Sanctum Brewing Co.

Last week some of my fellow missionary friends and I went to Sanctum Brewing Co. one of my favorite breweries in Los Angeles. We went not only to drink a beer this time but to help build an aquaponics system. My friend Noah builds aquapoincs around the world and he and the owner are the ones spearheading this project. It's really exciting because the brewery will be able to grow hops and barley in their system and with a portion of the money they raised selling beer, Noah will be able to go to other countries to build more systems in impovershied areas. (I'm crossing my fingers hoping I will be able to go with him!) It's really awesome seeing passionate people come together using their skills and the things they love to create and to bless other people!

On our down time we realized that there was so many cool places for photographs in the area surrounding Sanctum. Plus Sarah and I both happened to really like the outfit I was wearing that day…so in between working and sipping Russian Imperial Stouts, we snapped some pictures. Now I know in my last post I was wearing the same hat. I admit I wear it a lot, because I love it but partially because I hate styling and washing my hair. I also love that hat because it looks just like the one Brixton made, but I found this one in the men's department at Forever 21 for more than half of what the Brixton one costs. They are almost identical! 

xx

Photography//Sarah Grunder Photography

Fedora// Forever 21 (sold out) or Urban Outfitters

Stripped Crop Top// Forever 21

Scarf// Thrift Store
Jean Jacket// Lauren Conrad (found mine thrifting)
Full Length Skirt w/ Slit & Buttons// Thift Store
Black Knee High Socks//Urban Outfitters
Laced Boots// Steve Madden (found mine thrifting)

If you're going to San Francisco

I can't believe December is already here! And in only a couple weeks it will be Christmas…and then the new year! Yikes, life is flying by real quick. But luckily I'm crossing off places and things I've wanted to see before this year is over. Mike and I got to go to San Francisco with our dear friend Sarah. Her parents live about 20 minutes outside of the city and I couldn't believe it but I actually felt and experienced the season of fall again. I love seasons and to have the opportunity to leave Los Angeles for a bit, you bet I jumped on that as soon as I could! I ate a lot of yummy homemade food and spent time with Sarahs family for Thanksgiving and I FaceTimed my family, it's always hard being away from them during the holidays, but with the help of technology, for a fleeting five minutes it was almost like we were never apart.

Us three amigos of course went to the city and I thought it was just magical. We also went to Haight Street and like you would imagine it was a lot like Boulder, CO (for all my natives back home *whoop whoop*). It had tons of hippies and young gypsies, amazing thrift shopping, healthy and active people, the things you don't always see everyday…like a man who looked like Jesus on a longboard paddling down the street and I was offered drugs a multitude of times (obviously I don't do that). For some of you this sort of place may seem like the last place you want to be, but I like a little color in my neighborhood ya know? I loved the art that was ingrained in the city, the laid-back vibe, the activity and life, the bay, the cute colorful houses and the streets that resemble a roller coaster ride, perfect for skaters like my husband. New Grace Fact: San Fransisco is my #2 favorite city I've been too, Denver topping at #1.

While we were here I couldn't leave without seeing some sort of forest. LA just doesn't have that much nature, everything is desert or concrete. And I stinkin' love nature! So Sarah and I woke up at the butt-crack of dawn and drove to Oakland to get some mystic shots with smoke bombs in the woods. 

xx

Photography // Sarah Grunder Photography

T-Shirt Dress // Urban Outfitters (sold out)

Booties // Forever 21(sold out)

Pants // Urban Outfitters (sold out) 

Jean Moto Jacket // Levi's (found mine thrifting)

Fedora  // Forever 21 or Urban Outfitters

Menswear Inspired Coat // The Gap (but I got mine at a thrift store)

The Butterfly Circus

This is a really great short film that I would love to share with you all. This short story is about healing and how God takes our ashes and gives us a crown! It's so beautifully made and is going to be made into a feature length film!

