Hello 60! A Woman of Faith

Out of everything in my life that is important, my faith in Jesus Christ is at the top. I was raised in a Christian home, attending a small Bible church from the time I was small. My mother still has pictures of her and I going to church in matching dresses that she made for us. It wasn’t until I was twelve that I truly committed my life to Jesus. I always felt a pull toward Him, from the time I was very small, but at twelve, the same age I began to write, I finally understood He wanted my whole heart, and He wanted me to commit to believing in Him.

I honestly believe God’s hand was on me, and it was Him who kept me from going down a much different path. Just as with most junior and senior high schools there were plenty of opportunities to get involved in activities that weren’t glorifying to Him, but for some reason, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to party. I didn’t want to drink, smoke, or do drugs. I was boy crazy, but most of it was worship from afar. It wasn’t until I had graduated from high school and was looking to go to Bible college that I got involved with a guy who didn’t know Jesus. I met him at the grocery store I was working at in my home town. If it was a test, I was going to fail, but God. He protected me from going too far physically, and helped me to break up with him. I was going to Bible college. I was going to be a missionary, because I couldn’t outrun the burning flame of His love.

I would not trade my three years at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL for anything. All of the learning, and experiences are part of who I am today. I grew in my knowledge and understanding of His word and of Biblical history. I participated in ministries, and mission trips that stretched my ability to get along with others, and die to my own selfish desires. It was during my time there on one of those trips that I met my husband Mark. I never did end up on the mission field, other than a summer trip to Africa where I almost died from Malaria. Mark and I married after I graduated in 1987.

Becoming a wife, and eventually a mom, and now a grandmother has brought about growth in my Christian life that I may never have experienced on the mission field. There are certainly other struggles and challenges for missionaries in addition to marriage and family. Perhaps God saw that I would not have been able to handle it. Perhaps, I would not have been a good fit in an intense ministry situation. The only thing that matters is trusting that He has it all figured out, and that He knows what is best.

I continue to grow in my faith, and God is amazing. He daily meets me right where I am and I try to remember to invite Him in to whatever I am doing, and feeling. He is certainly capable of handling my “issues”, and He gives me the strength and help to handle them as well.

Today’s outfit is truly a tribute to what I deem important in my day to day outfits: comfort, warmth (in the winter), texture, and modesty.

My pullover, Fair Isle type sweater was a Maurice’s piece from a few years ago. I love the colors. I found the Chevron print scarf at a thrift store this past year. I thought the colors very similar to those in the sweater, so I thought a bit of print mixing might be fun. I also added the flower medallion pendant necklace as another nod to the 70’s decade.

Style Tip: Choose similar colors in prints for print mixing ease.

This lovely thrifted denim midi skirt is so roomy and versatile. I used it for my Murder Mystery birthday party when I dressed up as Jessica Fletcher. This is a piece I will be able to use all year round. Right now it is perfect to pair with tall boots, for a fun dressy casual vibe.

Style Tip: Basics always stay in style. A denim skirt is essential for any wardrobe, but you don’t have to have a voluminous circle skirt. Go for a simple a-line or even a pencil shape for a more narrow silhouette.

This Liz Claiborne bag was another thrift treasure. I love the rich green color and the brown trim. I may just fill this up in the next few days and use it for a while. It isn’t there just to look at. Although with all the bags I have you would think that is the case. Ha, ha.

Style Tip: Purses are expensive, even the ones that aren’t leather. Try shopping second hand, or wait for end of season sales to help take the hit out of your pocket book.

These brown faux suede Sonoma boots were on clearance at Kohl’s, again from a few years ago. These are one of my favorite pairs of boots. I like the color, the strap and buckle and the slouch. I think this skirt would also look cute with ankle boots and cute tights or knee highs.

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? What is your go to style? I’d love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment or two.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look over. I hope you enjoyed this post.

