The Captivating Woman

Designed with purpose.

Year 2 – What’s in Store with The Captivating Woman?

Year 2

Welcome to year 2 of The Captivating Woman!

If you were with us from the beginning or if this is your first time on our site, hi! We are thankful you are here. We LOVE that you’re here with us!

There are a lot of new things happening with The Captivating Woman and I wanted to share that with you all. We have been excited for our relaunch because we believe that God is going to be doing a great thing in year 2.

Let’s talk about what’s happening with The Captivating Woman.

We doubled our team! Yes! DOUBLED! From the beginning, all of our team members were from California and now we have people all over the United States and even in the UK and Philippines. How cool is that? Check out The Team page to learn more about our TCW members.

We will be focusing on devotionals in year 2. If you remember, last year we had our Advent series which was awesome. But as I was praying for the site and what God was wanting us to, devotionals kept popping up in my prayer time. We are excited for those to launch – be on the look out.

In prayer, the Lord was pressing into my heart the vision and mission statement behind The Captivating Woman. As our ministry continues to grow, we wanted to have a sincere focus for it.

So, why do we exist?

Vision: Inviting women to experience freedom and edification in their lives through scripture and honest conversations.

Mission Statement: Celebrating women and the Creator who intricately designed us.

We pray that our vision and mission will be found in everything that we do. Our ultimate goal is to allow God to be used through us – because without Him we are nothing. We cannot be captivating woman if we are not allowing Jesus to shine through us.

The Gilmore Girls Did Not Prepare Me For Marriage

Fall in love with someone who doesn’t make you think love is hard.  -Anonymous

I was perusing the interwebs the other day and I came across this quote on Pinterest.

From a quick glance and move on perspective, many people may not realize how this type of thinking could play out in their own relationships. Some may think “Yes! This is exactly what I am looking for, or “If only a man out there like this existed…”

When my husband and I started dating, he was the first man to ever call me out in love about my heart issues. I had no idea the amount of unforgiveness, anger, and fear I was holding onto. Of course, when we are called out in our sin our first reaction is not often resulting in a bear hug of thankfulness for them making you see the light. (If this is you? Oh bless you…)  

My reactions came from the overflow of what existed in my heart, which meant it was not always    pretty. I started to become discontent.

The reality is, love and marriage is not easy. Sin is painful. Happiness is not pursuable because it is ever changing. Contentment is pursuable because it is rooted in Christ, who is unchanging.

Marriage is designed for the purpose of becoming holy and more like Christ.

All I know is Gilmore Girls could not have prepared me for this…

To be content in my marriage meant that I needed to run to God and ask him what it means to be in a marriage that is glorifying to him. Then be willing to have him show me the areas in which I needed a full on rehabilitation of my thinking.

To erase my views and expectations that I had learned growing up watching tv shows, listening to pop songs, and even the marriages I saw with my own eyes. I needed to start with a blank slate that was based on Jesus and him alone.

God started to reveal to me that being content in my marriage meant quite a few things.

#1 – Having a strong foundation in knowing where your identity comes from is crucial in marriage. The thing is, my husband is human! He is sinful as well, and so to be content in my marriage meant that I needed to know up front that Jose would disappoint me. That grace and understanding would be a pivotal part of being married. Forgiveness should be handed out not when my husband deserves it, but out of the thankfulness of the grace that is given to me daily from God. I still struggle with the truth that my identity in Christ still exists, even when my husband and I are not on the same page. This is a work in progress.

#2 – I started to realize that the biggest obstacle in my marriage is not my husband, finances, school, his mistakes, but it was me. I am the biggest obstacle in my marriage. To be content meant that I needed to truly surrender my marriage to The Lord. To hand him my marriage knowing he is working on Jose. Working on the man of God he is creating him to be, and I needed to focus on my walk with Jesus and the woman he is creating me to be. The state of your vertical relationship (You & God) is what allows you to have healthy and God honoring horizontal relationships (You & Others).

