Wear It Wednesday: New Years Eve 2014

It’s time to bling in the New Year with some fabulous New Years Eve party outfits. Here are three outfit ideas that’ll surely keep the compliments coming all night long.

Elegant in Jeans

You don’t have to wear a dress to look fab. Dress up those dark wash skinny jeans in your closet with a sequins shirt, bold bangle, chic clutch, stilettos and blazer to complete your edgy, yet elegant ensemble.

Via fashionsy.com

Sparkly and Short

Sparkle on New Years Eve is always acceptable and beaded dresses are a crowd favorite. Whether it’s more your style to arrive bedazzled head to toe (like the silver option on the left) or wear a garment with a more selective and stately placement of sparkle (like the black option of the right), either are going to be head turners and leave a lasting impression.

Left: Via lauralina.com Right: Via Pinterest

Unconventionally Long

Wait, what? Excuse me? A long tool skirt at New Years? Yes, ladies for those of you looking to be set apart from the crowd this outfit is perfect for you. The long tulle skirt exudes an elegant party flair while the embroidered and sequins cropped top seamlessly aligns with the New Years occasion.

Via dailynewfashions

Regardless of which outfit style you’re most drawn to, remember to have fun with your New Years Eve ensemble. If you don’t have enough time to buy a whole new outfit, don’t sweat it! Add sparkle by incorporating any of these accessories into your look and you’ll be good to go.

1. Sequins clutch 2. Studded earrings 3. Kate Spade chandelier earrings 4. Nadri bangles Nordstrom 5. Gucci pumps 

 May the New Year sparkle and shine as bright as your New Years Eve outfit.

Merry Christmas 2014

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'” Luke 2:8-12 NIV

May you have a blessed day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior with family and friends today! Warmest wishes from SS team. Merry Christmas! xo

Remember It Always and Don't Forget

3 Ways Keep Fashion App Will Make Your Holiday Shopping A Breeze

Fall in love this season with shopping made easy. From stocking stuffers to gifts under the tree to holiday party favors—and perhaps even treating yourself with a few items on your wishlist—Keep has it all!

Keep is among today’s top fashion apps that is revolutionizing the way stylish women discover and shop for trending products across the entire web. Keep makes it possible for shoppers to buy any product from any store, anywhere, in one seamless and delightful checkout experience: the Keep OneCart. (aka: every fashionista’s dream)

While I recommend you frequent Keep year-round, here are 3 reasons how the app can enhance your holiday shopping experience.

Easy to Use

Keep has a clean, user-friendly design that allows shoppers to easily search for and find products! With the app’s extensive resources and numerous retail partnerships there is no waiting in line or showing up at the store only to discover the item you set your heart on is out of stock. But wait a minute, what if you’re not ready to splurge on the product you want? Keep has a brilliant solution. Keep shoppers are faced with three choices when shopping a product: Like, Keep or Buy. When any product you chose to “keep” goes on sale, you get an email notification! Now that is smart.

Access to Expert Stylists

Not sure what to buy a friend? Aren’t sure how to mix and match? No worries, Keep has all the answers. On a basic level, Keep’s design resembles Pinterest in that shopping is made easy by categories. As a Keep shopper you have access to finding the perfect holiday presents under categories such as Hostess Gifts, Gifts For BFF, Gifts For Him, Gifts For Her and more! Keep also has a Stylists category where Fashion Directors, Editors and Writers for Marie Claire, Women’s Health, The New York Post, Glamour.com and Country Living (to name a few) in addition to TV Hosts, Fashion Bloggers and Design Experts have featured profiles that provide helpful direction and endless inspiration.

Steals, Deals and Convenient Check-Out

Keep has implemented programs to ensure shoppers need no other app than Keep for holiday shopping. With exclusive offers from over 40 retailers, Cyber Monday Marathon programming, Apple Pay and more—Keep is ready for the 2014 Holiday season, are you?

Get started ! 

Sign up for Keep today and follow me @Rachel Ruth 

To download the app click here

Quote of The Day

Loved this graphic and had to share! Hope you beautiful women are constantly seeking after Christ. 

Wedding Dress Shopping Rules: 10 Tips to Successfully Guide You To The Gown

Make An Appointment

It’s recommended appointments be booked two weeks in advance as some bridal salons are very busy, however there are salons that do accept walk-ins. Be courteous and verify the salon’s policy prior to arrival so you can plan accordingly. Appointments typically range from 1-2 hours, so if you’re booking multiple appointments be sure to allot yourself enough time in between shops!