Heading Toward the Holidays - Graphics and Flannels

Once again, I apologize for my inconsistency in getting things posted on the blog. Life has been busy and often overwhelming with various difficulties, but I will keep trying to show up. I decided to forego my Pantone color series. Just like in life, we often have to review and measure what is important and meaningful in our lives. The things that don’t give us the spark they once did might better be set aside for a time, and maybe even left forever.

The whole Pantone entity has become much less user friendly. The graphics are no longer available to use without paying for them, and even their website seems less geared toward the fashion industry and more towards color as it is used in building and designing interior spaces. That is fine, but I am a bit underwhelmed by it all, so for now, I am setting that part of my color interest aside.

For this month, December, I want to focus on building outfits for the holidays from our closets. Winter colors, textures and pieces can be so much fun to play with and even more fun to think about putting together as we deck the halls, make the cookies, shop, wrap presents, and gather together with friends coworkers and family.

Today’s simple, casual look revolves around a Christmas themed long sleeve tee and a plaid, flannel shirt.

Style Tip: When dressing for the cold weather holidays think textures and layers. Chunky beads, or scarves, fabrics like flannel or fleece, and faux suede boots with a bit of slouch make for interesting outfits whether dressing in jeans, skirts or even dresses.

This outfit is a mix of new and old. Let’s start at the top. This men’s flannel shirt was purchased last year on line from Kohl’s when they had a good sale. You know my love for flannel and I didn’t have anything with this combination of tan and dark green. The Christmas Tree Farm tee was also a Kohl’s purchase last year. Both of these pieces are Sonoma brand.

My string of beads are a thrift find. Don’t they match perfectly with the tee?

My jeans I’ve had for a few years. They were also a Kohl’s purchase and are a brand called Angels. Kohl’s only seemed to carry them for a short time, as the brand is no longer available. I really like them and was sad when the brand disappeared. These are a skinny leg, which are still my faves for sliding into boots.

As I mentioned earlier faux suede or real suede is a great textural element to add to your winter outfits. My boots, which are also a Sonoma purchase from Kohl’s clearance a few years ago, are one of my favorite pairs and they went so well with this casual outfit. I took a few close up pics of the boots, but for some weird reason they would not download like the other ones did. Go figure. It honestly is ALWAYS something! Ha, ha.

My fun, velvet bag comes out every year in the colder weather. It’s a different green, but I think it works because it is just different enough it stands out on its own, but the blue flowers complement the blue jeans and pull the outfit together.

Style Tip: Pick accessories, especially bags and boots that you know you will reach for again and again. These are the easiest to use with multiple different outfits and if you love them you’ll want to show them off.

At the last minute I decided to add one other piece to this outfit to make it perfect for a run to the store for those last minute stocking stuffers. I found this beautiful reversible jacket on one of my last thrift runs with my girlfriend when I was back to see my mom. It’s a brand called Jenny Buchanan, but seems to be only available now on second hand websites like Poshmark and Thread Up. I love the detailed quilting on this piece. It isn’t lined, so definitely won't work for a really cold day, but this will be great three season piece. I probably will use it more like a blazer in the winter.

Do you like to wear casual outfits like this? What would you do differently? What is one of your favorite casual brand names for winter clothes? I love to hear your thoughts.

I’m including a few shopping links for you to look through. I provide these as a service to you, to give you ideas or places to look for similar pieces. These are affiliate links. all opinions are my own.

Have a great week everyone!

Spring Trend 2022 - Wearing a Dress with Pants

I saw this on one of the websites as I was looking at Spring Trends for this year. This one is a bit more obscure, but I thought it isn’t so far outside our boxes as we might think. The runway models were wearing outfits that included long, oversized shirt dresses with voluminous pants. That is too overwhelming for most of us, especially if we are carrying a bit of extra weight. However, most of you have already done this to a degree, when you wear a longer tunic with leggings. After all, isn’t a tunic just a short dress? Aren’t leggings sort of like pants? I thought I would show you my version of a dress with pants outfit. It is very simple and perfect for these long, cold days of winter.

