Shuli, reporting from the UK

The new Seasons’ Fall Trends are hitting the shops now and I don’t know about you but this is my favourite time of the year in the shops! You know it’s time to get serious with your fall wardrobe when all the fashion and style magazines pull out all the stops with their bumper issues and supplements for what you should be buying. Here follows a quick guide for you when sorting your closets for the fall.

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BUY – things to buy for this season;
KEEP – put it away and store it, it always comes back in fashion;
GIFT – gift it to charity or bless someone else with it! – whatever- just get it out of your closet!

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Dresses
Buy – If you need to buy a stylish dress to update your look, go for dresses with the structured sleek silhouettes, and strong tailoring.

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Style Tip: Ensure you buy the best cut to flatter your particular body shape and silhouette. There are lots of interesting cuts and fabrics to suit all shapes and sizes out there.
Keep – It’s best to keep the jersey heavy knit dresses you bought, because they are bound to come back in fashion.

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Gift – Dresses with a bias-cut from the waist down. Trust me Ladies, I am yet to meet anyone who actually looks nice in a bias cut dress or skirt. Even those of you who are particularly skinny, it may look nice from the front but the side profile will still make you look six months pregnant! , and the back view is not much flattering either. They always look nice on the hanger in the store, but when you get them home, they just sit at the back of your closet never worn. Now is your chance to be charitable and give them away.

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Coats

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Buy – If you’re looking for a new coat for the fall, you are really in store for a treat, as there are many great coats out there. Go for coats with really interesting cuts and detailing. You have to think out of the box and not buy your conventional looking coats.

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Style Tip - The key for the fall is to opt for the beautiful jewelled coloured coats; think emeralds, amethyst, ambers, rubies – you get the picture. Anything but black. Please promise me you won’t buy black…..

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Keep – If you have a classic Burberry style trench coat, you must keep it because it never dates. You may interchange it with your beautiful jewelled colour coat.

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Gift – Did you go for the military look when it was in just a few short months ago? Be honest! If you promise to get rid of it I won’t scream fashion victim at you- unless I catch you wearing it that is.

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Handbags (Purses)

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Buy – GET A GRIP on the big oversized clutches. They are fun and funky and the perfect accessory to jazz up your fall wardrobe. On the plus side as well, they prevent you from logging around your whole life plus the kitchen sink (I think I’m preaching to myself here). You must be organised to carry off this look.

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Keep – Any good quality leather bag. They never date, have more mixability (is that a word…?) and more staying power.

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Gift- Any bag you have with the designer logo and embellishment spluttered all over it!

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Nothing wrong with a designer bag, believe me a have a few myself; infact I think I need true deliverance in this area! Seriously though, if you can see the logo before you appreciate the bag itself, then it’s probably one of the bags you should be giving away. Ladies with true style and finesse do not need to announce which designer they are carrying, nor do they need to advertise for the fashion houses. Enough said.

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Till Next Time……
Stay Gorgeous and Stay Blessed
Shuli

Oh dear, this is my third post in one week but I just have to get something off my chest.

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My 13 year old son just told me he has a girlfriend.

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Okay, now I know this may not seem strange to some of you, but, honestly, I don't want him to have one.

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And really, when your son comes home and tells you this, don't you just know she's gonna be the one you would have picked out for him?

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Hmmmm. Not so.

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I mean, I'm sure she's nice and all, but really now, isn't he supposed to like someone who's parents I know?

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Isn't he supposed to at least consult me on this? I mean, he still wants me to tuck him in every night. No matter that he is 6'3" and the quarterback of his school football team.

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Oh, but, no maam. Not so.

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Isn't it enough that he has lots of "girl" friends?
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It's not like he hasn't had a girlfriend before. He has, several times, in fact.

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BUT I KNEW THEIR PARENTS.

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There. It's off my chest. I'm done.

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Is it okay to pray for it to only last a week?

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There. That's it...my new prayer.

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Thanks for listening. It's just that I don't feel real good about this. Can't really put my finger on it, but, there, I said it.

