January Newsletter

FEATURED ITEMS:

Black Vintage Skirt

A Victorian beauty, this tiered lace and ribbon accented skirt
will carry you through the cold winter months when paired with
black tights, all the way through the warm sandal wearing months
of summer.   You’ll feel lovely and feminine in this
skirt that is as versatile as it is beautiful.

Girls Plaid Skirts

Hard to find classic plaid skirts for girls! Long length,
graceful styling, and comfortable fit.  Available in both
black/red plaid, and brown/red plaid.  A “Girls size Large”
will fit as a small ladies.

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WORTH REPEATING:

“You can only perceive real
beauty in a person as they get older. ” ~Anouk Aimee

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FROM MY DESK:

It’s a new year!  2010!  We are rejoicing in what God has done in the past, we rejoice in the knowledge of what He will do in this new year!

We’re all a year older… and hopefully a year wiser.  However, regardless of our possession, or lack thereof, of wisdom, we’re all aging.  I see new gray strands in my hair from time to time.  I caught a glimpse of myself in a store mirror recently, and was somewhat surprised to see that the tired looking person in business attire looking at me, was me.  She looked like a young woman who had left her teen years behind her for good.  I mentally made a note to myself that I probably should start using my moisturizing cream a bit more liberally…  Later, I turned to my mom and said, “Mom, I think I’m ageing.“  “Uuuh, yeah… well…” my mom politely tried to respond.   Apparently, however, I haven’t outgrown my knack for genuinely being surprised when freshly discovering the conspicuous.

Our American culture rebels against the thought of aging.  It tells us that wrinkles are unsightly, so we need to buy this magic cream.  Plastic surgeons will be more than happy to give us a tuck here, a lift there, some silicone in all the “right” places.  It tells us that looking like our age is something to be avoided at all costs.  I’ve heard the names of celebrities that of have been around for many years, only to see them on television, their youthful appearance making me want to say, “are you for real? like, you’re in you 60’s and you look awkwardly like you’re in your 20’s!  and I’d be quite surprised if you can  even lift your eyebrows…”‘  (I told you, I’ve yet to stop being shocked at the obvious.)

Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “George Macdonald said, ‘If you knew what God knows about death you would clap your listless hands’, but instead I find old people in North America just buying this whole youth obsession. I think growing older is a wonderful privilege. I want to learn to glorify God in every stage of my life.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t see anything wrong with hair dye, moisturizing cream, etc.  It’s the motive behind our society’s “whole youth obsession”  that I question.  The motive is to hang on to outward beauty with everything they’ve got, because it is all they’ve got.

But, it is not so, for daughters of the King!  Aging doesn’t scare us.  Aging brings us one day closer to being with our Heavenly Bridegroom. While we should strive to be gracious, lovely, and feminine in our outward appearance, all our lives, we know that our outward appearance ultimately does not define who we are.

We have a love for Jesus that burns brightly in our hearts, we have a Father who loves us dearly, we have that love to offer to those around us and the world.  We have power from the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.  We are earthen vessels, it’s true, but we hold a heavenly Treasure.  It is the Treasure within that makes us beautiful.  Not a youthful complexion or a perfect figure.   And as we age and mature, and let Christ have more full reign in our life and hearts, our inward beauty grows.  We have the kind of beauty that actually grows lovelier as we get older.  (What an amazing anomaly to a watching world!)

This year I put on my list of new year resolutions that I want to continue to strive to become a beautiful Godly older lady.  As Nancy Leigh DeMoss has often said, “since I was a little girl, my goal in life has always been to be a godly old lady. I have found that the old part comes easier than the godly part.” You don’t just wake up one day as a Godly older lady, one must be intentional in the nurturing of our relationship with Him and of the building of our character.

I don’t want to be distracted or overly occupied by the outward form that fades.  I want the real stuff.  The beauty of His holiness is what I want to mark my life.  If that can be said of me when I am old, I will consider my life well spent.

The Kings daughter is all glorious within.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
(Ps. 45:13a, 1 Chron. 16:29b)

Wishing you a happy and beautiful new year,

~Marianna
Bellissima! Modesty Boutique

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TIP OF THE MONTH:

Scarves

During these cold winter months, a

colorful
scarf is a great way to add not only warmth, but color and
character to an outfit.  While printed scarves
can really add personality to an otherwise solid outfit, it’s
best to use solid colors when you’re wearing  printed or
striped top or bottom.   There’s lot of variations in
the way you can tie wear them, either tying them, wrapping,
draping, etc.  You can also use skinny scarves as headbands
or to tie on a handbag for pop and color.

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH:

Fudge Pie

2 squares of unsweetened chocolate
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1 prepared 8-9″ pie crust

Melt butter and chocolate together in a medium sized sauce pan.   Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients: sugar, eggs, vanilla, and nuts and mix well.

Pour chocolate mixture into unbaked pie crust.

Place in un-preheated oven, and then turn oven to 350 degrees.  Cook for 30 minutes.

Pie will be gooey, and it is excellent served with vanilla ice cream.

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