Bauble Round-Up: Favorite Summer Jewels

Evening Lovelies,

I am sharing my favorite jewelry picks for summer! Granted if you live in North Carolina as I do, you have to be cautious when choosing to wear anything unnecessary from the months of April to September. We are talking necklace tan lines, sweating in unattractive ways, and burning metals--it's serious y'all! Katniss is the only "Girl on Fire" one world needs. Good thing all this bling is so beautiful it totally does not matter if injury occurs.

 Also, I love a lot of beautiful jewelry styles, but I want to iterate that the land of eBay, TJ Maxx, CATO (yes, y'all the girl said Cato!), Belk's clearance rack and Groop Dealz is where 99.3% of my jewelry comes from. A big price tag does not mean extra style...it means you paid more. Invest in pieces you will wear over and over again. Definitely scope out awesome brands like Loren Hope, Bauble Bar, J.Crew,  Kendra Scott, and Stella and Dot to discover inspiration, then look for cheaper alternatives, especially for trendier pieces that may soon go out of style!

Below are some of my [current] favorite jewels:

1. Kendra Scott Harlow Statement Necklace in Neon Yellow: Kendra Scott is a goddess. Her jewelry is exquestic and she knows it, so this pretty will place a large hole in your pocket. Opt for this Forever 21 Facets of Fancy Bib Necklace steal instead without jeopardizing style!

2.  Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace in Teal: Y'all this is too perfect. Love a pendant necklace. They are so easy and great to throw on with a tank and jeans. Also, these come in a slew of colors ranging from blinding brights to neutrals. Check out this Lulu's Cool Pendulum Swing Pendant Necklace for a cheaper buy.

3.  Accessory Concierge Neon Pink Rose Quartz Druzy Pendant : Accessory Concierge has some super cool pieces, but I love a lot of their more tribal pendants in the Summer New Arrivals, especially this quartz pendant! Seriously, love. Love the mix of natural with the neon pink and would be so cool layered with more gold hued pieces.


4. J.Crew Pearl Twisted Hammock Necklace: This beauty is so timeless and looks fabulous layered. I know you are thinking that isn't a very summery piece, but there is only so much neon one season can take, so opt for this understated and elegant piece for weddings or to tone down over the top color that you craving! Although the J.Crew one is a splurge there are plenty of similar styles elsewhere online, but you most certainly would get tons of use out of such a versatile item! [Steal version, Francesca's Medina Pearl Necklace and F21 Marbled Faux Pearl Necklace]

5.  Cato Cascading Bib Necklace This necklace is beautiful! I love the crystals at the top and the colors. Can I admit that I have such a tendency to linger towards aqua-turquoise-greeny-cools, but I tried really hard to incorporate some pinks and this passed the test! For less than $15.00 this is such a steal!

6.  Bauble Bar Crystal Hex Pendant 
Okay...so this piece is so beautiful to me. I love the mix of tortoise and turquoise (say that three times, fast). Hopefully, y'all agree and find this as cool as I do. It is definitely different, but I think it would love fabulous paired with a white summer top or black maxi!  

7.  Towne and Reese Sutton Earring: I recently discovered Towne and Reese and I love their...everything! They create items that are functional enough to be everyday, but also enough flare for occasions and I love their clean and bold styles.

Look below to see how I am currently styling 

some of my favorite pieces already! 

   From left to right, starting with the top row:

 1. Moon and Lola Block Monogram Necklace in Antique Gold (size Large). I cannot say how much I adore Moon and Lola's monograms for quality and wearability. I have two (the other in Tortoise) and wear them almost daily! 

Francesca's Statement Bib Floral Necklace (similar Cato style linked here). 

2. Loft Beaded Statement Necklace (older style, similar style from Towne and Reece I love!).

 3. Kate Spade Say 'Yes' to 'Mrs' Necklace. This necklace is so special to me, given to me by my girls on my wedding eve, but it is also fabulous and can be layered with anything!

Purple Peridot Crystal Dome Necklace found for a steal on GroopDealz 

4. This is a GroopDealz exclusive that I unfortunately cannot find, but keep a look out for daily deals. I snagged it for $3.99! 

5. This Cato Fashion's necklace is no longer available online! Look above at the Cato necklace I suggested.
6. AHHH. Love this necklace y'all! Page 6 Cora Necklace ( in a different color I don't see my color any longer) is such a beautiful piece. Every time I wear it I get asked so many times where it is from. It is literally a statement necklace.

Ashton, is that you?

Y'all, Mondays hit me like a proverbial swarm of locusts--infiltrating my peace and destroying my joy and filling up all the wrong places, i.e. my bed. Not to be dramatic, but between my allergy-plagued (sorry to continue with the plague theme) eyes, that literally began bleeding last week after being awoken from their peaceful slumber, (I hope you are all envisioning the image of grace and beauty that is your's truly in the morning hours) and my California King bed that is make of Heaven fluff and baby bottoms I just ain't got time for Mondays.

