Happy Christmas!

May the Lord richly bless you during this joyous season! Thank you for your support! Our prayer is that you will grow to walk more closely with the Lord and that He will withhold no good thing from you. May we all learn gratitude, perseverance, and meekness this coming year and share of His loving mercy and goodness.

We will see you in the New Year!! We have many wonderful plans. If you would like to contact us with your ideas, please don't hesitate to send them to

silknpurpleprov31@gmail.com.

Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!!!!!!

Wanting to Be Someone

Fame -- we live in a world with an insatiable desire to be famous. We have our own YouTube channels, blogs, facebook accounts, and twitter feeds, all with the hope that someone will read them and think we are above average. We read pop culture magazines, watch behind-the-scenes movie coverage, and love inside tips from Hollywood. We long to be accepted by the “in” crowd, whatever that crowd may be, and we fashion our lives after the famous, never knowing if their fame brought them happiness.

My brother is endeavoring in the film industry; though he is young, he has learned a lot! I have had the pleasure of helping him in any way I can and have enjoyed the very small spotlight received on set, at an after-party, or a red carpet event. Such events can easily play to our vanity. As we puff our feathers a little fuller, we fall into the lie of immortality. We start to believe that we are “someone” -- hoping that others will look on in envy and want to be us for a moment.

These mindsets can jeopardize relationships and place us in situations of embarrassment. Luke talks of being asked to sit at the head of the table, rather than assuming a position of importance.

Luke 14:10-11

"But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Think about Christ, the King of the Universe. The Creator of everything left the riches of heaven to become a baby and walk here on earth as a simple nobody. His message was not popular with the rich and famous, His friends and family were poor and lowly, He was virtually homeless! And still He humbled Himself for us!

Philippians 2:8-11

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

As we walk our “red carpets” of life -- be it at church, the workplace, school, cyberspace, or even at home -- let us remember our Savior. No, humility is not glamorous, but it will bring everlasting reward and true happiness. If you’re searching to be someone, look to the One who willingly was a nobody to be everything for everyone!

How to Eat Healthy over the Holidays

Christmas is right around the corner, and some of us have a harder time staying healthy over the holidays (me included). Here are some tips that I thought would help everyone, even the more healthy-minded! 

-Eat raw fruits and/or vegetables before going to a Christmas party. That way you won't be tempted to head for the chips or cookies.

-Drink those 8 glasses of water every day, and you won't be as hungry!

-If you have been asked to bring a dish to a get-together, make something healthy, so you have an option to snack on.

-If sweets are a temptation to you, stay away from the dessert table! The last thing you want to do is put yourself in a hazardous situation. :)

-Make up your mind ahead of time to indulge in only one sweet and one snack food. I have found this helps for those of us who must have those party foods. 

-And last but not least, when you're full, stop eating!

I hope these tips help all of you. And remember that Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas, not what we eat!

Merry Christmas,

Elyse

Buy of the Week

I have a crush on maxi skirts ;) 

This one has a lot of great potential! With a good slip, a basic black fitted tee, and a dark brown belt, you can look oh-so-modest and classy. Do an up-do with your hair for a little more dressy feel.

$15.99

You can find this skirt here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Behind the scenes - Identify Identity

A few photos from Elyse and Zach taken during the filming of Identify Identity. 

Thank you TakeBack Motion Pictures!

Question and Answer

Q: How high is too high when it comes to high heels?

A: Let's think about why and when heeled shoes were created. A small heel has been around for hundreds of years, but I would say it was during the Renaissance and especially the Baroque eras that shoes became their own fashion statement. They were no longer just necessity, but could be frivolity!

The classic pump as we know it today appeared in the early 1900s. The purpose behind wearing these shoes was to make one taller and create a longer looking leg. Dresses at this time became a lot shorter than in previous annals of history, so legs were now noticed. As time moved on, so did the height of the heel -- from a small 1-1.5 inch to a shocking 6.5-7! The 1960s and '70s platform also changed the shoe movement. These generations seemed to want to push the limit on everything! In the '80s and '90s, heels took a little rest. As women were climbing the ladder of success in the corporate world, shoes had to become more practical, and the only gals wearing the over-the-top high heels were Hollywood stars and desperate prostitutes.

