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Living Above Worry, Stress, and Fear
We can all agree that feelings of worry, stress, fear, anxiety, and doubt are unfortunately normal and natural parts of life. There are very real reasons in our lives and in our world to feel these feelings, but thankfully there is a bigger Truth at play. There is only one way to live above worry, stress, and fear and that is by faith in God. It is by faith in Him that we can get through the very real feelings that hard situations and challenging circumstances bring. Our God promises to be with us through everything and that is a promise that is bigger than anything in this world! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT). 
By faith, we are able to cast off worry, stress, and fear by turning away from those negative feelings and turning to our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God. When we put our trust and confidence in Him, we become free from having to bear the hard parts of life on our own shoulders. Faith allows us to give all worries and cares to Him, believing that He is capable of handling what is too much for us to bear. We are not designed to carry God-sized worries, but He is! Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 4:7 NLT) 
What a blessing that our God is willing, wanting, able, and made to carry our heavy burdens. Matthew 11:28 reads: Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light" (NLT). This verse is so powerful because it is calling and inviting the weary souls and the burdened hearts to come to Jesus. If we start to view moments of worry, fear, and stress as opportunities to become closer to Jesus and cling on to Him, our souls will be able to find rest and we will also grow in faith. When you feel fear, run to Jesus. When anxiety attacks, run to Him. When doubt is determined to sneak in, call out to Jesus.
It is only in Him and by faith that we are able to find true rest and real freedom. The truth that His yoke is easy and His burden is light is such a source of comfort during our hardest moments. When we feel the burdens of this world weighing down on us, we are to immediately lay everything down at the feet of Jesus.
The lyrics of Chris Tomlin's song, "Home", speak to this truth so well:
Lay down my burdens, I lay down my pastI run to Jesus, no turning backThank God Almighty, I'll be free at last.
SHOP THE POST:
sunnies | sweater (similar) | track pants | metallic shirt jacket | booties
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Clean Air For A Peaceful Mind
As you probably know by now, making and keeping our home a clean, pure, toxin-free environment is so important to me! I have become really passionate about it and it brings me so much peace and joy to know that the air we are breathing and the products we are using are clean as possible. Even so, there are still pollutants, allergens, and gases that exist. When Dyson reached out about sending me their purifier: the pure hot+cool link, I was so thankful and excited to add the technology to our home. Dyson continues to amaze me with their cutting edge technology, as they are truly creating state of the art products that are purposeful , effective, powerful, and useful with a design strategy that is exceptionally modern and minimal. Last week I shared my experience with their supersonic hair dryer, so definitely check out that post if you missed it. Their hair dryer has seriously changed the state of my hair for the better!
Since I spend most of the day hours in my office, I decided to put the purifier in there. It has become my routine to turn it on everyday while I am at my desk. Since starting that routine, I've had such peace of mind and comfort, knowing that it is working to clean the air around me as I focus on my work. It is pretty mind-blowing to realize that air pollution isn't just something that we should be concerned about outside, but it is an indoor issue as well. What is especially incredible about the hot + cool link, is that while it purifies the air and captures pollutants, it also heats or cools your indoor space, depending on the temperature. How cool is that! If you are interested in reading more facts, click here. The Dyson site has a quick video that describes the power of of the technology behind their purifier so well.
*images by Felicia Lasala. Thank you, Dyson, for the purifier!
Must-Have Hair Products + Tools
Today's post is all about hair! I love all things hair-related, so I thought it would be fun to share my must-have hair products + tools. As many of you know, my bestie & I developed a loose powder dry shampoo for blondes, brunettes, and redheads...Meet, Stranded. It goes without saying that Stranded is a staple in my hair routine and I use it daily. We are very passionate about clean beauty products, so it brings me great joy and peace of mind knowing that the ingredients in our dry shampoo powders are pure and free of harsh chemicals.
Thanks to Stranded, I can go a few days between hair washes. Doing this allows natural oils to develop which is a good thing for our strands! Over-washing the hair strips the strands of natural oils, causing hair to appear more dry than normal. However, when I do wash my hair and need to head out the door in a timely manner, an effective, powerful yet gentle, and high-quality hair dryer is so necessary.
When Dyson reached out about sending me their Supersonic Hair Dryer, my excitement was seriously on another level. I had heard about how lightweight, effective, and cutting-edge it was from a technology standpoint, so I couldn't wait to give it a try.
Not only does it try my hair so quickly, but the design is seriously gorgeous. I love the look of it on my bathroom counter! In all seriousness though, I knew I was going to love this hair dryer when I read that it protects the hair from heat damage and promotes shine and overall hair health. After using it many times now, I can confirm that this is totally accurate.
When used with a round brush, the results are amazing. I am a fan of the natural, slightly undone hair look and this hair dryer achieves that easily and effortlessly. The lightweight feature + unique shape of the dryer enables styling as you dry your hair.
As for shampoo and conditioner, it is again really important to me to use products that are created with clean, pure ingredients. I was so happy to discover Rahua and have been using their products for a while. My hair is always left feeling clean, light, and fresh, after a washing and I am able to go a few days (with Stranded!) until it is time to wash it again.
[show_shopthepost_widget id="2825933"] images by Felicia Lasala
Coffee Table Styling
One of my favorite parts about going to a friend's home is seeing how they style their coffee table. Similar to someone's wardrobe, a coffee table represents a person's style, aesthetic, and gives you a peek into their interests and personal taste. From coffee table books to candles, a well-curated coffee table is truly a work of art in itself. Coffee table styling is a personal experience and there is no right or wrong way to do it, which makes the process that much more fun and enjoyable. Make it yours and let it make an authentic statement in your home! Below are a few of our styling tips, but again, you do you. xo
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DESIGN BOOKS
There are so many beautiful design books (like this one + this one) that serve as great coffee table accessories and house guests absolutely love them. When you are gathered around the table, it is fun for people to flip through the books and be inspired.
