One of the best things to have happened this year is the change to my nutrition. Not an overhaul but a gradual progression towards better and more wholesome foods. A big part of that has been the discovery of Deliciously Ella, a healthy food blog devoted to simple & wholesome foods. I won't get into Ella's story but I was certainly inspired by her decision to care for her health in a sustainable & delicious way. I've only recently gotten her book & immediately tried one of her most popular & super super easy recipes.

I love to be happy. I love to laugh and have a good time. Happiness is dedicated by our circumstances. But our circumstances depends on our perspectives. We can choose to live with a growth perspective and see things for the possibilities they may bring or live with a limiting perspective, seeing things for what they may take away. The decision is ours to make. I choose to live in color and in the land of endless lovely possibilities. 

It's always a lovely day when I can take some time on a slow afternoon to just express my creativity. Over the weekend I delved into a chic and uber simple crafternoon where I updated my office space with a gold vase and an inspirational pinboard. I love adding or removing little things here and there, it can make such a difference. With longer and sunnier days I felt a change was needed and so I changed. 

There are many times I find myself fearing and deeply doubting my goals and dreams. I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard. It's like I refuse to believe that ridiculously awesome and wonderfully amazing things can happen to me. Me! I look around and see where I am and can't fathom how I'm going to get to where I want to be. But then a voice whispers that I'm right where He wants and NEEDS me to be. How is that possible?

This was a great week for me. I'm in the process of learning a very invaluable lesson on life, more on this on a later post. Also, I had this inspiring illustration made of me by the talented Heather Stillufsen of Rose Hill Design Studio. I legit stalk her Instagram page so it's unbelievably surreal to see an illustration of myself. Still soaking it in. Reflecting on this week made me think of Eleanor Roosevelt's quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I'm dreaming BIG and BEAUTIFUL dreams that I believe in today. Life's the best and greatest adventure there is. Pursue it with vigor and Be Happy. Be Bright. Be Lovely. Be You. Be your most authentic self, no matter what. 

I have a deep love for the written word. I love reading books, news, scientific articles, you name it. Reading is an adventure to a land of knowledge and new perspectives. If you've read any of the Final Look post you'd note that I always have a book in hand. So I thought it would be a great idea to share my thoughts on some of those books, possibly on a monthly basis. I primarily stick to non-fiction, but I occasionally dabble in fiction. So in this new series I'm sharing my thoughts on 5 books I've recently read.

As the months continue to get warmer I find myself reaching more and more for my dresses and oh, how pretty do I feel.  A dress is such a fun item to put on during the day, it sends a subtle message warmth and femininity. My favorite type of dress to wear during the weekday and certainly the weekend is a simple and very feminine shift dress. The shift dress is perfect for all carefree occasions, such as running errands, grabbing lunch, or simply for a day of casual strolling. From the silhouette to the simplicity of putting it on the shift dress is a classic staple in my closet and today I'm sharing 10 favorites that are also fairly affordable. 

There's something to be said about slowly savoring a simple yet filling meal. My favorite meal to indulge in is breakfast. With a good breakfast I feel I can conquer the day. Treating yourself to a quality breakfast helps to jumpstart the day in the right direction. Even better, a simple and nutritious breakfast that takes little time to prepare or can be premade can make anyone's morning much more smoother. I'm all about that. So today I'm sharing my favorites.

Like you, I adore my weekends. More sleep, more food, more fun. Indulging over the weekend is even better after a productive work week. When we take care of our to-dos over the weekday we are better able to enjoy our weekend. Curating a productive weekday is about creating simple rituals that eliminate stress and foster productivity. It first begins by remembering that you can achieve what you've set out to do. How? That's the topic of today's post. 

Slow is so much more luxurious than fast. There is an elegance in taking the time necessary to arrive wherever you must go. Slow allows us to move, listen, and breathe. My week was slow, a lot of it spent at the shore, indulging in slow conversations, and of course enjoying filling whole foods. I'm looking forward to more of the same this weekend.

I'm an ocean dweller. I'm someone who will ultimately settle down on a peaceful and calming shore. It's no surprise that blue is heavily represented in my closet in varying hues, navy to baby blue. Not only does the color inspire me, but it's classic and flattering. Paired with white (blouse, shoes, or bag) blue is so chic, exuding effortless style and a calm demeanor. Today I'm sharing some of my ocean blue hues that will complement any closet this spring and summer.

I'm a morning person, most days. My favorite part of the morning is definitely breakfast. It's my favorite meal and sets the tone for the rest of my day. The easier and more nutritious the meal the better my morning, the better my day. One of my favorite breakfast is a simple, all natural, smoothie.  What's simpler than a mixed berries smoothie? Here's my favorite with a small twist.

There is tremendous strength in patience. A serene connection with the universe. Patience clarifies and rejuvenates when given the time to do so. It breeds self-awareness, tolerance, and is a great display of self-love. Patience is the manifestation of inner peace from a calm and collected individual. Some of us have a natural ability in the art of patience and others, myself included, have accepted that we will be practicing this art for the foreseeable future. Even when we have the best intentions situations can seemingly get out of our control and it is in these moments when we either gonna lose it or display the courage of patience. What can be done in the moment to avoid getting caught in the storm? Here are 7 small ways to display patience.

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live... Do you believe this?

John 11:25-26

One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes a bit before the one above, John 10:10. Jesus says I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly. Jesus is life. He came so that you and I can have more and more of Him. I find so much solace and comfort in these words. I want to walk with depth, to give my life true purpose and meaning. And that comes from living a spiritually deep life. So how does one walk deeper with Christ?  

​One of the things I did last year for my birthday was a two-day escape to a beach side resort. And the trip went far beyond my expectations. It was on this voyage that I came across the above quote.  Eat healthy, sleep well, move harmoniously.  Simple, yet immensely complex. So many factors are involve in us getting the right stuff in our system, the right amount of sleep, and the adequate number of physical activity. And that's what I love about the quote, it simplifies all of that. So instead of stressing myself about how I should eat, sleep, and move I'm simply reminded that I should do it. And so far that mentality has been producing the best results.