#3 – lastly, is comparison. Deadly comparison that likes to seep into our thoughts and make us feel like what we have is not good enough. It is that Instagram post that you saw of your friend and her husband going on vacation, or the flowers that her husband brought home just because, or the sweet hand holding you see while on a double date. Comparison will kill the beautiful marriage that God has given you.

It will discourage the man you love and create an environment of insecurity. I know this because I have walked on this road before. Sister look at your husband with a thankful heart. Look at the man that God is molding before your eyes (remember sanctification is rough!), and as I type this I am saying this to myself as well. Be thankful that God has chosen you above all other women to walk with your husband and be there to witness and see the man of God he is laying out before you.

Being content in marriage can be a struggle because our flesh will always be looking for more. To be content is to keep our desires in check, and if they are not in line with what God has for you as his daughter, and you as a wife. Chuck em out of the window! His desires for you will always be sweeter, than the temporary fix we tend to cling onto.

Contentment will not happen overnight, but embrace the process sister! I promise you it will be worth it.

[ If you are in a relationship that is abusive and harmful, this is not a post for you to learn how to be content. Sister, please reach out to someone you trust that can help you get out of this environment, and truly know that you are a beloved daughter of a King. ]  

DIY Shower Cleaner

I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning my bathroom. I love having it clean and sparkly, and I know way too much about the bacteria that want to grow in there to leave it for too long. Clorox wipes are my best friend for wiping down my sink and vanity area, and I have a set system for keeping the floors, mirrors and toilet clean. The shower is where I notoriously have trouble. For a long time, no system worked that was affordable and quick.

When I already don’t have enough time to get everything on my to-do list done in a given week, chores that take significant time can easily get pushed off another week. This may have translated to weeks (months) where I rinsed what I saw, but I didn’t deep clean my shower more than taking a Clorox wipe to the bottom.

Like any good believer in retail therapy and the wonders of sales at Ulta, I have a thousand and one shampoos, conditioners, hair masques, body washes, lotions, scrubs and other products that take up too much space in my shower. And admittedly, they often like to find their way in little globs on the shower itself or on the shower curtain. I have discovered the hard way that if you don’t catch them in time, that stuff will harden and it takes a pickax to get it off all of the way.
That is, until I discovered the wonders of Blue Dawn Soap and Vinegar. I’m sure there are other products that do the same thing, and you’ll often pay a decent amount for them, but guys. Seriously. Blue dawn (and don’t ask me why that works better than another color/smell of dawn but it really does) and normal old white vinegar can clean anything from my bathtub.
 
I buy one of those dish scrubbers, you know the ones that have the spot in the handle for the soap with the sponge on the end?
I take that and fill it half and half with the BD and Vinegar. Turn it over a couple of times to mix it up, and scrub away. I have to touch nothing but the handle (because let’s be real, that’s the grossest part), I’m not dealing with anything crazy chemical wise, it makes it smell fresh and clean when it’s done, and that stuff cuts through grease and my little globbies that want to take up residence. Though you may have to work at it a little depending on the product, how long it’s been living there, etc.
Sometimes (though be careful not to splash it up on yourself) I even go ahead and clean it while I’m still in the shower. And when I’m finished, I’m clean, my shower is clean and I don’t have to give it a second thought.
It’s less than $5 (depending on sizes, brands and what you already have on hand) and it lasts for a long time, making a cleaner that works.
Great life choice in my book.
Disclaimer: Depending on the quality of scrub brush you buy, some of the liquid mix may spill out when it’s being stored. I leave mine on the lip of my tub and whenever I use it, I just rinse the BD and vinegar away. I’ve never stored it on anything that wasn’t able to be washed, so I can’t speak for that, but if you’ve never used that kind of brush before – know that it can leak a little. I just take it as par for the course with that tool, and keep on keeping on.

