Favorite Music of 2013

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been compiling a playlist of some of my favorite songs that were released in 2013. And now I'd like to share it with all of you.
This year I spent A LOT of time listening to music and discovering new music, thanks to discovering Rdio this summer. During the busy wedding editing season, I'd have it streaming music all day, so most days I listened to at least 4 to 5 albums every day (sometimes the same album on repeat a couple of times). This playlist proves that I really did listen to that much music since I had a hard time narrowing down my favorites, resulting in a 6 hour playlist. You're welcome. This year, I spent a lot more time listening to pop music with dancey beats. I found those beats greatly helped me get my editing done.  

* Favorite Albums of 2013 *

- Bad Blood : Bastille
- True : Avicii
- Where Eyes Don't Go : The Gray Havens
- PRISM : Katy Perry
- Native : OneRepublic (also my favorite concert of the year)
- PTX, Vol. 2 : Penatonix

Below you can listen to the whole playlist. You'll have to create an account to listen to the whole playlist, but don't worry, it's free (or you can choose from 3 different paid options). Just click on the playlist title to listen in your web browser.

What were some of your favorite albums and songs from 2013? Does my list contain some of your favorites?

Dressember

So, I'm a bad blogger, but that's not much of a surprise, now is it. For the entire month of December, I have been taking part in a challenge called Dressember (and I'm just now getting around to blogging about it) in order to raise awareness and funds for International Justice Mission.

"International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression."

To raise funds, I have a campaign page, which has already exceeded my goal by $200! One day I checked in the morning and had not had any donations yet, and by the next day, I had $440 that was raised to go directly to IJM! Collectively, amongst all of the other participants, we've raised over $115,000! I can't wait to see what a difference these funds make in the projects that IJM is able to complete. It's been a month of testing creativity, and fighting urges to cheat and wear pants (I only gave in one day. I'd say that's a success). It's also been really cold, so thank you to whoever invented fleece lined leggings. 

There are only 3 more days left in December, but the campaign pages will stay live until January 3rd, so you'll have till then to donate. I would LOVE to be back to be able to have raised $600 by the end of campaign in just 6 days. So if you feel led to give, just click on this link (all donations are tax deductible). 

Below are just a few of my outfits from this month and a video describing how Dressember cam to be. If you want to see more of my outfit photos, just follow along on my Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurajanetakesphotos and you can see the other participants by searching the hashtag #dressember on Instagram. 

"Dressember is a month of dresses! Thousands of dresses are adorned around the globe during the month of December each year. Through Dressember, vital funds are raised for International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that works to combat human trafficking and end sexual slavery."
 
DRESSEMBER from Two Spoons Productions on Vimeo.

Fall Colors

By now, the fall leaves are long gone off the trees and everything's looking kinda sad outside now. On a couple of really nice days last month, I went outside to photograph a few outfits (and the fall leaves). The colors were just so vibrant, as you'll soon see. And I even found a PILE of trees who's leaves had turned PINK, yes pink leaves in the fall. I was obsessed. This fall, I feel like a majority of my outfits were black and white patterns or fairly neutral colors. Maybe I was subconsciously trying to not compete with the beautiful colors of all the trees. But now that all of the leaves are gone and it's getting dark stupidly early, I'm all into wearing bright colors again. Do you ever find yourself choosing your outfit colors based on the season?

Necklace: made by me out of vintage brooches, earrings, and buttons (i'm in the process of making some to sell)

Scarf: Blano y Negro by Noonday Collection // Bracelet: Metallic Pearls bracelet by Noonday Collection // Earrings: Blossomed Earrings by Noonday Collection

What I've Been Wearing

It's been awhile since I've posted an outfit post, and I have tons of images from past months that haven't made their way to anywhere other than instagram. So I thought that I'd share a few of my favorite outfits from October (seriously it's November already, how did that happen?!). And later in the next week or so, I'll share some outfits next to the lovely fall colors (I found trees who's leaves turned pink!).

I got this gorgeous raw silk scarf in my Noonday Collection bundle, and I'm sooo glad that I did. It's large and warm, and many days I have it on my lap as a blanket while I edit photos. It looks nice wrapped like a regular scarf, but it looks so gorgeous and "fancy" worn like a shawl and belted. And shhh I'm wearing leggings as pants. *gasp*

Scarf: Bombay Raw Silk scarf // Bracelet: La Noche bracelet // Earrings: Metallic Pearls earrings

Have I mentioned before that pattern mixing is one of my favorite things to do? For those of you who are a little unsure about pattern mixing, the best way to start is with shoes. The two patterns aren't touching, but wearing two patterns like this, automatically makes a outfit look more pulled together. And these shoes are super awesome, and I can't wait to fully introduce you to the amazingness that is The Root Collective. All of their shoes are fair-trade and handmade by an incredible man in Guatemala. I got a special pre-release pair, but you get to purchase your own pair in just a few days when The Root Collective launches on November 9th.

Earrings: Annie's Feathered earrings // Bracelet: Metallic Pearls bracelet

Now allow me to reintroduce you to another wonderful company called Sevenly. I've mentioned them before, so if you've been following the blog for any time you've probably seen me wear one of their shirts. Every week, new limited edition designs are introduced and $7 from every purchase goes towards a new cause every week (anything from clean water projects, homeless care, life saving medicine, to autism). I've been following them for the past 2ish years, and I've loved seeing how they've grown and changed and how many people they're reaching with their awareness and funds.

