FANTASY CLOSET: Batman Fan

Has anyone else been feeling a little stressed, sort of down, or just in a funk lately? Whenever I feel myself slipping into a funk I like to find and focus on things that make me smile, make me laugh and can help boost my mood. This t-shirt did just that. I think I need one now, how about you?! :)

1.) Call Batman T shirt
2.) American Eagle Outfitters ripped jeans
3.) Converse sneakers
4.) Marc by marc jacobs handbag
5.) CC SKYE yellow bracelet
6.) Juicy Couture stud earrings

Heart to Heart: Spiritual Vitamins

 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  
-Colossians 4:2


Just as taking vitamins daily is important to your body in order to stay healthy, so is taking vitamins to help your spiritual body.


Vitamin P:  Prayer  -- Have you prayed today?  Have you taken the time to pause and talk to God today?  Invited Him into your life and to your heart?  Have you told Him your fears, your desires, your joys, and your struggles?
Vitamin T:  Thankfulness -- Be thankful for this day, for your family, your friends, your health, your education, your church and all of life's blessings!
Vitamin W: The Word  -- Have you gotten into God's Word today?  It has everything you need to give you power and authority in your life.
Vitamin F: Fellowship  -- Fellowship with others who believe in Jesus is an amazing thing.  Find people who uplift you, encourage you, stretch you and keep you accountable.


Reflection:  
Have you taken your spiritual vitamins today?
Application Step: 
Make it part of your daily diet to pray, be thankful, read God's Word and associate with fellow Believers. It will keep you spiritually healthy and healthy as a whole.
Prayer: 
Dear God, I know that there are things missing from my everyday life. Help me get my daily dose of you and your Word.  Help me to be more thankful and to fellowship with other Christians more.  Help me find a group of people that I can spend time with that will strengthen me in my faith and help me to become all that I can be, for you. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Inspired by Erin Offermann

5 Tips For Making The Most Of Your High School Experience

We all approach back to school time with different attitudes. Some of us are anxious and terrified, others are anxious and excited. The best attitude to have whether this is your first year at a new school or not is a positive one. If you go in with a positive attitude you are more likely to have a positive experience. Instead of entering the year with a sense of dread and despair, go into the experience with reasonable expectations and a set of positive goals. Here are a few things to consider as you start the new school year that will help you to make the most of your experience.

1.) Stay True To Yourself.
Know what your standards and convictions are and stay true to them. Pressures are all around us and can often be more intense within the school setting. We all have this longing for acceptance and desire to be popular or well-liked but don't compromise your morals or your goals in order to please others. Each time you give in to pressure and do something you don't really want to do and you know is not truly in your best interest (whether it be drugs, sex, or cheating on an exam) you are settling for second best. The truth is you are EPIC and deserve an EPIC future. Don't blow future opportunities because you gave in to unwanted pressures. It may help you to write a list of goals and expectations for yourself and keep this list in your locker or backpack or somewhere you can easily return to it so you can frequently remind yourself of your bright future and ask yourself what choices will help you reach your goals as well as what choices will negatively effect your goals.


2.) Choose Your Friends Carefully.
Good friends promote good choices and bad company corrupts good morals. Having good, sound friends will help you stay strong in your convictions and assist you in reaching your goals by reinforcing healthy choices and good decisions. We choose who we surround ourselves with. Surround yourself with friends who will strengthen and encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle and who keep your best interest in mind. Keep in mind that good friends aren't always the popular people.


3.) Avoid Serious Relationships
If you are in high school, realize that few meet their future spouse during those years. You have plenty of time; there is no need to get into an intense relationship now. Most people find their spouses in college (or later) and do not get married until after graduation. The best foundation for any relationship is friendship. Start things off with a long, healthy friendship. After time, it should be clear if both of you desire the commitment of a relationship. There's no need to rush into it. Use this time to also decide if you're even ready to be in a relationship that could lead to marriage. Use your high school years to enjoy time with your friends and learn about yourself as an individual. Save serious relationships for when you are more prepared to support a spouse and family should it progress to that.


