The St. Andrew's Uniform

Walking around the streets of St. Andrews is akin to browsing Pinterest or a recent issue of Vogue. Everyone here looks like a model. Not the American standard but a model nonetheless. What I mean is that the people here carry themselves with confidence like they are walking down a runway. There is every variety of shape, every variety of style, yet all is appreciated! It was amazing to step off the plane at Heathrow and be immersed in this new sense of beauty. It isn't at all about conforming to what everyone else looks like, rather being as you as only you can be. How wonderful to fulfill that standard. How wonderful to be utterly yourself. 

I decided to be more subdued and academic today. Back in the States there is so much color in everyone's wardrobe but here the neutrals rule the palette. I remember putting on a button down under my red plaid jumper (which would probably work so well here) every Mass dress day in elementary school and HATING it. 9 years later I do not loathe it quite as much and the familiar look reminded me of home. You can take the girl out of the uniform, but (after 14 years of wearing one) you can't quite take the uniform out of the girl. 

Prayer for the Week: First Day of the Internship!!

This is it. I am 2 hours away from starting a month long writing internship at Movieguide.org. These plans have been in the works for 3 months, yet now that the morning is actually here it feels a bit like a dream. My father (glorious man that he is) flew down here with me on Saturday to get me situated and help with the rental car situation (Have you ever tried to rent a car at 19? It's akin to trying to rent a child. Try it. Doesn't happen as easily as one would hope). We spent the weekend traveling around my new area, discovering new restaurants, churches, shopping, & a beach or two. It's been so lovely spending this weekend with him just the two of us. 

We woke up at a bright 5:15 AM to get ready for the day. It was supposed to take us 45 minutes to get to the rental place, and knowing LA traffic, we wanted to allow wriggle room. So we left at 615. And got here at 7. Maybe it's the holiday or perhaps the sun only being up for about 30 minutes but there was absolutely NO TRAFFIC. It was swell. Now we are sitting at a Starbucks relaxing. Well… he is relaxing while I am trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach that seem to be getting more hyper by the second. I am so excited for this opportunity and want to do the best that I can. Perhaps a little divine intervention will help. If you feel so inclined, please help me pray for this week. 

Dear Lord,

Thank You for opportunities. Thank You for save travels. Thank you for traffic free mornings. Thank you for butterflies and pretty weather and coffee. Creator God, you are so magnificent that we want to imitate Your creativity. Please help us this week to do just that and to do it for the glory of Your kingdom. I humbly ask that You make us worthy servants of Your will and of Your plan. Without You none of this makes sense. Keep us mindful of that as we go through this week. Father I plead that You are right beside us this week as we walk through it. Keep our paths straight and our eyes fixed upon Your face. We love you Lord. Help us to do it better. 

In Your Son Jesus's Name, through the intercession of Our Mother,

Amen.

Have a wonderful wonderful week y'all!

(Here are some pictures from this weekend) 

Airplane travel made comfy. Pilcro Jeans from Anthro are the most comfortable things ever. Buy them in every color. 

Shameless Selfies :) 

Hunnington Beach on Sunday 

The pretty mission style church St. Mary Magdalene 

This meal rocked my socks off and was totally Paleo! Balsamic Vinegar Pork Chop over sweet potato smashers and broccoli. Y. U. M. 

Some of my favorite pictures from Sunday's Church hunt :) 

Starbucks selfies this morning ;) 

Did I overpack? Yes. But the Girl Scouts always told me to be prepared! 

Kate from Lizzie McGuire would be oh so upset at me because I am outfit repeating. I wore this my first day at Anthro and it brought me luck! I hope it does the same today!

Thoughts on Modesty

*Disclaimer* This is MY reasoning behind why I dress the way I do, not an attempt to change the way you do.

I am Catholic, and I take my faith very seriously. My religion affects everything I do, including how I dress. I strive to dress well & to dress modestly every day.

Why?

So glad you asked! There are many reasons.

Source: thecollegeprepster.com via Rachel on Pinterest

First, I believe that we are called to live excellently. For me, that means that I put effort into how I look. I have found that when you dress like you care, people tend to treat you with care. I've heard it said that you should dress the way you want to feel. I try to dress in a way that will make me feel confident, mature, and ready to take on the world.

Going hand in hand with that is the call to glorify the Lord in all that we do. We were given bodies by God. He created them and placed souls within. I want to take care of the gift He has given me. I think that in society today we treat our possessions greater than we treat the people around us. I carry my iPad as if it were made of solid gold. I protect it in a hard case. Yet I walk around in Nike shorts and an XL T-Shirt? There is a disconnect there.

Source: instyle.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Furthermore, I believe that we should dress appropriately for the situation at hand. For example, if you are meeting the Queen of England, you don't do it in flip flops. If you are going into a paint-ball game, you don't wear a bikini. If you are going to workout, you don't wear a ball gown. Common sense it seems right? So why on earth is it okay to go to class in pajamas? Or to church in short shorts?

Source: dearlillieblog.blogspot.com via Celestte on Pinterest

I also firmly intend to avoid hurting the guys around me through the way that I dress. You can either lead a person to heaven or to hell. There is no middle ground. It is common knowledge that guys are incredibly visual. That is just how they are wired. That being said, there is an incredible danger for lust. I would never want to be the cause of someone to lust. I think about my little brother, and how badly I want to see him in heaven. I wouldn't want any young woman tempting him and threatening that. Every man on the street is a brother, a father, a son. It is our responsibility to help them out.

