pul.chri.tu.di.nous: [puhl-kri-tood-n-uhs, -tyood-] –adjective physically beautiful; comely.

Making your Valentine’s Day fashion a sweet success!

- Pair a chic off white or black bolero jacket with a red or pink tank.

– or, pair a classic and simple white top with a brightly colored scarf.

- Brooches are the old new thing: wear one on your lapel for a feminine retro look.

- Ballerina flats come in all colors and sizes, they’re classy, and very comfortable.  Go with a fun or bold color, like red or pink to add character and pizazz.

– A brightly colored purse will add pop to your outfit!

- How can you not feel happy when you’re styling a pair of red sunglasses?

- Add a vintage inspired Valentine themed necklace for a finishing touch.  However, if you’re wearing a scarf, be sure to keep the necklace simple.

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In this December issue: Featured Items Worth Repeating From My Desk Tip of the Month Recipe of the Month Forward this email Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter? Unsubscribe You’re receiving this newsletter because you signed up for the BELLISSMA! NEWSLETTER Looking for the perfect gift? We offer GIFT CERTIFICATES!! CONTACT US! Contact Us Contact us for more info! (info@bellissimamodestyboutique.com) WE HAVE A NEW LOOK! Visit our newly redesigned site at: www.ModestyBoutiqueOnline.com FEATURED ITEMS: Velvet Bolero This is an amazingly useful black velvet bolero! Very beautiful and flattering for any figure. Can be worn to any event from church to a formal event. Perfectly pairs with either a skirt or a strapless formal to provide modesty. Soft velvet, lined with lace. Slightly puffed sleeves add an even more feminine dimension along with covered buttons. Corduroy Skirts Available in brown & burgundy. Long demure skirt. Tiers trimmed with lace add a Victorian touch. Small corduroy material, this lovely skirt that will take you stylishly all the way through winter. Back to top^ WORTH REPEATING: “When a girl ceases to blush, she has lost the most powerful charm of her beauty.” -Pope Gregory I Back to top^ FROM MY DESK: As I sit here and think about the journey of why we began this store, I search my own heart to ask why? Why is modesty so important? Why does the world come against it so much? Why is it so rare? Why is it so little spoken about in churches? How do we find the balance between modesty and legalism? How can we help girls and women understand what a joy it is to embrace the command of modesty? How can we help them to understand it’s a way to honor this body, this Temple of the Holy Spirit that we inhabit, and to honor those around us? Of course I know the whys, whats and hows of these questions… I know that modesty is important because it protects us as women and honors those around us. I know that the world comes against us, because the prince of this world is against the Worthy One we seek to honor through our dress. I know it’s spoken about little in churches because pastors are afraid of being called legalistic if they mention it (even though obedience to God’s Word never brings bondage, but freedom). I know that we can help others to understand the blessing of being blamelessly beautiful (or bellissima, if you will) by first of all being blamelessly bellissima ourselves… then by sharing at the leading of the Holy Spirit with those with open hearts about God’s good path for us. Such things are true, but such things are easy to forget in the every day hum drum of life… easy to get caught up in the how rather than the why. How can we keep all these truths from growing listless and dry in our own hearts? How can we make sure that we are doing it out of a heart of worship and love rather than duty? I believe the answer to this, as well as to so many other questions, is found in 1 Corinthian 13:1-3: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to fee the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. To do any of these things, to be blamelessly bellissima ourselves, to point the way to others through word and deed, to help further the Kingdom of Light and bring glory to the Prince of