Sister Missionary Shopping

Alright, let's face it. Elders have it SUPER easy shopping for their missions. 10 white shirts, a couple slacks and lots of ties. Boom. Done.

But ladies, we've got our work cut out for us. And I'm just gonna state it right here. I AM NOT A FAN OF THE PIONEER MISSIONARY LOOK. I am so grateful that the church tweaked their standards on what sister missionaries can wear!! More color, more variety and more classy. But, unlike our fellow brethren, we have to mix and match and coordinate and watch skirt length and material and care, etc etc. Sounds hard, huh? Well, fear no more. I've compiled a couple of different places to look for clothes and shoes. {Mostly shoes because that's what I'm REALLY concerned about}

For months I've been on the prowl for sister missionary clothes so hopefully this helps you girls out!

Tip: DO NOT buy anything until you receive your call! This was so hard for me to resist cause I saw soo many cute tops/skirts/dresses all over Pinterest that I tried to rationalize buying, but I never did. And I'm so glad I didn't because wool dresses would not have been kind to me in Mexico. 

Let's start from the top down, shall we?

H&M shirts here

H&M is perfect for basic tops and shirts! And honestly, their prices are pretty killer! You're gonna need some basics for those good ol' 18 months. 

ModCloth here

ModCloth is a little bit of a hit-or-miss. Either they have adorable shirts or what they pulled out of grandma's closet. But if you keep your eyes open, you can find some pretty cute things! Also, watch the reviews and the laundry care cause if it says "Machine Wash cold" and you're going to the middle of the Rainforest, chances are you ain't gettin your hands on a washing machine. So just be aware.

ASOS here

ASOS has soo many adorable skirts and if you watch closely, some of their prices will go down. But this is the best company that I've seen that does below-the-knee skirts without gearing it towards LDS women. Also, free shipping! Who doesn't love that?

  

ModCloth here

ModCloth has some very cute items, but they are a little pricier. That seems to be the norm with skirts, though. But remember to watch the length! For some reason, ModCloth has more short skirts than long. So look at the measurements and then MEASURE YOURSELF. Don't guess!!

Eshakti here

Ok so Eshakti is my favorite BY FAR. Wanna know why? Two words: Custom Tailoring. Yeah, you heard it right, ladies. You can choose the length of your skirt! And there's also a place to put your personal measurements so it'll fit swimmingly. Worth every penny. And their returns are fantastic as well!

Alright ladies, here comes the heart to heart. I am a big advocate for NO clunky trunky sister missionary shoes! Please show your support by avoiding these!

There are other options that are just as comfortable and durable!! And much cuter!! Don't fall into the "I'm so frustrated at trying to find cute shoes, I'm just gonna buy these!" NO! no no no! You might as well strap bricks to your feet! So please, just hang in there! I've got options for ya! {But remember, cheap price: cheap shoe}

Women's Avesso here

Reviews are great for this shoe! What you really want to look for is durability, versatility and comfort. This shoe has it all!

Women's Captiva Strap Waterproof boot here

Women's Born Julianne here

This lovely flat comes in 10 different colors and the reviews are very positive. This shoe is comfortable enough for lots and lots of walking! And of course it's cute.

So that's all I have so far! Leave comments below if you have any questions or if you've found anything! Also, check out my Pinterest board for more missionary ideas!

Missionary Girlfriend

I never never NEVER thought I would be a missionary girlfriend.

Honestly.

If you asked me 3 years ago, "Would you ever wait for a guy for 2 years?" I'd probably laugh and keep laughing.

I was somewhat cynical back then.

But here I am, I've joined a very special group of girls known as "Missionary Girlfriends". And honestly, my respect for people like Hailey Devine, Eden Lee and Skylar Hunt (my step cousin) {who were missionary girlfriends} has sky-rocketed. Because this is HARD.

It's hard waiting a whole week to hear from your sweetheart, IF he has enough time to write you. It's hard not being able to reach out and hold his hand or put your head on his shoulder or feeling his hugs that only he can give. It's hard not hearing his voice or talking to him. And honestly, it's hard keeping a relationship going when ALL you have is letters and pictures.

But I've never been more proud or satisfied than being a missionary girlfriend, especially Dex's missionary girlfriend :)
Because as much pain and sorrow that I've felt with Dex being gone, I've felt equal amounts of joy and excitement. He's on a mission! He's really there in DC!
It was not easy getting to this point in our lives, which is a whole other story, but it has been so worth it!

This is such a learning experience for me and it's been really hard. But I couldn't be more happy than where we are in our lives right now.

Later I'll probably post tips about being a missionary girlfriend, because there are things I've learned that I think would help the entire ARMY of missionary girlfriends out there, but I'm still learning. So we'll hold off on those for a while.

The future is exciting, isn't it?
Especially when you watch this. :)