Lizzy’s Latest – Happy New Year 2022!
HAPPY NEW YEAR to my family, friends, followers, and visitors! I’m 30 days late with this post, but better late than never, right?! 😉 My regulars are used to my consistent inconsistent posting schedule. However, I did commit to at least one post a month, so here we go! 😊
This is the time of year when excitement fills the air for all the hopes, dreams, and possibilities a new year brings. I chose this particular cover shot because I love the sun in the background. It’s like the rising sun is a metaphor for new beginnings and a new chapter in one’s life.
How do I maintain that positive outlook the whole year through? Well, it is my happy and energetic disposition, of course! I’ve been blessed with a positive outlook on life, so I rarely feel down. Yet, I do face challenges and tough/sad situations from time to time. The key for me is to accept these “bad” times with faith, patience, and prayers knowing God is allowing this unpleasantness in my life for a greater good and learning.
This is proven to me every time I get through a bad time. I look back and think, Wow! I’m glad I didn’t force my outcome, but rather, allow God’s Will to lead me in my life to His outcome. It’s easier said than done, but the more I practice allowing God to lead me, the easier it becomes. I’m to the point now where I’m no longer attached to an outcome I have no control over and that result has given me so much peace in my life.
Now, when I say I’m no longer attached to an outcome, I mean that in the sense that I know what I’d like to see happen in my life, but if it doesn’t happen, I’m ok with that because it just means it wasn’t meant to be. So, yes, I work towards what I hope for knowing the outcome may not happen and if it doesn’t happen, I’m ok with it.
That leads me to living my life according to 3 buckets:
- Bucket A – I have 100% control of the outcome
- Bucket B – I have some control of the outcome depending on my influence on other variables involved
- Bucket C – I have no control of the outcome; so acknowledge and move on
Just note that once something is in Bucket C, there’s no point in dwelling on it and best to simply acknowledge and get on with life. You can read the genesis of my life philosophy in buckets here. 😊 What is your philosophy on life? I’d love to know!
Lizzy’s Latest is featuring the XOXO Taniah booties. I LOVE a white boot in the wintertime. It’s so chic and pure to me. I adore the slouchy upper and the sexy stiletto heel. At approximately 3.5 inches, these booties are not too high and super comfortable. I highly recommend as they style well with skirts, short, jeans, and leggings. I paired mine with a white eyelash sweater, pink plaid skirt, and white nylons for a more dressed up look.
I hope y’all had a wonderful holiday season. I certainly did with my family. Here are some pics we took over Christmas break. Look at how my Godson, Andrew, towers over me now! He loves to tease me about how short I am! LOL!
My annual Christmas capture with my two Godsons, Andrew and little Josh, and my favorite niece, Kristin (she’s my only niece. ;-))
Mom and Dad say hello and Merry Christmas!
My brother, Michael, with his wife, Shannon, and Andrew.
Our annual trip to Jackson, NJ to visit Aunt Lisa, Uncle Shawn, and cousin Caroline. Aunt Lisa always prepares an Italian feast for us on that day. It was unusually warm that day too. I broke out a pair of springtime espadrilles. 🙂
Did y’all know I love ice skating? I took the boys to our local rink and we had a great time. Josh, my youngest Godson, asked if we could ice skate every day. 🙂
Style with a Smile!
XoXo,
Lizzy
February 2, 2022 @ 7:56 pm
Oh, Lizzy!! Your buckets are perfect. Seriously, you are so wise for your age and this will benefit you for your entire life!!
Thanks for sharing all these wonderful photos.
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
February 2, 2022 @ 8:58 pm
YAY!!! I’m glad you see the wisdom of my buckets, Jodie. I was going through some tough times while I was in grad school working towards my MBA and someone came into my life with similar life experiences. He helped me through this period with humor, support, and great advice. These buckets are his buckets and when he shared his life philosophy with me, my life was forever changed for the better. We lost touch after grad school, but I will never forget his imprint on my life.