xx

Passions

Over the past year I've been debating on weather or not to start using this platform as a means to share beauty and hair tips, tutorials and maybe add a couple outfit of the day sort of things here and there. I've been thinking a lot about my passions and although I'm passionate about God and all the things He has done/is doing in my life, I've really wanted to use this blog as a way to share my other passions and connect with people on different levels. I love fashion, makeup, adventures, coffee, music, art, craft beer, brewing kombucha, BUT my biggest passion is doing hair! If you get me and my best friend Danni together (my partner in crime aka my future business partner) most of our time together is spent going to Sephora to return something we didn't like and shopping around for hours testing things and buying more things we would later end up returning. During that time we would be talking about hair, makeup, life, pugs, clothes and tattoos but mostly hair. We would talk about the struggle of not always feeling good enough at our job, color formulations, people we aspire to be like, color formulations, products, dreaming of how we want our salon to look like, color formulations, how long our hair is getting, gawking over stylists inventive ideas and techniques on Instagram (@LarisaLove is our favorite!) did I mention color formulations?! If you don't know what a level 5, 9.02 or 20 vol. is you would have almost no idea what we are talking about! 

I'm not the best influence on Danni. I make her buy everything I want but can't afford!
(Plus check out her art at DanniSjoden.com, I'm so proud of her!)

Even though I live in LA now far away from Denver, and where I'm not currently doing hair on an everyday basis, I've been thinking more and more about how much I absolutely love hair and the industry! I just realized how much I truly missed it when I was invited to do hair for LA Fashion Week. It was super exciting and it's something I've always wanted to do. And I was in MY ZONE! *insert fist pump here* But what was even more great about it are the people I got to work with, hairstylists! We are all different in the way we go about creating art, but I love the same passion we all carry and that's what I miss most about being so involved with this industry. The passionate, fun and creative people! 

Just a couple of the awesome stylists I got to work along side at LA Fashion Week

So everybody, I am officially going to start expanding into other areas of my life that I love dearly and know a thing or two about, right here on my blog. I'm always getting asked how I style hair,  where I buy my clothes, how do I do my eyebrows, cat eyes and get my lipstick to look the way it does. I've got a couple makeup tutorials just sitting on my computer that I've never edited (simply because iMovie is a struggle for me), I've finally found a photographer as well (my husband wasn't too keen to taking my picture for "OOTD") and I've got a but load of products, tips and clothes that I'm just sick of keeping to myself!  

Now introducing for the very first ever…

a list of my

MAKEUP MUST HAVES! 

1. Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener (www.janeiredale.com)

Primer is the key to making your makeup go on smooth and last all day. You wouldn't paint your nails without a base coat would you? No. So don't paint your face without your primer!

2. Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation (Sephora)

I know it says tattoo foundation, I'm sure you can cover tattoos with this, I've never tried I've only used it on my face. This is one of the only foundations I have found that I really love. And since I have combination skin, I tend to get oily but this foundation does not separate like others that I've used. This is really great for medium-full coverage and this line comes in neutral, so you don't have the battle of your skin looking too orange, too yellow, or too pink!

3. Too Faced Candlelight Glow (Sephora) 

I've used so many highlighters, both creams and powders…but this one is really great! It is a white and pink powder you can swirl your brush on and apply to your skin to get a soft, youth luminosity.  

4. Marc Jacobs Perfection Powder (Sephora) 

I've you are someone who usually uses just powder or you just like to set your makeup with powder foundation, this is a really great purchase. It definitely is a bit pricey (I used a gift card for this purchase and it's the only reason I tried it) This powder sits nicely on the skin and looks natural. It can also be layered for more coverage. Plus the packaging alone makes you feel like a million bucks!

5. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot (M.A.C)

This is an eyeshadow primer and it comes in neutral and other pretty shimmery colors to not only make your eye make up not melt off your face, but also plays up your shadow color. Do you ever find your eyeshadow settling in your creases by the end of the day? Yah? Well not anymore! 

6. Moonshadow Baked Palette (Sephora)

This eyeshadow palette is really great if you are wanting some nude shades with shimmer but are not wanting to spend the $50 + dollars it costs to get the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Obviously it's not as many shades as the UD but these colors are really great on every skin tone and can be used for a day look and can be used to transition into your evening look.

7. MAC Mineralized Blush-Warm Soul (M.A.C)

This is my go-to blush! It gives a subtile, sun-kissed glow. Plus it can go with whatever look you want! Simple as that.

8. Hoola Benefit Bronzer (Sephora) 

This matte bronzer is awesome for contouring if you're into that sorta thing (I am), but it is also really great for all over if you're just wanting a sun-kissed color without the sun. And the brush comes with and makes to easy to carry with you for travel!

9. Ardell Brow Defining Pallet (Sally's Beauty Supply) 

I bought this palette long before I discovered Anastasia Beverly Hills. It was cheap and I was desperate for a color that matched my eyebrows. I picked this up and really like that it comes with the tweezers and the little brushes I use for travel. I've never used the top color because it is a red-brown. But the middle color is a perfect match for me and I like that there is a highlighter on the palette for your brow bone, it really gives the finishing touch to your brows!

10. Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (Sephora) 

Best mascara I've ever used and believe me I've tried a lot! The hourglass shaped wand and magical formula will give you Bambie lashes, without the falsies! 

It's Hump-Day everyone the weekend is almost here! Yah! 

Thank you for stopping by! 

-Grace xo

A Simple Thanks

Since I've been focusing on the power of words and thoughts I've been making a point to being more thankful so I just thought I'd write a short blurb about what I'm thankful for!

1. Marriage. I'm so thankful for my husband Michael. It's crazy to see how far we've come and how much growth we both have had since we've met, since we've started dating and since we've been married. There were times in my first year of marriage I didn't think we were going to make it, it was extremely difficult. But looking back I appreciate all the hard times, all the fights and make ups (believe me, there were a lot). Today I love my husband more than I ever have and that love grows more and more as the days go by. I was thinking the other day how much I will love him when we are really old and wrinkly. I'm thankful that he still pursues me in the midst of our busy lives and that he is committed to my crazy self. I don't know anyone else that would want to sign up for that! He's a good man, a very good man.

2. Support. I'm humbled and thankful for the amount of people in my life who believe in what Michael and I are doing with our lives within missions. We've had so many people from all walks of life, people we know well and others who we only know each others names, who've come behind us and have supported us simply because we share the same heart to bring hope to the hopeless and for the world to know and love the living God! We've had so many supporting us in prayer, in encouragement and financially! It baffles me almost weekly

3. Prayer. This past year I've learned that prayer is a way we have direct communication to God and He actually hears us and responds back. I always do this thing where I freak about the future and just worry for no reason. Oh? You too? It's okay, it's normal…so in my worry I was praying and with out a doubt in my worry God showed up and took it away and replaced it with peace. I am thankful prayer it's not just a one way conversion, which I feel a lot of people think that it's just a way to cry out to God in pain, it's a time we send Him our requests, when everything in life is falling apart, when life isn't panning out like we thought it would, a desperate cry of hopelessness or something we do before we eat dinner on Christmas or Easter. All those things are completely valid and we should do…I always do, but we can also be thankful in our prayers, we can pray for other people just to encourage them and share love with them, we can talk to God about everyday life and actually get a response back.

So, what are you thankful for?

"Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exhausted. "Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth."
-Isaiah 12: 4-5

-Grace xo

Paint Your Canvas

The past couple weeks I've really been struggling with what to write on my blog. Almost feeling like I had to force things out of me. At first I thought it was writers block and that may have been the case a while back but out of no where I started thinking that my option doesn't matter. And why should I speak about a certain subject anyway if it has already been said, and has been said more eloquently than I could have ever put it. 

All I was thinking was how I wasn't good enough, why would anyone care about the things I think and have to say. And it wasn't long till everything that was coming out of my mouth was negative, hateful,  complaining and whining. I had nothing nice to say at all. It made me feel so much worse about myself because I could see myself doing it, I hated it and I felt like I couldn't stop. It was wearing on my husband and bringing him down and I'm sure that it was making others feel that way as well. I didn't even want to be around myself, so it had to have made others feel the same way!

I was reminded by a good friend that our words have the power to create life or death. Just ONE thought of me feeling like what I have to say doesn't matter, snowballed and consumed many more places of my life with negativity and it effected the others around me. My friend explained to me this theory that we are artists and creators because we are made in the likeness of God, who is the creator of all. God "spoke" and it was so. We speak and it paints a picture of our lives in the spiritual and physical atmosphere. 

The bible says in Genesis 1:3, God said,  "Let there be light", and there was light. 

In Genesis 1:6, And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.

In Genesis 1:9,  And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” 

In Genesis 1:14-15 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 

In the book of Genesis it is repeated that God said, and all was created. Over and over this shows us the power that words carry.  Throughout the entire bible it emphasizes the importance of the words we speak. Because this is something that is mentioned so many times it must be something we really need to grasp and put into practice! Because someone chose to speak truth, life and love over me all the darkness I was sitting in disappeared, and I could see again! I don't write and say things to just share my opinion and because I want to be heard but I can write and share because it can bless somebody. I'm not suppose to just keep these revelations to myself, because there is someone out there that needs these words I can give. Each and everyone of us have something to offer. 

