May19

How to purchase a pair of Jeans that fits just right and is modest too!

Posted on May 19, 2012 by emily

Oh my goodness, I just found a chart that has made finding a pair of jeans that fit, a snap!!! Too good to be true? Actually….no!!!

How we wear our jeans these days

There was a day when jeans were labeled by joking males on their tightness by how many stories an individual would have to be dropped to pour them into their jeans. So a 4 story pair of jeans is a pretty tight pair.

Photo Credit

It used to be that only those who couldn’t let go of the glory of their thinness would wear tight jeans. ’I was born to be a size 4 and I will die wearing a size 4′ sort of attitude.

Or the cow girl type, they always seemed to be the ones who had it in them to lay down on the floor and muscle on those jeans come flood or high water.

Now, due to the advent of stretch jean, anyone can wear a tight pair of jeans and it feels like a dream, not a bat of the eye in discomfort. Does this mean we all look good? Most do look great. Is that a reason to wear tight jeans? If you’ve got it, flaunt it, because your worth it?

Well, if we want to do the men a favor if we do look great, (and ‘decent’ to us is great to men) and the public in general a favor, if we don’t, its best to find a pair that has ease, just the amount of fabric extra past your own figure that gives comfort, wear ability, class and modesty to the way you look.

So we aren’t wearing 2 story jeans ourselves, check this out, its this easy!!!

This is a chart from a ‘vintage’ fashion design book (really just a few years back) that I have:

	Bust	Bicep	Waist	Hip	Thigh	Crotch Depth	Crotch Length
Bodice	3-4 inches		½-1 inch
Sleeve		2-3 inches
Skirt			½-1 inch	2-4 inch
Pants			½-1 inch	2-4 inch	1 ½ inch- 2 ½ inch	½-3/4 inch	1-2 inches

There are four things you will want to look at to ensure modesty:

the rise, the hip, the thigh and the waist for purchasing jeans. And there are two cosmetic measurements that will be important for your personal preference, the inseam and the measurement around the cuff of the jean. The latter will determine if your jean is ‘skinny’ ‘tapered’, ‘boot-cut’ ‘straight leg’ ‘wide leg’ or ‘flare’

Using this chart, you will want:

hip 2-4 inches bigger than your hip,

thigh 1 1/2 -2 1/2 inches bigger than your thigh, (and I’ve found that just 1 extra inch makes the world of difference!)

waist 1/2 – 1 inch bigger (measure at the part of your body you will wear the top of your jeans at)

Rise is up to you. Measure the rise from the crotch seam up to the top of the jeans.

(Rise 9-11 inches for a medium to high rise) Personally I think at-least a medium rise to be pretty essential unless you are only into really long tunic type shirts or love yanking down a cami to make sure you don’t expose yourself every time you bend or raise or lift. Or if you are really into pulling up your jeans constantly.)

Inseam: This is the measurement of one of the legs so you will know how long the jeans will be. For shorties, you can re-hem any pair but tall women will want to make sure they like the inseam length before they consider buying the jean.

Cuff measurement: A skinny jean is about 6 inches. A boot cut will measure about 9 inches at the bottom (18 all the way around). A flare will measure about 10 inches and a wide leg will be about 11 inches. (Ball park measurements.)

So lets get shopping!!!

It just so happens that I measured my post maternity jeans and all of them were 1 or 2 story jeans, according to this chart. So it IS time for me to go shopping.

From Ebay, I see that this pair looks to have a good flare and high waist like I like, but on scrolling down, I find the waist is 35 inches. That is atleast 3 inches off my waist, so I can see that I will have to wear a belt with these. I emailed the buyer to find the thigh is 25 inches which is the high end of the ease chart, 2 inches past my measurement. I have to decide if the good modesty and high waist is worth having a rumpled look at the top where I would have to wear a belt.

I am thinking not.

Scrolling to the bottom of the screen, this seller has listed lots of important information. They are ‘short’ so I would not have to hem them, they are 19 inches at the bottom cuff so that means they have a nice little boot cut I like. They have a hip of 38 which is exactly my measurement and a thigh of 23 which is 1 inch bigger. The ease in the thigh would be fine, and they probably stretch, but for my purposes, I want to find a garment that is atleast 2 inches bigger at my hip. So these are a good pair of jeans to watch if I shake just a few inches. But then I’d have to wear a belt as the waist is perfect as is, 1 inch past my measurement.

