The Laughing Challenge

I wrestled with how to execute wearing this character. Don't get me wrong, I love a mixing and matching of colors and prints. This one was just challenging...Get it? Challenging. Punny...

Drumroll please! bddddddddd!

Goofy, of course. He's a mess. Literally, he makes messes wherever he goes. He IS a faithful friend to our favorite Mickey. So, he definitely has that going for him.

The Character: Goofy

The Outfit: Green cardigan from NY&C 2008 (it was a Union tornado survivor!)
                  Striped shirt from Mamichka via Banana Republic 2012
                  Flared (very wrinkled) jeans from Kohl's 2009
                  Gold flats from Target 2011
                  Awesome necklace from Eo via Budapest 2009

The Disneybound Inspiration:

This outfit isn't generally how I roll. That is why I was in a predicament, but I liked the outcome. I hope it worked. I still didn't figure out how to incorporate white gloves? Any suggestions?

Love & Sparkles*

The Parisian Challenge

This character holds a special place in my heart. I hope she does for some of you too. 

Drumroll please! bdddddddddd!

Madeline. I love her. She went on so many adventures, got into scrapes, had a fabulous pet dog, and ended her days safely tucked away in bed. Minus the dog, I would like to think my growing up years looked the same as hers. I had a kitty in tow when I had adventures. I also had a wonderful little computer game that had me using critical thinking skills through the eyes of this sweet little literature heroine.

The character: Madeline

The Outfit: Blue blouse from NY&C from Mamichka
                   Yellow/mustard cardigan from NY&C 2010
                   Jeans from Ann Taylor 2011
                   Red flats from Target 2008

Disneybound Inspiration:

 Madeline with real people, as I like to call it, was one of my very own VHS tapes. I thought it was awesome.

I love children's literature, and I wanted to start building up my personal library for my students one day. My sister gave me children's books for Christmas per my request. This is one I received. I was th-rilled! 

Love & Sparkles* 

The Wicked Challenge

Well, hello everyone, I am a terrible person. I never finished my Disneybound posts. I am going to get on that tonight. (If you would like me to fill in the blanks of the last 9 months, message me. I will tell you the story of a girl who loves school and being involved).
In case you forgot what the Disneybound Challenge was, click here. With that reminder, I am going to go for it.

This was from a whiiiiile back. Look at Erin's baby bump.

Anyway.
Drumroll please! bddddddddd!

She's the lady who removes stereotypical images of her kind. With such a comforting voice, she rocks the yellow brick road with tule and glitter. She is Glinda the Good Witch. To be honest, my love for Glinda did not originate from the Wizard of Oz, but from the classy Kristin Chenoweth from broadway's Wicked.
P.S. Wicked is coming to Memphis in February. I hope I will be able to see it another time. The show rocks and can change your life for about 3 hours.

The Character: Glinda

The Outfit: Pink blouse from Anthropologie 2011
                  Jeans from GAP 2010
                  Pearl necklace from my Great Grammy
                  Silver belt from Mamichka 2012
                  Silver flats from Target 2011

The Disneybound Inspiration:

Hopefully everyone will get the change to wave a star wand and fly around in a bubble like Glinda in Wicked. I mean, who wouldn't want to do that?

Love & Sparkles*

A Penny for your Thoughts...Unfortunately, I might have a penny too many.

Is it really time for my alarm to go off? What should I wear today? Why is my hair doing that?
What am I going to eat for lunch? Do I look like I have it all together? What is happening on Facebook and Instagram? Why do I have to wait on whatever/such'n'such? Why can't I look like her? Why did I just say that awkward statement? 
Why? How? Who? What? When? Where?

All of these questions and many more have darted through my mind. Some of them are quite embarrassing, but let's face it, life happens and thoughts happen. In a society that is moving what feels faster than our comprehension of the speed of light, I can find myself stagnate in my own little world. I ask myself how? How am I obsessing or worrying about what the next hour will mean based on MY social meter, MY academic meter, MY emotional meter, and any other kind of meter I possess? my...my...my...

All the while, Christ is telling me Come. 

