The Vision of the “Voice of Manifestations” Newsletter is to communicate the various events to our partners and the community. Thus, it helps to build and enhance relationships between the two. The newsletter is also a mechanism to evangelize, encourage, build and lift up. The Voice focuses on the four aspects of Manifestations Worldwide, which are Spiritual Trainings, Education, Job and Housing. Our prayer is that God is touching someone’s life through the Voice of Manifestation Newsletter (VOM). Ultimately, our desire is to be obedient to the commission God has given us; to go and spread the gospel. All we need is an audience; someone that is interested, ready to listen, with a heart to receive. Many go door to door; but VOM newsletter travel email to email; across the country and around the world, seeking the heart in need of a word. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthews 28:20 (NIV)
A Note from the Editor Dear Reader, August,
the last month of the summer. As we get ready to send our children back to school and many preparing to go back to work, let’s thank God for the opportunity to have had an amazing summer. Let us embrace with gratefulness that we are going back to work and or school. Take a moment with our families to reflect on how blessed we all are. God has kept His promise to guide us, lead us, keep us, protects us and help us. He has not given up on us. Let’s rejoice in our experiences, learn from our mistakes, start all over again if we must and make a plan for the future. Start with setting up small goals that will help accomplish the greater goals. It is my prayer that as you move forward in your walk with Christ that you mature and prosper in every area of your life.
Ms. Yesmin Remember that there is always an opportunity to explain the plan of salvation which is simple; Admit that you are a sinner Believe that Christ is the Son of God and die for our sins and Confess that He is Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Just reminding you that “The Voice” evangelizes, encourages, build and lifts up. We focus on Spiritual Trainings, Education, job and housing.
We
believe we are doing what God command us to do which is to “Spread the Gospel” by email. We cannot do it without you. We ask you to continue to help us by sharing the link. We know that there is a word for some in need. You are the Voice! Until next month....
What’s Inside: TOLERANCE IN THE WORLD By Eddie Boles Page 12
Come As You Are Jennifer Grant Page 13
Getting fitted for the Tux Chronicles of a Groom To Be (Part 2) –Al Gonzalez (Cover) Page 14-15
BALANCING YOUR LIFE Bro. Keith Lashley Page 16
A Valuable Life Lesson From the Seasoned Senior Ministry Mother Anne Winston, Ministry Leader Page 22– 23
Not Just for Teachers Only……… by Eva Johnson Page 26– 27
2016 Top Fall Fashion Trends by Tianna Marshall Page 28—29
August 2016 Community calendar dates August 6th- Employment ServicesbyAppointment ONLY. Assist with Resume, interview tips, application, etc. August 10th - 7-8:30 pm “Children of Inmates Inc.” Group Session Location: Jr. Outré Facilitator: Latoya Sheppard August 18th- 7 pm (Every 3rd Thursday)“N.O.S.I.S” (No One Suffers In Silence) Sexual Abuse Group Location: The Secret Gardens Facilitator: Lisa Jones
Mark T. Jones, Sr.– Founder
Family Support and Resource Center Restoring Hope, Life, and Strength in OUR Community 2 Corinthians 12:10
August 25th - 6pm-9pm “Transitional Team Family and Friends” Location: Empowerment House Facilitator: Latia Newsome August 26th - (Every 4th Fri) – 6pm-9pm “Worship/Soaking” Location: CFM Main Sanctuary Facilitator: Dana Mackey OPEN TO ALL Resource and Referral Phone Line: (813) 423-2060 “PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE” Mon, Wed& Fri- 11am to 1pm ALSO Mon and Wed - 6pm to 8pm WALK-INS are WELCOME Questions or Concerns Contact Resource and Referral Ebony Sasser, Coordinator Kristian Dilbert, Assistant Renae Kendrick, Director cfmfamilyresourcecenter@gmail.com
The Center for Manifestation 3102 East Lake Avenue Tampa, FL 33610 www.centerformanifestation.com Sunday 7:00am-3:00pm Mon.-Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
TOLERANCE IN THE WORLD By Pastor Eddie Boles Tolerance!
