Pretty Thrifty: Missing Out

Hello Ladies,

Have you ever missed going someplace or doing something that you didn't want to miss? Do you remember how that felt? What did you do about it? Did you learn anything from it?

A few years ago I had to miss going to summer camp. I was really, really disappointed. I felt like I needed to go, that I needed to be rejuvenated. So I was pretty upset.

Well, God's got a good sense of humor, and He loves us far above what we can imagine ourselves. That week was the best week I had that summer. I was stirred up spiritually, calmed mentally, and joyful physically.

Sometimes God knows that we need to miss out on things in life because He has a far better plan for us. It can be simple things or it can be big things, but no matter the size it all comes down to this.

God loves each and every one of us so much that He wants to be involved in our everyday lives, guiding us step-by-step through every single moment of our day. So the next time you think you are missing out on something, look for what God might be doing for you or trying to teach you.

You are God's beloved child, and He wants what is best for you even if you don't particularly like how it's served up.

Keep your eyes on Him and nothing will be impossible to you.

Truly,
Teen for the Lord
Emily

:

Necklace: $3.00

Sweater (Amazon Review Item): $0.00

Tank: $5.00

Jeans: $18.00

Boots: $14.00

Total: $40.00

This article was featured in issue #130 of
The Christian Home Magazine.

Pretty Thrifty: An Introduction

Hello Ladies!

My name is Emily.  I have been writing a blog called Teen for the Lord for about six years. I write faith based posts as well as Pretty Thrifty, my own little fashion show. Now, I am a cheapskate. The point of my Pretty Thrifty posts is to encourage you all and to show young women that you can be cute while being modest and cheap.

So I want to give you a little trivia about myself.
1. I am a avid musical fan!
2. My favorite musical is Calamity Jane.
3. I love to sing, dance, and act.
4. I am a freshman in college pursuing a Business Administration Associates Degree.
5. I love working with little kids and teens.
6. I have a cat named Tiger.
7. I am deathly afraid of sharks.
8. I used to be deathly afraid of moths.
9. I play guitar, piano, and box drum.
10. I love chocolate and peanut butter!

                         

Jean Jacket: Gift
Bracelet: Gift
Black Dress (thrift store): $5.00
Guitar: Gift!
Boots (garage sale): $1.00
Total: $6.00

Have a wonderful day and God bless you all!
Emily, Teen for the Lord

This article was published in issue #128 of 

The Christian Home Magazine.

Pretty Thrifty: Graduation!

 

 

Thanks be to God! I'm done with school, I have my senior pictures done, and we have a date set for the graduation party! Finally!
My friend let Amy borrow her camera to take the pictures for free!
My little artistic angel really came through for me. Love her so much! Thanks, Amy.
(Check out her Art Blog :) )

 So I thought I would break down my outfits for you! Here goes!
Scarf: gift
Blouse: gift
Bracelet: gift
Jeans (thrift store): $5.00
Sandals: $2.00
Total: $7.00

Scarf (thrift store): $2.00
Blouse: gift
Bracelet: gift
Jeans (thrift store): $5.00
Boots (garage sale): $1.00
Total: $8.00

Shout out to my hair!!!!!! Loved it!
Jean Jacket: Gift
Bracelet: Gift
Black Dress (thrift store): $5.00
Guitar: Gift!
Boots (garage sale): $1.00
Total: $6.00

God bless you all and have a great day!
Teen for the Lord
 Emily

Spring is Here! Pretty Thrifty

 Ahhh... spring. 

Fresh flowers, gusty breezes, new life, and rainy days curled up with a book and hot tea...

~sigh~

Spring is a time for new starts and fresh beginnings and, sometimes, the closing of a season.

I'm a senior this year and I'm about to graduate.
A relief, yes, but also a challenge.

What is next? 

What do I do with my life?

What does God have for me? 

Are my dreams His will or mine alone? 

What do I do?