My Heavenly Father is a myriad of unfathomable things. El Shaddai is his name. He is the All Sufficient God. It is so easy to fall into the path of trying to keep up with our fast moving world yet be stagnate in our own minds and forget that we have our sufficiency. When we are washed in the blood of Christ, we are automatically clothed in security and beauty. Why is it hard to accept that? 
Because we believe in a God we cannot see. He is ever-present, but we cannot see him face to face. (What a day THAT will be!) Today, I looked at my phone countless times, and I checked Facebook several times. I wanted to "see" what was going on. I knew that life was happening without me looking at it, but I wanted to see it. We are called to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Yet, unlike Facebook, I turn away because I am not seeing a physical picture and let myself sink into a halted state and let my mind wander. He is more than any of our wonderful pictures we post. He is definitely more than a status can express. Why do I turn away? Once I finally snap out of my slump, I realize that Christ called me out at that moment like he did when I first cried out for Him. He is always beckoning me to find myself in His sufficiency. Wow. Throwing off layer upon layer is scary and tough, but through the stagnate or active times God is faithful, because He is good.

 "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presencewithout fault and with great joy-- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 24-25

Angels Unaware

"God is still in charge, and He never looks back and says, Oops!" he said as he clutched the hand of a sorrowful young lady. A man that once towered over her now reclined in a comfy chair. He was beginning to look jaundiced and also weary from the influx of visitors. Earlier that day, he had received his final dialysis treatment to treat the kidney failure that attempted to control his body as well as the recently diagnosed liver cancer caused by agent orange. He was resting easy, all considering. He spoke of times at church, church members, encouragement cards written by young children, and then he spoke from his heart.

"I'm not afraid to die. (because I know where I'm going) My biggest regret is that I will not see my grandchildren grow up and the families they will have. I hope I have done them justice as a father. I believe I have done what I was called to do," he said between tired breaths. "I believe that we all have angels, and I have seen mine. Y'all saw that I Love America program a few years back, right? When I was fighting in Vietnam, I was given a certain assignment via helicopter. Before the mission began, a young man came to me and asked to take my seat on the flight in order to take care of an urgent matter. I agreed. That mission turned tragic and every crew member was killed in the explosion. Following the incident, I attempted to acquire contact  information for this young man's family. I searched and searched. I asked around...This man was never recorded as being on the mission...or in the military anywhere. I couldn't believe it. He came to me as an authentic army officer. He never existed. I believe that I was entertaining an angel. I have stepped on booby traps, uncovered wires just enough to see what I was walking into. I know that God is good."

As the time drew near for the family to leave, the young lady asked if she could sing for him. She knew this would be her final time to visit with the man that had greeted her every Sunday from the time she was five years old, the man who would always say that he was better after a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Fighting tears and trembling voice, she held his hand and sang Amazing Grace. He relaxed as much as he could. After a few farewell hugs, with a heavy heart, Amiee left Mr. Phil Williams to rest. He was a general in the army who has seen more than many can imagine and also tried his hand at becoming Alabama's governor, but most importantly, he is the kind usher at church who welcomes hugs and kisses or fist bumps from young children on any given Sunday morning. You never know when you are with angels, unaware.

The Speedy Challenge

This outfit was actually a costume. Mama and I made it back in 2008. It is still alive and kickin 4 years later.

*Laura Kay was Princess Tiger Lily and Kyleigh was her TeePee...Get it?

I'm sure you know who I am, but for good measure...

Drumroll please! bddddddddddd!

Mr. Speedy Gonzales himself. He is Mr. Dash Incredible. Why am I Dash you may ask? 1. He is blonde. 2. He runs and I am admirer of runners.

The Character: Dash

The Outfit: Homemade my Mama and me!

Disneybound Inspiration:

Here is the first time I wore this costume. I was brace faced and all!

Good times everyone...Good times!

Love & Sparkles*         

The Toe Tappin Challenge

This outfit debuted around my birthday. The special accessory will give it away.

I look a little funny in this photo. I will blame it on my giddiness about Birthday/Family Weekend. Let's just add to the funniness by giving a drumroll.

Drumroll please! bdddddddddd!

He is just the cutest. How can you say no that face? How can you say no to Thumper?

The Character: Thumper

The Outfit: Tan blouse birthday present from Banana Republic 2012

                   Tan shrug/vest/whatever the appropriate name is

                   Gray shorts from Mama via Target from Mama

                   Silver shoes from Clarks 2006 

                   21 Tiara from Eo's 21st

The Disneybound Inspiration:

See the similarity? or is one not like the other?

Love & Sparkles*