FRESH BLOOMS
Fresh flowers add so much warmth and love to a home. We love picking up blooms regularly and adding them to our coffee tables. Much like a centerpiece on a dining table, the coffee table serves as a centerpiece to a living space, so adding fresh flowers will definitely make a welcome, homey statement. We are loving these vases to hold the beautiful blooms.
STATEMENT CANDLE (c/o)
Capri Blue is our absolute favorite brand of candles! They smell wonderfully, are long-lasting, and have a clean, stylish look. This one is pictured above, but we also love this one and this one.
CUTE COASTERS
Having coasters on a coffee table is a must! Guests always appreciate when coasters are readily available, but they also make a table look complete & will protect the table from glass rings. We are especially loving these coasters from Anthro- we both have them!
KEEP IT TIDY
Last but not least, an organized table is a beautiful table! However, depending on your taste and style, the coffee table might be more full than others, or you might like the minimalist approach. Either way and regardless of how many things are on the table, it is nice when everything is kept organized and looks put-together, even in an effortless way.
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FIVE WEEKEND SALES HAPPENING NOW
The long weekend is almost here, friends! We hope that you enjoy every moment whether you are resting and relaxing or busy, busy with fun activities planned. Either way, savor it! Labor Day is Monday of course, but some retailers have started their sales early. Happy Friday to us! Below is a list of five weekend sales happening now. Click the links to browse and below that are a few favorite picks.
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Taking The Time To Journal
We always feel so renewed after a great conversation with someone that we love and trust. Our souls are made to take part in deep, connecting conversations with one another. It is such a blessing to be able to talk through challenging times, reflect upon happy times, praise the Lord for what He is up to in your lives, and share wisdom. In addition to talking through life with loved ones, we are also big believers in taking the time to journal.
Taking the time to journal is such a beautiful way to develop your inner self and become the person who you were designed to be. With the help and guidance of Jesus, journaling can be such a private and beautiful time to connect with Him and be led by Him! One of our favorite things to do is to get still (and comfy), turn on worship music, open up His Word, and grab our journal and pen.
Journaling is a personal experience and will look different for everyone. The best part is that your journal is completely yours. Journal about anything you want. Just start writing, reflecting, rejoicing, thanking, wondering, praying and see what happens. The more you do it, the more freeing it will become!
My journal is a mix of personal thoughts, verses from Scripture, prayers, inspirational quotes from authors/bloggers, poems, wisdom from others, and more. But again, everyone's journal will be unique, which is another reason why journaling is such a beautiful work of written art. We also love the idea of a gratitude journal, especially this one from Papyrus. A gratitude journal is a wonderful way to actively express our gratitude for everyday things, which leads to a greater sense of overall happiness and peace.
Here are a few journals that we love: one | two | three | four | five
+ outfit details: romper | shoes | bandana | sunnies (c/o)| bag
Leave comments below and we will be praying with you along your journaling journey! xoimages: felicia lasala
When The Kitchen Becomes Your Happy Place
I find it so special to go over to our friend's houses. I love it because it truly gives me further insight into who they are. How do they cook? How do they decorate? What are their habits? I so enjoy seeing home life! It also opens my mind to become inspired and introduced to new ways of doing things in my own home.
Enter a few months ago when we went to our dear friend's house in Suncadia, Washington! Jase and I settled in upstairs, and I came downstairs into their lovely kitchen to get some water. Judah handed me a glass jar that looked like a cleaned out milk bottle, and said, this is yours for the weekend! I fell in love with the idea of drinking water out of glass jug; they are easily refillable, dishwash-able, and they don't contain plastic. It's a win on every level, and I immediately started incorporating that into our home habits + Jase and I take them in our cars every day to stay hydrated!
Fast forward to two weekends ago. Jase and I went to our dear friend's house, and they cooked the most sensational dinner with the purest of ingredients. I am talking the fluffiest homemade bread turned into fresh garlic bread, pastured chicken with carrots, dark potatoes, and forty cloves of garlic! Yes. Forty cloves! We were greeted with roasted artichoke cooked in rosemary and lemon wedges, partnered with homemade ricotta cheese dip topped with fresh local figs. I realized they cook this way almost every night together - it's their happy place, and they love experimenting with recipes that come to mind. They remind me of playing the piano by ear, but in the kitchen. I learned so much by their art and creativity, and left feeling inspired and motivated to get out of my cooking rut. This last week, I made that homemade bread and experimented with the most lovely recipes almost every night with the freshest of ingredients from a local market in Silver Lake. All of the sudden, my love for cooking revived, and now the kitchen is becoming more of my happy place, rather than a stress.
What have you learned from seeing how others do home life? We would love to hear from you in the comments below. xo
10 Things To Read This Week
-this incredible post on when fear meets faith from live original
-a great list of Christian podcasts to listen to
-the formula to that effortless french girl beauty look
-watermelon pizza? YES, please.
-5 ways to make everyday feel like the weekend
-great info on all of the different cooking oils
-a beautiful post on how beauty is measured by our hearts and souls
-all the ways to cook eggs. YUM.
-on having the courage to be the true you
-this recipe: avocado cauliflower rice
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THE OUTFIT: romper | shoes | bandana | sunnies (c/o)| bag
image by felicia lasala
9 Clean Self-Care Items That We Love
As you guys know, we love clean skincare and beauty products that are made with pure, safe ingredients. Using products made with safe ingredients not only results in happy skin, but it makes for happy hearts and peaceful minds! Below is a collage of 9 clean self-care items that we love + links to shop. P.S. Follain is a great online shop for high-quality skincare and beauty items. xo
one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine