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April 26, 2019April 26, 2019

Baby Shower Haul – Sweet, Unique Gift Ideas!

Happy Friyay!

Are you looking for ideas for your registry or looking for gift ideas for you pregnant friends? I wanted to share with you some of my favorite gifts from my most recent baby shower!

Two of these things were actually on my registry and two I actually picked out. (Thanks mom and Nana! 😉 )

If you want to watch my YouTube video – CLICK HERE!

1 – Cutie Pie Socks – These are soooo cute! I had never even heard of this company before. I tried googling the brand to see if I could find them for y’all. There are some options on Amazon but that is really all I found!

I think these are the perfect gift idea for little baby boys! Also they are very stretchy! The doc has told me it looks like Milo, my son, is going to have a big foot. So fingers crossed these fit. 😉

2 – Precious Moments Jesus Loves Me Musical Water Globe. I believe this was purchased from Lifeway Christian Bookstore. This was such a thoughtful gift! Hopefully it helps soothe Milo to sleep.

3 – Old Navy Clothes! I love Old Navy! They are just starting to get some of their summer baby outfits out! Here are some of my favorite things, purchased by Milo’s future grandma and great grandma. 😉

4- Fox Hooded Towel – this was on my registry. It can be found at Target.

5- Milk Barn Organics burp cloths – I love to try to keep things as natural as possible, and the hedgehogs just went with my woodland animal theme.

6- Monogrammed Onesie – A onesie with his name on it is absolutely adorable. I imagine lots of Instagrams to come soon with this outfit! One of my favorite places to shop for this type of gift is Etsy, the app.

7 – Get BIGGER sizes!! A friend asked my mom if it was okay to buy 18-24 months outfits. OF COURSE! Milo is going to grow like a little weed and having some outfits in a few sizes up is a great idea to help the momma save money in the future!

8- Sports Team Logos – My family bleeds blue for the University of Kentucky. Old Navy was having some of their sports team shirts on clearance. Score! 😉

9- Onesies from Target – Woodland Animals – this was on my registry. I just thought it was too cute not to share! All of these onesie colors will be adorable when it’s fall!

So I hope these 9 favorites can help inspire you to think outside the box and put some thought into your gift. I am so thankful for all my friends and family who took time to come, spend time, and share their love with me.

I hope to make another video or blog post from my next shower! Follow me on Instagram or subscribe to my Youtube for updates!

Have a wonderful Friyay!

-Gracefully Fashionable Britt

April 12, 2019April 12, 2019

A Virtuous Woman – Being Happily Unaccomplished.

I wonder if the Proverbs 31 woman had as much of a hassle with her schedule? Did she ever feel like she is chasing a never ending list? Or that she considered herself a failure when she didn’t get everything on her list done.

I slightly feel that way while writing this. This was suppose to be uploaded 2 weeks ago… but life happens – sickness, business, work, church, family. Even my daily devotions have been put on the back burner. Did the Proverbs 31 woman struggle like this?

I can not say for certain, but I imagine so. I remember the story of Martha and Mary when Jesus came to their house.

Mary sat down by the Lord and listened to Him. But Martha, was me. I am the girl running around the house before anyone visits, marking my check list, trying to accomplish everything in one day.

Martha finally asked Jesus. I imagine she said this with her hands being tossed in the air while she asked: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone. Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40).

I feel that Martha was waiting for some “oh Martha, you have done so much, the house is spotless, the food smells delicious…”

But instead the Lord said, “Martha Martha…”

Imagine your name… “Brittany, Brittany…

“Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 41-42

Instead of cleaning, Mary chose to spend time with the Lord. Instead of cooking an elaborate meal, she chose time to spend with the Lord. Instead of checking a list, she chose time to spend with the Lord.

I want to be like Mary. The greatest thing I can do every day is to spend time with the Lord. As long as I accomplish that, everything seems to fall into place. I am then more encouraged to use my time and talents as gifts from God.

I encourage you, write this verse down. I did and kept it on an index card in my room all through college. Or write it in your planner as a reminder every day.

I initially planned to just write a short introduction and continue on with Proverbs 31: 23-24… But my heart now feels content.