If you've graduated, you have probably gone through this. But you may have asked yourself the same questions at various other parts of your life. I don't think any of them are totally answered. They can be answered, for a time, but they never really go away. They keep nagging at us, prodding us to ponder the future, distracting us from the present and the day God has given us. 

What I'm learning, is that God loves us. He has good plans for us; and if we will acknowledge Him in all that we do, He will direct us. He will show us what's next, what to do, where to go, what to say. And with our good Father leading us down the road that He knows so well, we don't need to worry about the next step. We can enjoy the moment we are in with our Father, our family, our lives, without the distraction of worry on our minds.

He will supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory.

Even if that is simply direction or wisdom.

He gives liberally to all who seek wisdom.

 He desires good things for us. 

He alone is good and can lead us in the paths of righteousness

Lilla Rose XL Flexi (Blogger Giveaway)

Earrings: $0.00

Blouse (Thrift Store): $5.00

Jeans (Wal-Mart): $20.00

Heels (Thrift Store) $4.00

Total:

$29.00

This post was featured in issue #135 of The Christian Home Magazine.

#2 Bramblewood Fashion: Pretty Thrifty Catching Up!

So, I obviously did not keep up with the weekend link-up with Bramblewood Fashion. 

But, better late than never, right? Maybe not a good philosophy for everyday, but I think I can make an acception.

~Smile~

On  Saturday, we had a prayer event at our church. 

It was casual, so I wore:

Cardigan (thrift store): $2.00

T-shirt (walmart special): $5.00

Jeans (Walmart special) : $20.00

Boots (garage sale): $1.00

Bird's Nest Necklace (Made it!) : $3.00

Total: $30.00

Sunday I wore:

Blouse (I don't know where it came from!)

Skirt (given to me) : $0.00

Boots (garage sale) : $2.00

Shell Necklace (Made it!)

Total: $2.00

I want to thank Bramblewood Fashion for hosting this blog party!

Click here to see more from the ladies who linked up! 

Thanks so much!

God Bless y'all!

Emily

Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday Mommy Moments Monday - Art of Homemaking  
Wednesday- 
 Wholehearted Wednesdays  - Classical Homemaking Wedded Wednesday    A Little R & R  - The Homemaking Party
Raising Homemakers

Day 1 #BramblewoodThrifted Pretty Thrifty

Hey guys! So I am linking up with Bramble Wood Fashion this weekend showing off thrifted outfits for the spring season. 

I was on the run to classes at co-op and math tutoring, so I wasn't too fancy today.
Anyway, here it it ladies and gents!

What I am wearing:

Pink Cardigan (thrifted under $5)

ACHF co-op T-shirt: $8

Ancient Jean Skirt (garage sale? thrift store?)

Flip-flops (garage sale): $1 ish

Total: $14

Not my best outfit, granted, but tomorrow will better! 

God bless you all and go with you!

Emily

Monday

Mom's the Word - Good Morning Monday Mommy Moments  Proverbs 31 Living Sharing His Beauty
Wednesday- 
 Wholehearted Wednesdays  - Classical Homemaking 
Thursday
Create It Thursday

Pretty Thrifty: A Thought on Thoughts

My brother photo bombed Amy and I while eating a block of smoked cheese.

My little "professional photographer" Amy.

Dress (thrift store): $3.00

Leggings: $4.00

Boots (garage sale): $2.00

Necklace (bought on a gift card so not counting!)

Total: $9.00

I recently had a revelation about bad thoughts. It's pretty basic, but it really helps give a physical picture of the growth of sin. First you have to think of bad thoughts as sticky plaque. 

Okay, okay, stay with me!

~smile~

  When we have an evil thought, and we allow it to stick and stick, it will become a cavity in our minds and hearts. Thankfully, we can go to the Dentist and get a filling from the Holy Spirit and the Word; or you can allow it to get deeper, and keep feeding the thoughts and allowing them to stick. When it  starts to really hurt, you'll go get it looked at. Do you know what the Dentist will tell you? ROOT CANAL!!! We all love those! But because we didn't brush our heart with the word everyday, and floss with the Holy Spirit, those sticky thoughts have corrupted our minds and it's going to be painful to uproot it and heal. 

  Weird, huh? But very true. 

 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

" 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

  Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

  God bless you all!

  Emily

Pretty Thrifty: More about me!

Here's some fun facts about me:
1. I'm super competitive.
2. I like horseback riding.
3. I freak out if I can't touch the bottom of the creek easily. Who knows what's down there!
4. I feel the same way about the ocean.

5. I've never gone to public school.
6. My hair is more than 2 ft long.

7. I enjoy anatomy.
8. I want to do missions.
9. My hair has never been dyed.
10. I have lived in Missouri for most of my life.
11. I've listened to "Adventures in Odyssey" most of my life.
12. My dog likes to eat grapes.
13. I really like "Pirates of the Caribbean".

14. I like the color fuchsia.
15. I like Mexican food, but nothing very spicy.
16. I love to quote movies, books, audio dramas, skits, etc. with my brother and sister.
17. I've never had a cup of coffee.
18. I didn't get my driver's license until I was seventeen.
19. I really hate sewing with a pattern. It takes too long!
20. If I were a fictional creature, I would be an elf.

  Well, now you know twenty things about me! What is something interesting about you? Comment below!
   Emily

 Outfit One Total Estimate: $3.00
 Outfit Two Total Estimate: $6.50
 Outfit Three Total Estimate: $4.00

Pretty Thrifty: Loving Him Even Before You Meet!

©2015 Amy Lane Photography

Cardigan (I don't know where I got it! oops!)
Skirt: $4.00
Shoes:$4.00
Jewelry (given to me)
Total: $8.00

   Have you or did you think a lot about yourr future husband when you were a young? I know I do. I dream of what I want. I try really hard not to say,"He has to be so tall, this ethnicity, his hair has to be this color, etc..." .

Think about that...

Isn't that a way of putting God in a box? What if  he doesn't look anything like what you think you want? 

I'm not saying that if you really like a eye color, hair color or a certain weight that it's wrong. I first made  a list of what I wanted about three and a half years ago. I've made four or five, I think, and they have had some of the same things, but some things, especially what I want him to look like, have changed a lot.

I think one of the best ways I've heard it explained was by my former youth leader, Karissa. She used to say that, basically, you can make a list, but God will change your heart to love the man that He has for you.
For example, she would never have thought she would marry a man with a goatee, mohawk, and tattoo. But he was the man God had for her, and she loves him totally. 

You simply have to let your list be flexible to God's plans.

Sounds like our entire journey with Him, right?  ~Ha, Ha~

So, go ahead, make a list! List what you think you want. List his characteristics, too. (That's what I've found to be the most consistent in my lists.) 

Pray for him. Make a little journal writing prayers or letters to him. 

It may seem silly, but if you are nurturing that love for your husband even before you meet and marry him, I believe that love will be all the stronger. 

May God work in each and every one of your lives to bring you the right man or nurture the love that He has already brought you. 

God Bless,

Emily

Teen for the Lord

~~~~~

 May I suggest?

A Quick & Cheap Lunch
~~~~~

This article is featured in issue #136 of
The Christian Home Magazine.

Pretty Thrifty: And I Quote...

Jewelry (all given to me): $0.00

Jacket (thrift store): $4.00

Jeans (thrift store): $6.00

Shoes (thrift store): $4.00

Total: $14.00

(But I only bought the jeans. Everything else was given to me!)

Okay, this post is a little late. Sorry!

I keep a quote book with some of my favorite quotes, and I want to share a couple with you.

♥

"We all write a story with our lives... Some write stories of epic proportions... some filled with nonsense and wasted opportunities. Once their story is done, they will scramble for an eraser, but there is none... Write well, for you only have one story."

Olivia Brock, No more Wasted years 

 A great book about staying home vs. going to college.

♥

" Do you remember when you asked me what you do if the spark goes out between two people?"

"Yes..,"

" The answer is... you don't let it."

Dudley and Julia, The Preacher's Wife

♥

"Is a moment of earthly pleasure worth breaking my Father's heart over?"

Emily

♥

"Losing someone you love is like putting a part of your heart on the shelf not to be viewed 'til a later date. When you lose two someones, anger and despair take over. When you lose your family or your people, your heart becomes hollow. It's like you lose yourself. I guess it's because your whole existence was defined by the pieces of your heart that have been placed on that shelf one by one... and no one can seem to put them back together. It's a puzzle really."

Emily 

♥

"No cause is lost, if there is but one fool left to fight for it."

Will

At Worlds End, Pirates of the Caribbean

♥

Well, that's just a few of my faves.

Hope you enjoyed them!

Emily

Please do not reprint my personal quotes. Thanks!

This article was published in issue #137 of 

The Christian Home Magazine.

~~~~~

Relax! PrettyThrifty

Blouse: $3

Skirt(given to me): $0

Shoes(given to me):$0 

Bracelets(given to me):$0

Total: $3

Trust God. That's what everyone tells you. He's got everything under control. But sometimes our life seems so out of control, how could anyone have it under control? That is the point when you have to decide to not try to be in control. Just be you and God will take care of the rest. Someone posted on Facebook, "You can't please everybody. You're not a pizza." It's so true. We also have to accept that we won't always be able to please ourselves. The best we can do is the best we can do. But beating ourselves up over unaccomplished tasks won't get them done. "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it." (L.M. Montgomery) So take another step tomorrow. You can't fully know how the decisions you make today will shape your tomorrow. You can make decisions with wisdom, but even then you won't be able to please everyone. Even God doesn't please everyone. So stop trying to be perfect. You are never going to be. Breathe. Do something that you enjoy, just because you want to do it. Relax.

Remember what Mary Poppins says,

" In every chore that must be done, there is an element of fun. Find the fun, and SNAP!!! The job's a game! And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake, a lark, a spree, it's very clear to see...

that a spoon full of sugar...."

Okay, you can finish the song yourself.

Photography by Amy Lane Photography.

Have a good week!
God Bless!
Emily

Featured in issue #134 of The Christian Home Magazine.

The Last Winter Pretty Thrifty... I think.

I do live in Missouri! Funky weather here!
Here's the next Pretty Thrifty!

Scarf: $1.00
Sweater (clearance Wal-mart): $3.00
Jeans: $7.00
Boots (garage sale): $1.00
Total: $12.00

I did not like how this looked on me the day we took these pictures.
But my sister is awesome and
has made me feel beautiful!
Thanks, my little cheer leader!
I love you!

Thanks, Amy, for the amazing photography!

Wednesday-   Wholehearted Wednesdays -  So Much at Home   - Prayer Girls - Wow Us Wednesday- Raising Homemakers - A Wise Woman Builds Her Home - A Little R & R - Coffee and Conversation  Thursday  Home and Garden Thursday - I Choose Joy - Hearts for Home Thursdays - All Things Thursday-  Share Your Cup Thursday 

Pretty Thrifty and Rainy Days

  It's rainy day. The trees and flowers are budding, slowly changing the colors of the world from the dull browns and grays of winter to the vibrant colors of spring. The sound of raindrops on the window panes sing me to sleep. The thunder and lighting accompany them, forming the percussion and brass of a natural orchestra.

  Long ago, I was taught to love the rain and to embrace the deep rumble of a distant roll of thunder. To love the privilege of being privy to God's personal light shows.

  I love this time of the year. ~smile~

  On days like this, I want to curl up with a good book and read for hours. Or work on a craft while watching a good movie. A hot bowl of soup finishes off a wonderful day. 