I love sharing family photos. Glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Have a nice weekend…I feel like I can say that tonight because we are almost there. 😉
February 2, 2022 @ 11:39 pm
I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your family and you look cute in this white top and plaid skirt look.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovey.com
February 3, 2022 @ 2:23 pm
Thank you, Lovely! I’m so happy you enjoyed the family pics. 🙂
February 3, 2022 @ 10:07 pm
Another amazing blog Elizabeth, nice description of bucket advice , nice ice skating with nephews , hope they didn’t have to pick you up too much , awesome including the family photos !!!! Lucky enough I was to get to meet your nice Mother and Dad , just another beautiful outfit gorgeous hair plus well thought out words !!!! Way to kick 2022 off !!! Beautiful location …. Always amaze your fan club !!!! Happy February 2022 Elizabeth
February 4, 2022 @ 9:57 pm
Thank you, Mike! I can always count on you to write words that make me smile. 🙂 The bucket list is great philosophy! Ice skating with the boys was fun! I’ve actually been ice skating since I was a kid, so ice skating comes easy to me. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the family pics. My parents still talk about our day in Savannah with you last summer. My dad can’t stop talking about the fried pickles you ordered. Lol! It really was a great day! I’m so glad you made time for the visit. I had a great time catching up with you. 2022 is going to be a great year! Especially with the good news from yesterday! Take care and talk soon! 🙂
February 4, 2022 @ 12:38 pm
We’ve visited Richmond many times from even before Lizzy’s Latest was launched and we’ve taken many pictures there. But a few things happened on this trip that make it particularly interesting.
On the drive down we witnessed what I believe was a UFO. Aside from a rocket heading into space, I don’t know of anything else that can shoot straight up into the sky like what we see in the video. However, the only rocket launch that day was conducted by the Indian Space Agency on the other side of the world.
Then during our first shoot, here, we got chased by security guards from multiple locations. In fairness, I think one of those places was a federal reserve bank (I’m still not sure) but why the others? It was like some uptight dude with access to live feed from multiple security cameras had it out for us and made it his mission to contact every guard station in his rolodex to harass us.
During that same shoot we came upon a group of protestors who weren’t happy with the results of the recently concluded presidential election. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but what I told them then was borne out by how things actually turned out – that the guy they didn’t think won fair and square would get voted in by the Electoral College and that would make the results official no matter how rigged they thought the general election had been. Anyway they were nice, peaceful and I admired their enthusiasm. I just hope none of them got caught up in the “insurrection” that followed two months later.
Lastly, we discovered Monroe Park. We were driving around trying to find a place to finish up our last photo session when we happened upon the park and noticed its lawn and park benches. We knew instantly it would be a great place to take pictures. I just wish we’d gotten there earlier. Earlier in the day (it was nearly sundown when we got there) and earlier in time, before other much less peaceful protestors destroyed the beauty of the park by defacing and destroying its centerpiece monument and art.
I hope we return to Monroe Park for another photoshoot so we can better capture its urban oasis beauty, what’s left of it anyway.
February 5, 2022 @ 10:05 pm
That’s a great recap of that day, Dad! It brought back a lot of great memories for me. That “UFO” was very interesting! I’m glad you suggested we record the phenomenon. I’ve yet to witness anything like that since.
That security guard who felt the need to assert his authority at our first location was annoying. We’d been there quite a while before he even came out. Like you, I’m convinced there was a live feed of the area and he had the other security guards on speed dial. Lol! Despite his efforts, we still got great shots from all the locations.
I enjoyed our convo with the protesters too. They were peaceful and hopeful.
Monroe Park was so random, but another one of Richmond’s hidden treasures. We definitely have to go back there for another shoot.
It’s always an adventure on a Lizzy’s Latest photo shoot and some photo shoots, like this one, are more adventurous than others.
February 5, 2022 @ 8:01 am
This look is absolute perfection! I adore the skirt and booties especially. Yes to the sun in the background and your positive outlook for the new year. I can tell that you are an incredible disciple of God. Thanks for the inspiration!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
February 5, 2022 @ 5:13 pm
Sweet! Thank you, Kathrine! One’s attitude is so important in conquering life’s journey. 🙂 I am inspired by your strong Catholic faith too! Let us all be Apostles of Delight. 🙂
February 11, 2022 @ 2:03 am
Your thoughts are really inspirational. Those three bucket lists are very thoughtful and fills oneself with positive vibes. Great post!
February 12, 2022 @ 12:10 am
Thank you so much, Rahul! I’m so glad you found the buckets meaningful.
February 24, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Lizzy, this is a beautiful outfit. I love the play on white! I read somewhere recently that white hosiery is in right now as more people go out and dress up. I think recognizing what we have control of and what is out of our control helps us to be proactive. For the conditional bucket, we have a choice to either let go or if something is important to us to work to improve our ability to influence the outcome. Ideally it would be nice if we could choose our pain, and we lose more and more freedom if we have less and less ability to choose what pain we are subjected to.
February 24, 2022 @ 11:29 pm
Hi Joanna! So nice to see you here! Happy New Year, my friend! Thank you for your compliments on this outfit and your thoughts on my philosophy on life. I was actually hesitant about sharing this look because of the white hosiery. However, I eventually came to feel that the pantyhose was subtle enough to not overpower the outfit. I’m so glad you like this look! I agree with everything you said about choices and decisions. Very insightful…especially about how freedom is lost as our ability to choose the pain we are subjected to is diminished. I hope you have a great weekend!