Boots McBlog

Have you seen them fluttering around?   Lighting on a flower here and petal there?   There’s a bush I pass each morning  that is covered with these winged marvels – butterflies.    I don’t recall them being so prevalent last spring.   Maybe I wasn’t looking for them then.   Maybe its an experience with one about this time last year that has me on the lookout on an autumn day.

I was standing in a garden.  There was a crispness in the air. Leaves were changing colors.  The sun had darted behind clouds and it was a grey day in every sense of the word.   I came to this particular garden to sit, to think, to sort stuff out.  I was in a struggle.  Every fiber of my humanness wanted to continue in a cycle of doing things MY way.

But it was in that quaint garden, in a moment of grace – I quit fighting.  I told God I was letting go of the struggle.   He could have his way.  I wasn’t going to fight anymore.   I was going to trust Him. (Psalm 3:5)  I was going to trust he wanted the best for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)  I would trust  – He loves me.   (Of course, Jesus loves me. the Bible tells me so.  I mean it’s right there in the childhood song)  But it was more than I would trust he loves me…I would trust He loves me  more than my parents, more than my husband, more than a child could love me .  I would trust He loves me beyond any human love I could ever hope to garner.  (Psalm 117:2)

No sooner had I uttered the words aloud and lifted my tear stained eyes did I see yellow butterflies…in September.  I hadn’t noticed them when entering the garden.  But there they were.   In their golden gowns dancing through the fall air.   It may have been a coincidence.  I accepted their presence at that moment as Noah accepted the rainbow.   God’s promise… to love me.

We all know butterflies are the creatures we use symbolically to show how the ugly transforms through the darkness to beautiful.   Butterflies are used in literature, in song, in sermon over and over again as a picture of new life.  Hope.

There is indeed hope and beauty in the story of the butterfly.  However, there is far more to the caterpillar, larvae, pupae, butterfly cycle than I even knew.    In spring,  the caterpillar begins the cycle.  She wraps herself in the cocoon.  Goes through the darkness.  The struggle.  She emerges.  She flies around all happy.  Lays some eggs.

Then she dies.

This same cycle will happen four times until a September butterfly arises.    The September butterfly is the one who will make the longest journey to Mexico.  She gets to winter in paradise.   I don’t know about you…but I want that gig.

So many times in life, we want to think we have to go through ONE cycle. One darkness.  Once we get through this night, we’ll spread our wings and be free and live in paradise.

Not true.

Life is a series of struggles. Cycles repeat.  There are more dark moments than we care to admit.  Thankfully,  there are moments of light  followed by  moments we have to die to ourselves.  These moments prepare us for the next step into darkness where we grow in our faith..until we emerge stronger.  And we do it again and again and again.

God promised to love me.  I believe he sent those butterflies that day to tell me.  Now, I remember that promise every time I see a butterfly.   I also believe that day in the garden,  those winged messangers  told not only of  his love, they symbolized even with God’s infinite love, this life would not be easy.   My nature will continue in the cycle many times over. (Romans 7:15)  When I emerge a mid summer butterfly, I will sometimes fly away.  I will doubt.  My faith will wane.  Sadly, there will even be days, I forget that I said I would trust him – days I’ll forget he loves me beyond any human love.   I wish I could say I’ll only go through this cycle four times.  But I know me.  I will die a thousand deaths.  My hope is this, out of each cycle,  my faith will emerge stronger and I will be closer to becoming a September butterfly -  bound for paradise.    (Phil 3:20-21)

A little musical motivation on a Monday.  What day couldn’t use a little Dolly?

Fun projects have hit my to-do list the past few months.   I’ve had to keep a few of them under wraps.   I’m excited to say it’s time to let the cat (s) out of the bag.

I’m blessed with friends that get me into all sorts of creative madness.  First up,   Congrats to my friend and very talented designer Tobi Fairley on the re-design of her blog. It is fabulous and full of impeccable style one should expect from an Arkansas grown girl.    I was thrilled when she rang to ask me to pick some tunes for her fiesta blog post.    She has some tasty recipes you must give a try and endless inspiration to brighten up your digs and wardrobe.    Tobi,  I’ll be glad to DJ any of your parties.   With a twitter handle like BootsMc, I  already have the name  for it.

Last Spring,  Heather Owens and I    ( aka.  Belle Vie Artistry)  had the privilege to work with  Distinctive Designs by Tanarah on a styled shoot.   Everything about the day was dreamy.   Now some of those  daydreams are published.   Congratulations to Tanarah for her listing as a Little Black Book Vendor on the ever-so-chic Style Me Pretty Website. We are honored to be the chosen photographers to highlight her team’s beautiful handiwork.    Tanarah tells me a re-design of her website is in the works and will launch next month with more  views of her ecclectic mix of styles captured by Belle Vie Artisitry.

One of the biggest things to happen to me all summer…and perhaps it feels like the biggest because it’s been closest to my heart…

During my “creative sabbatical”,  I’ve made it a priority to stop, rest, and listen for God’s calling in my life.   If you’ve followed my blog for long,  you know I’m a girl trying to take notes on the lessons brought my way and use those to walk in faith.  I don’t do it perfectly, but I do keep walking – even if I stumble.  There was a moment I thought I might not get up.  Thankfully,  I was wrong.    During these months, as I’ve listened to my heart with God’s leading,  I know my mission in life is to help women live strong, beautiful, gracious lives.  Next Tuesday night,   I will present  at an event called  ”ALIVE after 5″.     “Alive after 5″ meets  in the Warehouse at Fellowship Bible Church here in Little Rock the third Tuesday of each month.   It’s a Girls Night Out event for mingling and connecting with other busy beautiful women.  It starts at 5:55 pm  and we’ll be out by 7:30.     They have some incredible speakers on their series this year.  So you can imagine, I was floored when they asked me to share at  the first event of the season.  I’m humbled, nervous, and excited.   If you are a woman in the Little Rock area looking for a place to connect, rejuvenate, enjoy great company and good food,  I would love for you to join me.      I’ll be sharing  “Life, Louboutins, and the Pursuit of Happiness” — what happens when that perfect shoe doesn’t quite fit like you thought it would.       You know – if it’s me- it’s going to involve a fabulous shoe somehow.

Lastly,  thank you my sweet readers and friends, Your feedback and encouragement with my writing and this blog have brought me immeasurable joy.     A friend I haven’t talked to in months asked me this morning how my life was.   Without hesitation, I replied,  ”fabulous!  And I’m doing my best to soak it all in”     Sure, I have my not-so-great days. (Had one last week).    On a balance sheet,  this might be seen by some as  a not-so-great year.   But  overall,  I’m extremely blessed and grateful  for the creative experiences I have the honor to be a part of and for all of you wonderful people who keep crossing my path and making my world so rich…. you know who you are.

A hallmark of great interior design is to walk into a room and know we like it. Not to be jarred or jolted. We just know – we like it. On closer inspection, we may notice that the curves of the round table are repeated in the curve of the base of the lamp and again repeated in the weave of the rug. We notice a pattern. The subtle repetition makes us comfortable. It offers a rhythm that is soothing. The same is true with our wardrobes. The most elegant woman will quietly repeat the small print of her dress in the latch of her purse and in the the heel of her shoe.

I’ve been told I have an artistic eye. I don’t know about that. I do know I am adept at noticing patterns in rooms, in art, in photography, in fashion, in business. Patterns have helped me to create marketing collateral, plan parties, tell stories, and draft strategic plans for organizations. Patterns have helped me build relationships…and tear them apart. Because, I also see patterns in people.

I see the patterns so well in others, because I have patterns myself. My past, my present, my hopes, my dreams, my insecurities all weave to make the fabric of me. I often wonder when God looks at the tapestry of my life, what pattern he sees. Am I plaid, polk-dot, paisley? Am I some big tie-dyed ombre mess fading from light to dark?

I think I know what pattern most describes me. I’m leopard print. I have these wild, dark, irregular spots all over my soul. There’s a spot for loneliness – she often gets treated to a cupcake. There’s the spot for competition. She gets snarky. There’s a spot for vanity. She’s crying out right now for concealer. She hates that I’m writing this blog post. She knows that the spot next to her – is that big ol rejection spot. We don’t want to mess with her. That’s when things really get ugly. You see, my dark spots have their own reactions. They make up the pattern of the pattern. To be honest, they provide a rhythm I know so well. These spots serve as camouflage and they make me comfortable.

but not really.

I don’t like eating a cupcake when I know a run would make me feel better physically and mentally. I don’t like being snarky. I don’t like hiding. I don’t like pushing away the very people I want to draw near. I don’t like my temper. I don’t like it when my voice shakes and tears flow at the exact moment I want to be calm, cool, and composed.

I want to be that one leopard that can change her spots!

I try. My power to change these spots on my own has proven useless. The spots remain glaring at me reminding me of my darkness. In my frustration, I cry out to God.

Then, I hear his voice deep deep within my heart say, “When I look at you, I don’t see what you see {Proverbs 10:12}. I see Haute Couture – the finest frock I designed just. for. you. It’s woven of grace and strength and dignity (Prov 31:25) and not a spot in sight. Belt it. (Ephesians 6:14). Wear it with a pair of those fancy shoes you love. Just keep walking My way.”

