Thankful & Blessed with Bellelily & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #189
“Unhappiness is a contagious disease caused by a chronic deficiency of gratitude.”
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
I am a firm believer that one’s quality of life is directly influenced by one’s approach to life. We have very little control over the things that life throws our way and I have found that maintaining a simple roll with the punches attitude really works wonders in living one’s best life. By nature, we humans are a very adaptable species. Otherwise, we would not have survived as long as we have. While adaptability is paramount to our survival on earth, it is our mindsets and our perspectives that are most influential with regard to our levels of happiness.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live out my years just surviving. I want all the happy fun things, too. And so I decided many years ago to always be mindful of the wonderful gifts that I have been given. Every morning when I wake up, I take a quick inventory of the abundant blessings in my life and I offer a silent nod of thankfulness to the universe for surrounding me with so much love and overwhelming joy.
“Mindfulness is by far the most supreme expression of gratefulness for being alive.”
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Today I have yet another fun statement tee from Bellelily to share. I was really drawn to this Thankful & Blessed O-Neck Baseball T-Shirt for a few reasons. I do love a baseball style tee for the cooler weather. The gray and burgundy color palette is one of my favorites for fall. And the message itself spoke to me in so many ways.
Disclaimer: This tee shirt was gifted to me for purposes of this product review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Showcasing my thankfulness for all the blessings in my life prominently on my chest is just one fun way to remind ourselves that we really do get to choose our happiness. Plus the styling options for an inspiring graphic tee are endless. You can see how I have styled my other Bellelily statement tees here, here, and here.
“You cannot, at the very same time, be grateful and unhappy, or ungrateful and happy.”
Mokokoma Mokhonoana
This last quote has really struck a chord for me. I really truly believe that happiness and gratitude are directly linked to one another. I literally find myself overwhelmed with gratitude at least once a day which allows me to sit in a place of happiness straight down to my very core being. Even in the worst of circumstances, there is still so much love and kindness and goodness in the world. And when we recognize it, pay attention to it, and accept it openly and graciously, the limits are quite boundless as far as happiness is concerned. Throw in a bit of gratitude and thankfulness and one’s cup with continue to overflow.
Even in times of sadness, I can still feel an immense amount of gratitude and thankfulness because one bad day does not erase a lifetime of blessings. Plus without sad times, how could we ever embrace and appreciate good times?
If you have been searching for high quality graphic tees that make meaningful statements, Bellelily has a huge variety of colorful options in stock. Use my special discount codes listed below to receive additional savings.
- Code SOEE10 will save you 10% off your order over $19
- Code SOEE15 will save you 15% off your order over $69
For size reference, I am wearing a 3XL in all of my Bellelily tees. I have worn and washed five of these tees so far and they wash beautifully. This baseball style tee is just as soft and comfortable as the others!
So tell me…do you approach life from a place of gratitude? Or does something else work better for you?
Before I get to the business of the link party, however, I do have to give a little shout out to my 9 year old, Awesome Archie. He has been the one behind the camera for most of my photos lately including all of the ones in this post. He wasn’t very enthusiastic about his new job when I told him that we would be going for daily walks and taking photos at some point during his virtual at-home school days. But he is embracing it now and getting a bit creative with the camera which I love! In fact, he has gotten Radical Ralphie wanting to try his hand as photographer! I find things like the images below on my camera roll after my photoshoots. And I couldn’t be more thankful and blessed to have these two little amazing, although challenging, human beings in my world!
And now the featured favorites from last week.
Reader Favorite (Most Clicked)
Debbie of Fashion Fairy Dust shared a much needed message in her post, Teachers Are Humans Too + Snake Print Button Down & Birks. Plus her outfit is wicked cute and she has some really cool shopping/styling advice in this post, too. I am such a huge admirer of Debbie’s ability to weave an incredible outfit and a powerful message into one blog post.
Fashion Favorite
Lizzie of Lizzie in Lace shared one of my favorite looks of all time in her post, Neutral Fall Outfit Essentials to Complete Your Wardrobe. I had a major bout of outfit envy when she shared this outfit last fall (I think I featured it as a favorite then as well) and my feelings have not changed. I freaking love everything about this outfit combination.
Non-Fashion Favorite
Dee of Grammy’s Grid shared her post, A Themed Linkup 28 for Soup Recipes. I am a huge fan of soup and get so excited when soup season arrives. I have a whole bunch of my favorite recipes that we make every year, but I am always looking for new ones to try. For soup lovers like me, this link party was like hitting the jackpot! I can’t wait to try some of these amazing recipes.
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Recreate my look from Bellelily..