Here is the information given for this pair of jeans on ebay. It looks like the hip is 2 inches greater than my hip, and the waist is perfectly 1 inch past my waist. It has a boot cut too. Where it doesn’t list the thigh, I emailed a request from that info and found that the jean was 1 inch past my thigh measurement. But if the jean is made from stretch jean, it is going to be a floppy giveable measurement so 1 extra inch is enough to look very lovely and modest as if it were 1 1/2 inches extra of fabric.) If your fabric doesn’t stretch you will need atleast 1 1/2 extra inches for the thigh.)

32 INCHES WAIST
40 INCHES HIPS, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FLY
11 INCHES RISE
28.5 INCHES INSEAM
9.25 INCHES LEG OPENING
9.25 INCHES AT KNEE
72% COTTON
26% POLYESTER
2% SPANDEX
ZIPPER FLY

I prefer a flare or a wide leg, to a boot cut, but with so many other perfect factors, and the fact that this jean is reasonably priced, I will wait last minute to place my bid to get the lowest price.

I usually don’t buy things new, its been years since I bought a brand new pair of jeans, but I did treat myself to this pair…and I LOVE them, they are so comfortable!!! Its too rare to find all the right measurements (1 inch extra at the waist, 2 extra at the hip, a rise I love that isn’t too low, short too…it would be asking too much for them to have more flare

Now if you are shopping in-store, don’t forget your measuring tape! A measurement can save you a lot of head ache, especially if you are a mom and dressing room scenes are horrendous. Quickly measure the 4 or 5 measurements and narrow down what you need to bring to the dressing room. Plus the measuring tape will help you realize what measurements aren’t stretching to fit you.

Oh my goodness how I love my chart. I just went to a garage sell and with 50 or so pants in the right neighborhood of size to choose from, and with just a ruler, I was able to check out the rise, the thigh and the waist of pairs I was interested in…There were two pair I loved the shape on and I would have bought had it not been for my measuring tape that told me they were just a bit too small. If I took them home they’d be too tempting not to wear. But as it is, I bought, count it 4 pair that all fit so nicely, just by knowing I wanted the thigh to be atleast 1 inch bigger, and the hip to be atleast 2 inches bigger, and the rise being atleast 10 inches. And come to see they all look good! Perfect, well lets not stretch it. (I’ll have to take up the hem of course, I’m 5 foot 2.) But not too shabby and really, quite well! Yeah yeah yeah!!!

I just wish I had known this simple information a bit sooner in my life!

Happy shopping and I believe a prayer to find modest and flattering pair of jeans/pants seems small to us, but something our Heavenly Father cares about in his love for us, too.

May7

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Posted on May 7, 2012 by emily

Happy Cinco De Mayo

What’s that big pot of? LOT’S of pork…and the silly face on the side, my husby. Side views of baby’s heads and or his head being a favorite trick of his. (That day in church he greeted me around a hallway corner with Bridger’s head peeping in such a manner at me.)

Yes, he likes to go big when he goes…last time he smoked pork we were able to invite a couple of families over to share it. But I wasn’t on the ball so instead we have the lonelier route…three gallon bags in our freezer. But if you are reading this post, more than likely we truly wished YOU were out with us in MN to enjoy it together.

The children fried up the corn tortillas golden brown, the rice was from the “Food Nanny” santa fe lime rice just perfect, the salsa Riley did the brunt work in chopping but I tasted it just right, and the pork and feta on top combo comes from my brother’s recipe, but I will let Riley talk to you about.

George picked up his piled up tortilla and ate it like everyone else but I couldn’t snap the picture at just the right time, so here is the next best thing:

Yes George has learned how to be photogenic.