I found this fun, velvet piece thrifting and knew the moment I tried it on it was coming home with me. It is soft, warm and stretchy. I love the 70’s pattern and the empire waist with the slightly flared skirt. If I had the legs for it this would be a fun piece to wear with patent leather go-go boots. Ha, ha. However, I bought it with the idea that it would be fun to use as a tunic over pants, especially jeans.

I don’t know about you, but even though skinny jeans are not supposed to be in any more, I just love wearing them with boots in the winter. It is so much easier to get a pair of skinnies into the shaft of a boot, rather than a straight leg pair.

This dress could go over a variety of solid colored pants as well as a few smaller prints like gingham or pinstripes. You certainly wouldn’t have to choose skinny leg pants either. The length and silhouette of this tunic dress would work just as well with a pair of straight, or boot cut jeans.

Style Tip:

Wear a taller heel with straight leg or boot cut jeans for a more upscale look.

To give the outfit a little more interest, I added a long sweater vest the same length as the dress. I then chose gray suede boots, a long pendant necklace and a red bag to pull in the other colors in the the dress.

These boots were another thrift find. I usually don’t have as much success with shoes, but these were a great find. While not real suede, I have found that the faux suede boots last pretty well, as compared to the faux leather ones. They just don’t seem to show the wear as quickly.

My red bag is also thrifted. I don’t typically carry a satchel like this as I like to use a cross body bag to keep my hands free. But I like to keep a few different options around the house for the blog and so that I have choices. I think I might have a few too many choices. Ha, ha.

This long pendant necklace was another thrift fine. I find so many amazing jewelry pieces at thrift stores, so if you are a thrifter, be sure to check out the jewelry racks and counter.

It is easy to put together this kind of outfit and when it is cold during these long winter months, wearing a dress with pants isn’t so far outside the box. I hope you enjoyed this post.

I am including a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links which means I get a few pennies every time you click on a link. I get a few more if you purchase something through one of the links. I appreciate all your clicks and views. Leave me some love in the comments and let me know what you think about this Spring 2022 trend of wearing pants with a dress.

Have a great evening.

Winter Trend - My Take on Bohemian Chic

The idea of bohemian style always brings to my mind, gypsies. I think of long, tiered skirts, bright colors and all manner of patterns. I also think of the 1960’s hippies with fringe, headbands and bell bottoms. When I went to put this outfit together, I knew I wanted to incorporate a few of those characteristics into the outfit, but still stay true to my own style. Let’s face it, the 1960’s brought the women’s lib movement, so many women were burning their bras while I was still in diapers and just learning to walk. I personally like to keep the “girls” covered, except when I am ready for bed, so that aspect of the 1960’s boho vibe will not be part of my style.

I found this pretty Westbound medallion print top a while back during a thrift run. I love the bright, happy pattern, the ruching on the front yoke and the unique sleeves.

My Vera Wang distressed cropped jeans have made multiple appearances on the blog. You can see them with a holiday sweater, a red plaid jacket and a graphic tee and long fringe vest. I typically don’t wear them until warmer weather, but occasionally I will pull them out and use them with a pair of boots. Another thrift find, these are great for a casual look. If you look back at the other photos you can see they are starting to show some wear.

I chose beads for my jewelry, since beading also seems to be a bohemian statement.

I chose my black suede Massini slouch boots, as they made me think of the 1960’s styles again. Suede has long been associated with the days of flower children and Woodstock in the form of fringe on bags, jackets and vests. Typically, the suede would have been a natural looking brown, but you get the idea.

My bag is an older Liz Claiborne brand called Axcess. It doesn’t really match, but I thought the pattern, the shape, the colors and the corduroy material was channeling a bit of its own boho chic.

I ended up adding my Chico’s fringe trimmed cape. Not only did it add one last element of bohemian flair, but it helped keep me warm while I was messing with my camera. This piece was a clearance find via Chico’s online about four years ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long already!

