How To: Grow Your Faith!

Hello Everyone!

So I know that I made the commitment to blog every Wednesday, but this past Wednesday (aka yesterday) I was diagnosed with… an upper respiratory infection. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I have an infection. Luckily it should be gone in about 48 hours, which means that by tomorrow morning *fingers crossed* that I will be feeling better.
Anyways, that was a long introduction as to why I didn't blog on Wednesday, but I just thought you guys deserved to know exactly why it was that I was unable to write the post since I was sleeping all day long.

With all of that being said, I could have cranked out a post to you that wasn't that great, but the one that I had planned was something that I wanted to be great, not just something that I wanted to get done and over with so I could go back to sleep.

To celebrate a month of blogposts, I wanted to end January with a post that was very near and dear to my heart - my faith.

I am very open about the fact that I had kind of struggled with committing my life to a relationship with God and my perfect moment happened a little over a year ago on November 24, 2013. It was truly the best day of my life as it opened so many doors and closed so many unnecessary ones.

Now, this blogpost isn't about how to have a relationship with God or how to get one, because I believe that that is one of the most personal things someone can do with their lives - committing to God I mean because it truly is your decision, not anyone else's.

This blogpost is about how once you've made that decision, how to go to that next step, how to make your faith a part of your everyday life.

My advice is to ease into it, you don't want to all of a sudden try to de-code the bible, because that takes a lot of years to get to. So buy a book - a daily devotional to be exact. Something that already breaks things down for you and you don't have to over think things.

I highly recommend Joel Osteens "I Declare" because really helped me ease into having my faith become a part of my everyday life. I have an entire blogpost dedicated to it, you can read that here.

As you read your daily devotional, make sure that you soak it all up - like a sponge. I found that what I read in my daily devotional would often relate to exactly what I was struggling with. I always prayed after my devotional, thanking God for his guidance.

It is important to get into the routine of praying because I feel like that is what makes my relationship with God that much stronger. I always start my prayers off with "thank you for my health, my family and my friends" but you can start yours off with whatever you choose to. I think it is so important to thank God for things that he has blessed you with. Always remember to pray about things that you're scared about, things that you've already prayed about, things that you're happy about - because that's your special time to be vulnerable.

I don't believe that you have to be active in a church to have a relationship with God. Your relationship with God is always going to be the most personal whenever you're by yourself in your own space. I personally am not active in a church and don't feel the need to because I have my own relationship that is personal to me, I don't need to be in a church every Sunday at 10:30 to feel that.

So let's review here: Get a daily devotional. Start Praying. Have a personal relationship.

Those are the three perfect steps to growing your faith after you've made your commitment to God. I hope that you guys enjoyed!



Abbey

Review: Taylor Swift's 1989 Album!

Hello Everyone!

On my blog I've done book reviews, products reviews and food reviews, but I have never done an album review. Since I am a music freak I figured it was time. I have to be listening to music all the time, and I especially love listening to Taylor Swift.

Now, I am a HUGE Taylor Swift fan, but with regarding her new album, I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about it, until now. That's why I waited to do my first album review on something that I was skeptical about.

With all of that being said, I'm not the biggest fan of 1989. I think there are some songs that are great, but there are other songs that I honestly have no idea how they made it on the album.

My favorites are "Blank Space", "Style" and "Clean", but thats honestly it. It truly devastates me that she strayed away from country, because thats what made her famous, at least that's what I loved the most.

I also feel like the album was too forced. It wasn't natural like her other songs. I feel like "All Too Well" is the best song that she has ever written. It was so brutally honest and vulnerable, but in "Clean" there's a lyric that says "so I punched a hole in the roof"… um can anyway truly see Taylor punching a hole in a roof? I personally can't…

I don't want this post to be negative, because there are some good songs on 1989, but most of them I think, are crap. I personally am looking forward to the next one to see if she turns back to original roots of country.

Anyways, I hope that you guys are having an awesome Wednesday!

xoxo



Abbey

Foods To Make: Pear, Pomegranate & Spinach Salad!