Along the way, taking us into the new millennium, we met up with a woman named Carrie Bradshaw, a.k.a., Sarah Jessica Parker, on a provocative, hit television show. She taught us that you can "have it all" and "do it all" in sky-high, sexy, platform heels! Parker and her gang changed the face of western civilization by somehow "empowering" women to be symbols of lustful ambition and still be "classy," just because they were searching for “true love.” Their view of fashion has now penetrated our culture -- shoes being an ultimate symbol of lust!

Now, let's don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Shoes are not evil! They can, however, become objects of a stereotype. I personally like a reasonable-sized heel when I'm dressing an outfit up a little more. When I wear a longer dress or skirt, heels are a great way to balance the proportion to my form. Also, they are a great way to add a splash of color and personality to an outfit -- very classy when done correctly.

When selecting any shoe to wear, first consider the efficiency it will provide you. If you are only thinking about keeping your balance in a pair of 4-inchers, then I would suggest picking a lower-sized heel. Playing to our vanity can be easy to do when all we are thinking about is what we are wearing. Our concern should be for others, not keeping our balance and wondering how many people are admiring us when we walk across a room.

A pair of 2-inch black heels are, I believe, a basic, but talk with your parents about the shoes and find the best fit for you as a representative of Christ and your family.

************************

Have a question? 

Send it to us via facebook or e-mail and we will try our best to answer it and post it on Silk and Purple's QnA Page!

Pumpkin Smoothie

I've been eating a lot of pumpkin lately, and ran across a wonderful recipe for a pumpkin smoothie. Pumpkin is really good for you and contains lots of beta carotene. So I thought that I would share the recipe with you all.

Pumpkin Smoothie

-1/2 of a frozen banana

-1/4 cup pumpkin

-1/4 tsp. cinnamon

-1/2 tsp. vanilla

-1 scoop of protein powder(I used organic Raw Protein made by Garden of Life)

-1/3 cup milk

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more milk.

Thanks, Elyse

Identify Identity

Our first inspirational video! Enjoy and pass it on!! A big thank you to Nathan (TakeBack Motion Pictures), our beautiful actresses, and all who made this possible!

Buy of the Week!

Nothing like a little warm sunshine on a cloudy, winter day. This sweater does just that! The thing that makes this sweater so grand is the tie in the center, creating a lovely hourglass silhouette. A sweater can save an outfit by making it effortlessly modest! Plus layering is really chic.

$28.99

Find this sunny sweater here!

Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP!

Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!

Because it really does matter...

Maybe you're not a Miss Universe hopeful and, like most of us, you probably won't ever see your face on the cover of a magazine. Perhaps when you look in the mirror, you don't see an exotic beauty or a Parisian fashionista. Maybe you see just an oh-so-average girl, who doesn't care about grooming and clothing. You've been told looks don't matter.

Well, the statement "looks don't matter" is a lie.

Looks DO matter. 

Now, don't leave thinking I'm crazy...God's Word even tells us this.

"...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 

1 Samuel 16:7

Many of us have heard this verse before in the context that we should be more concerned about what is inside and how we should dress our hearts rather than what we look like on the outside. This statement is certainly true, but this verse speaks to both issues.

The Lord sees and hears our innermost being (even the parts we can't see or hear). So our first goal is to address our hearts, for no matter how we dress on the exterior, the leaking of a sinful heart will taint a lovely outward appearance. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and our concern should be what Christ thinks of us rather than what man thinks. But we can't erase the part of the scripture that tells us, "man looks on the outward appearance." 

Yes, we live in a fallen world that judges only what is seen at a glance. You can be summed up by a million people in a few moments by what your appearance says about you without you even speaking a word.

Not fair? Yes... but it's true!