Shirt: Be The Change // Earrings: Annie's Feathered earrings // Necklace: Metallic Pearls necklace // Bracelet: Very Versatile bracelet

Happy Noondayversary!

Today is the date that I officially joined Noonday Collection last year. I can't believe it's been a year already. I am more in love with this job and company than I was when I started (and I didn't think that was possible). It's been a year full of things that I never would have expected when I joined. I remember being so nervous on my group interview call with Jessica. I was shaking and could barely speak and I was pretty sure she was going to email me and tell me that I wasn't a good fit for the company. But then shortly after our call I get this email from Jessica,  

"I loved hearing what God has done with your heart through "7". And I LOVE how you are stepping out in risk even with your "shyness". You are an obvious woman of influence and I would love to have you join our team! Your world will be rocked- and you are going to rock so many worlds by creating pathways out of poverty for the vulnerable AND opening eyes in your own community."

And she's right, my world has been rocked. And that shyness, it's not so present anymore. I suppose that's how life goes when you decide to jump on board with what God is doing. He starts to mold you into the person He's made you to be, and it's not quite at painful as you once thought it would be. In fact, it's actually fun.

Honestly, I started with Noonday because I love fashion and jewelry (oh my goodness do I love jewelry. I have way too much), and I really needed to make some money. My photography business was bringing in next to nothing. If I'm being brutally honest, the artisans lives were secondary. And I was selfish. I didn't think I had the capacity to love people halfway around the world that I seemingly had nothing in common with. But since spending so much time immersing myself in their stories and the stories of the other ambassadors, I've begun to see the common human thread between all of us. We all have stories that are worth fighting for. We all have a Creator who loves us immensely, and no less than He loves anyone else just because of where and how you live your life.

When I joined Noonday, I didn't really expect all of the growing and learning and friendship. I just expected to sell jewelry. The group of ambassadors has definitely been an added bonus and huge blessing. For the most part, a lot of the women are in completely different life stages than me (married, kids), and I think that every young woman in her early 20s needs a group of women who are older than them, encouraging them through life. Because of them I feel more confident, educated, and just really more myself. So thanks ladies for all that you do! I can't wait to hopefully meet you at the conference in January.

Noonday Collection is still extremely new in the Lehigh Valley (and actually PA). For those of you that don't know, I was the first ambassador in PA. That means that there are sooooo many people out there who have yet to know about Noonday. And I want to change that this year. Which means that I'd love to partner with you (whoever you are), to bring Noonday and it's stories into your homes and churches and coffee shops and share it with your friends. If you've been hearing me talk about Noonday for a year now and you've always thought you'd like to do a show, now's your time. If you just heard about Noonday today, now's your time to host a show too. (did you know that when you host a show you get free jewelry?)

If you want more info about hosting show, send an email to: laurapensack@gmail.com

And the winner is......

LAURI TRIPALDI!!!!!!!!!!!


Congrats Lauri! After I pick out your item from Harvest Star, I'll deliver all of your lovely prizes to you.

It's my birthday and I'll give gifts if I want to.

So today is my 24th birthday. Yea I don't really know how I feel about that. I'm like a real adult and stuff now. This pretty much sums up how I'm feeling.

 

 So to make my birthday more fun and enjoyable, I'm going to give away gifts. Because giving gifts makes me happy. Gifts may just be my love language. I'm giving away 4 of my favorite things to one lucky person that will be chosen at random.

1. A $25 Noonday Collection gift voucher, because you all know by now how much I love Noonday Collection. It's the perfect combination of fashion and helping people. I love that purchasing jewelry can literally mean redemption and dignity for others.

 2. The Unmarried Couple by Maysie Greig. This has been by far one of my favorite books I've ever read. It was written in the 1940s and it takes place in England. The main character, Kathleen, decides that she doesn't want to continue along with her mother's wishes of climbing up the social ladder, so she runs away from her wedding to a Count and stows away on an old Dutch barge that's right outside her hotel. On the barge she meets a handsome Australian man who is an heir to an ancestral home in England, but when he finds her on his boat he thinks that she's a jewel thief. She doesn't want to return to her old life so she plays along. The end up pretending to be a married couple to spy on his cousin who's trying to steal the inheritance. The characters are hilarious and all of their lives seem to cross in some crazy way. I found myself laughing out loud so many times during this book. I don't know if it was supposed to be such a funny book when it was written, but when it's read today it's quite humorous. I wish someone would turn this book into a movie. The main character Kathleen would definitely be played by Anne Hathaway.

 3. Two Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa bars. Oh my goodness, this chocolate is the best I've ever eaten. And it's fair trade so I'm pretty sure that makes it even better.

 4. A random item from my favorite antique store, Harvest Star. My aunt has been working at this store for quite some years now and I love getting to spend time there browsing through all of the booths full of vintage and antique items (that's actually where I first discovered the fantastic book above). So once a winner is chosen, I'll head over to the store and pick out an item just for you.

 To enter the giveway just do whatever options you'd like in the Rafflecopter widget below. a Rafflecopter giveaway

And thanks for making my birthday go from the above gif to this one: