A Pen & Paper Passion

When I was little I wove tales with my tongue & my aunt prophesied that I would be an author. Later, came fat pencil stories of brave girls who owned no fear. Later still, came poems & thoughts ink scribbled on scraps of notebook paper as I jostled about on the city bus - eyes open to all around me: live, breathing stories & mysteries untold & hidden in passengers & buildings passed by.

There is a magic I have found in breathing to life a character unknown to the world until penned down - & weaving a world for her that is not perfect or simple or easy, as real flesh-&-blood worlds never are.

Somewhere along the way, fear gripped my hand & besought me to question the validity of such a hope that I could be published & read & reread.

Today is a dusting off day, for though there are no guarantees in this life, I have come to the realization it is far worse to have the gift & never open it, then to open it & find it unwelcomed. Someone wiser than I once said, "It is better to try & fail, then never to try at all." It is a truth for these trembling hands to pick up the pen once more, for it is a passion that abides deep inside.

Love,
-Bess-

"I wish I knew for sure I could make it as a writer.  Then I could stop dithering about my future & write."

-The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg

P.S.: Sometimes you just have to take a blind leap & leave the landing up to God.

Fashion Trending

What I love...

dresses over pants

Wait, really.  It's back on the runways, & I for one have always been a fan of this unlikely style duo.  Perhaps some of it stems from the length of dresses these days.  Ah, can we say a little on the short side much of the time!  Some are mere tunics in my honest opinion!  Anyhow, this trend takes care of that!  But, it's not just for the too shorty frocks, either.  

Click here to see how I take on this trend!

tip top image & the 2 left pics above are via here.

What I, um, don't love...

leggings as pants

Last night, I was lying awake pilfering through my brain for a style trend I truly, completely disliked - & I hit pay-dirt with this one. Unless perhaps you're a teetering toddler tike {I love a good alliteration}, then leggings shouldn't be worn out & about on their own. The solution: Girl, that's easy, put a dress over em, of course! Emma Watson does it all the time. ♥

Trending Love,
-Bess-

P.S.: I also have to add I hate the trend of printing words across the backs of sweatpants & shorts, too. If that's the quality of reading today, I'm opting for an illiterate public! Just saying.

P.P.S.: What style trends do you love & hate right now?

Bess Style: Dress + Pants

What can I say?  I love pairing a dress with pants - & actually it's a big trend right now {look out for my post on that soon (here it is)}.  Who knew?  I've been fashion forward unaware since my little girl days of wrapping quilts {to make a long "flowing" skirt} over top of my jeans & playing princess.  I truly believe I was inspired by the opening scene in the film Labyrinth when Jennifer Connelly's character hikes up her dress to run, revealing jeans underneath, after the clock chimes - that really does sticks out majorly in my childhood memory box...  I kept up this idea right on into adulthood {with slacks, jeans, & skinny trousers - the blanket thing would just get too many stares}.

embroidered dress...C. Luce {$1 yard sale find!}

skinny khakis...Old Navy {I've had these since high school - that makes them almost 10 years old!}

wedges...Montego Bay Club {consignment sale}

bangles...{Who knows?}

My entire outfit easily cost less than $10!

I feel pants under dresses & skirts is either something you love or something you feel the flip side about.  What are your thoughts on this trend!

Style Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: After talking about it, I really want to go watch Labyrinth now!

When I Grow Up {Career Aspirations Through the Ages}

“At the age of six I wanted to be a cook.  At seven I wanted to be Napoleon.  And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.”
-Salvador Dali    

When I was young I wanted to be a secret agent spy.  I had a code name, would scribble down suspicious passers-bys’ license plates numbers, go on crazily thought-up “secret missions,” & practice “tickle tests” with my 4-years-younger nephew {you know, in case we were ever captured by the enemy & tortured by a tickling feather or something (I obviously hadn’t heard of bamboo shoots plunged under fingernails or getting your teeth involuntarily pulled yet, thankfully)}. 

Smack in the middle of middle school my beloved dad passed away.  He had been a scientist, professor, & nuclear medicine guy with a passion for bugs & insects.  I had loved helping him examine the creepy crawlies, so for my middle school career fair I was an entomologist {insect scientist girl} – complete with one of his old lab coats, leaf-printed skirt, & butterfly necklace {oh, & business cards with matching butterflies fluttering in the corners}.  My dreams of entomology may have flitted away, but I still to this day want to be just like my dad.