The pork:

As was stated we used Emily’s brother’s recipe as a base, but were unable to completely follow it because we lacked some of the ingredients. We made the pork by cutting 18.7 lbs of pork sirloin into small pieces and put them into a 5 gallon stock pot. I then cut up one sweet onion, and smashed up a head of garlic and put it in the pot too. I also put in a bunch or oregano, salt, a little bit of something called “cowboy rub”, liquid smoke, and some garlic powder. I filled it up with water brought the temperature up and let it simmer for 2 hours or until all the pork was tender and easily broke apart. I then removed the pork from the water, dumped the water out, and put the pork back in the pot and tried to fry it in some olive oil in an attempt to add some crispiness to the edges of the pork. This was less successful, due to the amount of meat that was being cooked. So I gave up that attempt and put a #10 can full of diced tomatoes into the pot, 4 small cans of chipotle chiles in adobe sauce, and 1/2 a red onion and 2 cups of water (The water was primarily to add liquid to keep things from sticking to the bottom of the stock pot). I then tried cutting up the tomatoes with a large spatula, which also broke up the pork and stirred it for a little while. I then put it on the back burner on low heat until the other things were ready to eat.

THEN…

The adults were thinking….a nap? Lets sleep this off!! But the children wanted to go on a walk, and it was perfect spring weather. It was fun for the children to run into a plot of dandelions, and together, we ewed and awed over the lake front charming houses near our home…we dreamed about a hobby farm and how it would be, and reveled in what we have, our home has EVERYTHING we need and want…instead of a whole office to get cluttered, a big cupboard, a school/toy room, a sewing room, a shop, and a garden plot and chicken coop. We are so very thankful.

May1

Refurbished Curtains

Posted on May 1, 2012 by emily

Refurbished Curtains

When we came to our new house, it had a chicken above the window. I love the chickens here that came with the house, but that chicken didn’t float my boat.

I copied a valance in a sewing pattern book. It’s a double sided rectangle turned inside out with gathers going to almost the middle. Then there is that tube piece sewn on top.

So I planned on curtains. They were slow in coming forth, but when I found this fabric, full of foxes, chickens, owls, mice, barns, and apples, I knew it was just the ticket. So I bought a yard of $6 fabric with a 1/2 off coupon. Then I took a Saturday morning after some really bad family news to treat myself to something nice, and I let the whole rest of the house go to pot, while making the valance.

The ribbons are some burlap sort of fabric, that would have been better done with a bit of rustic rope or ribbon, but I didn’t have any so I made due. It might even look cuter if I made them 1 inch wide rather than 1 1/2 inch wide.

I wasn’t getting to the white part of the curtains, which are refurbished, they had the same pattern on the stripe part, but in maroon and white squares which had faded pretty bad with the sun being near 5 years old. I asked my visiting teachers if we could craft together since I just don’t treat myself to sewing enough. The fabric in the squares at the bottom and the panel on top are pieces my mother in law gave me and also I had fabric remains from our sliding glass window curtain, which ties the dining and kitchen together quite nicely.

I really should craft once a week. So I did so with my skirt you see in the last post. But normally I craft like once a month or less. I think I always get intimidated before I try something, even though I most always figure it out after a few dead ends. How often do you craft? How do you make time for it?

What art’s for a woman? To hold on her knees

Both Darlings to feel all their arms round her throat

Cling strangle a little, to sew by degrees

And ‘broider the long clothes and neat little coat

To dream and to doat.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Apr30

Frumpy, funky and fun: 1 skirt, 3 days, from a skirt party

Posted on April 30, 2012 by emily

Frumpy, funky and fun: 1 skirt, 3 days, from a skirt party

A group of fun, beautiful and fresh Christian gals, Olivia, Ashley, and Natasha started a party, a modesty skirt/pants party where you would wear that one modest item three days in a row, finding new ways to wear that item. So, I am late to the party, and probably the goldie oldie of the bunch. But since there were no age limits, and there is a time limit, I better hurry and tell you about my skirt.

I sewed this skirt on Friday during the cracks of my day. I was inspired from Olivia’s post about transforming a pair of big men’s thrift store pants into a skirt. And her post about how pants are wont to fall down inspired me to do something about this pair of out of style cargo pants. They were a garage sell find and always slipping down when I wore them. And a skirt that sits at the same level won’t give you that uncomfortable sagging crotch feel.

These pictures aren’t too flattering, but when my husband saw the skirt, he said “funky.” And some of the seams don’t lay just flat, and with the bulky pockets, I call this skirt, frumpy too, but lets face it, its kinda fun.

So here’s my funky frumpy fun skirt.

(pictures courtesy 8 year old daughter.)

Day 1

The bottom and stripes from this skirt are made from another frumpy large garage sell 50 cent cargo pair of pants, as well as bits of the hem on the original pants.