Do you like the Bohemian trend? What are the things you like about it? What don’t you like about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I am including a few shopping links for a plethora of things with that Boho vibe. I hope you will spend a little time shopping. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

I will not be posting for the rest of the week. I have several articles on the docket for the community magazine I am writing for, I have to houseclean tomorrow and on Friday I am having minor surgery in the morning. I have a small mass on my upper left thigh that needs to be removed.

I hope you all have a good rest of the week and a great weekend. I hope to be back at it next Tuesday. I have a few ideas for posts, if I can’t get out and take pictures, so we’ll see how things go.

A Look Back at 2020 - My Favorite Outfits

Before I launch into a short series on some of the current winter trends, i wanted to revisit my favorite outfits from this past year. 2020 was a year unlike any other with the Covid Pandemic, racial unrest and the election overwhelming our newsfeeds. There were times where I just didn’t feel like being a blogger any more. I just wanted to crawl into a nice, cozy hole and not come out until all of the bad news went away. Fortunately, I didn’t do that. I had a sense that every single one of you that regularly follow me, needed a brief respite from all the bad that was going on around us. The normalcy of looking at and talking about faith and fashion, just seemed to be a good thing to do, so I kept at it.

I have a feeling that 2021 is not going to be a whole lot different from 2020. Change is going to continue to happen and change is what often pushes us well outside of our comfort zones. However, my little blog is still going to be here, as long as God gives me the health, energy and brain power to continue, I will do so. Many of you have become like family to me. Those of you who have regularly commented or even taken the time to send me a personal email have been a great source of encouragement to me, so thank you.

Here is a look back at 2020. As I have done before, I go month by month and pick out my faves. I’d love to know which outfit really inspired you.

January

Actual Amy - Waterfall Cardigan

Why I like It: This whole outfit is very much me. I love the rusty textures of the waterfall cardigan and faux suede boots. As you all know, I love my jeans and the striped long sleeve tee is the perfect choice for this ultra casual outfit. I also like the subtle print mixing going on between the stripes, snakeskin patterned bag and the speckled bead pendant.

February

Seeing Red - Thrifted Thursday - Burgundy Skirt

Why I Like It: In all honesty, I had three outfits, all together, that I liked from February. I decided to post this one as my favorite, because it was totally unexpected. I honestly did not think this outfit was going to look as good as it did when I started putting it together. I wasn’t sure about the color combo or the mix of smooth faux leather pencil skirt with oversized textured sweater, but I absolutely love everything about this outfit. The color combo was perfect and the unexpected mix of textures and lengths honestly works well. The only thing I might have changed is the shoes. I’m wondering if a burgundy shoe would have been a better choice, but overall it worked. The other two that I liked from February were, Seeing Red - Red with Tan - Velvet Jacket, and Seeing Red - Actual Amy - Plaid Jacket.

March

Spring Trends 2020 - Maxi Dresses, Psychedelic Prints and Vests

Why I Like It: March was the month I focused on the Spring Trends for the year. I will do that again this year. I like the boho, hippy vibe of this outfit with the medallion printed maxi dress, the striped tee and the denim vest. It just presents a fun, eclectic mix that makes for a great casual date night look.

April

Transitional Spring Outfit

Photo credit Rachel Christensen

Why I Like It: Who doesn’t like a kimono? They are just fun, fabulous pieces and every woman should have one or two in her closet. I have many more than that, but there are so many pretty styles, prints and colors. This pink, burgundy and white piece is no exception. I especially like the fringe on the sleeve and bottom hems. Every since I learned about print mixing, I have become obsessed and nothing pairs better than stripes and flowers. The burgundy colored accessories complete the look perfectly.

May

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Sunlight, Flame Scarlet and Ash

Photo credit Amy Christensen

Why I Like It: There is nothing special about this outfit, other than it is something I would actually wear. Though all of the outfits I post are things I actually own, I don’t necessarily wear everything that you see, exactly as you see it. The reason for this is, I am trying to show a varied audience outfits that could be used for every day, work, going out or traveling. Right now I am not working outside the home and we really aren’t going anywhere, yet this outfit is something I would still wear.