Know What You Like

Your appointment will go much more smoothly and be more successful if you already have ideas of what you’re looking for! Print out and bring some photos of what you like or be sure your phone has enough juice to access the pins on your Pinterest board for examples—either way, it’ll be helpful to the consultant to have a visual of your dream dress.

Note: Some dresses look ordinary on a hanger and then turn magical when you put it on. If a dress has qualities you’re looking for but doesn’t wow you on the hanger, stay open minded and give it a try—you could be in for a pleasant surprise.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

When a consultant asks you whether or not you like a dress they selected for you, don’t be afraid to be honest. Your consultant can’t assist you properly if you aren’t truthful about how you feel—their goal is to help you find the perfect dress, so be vocal about likes and dislikes. It’ll lead you quicker to that yes!

Have A Budget

Have a budget set prior to shopping and be ready to share that with your consultant. Stay away from trying on dresses out of your financial range because chances are you’ll fall in love with something you can’t afford. Keep tax and alterations in mind when setting on a gown budget because those expenses will most likely be included.

Shopping Entourage

You, the bride-to-be, have no obligation to invite anyone wedding dress shopping. It’s recommended you ask at least one person to accompany you so you have a second opinion—but who that person is and how many persons you want opinions from is up to you! It’s your experience, go with what’s most comfortable.

Bring Your Own Accessories

If you already have special accessories you want to wear on your wedding day or if you’ve already found the perfect bridal shoes—bring them to your appointment so you can see which gown they compliment best. If you don’t have those items in your possession, that’s ok—at least bring (or wear to your appointment) a pair of shoes that resemble what you’d like to wear on your wedding day so you can see how the dress looks with height.

Undergarments Matter

What you wear underneath while shopping for a wedding dress will have an effect on how it looks! Be conscious about the style of dress you desire and what undergarments are appropriate for that dress. You want to create the most accurate visual of how the dress will look on your wedding day, so don’t neglect effect of undergarments. It’s recommended you wear either a strapless or clear strap bra when shopping for a bridal gown.

Request Photo Permission

Most bridal salons will not allow you to take photos of the gowns you try on (sorry selfie lovers) to guard against customers using the photos to have the dress replicated by a seamstress. However, some salons do permit the use of cameras so be sure to verify the policy before conducting a photo shoot.

Discounts and Details

Before purchasing a gown, ask about possible discounts! Some bridal salons offer deals they don’t advertise. In addition, get theses details in writing before committing to any transaction: 

       -       Designer, style and style number

       -       Price of dress

       -       Size of dress

       -       Specific color of dress

       -       Shipping date, when you should expect your dress to arrive

       -       Any special requests

       -       Payment schedule

       -       Clearly stated cancellation or refund policy

Note: If you’re wedding dress shopping around Thanksgiving, some bridal salons have Black Friday deals.

Enjoy the Experience

While there are a lot of details that go into finding the perfect gown, remember to enjoy the experience! Stay true to your style and vision and you won’t end up disappointed. Cherish the moment you say “Yes to the Dress” be glad it’s getting you one step closer to “I do.”

Wear It Wednesday: Black & White

It’s time to get cozy for winter, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice class. An easily assembled black and white ensemble exudes sophistication and demands attention. I paired a simple black sweater with patterned cropped pants as to not overpower the intricate lace, texture and details of the pants but rather showcase them as the focal point of the outfit. Simplistic accessories such as leather pumps, a solid black handbag and white pearl long chain necklace complete the chic winter look while staying true to the stately minimalistic theme.

Sweater: Nordstrom

Pants: Ro&De Nordstrom

Handbag: Tory Burch

Necklace: Nordstrom

Shoes: Guess

Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s my favorite time of year again when family & friends gather round the dinner table and time is set aside to reflect on God’s blessings. This year I continued my annual tradition of cooking a completely new dish I’d never cooked before. This year I cooked Homemade Cornbread Dressing, to get the recipe for the Spinach Spoon Bread I made last year- click here!

The Cornbread Dressing turned out so delicious, I’m glad to share the recipe with you. See below and enjoy!