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Not feeling good about this, (I think I said that already) love, Shari

Hi all! It's been fun to be with Shuli this week! Look forward to more fashion reports from the UK in the coming weeks.

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I have to tell you how excited I am about this weekend! But before that, may I tell you how truly terrific the women's ministry team is at Young Memorial Baptist in Concord, NC?

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Wow!

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Last friday night, I was invited to speak at their outreach event called

"Real Beauty Makeover".

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We had so much fun, a fab fashion show, and the girls just know how to put on a party!

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Thank you, YMBC, you rock!

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Okay, now for this coming weekend: I've been invited to fly out to Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, CO to spend the weekend with Susie Shellenberger and the gals at

Brio Magazine!

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Brio is a magazine for Christian teen girls and they have a yearly contest for girls to enter so they can be a featured writer for the magazine for the year and to represent Christ to other teen girls! They have a winner and three runners-up and this weekend they are flying the 4 finalists, a photographer and ME to spend the weekend getting the girls ready for a photo shoot on Saturday to be featured in an upcoming issue!

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Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked! I get to meet Susie and her staff and who knows, maybe I'll run into Dr. Dobson in the hallway!!!! hehehe!

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I love my life!

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But you know, it hasn't always been a bowl of cherries. I wonder where I'd be if I hadn't said YES to God?

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What is He asking you to do right now in your life that you've been avoiding? Here's another thing to think about...how long has He been prompting you to do something but you've just been too busy, or fearful?

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Trust me. It's a lot scarier NOT being obedient.

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When you say YES to God, your life will change. You might be perfectly content in your life right now. Ahhh, how the enemy loves that.

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Get uncomfortable. Say Yes...and see what happens.

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Can't wait to tell you all about it!

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Beautiful Blessings,

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Shari

Interview with Shuli from the UK

I am beyond excited that Shari has asked me to be a guest blogger! I feel so honoured and blessed, as I am her number one fan in the world!

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My name is Shuli. The full name is Shulamite (pronounced S=hou=la=mit). I often get lots of questions about my name. It’s a biblical Hebrew name found in Songs of Solomon 6:13 – the true meaning of the name is still being enigmatically debated by the biblical scholars, but I fully relate with the description of her beauty in the bible.

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I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man, and we live in London, England with our three wonderful blessings. My young prince is 9 and my princesses are 6 and 5.

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I am a president and founder of Inspirational Image; www.inspirational–image.com, a full service image management consultancy specialising in maximising the image potential of individuals and corporate organisations.

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I am professionally certified and a member of the Association of Image Consultants International , and one of only 7 image consultants in the whole United Kingdom with the FLC status. I am also a member of the UK TFIC and a graduate of the Proverbs 31 Ministries

She Speaks conference.

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I have a similar story to Shari in that, I was minding my own business working professionally in the image consultancy field when I felt the call on my life to take my image business into the Church. Prior to that I was an attorney! So my ministry focus and teaching is really about letting the women on God know that they are beautiful in God’s eyes and each uniquely created for his pleasure.

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Ladies, I bet y’all didn’t know that God was the first “Image Consultant” - for Ephesians 2:10 tells us that “we are his workmanship”.

There were no design errors when God created you and me.

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I have a passion for fashion, and Shari has asked me to bring you all the latest fashion and style news from across the pond here in the United Kingdom and Europe, so stay tuned and check in here [weekly] for fashion reports and trend news. Kicking off this week with –

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2008 Fall Trend Report - What’s Hot in Europe Right Now!

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3 Key Trends:

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1. The Colour Purple. Purple is the new black for the fall. It is the colour of the season and it’s seen everywhere. Invest in beautiful tops, dresses, makeup and accessories in this wonderful colour, normally associated with luxury and royalty.

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Style Tip: There are lots of different shades to this hue, so ensure you pick the correct shade of purple for your particular skin tone. If you’ve invested in one of Shari’s colour palettes you’ll be able to identify the optimal purple for you.

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2. Denim: Did it ever go out of fashion? Probably not, but denim dominated the fall/winter 2008 catwalks.

Not just limited to jeans – vests (waistcoats), jumpsuits, skirts, bags. This is the time to really have fun with your denim fabric.

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Look for some great tailored pieces for more formal wear and step out of your comfort zone and opt for some ruffles and detailing with longer length skirts.

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*STYLE TIP: Go for darker rinses for an evening look and lighter washes for your casual day look.

Also invest in different lengths for jeans; longer lengths to wear with your strappy heels, and just below ankle lengths or Capri lengths with beautiful jewelled flats this summer.

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3. Ethical Fashion: Ethical Fashion is booming in Europe. It is all the rage in all the headline news in the fashion capital cities, London, Paris and Milan -Simply cannot get away from it.

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In the UK alone consumers are expected to spend £60million ($120million) on ethical clothing by this year end. What is Ethical Fashion I hear you ask?

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Simply put, it is ‘fashion with a conscience’. I must admit that before now I had never given much thought about where and how my clothing garments were sourced. Ethical fashion is fashion that takes into consideration the people behind the clothes we wear and the environment. To read more go here.

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Style tip: Look for clothing made out of organic cotton and garments with the ‘Fair Trade’ logo.

I would love to hear from you, especially those of you who reside here in the UK. Please leave a comment here saying which of these fall trends you like the best and think you might be wearing! We're going to do a drawing for 2 winners and you will receive your "Colour Purple" swatch square to take shopping with you!

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shuli@inspirational-image.com

Till next week….

Stay Gorgeous and Stay Blessed!

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Shuli

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Thank you so much, Shuli! So excited for you to join my blog life! Now gals, post a comment on your favorites for fall and what you'll most likely be wearing and the winners will get their purple swatch for shopping!

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Beautiful Blessings, Shari

Girlfriends Get-A-Way Cruise!

Hey, ladies!

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Isn't it time we get away together?

And, what better way to do it than on a cruise to Mexico!

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Let's go shopping, laugh out loud, grow closer to our Saviour, eat fabulous food, lay out in the sun, hear great speakers and enjoy awesome concerts all on a boat filled with Christian women just like us!

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This cruise is all about rejuvenating our spirits, refreshing our souls and putting our focus back on Him so that we can be better moms, wives, sisters and friends! You'll find all this and more on the Girl's Get-A-Way Cruise!

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The cruise is filling fast and we want you and all the special women in your life to join us in February as we cruise to Cozumel!

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Prices are going to increase after August 15th (THAT'S TODAY) so don't delay!

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Now is the perfect time to reserve your space.

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Plus, you only have to put down a small deposit and the rest of the cruise fare can be paid through an affordable monthly payment plan!

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So, call 1-800-889-5265 today or book online at Premier Christian Cruises and be sure to tell them that Shari sent you!

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Have a beautiful weekend! I've got a guest blogger from London on Monday who is an image consultant in the UK and she's gonna give us all the latest European fashion trends!

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Beautiful Blessings,

Shari

Girl Stuff

Here is an article I wrote that appeared on The Radical Revolution blogsite today....thought you might like to share it with your pre-teens and teen daughters:

I have a friend named Maddie who is 13 years old. I love her style. She’s the type of girl who,

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when you see her, is dressed a little funky, with jeans that may have a big flower on

the pocket, and a wrap top that’s layered with a few tanks of multiple colors underneath.

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She'll add a shrug on top of that and finish it off with a scarf draped around her small neck, terrific earrings and colorful bracelets. On her feet you’ll find pink high top converse tennis shoes one day, and fashionable wedges the next.

All of these items she’ll have found at the local Goodwill or maybe even a community yard sale.

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A few weeks ago she came home from attending a new youth group. Naturally, she went dressed in her usual style. The following week, as her mom was taking her to the same youth group, she noticed Maddie was dressed differently. She looked like the typical girl that you see anywhere.

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Heather, her mom, thought it a little odd, but she didn’t say anything.

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When Maddie got home that evening she told her mom that she dressed that way because she wanted to fit in. She said the week before, all the girls complimented her on her fun look yet she felt “different.”

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So she made a decision to go back to that youth group and dress “like the other girls.” But what Maddie told her mom next was interesting.

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She said that as she had tried to dress like the other girls, a few of the other girls came dressed like her!

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Yep, that’s right. They got a little more daring, a little more expressive and creative and tried to have more fun in their clothing choices.

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Isn’t it funny how much we want to be accepted by others so we try to look like them?

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Society has taught us that we need to look like, act like and talk like everyone else, otherwise we’ll stand out.

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And be different.

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Isn’t that a good thing, being different?

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I’m not sure what the fashion magazines would call it but I like to call it “Radical Style.”

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Be true to who you are without compromise.

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The next time you get dressed try something unique. Add an accessory you’ve always loved but haven’t worn before. Borrow a shirt from your dad or brother and tie it up at the waist and then add a broach from Grandma. Pair this with jeans and tennis shoes or ballet flats. Wear two or three colors that you normally wouldn’t wear together and then pull it together by wearing a few bead necklaces, one in each color.

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Be bold, have fun, find your own style and show the world who you are by the clothes you wear!

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Have a fashionable day,

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Shari

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Special Note: The Radical Revolution Blogsite is a place for teen girls and preteens to go to and get devotionals and fashion advice just for them...have them check it out!

One Fabulous Thing

Friday was wonderful. I had a peace about the event I don't remember having in a long time. We had such a great time and the models were just dolls! Natalie, the event coordinator promised pics as soon as she gets them so when I do, I'll post them.

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Now for today.

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It's time to start thinking about what to buy for fall. Can you believe it?

But as summer draws to an end and school begins, you'll also find yourself thinking about what you should wear for fall.

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So what should that be?

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My suggestion is this: If you are only going to buy one thing, make it one thing fabulous!

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Think about this.

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You might buy one fabulous over-sized bag.

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Or one fabulous pair of shoes that make a statement.

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Or get one fabulous hair cut and color.

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Or one fabulous coat in a color that pops.

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Or one fabulous big watch.

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Or one fabulous pair of snakeskin boots.

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Or one fabulous chunky knit sweater.

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Or one fabulous necklace you love.

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Or one fabulous belt you'll wear with everything.

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Or one fabulous pair of dark jeans.

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Or one fabulous blouse with a bow or ruffles.

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Or one fabulous cocktail ring.

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There. The fashion trends for the season.

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Now go be fabulous...with just one thing.

God Spoke

I'm prompted to write about what God spoke to my heart last night. I was so excited about it that my heart beat really fast for 3o minutes...I'm not kidding. I was laying in bed, listening to my ipod, trying to fall asleep. And then it happened. He spoke. Certainly no one heard it but me, but then that's how He does it, you know.

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We had just finished watching

Steven Curtis Chapman's interview on Larry King Live on one channel, and

Rick Warren on another channel about his upcoming interview with McCain and Obama and as I was pondering both of these I began thinking about my event tonight at

Lakeview Baptist Church in Monroe, NC.

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Let me set this up. Tonight I kick off the season of Modest is Hottest Fashion Shows and What Not to Wear Conferences. I speak to teens and women of all ages in what most churches call an outreach event. Therefore, I get to share about Christ, but always in an easy, approachable kind of way.

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Last night God shared something with me. He told me tonight is going to be different. Tonight He is going to show up like never before.

He told me not to be fearful, (I usually am a little nervous the first of any season cause I've been off for 2 months.
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But these past 2 months have been deeper. God has taken me on a self-discovery journey that hasn't been easy. It's been messy. He's brought some things to the surface that I'm not proud of. Thankfully, He brought my sin to the forefront one at a time. (I don't think I could have taken more than that.)

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He's good like that.

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But I feel more intimately connected to Him than I ever have in my life.

Last night, God told me I'm supposed to share part of my testimony with these teens tonight. Not all of it, but some. The hard part? He told me to not worry about what those parts would be, but that HE would reveal it on stage as I spoke.

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Scary? Maybe. But you know, I'm really not afraid. When I woke this morning, I came downstairs and opened my devotional "God Calling". It simply said this:

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"Rely on Me alone. Ask no other help. Pay(it really said pay) all out in the Spirit of trust that more will come to meet your supply. Empty your vessels quickly to ensure a Divine Supply."

