thrifted. #2

only 29 more days until i enter the mtc!!!! it's so crazy how fast time has gone. anyways, here are three more of the outfits i'm taking on my mission! sorry about the shadows!

shirt: $3.00
           d.i.
skirt: $5.00
          d.i.
(p.s. i think this might be my favorite outfit out of them all!)

shirt: around $3.00
          d.i.
skirt: around $5.00
          d.i.
          (fully lined wool skirt)

shirt: $3.00
           d.i.
skirt: $4.00
           d.i.

packing pretty

i. love. shopping. today my mom and i flew to slc, for mission shopping and other reasons, and bought so many things that i need for my mission! two of the things that were some of the most important, were luggage and a messenger bag. i had searched online for a messenger bag, on ebay actually, and found some that i really loved! problem was, the one we tried getting got out bid, and the one i was in love with was 150 dollars. and if you know me, that's no deal. the messenger bag was actually the last thing we bought today. we were going to get the luggage that i decided on, and decided to just go into the sister missionary mall to see what the messenger bags were like. i am so PRO-THRIFT SHOP and PRO-DISCOUNT, so i was NOT planning on getting anything from that store. but let me tell you!!! before we went into the sister missionary mall, we looked in burlington coat factory, ross, and tj max. crazy expensive, ugly, too small, etc. i walked into the sister missionary mall with my mom and BAM! there was my dream messenger bag! i absolutely love it!!! and, it was only 50 dollars! real leather + mustard yellow + classy design = happy me.  we bought it and actually got a 10 dollar gift card! i got an adorable pair of earrings for free! (which i'll show on my next blogpost). anyways, there's the story with my messenger bag. for those of you who are like me...anti-expensive-generic-frumpy-missionary-stores...don't give up on them yet! i am so excited and happy with mine!

messenger bag: edyn

                             sister missionary mall

                             $50.00

that was the end of the day. towards the beginning of the day, we went to burlington coat factory to search for a rain coat and luggage. i found a set of 3 suitcases (huge, medium, and small) but decided that i would search in other places just in case. well, that was a waste of time because i could only imagine myself with that adorable pink luggage set, walking away from my family into the MTC. so...we went back and got them! originally, the luggage would have cost 370 dollars!!! but we bought it for 180!!! for those of you who don't know, if you shop there for missionary items, you get 10% off! that made us excited.

three-piece luggage set: adolfo
                                            burlington coat factory
                                            $180.00

what a successful day!

thrifted. #1

so i decided that each day i will post three of my outfits we bought for my mission - and pretty much all of these clothes are THRIFTED! we spent about 100 dollars on all of my shirts and skirts! amazing, huh? anyways, here are three outfits that i will be taking on my mission!!!

cardigan: cabela's
                  d.i.
                  around $3.00
skirt: gorsuch ltd.
          d.i.
          around $4.00

cardigan: merona
                  d.i.
                  $3.00
skirt: does not say, but we're sure it's wool!
          d.i.
          $4.00
belt: liz claiborne
         j.c. penney
         $20.00 (yes, this was not thrifted. BUT it is real leather,
                        it's reversible, and i love it!)

shirt: gap
          d.i.
          $2.00
skirt: bella bird
          walmart
          $5.00
shoes: brand new Vans shoes
            platos closet
            $14.00

d&c 100:12

"Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end."
this is the scripture that is going to be on my missionary plaque! i hadn't read this scripture until last year while my brother was in the mtc. one of the elders in his district (i think) sent me a letter for my birthday and gave me some advice with this scripture. since then, this scripture has helped me so much. one of my other favorite scriptures is in Moroni 7:33. it says, "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient of me."i think that these two scriptures fit hand-in-hand. if we rely on the Lord, we can do anything! we need to find joy in everything while relying on the Lord and doing our part and we will have the Savior with us until the end and will be able to do anything! how amazing is that!? that is such an amazing promise. lately i have been focusing on this point...that all we really need to do is follow in Christ's footsteps and keep the commandments and we will live with our families, Heavenly Father, and Christ forever! it is SO simple! i know if we always have the eternal perspective, then we will live so much happier.
these scriptures will definitely help me on my mission. i know when i am having a tough time, i just need to remember to find joy in it and rely on the Lord, and i will be able to get through it. i am so thankful for this gospel and know that it's completely true! Heavenly Father and Christ know each of us individually and love us more than we know.

counting down: keep busy

44 days let until i enter the provo missionary training center to begin my mission! i can hardly stand this wait! but i am definitely kept busy every day. i start off my day waking up early, getting ready, and leaving for work around 8:30. i work, doing filing at a legal office, from 9 to 1, then head home. then, depending on the day, i do different things. some days i go to the temple, other days i completely relax, exercise, or make more money. on mondays and wednesdays i tutor a girl in math for an hour, and other days i babysit. i honestly make money in any way that i can. one piece of advise that i would give to anyone preparing to go on a mission is to keep busy! satan is going to do anything to get you to stray, but i know that if you set your mind on other things, he won't be able to. i know that Heavenly Father loves me, and all of us, and He will do all that He can to keep us on the right path if we have that desire.