HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!
image via honestlywtf
Happy Valentine's Day!
Those three words usually spark 2 reactions: 1. lovey dovey fireworks in your heart or 2. ugggh. Regardless of your reaction, I want you to take in this verse today:
Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way! -Jude 1 MSG
There is a love that is larger than romantic love. A love that stretches wider, longer, deeper and higher than any Nicholas Spark's novel could. You are loved by God with this love and it is an everlasting love. He loves you, He loves you, He loves you.
So relax today. Rest today. And open your heart because His love is on the way.
xoxo,
s.s.♥.
VALENTINE'S WARDROBE
Got plans for Valentine's day yet? Or better yet, do you have your Valentine's outfit planned yet? If not, I have some inspiration for you!
all clothing above from zara
I'm in love with everything from Zara. Seriously, how cute are those pink heels in the hot date outfit? And I'm hoping to snag that oversized cardigan today.
James and I are heading to Vancouver today for the you & her launch (check out their website and buy their undies to support girls in Africa!) so we decided to make a Valentine's date of it. We'll be there for less than 24 hours but I'm hoping to squeeze in as much as possible including breakfast at Medina Cafe and hopefully some qt at Zara. We have no official plans on the big day itself but here's to hoping my man has something special up his sleeve (no pressure darling..)
Happy Wednesday!
xo,
s.s.♥.
RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE BROWNIES
Are you a Valentine's lover or hater? Even though I have been single for most of my life (James was my second official boyfriend, and the first one was in grade 9 for two weeks, ha) I've always loved Valentine's Day, probably because I'm a hopeless romantic at heart.
So I made you a dessert for Valentine's Day. You can make it for your boyfriend or your friends or heck, make it for yourself, and rent The Notebook. You can pretend you're eating it with Ryan Gosling. That sounds like a pretty fantastic Valentine's Day if you ask me.
Enjoy!
xoxo,
s.s.♥.
WINTER FITNESS GEAR
The cold weather in Victoria has returned...booooooo. Tomorrow morning's forecast is "-3 feels like -7". I know some of you in your blizzard like conditions are laughing as I complain about -3 weather but us islanders just aren't used to that kinda cold. Torrential rain? Now that is something we can handle.
When it comes to running, I'm more of a fall runner than a summer one. I'm even ok with running in the winter (just not -10 please). But I'm only ok with it, if my running jacket is good to go. I live in that thang in the winter time. I purchased it 7 years (!!!!) ago and I still use it all the time. It just goes to show investing in good gear is definitely worth it.
Below are some winter running essentials. You can't just slap on some capris and hope for the best. If you're taking on winter running, you gots to be prepared!
ONE WORD 2014 // AMY
Hey! I’m Amy! After giving it a lot of thought, I decided that 2014 needed a word that I could hold onto during the ebb and flow of the challenging and beautiful times ahead. I chose the word ‘cherish’ because I wanted to see the value in each situation, and to foster a hope for each day. Sometimes I find it easy to be worried with the unknowns in the future. Often, I voice my frustrations more frequently than my gratitude. My husband recently joined the army, and the decision was a substantial one. We will be given orders on when and where to move, and we can certainly expect to move often. This did not originally fit with my “plan” for our future together. My career plans, and hopes to settle down and buy a house suddenly need to be drastically modified. As the unknowns ahead started to fill my mind, and I lost sight of what truly matters. Then I read 1 John 2:15-17:
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
I realized that my own achievements and possessions had become a major priority. Yikes! I also realized that in all things, I needed to rejoice, and to find moments and people to cherish and appreciate. Life is a gift, and I have been given so much to be thankful for. Living for Christ and loving others is much more important than the career and possessions that the world makes so appealing.
Thank you for sharing your heart Amy and again, thank you for taking all the beautiful photos!! (Hire her!!)
xo,
s.s.♥.