Earrings: $0.00

Necklace: $0.00

T-shirt: $3.00?

Skirt:$4.00

Flip-flops: $0.50

$7.50

  What do you do on rainy days? If you don't like them much, ask God to start showing you the rainbows in the cloudy skies. You'll start seeing them in the sky, and maybe, in your life.

  God bless you all!

  Emily

Tuesday Roses of Inspiration
Thursday  Home and Garden Thursday - I Choose Joy - All Things Thursday -  Share Your Cup Thursday    

I am that I am

Who is moving on the waters?

Who is holding up the moon?

Who is peeling back the darkness?

With the burning light of noon?

Who is standing on the mountains?

Who is on the earth below?

Who is bigger than the heavens and the lover of my soul?

Creator God, He is Yahweh

The Great I am, He is Yahweh

The Lord of All, He is Yahweh

Rose of Sharon, He is Yahweh

The Righteous Son, He is Yahweh

The Three-in-one, He is Yahweh

Who is He that makes me happy?

Who is He that gives me peace?

Who is He that brings me comfort?

And turns the bitter into sweet?

Who is stirring up my passion?

Who is rising up in me?

Who is filling up my hunger, with everything I need?

Creator God, He is Yahweh

The Great I am, He is Yahweh

The Lord of All, He is Yahweh

Rose of Sharon, He is Yahweh

The Righteous Son, He is Yahweh

The Three-in-one, He is Yahweh

Even when we are ready to quit... His word still says "I am, that I am".

Just a reminder.
 Emily

Christmas Time Pretty Thrifty

  Hi everybody! Happy New Year! I have great news! I passed my driver's test Monday! It was great. I got everything right except turning my wheels to the left parking up the hill. I even parallel parked! This was the second time I tried to pass, and I got 97%. YEAH!

  Sunday was the last day of the season for the restaurant. Please be praying for guidance for my parents and God's peace to permeate our family. Good news is my Dad is finally going to get much deserved R&R. 

 I wanted to say something about forgiveness. I've been dealing with a lot of it lately. The way that I have been dealing with it is this. I thought about the people I needed to forgive, and then I chose to forgive them. I told God I forgive them, and I am depending on Him to change my hurt feelings. Trust me, if I waited for the feelings to get healed on their own, I would die with them. The Bible says if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us.

   Here's my Pretty Thrifty for this month.
   Emily

    Cardigan (thrift store): $3

    Skirt (garage sale): $1

    Boots (garage sale): $2

    Necklace (Precious Moments): gift

    Total: $6.00

 

 

Pretty Thrifty He Carries Us Through

   Hi everybody! I know I haven't written (again) in a long time. We are so busy with school and our restaurant, I just don't have a lot of time to blog. Today being Halloween, and us being so tired, Mom declared a school holiday! So we're watching Love comes Softly. I haven't watched it in a long time and this scene struck me. The reason being, we've been having a really hard time. And I have been angry. The only person I can find to blame is God. As I've said before, I know this isn't right. But I sometimes feel exactly like Marty. Clark is right though. Just because we fall when we are walking with God, it doesn't mean that HE tripped us. We just hit a bump in the road. Sometimes it takes longer to get up when you fall, but no matter how long it takes, we can count on God to pick us up and carry us through. Who knew a Hallmark channel TV show could be so deep? ~smile~

 Amy                                                      Matthew                            Michael                    M

T-shirt: $1.00
Skirt:$3.00
Flip flops:$1.00
Necklace: free
Total: $5.00


Emily
Teen for the Lord





 Essential Fridays - Faith Filled Fridays - Show and Tell Friday - Mom's the Word - Modest Mondays -  The Art of Homemaking   
Thursday
This Week in My Kitchen -  Home and Garden Thursday - I Choose Joy -  Imparting Grace - Hearts for Home Thursdays - All Things Thursday -  Share Your Cup Thursday - Serving Joyfully   - Shine