We live in a world where women are treated as objects often. We aren't treated with respect. I say that needs to change! So let's change it. If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem. Let's demand respect. If enough of us acted like ladies, men would feel called to be gentlemen.

Source: Uploaded by user via Misa on Pinterest

Shoebox Saturday: The Closet

One of my favorite parts about my little shoebox is my closet. It is thankfully very spacious and has just the right amount of room for all of my clothes. I just added my winter clothes to it and they juuuuust fit.

The outside of my closet door is decked out with pictures from home. I'm planning on getting a lot more and covering all of the white spaces. 

Inside my closet. As lovely to the eye as color coordinated closets are, it's not feasible for the college lifestyle. So mine is organized by style. I have from left-right: coats, maxi dresses & skirts, dresses, long  sleeved tops, short sleeved tops, cami's, & scarves.

My shoes live on a shoe rack from target. I assembled it myself :) 

The two cloth bins are from the container store. They have various stuff in them such as my first aid kit (the white bag sticking up in the picture), my tool kit (its adorable and pink), and my beach towel. 

Over the door hooks have belts, hats, my apron, and my robe. 

The show may not be but the quote is awesome. 

Week 8: What I Wore

Started out the week in the 50's (first column)... and ended it in the 80's (last three)... bi polar Texas weather never fails!! 

It's parents weekend and there is a game tomorrow! I can't wait :) 

Have a lovely weekend! 

Week 7: What I Wore

I don't have much to say about this week... its starting to get cold here which is super exciting! 

Scarves are starting to be okay and I will finally allow myself to wear riding boots!

Fun Fact: My birthday is the day that I allow them to come out... and today is my birthday! So the Tory's are back. Woo hoo!!

Here's to being 19... it's going to be a good year :)

Week 5: What I Wore

Wow.... it's already been 6 weeks?? When did that happen??

*update* It's only been 5... I can't count apparently. Whoops 

Here's what I wore this week: 

I may or may not have worn the same pair of ballet flats 3 days this week.... whoops!! Oh well they are the most comfortable pair I have right now. Judge me. 

Hope your week went well... you're almost done!! 

Any fun weekend plans? 

Green is in!

Oh my gosh y'all I am so excited... not only is it almost time for fall clothes but one of the fall colors just happens to be BAYLOR GREEN!

Oh yea. Sic em Bears.

My picks:

Inspiration :)

Source: gabbagabbagorg.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Rag & Bone- The Skinny Corduroy

These look so warm and cozy!!

Source: piperlime.gap.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Rachel Zoe Maryna Side Placket Silk Blouse

I am so happy the bow blouse isn't gone yet. Maybe I will be daring and wear it this fall!

Source: piperlime.gap.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Francesca's Classic Satchel

Baylor Prep. Heck yes. 

Source: francescas.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Ivy Super Skinny Jean- Tory Burch

Mah gurl Tory being fabulous as always!

Source: toryburch.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Hanna Ballet Flat- Tory Burch

SO CUTE! And gorgeous gold accents :)

Source: toryburch.com via Rachel on Pinterest

How great it is to be a Baylor Bear!

Rainy Days = Red Rain Boots

So it's been raining here for two days...which means my Hunters came out to play!

Puddles are fun :)

Week 4: What I Wore

The good Lord must have heard my grumbling last week because He sent us some cooler weather! Here's what I did with it:

Little background into my outfits for school: I have already told y'all that I went to high school at the Academy. But I don't think I have mentioned that they had uniforms. Oh and so did my middle school... and elementary school. So this is the first time in my entire life that I am picking out what I actually want to wear to school. I am having so much fun!

Week 3: What I Wore

SOOO thankful this week is through. It was definitely my busiest yet. I didn’t sleep very much and so I didn’t wake up as early which meant that I didn’t have a whole lot of time to get ready. These outfits were quick, comfortable, and most importantly cool (because it is still one million degrees here in Texas). I am slowly but surely making the transition into fall but refuse to pull out full on jeans until it is at least 80 degrees. These are my one foot in summer one foot in fall outfits. Whatcha think? 

Week 2: What I Wore

Week two is in the bag and I have a long weekend!! The first football game is Sunday, I get to run the line, I get to see my family, and one of my best friends is coming to visit! I am so excited :)

I was incredibly busy this week and didn’t have as much time to get ready in the morning (somehow, at 8 am, sleep seems more important), so I went back to some old favorite outfits and switched em up a bit. I was comfortable (minus the massive blisters from my Reva’s… I hope they break in soon!) and casual. Oh and I wore my glasses to school for the first time since the 7th grade! #tbt 

Week 1: What I Wore

First week of college classes… check!!

First off I would like to say that I am in love with my school. Baylor is one of the greatest places on earth! How silly and strange to think that a year ago I barely even knew it existed??? *Shakes head* at senior self. 

Anywhoo here is what I wore this week to class… I have a super long trek to the theatre so I had to make sure that all of my outfits were comfortable and easy to move in. I felt that on the scale of dressiness from 1 to 10 I was at about a 6 or 7. Which I think is a good place to be.