whose sole purpose is to try and prove us wrong and justify their prideful lifestyles that contradict the word of God. We must follow Jesus’ example; he only spoke the words of the Father, and allowed men to make up their own minds whether they would obey or not. However, because he was so full of the Holy Ghost and was perfect, his words had such a penetrat-
ine. In addition, they (the world) seeks to silence the body of Christ concerning the truth of God’s word; and if we as believers speak out, we’re labeled as haters, intolerant and placed in the same category as extreme racists. It’s interesting that the very ones screaming for tolerance are themselves intolerant of those that have differing opinions.
ing effect on the heart of man that they usually had no other choice but to change for the better. Our effect on men would be in like manner if we strived to stay full of the Holy Ghost with clean hands and pure hearts.
It is defined as the ability or willingness to tolerate (accept) something; in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. Believers, we’re currently living in a world that places a demand on our tolerance for any and every kind of lifestyle you can imag-
Believers, the bible instructs us in Romans 12:18 that “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, to live peaceably with all men. The truth of the matter is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is very offensive to man. Why? Because the heart of man is wicked, he wants to do what’s right in his own eyes, and he’s full of pride. So, as we engage men, our focus should be only to speak the truth in love with meekness, kindness, and firmness; giving room for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction on man’s heart. We are not called to get into meaningless debates and arguments with men
Proverbs 16:24 says “pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” So, as we live in a world that grows more and more intolerant to the sons of God, let’s take comfort in Proverbs 16:24, and simply speak what God’s word says and let the Holy Ghost bring conviction and change. Our mission to take the gospel of Jesus Christ will no doubt become more and more challenging as time goes on. However, this doesn’t lessen our responsibility to continue to speak the truth of God’s word in love with meekness and kindness. So, believers, stay focused and speak the truth. God bless and peace be with you.
Come As You Are by Jennifer Grant Are you clothed in guilt, sin and shame? I love you just the same The way to me; I make easy Pledge your ways to please me Come as you are I’m always near, never far I’ll never abuse or reject you I’ll fill your mind with thoughts anew Come as you are Close the open door to him The enemy takes no rest He plans to steal your best Come as you are I bore your sins upon that cross So you’ll heed to my call I will catch you, when you fall Come as you are With every ailment you possess I can cure them all Eliminate the stress Come as you are Hungry, I am the bread of life Thirsty, I have living water Naked I’ll cloth you with love Accept my invitation Come as you are
Getting fitted for the Tux Chronicles of a Groom To Be (Part 2) –Al Gonzalez (Cover) ting on and for what? Think for a second. What good would it be to have a nice pair of pants that are too short or too long? It would not do any good, right? Then why would we shorten our process of making sure we stack up to the challenge of being a husband? Or extend ourselves past our abilities instead of being honest with ourselves or our bride to be? The timing must be right and the process must be complete.
