Perfectly Imperfect

I shared a picture on my on facebook page that I'd seen in the news feed. It was one of those pictures talking about being who you are, though you didn't have a perfect body and loving yourself for being you. My sister-in-law commented on it saying she was "perfectly imperfect". Wow! What a way to look at yourself. See, I'm SLOWLY learning that the beauty isn't in the perfection. Being perfect is boring. For example, how boring would it be to hang around someone who was totally perfect? They didn't have any "bad habits", didn't mess up or do ANYTHING wrong. I would totally be snoozing. Imperfections can make the person. 

I don't have the perfect body (far from it). My hair gets frizzy, my makeup doesn't always look the best, and when I don't wear makeup my skin isn't perfect. When I get nervous I bite my nails (especially at tense parts in movies eek!). I have scars from my stupidity as a kid, and some from my stupidity as a teenager and adult! But when I get around people who love me, none of that matters. We have fun being imperfect together. We laugh about the stupid things we do, about past memories. I don't notice what they don't like about themselves and they don't notice my flaws. It's a win-win!

So the next time you are feeling flawed, remember....you are Perfectly Imperfect... :)

One Size Fits All World...

Imagine a world where size isn't an issue. In this world there are no worries about trying to squeeze into the ideal size or beating yourself up over the fact that you couldn't squeeze into it. Instead, ONE size fits everyone perfectly... Nice thought, right? Of course we all know that isn't the case. Each woman, young and old, have their own individual shapes, and the sizes vary. I have never seen an instance where a pair of jeans had a one size fit all tag. On that note, I dub today a One Size Fit All day. How am I going to do that if I just explained that one size DOESN'T fit all? Easy... by showing those things where "SIZE"  is not an issue.  What I am going to focus on, one size will fit all... flawlessly.

Gun Metal Gray Scarf

Number one on the list (drumroll please).... Scarves. Plus Size or Down Size (figured small girls needed a "size" name), scarves are a great one size fit all. Sure, some like them longer and some like them shorter, but there is no specified scarf for a specified size, and they are super cute!




Next on the list is earrings. Never thought of earrings being a "one size fit all commodity, did ya? Well they are. Earrings are a great accent to any body shape. They are great for framing your face flatteringly or just complimenting your rockin' outfit.

 Triple hoop earrings!

What about makeup? No matter the shape and size, every woman can sport makeup that compliments their beautiful and unique  features. We know most wear it to hide the blemishes underneath. However, makeup only helps emphasize the beauty that you already have. Don't forget that. Makeup is definitely a "one size fit all" that can make women feel totally glam!

Best Grammy Makeup (in my book).. Carrie Underwood

Now that we have covered the physical, materialistic things that can fit all women, and helps emphasize, compliment, and accentuate. Now let us cover some "one size fits all" goods that can light up any and all women, making them even more attractive.

Smile a while!!! Do you  know anyone wth whom a smile doesn't fit their face? (haha pretty funny to try and picture right). Think about it, though. Everyone has the ability to smile, and when someone beautiful on the inside and out TRULY smiles, it is TRULY a beautiful thing, and makes them more appealing and approachable.

(From left to Right) Me, and my friends Dj and Megan
Totally Cheesin'!

What about Confidence? This is a little more contraversial, but only because not every one has discovered their inner confidence. However, do not try and tell me that only a specific size or body shape can have it. Confidence is also a One Size Fit All, you just have to find it. Women who are confident, not conceited, tend to stand out (in a good way)  more so than others. Why is that? Because you are who you are, and are comfortable with that fact. This gives you the ability to take more chances, be more outgoing, and willing to be adventurous and try new things. Confidence is sexy!!!

The ABC's and D's of Commercial Images of Women

As I was browsing through the NOW website (National Organization for Women), I came across this little slide show that was posted; The ABC's and D's of Commercial Images of Women. If you aren't already on board the "Outraged Women's" train, this will put things into perspective for you.



"A" stands for Advertising. Advertising promotes and unrealistically perfect and totally unreachable beauty. They play on women's insecurities of being thin or thick, blemish skin, etc. From perfect teeth to perfect hair; you name it and Advertising plays on it. I believe one of the slides emphasized that advertisers claim "There's not a body part that can't be improved". Women are advertised as constantly sexual, known for their bodies and nothing else. The funny thing is, we are so desensitized and rarely realize the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, demeaning advertisements.



