BRAVE

"She believed she could, so she did!"

Dear beautiful, wonderful girl, 

That's right, I mean YOU! Do you have any idea... 

How amazing you are?

How smart you are? 

How talented you are?

How BRAVE you are?

There are so many things about you that the world needs more of!  What are you waiting for!

Steph and I have been working on this idea for a good while now... it's funny how the most beautiful things in life come from some of the most painful things.  The concept of "Brave" was born of some really trying circumstances... trials that looked different in each of our lives.  Even in the midst of adversity, both of our hearts desired to make beauty from what seemed broken...To rise above our circumstances that seemed hopeless...To trust that His plan was so much better and so much more fulfilling than anything we could hope for in taking the easy route...To move past the fears that kept us from being our very best version.  This was going to take bravery.

 THAT WAS IT! 

 There are women everywhere, just like us, with a story to tell.  With burdens that seem so big to carry.  With dreams that they are too afraid to explore.  Is that you?  What is it that has you paralyzed?  Can we just sit and chat for a minute?  Are you ready {go ahead, grab that coffee!}  Please hear me out on this...

You are bigger than that job loss.  There is something better than you had imagined just waiting for you, but you have to go get it!

That divorce that turned your world upside down and completely stole your confidence does not define you.  Your beauty and value are not found in a man.  YOU are so very loved and treasured.  If it means saying those words in the mirror until you believe it, then do that!

That child that is sick was given to you with very careful and intentional consideration.  It's not going to be easy, but every precious moment that you are present and choose to live life to the fullest will be so worth it. You GET to be his/ her mother and your fierce love is an inspiration to all that know you!

That dream you've had since you were little, you know, the one that keeps popping up.  The one that brings a sparkle to your eye and passion in your soul every time you think about it!  What is holding you back from pursuing that?  Your age? Money? People might think you're crazy? They may not like it?  Who cares!  At the end of the day, you have to be true to YOU! It might take a lot of hard work?  Heck yeah it's going to take a lot of hard work!  Nothing rewarding ever comes easy!  

What is it in YOUR life that is going to take some Bravery to move forward?

You have what it takes inside of you to be BRAVE, you just have to choose to access it!

We are so very excited to announce our 3rd and newest candle in our collaboration series. 

BRAVE was created with a beautiful blend of fresh scents chosen to inspire and uplift.

{including top notes: white grapefruit, petitgrain, tangerine and clementine.  Mid notes: mandarin, mimosa petals, geranium, lemon and basil.  Base notes: Bamboo, juniper berries and musk}

The candle comes with a removable, hand-stamped, stainless steel charm that says "she believed she could so she did" along with an arrow charm that can be worn on a necklace or attached to a keychain once the candle has burnt out!

Each candle is 9oz with a 70+ burn time 

$20.00

If you are interested in purchasing one of our candles, please visit 

One Love Candle and Bath {online}

In Store at:

530 Windsor Road

Loves Park, Il  

SO IN LOVE

I have found the one whom my soul loves
Song of Solomon 3:4

 

 

 

Doesn't the sound of that just make your heart smile!

I have always loved this verse and as I've gotten older, have been more and more intentional about trying to live in it's truth.
 

I think we sometimes see the big screen and assume that if our relationship doesn't model that type of connection, we must either be with the wrong person or we're not worthy of love.
 

I assure you, God has other plans.

I think of the person that I was when Dennis and I were first married 16 years ago. Thank you Lord that he stuck around!! I have always been in love with this man, but I was selfish, independent and more often asked "what can you do for me?" rather than "what can I do for you?" 

I love the way that it's said in the NLT of Genesis 2:18  "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper who is just right for him." 

 

I GET to be that helper to my husband!




THAT IS A HUGE HONOR!

I didn't always see it as such.  I've {slowly} discovered that it's not about  getting what you want in that relationship, but about growing together, encouraging each other and loving one another, even when the road is bumpy.  and if you have been with someone for any amount of time, there WILL be bumps in the road, but the way you handle those bumps together will only build strength in that relationship.








I understand that some of you may not be in that relationship yet, but please take heart... God has it under control.  Don't rush to get there, trust that in His time,  YOU will certainly find that ONE that your soul loves!

As many of you know, I have had the AMAZING pleasure of collaborating with Steph of One Love Candle and Bath on our now second candle together.

 

We wanted to create something that focuses on this kind of LOVE and encourages nurturing and embracing that love.

SO IN LOVE was born!