Ephesians 6:11 (KJV): Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
So
it’s time to go get fitted for the tux; your time to stand and make your vow is quickly approaching. Getting sized, picking a color, a style, price point, rent or buy, how many does the tuxedo shop have of your style choice? All are questions that are swirling through my head as I approach the 2 ½-month mark. I even thought about “Can I dance in that tux? Can I dance at all?” Well, to be honest there is a class for the dancing that I can proudly say I have been taking. But we are not here to talk about my ability to “cut the rug,” we are talking about the cut of the tux. In men’s fashion as in women’s, there are so many styles from which to choose. But for the sake of our discussion I want to focus on the fit. See when I went shopping at a tuxedo shop, I witnessed the tailors measuring the length of the pants legs, waist line, torso, shoulders, arms, and neck. All to get the perfect fit. We can say we are ready to put on the tux and the bowtie, but the process of doing so requires some further consideration. Like, what are you put-
Let’s look at the shirt, one of my favorite pieces of the ensemble and most important (you don’t want to be standing without a shirt at the altar; with a jacket and a bowtie on your neck that would look really unfortunate.) If you don’t have sleeves long enough for your arms you will want to reach out but would be restrained by the limitations of the sleeves. Too long and you will look ridiculous all bunched up at the end because your arms are not long enough. Style aside, look at it in this perspective, are we as men able to reach without restraint towards our brides to meet their needs? Or are we bunched up with too much going on that we are giving a short version of ourselves because we have put on more than we can handle? Let’s make sure we are proceeding in excellence, stretching without restraint and having enough to cover with room to grow. The neck being too big will give our heads an appearance of being unstable, easily moved, and if it’s too tight it will not only appear like, but also feel like, we are being choked. Likewise, these final steps in the preparation of marriage; we must be sure we are firm in our headship. There is no room for wavering, or loose necks, but we also need to make sure there is room to breathe. God needs to be able to continuously breathe new life and wisdom into us as husbands.
(Cover Story Continued)
Now
for the main piece - the jacket, the cover-
ing. As God calls us to be husbands, that is a ministry all on its own. It’s priesthood. So when they measure you for a jacket and you try it on, make sure you can button it, stretch, reach up, down, across, and the good old hug test. I mean you will want to reach across to your bride and give her a kiss without your jacket busting open, or her getting lost in an oversized jacket, right? This is why it is important that when you put on this jacket, you are aware of your limitations and needs. When getting fitted for this jacket it is important that you can operate normally and be comfortable. As it is in the covering you have and will provide for your family in the marriage. Knowing what your spiritual life requires to maintain the relationship you have with God and make you the husband you will be must be discussed. How will those devotions, prayer times, studying, or whatever disciplines you have, look like in marriage? To be balanced and be a covering, making sure you discuss what it takes for you to be that fit and have room. Even in all the planning, purchasing, decisions that have to be made, exercise that muscle so your bride can feel confident in you having the room for her, and more importantly that you are led by the Spirit. If you need a moment to pray about something, do it and tell her. She needs to know that your wisdom comes from the Lord, not just a shot in the dark that just so happens to be a good idea. These are opportu-
nities to build her confidence in your ability to lead her spiritually as she is preparing herself to be under your covering. You would not want to put on a jacket that has holes, no sleeves and fit you back in the 4th grade, when it’s cold outside, right? So make sure she knows you can cover her when the time comes. Lastly, remember that you have to try it back on in a few weeks. So be sure you don’t gain weight or lose some without going back in for adjustments. Worst thing that can happen is you pick up a tux that no longer fits and they can’t get the right one in your size in time for the wedding day. Point here is consistency (“don’t gain weight”) or persistency (“get adjusted”) if you are still in the process of losing more weight. If you need to lose a few pounds, then do so. Improvement is always a good thing, especially if it means your gaining new disciplines for your future. While doing so, attentively check your spirit and share those new developments with your bride. She is going to go through a lot of changes (home, submission to a new covering, finances, companionship, maybe dieting herself, spiritually, etc.) so don’t leave her behind. Remember, it’s not about you but it starts with you. P.S. Guys, keep the shoes plain and let the tux be the stand out, but also let the bride be the star that everyone talks about. Not your crazy-looking, probably epically awesome shoes.