That’s what I’m doing today. I’m putting on my fabulous leopard print pumps as a reminder that I may have patterns in my life, but I will not lose hope. I will walk in faith. God is bigger than any pattern, and his love always hits the spot.

It appears the stores this fall are feathering their nests and our wardrobe.  Feathers, Feathers everywhere.   Wearing a trend as bold as feathers can easily go awry taking you from your goal of big style to looking like Big Bird.    I have a few hard and fast rules that I follow when shopping.  (You’ll see more of these to come)

Rule #1:   Where feathers are involved – keep it simple and choose feathers in a naturally occurring hue.

Last fall, I saw photos of a most expensive, over-the-top wedding.  The bride’s dress was bedecked with white feathers.   Not my dream wedding gown, but it was pretty. She looked happy. She could’ve stopped there.   She SHOULD’ve stopped there. But did she?   No!  She was a bride with a BIG budget, so everywhere else it was hot pink and purple plumage.  I mean EVERY- WHERE!!  On the cake.  In the bouquets.  In the bridesmaid’s hair.  On their shoes.   Seriously?  Hot Pink and purple feathers?  It looked like someone blew up the muppets.   Sorry, pretty bride,  it really did.  I sang “Mna Mna” the entire time I perused your wedding pics.

I guess the bride was fashionably savvy to some degree.  Fall 2010 Runway looks sported feather coats and feather skirts.     I’ve studied the looks and wonder how a the blessed long legged beauty strutting her stuff in one of these would ever comfortably sit down.   I mean seriously,  look at how tiny this is.   It looks like a hand muff – not a skirt.    (Don’t even get me started that she mixed fur with feathers and then topped it off with pearls.  Because pearls obviously make the outfit look ladylike. )

image courtesy of shopbop.com

Of course,  there is a classic, chic way to wear feathers.   Remember my rule:    When it comes to feathers – Keep it simple and in a naturally colored hue.

This understated dress from Kay Unger gives an elegant nod to the trend.   I also love the fact that once it’s time to molt, a great seamstress could remove the feathers and you would still have a fabulous dress.   Even add a black lace petticoat to peak out in place of the feathers or a pop of colored crinoline.    Not to mention,  you can probably sit down comfortably in this and not risk exposure  of  all of London and France.

Kay Unger

Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.   I say make a cap of feathers and it can be down right magnificent.    I LOVE this cloche from the Eugenia Kim Collection.   The ombre effect and the texture.  Sigh.    This would be darling with a little black shift dress and tights.   I WANT THIS!

Eugenia Kim

Accessories are definitely a way to bring the feathers this season.   This great clutch from ASOS is a steal for $42 – it comes in black, grey, nude, and rainbow. ( Please stay away from the rainbow)     Valentino makes a similar version in black for a mere $2000.

Of course, If I’m spending big money on accessories,  I am more inclined to feather my feet.    These Manolo Blahniks are stunning.   Classic d’orsay style.  NO crazy plumage hanging off the back to look like Hermes the greek winged messenger. (Not to be confused with Hermes the god of the Birkin Bag).   Simply fabulous.

For more reasonably priced feather touches – these tights from DKNY make a bold statement.   Textured tights really add panache to the LBD or any simply cut dress.

Of course, my love of scarfs, puts this on my list.  Layering this with a tee and jeans for a easy errands day or lazy brunch saturday look.

There is something rather endearing about this  Wish bracelet by Juicy Couture.   I like the simplicity.   The feather reminds me of the Forrest Gump scene where the single feather blows in the wind.     And it also reminds me of my junior high school mascot –  We were the Papooses.    I mean – really?    How threatening are babies?  We were called “The Paps”  for short.    It took me years to realize just how gross the other teams’ Game Day ribbons and signs were against us.  ”smear the paps”.   That’s just tacky.    But this bracelet is not.    I dig it.

Lastly,  who says feathers have to actually be feathers?   The Piece de resistance for me on this post is this cardigan from Liefdottir.   The texture is divine.  I can think of So many ways  I want to wear this:  over a dress,  with jeans,  with skinny black pants.  belted.  Loose over a blush cami. With Yoga pants to the grocery store.   This is a seriously versatile piece.

Feathers are definitely a  fun way to add  texture and flair to your fall wardrobe.   Remember,  keep it simple and please choose naturally hued plumes.   What’s that old saying?  A bird in the hand is worth… at least two new feathered pieces in the closet.    Ok,  I made that up.  But it works for me.

Now,  have a fab weekend and get out there and shake those tail feathers,  Y’all.