Awkward picture of me and better view of the skirt.

Hopefully the fun stitching gives a quiltery aged look so that I am not wearing something too young for my own good.

You can barely see it, but I really like that little do-dad on the right, its a sort of draw string that was on the bottom of the khaki frumpy cargo pants.

This isn’t the best picture but it shows the curved seam in back, its sort of a crazy quilt look in back, but you can see why I named the skirt frumpy.

Sorry its fuzzy but you can vaguely see how I pinned in this curved seam. I did a fo-surge stitch on the outside of the fabric, all seams on this skirt are outward. It was easy and fun, I didn’t know what I was going to do and it just came to me as I went along.

Lastly, I chose this shirt (borrowed from my sister in law–Kristie, can I have this shirt?) that has the same coloring on it as the skirt, dusty blue and white. I took in the seams of the arm and waist, not to make a fitted tee but a tee not on steroids.

Day 2

This is a stand by shirt of mine, I wear it practically every Monday for mopping Monday with a jumper. I could be really sick of it, and sort of am, its just there’s something so ‘Emily’ about it that…its a stand by.

The dusty blue in the design goes well with the skirt. The shirt under it gives some extra length I wish the shirt had. Unfortunately the red shirt is nice and long but too tight and too small of short sleeves to wear with out a shirt on top, so its a sort of cami for me.

We are planting our spring garden today. My neighbor teen aged friend came by and snapped a couple shots for me, I told her Riley would really appreciate it.

And a little Bridger Bonus. Isn’t he a cutie?

But for Day 3, George slimed my skirt. We’ll have to do some laundry before day 3.

Day 3

So, today was laundry day so washing the skirt so I could wear it again was no problem. And it already has a new goober.

I love tunic tops for a plethra of reasons. Slimming. Long–I love to look like a human bell, that is so cute in my book.

So it has been so fun to do this three day, 1 skirt challenge. I am so glad I made this hardly wear pair of pants become promoted to a must have casual skirt. Refurbishing something old has also brought other old clothes more newness too.

I went to Russia to teach English as a young gal, and those gals there wear the same outfit all week. No one bats an eye. I love the simplicity of it.

So what I take with this experience, is less is, after all, more!

My sister when she was in kindergarten would wear and re-wear her favorite shirt, I still remember it, striped with a few glitters built in. She assumed everyone would attribute her goobers to her morning breakfast, and since I have children, I can assume the same for other’s assumptions. ? Right?

Apr20

My Eighth Year Old- Birthday girl!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by emily

My Eighth Year Old- Birthday girl!

I never thought it would happen. That I’d have an eight year old. Ready to get baptized. Well I do.

Milly dancing with Bridger.

It sort of sneaks up on you. Like one minute you think you might pull your hair out and the next minute they are so helpful and sweet and clever and wonderful. Not always but most the time, and you just say wow. Thanks for being you.

We had a party that Milly planned down to every morsel of food and game.

Those chocolate cupcakes (were) as good as they look.

Milly had a tea party and games such as “Princess, princess, queen” (After the manner of Duck duck goose.)

Here we go round the castle, till we all fall down,

and “Have you ever seen a Lassie go this way and that.”

(Ok, so I added this one in.)

Months in advance. She made out invitations. She made party bags. Alls I had to do was clean the house, (never easy) and remind her to cook her food a bit in advance.

I’ll have to admit, as the week came upon us, I got worried. I’m not a big party thrower. And I was worried with child-made up games, and girls grabbed from here and there (that wouldn’t know each other) it sorta made me….worry! I prayed and put it right into the Lord’s hands to help the girls have fun.

He did…and how! Those girls were friends in no time, having fun, and making up their own games too!

Hide Repunzel’s hair, and play tug of war with it, were all part of the fun.

Plus, can we count in fetch the chickens out of the neighbor’s yard? You’d think the girls were at the Balling’s Party with the Chickens, Crazy and in love, Forever Young, Rock my world game. Who knew it could be so fun to run after hens?

So, happy birthday to my eight year little-old darl’n.

Apr20

A Little Love

Posted on April 20, 2012 by emily

A Little Love

Sometimes in life, you just need a little extra love. (Milly’s head band likes to fall down, its not a jivy sweat band.)

In fact, I’ll take a “Heart Attack” like this any day.