Hello Everyone!

My 'Foods to Make' posts are always some of my favorites to write because I am a HUGE foodie, so I love getting to talk about things that I am eager to try or have tried!

This salad is something that I stumbled upon on Pinterest and was immediately intrigued.

I personally love spinach leaves in salads and I LOVE pomegranate seeds and pears, so this to me looks like an amazing salad. This also seems to be relatively easy to put together. 

All you need for this is: 

9 oz baby spinach 

2 pears (firm, but ripe) 

1/2 cup of dried cranberries 

3/4 cup of pomegranate seeds 

2/3 cup walnuts or pecans (your choice) 

2/3 feta cheese

Dressing: 

1tsp dijon mustard

1 1/2 tsp honey 

1/4 apple cider vinegar

3 tbs olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Now I don't know about you, but I feel like that sounds pretty easy to put together and it sounds like it would taste amazing! Plus, pomegranates are in season so you should definitely make this! 

I have a video coming up on my all time FAVORITE salad and I cannot wait to share it with you guys! It truly is ah-mazing…. so keep a look out for that:)

I hope that you guys try this salad and if you do, tweet me @FashionandM321

xoxo

Abbey

My Winter Fashion Must Haves!

Hello Everyone!

I know that I said in my last post that I would be blogging every Wednesday and then failed miserably, but I promise that I am making it a priority this time around!

With my first "official" post of my new blogging schedule, I figured I would do a post about my winter fashion must haves!

First of all, the essential - a jacket. This is very obvious, because come cold weather, come jacket wearing. My favorite winter jacket is my North Face, fleece jacket. These run for about $100 depending on where you get it.

I got mine summer going into my freshman year of high school and I am now a senior and mine still looks brand new. I love how snuggly and warm it is. I also highly recommend getting it in black because it goes with everything! 

Essential #2 - a snuggly, scarf. I have two favorite scarfs; they are both infinity scarves, which I think are the best kind, because you can get the most snuggly and they can also look the most fashionable some times. 

My first scarf, is one that I hauled in my huge collective haul recently and it is the faux fur scarf from the Nordstrom teen department. It is so snuggly and it honestly looks so real. It was about $25, which I personally think is a steal for such a high quality scarf! 

My second scarf is also from Nordstrom. It is an infinity scarf that goes around twice, instead of just once like the fur one. I got this scarf a few years ago and I just always come back to it. It is so cute and quite bulky, but in a good way. It keeps you so warm without looking like a weirdo that is about to brace a blizzard. 

Essential #3 - a good pair of boots. A couple years ago for Christmas, I got a pair of Frye riding boots in the 'Melissa Button' style. They are the most beautiful riding boots and I get compliments on them every time I wear them. I think once your foot stops growing, it is okay to invest in a nice pair of boots because they can truly last you forever. 

This year, I have stumbled a pair that I think are the perfect boot addition to my closet. I had searched high and low until I found my perfect pair of booties: The 'Delaine' booties by Jessica Simspson. They are the perfect cut and the heel isn't too high, they are honestly perfect. I bought mine at Dillard's. 

I'm even thinking about ordering them in grey too, because I love them that much! LOL @ me. 

Essential #4 - a pair of leggings/jeans. I LIVE in these in the winter time because a) you have to wear pants to keep your legs warm and b) they just look SO cute with boots! I mentioned in my haul video that I decided to invest in a really nice pair of jeans and I did. I honestly couldn't be happier in my decision because they are just the comfiest, most beautiful jeans I have ever had. 

They are the Paige 'Skyline Skinny' jean and they are PERFECT! I'm telling you, that if you are done growing and feel comfortable speeding almost $200 on jeans, then do it because they are amazing! 

Also, every girl needs a pair of plain, black leggings. I got mine from H&M for about $10. 

That concludes my winter fashion must haves post! I hope that you guys enjoyed this post and that you guys are excited about hearing from me every Wednesday! 

xoxo

Abbey