I needed this and I hope you did too. I did not get done my initial idea, my schedule will now be a little off, I spent more time than planned writing this post….

But that’s okay.

“Brittany, Brittany has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

What will you chose?

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

March 29, 2019March 29, 2019

28 Weeks – Maternity Outfits and Must Haves!!!

I can not believe I am already 28 weeks! I wanted to share some of my favorite maternity outfits for spring and must haves! My must haves include: outfits, tennis shoes, snacks, and more!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MY FULL VIDEO REVIEW!!!

Here are my top 5 maternity outfits for spring!

1 – This is a maxi dress I bought from Target last year. It is soooo comfy! (Cute and comfy are my rules 😉 ) I love that this is a neutral color and I can pair it with almost any cardigan!

2 – Blue for a boy! I plan to wear this to my upcoming baby shower! I ordered this skirt off of amazon. Click here to see! The skirt is very comfy… but it is pretty thin. I would make sure to wear appropriate things underneath 😉 or have a shirt that covers your bottom! My top is a maternity top from Target and my jacket is from American Eagle. (Also super comfy!)

3 – These are the most comfy maternity jeans I tried on. They are from Motherhood Maternity. They are around $30 bucks! This top was a gift from my mother-in-law also from Motherhood Maternity. These jeans are comfy but I still prefer not to have to wear anything on my little bump. Thank the Lord spring is here! 😉 . No more pants for me!

4 – These pants are not maternity, and they are still fitting! I’m not sure how much longer they will fit but fingers crossed. 😉 . They are from the brand Carrie Underwood at Dick’s Sporting Goods. I have had these pants for about two years. They have a very wide belly band around the top of the pants that have worked perfectly for my growing bump! My shirt is from Walmart and is also not maternity. This is my perfect run errands or work around the house outfit!

4.5 – These shoes are adorable! They are from Target. I bought them this past weekend. My husband actually found them and picked them out for me. I am such a lucky gal… training him right. 😉 . These are perfect for maternity because you don’t have to tie them and they are … guess… comfy! If you see them at Target grab them now!! They were almost all gone when I got mine.

5 – Leggings are a must with pregnancy! These have a warm lining in them which is nice for those chilly spring days. I got these from Motherhood Maternity! I would recommend buying a few pairs if you wear leggings a lot. They do start to wear out after a few washes. (That annoying cotton like peach fuzz all over them.) . My top is not a maternity top, but it is from the boutique called Dry Goods. I purchased this shirt last year.

My 4 Other Must Haves!

1 – Baby Be Mine 2 in 1 Maternity Night Gown. Click Here!

This is all I have been wearing to sleep in! My husband even says he thinks it looks cute! I plan to order a new one to add to my collection. Some people have even worn these out as dresses! Oh, and the patterns, love!

2 – Body pillow

I had heard that you “have to have” a pregnancy pillow. I didn’t believe them till my second trimester. I didn’t really want to pay out all that money for a pillow. So I just used a body pillow that I had at home and it has been working great!

3- Lotion, Lotion, Lotion

I’m not sure if it is the pregnancy or the horribly cold winter but my poor skin had to suffer. I recently started reusing the Peter Thomas Roth Hydrating Gel on my face! It has saved my skin! Within two uses my dry patches got better! Click here to check it out on Amazon!

My skin on the rest of my body wasn’t much better. My doctor before I was pregnant recommended Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for the harsh winters. It worked great with dry patches on my arms. I even used it while pregnant on my belly. I recently switched to Burts Bees Mama Bee lotion for my growing bump. So far so good with no stretch marks. I believe that has more to do with your genetic genes than your lotions. 😉

4 – Snacks!

I am a gluten free vegetarian with a bit of a sweet tooth. I have enjoyed Crispy Chocolate Rice Bars from Envirokidz. These are sold at Kroger and Meijer. These have been perfect to throw in my purse when I need a snack while running errands. Enjoy Life Protein Bites by Enjoy Life – also very yummy! I eat a few of these each morning before my smoothie. My husband loves them as well. You can buy these at Meijer. Second Nature Wholesome Medley has been a favorite afternoon snack. You can purchase these from Meijer or Kroger. It’s a mixture of nuts, raisins, cranberries, and chocolate. 😉

These are the things I have been using on a daily basis for the past 27 weeks. If you have any recommendations please leave them in the comments below! Follow me on instagram – gracefullyfashionable – to see more of my favorites! Happy Friday!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

March 15, 2019March 15, 2019

MAC VS. ROCKET – MASCARA – QUICK REVIEW

That is a question I had been considering myself. Which is better?

