophisticated and dressed up look. You can find it here.

I wanted to wear this maxi a bit more casually after just wearing it dressed up here. And that is exactly what it is: casual. I would wear this running errands, or just going out. I love how the bag and the cardigan sweater match. That keeps things simple and put together.

This is one of my favorite ways to wear this maxi dress! 

Would you like more Mix it Monday posts? Which way of wearing this dress do you like better? Answer in the comments. :) 

High Five for Friday!

Happy Friday, peeps! How has your week been? My week has been great! Check out the five high points of my week:

1. First off, Spring has sprung its lovely little self! Happy first day of Spring! At first today was really dreary and rainy, but then at about three or four o'clock, the sun came out and it has been beautiful ever since!

2. There was a stomach virus going around my little community, and I am so thankful that I did not get it! I can not afford to be sick! I have way too many things counting on me!

3. We have revival at church Sunday through Wednesday. I am really looking forward to it! I feel like sometimes we all just need a revival of peace, trust, strength, whatever. I'll let you know if there was something really good!

4.  I posted my Spring Wish List yesterday. I noticed that all of the pieces in this collage are either a shade of pink, an shade of blue, or a neutral! Totally unintentional! Here is the full post. So many cute things!

5. I have a full day planned with a lot of my hobbies! But, I have a few priorities to do first, of course! I have been thinking about sewing something seeing as I haven't sewn anything in a long time. I am thinking about doing this to one of my shirts. I'll let you know if I do!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up at Bright on a Budget, Coffee with Caitlin, Cup of Tea, Della Devoted.

My Spring Wish List

For today's installment to the My Favorite.... blank series, I decided to post my Spring wish list instead of actually posting something that is my "favorite". Well, actually, the items on my wish list are my favorite because if they weren't, they wouldn't be on my wishlist. :)

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten

Funny story: I didn't realize when I was compiling all of my faves that all of these items are either a shade of pink, a shade of blue, or a neutral. Totally unintentional!

As you guys already know from this post I have been wanting a jumpsuit. This one is not the exact one that I want. I'm still looking around a little bit, but these few are my favorites of the ones that I have seen.

I discovered this lovely floral dress online when I was looking for some white dress options. I LOVE it so much that I am just not going to get a white dress (which is crazy for me to say because I have wanted one since Kendi  posted the cutest one last summer) so that I can get this one.

I saw this dress when Lauren posted it in two different outfits yesterday and Tuesday. I really do need another t-shirt dress, and this would be the perfect one!

I am just looking at these black wedge sandals. I originally wanted some grey sandals but have had no luck. If you see any PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Aren't these Old Navy tops too cute?! :)

As you know from this post, I am going to get this very coral blazer. I am so excited to actually get it! I have been pinning stuff (to follow me on Pinterest look on the right sidebar and click on the Pinterest icon under the Follow Me header) to wear with it. Also, most of my clothes will look so cute with it!

These necklaces from Charming Charlie would be the perfect addition to my growing statement necklace collection! 

THESE FLATS! I love them so much! They are so cute! Seeing as they are from the Cinderella Collection by Lauren Conrad at Kohl's, I absolutely HAVE to get them!

Which piece is your favorite? What is on your Spring wish list? 

Polka Dots and Plum

Outfit details:

Top: Loft (similar, similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact, similar)

Blazer:  Dress Barn (similar but without polka dots, similar)

Boots: (similar, similar)

Necklace: Claire's (lots of simple jewelry here)

I love this rich plum color, don't you? It's just so pretty. I love not only the color, but the style of this shirt. The ruffle and the buttons add a little bit of flair. I just wish that Loft would decide to sell these again. A while back when I bought this one, they had so many different colors, and they were very reasonably priced (which can sometimes be rare for Loft). That was in Fall. The next Fall/Winter season I looked everywhere (not just Loft) and could not find anything similar. And I still can't, hence the lousy similar choices above.

I read something the other day that said that if you are short (or more politely: petite), you should wear deep v-necks. Now, I am not one to wear a shallow (is that what it's called?) v-neck because scoop necks are easier and most of the time more modest, much less a deep one, but I do see what they are talking about. Even though this one is not deep, looking back over these pics, I see that it does, indeed, make me look taller. Hey, I'll do anything almost anything to make me look taller. Maybe I should start investing in some more v-necks.

What is your favorite thing about this outfit? What would/do you do to camouflage an area?(like I camouflaged my shortness by wearing a v-neck). 

PS: I also used my blazer to make my midsection look slimmer. The blazer tricks you into thinking that that is how wide my midsection is, but then you see that my top goes in farther than my blazer, so I look slimmer. :)

A Tunic for Tuesday

Outfit details:

Tunic: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Leggings:  Target (similar, similar)

Boots: (similar, similar)

Purse: Target (similar, similar)

Watch: (similar, similar)

Even though it may look like it from yesterday's post and today's post, I am not starting a trend where the title of my post includes the day that I posted it on. :) It just happened to turn out that Pink and Grey rhymed with Monday, and A Tunic for Tuesday sounded cute. Just clearing some things up for you. :)

Anyway, I wore this outfit most recently to a worship arts conference that we had a month or two ago at church. The conference was a Friday night and then most of the day Saturday. Naturally, since I would be out all day on Saturday, I wanted something comfortable. I also wanted it to be sort of casual, but not too casual, cute, and easy. Thus, I decided to wear this outfit because it is all of those things.

It is very comfortable because, um.... hello, I can wear leggings. I also think that skirts and dresses are more comfortable than pants. So, leggings + dress = complete comfort! Also, shoes that are not heels are very comfortable, too! :)

To keep this outfit not too casual, I wore a slightly fancy watch, and the tunic itself adds a little bit more formality. It stays a little casual, however, because both the boots and the leggings are more relaxed than some of the other pieces.

What do you think about this outfit? What is your favorite piece in this outfit?

Pink and Grey Monday

Outfit details:

Top: Old Navy (exact, similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact, similar)  

Sweater: Target (very similar)

Boots: (similar, similar)

Necklace: Charming Charlie: (exact, similar)

Purse: Vera Bradley (similar, similar)

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was filled with blessings!

This outfit was made when I was trying to decide what to wear with this top. I had only worn it one way before, and I wanted to wear it in a totally different way. And, I wanted to wear this necklace again. I was also running a bit behind. 

The pink and grey go really well don't they? I like the way the brown boots break up the grey. Leopard flats would go really well, too. It makes it just that much more interesting. I love this because it is simple and uses everyday pieces, but looks great and like you spent a ton of time getting ready. It would be a great errand running, or weekend outfit!

What do you think? How has your Monday been?