Viva Las Vegas

A lot is going on in the world right now. One thing after the next, war, refugees dying from trying to seek a better life, so many natural disasters and yet again another mass shooting. I can't imagine what these people are going through and I often wonder why am I where I am, why didn't these things happen to me? My heart has been hurting these past few weeks of all that has gone on around the world and hurts all the more knowing that they're are people inflicting pain upon other people for whatever reason it doesn't matter, it's just pure evil. I've seen so many injustices throughout the world and read about it daily and I just discover more and more how critical it is that we as humanity need a savior. A total revelation that us as individuals are not perfect, that we as people aren't perfect and that the only thing that can change our hearts is the unconditional love of Jesus.

I am not left out of this and I need the grace of God everyday. I just pray that this world experiences the love and healing power of God in such a tangible way that it changes us as humanity, to walk into who we were created to be, that broken hearts are healed, that dead souls are brought back to life, that we would prefer and love other people first, that we would seek to lay our selfish desires aside, that we would seek to understand one another and give grace, empathy and compassion to the people who we may feel do not deserve it. I lift up all those effected by the loss of those in Vegas this week, that they have community surround them, love them and comfort them in this terrible time, amen.

Michael and I took these photos on our way to LA, we stopped just outside of Las Vegas to see this art installation in the middle of nowhere desert. I was driving like a bat out of hell as we were chasing the sunset and trying to beat the storm that was rolling in. Looking at theses photos now I loved how they turned out with the polarity of light and dark. With the darkness of the storm blowing in it made these crazy bright colored rocks stand out all the more.


Thanks for stopping by guys
xo

Enchanted

This sheer top from Zara has got me feeling all sorts of enchanted! It subtly shows the body in an interesting way that one wouldn't expect; and the color and placement of the embroidered flowers gives the perfect feminine touch. I love that this year has been full of embroidered details, it looks good on basically everything! 

I've got embroidery on my Gucci loafers (they are proper grandma slippers for sure👌🏽) and my husband even has it on his shirts, beanies and his slip-ons. My mum asked if he was trying to be like me...I'd say maybe a little bit! 

xx
Grace

Photography by Michael Penhale

Outfit Details:

Embroidered Tulle Top: Zara

Hat: Goorin Bros.

High-waisted Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Jeffrey Campbell Booties: Free People

All About The Shoes

Let's be honest, this post is really all about these shoes. I've always been obsessed with shoes, well boots specifically... and I've never been more obsessed with any pair I've owned until these babies came into my life. The best part is that these were gifted to me from a dear friend, who obviously loves me very much! 'Cause who would ever give away a pair of new Tommy x Gigi shoes from this seasons runway show away? Uhhhh...not me!!! I am so very thankful to be a proud owner to these sexy boots! Took a look.

-Grace xo

Outfit Details:

Boots: Tommy x Gigi High Cowboy Boot

Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Fringe Bag: Free People

Choker T-Shirt: Made by yours truly 

Jean Jacket: Levis (thrift find)

Crystal Necklaces: Made by yours truly

Sunnies: Thrift find

Hat: Goorin Bros

Photography by: Michael Penhale

2017

And just like that...another year has come and gone. It's been a whirl wind and it has also been rich in adventure and full of inspiration. I was blessed to serve yet another year with Youth With A Mission...as it was also my last *sniff sniff*. I was able to volunteer another season of fashion week both in NY + LA. I made new friends and made more memories with old ones. Mike and I found ourselves a church home at Zoe LA. I continued to pursued my career in hair and made new business endeavors. I got to check Oregon off my bucket list (and I need to go again). Mike and I spent three months in Europe (specifically Barcelona) staffing a school for artists and creatives and Michael with skateboarding and filming. AND the last two weeks of the year and we ended up moving back to Colorado! Phew! The last month has been a blur, but it's nice to start the year of fresh and with some clarity. Cheers to 2017!

Wishing you all love, peace, joy and happiness! 

Photography by Michael Penhale

A Letter To My Younger Self

A few weeks ago I was inspired to write this letter about what I would say to my younger self. I'm a pretty open person and strangely enough I found this kind of difficult to share, but from my experience everything brought out of darkness and into the light brings nothing but healing. Mind you this is what I would have NEEDED to hear years ago and it may be disturbing to some of you, but this in fact was my reality and is the reality of so many teens and young adults.