simple;
BALANCING YOUR LIFE By Bro. Keith Lashley
Comparing the value of one thing with another is another way of saying “setting priorities.” People who don’t set priorities are doomed to fall short of their goals and lurch from one crisis to another. In other words, drama dominates their daily existence. That’s where balance comes in. There are several definitions of the word “balance” and they all should or could be applied to one’s life. But I think the following three are the most appropriate for this month’s topic. Balance: a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions keep or put something in a steady position so that it does not fall offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another We need to consider the facts. There are only 24 hours in a day. Most adults spend an average of 8 hours at work, an hour to get ready, eat breakfast etc., and another hour on average to drive to and from work. The second major daily requirement is getting at least 8 hours of sleep (hopefully), which helps to bring about the physical or health balance we all need. That leaves just 6 hours a day to do all of the other things that need to be done, Monday thru Friday. And those 6 hours just don’t seem to be enough sometimes. Using the quick guide is a great way to maximize your time. It is important for us to know and understand exactly how we currently spend our time. Print out an hourly time chart from the web or get one from Staples or Office Max (going there may take more time than you have) One example of a useful chart is available online, similar to “studenthandouts.com.” If you know how to create a spread sheet, you can make your own. These charts show hours on one side and the day of the week at the top. The beauty of these charts is that you can pre-fill known time obligations and/or commitments right away. Filling in secondary and tertiary other obligations will help you to see how much time you are spending on nonessential issues right away. If you really want to get a better sense of how you use your time, go one step further and carry around a small notebook to chronicle any activities that take 15 minutes or
more during the day. Remember, you are not making adjustments in your schedule just yet – you are just making notes of what you do with your time now. The ultimate goal is to see how much time you spend on nonessential items and how you can create more balance. But you must first understand what these time-consuming items are through this exercise. Assigning a time to sit down at least twice every month to make sure your bills are up to date will bring discipline. It will also help to maintain or improve your credit score and achieve greater financial balance in your life. This should be a highpriority item on your chart every month. It is important so that payment dates do not slip by because of distractions. Write in the due dates for your bills on your chart in bold letters so you can keep track of them. Procrastination will only bring more headaches and launch other unnecessary crises in your already busy life. The daily devotion time slot is the most important time slot for the Believer. Starting the day off reading your Bible and communicating with God will work wonders in your life. This time of devotion every day will help center you, provide the spiritual balance we all need, and should help focus your efforts during the rest of the day. If you have time to talk on the phone every day with friends and family, or to watch your favorite TV show, then you have time to devote to your spiritual growth. It does not have to be an hour. Start with just 15-20 minutes of set aside time and during this period, do not think about the day’s coming activities or new crisis you may be facing, but “think only on these things” as Paul states in Philippians 4:8. At the end of the week, look at the largest pockets of time used on non-essential or low priority items and see which ones could have been eliminated or streamlined. Then plug them into the chart (see above). Interesting, isn’t it? I did not address Saturdays and Sundays because by nature those days tend to be devoted to all of the stuff that does not get addressed during the week. But follow the quick guide described above and hopefully these two days become less of catch up time and more of “I feel empowered” time.
Inspirational Prayer for Women Heavenly Father, Thank You that I am unique in Your kingdom. Thank You that You made me special. Thank You that there is no one like me. Thank You that no one has the same talents, skills, and abilities that I have. Thank You that no one has what it takes to achieve my destiny - except me! God, it makes me feel so good to know that no one can replace me in Your heart. No one could ever be so special to You or important to You that You wouldn't still yearn for my company. The truth is that I am incredibly important to You. I will believe that truth. I am adorable and treasured in Your sight. You love me just the way I am. You think I am awesome. You are eager to help me become even more than I am right now. You are eager to guide me to become even more joyful, more contented, more mature, and more blessed. I am uniquely qualified and prepared for each day, because You are living inside me and I am living inside Your love. Amen
Copyright Š 2003 Beth McLendon of Inspirational - Prayers.com
A Valuable Life Lesson From the Seasoned Senior Ministry Mother Anne Winston, Ministry Leader 3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4. That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed (Titus 2:3-5).
says, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone who asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” I pray that everyone will find out who God says they are and through faith and obedience to Him live the abundant life.