I have been a long time user of Maybelline the Rocket. I believe that came out while I was just starting college. It was my go-to-mascara for a long time. However, I had finally used up my Waterproof Maybelline Rocket.

What should I get next? I went ahead and bought just the regular Maybelline Rocket Mascara (not waterproof). Always need a backup right?

My husband last Christmas got me a unique gift! He got me a Christmas Birchbox deal, where I got to try 3 Birchboxes for $20-$30 bucks. (I believe.). Check out my review of these Birchboxes here!

In one of these Birchboxes, I got the MAC 3D Lash Extension. I was honestly shocked how much I liked it at first. I started to wonder…should I splurge and actually get a more fancy mascara?

This question has been on my mind for months, so I finally decided to give both mascaras a full days test wear. Click here to watch my video!

My results?

The Rocket seemed to apply so much better. Also, one eye does often turn out better than the other, so that might be a bit of a factor.

At 3:43 – The rocket was still holding its curl better. The rocket also seemed to help spread my lashes out more which makes them look more voluptuous and longer!

At 5:11 – Same result – Looks like I will continue to stick to my rocket and save my money for something else fun to try. I had even spent some time outside and my rocket was holding up great.

Here is what they looked like when I removed my mascara.

The rocket seemed to have applied much more mascara than the Mac.

While the Mac is fun in sample size, I would not purchase a full. If you are interested in trying a new mascara, I highly recommend the Maybelline Rocket! It is sold almost anywhere that there is makeup. I hope my test was amusing to read and educational for your mascara knowledge! 😉

Happy Friday!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

Proverbs 31 – A Virtuous Caregiver for the Needy… and Herself.

I can’t believe how much I have already learned about this Proverbs 31 woman. She has a virtuous work ethic. She is a virtuous wife, mom, shopper, planner, and early riser with eager hands. All of that from just 9 verses.

Taking time to read these verses and write about these verses has helped me grow in Christ.

So how much more can this virtuous woman accomplish. Oh so much when she puts her heart, mind, and hands to the love of Christ.

Verse 20 – “She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

How often we are so self-focused making sure our own day is going to be okay. We often miss so many opportunities to serve and to be kind. We often say we are “searching” for opportunities to serve…. but when we just slow down, we can find opportunities all around.

I saw a sweet old man the other day at Meijer. He dropped a box he was picking up. I could see him struggling to reach it. It warmed my heart knowing I could easily help him. That same day, I saw another older gentleman lose his car. Me and two other people offered to help him find it.

Who knew that such small actions could be some of our best witnessing for the Lord!

Proverbs 31: 21 – “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.”

“Not afraid of snow.” Ha! I’m terrified of snow. I am a southern girl living in a midwest world. I don’t drive unless it’s an inch or less. 😉

The color scarlet is a brilliant red. While reading about it, I learned it often is a color of warmth and comfort. Benson Commentary says, “She has provided enough, not only for their necessity, and defense against the cold and other inconveniences but also for their delight and ornament.”

She puts thoughts of kindness into her deeds. She provides necessity and beyond!

Proverbs 31:22 – “She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

Tapestry is like a thick textile fabric. It often has pictures or designs on it. This is used for wall hangings or furniture. The verse also says, “She makes.” Is there anything this woman can’t do. 😉

“Her clothing is fine linen and purple.” She takes care of her own needs too!! Needs are not just food, water, and shelter. Women of Christ need to be: spiritually fed with Bible reading and prayer. Physically fed with sleep, exercise, and bubble baths in peace. 😉 . Mentally fed with loyal spouses and friends to uplift you.

Never forget that sometimes the best way to help others needs is to help your own needs first. Christ himself spent personal time with the Lord, instead of preaching and healing. Christ himself enjoyed time with just His disciples, instead of trying to physically help everyone.

The Lord loves you beyond measure…so love yourself.

Slow down.

Extend your hand!

Don’t fear snow. 😉

Be thoughtfully kind.

Wear some purple!

Jesus love you oh virtuous wife!

February 22, 2019February 22, 2019

Purses I Regret Buying!?!

I got this idea for this blog post last week. With a new baby on the way, I’ve been becoming more and more intentional with what I need and what I should buy. Plus, I’ve already watched the whole Kon Mari Series on Netflix. Anyone else? 😉

Three purses come to my mind. I haven’t used any of these purses in months. I am lately just using my coach tote bag. Click here for my Coach Tote Review!

I like my tote because I can easily carry my daily things plus anything extra: papers, small items I buy from store if I don’t want a bag, pregnancy snacks…

My tote has just been my go to bag for months.

I go to get my purses to make my video – “Purses I REGRET Buying,” and something magical happens. Each time I touch my bags I get a sense of joy!

Okay, maybe that was a bit of exaggeration but they did make me feel happy, and I thought… I can’t get rid of this yet!

So my purses I regret buying turned more into my purses I thought I regretted but actually might still use.

I know, it’s kind of crazy. So here are the 3 purses I might not have bought if I knew now what I know. 😉

Click here if you want to see my crazy video of purses I regret buying !

Coach Crossbody

-I absolutely love the color and design of this bag. I bought it at a Coach Factory Outlet in Nashville, TN. I love pockets! It has a big pocket in the front. It is perfect to slide things like you phone in! I actually did carry this purse for awhile. It did stain some from my blue jeans. However, the soap the Coach Factory Outlet gave me has really saved my bag. You can barely see the stain! (Go watch my video for a better look!)

My problem with this purse was it just wasn’t big enough for stuff I wanted to carry. It just ended up looking bulky. I thought for sure I could easily get rid of this purse. But after looking it over, I think I might use it again this spring and summer. With a baby on the way, this might be the perfect bag with a diaper bag!

Zebra Coach Crossbody - Purses I regret buying!?!

2. Zebra Coach

–Any other Zebra print fans out there? Seriously I went through a huge zebra stage. Once again I thought this purse would be easy to get over. I don’t even own anything zebra print anymore. However, one look and my mind changed…. This purse is perfect for a nice event to go to! It is a stand out piece to add to a dress for an event!

-This bag has pockets on both sides, which I love! ;). You can carry it crossbody or by handle. I haven’t carried this bag in almost a year. Last time I tried, I just couldn’t fit in all my things. So maybe I’ll keep this around for that fancy event (I’ll probably never attend. 😉 ) Or I’ll become more minimalistic with my purse necessities.

Vera Bradley Marlo Satchel - Purses I regret buying!?!

3. Vera Bradley Marlo Satchel

-This purse is the most expensive bag I have ever bought! It was in between $300 and $350 dollars. I saved for months for this purse. The week after I bought it, it went on sale 50% off! I thought I was going to blow a fuse with my temper once I found out about the sale.

-The print is what won me over with this bag. I think it is the perfect mix of brown and gold! I really have only two downsides to this purse. One, it caves in. I guess I am super picky, but I hate when my purse looses its structure and just looks frumpy. Also it eventually causes lines of wrinkles to form in the leather. Second, you can’t just open the bag with one hand.

Let me explain. You’re in line at the grocery, you are trying to open your purse quickly to get your wallet out. However with this purse you have to use both hands to make sure the zipper is well aligned so it actually opens. I hate being the girl at the store balancing a purse on her knee and using both hands to open it. I like easy!

I have been considering carrying this purse again but then I am reminded how perfectly papers just slide into my tote.

While I have my loves and hates for these 3 purses, I just can’t get rid of them yet. I can’t tell them “thank you” and send them off. I think they still have some purpose to serve me.

If you want to see if I carry any of these bags anytime soon, go follow me on my Insta – gracefullyfashionable. I try to share my new fashion, faith, and any other favorites I have on there!

Keep finding those things that bring you joy!

~Gracefullyfashionable Britt