Vintage Style + eShakti - A Review

I recently was contacted by a representative from eShakti to select and review an article of clothing from their amazing fashion line!

In case you haven't heard, eShakti is an online shopping experience where you as the shopper get to customize the fit, cut, and style options.  eShakti offers many different styles in blouses, skirts, and dresses from mod to vintage, which made it all the more difficult for me to choose!  There were just too many awesome choices!

After browsing around for a bit, I finally decided on a blue dress with white piping, buttons, and a front tie.  I instantly knew it would pair beautifully with my mustard yellow chevron scarf.  Before ordering, I was presented with the option to customize the fit - and I'm not just talking about a few alterations here and there.  I was actually able to input everything from shoulder width to hip size, and sleeve length to dress length!  As you can see in the photos above, I went for a modest length that hits just above the knee, as I feel it completes that vintage look I wanted.  I also opted to nix the sleeves since spring was just around the corner.

Once I submitted my order, I was contacted with the estimated delivery date which included the time projected for the customizations.  Even still, my shipment came much faster than expected - all in all, it took about ten days to ship!

Of course, I was super excited to open the package and wear my dress for the first time!  I noticed that it was of decent construction and quality.  I am not a seamstress so I can't comment much, but I also felt that the customizations were completed in a professional manner.

I loved the comfortable fit and how easy it was to zip up!  The only thing I would have changed would be the measurements that go over the shoulder and to the waist.  I think I may have measured this incorrectly because there is extra material that can be taken up at the shoulder.  You can kind of see what I mean in the top right photo where the material bunches up at my chest.

All in all, I loved the customizable experience eShakti offers and look forward to ordering again.  It's really hard to find this style dress including custom tailored alterations at the prices eShakti offers.  I have also noticed that they run specials fairly often.  For example, right now they are offering a "buy one, get one 40% sale" - definitely worth checking into!  I highly recommend them for the look, price, and quality!

Check out eShakti online
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I was given a product free of charge from eShakti in exchange for a blog post.  The above is 100% my own opinion.

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The joy of the Lord is my strength.

JOY...

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Let's get real for a moment here. 

How many of you are completely stressed, overwhelmed, and just beaten down about life?  Dude...I know I am. 

I feel like each day I'm waking up more and more tired and concerned about what the next twelve hours will hold, let alone what the following month or so will bring.

I've already shared with you guys about our upcoming move which, as exciting as it is, also comes with its fair share of anxiety.

Bills? Finances? Yeah... let's not go there.

Times like these make me acutely aware of how joy is a choice. And I'm not referring to a fleeting type of superficial joy. I'm talking about the type that delights in the Lord and His plans. A type of joy that trusts and puts absolute faith in His workings. A type that each day, despite what storms may ensue, breathes.  Just breathes and believes.

I miss being around here as often as I used to, but I sure hope you will excuse me as I pursue the joy of the Lord at every opportunity possible.

This will take much more breathing.

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You're seven months old...

2013, Emily Chappell Photography

 

Austyn Blakeley Chappell... you're seven months old - 32 weeks, 4 days to be exact - and your spirit is unmistakeable.

 

Already, you have an unsatiable thirst for life that radiates through every expression. 

 

Daddy and I are amazed at how loud and vocal you are, screaming happily in your high chair for another bite of food.  We are stunned at how fast you are able to move across the room by simply rolling.  Your determination to reach an object placed just out of your reach often leads you to "face plant" on the floor... but you get right back up, completely unphased!  I could stand to learn a lot from that.

 

You love the simplest of foods... sweet potato, bananas, berries, and apples.  It makes my heart happy to be able to share from my plate, which honestly forces me to be more conscious about my own dietary choices.

 

Despite your newfound love for "big girl food," you still love to nurse at least five times a day!  And my, how cranky you get it someone or something tries to keep you away!

 

Bathtime is one of your favorites, and just recently you've started enjoying shower time with Mommy.  You don't even mind the water streaming down your face as you sit in your whale tub while I shower off by you - your toys keep you totally engrossed!