It features a complex blend infused with six essential oils featuring a rich base of amber, vanilla, musk and sandalwood with lively top notes of jasmine, lavender and orange. The beautiful glass jar is adorned with a hand-stamped, keepsake tag that says "I have found the one whom my soul loves." that can be removed and worn on a necklace or added to a keychain.

We are so proud of and excited about this collaboration!


 Steph is absolutely amazing at what she does and I am so in love with this scent! It appeals to both men and women and is just the perfect, romantic blend.








Once again, we had the pleasure of working with the amazing Kelly Hubert on photography.  I am so very thankful for this trio of ours!  Kel just gets it!  We tell her our vision and she runs full speed ahead to make it even more amazing than we even had planned.  She has the most beautiful heart and is so dedicated! YOU are such a blessing, my friend!







In addition, a HUGE shout out to DC Estate Winery in South Beloit for allowing us to do our photo shoot there!! This place is GORGEOUS!!!  If you are in need of a beautiful wedding location, or you just want to get away and do some wine tasting... {they even have art and wine classes} Please check them out!!














Steph and I pray that you will love and embrace our latest project!!  That you will spend time nurturing the love that is right in front of you and remember what a treasure that is!
You are so very loved!












You can find SO IN LOVE for sale at these locations...





Infinitely Sweet in Rockford, Illinois
Milkman's Wife in Rockton, Illinois
The White Trunk in Rockford, Illinois
The Mission Shop at Rockford First





Online at...


www.shoponelove.net



www.lisdunndesigns.etsy.com

 

 

JUST BREATHE

What if the world were full of women who were intentional about their gifts?  

What if we exercised compassion, instead of comparison?  Encouragement, instead of envy.  Gratitude instead of grumbling.  What if we made an effort each day to build each other up rather than tearing each other down.

As women, the struggle is real.  We wonder if we are doing enough, if we have enough, if we ARE enough?

Please hear me when I say this...

YOU ARE ENOUGH

Where you are right now is EXACTLY where you are supposed to be.  This is a necessary stop on the path to God's best for you!  You don't have to try to DO or BE anything different than exactly who you are!

These past few weeks have been something that I'll never quite be able to put into words.  I will try, but all I can say is that GOD was at the center of this beautiful project.

About a month ago, I had a sense that wouldn't go away, to reach out to Steph of One Love Candle and Bath.  I really didn't know why, we knew OF each other, had some of each others products, but didn't know each other well.  So, I just went for it!  I said "Steph, this is what I'm thinking, what do you think?"  She could have said  "what are you even talking about, this is so LAME!" {I love her, because we would both totally use that word, hee hee!} But instead, what transpired was almost a whimsical beauty that neither of us even felt in control of!  She said "Oh my goodness, YOU have been on my mind so much, too and I had no idea why!  and that verse is one of my favorite verses and songs!!!  YES! YES! YES!"  

So we got to work.

We realized that our hearts desire was the same.  We so wanted other women to see their worth and value.  We wanted our collaboration to not just be a candle with something pretty on it, but a start of a movement.  An invitation for women to love themselves right where they are.  To stop comparing their everyday to someone else's highlights.  To feel like just being present was enough.  

Through this collaboration, the JUST BREATHE candle was born.

We wanted each detail to have a very natural and organic feel.

It features a rich blend of amber, sandalwood and musk with brisk ginger and citrus top notes, all intentionally chosen aromas to soothe your soul, in an 8 oz. Mason Jar.  It also features a detachable, vintage inspired, hand-stamped charm that reads "It is well with my soul" along with a simple Swarovski crystal {because every girl needs a little sparkle!} tied with natural Jute twine. When the candle is gone, the charm can be placed on a necklace or key chain as a keepsake.

The project would not have been complete without my beautiful friend, Kelly!  

She and I had planned to meet up for a photo shoot for another project.  She was just going to be my model for the day.  Very last minute, I asked her if Steph could meet up with us so that she {Kel} could just get a quick picture of the two of us to attach to our collaboration.  What ensued was one of the most blessed days, I think for all of us.  It turned in to a full blown photo shoot!

  Kel's photography is stunning!! 

 I LOVE YOU, my friend.  I am SO thankful for you and can't imagine this story turning out any better if you weren't a part of it!

Steph and I pray that you will be blessed by our little project! That you will slow down and remember all of the things that are a blessing in your life. That you will finally give yourself permission to love yourself just the way you are.
You are so loved and so valued!

The candles can be purchased here and here.

If you are local to the Rockford area, you can also find the candles at:

Infinitely Sweet in Rockford, IL

Front Porch Mercantile in Rockton, IL