Its the little things that count, like when your friends send you an Easter link for activities when your brain’s just too sapped, and ask how you are really doing, or when friends watch your children so you and your husband can go to go to the temple. Perhaps when they call and just listen with empathy. Or when friends open up and share tough experiences they went through to help you feel supported and guided in your trial. An email that is more like a letter can be such a tender mercy during a tough time. Or just being included in a ladies night out or some other fun venture to help you forget about weightier matters really is wonderful.

I loved these little hearts on a stick. My friend’s family did this for a family night, and my favorites were the narrow lop-sided hearts. It came with a poem that was child-hand written, and they were made to put up in our house to remind us of God’s love!

The hearts made excellent birthday decorations, and especially to cover goobers on my walls.

photo credit

My friend described emotional trama to be much like the ocean waves the feelings crash on the beach and recede; and a bump can bring out the waves again.

Her empathy and insights helped me so much.

Also, I can not underestimate the thankfulness I feel for prayers. Very interestingly, after I wrote my last post about how my cheeks have been burning so frequently with this family occurance, the next week after I blogged about it, I never felt it. There were times when I expected the burn and it didn’t come. I knew someone was praying for me for that and I was so thankful. I have a testimony of prayer and especially specific prayers and I am so very thankful for your prayers and hope I can keep mine coming for you!

One friend/cousin in law, gave me a hug, and cried with me. That was really special. It really amazes me what people have to give, to share one another’s burdens in rough times.

I only hope I can return the love when others need it most, from me.

———————————————–

Mosiah 18:8-9

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are ^awilling to mourn with those that ^bmourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as^cwitnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the ^dfirst resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Apr11

I want to be like a lady.

Posted on April 11, 2012 by emily

I want to be like a lady.

Photo credit.

Through this tough time, the Lord had prepared me by examples of other to do lent, and dietary-wise, it felt right to go with out yeast. Not having bread helped remind me to be humble. That humility helped me not to take things personally that could really hurt. It helped me not to get defensive and to want what was best at all times. My 40 day going with out bread ended April 5th. The second day of my no-bread lent, I realized I wanted to also go off of chocolate, as my emotions were so unstable that I really didn’t want to gain 10 pounds.

The good news is, I haven’t gained weight and may have lost a smidge. A smidge is better than nothing. But after eating dorky easter candy and chocolate cookies for breakfast and lunch Monday, I realize something interesting. The chocolate was good but eating a bunch of it was more performing a duty I had earned, rather than satisfying this craving that internally stirred and kept me unsettled without it. Therefore honoring lent this year helped me demode chocolate a few notches down in my ‘worship’ campaign.

But what now? Lately, I can’t describe it and I wish someone could help me know whats going on. Has anyone experienced trama, and their cheeks begin to burn internally? From the beginning I felt I needed to scrub my face off, and now its really my cheeks, and anytime I feel any sort of loss or hurt my cheeks hurt. I really don’t like it.

But at any rate, when I don’t eat like a lady now, and even thinking about it, my poor cheeks burn. I am so sensitive to any sort of mistreatment to myself, or loss of any kind. So I feel its really important to treat myself ‘like a lady’. And I’ve learned a lot since making this discovery of how to treat myself like a lady food-wise, its just that I need to pray the Lord will give me grace to do it, as change is just one more thing to think about when your brain isn’t so capable it can be daunting.

Have you ever walked outside when the cotton trees are shedding and they glint in the sun and its so whimsical and beautiful? I would love the graces of heaven to disperse in such a manner to help me eat like a lady at this time. Hey, would you pray for that for me? And mention it in a comment and I’ll pray for that for you too, or whatever you’d like.

cotton tree 8

One of those things to feel like a lady, would definitely be no picking.

My brother used to tease me about this awful habit by taking his two fingers and going ‘pinch, pinch’ right in my face. Yes its been a bad habit for a long time.

And another would be a suggestion my sister gave me, to put your meal in a prudent proportion onto a bed of spinach. Mix the cold of spinach with a hot meal and make a luxury of it, fill up that belly to nice satisfaction in a really healthy and lady-like manner.

Image found at Zesty Cook.

So Grace please come to me, Emily Gay. (Middle name. It means happy, bright and buoyant.)

