Spirit of Fear by Joy Leschber

Perceive It Pretty

Fears.  We all have them.  All different, some the same.  What are yours?  It seems like this is a subject no one wants to talk about.  I know I don’t!  Most of the times facing your fears is not pretty. It can get messy and ugly.

Do you ever feel guilty about your fears?  I do.  If I can be honest, if I think too much about a certain fear, I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is not right.  All I want to do is crawl in bed, watch TV and not think about it.  But that doesn’t diminish any fears, it just pushes it to the back of my mind.

We are not called to be timid and not face our fears.  We are called to step up, face our fears and grow.  So today I tell you my biggest fear I have going on right now.  Death.  That is my fear.  Fear that someone close to me will die.  Fear that I will die.  I can tell you exactly when this fear started (when I received a cancer diagnosis) and why it started (I realized that at the age of 35 I was not immune to an early death).  But as quickly as I received that diagnosis, I was in remission.  The cancer was gone but that fear stuck around.  What if the doctor missed something during surgery?  What if the cancer is still there?  What if it spread and no one noticed?  What if it comes back?  Is my daughter susceptible to the same type?  My sisters?  My mom?  Will I die from this???

So I go through those questions in my head.  Sometimes out loud to my sisters and my mom aka my BFF's.  And I answer the questions rationally.  The cancer is gone.  I know this.  My quarterly check ups confirm this.  The labs confirm this.  The scans confirm this.  There is no confirmation that the cancer won’t come back.  There is no confirmation for anyone  that they won’t get cancer.  But I do know that God does not want us to live in fear.  Fear immobilizes us.  It’s hard to move forward.  It’s hard to breathe.  It’s hard to function.  Some days that fear swallows me up and it’s hard to do anything.  More often than not, I can get out of that fearful pit by going to God’s faithful reminders.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

So instead of feeling guilty about my fears, today I choose to use my fears as reminders of how much I need God.  I will use my fears as a chance to have a conversation with God, to lean into Him and His word.  Today I choose to use my fears as a way to show others that they are not alone.  You are not alone.  I am not alone.  We have the King of Kings on our side.  We have to trust that God’s plan is THE plan.  He, and only He, knows what is best for us and when it is our time to leave the earth.

Our God is so, so good and faithful.  His word doesn’t change.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

---JOY

You can visit Joy's new blog HERE

5 Ideas For Accessorizing Your Wedding Party For Fall

Welcome guest blogger Tina Hamilton back on She Inspires again, this time she's sharing five ideas for accessorizing your wedding party for Fall.. The perfect inspiration for this Wedding Wednesday!

Fall weddings are growing more in popularity every year. Many people have always loved the idea of a fall wedding because of the beautiful colors outdoors and the crisp, cool weather, but today many couples are also leading towards a fall wedding to work around their guests’ schedules and take advantage of off-season prices for all their wedding items. Additionally, the new trends in weddings along with the daring new trends for fall fashion, a fall wedding can become a truly unique and spectacular event for any couple with a little inspiration.

Accessorizing the wedding party is always a difficult task for any couple. Fall weddings, however, offer a lot of great accessory options for any wedding party, ranging from simple and classic to original and eye-catching. These ideas can not only make any couples wedding look more pulled together and fashion forward, but these ideas are also a great way for couples to show how much they care about the people in their wedding party. Here are five ideas couples can use to accessorize their wedding party for their fall wedding.

Stay away from perfectly matched wedding parties

The days of perfectly identical wedding parties are long gone and many couples are embracing the idea of having a wedding party that has personality and unique styles. This trend partially started because couples wanted to make it easier for their wedding parties to find outfits that fit their body type and price range, so this is a great option for any couple to utilize. Couples can let their bridesmaids pick dresses in different styles, but a similar color palette, or let groomsmen pick their own shirt to pair under a chosen suit.

Play with fall textures

The best part about fall style is the great textures that always come with it. People are ready to mix in heavier fabrics like tweed, wool and corduroy into their fall fashion. The same ideas can be used by couples when accessorizing their wedding party. Couples and look for options like tweed vests for the groomsmen and feather hairpieces for the bridesmaids. These little touches add dimension and visual interest to any wedding party look.

Incorporate pastels or jewel tones for a trendy look

Traditional fall wedding looks usually involved neutral colors only, but this season’s trends have taken a turn for the bold and colorful. Pastels usually reserved for spring are making an appearance in fall weddings. Couples can utilize pastel colors in their wedding party flowers for a fresh and cool look. Bold fall colors are also a big hit for weddings. Couple can consider pairing together colors like bright orange and deep purple for an outstanding look for any fall wedding.

Lean towards a more casual look

Weddings are no longer required to be a super formal affair. Couples are embracing the laid-back casual style of today’s wedding trends and giving their wedding party some extra room to breathe during the wedding day. Groomsmen can wear dark wash jeans with their sport coats for an easy formal look. Bridesmaids can also opt for short dresses with loose hair styles for an effortless appeal. These ideas take some of the formality out of the wedding day and make the entire event more relaxing for everyone involved.

Give double duty wedding party gifts

Couples often struggle with deciding what to give as wedding party gifts to those people who have helped them so much in the preparation of their wedding day. Couples want wedding party gifts that are special and unique, but still work with their budget. Couple can consider killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, and give their wedding party gifts they can wear the day of the wedding as a simple accessory. This is a great way to pull together a miss-matched wedding party, make a wedding party feel special during the big day and help everyone involved with the wedding stay within budget. Couples can consider cheap groomsmen gift ideas and bridesmaid gift ideas that will double as accessories for the big day. Some great ideas include personalized initial necklaces for the bridesmaids and initial cuff links for the groomsmen.