June

Pantone Spring/Summer - 2020 - Tanager Turquoise, Heritage Blue and Blanc de Blanc

Why I Like It: This look is classic. It could be worn by any woman, anywhere. It is a great outfit for work, but could also be worn for a date night, or lunch with the girls. It also exudes spring and summer with the bright floral top, crisp white ankle pants and silver ballerina flats. The blue bag, beaded necklace and bracelets add fun matching elements to the ensemble.

July

Summer Outfit - Geometric Maxi Dress - Casual

Why I Like It: Honestly, I like this outfit, because I think it is fun! I love the hat, the tee and the geometric print on the maxi dress. The top is a light weight sleeveless tee material, so adding the other tee did not add bulk, weight or make it hotter. This would be a great look for traveling, going to the beach or on a picnic.

August

Outfit Inspiration - Dressed Up Casual Style

Why I Like It: What is not to love about this dressy casual look. The star piece is the thrifted kimono. It took a simple white tee and boyfriend jeans up to a new level of style. The fringe necklace compliments the purples in the kimono and the rusty orange bag the oranges. This was a nice transitional outfit for the waning days of summer.

September

Pantone Fall/Winter 2020 - Samba, Fired Brick and Sleet

Why I Like It: September was another month where I had several favorite outfits, but this one still stands out as a winner. Once again, the combination of colors, as well as the print mixing, really goes a long way to making this dressier outfit perfect for the office. I also like how my last minute addition of blush accessories pulled everything together. Two of my other faves were, Pantone Fall Winter 2020 - Peach Nougat, Sandstone and Military Olive, and Color Play - Fall Mix.

October

Pantone - Autumn/Winter 2020 - London Palette - Samba, Tawny Birch and Sheepskin

Why I Like It: I don’t wear neutrals all that often, but a combination like this really pops. The neutral palette colors of Tawny Birch and Sheepskin, combined with the bright Samba red makes an exceptional outfit. The added joy is that everything in this outfit is thrifted, except the pearls. When I can put a whole outfit together with thrifted pieces and it ends up looking like this, I am all for it.

November

Fall/Thanksgiving Outfits - Harvest Tee and Distressed Jeans - Dressy

Why I Like It: This outfit is just very me. I love wearing tees, and jeans and throwing a nice blazer and a pair of boots on really levels up a very casual outfit. The addition of a fun statement necklace and a cute bag also provide a dressier look, even with the distressed jeans.

December

A Dickens’ Christmas - The Ghost of Christmas Past

Why I Like It: Out of my whole Christmas series, I think this outfit and these photos were my faves. Winter white is really trending right now and when I put these pieces together for my Ghost of Christmas Past persona, I didn’t realize how popular these creamy whites were. The outfit itself was cozy and in keeping with my love for pants and flats. Ha, ha.

There you have it, my favorite picks from 2020. What were your faves? I would love to hear back from you. Also, if there is anything you would like to see more of on the blog, or a different topic you would like me to talk about, please let me know.

I hope your New Year is off to a great start. Check back on Thursday for a look at some of the current winter trends.

Photo credit unless otherwise stated, Rebecca Trumbull Photography.

Transitional Spring Outfit

I thought it would be fun to show off a new purchase I made at a local retailer I have mentioned on the blog before. I made this purchase back in January, so well before the shelter-in-place went into effect. Today’s focal piece is a floral maxi dress that I purchased from Eden Fashion Boutique. I did a feature post on this local retailer back in 2018. You can see the original post here.

A maxi dress can be perfect for transitional dressing. It is long, so still offers coverage for those cool days before summer comes or when fall is on the way. They also are easy to layer with. Just throw on a jean jacket, a sweater or even a sweatshirt and you feel cozy, but still look stylish.