"B" stands for Boys to Men. Boys are socialized to see women as body parts and sexual play things; rewards for their success (puh-lease). Advertising places women in submissive and sexual roles and positions, "saucy servers", and belittles their value, basing it off their attractiveness. Men are portrayed as strong, dignified, adventurous, and for far more than physical traits.





"C" stands for Celebrity Obsession. Actresses are deemed as public goods, from their physical body parts to their sexuality. Magazines are filled with the "Best Beach Bod's" and "Who's Got Fat" spreads. One magazine even had a four-page Celebrity Breast spread, taking note of celebrity's cleavage. It also focuses on the difference in how male/female actresses are portrayed.



"D" stands for Dangers. The media sends extremely dangerous messages to viewers, especially young, impressionable girls and boys. They absorb this information like a sponge, leading them to a distorted body image, and other harmful and deadly paths.



Don't take these ads lightly. They assist in the determining the way our younger generations will think and see themselves and others.

What do YOU guys think of this?

(Check out the Slide show yourself at http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/presentations/SexStereotypesBeauty/flash-large.html)

(These images were posted on NOW's Offensive Ad's page)

What is True Beauty?

Everyone see's beuaty differently; describing it with different words and showing it in different ways.  Michelle C. gives her own views on True Beauty, searching much deeper than skin-deep, and showing that beauty is not only in the physical. This is her reflection of what True Beauty is...

When my friend approached me about the True Beauty Blog, I asked myself “Who are the most beautiful people I know?”As I wrote the list I began to think, what makes them so beautiful? Each of them has physical qualities that I admire, but that is not what makes them truly beautiful. The things that make them beautiful aren’t physical features at all, it’s the sincerity behind their smiles, the kindness in the words they speak, the joy in their laughter, complete honesty even when it isn’t what you want to hear, a hug that lets you know they are genuinely happy to see you, and most of all the love of Christ that radiates from their being. 

God made us in his image sent his son in a robe of flesh to die on the cross so we might be forgive and obtain His love in our hearts this is true beauty!  

Follow Michelle at http://enjoying-the-simple-life.blogspot.com/.

Shocking Revelations

My name is Rachel, I’m 27 years old, married, and have three amazing kids. With the birth of my first child (my son Luke) I gained a lot of weight, 67 pounds to be exact. I didn’t have a personal trainer to help me lose all the post baby weight like the celebrity mothers now days who can pull off a bikini a week after delivery.  As a matter of fact I don’t remember a time in my life where I have EVER been able to pull off wearing a bikini, but that’s not my point. My point is that one of my biggest issues in my life has always been weight. I’ve never been skinny but in my younger years, aka before giving birth to said amazing kids, I was a lot smaller. Now I’m not blaming my weight issues on my kids, it’s my own fault, but at the same time I’m not really wanting to talk all about myself today. I was just kind of giving you a bit of insight to my life.

Actually, I want to talk about my 8 year old daughter, Lauren.  She is tall for her age, dark brown eyes, and brown hair. She’s considerate, funny, and loves her ballet class. Lauren isn’t overweight or considered obese at all, she is simply taller than the average 8 year old. However, my daughter struggles with body image….already! The first time I heard her voice her concerns was the first day of school in second grade, she was worried that her outfit made her look fat. I was completely shocked, because for one thing she’s not fat at all, she’s tall and lean. BUT everyone around has emphasized the need for a great body.

Now while I’m freaking out and thinking “What the heck she’s only 8!! When I was 8 I didn’t want to brush my hair and ran around with my male cousins in the woods playing cops and bad guys! COME ON!” I was missing the key role that I play in my daughter’s view of the world and her perception of beauty. It hit me one day when I was standing in my mirror, distressed, complaining about how my jeans were snug and I said simply “God, I’m so fat”. My daughter then says “mommy, you’re not fat. Please don’t say that. You are beautiful.” What an idiot I have been, I thought. Here my little girl is telling me that I’m perfect just the way I am when I should’ve been telling her this, and I have before, but you have to realize that what your children hear you say, and watch you do is more than likely what they are going to say, think, and do.