Apr7

Lowliest Service

Posted on April 7, 2012 by emily

Lowliest Service

This is a special activity we are going to do this year at Easter time, to remind our children that when we are in the service of our fellow man, we are only in the service of our God. see Mosiah 2:17

As the Savior washed our feet, one of the lowliest acts He could perform, so is the best service we could render to others, service that is not easy.

I have been thinking about diapers, lately. When I change a diaper, I get kicking and screaming as my reward for wiping the stinkiest grossest area on the human body. I prevent festering of flesh and cankers galore in so doing. But in return I get tantrums and squalor. Sometimes I get poop flung about, on the floor, on other clothing, and even on myself. This broadens the service as all involved have to be cleaned up.

Some of our most important service, gets little, no, or even adverse return. Sometimes we even have to wipe the ‘poo’ off ourselves in this type of service. But as parents, spouses, children or friends who love, we continue to serve in the critical ways for the very best of our loved ones.

Apr4

Modest Swim Suit Inspiration

Posted on April 4, 2012 by emily

Modest Swim Suit Inspiration

I got some swim fabric from the shop on sale, and I’ve been day dreaming just a little about swim suits. I rounded up some pictures last year, and I’ll be the first to admit it, this is my favorite suit, I just love it. Vintage 1960s Cole of California beach romper This one is not too shabby either. SALE - Vintage Gingham Jantzen Romper Playsuit Sunsuit VLV Bombshell 50s Mad Men Marilyn Monroe Joan Princess

I think the above suits to be wonderful examples of how we can have a tailored suit that isn’t tight, covers amply over sacred body parts, and is lined and supported well.

It was my ultra conservative Mennonite friend got me thinking further about modest swim apparel, and I began to realize it wasn’t but a century ago when, if they saw us in modern today, it would seem we were swimming in our flashy, private underwear in public! You know like those bad dreams when you go to school and realize you are in your underwear, or worse? And even our most modest swim wear would seem pretty racy to their perspective. If those century olders were looking at a beach in San Fransisco or in Europe, they’d really think those people were living out their nightmares. From Fuzzylizzie Vintage Clothing, you can take a sneak peak into the past in a time line form.

Here’s a 1911:

And here’s a 1922:

Personally, I think the 1950, and

1955 is fun:

Of course, if you go through the time line you can see modesty go out the window. The styles bounce back and forth a little in modesty, but there is an obvious steady decline. Now. Modesty is a wonderful thing. Modesty is our shield and protection to guard our virtue. Whether it be to keep our own thoughts pure (so we aren’t thinking, why do I have to look so hot today?) (A very small portion of the women population think this, but never the less we females do like to feel attractive).

However, bringing refreshment and beauty to those around us, and not looking fashionably appalling, even when we swim, I think to be a viable goal. For competition or even fitness swimming, swim suits like these are options that might be comfortable and helpful. They are certainly modest in context. Especially if one quickly puts a t-shirt on after a swim.

But for average swimming, defined by splashing around in the water and lounging all day near the pool or at the beach, more coverage wouldn’t be inhibiting. For mothers bending and lifting children, exposure to more than we might want to divulge can easily ensue. My question is, can we really dress in swim wear that we wouldn’t feel embarrassed in if the Savior stepped over for a visit?

President Uchtdorf, a beloved apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ has called on women of the church to be creative and to channel their innate desire to beautify the world. Says Elder Uchtdorf, “I believe that as you immerse yourselves in the work of our Father—as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others—God will encircle you in the arms of His love.”

President Hinkley, deceased and beloved prophet of the Latter Day Saint church admonished youth to be “bright and able, clean and fresh, attractive and smart”. He said that we need not be prudes, but that we must not stand on slippery ground. He also said he wished that every young woman had a sewing machine and creatively knew how to use it, and explained that modesty was timeless and classy. I am calling on myself and the beautiful creative Christians of the world to come up with something different.

Olivia from Fresh Modesty wrote her own ebook on how to make a modest swim suit. She has 4 or so different top and bottom variations including how to construct support wear underneath. Here are a few picture inspirations that I’ve been looking at. And I have to say, its hard. Really it is. But we are told in scripture that God’s holy people are peculiar, they are pure (see verse 16). As hard as it is to be different, my hope is that we can be different enough that the Lord would be pleased. Let us make our clothing first a shield and protection to us. Let us consider first modesty, second function and wearability and then let us consider beautifying the world around us.

