Just Love Giveaway

Hi Lovelies! Hope your Tuesday is as beautiful as mine is! I'm currently in the thick of Orientation Leader training and these long days and even longer nights are really testing my positivity. But, whenever I'm craving some introvert time needed to re-charge, I just go home and take a few moments to myself. I am a full believer that my attitude can definitely impact someone's day. So, I put a lot of emphasis on making sure that if I'm going to impact someone's day, I do so in a positive manner. Well, that is exactly what this gorgeous print from Just Love Prints reminds me to do. 

Just Love Prints was created by a wonderful woman, Lindsay who is on a mission to share her Catholic faith through imagery, words, and art. Lindsay founded Just Love Prints in 2012 and her faith-filled masterpieces have provided her so many different opportunities! Her shop and blog are full of inspiring and faithful goodness and I would love love love it if you went over and visited her! 

Lindsay and I first connected a few months back when she was featured in Radiant Magazine, a magazine for young Catholic women. We then decided to partner up and share the mission of Just Love Prints and give you all a taste of her beautiful handiwork! 

I love having a piece from Lindsay's collection in my apartment! Her entire shop is full of gorgeous prints very similar to the ones you see in this post. Today, I'm giving away the Saint Pope John Paul II quote, 'Look to the Future with Confidence' on the blog! This handmade beauty will compliment any room in your home and will remind you to keep gratitude, enthusiasm, and confidence in your life.

It is amazing how God calls us to use the gifts He has given us and to share them with the world. Lindsay is using her gift to share beautiful messages with all of us (and anyone who enters my apartment haha). It is so inspiring to see someone take time out of their busy week to spread the message of God and reminds me that I should do the same. As a Christian who works in a secular (Public university) I often feel like I need to put my faith (and especially conversations about my faith) on the back burner.  But, Lindsay's message reminds me that despite different circumstances you can always find a creative outlook to devote to Him and to live in His goodness!

Enjoy this giveaway lovelies! I can't wait to send one lucky soul one of my favorite prints from Just Love Prints. All hope is not lost though... for my friends who aren't randomly chosen, Lindsay has so graciously provided a promo code for 10% off your order when you use SUNSHINE10. Offer is valid until August 30, 2016) So, hope on over to Just Love Prints and share this giveaway with all of your lovely friends :)

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Happy Holidays

This is my first holiday season away from a Catholic school... Since Kindergarten I have always attended Catholic school. I remember making advent wreaths, singing Christmas carols, and Santa even visiting school. When I got hired to work at public university, I didn't think much about how working at a public institution would impact my faith. I remember acknowledging that there weren't any crucifixes already hanging in my apartment when I moved in, but I just hung my cross and went on my way. As this holiday season started to approach and my desires to Christma-fy everything in my life grew stronger, I started to evaluate how saying "Merry Christmas" played a role in my life. 

Now, it's no secret on this blog of mine... but, I love Christmas. I love baking cookies, listening to the music, and finding that perfect gift for someone. I love sending Christmas letters with kind notes in them. I love meeting up with friends and being reunited with family members. I love reading my Advent devotional with my boyfriend and talking about how Jesus plays a role in our lives. I love ripping off the links on my Christmas chain and counting down the days until Jesus is born! And I used to love saying "Merry Christmas" to every single person I came upon. But, as I learn more about myself and this big world with a ton of different people in it... I have felt the profound call to wish people "Happy Holidays." I still profoundly love Christmas and will continue to relish in the holiday that promotes love, family, and giving. But, I think I can truly promote this giving holiday by meeting everyone where they are at. 

I snagged this from Facebook and really liked it!

So, I wish you a Happy Holiday. I wish that you are filled with the joy that the holiday season can bring. Whether you celebrate Christmas with a Christian mindset, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day, St. Lucia Day, Bodhi Day, Sol Invictus, Yalda, Yule, Pancha Ganapati, Chalica, Soyal... etc! So, for the remainder of this holiday season I am going to read and learn about a different "holiday" every day. My goal is to learn more about other faiths, traditions, and practices. I also hope to continue to learn how to be more inclusive of everyone who I come across. The true meaning of Christmas to me is spreading love and joy to every single person I meet. So Happy Holidays, friends!

