Inner and Outer

Summer is flying by! Blogging for Modest Threadz has taken a back seat to playing with my four precious children. In our adventures, we have been to the local Six Flags several times. It's hot in San Antonio, especially at this time of the year. People tend to want to take off layers when it reaches 100 plus. There are many times I've had to divert my children's eyes, to prevent emotional scaring!
Last week while waiting in line for a ride, I was observing a pair of teen girls in front of us. I noticed how beautiful they were. As I watched them, trying not to be obvious, I realized why they stood out from the crowd. Their countenances reflected that they knew who they were. They didn't seem as though they were trying to draw attention to their bodies by wearing revealing, flashy clothes. Their actions, and words were not loud and boisterous, but genuinely happy. I found irony in that while almost everyone around us was reckless and rowdy and wearing clothing that seemed to scream "Look at Me!" these girls were the ones that stood out. In their modesty, they were the ones that I noticed, their true beauty out shined all around them.
It is true we all crave affection and adoration. We want people to like us and notice us, but there is something to be said about inner beauty. Inner beauty cannot be masked or faked, and when it is genuine, it shines outward, making our countenances shine!
I would love to hear stories from you. Do you have any experiences that you would like to share about inner beauty? Please share!

The Lessons of Summer

Summer has arrived. In looking forward to summer, I always envision lazy days at the pool, all-day trips to the local amusement park with the kids, sitting on the back porch swing with a popsicle or lemonade... Then reality hits.

There is still laundry, meals to be prepared, house to clean, errands to run, on top of keeping the kids from saying the dreaded words..."I'm bored".

But such is the life of a full time mother during summer break.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Being a mother is, in my opinion, the most challenging, and most rewarding job there is. The monetary pay may not be so great, but the rewards are endless. It's amazing how we are teaching our children, even when we don't realize it. Weather we are having a hard day and our voices raise a notch or two, or ten.. or if we are having a great day, enjoying the journey of life with our children. Our actions, words and behaviors are being watched by the ones who matter most, and being mirrored. Scary thought.

I learned a valuable lesson this past week. This may tell a lot about me, but I confess, I am a talk radio junkie. If there is a radio within my control, I will be listening my favorite conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck. The other day, my 5 year old said, "Mom, who was our bishop before Glenn Beck?"

In our faith, we have a Bishop that presides over our congregation, and no, it isn't Glenn Beck. But I did start to wonder, if maybe I should turn the radio down more often and listen to the wisdom of innocence. They have a lot to teach me, if I will listen. Yes, there are lots of lessons to be learned in the summer. And not all of them are lessons for the children.

New Arrivals and New Markdowns

Congratulations to Nanette Deal, the winner of $29.99 credit in the store. She suggested the "Texas Bluebonnet" as the name for our new dress in the Junior's department. The Texas girl in me loves the name as much as the dress!

The Texas Bluebonnet is a flirty, lightweight dress, easy to wear and care for. And this patriot is proud to say "Made in America".

In this picture, the Texas Bluebonnet is shown with the "Have a Ball" underslip. Adding a soft, dainty hemline and even more personality!

I have been working hard on our Plus Size department. Searching diligintly for modest, tasteful fashions to bring to our customers. I am so happy to have found the "Pink Pleasures" blouse.

I like the hint of shimmer sewn into the fabric, coupled with the tailored cut of the blouse.

To make sizing easier, I have added detailed measurements.

We need to make some space for the newbies! We have some great deals on some classics. Check out the clearance department to see if there is anything that appeals to you.

One of my favorite responsiblities in my job is naming our products. The problem is, I wouldn't count creativity as one of my greatest gifts. I am always asking friends, family, whomever will listen to me for advice on what I should name a particular item.

We just received a beautiful summer dress, that I will call Blue Summer Dress for now. I am asking for advice from my customers, browsers, readers, or whomever will listen to me; What should we name this beautiful blue summer dress? Leave a comment as to what you think it should be. If I choose your name, you will win a gift voucher to use in the store worth $29.99. You must have an account created so that I will know how to reach you.

I had the opportunity to visit my Mother in Utah over Mother's Day weekend. Visiting with my Mother, brother, sisters and brothers-in-law was such a treat. Family truly is a treasured gift from our Father in Heaven. I hope that we all appreciate our families, particularly our Mothers, as dis functional as we may think they are at times.

Utah is beautiful, especially at this time of year. But I must admit, I froze the whole time. I kept hearing how warm and beautiful it was from the locals, I agree with the beauty, but this Texas girl loves the HOT temperatures.

I grew up in Utah, never appreciated it's beauty until I left. But one thing that I miss the most is the smell of Lilacs. I was fortunate enough to get reacquainted with them this last weekend. Lilacs will always hold a special place in my heart. Have you ever had a smell that whisks you away to a distant childhood memory? Lilacs bring back memories of childhood friends (Heather), sleeping outside in the yard, endless bike riding without a worry, and excitement for the arrival of Summer and Summer vacation.

In honor of the Lilac, we are offering the First Crush this week as our special. Available in Lilac or Lime. (Another summer fragrance) This week the First Crush is $17.99. Next week it will go back to $23.99.

What is Modesty?
Modesty is an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. Instead, we seek to "glorify God in our body and in our spirit"
Someone that I deeply respect, named Robert Hales stated very nicely,
“Modesty is at the center of being pure and chaste, both in thought and deed… Our clothing is more than just covering for our bodies; it reflects who we are and what we want to be.”
How we feel on the inside shows on the outside. We show love and respect for ourselves and others by our attitude, speech, and dress. We show love and respect for friends and associates when our language, dress, and behavior are not provocative or unduly casual. And we show love and respect to the Lord through humble dress and behavior.

The Buttercup

This week we are offering the Buttercup dress for $19.99. I like this dress because of it's versatility. Dress it up for church or wear casually when you have no where to go. Angela looks especially good in the Buttercup because of her dark hair and olive complexion.

As a child, my mother often told me that her favorite flower was the buttercup. She would retell stories of her childhood picking buttercups from her Grandmother's garden. Every time I hear the word "Buttercup" I imagine my mother as a child picking flowers, a favorite pastime that she never outgrew.

OK, I admit, "Buttercup" also brings to mind The Princess Bride. A movie that never gets old.

My husband often wisely says to me "As you wish, my queen" If you haven't seen this movie..I recommend it for a good laugh.

If you are looking for something different from jeans and a tee shirt, the Buttercup will brighten up your day, even if you have nowhere special to go.