When I was a little older {high-schoolish}, I began volunteering summers with a kids’ day camp & also with a Wed. night preschool class at my church.  I fell in love with working with children & caught the teaching bug bad.  From then on {into college, graduation, & current}, I decided I wanted to be an elementary school teacher.

Now, I just want to be employed & have insurance.  Oh, how dreams change!  Just keeping it real, guys.

Working Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: I also had a fashion designer stint mixed in there where I was sure I could be the next Coco Chanel.  I filled notebooks with my sketches.  

P.P.S.: It's not easy to keep dreaming sometimes, but I'm seeking God's will & working on it. 

Thrifting Files: Wise Old Owl Bank

I perchanced upon this little owl bank the other day at a local thrift shop.  Instantly I took the {slightly creepy} red-eyed fellow into my shopping cart.  He was only $1.99!

I hypothesized with a little elbow grease optometry I could greatly improve his condition {i.e.: I thought I could take a magic eraser to his eyes & scrub with all my might (it worked)}.  Here he is before...

& here he is after...

 I decided he needed a little something more, so I created this funny little tag for him to wear around his neck.

All in all, he's a welcome whimsical addition to my apartment.

Thrifting Love,

-Bess-

P.S.: Do you like to go second-hand hunting?  Have you found any sweet deals lately?  Leave a comment & let us in on it!

Happy Things

• snail mail
• kid smiles/hugs
• libraries
• fresh flowers
• acts of kindness
• thrift store treasures
• the perfect song popping up on the radio at just the right time
• fairy tales
• walking by the riverside
• spying butterflies
• princess tiaras {& knowing I'm God's daughter}
• star gazing
• adventures
• weddings
• vintage TV shows
• waterfalls
• singing songs to Jesus
• old typewriters
• fancy paper straws
• tartans & plaids {& the drone of a bagpipe}
• laughter {& especially the uber-adorableness of baby chuckles}
• sprawling English ivy
• writing down ideas, stories, & poems
• unusual monikers
• thoughtfulness
• cobblestone streets
• spiral staircases
• Jesus' sacrifice & immeasurable/unfathomable love for us {this most of all}

Happy Love,

-Bess- 

P.S.: This is just a small snippet of the many things that make me smile!  What makes you happy?

About the Author: That's Me!

Hi, I’m Bess & this is my blog.  Typically, you’ll see my name at the end of each post with little dashes hugging it – it’s just my thing, I guess (I’m dash happy).  I’m 27 {soon to be 28 in a couple months (which feels very old all of a sudden)}.  The most important thing you should know about me is that I’m a lover & follower of Jesus.  Yep, He’s my Savior & accepting Him into my life as the forgiver of my sins & being baptized {Acts 2:38} was the most important decision I will ever make.  I mean, like ever ever – sorry possible wedding day & the birth of my children you will have to take silver & bronze trophies!  

Anywho, I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, but things haven’t gone as I planned {surprise, surprise} & I’m currently waiting for that fabulous teacher job where I get to mold young minds & encourage tiny tots.  Honestly, some days I question what God is doing {or what it feels like He’s not doing}, but in my heart I know He’s got this & He’s for me {& these truths bring me back to the feet of Jesus seeking His forgiveness once again that I’d ever doubt His love, power, & plan}.  

He's up to something good in my life & maybe one day He'll sweep away the thick fog of mystery & let me in on it.  If not, I'll just turn up the fog lights & keep on trusting.  One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 1:6, "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  There's hope & peace in that for this girl!     

pumpkin pie {year-round (yes, I literally polished off 2 single-handedly this past week)}, buntings & garlands, Emily Dickinson's poetry, DIY projects, decorating my apt., writing {& reading}, thrift store hunting, singing along with the car radio {provided I'm driving solo}, vintage things, party favors, Ball mason jars, the book of Romans, adventuring, Loch Ness {I've waded in the murky monster lake}, & {of course} my No. 1 Jesus!

Blog-tember Love,

-Bess-