4.) Get Involved.
Boredom is the number one reason we lose our self control and get involved in negative activities. Keep  yourself occupied with good friends, service work, sports, healthy hobbies, and other positive interests. The less idle time you have, the less likely you will be involved in destructive activities. Find something beneficial that you enjoy doing and will keep you on the right track towards your goals.


5. Have Fun!
High school is the stepping stone into adulthood. It's meant to be a time where you learn the necessary skills and knowledge to be a successful adult so that after graduation you will be more prepared for the independence and responsibility that comes with adulthood. But it's also a time where you can enjoy certain freedoms that come with being a teenager. It's important to study hard and get good grades but it's also valuable to build good relationships with your fellow classmates, make memories that you will treasure for years to come and relish in the fact that at this stage in your life your responsibilities are minimal so enjoy that simplicity. Have fun!

FANTASY CLOSET: Leather Lady

This edgy look would be great for a concert...like a SuperChick concert for example! :) It has that casual, rocker chic feel to it. You could easily rock this look with a killer pair of heels instead if you wanted too.

1. Kova T jersey tank top
2. TopShop grey jacket
3. By Malene Birger faux leather skinny pants
4. Converse flat shoes
5. Christian Louboutin clutch handbag
6. Natalia Brilli leather jewelry
7. Rectangular watch
8. G by Guess black cross ring
9. Betsey Johnson heart earrings
10. All Saints striped scarve

How would you rock this look?

Heart to Heart: ♡ Labels ♡

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10

Do you have designer labels in your closet?  Do you have to wear Juicy Couture or Louis Vuitton to fit in and be accepted by the crowd?  Do you put more emphasis on the designer labels in your closet than the designer labels you have on your life? Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having nice things or designer brands. It's when we start defining ourselves by these labels that we lose sight of who we are and our value.  


God created you.  He "broke the mold with you" as people like to say.  There has not, is not, and never will be anyone just like you.  God gave you fingerprints like no one else has.  He gave you DNA like no one else has.  He created a unique smile just for you and He has a specifically designed purpose entirely for you.  Doesn't that make you feel special?


Those designer clothes make you "think" you feel and look special, but don't forget about the labels God put on you.....extraordinary, loved, paid for, worthy and unique. Designer labels are costly, but "THE Designer's labels" are priceless.


Reflection: 
Do you care more about the labels in your closet or the labels on your life?
Application:
Make a list of all the things God says about you (His designer labels) and hang it near your closet for you to frequently see.
Prayer:
Dear God, so many times I just want to fit in and belong.  I want to be popular.  Help me to realize that designer clothes and labels are superficial, and really don't mean anything compared to the design you created me with and the labels you put on me.  Clothe me with your labels. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

*click to enlarge image*

Find these t-shirts and more at JCLU's online store HERE

.


Source:  Erin Offermann

Heart to Heart: Life is Like Cake

Sometimes we wonder, ‘What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'Here is a wonderful explanation my Mom shared with me! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing one of her classes, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.' 'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all nasty!' To which the mother replies: 'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! ' God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God is crazy about you! He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe and He chose your heart.

Try to remember this when life doesn't seem to go the way you think it should. I’m sure most of us can look back at a time that was really tough and in the midst of it we didn’t understand why it was happening but then later in our lives we realize those tough experiences served a positive purpose somehow in the end. We have to wait for the cake to bake before we can experience its goodness. Just as we have to wait on the Lord to experience His goodness.

FANTASY CLOSET: Blushing Beauty

This might be my favourite outfit in my Fantasy Closet so far. It's not too dressy for everyday and has a very girly feel. This outfit would be great for just about any occasion and blush pink looks great on nearly all skin tones. My favourite item in this look is definitely the bow earrings. Aren't they adorable?

1. Bailey 44 slimming top
2. Marc Jacobs cotton tank top
3. Nudie Jeans Co. distressed jeans
4. Miu miu shoes
5. Miu Miu leather tote handbag
6. ASOS gold tone watch
7. Gold plated jewelry
8. Club Manhattan turquoise jewelry
9. Delfina Delettrez pearl drop earrings

What fashion items have you been dreaming about lately?

Heart to Heart: ♡ Confidence ♡

This is just a short video on the subject of self-confidence. Be sure to check out more videos like this on the Heart Over Heels YouTube Channel HERE.

Healthy Habits: The Great Plate

The Great Plate is part of U-M's MHealthy GOOD CHOICE program for healthy eating.

I've been trying to eat healthier and just live healthier in general so I've done a bit of research on the subject of healthy eating that I thought might be helpful to others who are motivated towards cleaner living.

The idea behind the "Great Plate" is to illustrate that creating a healthy meal can be simple. People tend to think that eating healthy is complex and time-consuming, when it really isn't. We all have busy lives and don't have a lot of time to prepare meals; however, the goal of the Great Plate is to provide simple ideas to eating healthier: cooking on the weekend for the week ahead; having fresh fruit, veggies, or nuts readily available for healthy snacks, etc.

The Great Plate concept is designed to be an easy way to control portion sizes and create a healthier meal, simply by dividing a 10-inch size plate into three sections.

• 1/2 of your plate should be veggies. Be sure to try and make your veggies section as colorful as possible—this will help ensure you are getting the proper nutrients your body needs. 
• 1/4 of your plate should be healthy whole grains such as brown or wild rice, multigrain bread, oatmeal, or quinoa.
• 1/4 of your plate should be a lean protein such as fish and shellfish, white meat poultry like chicken and turkey (be sure to remove the skin), beans or eggs.
• Choose whole fruits over juice and again, enjoy a colorful variety of fruits to widen the range of nutrients you are taking in. Fruits with 100 calories or less per cup include bananas, blueberries and grapes.
• Be sure to include calcium rich foods daily such as fat-free milk, low-fat yogurt, and reduced-fat cheese. There are also non-dairy products packed with calcium you can eat as alternatives many of which fit in your other daily nutrition categories such as salmon, almonds & calcium-fortified cereals.
• A little bit of fat is okay…I'm not just talking about dessert... this includes the oils/butter/sauces that your foods are prepared with too!

The "Great Plate" also addresses one of the biggest challenges people face when it comes to eating healthier— understanding portion sizes. Most don't realize that portions have changed dramatically over the decades. What we think is one serving is, in actuality, closer to two or even three servings.


Leading a healthier lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming and the benefits cannot be denied: reduced risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as improved energy, strength, flexibility, stamina, muscle tone, sleep and stress release.  Nutrition is a key component to a healthy lifestyle. Combine nutrition with regular physical activity and you will be on track to living a longer, more fulfilling life.


*Note: I'm not a health expert, I'm just sharing what I've learned and what works for me. It's a good idea to contact your doctor or a nutritionist before changing up your diet.


What are some of your healthy habits? What healthy recipes can you share?

Back To School / Casual Cute Outfit

School is starting soon for many of you. This is a great back to school outfit whether you are in high school OR college. Very casual cute. You will look put together but not like you tried too hard...and most importantly you'll be COMFORTABLE! :) It's a great everyday look.

1. Soul Cal slouch shirt
2. A L C racer back tank top
3. Dolce & Gabbana skinny fit jeans
4. Lacoste flat shoes
5. Leather hobo shoulder bag
6. FOSSIL water resistant watch
7. Shashi braided friendship bracelet
8. Shashi gold plated bangle
9. Shashi gold plated bangle
10. Disney Couture gold jewelry
11. 14k earrings

Heart to Heart: Bullying & Word Wounds

A dear friend of mine describes bullying just as the name implies, “like a bull charging for our self-esteem”.  I don’t think she could have come up with a more accurate definition. That is exactly how the victim of bullying feels….under attack where the damages can be devastating. 

Verbal and emotional abuse can leave the victim wounded and sometimes scarred for life. The bruises and cuts caused by our words may not be visible to the eye but the pain is real and can be felt deeply. Emotional pain can be just as damaging as physical pain. Word wounds often take longer — sometimes a lifetime — to heal. One person's divisive, dysfunctional behaviour can permeate an entire soul like a cancer. Think about that next time before you speak and ask yourself: “Could my words be cancerous?”