The Seasoned Seniors of Center for Manifestation want to impart some valuable life lessons to our young people. We are here to guide you from making bad choices or making the same mistakes we made. We learned from those choices and we want to encourage you from our valuable life lessons listed below. Mother Anne Winston valuable life lesson: The most important life lesson I ever learned was how God defined me as a person. There was a time when I thought that society defined me. I had very low selfesteem and I was looking for love in all the wrong places: but then, I found out that God loves me. He is always with me and will never leave me. I found out that I am as unique as my fingerprints, made in God’s image and likeness and given dominion. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because Jesus, who knew no sin, paid for my sin on the cross and gave me his righteousness.
Mother Kathleen Ransom valuable life lesson: The tempter is going to come, believe me. We all have issues in one way or another. Let me be real for a moment. I was a young mother; I had a husband and two small children. I suffered with arthritis in my younger years. I had swollen joints in my hands and also down to my feet; hurting all over day and night. One day, while in the wheelchair, I decided no more of this, this is not where I want to be. I even had an operation on both hips. It was a success and I was able to get around and do for myself, husband, and children. I was down for four years before my change came,
I knew that God had the power to change things, but I was not sure of what God would do for me until I learned Romans 2:11, “There is no respect of person with God.” I thought that I had to figure things out for myself. I did not know about the good plan and purpose that God has for my life in St. John 10:10b says “....I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” St. John 14:14 praise God.
(A Valuable Life Lesson Continued)
We must keep our trust in God. We must be obedient to His word. Keep your head up. Know that our redeemer lives. Remember James 1:1-8 (All of it) Remember Hebrews 12:1-2- lay aside every weight and sin… Matthews 6:33 seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Other Scriptures, Isaiah 26:3; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:5-8, and Psalms 46:1. I am a living witness, I trust Him. Even when I was going through all my trials, I was a witness for Him. I was going to people homes in the project. I got a missionary license is on my wall. My mission was leading souls to Christ. My husband is gone and my son is gone. The other son is off drugs and turned his life over to Christ and living for Him. I have my health and strength and I’m still working for Jesus. I won’t give up. He is worthy to be praised.
Oh yes, there were some challenges in my life and with my children as they grew older. I was dealing with an alcoholic husband, a son on drugs and my other son was homosexual, who has since passed away. I had my assignment. I cried out to the Lord, “When are you going to change them?” I named them one by one and nothing seemed to happen. No change. Oh, I did get some breaks. It was not bad all the time, but it was enough. They had their issues and so did I. I just needed peace. I was praying one day and the Holy Spirit spoke and said, “Just live the life before them; work on you. Get you ready for them.” Nothing changed, but because He changed me, I was able to cope. I stayed prayerful before the Lord. I had worship cassettes then. Fasting, studying my Bible. . . .I kept my head in it. I was told, girl you need to stop doing all of that. I even graduated from Knee Bone College because issues kept me on my knees. I needed a break through. Every time the church door opened, I was in there. I had to, I knew I wouldn’t survive. I kept a button pinned on my church clothes that said “something good is going to happen to you!” I kept that close to my heart, read positive thinking magazine during that time. I would sing “I am going to make it on this life journey!”