Meet Stephanie Hinrichs

You meet a lot of cool people on Instagram. Search certain hashtags & you’ll instantly find people that you want to be friends with. That how I feel about Stephanie. I couldn’t tell you how I found her, but I did. I fell in love with her feed on Instagram. But there is something you need to know about this girl – she runs a business that serves other people. Her heart is big and it reminds me of the heart of God. Read more about Stephanie Hinrichs and Interlaced Goods.

Question: Where do you live & how old are you?
Answer: I’m 25 & I live in Austin, TX.

Q: What were you doing before your current job?
A: Before I became a full time barista, I was a Sales Manager at Macy’s.

Q: Tell us about Interlaced Goods and the heart behind it?
A: I started Interlaced Goods as a way to give back. Being in your twenties can be a bit tough, however most people my age that I know have a genuine desire to give back. However, we often feel like our $20 spending budget isn’t good enough. I wanted Interlaced Goods to be a place to purchase affordable, handmade and thoughtfully curated products, while knowing your money is going toward a greater cause. I recently found out that hundreds of underfunded charities go out of business every single day. This reminded me of exactly why I do what I do.

 

Q: Give us a day in the life of Stephanie.
A: I’m a full time barista. So, most days look something like waking up at 5am and making a lot of coffee. I typically try to fit the gym in at some point. I enjoy reading a lot, so that’s part of most days as well. The day to day varies, but typically it’s work and people. I love surrounding myself with people.

Q: What three words describe you?
A: Cheerful, kind, & fun.

Q: Do you believe that your job has become your ministry?
A: Yes. I interact with people every second that I’m at work. I think that it has made be more aware of my actions and words, as well as reminding myself the importance of grace.

Q: What is the favorite thing about what you do?
A: I’ve mentioned it several times at this point, but I love what I do because it means people. I love being around people, being part of their daily, and with Interlaced Goods being able to use what I do to help others.

Q: Favorite verse?
A: 2 Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Q: Favorite story in the Bible?
A: The life of Paul, in general. His life reflects the Lord’s grace and love and I think it’s incredibly important to remember that.

Q: What makes a Captivating Woman?
A: A woman who realizes that her identity is found in Jesus. And that there is nothing more important.

Q: Who are some Captivating Women in your life that we need to know about?
A: Chelsea Francis, my best friend (@ohhhchelsea)
Taylor Hinrichs, my sister (@taylor_hinrichs)

Find Stephanie in the social media world.
Instagram: @steph_hinrichs / @interlacedgoods
http://www.interlacedgoods.com

 

The Budgeting Woman

When you hear the words “personal money management,” what thoughts come to mind? Confidence or confusion? Peace or anxiety? Or maybe just nothing at all? Regardless of the feelings that surface when the topic of discussion turns to money, the truth is that it will always be something that demands our attention.

Being a young adult requires a lot of maturing and figuring out how life beyond college really works, and a big part of that process means learning how to handle money. But if your college experience was anything like mine, you probably didn’t have to take a course on budgeting or how to pay back student loans or what to do when your dream job doesn’t pan out immediately.

And yet that’s what ends up being a lot of people’s post-college reality: trying to figure out how to navigate adult life on their own with very little guidance. After I graduated, I quickly found myself in that place, with the most challenging upstream battle being how to handle money, particularly in a Biblical and God-honoring way.

Since then, I have learned many things about how to “adult,” and I have found that the biggest key to managing money well has been making a monthly budget. At the beginning of every month I sit down and input my expected income and expected expenses, intentionally telling my money where it’s going to go. Then throughout the month, I continue to keep my budget updated to reflect extra income and any additional expenses. Sometimes it’s a tedious task, but I love knowing where it’ll going instead of, at the end of the month, wondering where it went.

In doing this, I have managed to pay off thousands of dollars worth of student loans and a car loan in the last fourteen months, and should be totally debt free before the end of the year. I am so excited about all of it that I find myself telling others that they, too, can take control of their financial situations with some goals, perseverance, and a whole lot of grit.