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So I shall.

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I am emptied. Waiting on the Lord to meet my supply.

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A Divine Supply.

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If you're near to Monroe, come on out. See what God is up to.

Have a Beautiful Weekend,

Shari

Teeth Whitening...and the purse winner!

I'll bet you don't know that one of the best anti-aging things you can do is floss your teeth everyday.

Seriously!

I know, I know, who of us really enjoys doing that? Would you believe that I do? Isn't that strange? But I don't floss nearly as much as I should. Nor do I floss nearly as much as my friend, Margie. If you're reading this, Marge, or if you know Marge, then you know what I'm talking about. Margie cannot even make it to her car after a meal before pulling out that stringy stuff...she can't stand the thought of anything in her teeth...we love that about her! If you're ever in South Florida and you look over and see someone in the car next to you flossing her teeth as she's at a stop light, just yell out, "Hi Margie!"

Yesterday I had my teeth whitened by that machine where you have to sit with your mouth all packed up with creams and gauze and junk and you feel like your mouth is gonna stay like that...forever. And then the 90 minutes you're in there getting this procedure done does feel like forever. So here I sit, writing this, and all I've had to eat or drink for the last 24 hours is white stuff. I've had white chicken breast in spaghetti with white sauce, white cake with white frosting,

(did I mention I'm trying to lose weight, but hey, it was white)

white milk, vanilla yogurt and water. I even had to go out and buy white toothpaste. I've always wanted to have this procedure done so Nikki at Charlotte Dentistry took care of me today and whitened me up!

The hardest part was not wearing lipstick ...at all! We had to go to a church function so I put a little glittery white eyeshadow on my lips to get a little sparkle!

Anyway, hope you have a beautiful day! A special thank you to Bobbie Jo and Marti from Living Creation Designs for the wonderful interview this week. They drew a winner and prayed the receiver would be the one God wanted to win.....so the winner is:

Betty Lou!

"Thank you ladies for taking the time to comment on our handbags. We are so blessed by your support and the great ideas and suggestions that you posted for us to read. Just so you know, we do have a diaper bag line which is our Mary Collection. It is not on the website because it is part of our custom handbag line. Let me know if you are interested in seeing our diaper bag style/fabrics, embroidery, etc. bobbiejocaldwell@hotmail.com and I will send you an e-mail with all the information and pictures. Also, we wanted to encourage you once again to go to our website and if you sign our guestbook, we will send you a coupon to use on your next purchase. We have one grand prize purse winner, but we want all of you to be blessed.

Thanks again, Bobbie Jo Caldwell & Marti Donovan"

Interview with Purse Designers!

I'm excited to introduce you to 2 Christian purse designers who own a company and create and sell handbags! I've interviewed them and here's what they had to say....oh, and they're giving away a wonderful bag, too, so place a comment by answering their question at the end for a chance to win!

Hello Marti and Bobbie Jo, tell us about Living Water Creations…how did you get the idea to come up with your company?
Living Water Creations is a Christian Handbag & Accessory direct sales company started by two women with a passion for handbags and the Lord. Our business began with the two of us sewing custom handbags as a hobby for local customers. When we started offering embroidery as an option, customers were asking for scripture on their handbags. We got so excited because we knew that the Lord was giving us a bigger vision than what we had envisioned.

Who designs the handbags?
We design most of the bags ourselves or we take our manufacturers bags and make changes to them in order to make them our own. Between Bobbie Jo's creativity and my eye for detail, I think we have created some classy but fun handbags.

How long has your company been in business?
We started sewing the custom handbags together in 2005 but officially started Living Water Creations in 2006. Marti and I were doing home parties ourselves for almost one year and then in late summer of 2007, the Lord expanded our tent strings and we started offering the opportunity for women to own their own business with us.