Peace, we must have love. Love for Christ. Love for others. Love for His holy commands. Perhaps if these verses were adapted to this area of our lives, and were written in the book of 1 Marianna 13:1-3, it might read something like this (in the original old English version, of course. , Though we dress modesty, but have not love, we have nothing. Yay, though we dress fashionably yet modestly so we be not seen as a frump, and though never a mini skirt or too-low plunging neckline in public we wear, but have not love, we have nothing. Though we help shed the light of truth on the erring way of those who shouldst know better or know nothing at all, but do not love them, we are nothing. Though we say we love God and though we say we love others, if our fruit doth not meet the plumb line of 1 Cor. 13 or Gal. 5, we have nothing. Though we do everything in this are of modesty “right”, but love for Jesus Christ is not the motive, we have nothing. If thou makest an idol out of thine obedience to the command of outward modesty and forget about thine inward state and the beauty of His love and holiness that saved us from a wretched state, we have nothing and we are in error. Without love, as our motivation, love for Christ, love for others, we have nothing. “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” (1 Cor. 8:1) True modesty, true beauty, true balance is obedience born out of a pure and loving heart rather than a prideful one. So, as we seek to honor Christ in this area of our lives, whether it’s by offering a place for women and girls to easily purchase feminine clothes (like it is for me), or whether it’s just being that lone light in your church or workplace or at the mall (like it may be for you), let’s make sure our heart’s motivation is love. “Whatever you do, do heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men.” (Col. 3:23) Whatever we do, even in the way we dress, let it be on in loving worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you a joyful and peaceful Christmas season! Let’s celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. ~Marianna Bellissima! Modesty Boutique Back to top^ TIP OF THE MONTH: Layering is a great and easy way to make a top modest! Does the neckline plunge too low?  Add a Bellissima under tank, a lightweight long sleeve shirt, blouse, turtleneck underneath. Does an otherwise modest shirt pass the “praise the Lord test” (aka: raising your arms above your head), or can you see skin when you lift your arms? What about the “the touch your toes test” (can you bend over without showing skin or undergarments in the back), does it pass? If not, add a longer tank or camisole in a complimentary or neutral color to make sure that you can move free and easy and that those around you aren’t being exposed to more than you intended.  Back to top^ RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Candy Cane Cookies 1 cup butter 1 cup powdered sugar 1 egg1/2 t.vanilla 1 t. peppermint extract Dash of salt 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 t. red food coloring Peppermint Glaze (optional) In a large bowl beat butter till softened. Add powdered sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, peppermint extract, and salt. Beat well. Add flour and beat till well mixed. Divide dough in half. Stir food coloring into one half. Cover each half and chill about 30 minutes or till easy to handle. For each cookie, on a lightly floured surface shape a teaspoon full of plain dough into a 4-5 in. rope. Repeat with a teaspoonful of red dough. Place ropes side by side and twist together. Pinch end to seal. Form twisted ropes into a cane. Place canes 2 in. apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 mins. or till done. Remove and cool. If desired, brush with Peppermint Glaze. Peppermint Glaze: Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 t. peppermint extract, and enough water (4-5 t.) to make of brushing consistency. Back to top^ All material copyrighted by Bellissima Modesty Boutique. Forward this email to a friend. Do you wish to unsubscribe? Reply with unsubscribe in the subject line to be removed from this list.

“Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not
lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord,
she shall be praised!”
~Prov. 31:30 (Amplified)

Hello Everyone!  This is Michelle here.   Marianna asked me to do a blog post on different hair styles that are not only quick and easy, but will also look like you spent an ample amount of time on your hair.  There are several do’s I’ve learned that can easily take under 10 minutes.

I have always loved experimenting with peoples hair, including my own, so I hope today you will be able to learn a few new idea’s and tips you will be able to use as well.

So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite ways to style my hair!

*Remember, what may work on one person’s face shape, hair cut, or volume of ones hair my not work for you. As always, experiment first, and see what best suits your needs.

I will show you a few of the styles below:

1. Hair down w/ clips (This style is great all the way from every day to church, or an evening out, etc.)

2. The Audrey Inspired Up-Do (Very elegant for formal events.)

3. The Low Pony Tail (Wonderful for when you’re on the go and need something quick and easy!)

4. The “Claw Clip Do”  (Another quick on the go hair do that gives the affect that you spent a while on your hair, when really you threw it up in under 30 seconds!)

Now for all of these do’s I’ll be showing you today, is with already curled hair. However, depending on the thickness of your hair, you should be able to do most with straight hair as well.

My hair is naturally more straight. However, I hot roll it almost every morning. I’ve found it’s easier in the long run, because it lasts longer without it getting messy so quickly.  Now before you gasp and say it would take up way too much time…..just hold your horses! Hot rolling is very easy and super quick once you get the hang of it.  I can get all my hair up in rollers in under 5 minutes. But I do leave the rollers in my hair for at least 30 minutes. But don’t sit around and wait!!  Use that time for getting the rest of yourself ready, or leave it in during your devotion time in the morning. (Which is what I normally do, and you wouldn’t be wasting any time at all!)

After your hair is rolled, this is what it will look like plain down with nothing done to it……

*Before……

In just a couple of minutes, you can add some volume to the top with these easy steps and using my favorite bendy clips. (Which can easily be purchased at Wal Mart or any store that sells hair supplies.)

First section off a small amount of hair from the front and pull it towards the back…..

Take your bendy clip and snap it closed….

Repeat on other side.

If you still need some volume on top, hair spray and/or tease where needed.

*After….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~The Pony Tails~

I know you all know how to do a simple pony tail, but I like to add a little volume on top for my face shape.  And again, I use my handy dandy little bendy clips!

Start out with the “do” pictured above…..(with the clips in.)

All you have to do after that is pull back into a pony tail. (I usually use a large clip instead of a rubber band so my hair won’t be as frizzy by the time you pull through the rubber band several times.)  I then sometimes have to loosen up the sides a little with my fingers so it won’t be so slicked back.

The Low Ponytail……

And the high pony tail…..
which is the same concept as the one above, except you will pull your hair up higher before placing clip in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~The Audrey Up-Do~

1. Start with teasing your hair from the top crown of your head and spray with hair spray.

2. Tease again….

3. Pull back some up and some down making sure you have a nice puff on top of your head and use a clip to secure in place.

(Should look something like this:)

Pull back like putting in low pony tail……then twist around, tuck under and pin with bobby pins.

And Ta-da!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And lastly, we have the easy throw your hair back in a claw clip way!

Again, start with your hair down in clips, twist up, put your claw clip in, let the hair on top fall where is wishes, (although sometimes mine will go a little too crazy so I have to tuck some pieces back into the clip.)

Next, give it a quick spray…..

And it’s done!

It gives the same affect as the up-do, however this way is much more casual with the clip and doesn’t take as long. I often will throw it up like this or in a pony tail if I’m working around the house or cooking and want to get my hair out of the way.

Some fun ways to accessorize your hair, is with scarves, headbands, ribbons, etc…….

These are just a couple of idea’s you could do…….

Now again, these are just some idea’s you could try with your hair–each person’s hair is different and what may work for me may not work for you.  I encourage you to play around with it one day and see if you can find a fun, quick and easy way that looks both stylish and flattering to your face shape.

The Right Haircut for Your Face

Diamond Face: Narrow forehead, small pointy chin, and wide cheeks.
Haircut & Style: To create a balance shape look for styles that are narrow at the cheekbones and wider at the forehead. Add a little more fullness at the crown if required.

Heart face: Wide, short forehead, and small pointy chin.

Haircut & Style: Suited styles are like layered bob with extra volume and outward flicks at chin level. Asymmetric cuts are also flattering heart-shaped faces.

Oval face: High forehead and narrow, slightly rounded chin.
Haircut & Style: This is the most balanced face shape and almost perfect for any type of hair style.

Rectangle face: Long face with high forehead and long jaw and chin. Also known as long face shape.
Haircut & Style: Suited styles are like chin or shoulder-length cuts with a fringe that can disguises the long forehead.

Round face: Wide, short forehead, full jaw and chin.
Haircut & Style: The round shape normally makes the cheeks appear wider. Most short hair cuts works well for round face as long as there is some height at the crown area and little fullness above the ears to slim down the round face. Soft cuts with sophisticated layers coming forward onto the face look stylish and is an ideal hair style for round face shape. Soft curls will also flatter the frame of a round face. For straight hair asymmetric cuts can also be an option.

Square face: A wide, short forehead and square jaw.
Haircut & Style: Square edges should be soften by breaking the symmetry. Graduated layers with some volume at crown and soft curls looks stylish on this type of face shape.