Image: The Brides Café

Tina Hamilton is a journalist, blogger and social media guru. You can usually find her online or walking along one of Southern California’s beaches with her dog, Joey. You can find her on Twitter.

Guest Post:: Hosting a Fabulous Backyard Party

Summer is the time of the year when we all want to get outside and play. Nothing should stop you from doing that, and even more, you should create options for you and your friends to enjoy the outdoors even more this summer. It’s time to pull out the grill and begin planning a great backyard party.  For many of us, however, the idea of hosting a backyard party is a little scary. So many things to plan, schedule and arrange, it can get a little overwhelming! Fear not, you have come to the right place to get everything you need to plan a successful outdoor party. Here are some tips to help you host a fabulous backyard party this summer.

Plan for the weather

When you are planning an outdoor party, you need to be wary of the weather and the constraints that it can cause. You want to give your guests notice far enough ahead of time, so you will probably know the forecast before you begin your plans. Try to have options ready for any scenario to be best prepared. Have umbrellas and other options for shade set up in the case of extreme heat, or an indoor location that will make due if it rains on your parade. Hopefully, you will not need to use these options, but it is always good to be ready just in case.

Set up entertainment options

You want to make your party fun, first and foremost, so have a few different options set up for entertainment. Most parties thrive on uninhibited conversation, but you don’t want to rely on that alone. Give your guest some fun things to do, like yard games for an active group, or maybe just an option to watch satellite TV if your guests prefer a relaxing evening. These elements will keep everyone interested and engaged for the duration of your backyard party.

Make as much as you can before

This theory is true for many aspects of your party. Try to make everything you can before the day of. This can include food, decorations and even your outfit. You want to do as little as possible the day of your party to eliminate stress and potential problems, so plan ahead and make everything you can before. You can find great summer recipes that can be stored in the fridge and pulled out the next day as needed, and you can also arrange all the decorations before and simply place them in the desired spot the day of the party.

Relax and have fun!

No one likes a party pooper, and if you are running around your backyard party stressing about everything that could go wrong, you will be the party pooper. No one will be able to relax and enjoy themselves if you are not relaxed and happy. Kick up your heels and enjoy all the hard work you put into planning, arranging and setting up this party. You deserve to enjoy it more than anyone else there!

Image: http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/easy-decorating/backyard-party-ideas/lemon-vase

Thanks Tina for joining us today and kicking off this week with some summer fun!

Tina Hamilton is a journalist, blogger and social media guru. You can usually find her online or walking along one of Southern California’s beaches with her dog, Joey. You can find her on Twitter.

Living Inspired:: Eight Happy Spaces

Hello, all! It’s Mari here with a guest post from Arcadian Home blog, a fantastic place to find interior design inspiration including great decorating ideas for everything from foyer lighting to colorful rugs for the floor. I'm so excited to be here with you at She Inspires today to share some of my favorite happy spaces—rooms that make you smile and think how wonderful it is to be home.
  Please enjoy! ~ Mari

 

When it comes to happy spaces, this one must be at the top of the list. It’s quite formal, yet vibrant and exciting with a great mix of sunny yellow and appealing deep pink. The twin spiral staircases and gallery-like walls provide a stunning backdrop for the room.

A lively art installation of blown glass discs adds rhythm and movement to this musical corner. What a wonderful environment for exploring music—piano lessons will be a joy here.

 

                   

Turquoise with pinks and purples is a color palette that always seems to come down on the happy side. This pretty eclectic living room mixes modern pieces and classic elements with lots of gold for good measure. Folding screens like this glam mirrored one can add lots of visual interest to help create your own happy space.

No post on the possibilities of happy spaces would be complete without at least one room from Mr. Happy Chic himself. Jonathan Adler designed this serene but lively sitting room. The circular rug gives the space great movement.

This image of a light-filled entryway is amazing with its movement and sophisticated charm. From highly polished pale wood flooring to brilliant white architectural details and vibrant artwork and accessories, it’s an altogether happy space.

What makes for a happy family more than a beautiful and safe environment in which to live? This play space includes a child-friendly fireplace with a temporary insert—a magnetic chalkboard that is both good-looking and safe.

This just may one of the best bedroom designs ever. It’s the ultimate master retreat—slightly glamorous but so inviting at the end of a long day. The artwork is wonderful, as are the curvy chairs and brilliant modern pendant light.

This last space is a happy room because it has a wonderful totally organized open closet. Few things make a home happier than beautifully organized rooms. A vibrant golden yellow accent wall can be stunning in an all-white bedroom. Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 What do you think of these happy spaces? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and stop by our blog for more mini pendant lighting and home decor inspirations!

Guest DIY: Minty & Gold Dipped Desk

Happy Monday!  Today I would like to welcome my sweet friend Valerie Phan in sharing her fabulous DIY dipped writing desk. I completely fell in love with this makeover and had to share...

Valerie:
My husband and I used to peruse the antique and thrift stores very often when we couldn't afford a lot to decorate our first home. We bought this desk about 20 years ago from an antique thrift store in Orange Circle antique mall, CA. It was the perfect size for the guest room. I remember that I didn't hesitate with this purchase. The guest room then became the nursery and eventually we needed to make room.   My husband tried to convince me so many times to get rid of it but I just couldn't and kept thinking we'll use it again one day. Long story short, 20 years later and now in our third home, we still have this desk. It ended up in my youngest daughter's bedroom until she and her sister saw a piece of furniture with this minty color with gold legs on Pinterest and decided to repaint it. What I love about this desk is the style and the size. I think we bought it for less than $40. 

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