Now because we are made in the likeness of God, we are creators like Him. We can go around and speak death, hate and negativity out into the atmosphere, over things and people and paint black over our canvas. OR we can speak life, love and thankfulness and paint beautiful colors and create marvelous work of art! 

So what are you wanting your canvas to look like? 

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:4

-Grace xo

Check this experiment out by Dr. Masaru Emoto about the power of our words!

And the effects of human thoughts and words on water. Don't you just love science?!

Feliz Cumpleaños

I had my 23rd birthday recently and I was a little terrified turning another year older, seeing as the last birthday I had I cried because I was turning 22. After being 21 I didn't really think there was a birthday from here on out to look forward to. I didn't cry this year, but I did tell everyone I was turning 22 again. My husband always standing next to me, would laugh and inform everyone of my actual age. But, during the week leading up to the day of my birth I was thinking of all the really cool things I got to do this past year. My life has been full of transformation and tons of growth. I believe I've seen more places this past year than I have in my entire life! I've seen God's provision countless times, and have experienced the love of God in so many ways, through my husband, my quiet times, my family, friends, random people on during my travels, nature, fashion week and through the children and widows in Africa.

After reminding myself of all this, I wrote down all the things I hope to do this next year. This is what I wrote:
I want to learn more this year than I did the last.
I want to love myself and others more than I did yesterday.
I want to go on more adventures!
I want to be more thankful.
I want to exude more joy!
I want to know God on an even deeper level.
I want to slow down and take the time to do the things that I really enjoy and I want to discover new things to enjoy.
I want this next year of my life to be used for people to see God through me and bring more people to know and love God.

On the day of my birthday I was in Mexico with my Michael and a couple friends. Ministry was the last thing I thought I would be doing on my birthday but it was one of the best yet! Michael has partnered with our friend Jon who has been going down to Rosarito, Mexico every other weekend to pass out hygiene products, clothes and food to families and paint murals on their homes in the slums. Mike has also got in contact with a church in that area that has a torn down skatepark in the back of their property. He is now raising money for the materials he will need to rebuild this skatepark for the community!
During our time there I hung out with little boys and girls who spoke zero English (you'd think after 3 years of Spanish 1 and 2 I could speak Spanish, but I can't), we helped a church with a BBQ, skate demo, and sermon, I was sung a traditional Spanish birthday song by the church and we drove to another part of town where we passed out hygiene products, food and clothes to families in the slums. For my birthday dinner I made sure to get amazing tacos, churros and a margarita. It's pretty wild that for almost three months living in Africa with zero vaccinations I was never sick once and the one time go over the boarder for less than a day my body really hated everything I put in it! Haha sorry if that was too much.

Spending this time in Mexico I was so blessed to be with my favorite person (my husband) and I was able to be doing my favorite thing, loving and helping others. I have a feeling this birthday was a glimpse of what's in store for this next year!

-Grace xo

Mural painted by Jon Hall

Better than cake

New York Fashion Week

I just returned from the Big Apple to Los Angeles a couple days ago and it is nice to be back in the community where I live and back in my husbands arms! New York was a blast and the city has so much to offer! It is full of life and houses various cultures from all over the world in one little place! I could defiantly see it's a place where people come to fulfill dreams they have and I think that's one of the reasons I love it so much!

This particular outreach was much of what I anticipated and then some. It was so difficult in every way. I was sick with a cold and on top of that, your body really hurts after walking on concrete all day. Everything I've ever battled in my past I was faced with all at once. And I struggled to not fall into the ways I used to think about myself. I caught myself comparing who I am to others, not feeling thin enough, pretty enough, tall enough, successful enough, stylish enough…everything! It was really hard entering back into a world that I had come completely out of only months ago. New York itself was amazing and I love it, but this fashion outreach was incredibly streneous and I know that the enemy really tried his hardest to bring me back into the dark hole where I used to live. I know he was throwing every temptation of mine out there for me to latch onto because myself and the girls I was with were gaining territory back for Jesus in the fashion industry.

