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You are here: Home / Diary / Fashion Friday: Edition I’m in Knoxville

Fashion Friday: Edition I’m in Knoxville

June 24, 2022 · 4 Comments

Caroline and I flew to Knoxville yesterday because I’m speaking at a conference and we decided to make a little trip out of it. We spent Thursday evening checking out the University of Tennessee campus and then eating dinner and walking around Market Square. It was delightful. We even ate outside on the patio because the weather was so nice. I was warned it was going to be hot this weekend but I think people who aren’t from South Texas don’t really understand what hot actually means.

Anyway, this is going to be quick because I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the computer. Here are some cute things I found this week:

1. when you arrive midi dress

I love this style of dress because it’s universally flattering.

It’s $54. It also comes in navy.

2. ease along cotton romper

I realize not everyone loves a romper but I am really a fan when they fit well.

This one is $54. It also comes in pink and white.

3. nike blazer low platform sneakers

I have these in the black and white and they are my favorite of my casual sneakers. The platform gives them a little something extra.

They are $95.

4. Zella peaceful knot t-shirt

I really love this Zella peaceful knot t-shirt because I’ve been looking for a good summer weight athleisure t-shirt to take the place of the long sleeve one I wear all winter.

This is $39 and comes in several color options.

5. treasure & bond gauzy tunic shirt

A classic white shirt is a staple for me. I think we all know this. I love this tunic length one and the fact that it’s made of gauzy material is a bonus.

It’s $69.

6. embroidered top

This is just a great summer top to wear with cutoffs or jeans. It’s on sale for $29.99 and an extra 15% off with code BRREWARDS.

7. notch collar blazer

I own this exact blazer and several of you have asked about it but it’s been sold out in this color forever. It’s finally back in stock. I wear a medium for size reference.

It comes in several great colors and it’s $99.

8. button dolman-sleeve top

This is just a great basic top that you can dress up or down.

It’s on sale for $27.49 and an extra 15% off with code BRREWARDS. It comes in several colors.

9. Farrah melrose jeans

These jeans were my favorite purchase of last fall and they have been sold out forever. But they are finally taking preorders again and if you order now, then you can get them by October 10. Your fall self will thank your summertime self for being on the ball.

They are $108 and fit true to size. I’m 5’6″ and can wear the 32″ inch inseam with a 1-2″ heel. If you want them longer than that, then I would get the 34″ inseam.

10. sleeveless smocked button-down dress

This is just a great, easy summer dress that you can wear when it’s 104 outside and basically too hot to live.

It comes in other colors and it’s $27.99.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

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Comments

  1. Chrissy

    June 24, 2022 at 8:15 am

    Welcome to Knoxville!! Can we get a Go Vols out of you before you go? 😉 Glad you’re enjoying!!

    Reply
  2. Missy Robinson

    June 24, 2022 at 9:09 am

    Knoxville is my home – welcome!

    Reply
  3. Sheila Hatcher

    June 24, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    Welcome to Knoxville! Hope you enjoy your stay!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer

    June 24, 2022 at 10:44 pm

    I have two of the last dress (smocked top) and they are so wonderful-flattering and great for the the hot weather!

    Reply

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Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

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In light of all our construction issues this week, In light of all our construction issues this week, I felt like it was time for a special edition of grown up story time because I remembered I actually wrote about the poor tile job in our shower years ago in Sparkly Green Earrings. ⁣
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This is when it pays to have a written history to help myself  remember I shouldn’t have been surprised by anything that transpired this week.
A friend texted me this photo the other day. It wa A friend texted me this photo the other day. It was taken my last semester at Texas A&M and I’m with a group of friends at a Wes King concert at Wolf Pen Creek. (Shout out to those of you old enough to remember what a gift Wes King was to Christian music in the early 90s.) I had recently found my way back to God after a long hiatus and wasn’t entirely sure how I ended up at this concert with some new friends who wore Jesus t-shirts, but was so grateful to be there because I felt content and happy for the first time in years. ⁣
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The point of this picture is that if you look on the left you will see a young Perry Shankle with glasses wearing a white t-shirt. And if you look on the far right you will see a young Melanie Marino with an aggressive side part. I don’t think we even spoke to each other at the concert that night. No one would have put us together because we were complete and total opposites. And I like to think God laughed knowing what was ahead. ⁣
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A year later, we started dating. And three years from just about the day this photo was taken, we were engaged. And currently, we’ve been married almost 25 years and are cleaning out the attic together today which is the height of romance. What I’m saying is dream big, kids. You never know what is waiting right around the corner, right in front of you, that will change your life. ⁣
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Side note: If you look closely you’ll see that my friend Jen and I are sitting on a blue striped comforter. Perry still sleeps with that exact comforter every single night so what I’m saying is that on that night back in 1994, he had no idea he was with his future wife and a blanket he would treasure, lo, all these years later. God is good. ⁣
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Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Glass! Loved celebrating with you. 💕
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I think one of the most powerful moments in the Bible is when Jesus is on the cross and with a loud cry breathes his last breath. Mark 15:38-39 says, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”⁣
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Think about that. The sky has grown dark, the earth begins to shake and then as Jesus cries out with his last breath, we learn that what has been an impenetrable, thick curtain in the temple - there to separate us from the Holy of Holies - tears in two. It’s powerful enough that this centurion, a battle-tested leader in the Roman army, witnesses it and realizes Jesus is absolutely who He claimed to be. ⁣
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Don’t we do that? Question if He’s good or if He will come through for us? Wonder how things will work out when all seems lost? Is He who He says He is and what does that mean for our life?⁣
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Here’s what I know. Jesus is the wonder our heart is waiting for. He is our peace, redemption, and salvation. He breaks strongholds, takes away our fear and shame, redeems what has been broken and lost. He does more in our lives than we even know to ask for. We are never so broken that He can’t restore us. ⁣
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