To the abusers:  Speaking wrongly or cruelly of others is a very dishonest and malicious way of praising yourself. Bringing others down in order to bring yourself up only brings you down in the end. Self-glory, especially at the expense of others, is distasteful and undesirable.  So if you’re looking for admiration or approval in some way then tormenting others is not the way to achieve your goal. It only makes you less likeable. You don’t have to be mean to be remembered or prove a point. Be an encourager rather than an intimidator.

To the victims: Know who you are and what you are capable of.  Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities. When you find security in the fact that you are valuable simply because you are a capable, one-of-a-kind individual full of potential then you are less likely to fall victim to the verbal and emotional abuse of bullies. Don’t help the Devil do his job…don’t trash your confidence by allowing someone to manipulate you or make you believe false statements. When the enemy starts to whisper lies into your ear, speak truth to your heart. You know what is true and what isn’t….be the strong, capable person that you were created to be, not the false character others are trying to make you out to be. Don’t let what someone else says distract you from your goals. Don’t invest any energy into the false attacks from others. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Also, don’t be afraid to seek help in the battles you may face. We weren’t meant to go through life alone. We have ALL been mistreated, hurt and misunderstood, so you are never alone in this. Find someone who will be your source of encouragement along the way and you be a source of encouragement to others. 

FANTASY CLOSET: Pink & Patterns

This solid hot pink dress is the perfect backdrop for mixing colors and patterns. Don't be afraid to mix different textures and prints into your outfit. Have fun and be bold!

1.Dorothy Perkins ruffle dress
2. Miu Miu patent pumps
3. Lulu Guinness flower clutch
4. GUESS diamante jewelry
5. Bounkit amethyst jewelry
6. Kitson diamante jewelry
7. Yves Saint Laurent gold plated jewelry

What kind of colors and patterns do you like to mix? Share in the comments or tweet a pic to @heartoverheels_

Heart to Heart: Gossip

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. – Ephesians 4:29

Gossip is bred out of boredom. Gossip is a sign that we are not really active in our faith and in our lives. If you think about it, the busier we are, the less time we have to gossip. We no longer have the time to get completely wrapped up in someone else’s life.

Gossip is one of the most dangerous evils because it is so subtle and ambiguous -- many are unable to recognize it. Be on alert against gossip whenever you hear of “secret information” being circulated, or if you hear anyone else’s name is specifically used in a conversation. Gossip exists whenever someone talks about others in less than a favorable way. The root of gossip is negativeness, judgementalism, slander, etc.

If you find yourself falling into gossip – stop. If you don’t pass on the gossip there is nowhere for it to go. This includes gossip magazines and gossip television. While it may seem "harmless" to read those magazines or watch those shows, you are contributing to gossip and you are feeding your unhealthy desire for it.

If you want to avoid gossip, focus on creating helpful and encouraging statements instead of destructive and damaging statements. NO PIECE OF GOSSIP IS WORTH THE DESTRUCTION IT CAUSES. Gossip is essentially verbal cancer. Destroying its victims by devouring them from the inside. Our fellow females need our love, forgiveness and encouragement, they don't need to be ravaged and consumed by our evil talk. Let the gossip spoken to you end with you and don't pass on the poison.

Also, when you are faced with a statement that may or may not be gossip, check out the facts. For instance, if you hear someone has an eating disorder or is abusing drugs, go to the person. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the person yourself, and the rumor is something serious, you may want to go to a parent, pastor, or youth leader. Getting someone to help in a serious situation is not gossip as long as the information stays with you and the person you go to for help. Determine your intent before involving someone else. Is it sincere concern or gossip in disguise? 

Reflection:

What are you doing with your words? Are you using your words to lift people up by sharing words of encouragement and kindness OR to bring people down by spreading lies and rumors?

Application:

Don't be a part of the poison. When you are faced with gossip remember the Golden Rule – if you don’t want people to gossip about you, then don’t participate in gossip.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to use my words to help others, not to harm them. Help me to be more aware of what comes out of my mouth and protect me from the temptation to participate in gossip. Thank you for your guidance and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.