Even though I was exhausted the whole outreach, I was able to do so much and also made a point to see a lot! The first part of the week I partnered up with other girls who came from around the world to reach out to the fashion industry with a nonprofit called Models For Christ. We would go out front of Lincoln Center, interviewing and photographing people, letting them know what we are apart of, encouraging them and doing prayer walks. It's really quite a sight standing outside Lincoln Center during this week, there are so many well dressed people waiting to get their photos taken for blogs and magazines! And then when we were inside, many of us were backstage just being a light in a dark place, bringing peace to stressful situations and loving everyone we came into contact with.

There was a ton of cool stories from all of us being outside and inside Lincoln Center, but I will share with you my two favorite stories!

Last season in LA we worked with the wonderful Betsey Johnson, and knowing that she lives in New York we let her assistant Brandon know that we would be in town and that if they needed help their fashion show to let us know. And sure enough we found ourselves at Betsey's office in the Garment District of NYC running errands, measuring and cutting fabric, sewing buttons on dresses, pom-poms on heels, veils and veils onto teairras. It was so much fun and kind of humorous that we were doing the same jobs that interns who go to school for years end up doing. We spent a few days throughout the week at her office doing these different projects, getting to know Betsey, Brandon and the interns more before her big show. And just like last season, my good friend Jessica was invited by Betsey to pray over for the evening. With everyone huddled around Betsey, Jess and Brandon backstage, Jess got to pray over everyone before the show began (It's a powerful sight to see!) And we know through our presence and through conversations with these individuals, that they believe in the power of prayer, want prayer and that they are having encounters with the Living God and the peace He gives.

While I was at the Jeremy Scott show, which was a trip in itself (literally, it felt like a throwback to a 90's rave) I saw a myriad of celebrities, Miley, Whoopie Goldberg, 2 Chainz and a bunch of other people I didn't know but were apparently famous. No, I didn't really have much contact with any of them…but there "just so happened" to be this model that was walking in the show, whom I have been praying for. So naturally that caught my attention more than anything! I had a $5 gift card for Starbucks, sitting in my pocket for a special encounter such as this. The gift card sat inside a sleeve that I was able to write a small letter of encouragement on prior to the show.  I decided I would wait for the show to end and for things to die down a bit before I approached this model; she was the one I knew had to get my small gift. The show went on and after I waited for the room to clear out and the model was gone! I thought maybe she had left the venue already. So I prayed asking that Jesus would just put her in front of me so I could give her this gift, sure enough she turns the corner and is standing right next to me. So I called her by name and told her I have something to give her; she waited in anticipation as I struggled to pull the card from my pocket. I told her what it was while she made eye contact with me, tilting her head and looking very surprised and then began to share words of thankfulness. It was about a 30 second interaction, but I know that nothing is coincidence and it doesn't just happen that I'm in the same room with the same model I have been praying for by name. Something happened with that little gift and note that struck a chord in this models heart; I may never find out what it was exactly, but I do know that God is relentlessly chasing after her. 

Despite the struggle, knowing that real change happened this past week, that people's hearts were softened, people encountered God's love and that lives are being changed makes fighting the things of my past so worth it. God loves the people in the fashion industry just as much as He loves the poor orphans in Kenya, it may seem weird in our minds because these people have everything, but with out God we have nothing and all is vanity.

-Gracie xo

I fell in love with this city upon arrival

A look inside and around Lincoln Center where the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is held

 

These two girls were just a few I got to work with. The blonde is Emily, she is from Australia and the other is Erin she is from SoCal

These were some of the shows I was apart of

Mara Hoffman | Photo by: Vogue

Vivienne Tam | Photo by: Vogue

Reem Acra | Photo by: Vogue

Skingraft | Photo by: Deux Hommes

Jeremy Scott | Photo by: Vogue

Some stylish babes outside of Lincoln Center

@songdani & @helloitsroxie

@diddyofdc & @nickyottav

@eli_thehoneybadger

@camtyox

Betsey Johnson and our time in her office

I made that teairra! | Photo by @xobetseyjohnson

Betsey was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight

Milk Studios for the Jeremy Scott show

Columbus Circle

Times Square

Central Park

"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." -John Lennon

Out at coffee with just a few of the Beauty Arise staff

Freedom Tower & 911 Memorial

I meet my favorite fashion blogger at an Elle Magazine Party
http://www.natalieoffduty.com

Back to California!