So, whether you are single or married, and whether or not you have debt, here are some of my tips and tricks for budgeting:

  • Take the time to pray over your finances, and ask God to give you direction, discernment, and discipline.
  • Continue to tithe, no matter what your financial situation looks like. It’s important to give back to God what is rightfully His before ever using it for yourself. Consider setting up automatic payments if you have a hard time tithing regularly.
  • Have at least $1,000 in your savings account at all times for emergencies that pop up. If you are debt free, that number should be somewhere around 3-6 months of expenses.
  • Create a zero-based budget every month. My favorite tool for this is EveryDollar.
  • If you have accrued consumer debt (loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.), make it a priority to pay it off as soon as possible by taking on extra work or cutting frivolous spending habits (see my tips for this below).
  • Still leave some room to treat yo’self. I have given myself little incentives along the way after each debt gets paid off, which has helped me stay more focused and motivated.
  • If you are married, you and your spouse have to be on the same page. Sit down together each month to plan your budget, and hold one another accountable to your plan throughout the month.
  • If you are single, ask a trusted friend or mentor to be your accountability partner. My “budget buddy” and I meet at the end of each month to look at where my money went that month and to plan for the following. This has been crucial to my success thus far.
  • Stick to your budget every month. Discipline isn’t supposed to be easy, but in the end it will be so worth it.
  • Seek to learn the art of contentment (Hebrews 13:5-6) and remember that money is just a thing. Guard your heart against the love of it (because idolatry – 1 Timothy 6:10)

One practical way I started to make more money and put it toward debt was by taking on extra jobs. It’s not a revolutionary idea, I know, but it works. For the last year, I have been taking on anything and everything that has come my way: babysitting, petsitting, home organizing, interior painting, tutoring, and, more recently, commissioned art pieces and photography gigs. Another way to save the money? Planning ahead and learning to say no. Here are some of my tips for doing just that:

  • Make your coffee at home. Why spend $4 on a latte you can make at home with fresh brewed coffee and some frothed milk? At-home lattes in cute to-go mugs are my jam.
  • Carry tea bags with you in your purse. Sounds weird, I know, but then if you find yourself out and about needing a bit of caffeine or meeting a friend at a coffee shop, all you’ll need is a cup of hot water and you’re good to go!
  • Keep snacks in your purse, car, desk, everywhere. I always have a LaraBar or Kind Bar in each of those places for the moments when I just need a little something to satisfy my hunger.
  • Make your lunches at home instead of going out everyday. Lunch plans with a coworker? Suggest bringing your own food and having a picnic. Not only is this more cost effective, but it’s a whole lot healthier, too.
  • Say no to the things might be considered frivolous spending (i.e. a concert, new sunglasses, that spring break trip, etc.). This is probably the hardest tip to put into action, but I have learned that saying no to things now allows me say yes to even better things later.

Taking extra income and immediately separating it into an account for debt payoff has not always been easy, but it has been super rewarding. Maybe your challenge isn’t paying off debt, but saving for a big trip or preparing to a buy a house. Watching those numbers dwindle (or add up if you’re saving) is truly so gratifying, because you literally get to see your hard work pay off. And maybe your current financial situation is different than mine. No matter what your circumstances may look like, there is so much value in learning as early as possible how to handle your money in a way that sets you up for success and glorifies God.

One last key to any success is to remember that it is all a gift from God, not an idol to be worshiped or a master to be enslaved to. God is Sovereign and knows the needs of people, but we must also be responsible with that He has given to us. It isn’t always easy, but our acts of obedience now with the resources He leaves in our hands will undoubtedly set us up for greater things in the future. I hope that through these words you have been encouraged to be intentional with your money planning, aggressive with your debt payoff, and frivolous in your generosity, all to the glory of our Father.