Homemade Cornbread Dressing

Found On: This Gal Cooks

Recipe type: Side Dish 

Serves: 10-15 servings

Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 45 mins | Total time: 1 hour 5 mins

Ingredients

•                3 mild Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed

•                1 prepared Cast Iron Buttermilk Cornbread, cooled (I used Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cornbread Mix)

•                2 tbsp butter

•                2 tbsp olive oil

•                ½ small onion, chopped

•                1 C celery, chopped

•                1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped

•                Sea salt and pepper for seasoning (a pinch of each)

•                1½ C turkey stock

•                2 tbsp minced fresh parsley

•                3 eggs, beaten

•                1 tbsp sherry

Instructions

1.     Crumble your cooled cornbread and place in a large mixing bowl.

Prepared and Cooled Pumpkin Cornbread

2.     In a large skillet or pot over medium heat, melt the butter and the oil. Add the sausage and cook until browned, crumbling the sausage as it cooks. Add the onion, celery and sherry. Scrape the bits off the bottom of the skillet and then cook until the veggies are tender.

3.     Add the sausage mixture to the crumbled cornbread and mix well. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then add the eggs, thyme, parsley, sea salt and pepper. Mix well. Stir in the turkey stock until moistened.

4.     Place the dressing in a well greased 13x9 baking dish. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the top is golden.

If desired, transfer to a serving dish.

On the dinner table ready to serve.

Notes

Adapted from The Williams Sonoma Cookbook

Wear It Wednesday: Harvest Hues

Today I’m wearing an autumn appropriate outfit that incorporates harvest season hues—orange, brown and cream. I paired a burnt orange dress with brown boots and cream socks that nicely tie in the matching cream coat. Accessorizing with gold jewelry and a multi-colored handbag, this outfit is perfect for a casual fall day.

Dress: Francesca’s Collections

Boots: Steve Madden

Coat: Anthropologie

Handbag: Primoplano Italia

Necklace: Francesca’s Collections

Wear It Wednesday: Chic Shimmer

Shimmer, sheer, glitzy and glam are adjectives reserved for or more commonly associated with an evening ensemble. But when elements of the aforementioned nature are tastefully incorporated into an everyday outfit the result is nothing short of chic and polished. So where is the balance? The outfit below is a perfect example!

I paired a gold sheer sweater with black pants, asserting at a basic level (top + pants) that my top will dictate the rest of the look. I accessorized with a gold chain link bracelet, a neutral tone handbag and of course, put a little sparkle in my step with multi-colored confetti flats. Extremely simple to assemble, the glitz is not overdone yet evidently present elevating the entire look to a chic level.

Sweater: Halogen

Pants: STS Jeggings

Purse: Michael Kors

Shoes: Steven Madden

The Heart of the Matter

During his earthly ministry, Jesus often times used parables to convey a message. By definition a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

The beauty of Biblical parables is that while they are saturated with examples and scenarios that people in Biblical times could relate to, the messages they contain are universal making them relevant even today!

Each parable has a purpose—but there is one in particular that challenged me this week. And that is The Parable of the Sower.

In a nutshell, The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:1-15) is a story about a farmer who went out to sow his seed and as he was scattering the seed, some fell…

      1.     On the path and it was trampled on producing no plants

      2.     On rocks and the when the plants grew they withered because there was no moisture

      3.     Among thorns and when the plants grew they were chocked by thorns

      4.     On good soil and when the plants grew they yielded crops

The seed in the parable is the word of God. Some people are…

      1.     Along the path: they hear the word but the devil comes and snatches it from their hearts

      2.     On the rocks: they receive the word with joy but have no root to grow

      3.     Among thorns: they hear the word but go on their way getting choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures

      4.     On good soil: they hear the word, retain it and by persevering produce a crop

To read entire parable, click here.

I’ve read this parable many times before and thought, ok I get it people are going to react differently to God’s word—but that is only scratching the surface. I rediscovered some sermon notes tucked away in the pages of my Bible that examined this passage and posed the questions, why? Why do people react differently to the word of God? Jesus was not preaching different things in different places—his message of the gospel was consistent, so how come it has different effects?

I glanced further down the note-filled page and uncovered the answer. The type of soil in the parable is representative of the condition of one’s heart. Reactions to the gospel have everything to do with the heart of the one receiving the message.

With this insight I went from understanding the parable to examining what category my heart falls into. And in doing so, I couldn’t help but smile when it dawned on me— throughout scripture we see God’s main concern is your heart. Your heart is the heart of the matter.

Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the wart to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 

Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Luke 16:15 “[Jesus] said to [the Pharisees], ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.’”

What is the condition of your heart? I encourage you to make some time this week to examine yourself and reflect upon that. Let's strive to continue building character by giving our hearts to Jesus.