Triangular face: Narrow at the temples, slightly wider at the cheeks and widest at the jaw line.
Haircut & Style: Most short hair cuts works for this type of face. Avoid styles with volume at the top.

Remember to note distinctive features like your nose, cheekbones, or jaw line. You can then decide to downplay or highlight these features with the short hair cut style you choose. The real trick is to pick hairstyles that enhance your best features while camouflaging any flaws.

Please remember that this face shape concept is only a simple hair cut guide and there are exceptions. Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish two face shapes from each other and you may not get an exact match. But usually these classifications of face shapes will help you select a better style for your face.

You can also visit this helpful site to find what hair styles look best on you: http://hairstyles.virtual-hairstyles.com/consultation.html

~Don’t forget, that although it’s nice to look good on the outside, true beauty isn’t in outward appearance but it comes from within; having a meek and quite spirit and joyful heart.

1 Peter 3:3-5
³Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.

Proverbs 31:30

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

May the Lord be glorified in all we say and do and may His face shine upon us.

Many Blessings,
~Michelle ]]> http://bellissimamodestyboutique.com/blog/2009/05/some-dos-for-your-lengthly-locks-compliments-of-michelle/feed/ 22 http://bellissimamodestyboutique.com/blog/2009/03/14/ http://bellissimamodestyboutique.com/blog/2009/03/14/#comments Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:10:11 +0000 Marianna http://bellissimamodestyboutique.com/blog/?p=14 Thank you all for the wonderful feedback we’ve been receiving!  If you left a comment on one of the past blog entries, and asked a question, please know that I left a reply comment there.  Unfortunately it doesn’t notify the person when I do, so please check back to the post you left the comment on.

Among the feedback, was a request from Natasha, asking that we write a blog about how to care for long hair.  I am working on gathering all my tips (with four girls in my family, and all with long hair, we do indeed have a few things to share!), to share in a blog or vlog soon.  Keep checking back for the continuations of the natural beauty tips!

In the mean time, and to follow up with my article from Joy’s blog, I would like to share an audio with you about the Proverbs 31 Woman.  I lead a monthly group for young ladies called “Vessels of Honor” based on 2 Timothy 2:20-22 (“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.“),  where I share a Bible study and we learn a homemaking skill.

It has been such a blessing to me, having the privilege of visiting with a living room full of young girls once a month!  You simply have not lived until you have been in the middle of such a group, laughing and chatting until you forget about any worries and problems that may be on your heart otherwise.    For the past several months I have been sharing a series I’ve entitled “Proverbs 31 and The Single Girl.”  It is by  no means limited to single young women, but that was who I was speaking to, and sharing about my own challenges in discovering God’s message for me in Proverbs 31, specifically as a single young woman.

It was a hectic day,when  this lesson was shared, so pardon the poor sound quality and random background noises, the dog barking, and my occasional scatterbrainess.   But after all, the messenger isn’t what’s important, but I do believe the message is, because it is from God’s Word.

My earnest prayer is that not only will the young women in my Vessels of Honor group  be all they can be in Christ, but that ALL women and girls will maximize their potential in Christ, and be known in their communities and cities as women and girls who fear and love God greatly.

Blessings,
~Marianna

If you were in attendance to the SETHSA conference, you most likely heard us give the disclaimer that our site is currently undergoing construction. Just about five days before the conference began, our site began to have to some technical ”issues,” that even my geekiest friends couldn’t figure out.  As of this morning, it is still under construction, but I am in the process of getting our E-Boutique up and going again.  Did I mention that I am no professional web designer?   However, through this weakness of mine, the Lord has been so strong on my behalf, including sending a friend of mine who so very graciously offered and gave a lot of time to help my discombobulated web designing, even building some temporary pages so we could get some of our products up.  It has really shown me how the Body of Christ should work together; the Lord bringing the strength of some, to to help in the weakness of others.  The Lord is faithful.

I look forward to writing more here on the topics of beauty and modesty, among other things the Lord has placed close to my heart.  But right now I’m going to see if I can’t get our site up and going…  Keep checking back for updates! 

For His glory,

~Marianna