So I post a few of my swim suit inspirations. There isn’t much of this inspiration I speak of out there, you know. Modest, but spunky and or pretty. Its either so modest its stifling, so barely modest that it still is ultra attractive to men, (maybe covering a stomach but not necessarily cleavage) or really showing too much leg than we would be comfortable around near the Savior. And swim wear as it stands is so a part of our culture that you feel about crazy even thinking about doing something different.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start a trend, so it wouldn’t be almost painful to be different? I know after 2 years of wearing more modest swim wear I feel the blessing of feeling protected and the embarrassment is gone. Its a feeling that is worth it. Chritian women around the world are feeling called by the Lord to protect womanhood. Read Shelly’s story on the subject of swimwear, at her inspiring blog that reaches out to teens in the enticing world we live in. She truly reaches out to help young people walk a godly walk. Check out my links from the side of my blog and take a picture walk through these ideas. I don’t know the answers, but lets get inspired.

Swim Suit inspirations, mostly

found off Etsy:

(The latter three suits are found at ModestKini, under Semi Cover Swim suits Good luck, have fun, and may God be with you in your decisions!

Apr2

Christ helping me this Easter Season

Posted on April 2, 2012 by emily

Christ helping me this Easter Season

I’ve been very thankful of late in partaking of these wonderful videos produced by the church I belong to for the edification of all.

The Life of Jesus Christ, Bible Videos

These clips don’t have music to sway your soul, just the potent worth of watching Christ’s life as it may have been viewed by angels. The actor for Christ is my favorite above all I’ve previously seen. His looks are different than I’ve ever before perceived, but what I love is he seems so guileless, and innocent, a look I haven’t yet seen mastered by any other actor.

While watching these videos, I remembered a beautiful picture I saw at the BYU museum of art as a college student. I was struck by the gentle look of this strong yet strictly peaceful figure. It was unlike any picture I’d ever seen and reached far into my soul. The artist is unknown, but was one of Rembrandt’s friends. The artist is specified as “Circle of Rembrandt”. Something about the nonrecognition of the artist’s name contributes to the peaceful power of his/her work. The work is copy-righted and can be seen here.

At this particularly difficult time of life for me, I’ve pictured this man holding my hand when time seems to stand still. He holds my hand.

I still love this pictureby Del Parson entitled ‘The Good Shepherd’.

Del Parson’s more well known picture in the red robe is available at online lds store.

That gentle, strong look of the Savior I am sure embodies this perfectly humble man, ready and willing to carry us and to heal us; and we as little lambs, grown or young, can submit to his help. My children can look at Him carrying that lamb when they scrape their knee, or get mocked or teased as they get older. I looked at it as I birthed my youngest Bridger, and refer to it when life gets too hard for my own capacity…it hangs in my living room.

Another favorite art work of mine is a classic piece done by Frances Hook called Jesus and the Little Children. It embodies the tender strong man as one who would encircle a little one about in his arms and hands in love, confidence, and gentleness to lead them aright. It can be found at the online lds store under the ‘art’ section, as well as other places.

This Easter is a special time to celebrate our Lord. Though I may not get to a single special tradition this year, I hope my tradition will to be to hold his hand, to sit at his feet, to receive a hug, and to utilize his atonement to help me forgive, to heal, and to bless.

Happy Easter to you my dear family, friends, and any viewers whom I do not know.

Farm-Girl at Heart

An Engineer, His Farm-Girl, and their little Ducklings

How to purchase a pair of Jeans that fits just right and is modest too!

Oh my goodness, I just found a chart that has made finding a pair of jeans that fit, a snap!!! Too good to be true? Actually….no!!!

How we wear our jeans these days

So we aren’t wearing 2 story jeans ourselves, check this out, its this easy!!!

I just wish I had known this simple information a bit sooner in my life!

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Refurbished Curtains

Frumpy, funky and fun: 1 skirt, 3 days, from a skirt party

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

My Eighth Year Old- Birthday girl!

A Little Love

I want to be like a lady.

Lowliest Service

Modest Swim Suit Inspiration

Here’s a 1911:

And here’s a 1922:

Personally, I think the 1950, and

1955 is fun:

Swim Suit inspirations, mostly

found off Etsy:

Christ helping me this Easter Season