Advent Goals

I know I'm a few days late, but ADVENT is officially here and I couldn't be more excited to prepare for the coming of our Savior and to get ready for the holiday season. I absolutely love the holidays and Christmas has always held a special place in my heart. So, this year to get myself in the right state of mind I am trying really hard to prepare my soul for the holiday. This is something I feel like I have always slacked off on. Anyways, to get ready for baby Jesus to arrive on December 25th, I hope to complete and stay accountable on the following things!

Spending On Others, Not Myself

I know it is the holiday season, but recently I feel like I keep making excuses to buy myself something. Whether there was a special sale on clothes at my favorite store or a new hair products. Anyways, I have just become totally invested in Christmas shopping and giving myself little Christmas gifts. Well, no longer! Instead I want to spend on others. Whether that is in the collection basket at church or on my secret santa.

However, spending on others doesn't stop just at money. I also want to spend more time on others, which for me is actually (to me, anyways) way more meaningful. I want to give back to others this holiday season. I want people to know how important they are to me.

Praying More 

I am a big night time prayer person, but how about the morning! I'm really trying hard to wake up giving God the praise and worship he deserves. So, whether I sing my Christian music in the morning or start my day praying an Our Father, I want to work hard in this area of my life for advent and hopefully develop this as a habit which, I can continue in the future.

Reading My Advent Devotional 

Josh and I got advent devotionals and reflections from church last week and we have been reading it together every night which, I have loved. We also pick out key words or phrases that speak to us and it is interesting because when I read it something speaks to me and then I also try to pick out what spoke to him and so far I have been right. It is a wonderful feeling being able to pray with him and have the opportunity to get to know him on a personal level through God.

Less Complaining

I have been bogged down with papers and assignments. I feel like most of the time I have just been complaining about all of the papers and things I have to do. So, I'm hoping to complain less and just be so grateful for everything in my life. When people ask how I am, I don't want to respond with "oh I'm tired or I'm overwhelmed" Instead I want to have more positive outlook on life (which, includes the hard parts).

Being Active

I have been so tempted to just lay around my dorm room, sip hot chocolate, and watch holiday movies. Although, this is a nice way to get ready for the Christmas season I really want to avoid my inner couch potato and get outside. I want to take walks and play games. It is so easy to become sluggish and not live up to your full potential when the weather starts to get cold and I want to avoid that. 

The Crown of Beauty

So, early this week the founder from the Crown of Beauty magazine emailed me asking if I would be interested in spreading the word of their Christian magazine and their November issue! Naturally, I was really curious so I checked out the magazine and read the newest issue on Beauty. Beauty is such a sensitive subject in the world of tabloids, but I wanted to share with you all a unique Christian outlook on beauty and how the media skews what we see to fit the mold they are trying to form women into.

Like most people… I fall victim to criticizing my beauty all the time. I will take every aspect of my appearance and list ways that I need to improve it. But, why do I constantly put myself down for not fitting a certain mold of beauty? Why is it that when I look in the mirror I see a less desirable individual looking back? Well, if you have the same questions or have friends who personally struggle with accepting their outward or inner beauty, then I would definitely recommend you take a look at The Beauty Issue!

I posted below a little overview of the magazine and some resources for all of you so that you can work on countering society's mold for beauty and focus more on how you are inherently beautiful in God's image, which honestly in my opinion is the most important image! Anyways, I'll let Crown of Beauty take it away now...

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“Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past fifteen years of your life, or dwell on an Amish farm out in the hilly countryside, you’ve probably noticed the way in which the media has a special gift for making girls feel ugly and inadequate. We’ve all suffered through those nauseating T.V. advertisements in which an underwear model poses, pursing her pouty lips, as her hair blows wildly from a fan. After watching such ads I roll my eyes and try not to laugh. I mean, how lame do the marketers think that I am?! (It’s like those drug advertisements that list the deadly side effects, such as hearing loss or your nose falling off, while they show happy old couples flying kites, and walking puppy dogs.)

I’m sure you’ve picked up on the trend in many teen magazines. The words on the glossy cover shout, “Boost Your Self-Confidence! Six Tips To Loving Yourself!” Yet by the time you flip to page ten, you’ve already seen a dozen perfect faces and bodies posing for makeup advertisements, which drained away all confidence you were hoping to get from their pep-talk article.

Every girl has noticed what’s going on. We’re not immune to it. But have we ever recognized what’s going on around us as a targeted attack on our beauty as females?

The sickening plot has been dreamt up, and skillfully executed by the enemy of our souls, Satan. He has always hated girls. Ever since the Garden of Eden, he has been attacking Eve and his daughters with lies that spew like fire out of his dragon mouth.

The purpose of this disgusting scheme is to convince God’s chosen daughters that they are worthless. The familiar scenery of the hour we live in, the set on this stage, and the cast of characters in this story remind me of what unfolded in Esther’s day. Esther’s story is a dramatic tale that all of us love. An ordinary, average, orphan girl was called to play a magnificent role in the Kingdom, and God used her to release her entire generation from destruction. Just like Esther you were called into the kingdom for such a time as this.

Girl, your adrenaline-pumping, high-action, story of greatness is unfolding. You living in the midst of this BEAUTY-saturated generation for a purpose, and that purpose is not to remain silent and be destroyed. There is no need for fear because we know how this story ends. The victory is not in jeopardy, it already belongs to Christ. He is calling you to walk with Him into this adventure.
Will you join your Christian sisters and discover what’s going on behind-the-scenes in the modeling industry, Hollywood, the media, and cosmetic companies? Many of these avenues have added insult to injury , as thousands of young girls just don’t feel like they measure up. Discover the unique role that we have as young women in combating this attack on our generation! You have been given a powerful influence and are called to play a meaningful role. Be both challenged and encouraged in this powerful new recourse for Christian girls, an online magazine, Crown of Beauty Magazine.

We just released our first FULL downloadable issue in November! This issue includes articles and interviews with some wonderful young women! Including, Jenny Simmons of Addison Road, Sarah Ross from Everlife, Rachel Lee Carter author of Modeling Christ, and Kylie Busitti, a former Victoria’s Secret Model, who walked away from her glamorous career to obey God’s call and be an example for girls everywhere! Recommended for teen girls ages 13+.

If you decide you’d like to order The Beauty Issue, it costs $4.99. Now, this is the first time we’ve charged anything to our readers, but this issue took a lot of hard work & it’s totally jam-packed! But if you don’t want to purchase anything…no worries! We have lots of free content on our site! Check it out! www.crownofbeautymagazine.com ”

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You all are beautiful inside and out and God has made you in his image and likeness. I will try to remember this next time I look at myself in the mirror and doubt my beauty! I hope you all have a wonderful day and that you check out Crown of Beauty magazine!

help them see Him

Wednesdays mean on-the-go... My schedule today includes:

10am- class
11am- class
12pm- lunch date
1pm- pick up supplies/ change for the gym
2pm- class
3:30pm- work until 5pm
5:20pm- Zumba *waka waka*
6:20pm- Dinner
7:00pm- Shower & Get cake supplies
7:30pm- Bake a cake in my friends apartment
8:30pm- Meet up with another friend to decorate the cake
9pm- Study sesh for my Psych exam and do various reading assignments
11pm- In bed
12am- Lights out.

Once, I leave my room at 9:30am I don't come back usually until 9:30-10pm. I already have a cold so the combination of busyness + no rest time = exhaustion overload! Unfortunately, when I am constantly thinking about what I have to do next... I rarely take the time to think about Him.


So, while at work I decide to take a 10 minute Pinterest/ tea break and as I'm scrolling through the homepage I come across this inspirational pin! I read it over a couple of times and realized just how true is it? Just by reading this quote my whole attitude towards today has changed.

I hope you continue to show others Him today. 

Wherever You May Go

Saw this while scanning Pinterest!! In the light of the event that happened in Connecticut, this past Friday, it is imperative that we pray for those who have passed and their families too stay strong, even in this time of hardship!

No one should ever have to bury their child. May your eternal light shine on us and heaven be yours.

- Alex  

Isaiah 41:10

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; 

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous 

right hand.

This week, well lets just say I want to light my to-do list on fire and then never leave my bed. I have literally a TON of work, including a 12-15 page paper on Stress and Its Affects on College Students due tomorrow-- how appropriate. The event I have coordinated Dodge Ball for Cameroon is on Wednesday... I'm on rounds tonight and my bulletin board and door decorations are due Thursday. I'm stretched to the limit and am so overwhelmed with all my school work and other activities...

but this morning I woke up to my 9am Sociology class being canceled, to my Mod Civ professor bringing our class brownies and getting a great grade on my exam, and I finished all of my RA points a month before the semester is over too. 

Alls I can say is that God is seriously looking out for me and blessed me with a wonderful morning. So, if you are feeling a bit stressed out with everything you have going on, take a deep breathe and remember God is with you and he will strengthen you. 

Today. Today will be a great day.   

- Alex