....and the earring making begins...

Retro & Me has started making earrings...lots of vintage charms- lots of fun!

All earrings for sale at local shop in downtown Staunton Va- inside 17Antiques (right beside Shenandoah Pizza)

open daily!!!

also available online on Etsy

xo Kristin

This morning at Starbucks a beautiful lady standing in line behind Shawny & I leaned in & said we had such a beautiful family, then she looked me straight in the eye and said "don't you know how lucky you are" .. It almost made me cry because ever since jake left it has been hard to fully open up my heart and fully trust. I feel pain most of the time. I feel shattered. I looked at Shawn and realized I need to stop pushing away the people that do love me. The past is the past. God is still faithful and still constant. Thank you Jesus for small reminders of things we need to be thankful for. Thank you for blessing me so much!

xo Kristin

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster..
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster.
I lost my mother’s watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
I lost two cities, loved ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn’t a disaster.

..Even losing you... It’s evident
the art of losing’s not too hard to master
though it may look like a disaster.

-Elizabeth Bishop (one of my favorite poems)

Shoe Madness- Retro&Me

All shoes available at:

Retro&Me

xoxo Kristin

Boot Envy - Retro&Me

All boots available at  Retro&Me

xoxo Kristin

The 4th.

Its been a year now.
i have always had a horrible july 4th.
although strangely enough its always been considered one of my favorite holidays.
i remember in 10th grade getting stood up from this guy i was "madly in love with"....
and every year after that was just painful in some way.
this 4th started out sad. i said goodbye to my babies for the weekend. sharing them still isnt easy. its hard every single week.
i have to remember to let go of things i cant control...
and hold on like crazy to what i can.
lately, i feel like running or hiding in a shell somewhere..... i have always struggled with being a "stuffer" of my emotions..... i am also a very independent woman which means I learned early on how to put on "the face".....The face of strength .. and of course "the smile."
its ridiculous.... yet i do understand.....
i take longer then most people to process thoughts and feelings. i can easily hold in my anger and my tears.
i like this about me and i also hate this about myself.
on one hand, i am strong and independent
on the other hand i can be harsh and cold.....
i am learning how to balance....
i dont have all the answers right now. i just have to keep breathing and keep loving the ones in my life.... that is my only job.
God is still with me, although i ask Him sometimes where He is...
He is right with me.
He is holding my hand.
He is the tower I run to for safety... He is the biggest part of who I am.

xo Kristin

James Blake - A Case of You

This song is amazing. I cant get enough.
xo, K

I am no longer defined by the wreckage behind.
I needed this song today...for too long I have listened to the voice of lies.
I choose to listen to the truth...and that is how God sees me. I am worthy of all good things.
I am worthy of true love and joy. My past doesn't define me. The wreckage behind doesn't define me.
My future is what I choose to make it...and I choose Gods plan for me...and all the joys that come with following Him. There is no peace like the peace of God....and man, I should know.
I am happy to call myself a follower of Christ.... the One who loves most. The One who only wants our trust.
I am choosing to raise my hands in surrender and let go of all I have held on to. My life is His. I belong to Him and He will carry me...He will never leave me.
I am a blessed woman!
xoxo Kristin

"So faithful, so constant...so loving & so true
So powerful in all You do
You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You....
I know that You are for me, I know that You will never forsake me in my weakness
So patient, so gracious...so merciful & true
So wonderful in all You do"

- Kari Jobe

I love this song...
sometimes we can forget that God is here...that we aren't alone & we don't have to face the battles alone..
that He wants to carry us when we need it...that He wants to wipe our tears...that He wants to wash us clean...God loves new beginnings.....and I am very much so enjoying mine.
I thank Him everyday for this new life He has given me...I got a second chance and that doesn't come around all that often....as sad as it was to have that happen, I am focusing on what I can control...and I know I couldn't control that, so I am excited to keep moving and stop looking behind me....
Winter has turned into Spring:)

xoxo Kristin