To my younger self,

I know your suicidal thoughts.

I hear the lies echoing in your head about your self hate. 

I see your tears, your blood and mutilated limbs. 

I see past your tough exterior you use to hide in. 

I know you're broken and I know you're hurting. 

Your pain is real. 

You may not believe me when I tell you this,

but one day you will experience the highest of highs

and I'm not talking about any drug.

It's natural, it's so real and it's something greater than you, something from outside you that lives, moves and breathes and that will move through you. 

You can't see it now because it's very dark where you are, bu there is hope.

You are not alone.

One day you will actually love you.

And one day you will actually love your body.

You will quit hurting it for temporary comfort.

You will be kind to it. 

One day you will see yourself as beautiful.

Will you please fight to live another day?

Because I promise you this pain and internal suffering will stop.

Will you please fight to live another day?

Because the pain you feel right now will one day be use to bring other girls hope.

Will you please fight to live another day?

Because you are deeply loved.

Please keep fighting,

I know you're tired, but I believe in you.

You are so strong.

You are courageous.

You are worthy. 

Love, 

Your Older Self 

<3

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

Finding Rest In Spain

As most of you know I am in Barcelona! (Yah!) I have been here for over a month and I will be here for about 3 months. Currently I am volunteering with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and am staffing a 3 month long school for artists and creatives. The school is facilitated in a way where we have speakers come in from all over the world, every week to teach and challenge the students in their art or craft; proposing thought provoking ideas and questions but always bringing the focus back to how we can use our passions and gifts to glorify God and share Gods love with humanity in a powerful way. We will be putting on art expositions every couple weeks through out the city to reach out and share our creations with the community and connect with people on a deeper level using the universal language of art.

And I apologize for my lack of keeping everyone up to date with what we have been doing!  Barcelona has been fun, it is a lot different than I expected. The first couple weeks was lots of rest after a long year of almost no rest. My first month here has involved lots of "pruning",  as my friend Brooke would say. Pruning as in taking the time to reflect on where I am in life and cutting off old habits and ways of thinking. It's just been a very intense and fast time of growth. Which some of you may know isn't always easy, in fact most times it hurts, a lot. Just like when you're in those awkward teenage years where your legs throb from growing and all you wanna do is sleep. That kind of sums up a lot of this past six weeks. Tons of growing pains and lots of rest (which is really hard for me, all I wanna do is go, go, go).

Since the school has started though it's been full of joy and inspiration. Even though I'm staffing and helping lead students, I've been so deeply inspired by speakers who have come in and out of our classroom. I'm inspired by peoples lives and how they have pursued their dreams, how they've joined God in "co-creating", and how many amazing and impossible things they have created and accomplished by partnering with God. Needless to say, so many of my dreams and ideas over the last few years have become more solidified in a matter of weeks. I still don't know when I'm leaving here or where I'm going to end up, but I know wherever I Mike and I find ourselves we are gonna hit the ground running!

-Grace

xo

Night of my birthday after eating the best ramen where we couldn't hear each other talk because the restaurant was so loud

View from our flat // That is La Sagrada Familia in the distance

Nomad Coffee Shop

My favorite coffee shop and plant store Espai Juliu // I LOVE plants!

Being a tourist for a second at the Arc de Triomf

Dancing the night away // Film shot by Mike Penhale

La Marcè Festival // Film shot by Mike Penhale

La Mercè festival has been celebrated in Barcelona for hundreds of years. The Catholic church made this festival as a time when the "gates of hell" would open so they could scare people into salvation. The towns people would go to the church and pay money to get saved so that they wouldn't go to hell when they die.
What I experienced was quite similar...other than the church collecting money for salvations. There was a huge wooden door surrounded by boards shaped and painted as flames where huge mythical creatures with people inside walking them would come out of the gates shooting fire from their mouths. "Demons" or people dressed us a little Satans ran around with sparkler torches dancing with attendees and shooting fire at peoples feet. There we also many drum bands walking down the street following the demons and mythical creatures.
This is probably the craziest thing I've ever seen!