On Beauty…

I was browsing Facebook the other day and came across a post by Wynberg Girls High (where I went to school) about the 2013 Matric Dance; of course I had to read it – and was whisked off 10 years ago into my own dance, where I wore a cream top with matching satin gloves, and a long fish-tail satin skirt in wine red… things have certainly changed, but the concept of ‘what is beautiful’ hasn’t.

I read with admiration the speech made by this year’s head girl Lauren Gildenhuys, who hit the nail on the head when she described the difference between ‘being beautiful’ and ‘having beauty’:

I realised that the words beauty and beautiful have two very different meanings. Beauty is related to truth, goodness and grace, it dances in your souls and makes other people want to be around you for the right reasons. It is timeless, and it will not come off with make-up remover. It will touch hearts, not eyes. And so, although I want you all to know that you look beautiful tonight, what is more important is that you know that you each possess your own dazzling unique beauty, and will never lose it.

And just how beautiful is that? To know that each of us possess our own unique brand of beauty, and that beauty can be seen in moments, in a glance, in a landscape, in an action…I hope this has been inspirational, and that you know that we are all beautiful, because we have beauty.

Cute Valentine DIY Ideas | Week of Love <3

This week is one of the biggest commercial weeks worldwide, as millions of people buy flowers, cards, chocolates, cuddly toys and more for the loves in their lives. But it’s possible to get into the spirit of Valentine’s Day without overspending; instead check out these really cool DIY Valentine’s Day ideas that you can surprise your partner with on the 14th 🙂

Here’s a little bit of where Valentine’s Day began (wikipedia):

St. Valentine’s Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius.

Legend states that before his execution he wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.Today, Saint Valentine’s Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion, as well as in the Lutheran Church.

The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines”). Valentine’s Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

I love DIY & craft ideas – check out my post from 2012 for even more Valentine inspired DIY ideas…

I Love Lamp | source Camille Styles

Pretty Bluebird & Robin in Love | source Milton B Sauer

Valentine in the Sand | source Swell Designer

All You Need is Love | source Creature Comforts Blog

Valentine’s Treats | source Picklee

Cosy Up in Pink | source Setting for Four

Cute Arrow Printable | source Camille Styles

Wishing You A Merry Pretty Christmas!

Hello lovelies!

The time is almost here! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner – the year has certainly flown. I want to thank you all for your readership of The Good Girls Guide this year – some new and exciting things are planned for 2013 FOR SURE!

May you and your family have a truly blessed and magical Christmas next Tuesday – I pray God fills your day with joy and love, and Santa fills the stockings 🙂

Phillipians 2 vs 1-2: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

xxx Love Kimberley xxx

Life’s Little House Rules…

Are there rules to live by? Rules that apply to everyone in the world? Well probably not, but it might be good to start with what God has asked of, commanded of and promised us – Love God, Love Your Neighbors… I reckon those are some good words of advice that everyone in the world could and should live by.

Found this on the weekend and thought I’d share with you – some good advice on life’s little ‘house rules’, being kind to dancing crazy and being silly! Have a super Monday xxx

Life’s Little House Rules | source Alexander Creative on Etsy

Thursday Inspiration – Strength through the One who Strengthens Us

Days come when things don’t go right, stuff gets us down, people make us upset, we disappoint ourselves… and the food burns in the oven. Sometimes we have days like that, and its just means we need to draw just a little deeper within ourselves and find the strength to move forward and above.

The human spirit is really amazing, and I think we doubt or don’t expect to find the amazing strength we have within us. I read a book recently about a Jewish man who had escaped from Treblinka during World War 2. The daily atrocities he was faced with are something we cannot even comprehend – but somehow (somewhere) he took each day as something to overcome and his incredible strength and hope for a real future kept him going.

I was rather humbled when I read this account, and it made my little troubles seem so incredibly insignificant; how could I even complain about a bad day when terrible days happen every day around the world to so many people? Am I unable to gather the strength to get over a bad day when others are drawing incredible momentum to escape from atrocities?

The good thing in ALL of this, is that God is the beacon of strength and light in each one of us. I firmly believe that He is the one that gives us the strength to get us through tough times – even tiny insignificant bad days. Today’s post was drawn out of me having a ‘bad day’, but has grown into a realisation in myself that our strength is worth fighting for, and ALWAYS worth asking God for.

“For I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens Me” – Phillipians 4:13

Valentines Day – A Bit of a DIY Style Guide!

Yes I know, us girls go a little gaga for the 14th of February, even if you’re like me who really isn’t into teddy bears, silk  hearts, massive boxes of chocolates and schmaltz. I do however, like a nice card and some flowers – I mean, who doesn’t?

Anyway this is Valentine’s Month, so I thought we’d kick it off on The Good Girls Guide with a bit of a DIY style guide for any cool love-themed knick-knacks you’re keen to make. And these can be used on your husband/boyfriend/crush OR as a love-themed tea/celebration with your girlfriends…who said Valentines Day has to be just for couples?!

As for me? I’ll be doing something rather unusual on Valentines Day: a 10km trail run just above Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens with my hubby – and hopefully sharing a picnic afterwards. But first! Here comes the DIY inspiration:

Please Knock! *wink* | source here

Juice For My Love | source here.

Heart Wreath | source here.

Nom Nom Cupcakes! | source here.

Put Your Heart on a PinBoard | source here.

Cute Valentines Day Cards! | source here.

Homemade Heart Cookies | source here.

A Thought for Friday: Happy Weekend!

As this very long, tiring week winds down, I leave you with Friday’s Thought: Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Positive, uplifting and perspective-giving. May this weekend be filled with good things, great things and blessed things…

May you serve others, uplift those who are down and out, encourage a friend, give a hug, laugh out loud, smile at a stranger and love a lot! Have a happy weekend!

A Thought for Friday | source here.

Oh, to Fall in Love!

As a newlywed, I’m still so inspired by incredible wedding photography, decor, clever ideas and just general great wedding tips & tricks. But for the most part, it’s being inspired by couples in love – you can really tell when a couple loves each other, and with a good photographer who is all about capturing natural moments – you can definitely see it!

Having been to about 7 weddings since my own (which was in November), it’s just amazing to appreciate it from the other side of the table. Seeing a couple making their vows to each other in front of God, family and friends is so much more meaningful when you yourself are married. WOWNESS!

And you know what…falling in love has nothing on loving in marriage. It’s something quite amazing and very special, and has such incredible potential for growth.

Anyway, after the lovey-dovey smushy parts of this LOVE post, I thought I would share my favourite wedding photography and inspirational sites with you, courtesy of The Good Girls Guide – in case you’re planning, dreaming or wishing you could do it again…

• Love Made Visible – my amazing wedding photographers – just talented, gorgeous and natural
• Christine Meintjes Photography  – an incredible photographer with classic, beautiful style to sigh over
• Oh Darling Bride – local Cape Town based wedding blog full of great tips & ideas on decor, trends & more
• Style me Pretty – gorgous real weddings, insiration, ideas and decor trends
• The Pretty Blog – another local but internationally inspired wedding blog full of amazing DIY & ideas
• Southern Weddings Magazine – rustic, luxurious, country style weddings to oogle over…

Beautiful Vintage Wedding | source here.