This MikaRose dress is so comfortable I could wear it to bed. It is made out of a soft, medium weight jersey knit. It just slips on over your head with no buttons, snaps, or zippers to get in the way. It has an empire waist, so there is absolutely no pinching or binding. I like that the sleeves are closer to elbow length and that it has a scoop neckline. Of course, the selling point for me was not only the feel, but the floral pattern, and in this case it is an olive background rather than white, blue or black. I think that gives it an all season look.

My Say What? brand vest is from a few years ago. I thought the colors went well with the flowers in the dress for a little print mixing. The hand crafted look and the fringe gives the outfit a boho vibe. You can see where I styled this vest on the blog before with a short sleeve tee and a pair of checked trousers, here.

I chose this necklace for its fringe-like appearance and the light pink cording.

You’ve seen this dark olive hobo bag on the blog many times before. Most recently I carried it with my new red plaid jacket from Maurices, which you can see here. The pink flower pins are perfect with the dress. At some other point in time, I’d like to focus on the yellowy color in the dress as a way to pick out complimentary accessories.

I opted for my SO faux suede ankle boots, because it is still too cold for sandals. Boo, on this crazy weather. Ha, ha.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like to wear maxi dresses? How do you style yours? I’d love to hear you opinions, so leave a note or two in the comments. I appreciate your following and interacting with me on the blog.

I’ve included a few shopping links. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have a great weekend and stay safe

Actual Amy - Waterfall Cardigan Outfit

I decided to go back to a column once a month on outfits that better represent how I really dress. I think it is important for fashion bloggers to show you things about fashion and beauty that are trending and help women feel more confident and beautiful. I also think there is a lot of false information going around out there. Take for example the idea of ageism and body acceptance. I really believe that even though these things are being addressed, in the fashion realm, there is still a huge gap between what is shown and what is reality. I do think it has been bloggers that have made strides in closing that gap, but I know I still struggle with showing you things that are interesting and helpful and showing you the real me. Thus this monthly column. I was doing a similar column previously and called it Ordinary Amy, but I thought that might not be the best title, so now you get Actual Amy! Ha, ha.

This thrifted Pink Rose brand, waterfall cardigan is one of my favorites. I am not a huge fan of the waterfall or cascading cardigans, unless they are made from a lighter weight knit. I have tried heavier versions and I always feel that they add to much bulk right where I do not need extra bulk; around the thighs and middle. The lighter weight knit and the more open weave seem to do better for me. I also love the rusty color of this one.

I found this rust and navy long sleeve tee at Maurice’s on sale. It’s made of a soft, stretchy fabric and will be a great piece to wear by itself, when the weather warms up a little. The brand is 24/7.

You can also see my pendant necklace. The thing I like about this large, donut style bead is the variety of colors in it. I wear it a lot with blue and navy, but it also looks great with this rust color.

Kohl’s now carries the brand Nine West and this bag was on clearance. I do not have a round bag, so when I saw this brand, at a great price and with a snakeskin print I knew I had to order it. I’m sure it will not be a regular in my rotation, because the shape and size are not large enough for all I carry in a bag, but it will be great for special occasions. I’m thinking this will look great with yellow, brown, blush or navy.

My jeans are Apt. 9 skinny ankle jeans. These work great with my Sonoma faux suede boots. Because they are shorter than other pairs of my skinny jeans, I wear a pair of heavy boot socks which come up about mid calf, and tuck the pants into them. It keeps the jeans from riding up when I sit down.

This an outfit formula that works for me. Pick a great sweater, a top, a pair of jeans, boots and a bag and voila you are ready for a day out with friends shopping and hanging out.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like waterfall cardigans? If not, what sorts of sweaters do you reach for in your wardrobe?

I’m including a few shopping links. These are affiliate links, which means when you click on a link, I get a small commission. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for all your support. I know not everyone has time to read blog posts or time to make comments, but I appreciate when you do. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you next week.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.