Mother Gwen Peters valuable life lesson: When I was growing up, my mother would sit down and talk to me. When I became a teenager, she would keep me close to her; talk to me about life and told me get an education first because books and boys do not mix. I listened to her and that’s what her valuable lesson taught me. Mother Katie Pena valuable life lesson: Always make God first in your life. Seek him in all that you do for yourself and your kids. Always teach and tell them about the Lord. Try to live a godly and respectful life before your kids because they are always watching what you do. We are our kids’ first teacher. Love them and correct them when they are doing something wrong. Always set a good example before them while they are young. Never curse your kids. . . .calling them bad names. Sit with them and find out what their likes are and what they want to do when older. Remind and tell them they are loved and are special to you and God. Hug your kids. In closing, remember the Seasoned Seniors Ministry is here for you. God is glorified whenever we teach and guide you in your Christian walk. Remember, whatever your call is in life seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these thing shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Mother Sandra Barr
Not Just for Teachers Only……… by Eva Johnson
As our children head back to school; parents, please remember to pray for them each morning. Anoint them with oil if you can; ive them a hug and teach them how to pray for themselves. I believe one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is the ability to pray for themselves in every situation. They need to know how to go to God for themselves. And, on a personal note, in light of the events that have been taking place, I was deeply touched by the words of a four year old child who said to her mother, as her mom broke down crying, “It’s okay, I’m still here with you.” What beautiful comfort the child was giving her mother! Can we reciprocate and comfort our children the same way? Somehow, I can hear God through the words of this child as he says to us, “It’s okay, I’m still here with you.” What wonderful reassurance to know that God is still here; that he is still with us! And, he is with our families and friends. Psalms 91 is a powerful prayer of protection. Read it. Here are some scriptures to read, recite, post, share and teach your children as they go through another school year. These scriptures will help them, and you as well, to handle conflict and find resolutions instead of retaliation. Feel free to search the Bible for more helpful scriptures. I have found that children love to read the scriptures with you. Take time to do this daily. It gives them the ammunition they need to make it through each school day. (I have
also included conflict resolution tips at the end of this article, along with the effects of anger on the physical body.) Galatians 6:7(NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 7
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Luke 6:31(NIV) Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Psalm 37:8(NIV) Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
Psalm 103:8 (NIV) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) 15 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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Proverbs 15:18 (NIV) A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. 11
Proverbs 19:11(NIV) A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 16:32 (NIV) Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
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Colossians 3:8 (NIV) But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 8
Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ephesians 4:31(NIV) 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Always remember what God’s Word says,
“Romans 12:19 (KJV) - Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
The Four Steps in Conflict Resolution are: Understand Avoid making things worse Work together Find the solution
2016 Top Fall Fashion Trends Here are a few fashion trends that will be making their debut this fall, along with others that are repeating their walk down the runway: Navy Inspired. In the past army fatigues represented the only branch of the military that appeared on fashion runways, but this fall a new military branch will make its debut - Navy. Take heed to invest in double-breasted jackets, sailor paints and even navy peacoats. Leopard Print. When it comes to cats, the leopard is one of the five largest cats in the Felidae family and when it comes to fashion, leopard print will be roaring its way across the runway scene this fall. Tiers on Tiers on Tiers.
Ordinarily I would warn you to stay away from ruffles because they tend to weigh you down and add extra unwanted pounds visually, but this fall multi-layered skirts will be pioneering their way across the scene in pastels and pleats.
Black and sheer. Black has always been an evening wear standard, but black paired with sheer tops will add a new twist to an already popular trend. Accompanied with leather, black wiggle skirts or simple black customfitted ankle pants, either way you will be sure to stay in sync with what’s trending in evening wear this fall.
Bold Shoulders. Voluminous layers graced the fashion runway in 2015, but this fall get ready, while volume will still remain supreme, the focus will be on the shoulders. So pull out your 18th to 19th century Victorian style shirts and dresses, because they will defi-
Now that you have been given a shopping list for this fall, always remember, it’s not what you wear but how you wear what you wear. If you also apply the tips given to you in a Kelly Green. When we think previous article, “Knowing Your Body Type of emerald, we tend to Is More Than Half the Battle” (see VOM think of the city to which NewsDorothy and her friends letter were traveling in the WizMarch ard of Oz, but look out, edition), you won’t because go wrong this this fall fall, if your goal emerald is to stay with (Kelly) the fashion ins green and outs of will be 2016. making its way to a fashion scene near you. Highlighted as most flattering in evening wear, you won’t go wrong if you pick up a few items in this fab color. nitely be coming back in style.
Butterfly Accents. Also this fall, butterflies will make their appearance, anywhere from being woven into outerwear to being stitched into sweaters; looks like these beautiful insects will be hanging out with us.