Granted, I also don't have time for Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

 Mornings and I just...clash, but anyway on this particular Monday I entered full war-combat with the morning hours. After hitting the snooze button for the umpteenth time, I left my cuddly animal (my actual animal not my husband, who had long departed for a night shift) and began apprizing the situation that is "getting ready." For anyone that knows me well they know I take getting ready in record time as a personal challenge and art form--15 minutes and not a moment longer before I am spilling hot coffee and moving out the door. This Monday, I could not find my coffee mug lid (to later be found in my makeup bag... apparently, I was saving it for the dark ages when Joe and I need me to start using concealer for hiding my bags and coffee creamer. He would argue that with the price tag this should be considered. Anon.), so I poured my coffee into three different mugs before finding a freaking-matching-lid...is this TOO much to ask? I think not. Next, I scramble to gather an assortment of papers that resemble my copies that need to be made and spill said coffee on said resembling lesson plan thingies. Run (literally, y'all) out the door and down the stairs to realize I forgot my makeup bag (not to be too transparent here, but I would indeed sell an organ for the magic that dwells in that seemingly blasé, black, Vera Bradley bag).  Once I am finally on the move and feeling liberated that I, indeed, will make it to work, I am landed behind the world’s slowest moving Miller Light delivery truck. Beer should not be delivered before the hours of 8 A.M., but this dutiful truck took its responsibility of quenching the desires of all those who thirst with the utmost seriousness. Moving not a nudge above 31 m.p.h. I wanted to pull alongside the responsible driver and inquire if he was actually transporting the art of the covenant in a grand twist of irony, I thought better and begrudgingly applied my prized foundation. Fatefully, the Miller Light magician was en route to my exact location, so we trotted along until he turned on some street that showed zero signs of 7/11’s or fraternal institutions. Logically, I accelerated to make up for lost times and now was coasting at 55, feeling like Wonder Woman…but what is that in the distance? What are all those taillights for? Oh yes, regulation tree cutting that can only be performed during the morning compute.  Y’all, I would not boast I am the most patient of people, but like seriously? After passing the state-employed Lumberjacks, who disappointedly do not even wear flannel, I was home free. But, oh. OH. The train…I was once again stopped for a train that I swear was longer than usual moving slower than usual. Alas, I pulled into my parking spot and stepped foot on glorious land.

Do y’all ever get a case of the Monday’s? Like everything--read above, everything feels like it is going against you. A spiritual case of the Monday’s? Can’t quite get consistent with your quiet times and worship feels uninspired. A physical case of the Monday’s? Battling a disease that remains nameless or continuing receiving bad news from a string of doctors.  An emotional case of the Monday’s? Continually feeling unfulfilled and without purpose. I pray y’all bypass that Miller Light truck, turn swiftly right before the lumberjacks, and beat the train by a mile. Mondays are just a set of circumstances lying to you. Mondays tell you that joy cannot be won and victory is not yours. I pray that you are perpetually reminded that we serve a God that is better and sweeter and more sovereign than circumstances will lead you to believe.

Amen. Thank you. Hallejuah.

Sorry for my blogging hiatus. I suppose I have been a mixture of uninspired and busy, a lethal combination. Without further ado, (although, I doubt many of you were sitting on the edge of your seat for my latest musings!) I am writing this blog post after being challenged, during an especially powerful and challenging sermon, to write a thank you letter to God.

God, Father, Abba,

Thank you for adopting me by your grace and mercy as your renewed and won daughter to a kingdom where I should be an unfit resident. However Lord, your love makes me right at home. Thank you for not giving up on my as a lot of earthly parents tend to when I repeatedly make the same mistakes and missteps. Thank you for being just. Thank for condoling me when this world fails me, as it does daily. Thank you for making me feel empty when I try to find justification and fulfillment outside of you, an ache that forces me to unashamedly run into your outstretched arms.  Thank you for your scriptures that sustain me and reveal your goodness and character. Thank you for placing people in my life that hold me accountable; accountable for sinfulness, apathy, and abandoning those same truths. Thank you for forgiving me when I am not a fit example or the salt of this world. Thank you for being the absolute perfect Father and thank you, for restoring my relationship with my earthly one. Thank you for being greater than addictions, greater than suffering, greater still than hurt and hunger and ache and tears. Thank you for love that moves me to drops of gratitude spilling from me uncontrollably. Thank you for the sunrise piercing through my curtains to remind me of the goodness of your creation. Thank you for being the ultimate provider, even when I stumble to realize my plans are not your own. Thank you for praises and thank you for defeats. Thank you for your sage wisdom that looms over my inept abilities. Thank you for choosing me, silly me, ungraceful me, quick-to-anger me. Lord, thank you for being better than I even know and thank you for this life of discovering your goodness. Thank you for a husband that loves me like you love the church and for a family that physically picks me up while you whisper, "sweet daughter, it is finished." Thank you for abounding, overwhelming, and overflowing grace that I simply am unworthy to receive. Thank you for unanswered prayers that really protect me and nudges that remind me of my potential. Thank you for your Great Commission that reminds me with urgency why I am here. Thank you for being worth every single sacrifice and scoff when I murmur that "I am follower of Christ" and God, thank you for making me uncomfortable, so I can have the tiniest of taste of what prosecution feels like. Lord, thank you for freedom to worship you. Thank you for coffee shops where I can seat with my Bible open and fast food restaurants where I can bow my head to pray. Thank you for suffering Lord, even though it hits me deep in my stomach. Thank you for patience that reminds me my tiny, miniscule life is a flash in the scheme of eternity. Thank you for humility that screams, "You are sinful" because Lord, I forget some days when I feel like everything is going my way and the sun seems to shine only for me. Lord, thank you for my friends that have also been adopted by you. Thank you for their eternal lives. Thank you for allowing me to sprint into pools of grace and find comfort of unbeknownst magnitudes. Thank you for being good, so good.

Gratefully yours,

Your Daughter

[Print available at Lara Casey Shop]

I challenge each of you to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. Obviously, your letter does not have to look like mine, but list five things you are thankful for today. I can guarantee it will instantly change your perspective.