Tell us about each of your responsibilities, who does what?
We both do a little of everything (except the books, oh mercy, Bobbie Jo is NOT allowed to touch the financials...ha ha). With the two of us being the only ones running the business, God has truly given us talents beyond our normal capabilities. Bobbie Jo is more of the creative dreamer taking care of searching for products and for communications and training for the Pursenal Advisor Consultants. I am more of the meticulous one dotting the I's and crossing the T's. I takes care of order fulfillment and anything having to do with running the business (paying bills, financial books, etc.)

Can a person special order a bag? Size, shape, color, scripture?
Yes, but our custom handbags are not currently on the website. If someone is interested in seeing our custom line, they can e-mail us for the current bag selections and fabric availability.

How do you work your business around the needs of your families, and tell us a little about each of your families.
I (Bobbie Jo) have 2 children-Amanda 13, and Sammy 10. Being a full time mom and wife is our first priority and meeting the needs of our families come first.
Being able to run the business out of our home is such a blessing also and really helps facilitate meeting their needs.

I (Marti) have been married to my best friend and soulmate, Gerard, for 16 years. We have a magnificent son, John, who is 13. (John is truly my greatest accomplishment to date!) My family is extremely supportive of my business. Gerard and I also own a business that he works at full time, which keeps him on the road. Our family time is extremely important, so as such our priorities are God, family, business. We each take part in each others interests, so they help me with Living Water Creations and currently our family is involved in Gerard running for TN's 5th District seat in Congress.

What is the price point of your bags?
Our bags run from $21.99 to $75.00. The custom handbags are our most expensive line of bags.

Tell us about the quality of your handbags?
Our handbags are hand sewn and extreme attention is paid to detail. We've had less than 1% of our products returned and in each case, we have paid for shipping and replaced the product. We also are concerned with more than just the product quality. Equally important is the quality of our service and the delight that our customers take in using our products in "Spreading God's Word...One Purse at a Time!"

Do you design anything other than bags?
We have also designed our note cards, bookmarks, and our purse charms.

How would a person go about ordering and how long does it take?
We have all products in stock and ready to ship. Usually the products can be shipped within 1-2 business days.
Our custom handbags take approximately 3-4 weeks for delivery.

How can we find you? Do you have a website?
Yes, our website is www.livingwaterhandbags.com. Please visit us and sign our guestbook, read our old newsletters, and shop for your favorite handbag.
You can also contact us by phone for more information at 615-500-4318.

Please add anything else you’d like for my readers to know:
. If any one is looking for a great opportunity to encourage women, earn money while doing it, and become a part of a company where faith and business interact, please contact us for more information

Okay bloggy fashion readers....here's 3 questions for you to answer for your chance to win a handbag!
1. What is more important to you when purchasing a handbag - price, design or quality?
2. How often do you purchase a new handbag?
3. Why should you WIN this handbag?!

Thank you Bobbie Jo and Marti! We wish you many blessings in your business! We'll let the readers place comments for the next couple days and we'll draw a winner on Wednesday! Beautiful Blessings to you all!

Kickin' Off the New Season!

Hi all!

I'm sooooo excited to show off my new blogsite! Isn't it just beautiful? Shawna designed this for me and you can click on her button on the side to see her other designs! While you are looking at her designs, will you send up an urgent prayer for her sister, Randi, please? God knows the details, but trust me, they are urgent. Whisper a prayer right now.

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August is going to be a fun month! Monday we are kickin' off the season by interviewing BobbieJo and Marti who are Christian purse designers AND they're giving away a purse to one reader!....very excited about this!

There is soooo much to tell you about my summer and the amazing things God did. I feel so refreshed after my 2 month sabatical and ready to hit the road again next week to speak to women and teens each weekend to tell them how beautiful God thinks they are...and how gorgeous He thinks YOU are!

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So girlfriends, I just popped in to welcome you to the new site today so tell all your friends to check in on Monday as we kick off the first week of August to meet BobbieJo and Marti and hear about some neat fun purses AND a chance to WIN one!!!!! This fall is going to be fun on the blogsite, interviews with fashion divas, lots of fun advice for your wardrobes and lots of fresh insight from God.

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So glad to be back and can't wait to be with you all again!

Beautiful Blessings! Shari