Outfit Details: Thankful & Blessed Tee-c/o Bellelily / Moto Jacket-Old Navy / Jeans-Torrid / Boots-Thrifted / Hat-? / Necklace-Gift Shop in Iceland / Earrings-Shelbee’s Shoppe
56 Comments
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks so much for hosting and for featuring my themed party for soup recipes!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Dee! Have a wonderful day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jed Jurchenko
Hey Shelbee, Thanks for hosting. I, too, am big on having a roll with the punches attitude. Thanks for the reminder and simple encouragement.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Jed, thank you so very much! And thanks for stopping by and joining the link party. I hope your week is off to a great start!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
I love that you take time in the morning for gratitude. I try to do this as well with my journalling. Love the tee and the look you put together around it. The boots are so cool! Thanks for the link up!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Kathrine, thanks so much! I think I want to start keeping a gratitude journal as well. I journal frequently but have never focused it on gratitude. I am interested in seeing what comes out of it. I have about 3 dozen blank journals floating around my house. I guess this is the perfect excuse to start using one of them!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You look cute!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jennifer! Have a great day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
That’s a lovely tee, sweater. Perfect for those jeans. I have to say, your cute boys are doing a hell of a good job! I think they deserve icecream!!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Nancy! I just told Archie that you said he deserves ice cream and he was like, “Oh. Okay. Can I go have some now?” Hahaha. Silly boy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Krienke
What a great baseball tee, with the perfect message to remind us all to pause and really evaluate how we are feeling. I love the act of gratitude. Even saying or writing out the tiniest things that are going well flips your brain from focusing on the negative to thinking about the good. It actually made me think that I really have let my gratitude journaling drop off and it’s something I really wanted to focus on for 2020, and what a good year to choose that as my focus! You look fantastic in this outfit, but nature also always really suits you. You seem happy and at ease. Have a great week.
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Bo, thank you so much for this wonderful comment. Focusing on a gratitude journal is a great goal for this crazy year. I journal frequently but never really focused specifically on gratitude in my journaling. I think I might like to try that as well and see what comes out of it. And yes, I do love getting out in nature and away from all the hustle and bustle of things. I wish I had more opportunities for it. I hope you are having a great week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
Such a great message and fun look!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar! I having so much fun with these statement tees.
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
Archie did an awesome job with these pics! I wouldn’t have guessed it wasn’t an adult taking the pics! Nice job! I really like this tee! I have been trying to be grateful too when I get up in the morning. Makes such a difference to at least start the day with a positive attitude.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Mireille! I think Archie has watched Jeff take my pictures enough times that he has all the angles and such pretty much mastered! That being said, he takes about 200 plus photos that I need to sift through where Jeff takes about half of that! But I am grateful for all of my boys and what they do for me. On the days when I forget about gratitude, things usually get a little messy in my head. So I will do my best to remain on the side of positive as frequently as possible!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
Wow! Your son has done a phenomenal job with his new photography job. I often used my middle son as my photographer (well, not real often as I prefer being behind the camera).
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! He really is getting pretty good behind the camera! I love it! And hey, we do enough for our kids, they can give us a little hand with our stuff, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Christina Morley
Great photos and great quotes! My favorite: Unhappiness is a contagious disease caused by a chronic deficiency of gratitude. I recently saved an image with text similar to your T-shirt to use on Facebook.
Blessings! Tina
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Tina, thanks so much! Isn’t that quote so fun? You have to go look up that guy, Mokokoma Mokhonoana. His quotes are so profound, some funny, some bitter, all thought provoking. I hope you are having a fabulous week.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jessica A Jannenga
We have the same burgundy lipstick today! It looks great on you and i just love this color for lips and nails in the Fall. So true about one’s happiness. I used to say there is a difference between “existing” and “living”. Merely taking up space isn’t enough! I need fun too!! Thats why I look forward to our once a week outings.
Love the combat boots and your tee is lovely! I share the sentiment.
enjoy your day!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
ps. I go for surgery on Oct 1st, wish me luck!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Jess, thanks so much! I love the darker burgundy lipstick as well especially in fall and it is such a great nail color, too. I want to live out loud as well and not just exist, but there are definitely days when just existing is about all I can do! Haha. But that’s okay because we all need days like that. Sending you lots of luck and positive energy for your upcoming surgery! I am so glad that you have it scheduled and it just a week away. Relief in sight!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Super cute outfit! I love the t-shirt and the hat especially. But even more importantly, I so appreciate your content on gratitude and happiness. I am fortunate in that my moods are pretty even, but it still remains important to focus on gratitude. I can get to feeling overwhelmed or compulsive about life if I don’t maintain a perspective of gratitude.
Many years ago, I read the blurb of a book I had intended on buying and reading – but never did, and now I don’t remember the name. But the book was written by a psychologist about his own epiphanies regarding his own depression. The basic premise was that while depression is a chemical state in the brain, it can be created by learned patterns of thinking. In his case his parents (inadvertently) taught him to interpret the world in a way that produced depression in his brain. I found this idea both fascinating and reasonable. Granted, it is not the cause of all depression, but I could see how someone could sink into despair if they interpreted everything they encountered in life in the worst possible way.