If our hearts are growing in the Lord, then let's not be tempted to disregard the grooming and clothing aspect to best show what the Lord is growing in our hearts! How can we expect to truly share to the world the hope within us if our outward appearance is distracting? Distractions can spawn

from having the tendency to be a: 

Lazy Groomer 

(Unkempt hair, personal hygiene problems, and clothing unbecoming to your form and coloring) 

Over-Primper

(Makeup overload and looking like a walking jewelry store)

Selfish Stylist

(Dressing only for you and disregarding the appropriateness and respect of an occasion or the public eye)

We should all accept we are never going to please everyone and that should never be our goal. I find it's easier to ask myself before I walk out the door, "Am I a distraction to the hope within me or does my appearance offer attraction not to me, but to Christ?" 

Appearance really does matter, but in a way deeper than just looking good for ourselves and for others' approval. It matters because of the harmonizing of allowing the inward heart to shine through the outward appearance!

The Benefits of...Lemons!

How many of you love the tangy, sour taste of a lemon? I do, and I hope you do too! Lemons have many health benefits, of which I will tell you a few. 

Lemons are known for their therapeutic properties. They are high in vitamin C and strengthen the immune system to fight off sickness. Lemon serves as a blood purifier and a stomach cleanser. But here is the best benefit of all: it contains flavonoid, a composite that holds anti-oxident and cancer-fighting properties!

Here are some practical ways to incorporate lemons into your daily routine.

-Squeeze fresh lemon juice into your water.

-Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto your salad.

-For skin benefits, squeeze some lemon juice into about 1/4 cup of plain yogurt and use as a facial mask.

-Use lemon juice to squeeze over steak and seafood.

-Or, if you love lemons as much as I do, squeeze the juice into a glass and drink it by itself!

So remember, God gave us lemons for lots of reasons, and we need to use them to benefit our healthy lifestyle.     

Buy of the Week

Kanzi Craft is filled with beautiful, exotic accessories for a wonderful cause! Kanzi is from Pearl Ministries! Pearl Ministries partners with individuals, families, and churches to help orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, through gospel-centered, holistic development of family and community in partnership with indigenous ministries and churches.

Buying from Kanzi will help support this ministry and spread the light of Christ!

$18.00

Find this necklace here!

Check out all of what Kanzi Craft has here!

Opening Weekend Giveaway! (Closed)

It's pretty cold around here so a warm, cozy scarf is a great way to help stay toasty and modest!

We are giving this scarf away this weekend! Here is how you can enter:

"Follow" our blog and/or "like" our facebook page, then post a link about this giveaway on your blog and/or facebook. (google+ or twitter works, too).

Leave a comment on this post with the link to what and where you have posted about this giveaway. Giveaway ends this Monday, December 5, at midnight

(12:00 a.m. CST). Winner will be drawn at random and will be

announced Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

Happy Entering!

***********************

Winner Announced 12/6/11

Amanda!!!

Congratulations!

Grand Opening!

A wonderful welcome to you! We are honored for you to stop by!

This is our first "official" day of opening, but as you can see, we've been blogging for a few months. You can expect a lot of variety on this blog. Silk and Purple wants to address not only our culture of immodesty and how to grow a spirit of biblical femininity, but also offer alternatives and practical ideas to make achieving modesty easy and lovely.

Posts will include:
savvy buys
tutorials
shopping tips
modesty secrets
makeup how-to's
vintage and thrift shopping
interviews/guest posts
inspirational photography
giveaways/contests
healthy living/recipes
behind-the-scenes info
ministry updates
event listings

As we strive to improve our outward appearance, we must first look inward at the reflections of our hearts. Topics will include true femininity, biblical womanhood, identity in Christ, lessons from the Proverbs 31 woman -- all the while supporting our brothers in Christ, avoiding the "give-up" and "give-in" syndromes, and loving your season of life.

We need your help!

Look over the blog, follow it, and pass it on!

We love your feedback, so leave comments and "like" our facebook page. Everyone has a sphere of influence; we want this to be a grassroots movement -- we are dependent on your creative thoughts to aid in spreading the word!

Our prayer is that you will be encouraged to live passionately for Christ and find vision within your family. Christ is the reason for all that we do and we desire for the whole world to know, grow, and walk in the grace of His goodness.

Have a beautiful day and grow in the Lord!