Movers: Kathryn Birkey

It seems that everyone has that person who is just slightly older but immensely cooler than them. Kathryn was one of those people for me growing up. We went to church together all my life. We were in the same small group during part of high school. And I think a bit of her story is worth sharing. Kathryn is admirable because she revels in God's grace. Then she shares it with others. I've been a recipient of that graciousness. After high school, Kathryn took a gap year and served in South Africa. (Personally, I believe gap years are underrated. I wish I had the balls to take one.) Now, she goes to college like a "normal" person. This summer, she started a little business called The Sweet Pea. I'd describe it to you myself but I'll let you read it in her own words. Simply written, Kathryn's words stopped me in my tracks and invited me on an adventure.

"What is the first thing we see when we open our eyes in the morning? What jumps into our minds and hearts as we take the blanket off and sit up to face a new day? Do we grab our iphones and check facebook and quickly numb ourselves for what’s ahead? 

This business has been birthed out of a simple decision I made for myself a few months ago. I knew that the second I opened my eyes each morning and pushed the snooze button on my little iphone 4s my mind and my heart would begin to be plagued with every worry, every weight, every chain that tries to cling to me. I needed truth and I needed it fast. 

So i sat down at my desk, grabbed my sketchpad and pen and wrote out these words: Christ has set you Free. 

I slapped some tape on the back, ripped it out of the notebook, and put it on my little college dorm room wall so it would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes each day. 

My soul thirsts for true words. Real bits of God’s voice to surround me. Something my eyes can gaze at and allow to fill my body with light. 

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body with be FULL OF LIGHT. [Matthew 6:22]

What do our eyes see? What do we fix our eyes on the moment we open them until the moment we close them? 

I am desperate for more life-giving truth in a world that sucks me dry. 

So here I am. A twenty-something college girl starting a blog and a business that is really the simplest thing I’ve ever done. Just writing some words on paper that give life to my soul and inviting you to put them on your walls, on your phones, on your desks in hopes that you will actually be set free by them. 

I just need more Jesus. every minute of every day I need more. 

Don’t you? "

I just bought one of Kathryn's prints. Here are a couple other ones that I really like.

I hope these words encouraged you and made you ponder. You can see more of Kathryn's artistic goodness here.

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Taylor

Friday Roundup

Here is my week in a nutshell!

1.This video by Jessica Rey of Rey Swimwear which echoed a lot of my heart regarding fashion decisions. It's encouraging, convicting, and sure to make you think.

 2. One of my best friends and I went with our moms to a Flea Market. I didn't buy this really cute suitcase but I did stock up on more records for my record player!

3. I fell in love with song. Fell. in. love. Like on repeat. Give it a listen.

4.  I went to a blogger event this week (my first one) and heard Paul Angone, an author and blogger, speak about his book. I ended up getting a free copy and I'm about halfway through. If you're a twentysomething who has doubts about who you are or where you're going, pick it up and give it a read.

5. I captured this beauty yesterday. It's got the American flag, the Chicago flag, and the Northwestern hospital flag. As I wrote on Instagram, these are all three of my homes lately. I'm a sucker for a black and white shot.

What were the defining moments of your week? I'd love to hear! Also, don't forget to enter the Kindall Krafts giveaway. They have tons of cute items that are perfect for the crafter in you.

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Taylor

Linking up with:

Musings:In Dependence

The Fourth of July is such an interesting holiday. We celebrate living in a country where we can do everything on our own. In light of my recent ponderings on Ubuntu and current circumstances, I'm finding myself celebrating dependence on a sovereign God. I mentioned earlier that my boyfriend was in the hospital. He's been in and out over the past two weeks with three surgeries and an infection to boot. And through it all, he (and other loved ones) have been reminding me to trust God with his health situation. You realize how dependent you are when one day you're going on hikes and the next you're sitting next to a hospital bed. While at times I find myself complaining, there really is a lot to rejoice about. We're stronger individually in our faith. We're stronger as a couple. The doctors diagnosed him. He's getting quality treatment. We live in a country where we can easily access medical care. I could go on. At the end of the day, God is good. You realize that all the more when it's all you have to rely on. If you have a moment, say a prayer for my boyfriend and his family. I also think he'd like me to share this verse that has helped him so much:

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." - Isaiah 41:40

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Taylor

P.S. Use a few moments of your day off to enter the Kindall Krafts giveaway!

Looking Good: My Mary Kay Look

I just recently posted about how I work really hard not to "need" makeup. But that doesn't mean a girl can't enjoy getting a little dressed up. Influester sent me this adorable kit from Mary Kay and I thought it was a great opportunity to show you how I create a makeup look that says, "Wow, you're gorgeous" and not, "Wow, your makeup looks really good." There's a big difference.

The box that Influenster sent me was too cute not to capture.

They sent me a brush, lash primer, mascara, lipstick, and a cream shadow.

So how do I create my look?

I love my skin so I just use a powder to cover some of the shine.

Next, I add blush  to give my cheeks a little life.

(If I'm doing a pretty low-key look, I'll just add mascara and be done here.)

Last night, I dabbed on the cream shadow to give a little sparkle. It's a light violet called Violet Storm that was surprisingly natural.

I finish up with mascara, and since they gave me primer to try, I put on primer first.

My favorite part about the mascara was the brush. It was great at really separating my lashes which made the look all the more natural.

Because the rest of the look was so natural, I let my lips pop with a hot pink.

(I toned it down a little with a neutral gloss.)

I love this color so much that I've taken to wearing it on my makeup-free days just to add a little oomph.

My final step is brushing my eyebrows.

(You'd be surprised what a difference a brushed brow makes. Try it!)

Here's the final look!

I think I managed to keep my natural core and dress it up a bit. Thoughts? Tips? Tricks? Let me know!

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Taylor

P.S. The Kindall Krafts giveaway is still going strong. Enter here!

Live Out Loud

One of the best parts of blogging is making friends in the blogging community. Sophie is one such friend who is all the way from Uganda! She hosts a series called Live Out Loud and asked me to share a bit of my heart with her readers. If you'd like to hear just a short bit of my story, head on over to Rare Beauty and give it a read!

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Taylor

P.S. Have you taken a moment to enter the Kindall Krafts giveaway?

Giveaway//DIY: Floral Headband with Kindall Krafts

It's Monday again and I am unbelievably excited to share this DIY and giveaway with you! I have wanted a floral headband for the longest time. And now that I've partnered with Kindall Krafts, I finally fulfilled that dream with the added benefit of being able to say I made it myself. Making the headband was far easier than I thought it would be. Allow me to walk you through the steps:

1. Head on over to Kindall Krafts and choose the style, size, and color of the flowers you want for your headband. I chose the green house flowers with the mini cabin greens as accents. Once you order, they'll come in adorable packaging.

2. Get your piece of elastic and appropriate colored thread.

3. Lay out your flowers and leaves in the pattern you would like for your headband.

4. Sew the flowers onto the elastic. Try your headband on every five flowers or so to make sure that you like the spacing.

5. Add in the leaves as accents. I added them between the flowers.

6. Sew the ends of the elastic together.

7. This is optional but I added leaves horizontally along the back of the elastic so it didn't show.

8. Rock your floral headband for the rest of the summer!

I loved working with Kindall Krafts. They have so many cute options that I was in DIY overload. From cute bow ties, to feather die cuts, to felt bunting, so much can be done. That's why I'm giving two of my readers a chance to win a $12 gift certificate to Kindall Krafts . Just enough for a DIY of your own! Here's how you can enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to tell your friends!

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Taylor