Anyway, fantastic post and lovely outfit!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Michelle, thanks so much! Having battled bipolar for the past 20 plus years, I have learned that shifting your perspective to the positive makes a world of difference. Certainly, it is not always as easy to do when one sinks into a depressed state, but it sure helps the process of getting out of depression if I can gently remind myself of all the good things. And yes, I think it would be a terrible existence if we approached everything in life from a defeated standpoint or any other negative place. That book sounds rather fascinating! If you do remember the name of it, please let me know.
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Oh! And I love Archie’s blue pics! Getting creative! And he takes excellent photos of you and your outfits!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks, Michelle! I keep sharing the positive feedback with Archie and it is definitely boosting his photography confidence!
xoxo
Shelbee
Ashley
Taking the time in a.m. for gratitude is such a lovely + gentle way to start the day! I’m also loving you in this cute cap!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Ashley! It definitely helps to set the tone for the day when I start with gratitude!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
I choose grateful! Love this post Shelbee xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lucy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Maureen
Awesome Archie did such a wonderful job on taking your photos Shelbee! I love that your boys are helping you out because let’s be real, taking pictures on a tripod is just not the same! I also adore your graphic tee. The message on it is beautiful and something I can get behind. Like you mentioned, our mindset is powerful and really does make it or break our well-being. I know that in life things can change so quickly and I, too, give daily thanks for all the blessings that has been given to me.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Maureen, thank you so much! I am loving all these fun statement tees with positive messages. They really do help to uplift me on bad days. I just had to explain to Archie how much better the photos come out when he takes them and how much quicker the process is as well if I don’t have to set up a tripod and check angles and all that stuff. I hope you are doing well, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Cheryl Shops
Shelbee, I admire your positivity and resilience via your T-shirts. If I were wearing one right now, it would say OVER IT, because that’s how I’m feeling today. I think I need to turn off news alerts on my phone. Anyway, thank you for the mental pick-me-up—I needed it!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, Cheryl, I hear you! I was just saying yesterday how totally over it all I am. We just received news yesterday that there was one positive case of Covid at my kids’ school and now everyone is in a mass panic and I am just not. We are following all of the guidelines and so the best we can do is give over our worries because worry will not prevent bad things from happening. So I have to stay on the positive side lest I go insane! Haha. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. Hang in there, my friend! I guess this crazy time is all just part of our journey to wherever we end up!
xoxo
Shelbee
jodie filogomo
I just love this message Shelbee…in fact, I almost got this tee too!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jodie! Are you collaborating with Bellelily as well? They have been really great to work with. I am heading over to check out what’s new with you. It has been too long since I have stopped by!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laura Bambrick
Tees with sayings like these always get to me! They always come out in fall which was when our youngest daughter was born after a long fight with infertility. Honestly whenever I see a saying like that it’s a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are as a family! And bonus-it’s really cute on you!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Laura, thanks so much for this wonderful comment! How wonderful that your second little miracle came along during the season of thankfulness! I do wear these tops all year long though because we definitely need to be grateful always…not just in the fall! Haha. I have a really cute gray tunic that just has the word “blessed” embroidered in pink cursive letters that I wear all the time and I have never shared it on the blog. I think I need to photograph that one, too. I do love all the positive message tops, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
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Jacqui Berry
Good choices Shelbee, thanks for sharing them. Jacqui x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jacqui! Have a great day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Just Live Joy
That tshirt is the BEST! And I love the jacket and the whole look. Fabulous and fearless!
https://justlivejoy.com/three-ways-to-wear-a-graphic-tee/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much! I am loving graphic tees so much right now!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
The saying on this tee is perfect and I agree, I want to enjoy everything I can in my life! I need to do my gratitude journal in the morning again, I haven’t in awhile. It really does help to ‘slow’ down and focus on what blessings we really have!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Carrie, thanks so much! I need to start a gratitude journal. I journal frequently but never with a focus. I think it could result in some pretty great writing as well. And yes, it would also help to slow us down a bit and focus on our blessings. It really is a game changer when you do that.
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
So very true and thanks for sharing this wonderful reminder. Thanks for hosting and sorry that I am late.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hi Patrick! Thanks so much! And better late than never, right?! I hope you have a wonderful day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Hazlo Emma
This is just beyond cool.
Nothing compares to being thankful, grateful and blessed.
Lovely inspiring post.
Shared it!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much! And I agree…practicing gratitude has become a necessity for me to get through some of the more trying days! I hope you have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
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Kimberly
Thank you for sharing this on Traffic Jam Weekend! It has been chosen as a fave feature for this week’s party that goes live on Thursday at 5:00 pm CST.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Kimberly! I am honored! I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
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