 

I am overcome with delight when I see and hear you laugh.  We crack up together at the silliest things, and I don't even care who sees me acting like an absolute fool!  What greater joy could there possibly be?

 

Since you're a little bigger now, Mommy and Daddy have become more comfortable bringing you in the bed with us every great once in awhile.  Those mornings are my absolute favorite... waking up with you still snoozing next to me, watching you enjoy every last minute of your sweet slumber. 

 

You bring so much happiness to my life.  I cannot imagine a day without you, my beautiful, silly girl.   

 

Love,

 

Mommy

Linking up with the lovely Molly and Carly at #YOLO Mondays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"I Love My Post" Blog Hop - Co-hosting!

Co-Host spaces available please get in contact with Sarah if you fancy co-hosting with us!

Welcome to the I Love My Post blog hop where we invite you to link up your favourite post of the week, to show it off and hopefully receive some love from the others partaking in the hop!

If you are yet to participate in a hop they are really simple to get the hang of all you need to do is 'hop' around, hopefully finding some new great reads!

The Rules are simple.
1. Check out and follow the hosts and co-hosts. Leave them a comment if you would like them to follow back.
2. Choose at least 3 other blogs and hop on over and leave them some love, plus let them know how you found them - I'm sure they would love it if you followed as well!
3. Have Fun and come back next Saturday.

Please just don't link up and click off to make this successful everyone needs to hop around!

Your Host’s this week are:
Sarah from Life in a Break Down
Bex from Futures
and our lovely co-host’s are:
Emily from Oh the Emily
Rachel from With Love, Rachel
Heather from Craft Cravings
Donah from Sweet Jelly Bean
Julie from Mummy's Random Blog

I would love it if you would tweet, share on facebook or place our button on your blog, the more sharing we can get happening the bigger this hop can become!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.lifeinabreakdown.com/" title="Life in a Break Down"><img src="http://imageshack.us/a/img268/1971/ilovemypostnew.jpg" alt="Life in a Break Down" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This week's Featured Blogger is: Heather from Craft Cravings
Love crafts? Then you will LOVE this blog full to the brim with great crafting ideas, reviews and how to's. I know I will be learning a lot from this lovely ladies blog!
~ Sarah

If you fancy being next week’s featured blogger make sure you follow all the rules give you hosts and co-hosts a follow and Sarah could be calling on you next week to come and feature with us.

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Our BIG Announcement!

Oh my gosh, I've been waiting to make this announcement for quite some time.  

Honestly, it's something that we've had to pray about lots as a family, hence my recent absence from the "bloggersphere."  

Even now, it hasn't completely sunk in, but...

The Chappells are moving to Columbia, South Carolina!  

Sometime in July, we will be relocating our family and household to what the locals call "Cola" to lead one of newhope's newest satellite locations as worship pastor and leader.  Due to the part-time nature of my position as a worship leader with newhope, I will be able to stay home with Austyn while simultaneously launching a photography business.

We're scared, nervous, and excited all at once, but looking back at the steps that have been intricately designed...the opportunity honestly couldn't be any more clearly God-ordained.  

Dustin's heart in ministry as a worship pastor has been to lead people on a larger scale and to have a more direct impact on volunteers and a congregation.  Having followed God's guidance from a pursuant of academia to the role of a pastor, Dustin carefully listened to and heeded God's call.  

And my spirit simply knew that on my part, there was something greater planned for me in ministry, the creative realm, and my home life.  For so long I'd felt boxed in, day in and day out doing the whole 9-5 thing to make ends meet.  I begged God to show me when I was going to be granted the chance to go after my dreams.

We both spent quite a bit of time waiting - sometimes patiently, most of time not so patiently.  And you know, this really shouldn't be so shocking, because it's just how God rolls... but He has answered our prayers.

I keep telling people that this simple praise has been echoing in my heart for weeks now...

God, you hear me.  Someone as lowly, sinful, and unworthy as me... God, you hear me.

This blog will probably only see a couple of posts a week as I focus on starting up my photography business, but I will continue documenting the more important moments in our life as a family.

Please keep us in your prayers as we go after God's calling...and by all means, if you're in the Cola area, let me know!

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