I’ve decided that in order to help my daughter in the way she perceives herself I have to change some things about me. For one, I have to stop being so negative about myself all the time. I don’t consider myself ugly I’ve just always felt that because I was overweight that I couldn’t be considered pretty or attractive. Why do I think that? Well because everywhere I look (T.V., magazines, movies, college campus for pete’s sake) tells me that being skinny is the only way to be pretty. WRONG!!! (insert annoying buzzer noise here) why do we think that? I’m so dang down on myself all the time that it’s affecting my kids. So this is it, I’m stopping this now. I want my children to be confident in themselves, not worrying constantly about fitting in or looking like someone else and if I want that for them, I have to show them how to act this way. Not saying that I’m not going to be working my behind off to loose weight, but that’s because I’m not happy with myself, not because someone told me I’m fat. I’m going to teach my children confidence and independence through my actions.

Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes we get overwhelmed with what’s in our face every day, but that’s okay. The battle only makes victory that much sweeter. I’m going to take the advice of my sister, Rebekah, and say that I’m beautiful and unique in my very own way. I’m going to build up the confidence in myself and share it…

The Time Has Come...

Growing up, I was always the bigger girl. I heard the words big-boned, fat, “your size”, and chunky. Those were the ones that described me, and that started at probably around seven or eight. The worst part was that as a seven year old, I totally understood what that meant. It meant that something was wrong with me, or so that was how people made it out. I mean, what is worse than being told that girls “your size” can’t do something BECAUSE of your size? Or that you aren’t pretty because you are a certain size.

I’m sure each woman has been commented on about their body. Whether it is you were too skinny or too big or too tall or too short; whatever the case, it never makes us feel very good, and only makes us look at ourselves with self-hatred. Society’s view on body image only intensifies that self-hatred. After all, you can’t turn on the television without some sort of diet commercial telling you how to get your perfect body, or some seemingly flawless model sporting Victoria Secret lingerie, that you could only dream of looking that good in.

Personally, I think it’s time for a change, and since we can’t change the world’s opinion… then we change our own.

I am a twenty-two year old woman going for her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and working. I am married to an amazing man who loves me just the way I am. Sounds like someone who should be, if not completely then at least somewhat, passed this obsession of looking perfect. However, I have went through years where I would constantly put myself down because I’m not a size 2 or even a 4 (BTW I’m only a size 8); because I didin't fit the mold of what is "hot".  I would critique my skin, my hair, my legs, my “whiteness”, etc. I mean, really it gots ridiculous the stuff that I put myself down for. What’s bad is that a lot of these things I couldn't and can't do anything about. For example, my face broke out horribly one time (A very common thing for people in general), even though I washed my face religiously morning and night. I felt horrible and disgusting because of some acne that I couldn’t get rid of immediately. After all, those of you who have problem skin know that it takes time to get rid of. So, I was basically depressed because on top of how fat I kept telling myself I was, I also had blemished skin. Sad stuff, right?...

True Beauty Journal is all about looking at your-self in a new and healthier way.

On one of those days when I felt bad about the way I looked, I found myself making a personal creed, since I had such a problem with putting myself down. It goes something like this:

v  I will NOT say I look ugly

v  I will NOT say I look fat

v  I will NOT compare myself to other women

v  I will accept the things I cannot change about myself

v  I will work on those things I know I can change

v  I will remember my best features when I am feeling down (not just physical ones, but about myself in general)

v  I will be confident in ME

It probably sounds silly to a lot of you, but the truth is, most of us are so busy beating ourselves up because we don’t look like someone else that we forget the important things about ourselves. Okay, so you don’t look like this person… big deal, you look like you, and there are some pretty special things about you. Such as… no one else looks like YOU in the entire world. Hard to believe, right? I’d say that makes you pretty darn special and beautifully unique.

Beauty isn’t about being perfect. Beauty is about being healthy and happy with who you are and what you look like, and then having confidence in that. If you think you should lose weight, then do it, but do it for you and do it to be healthy. Do NOT do it because you think you are required to have the body of someone else to look good. If you have bad skin, so what! Did you know that acne affects 40 to 50 million Americans? It is actually considered “the most common skin disorder in the United States (American Academy of Dermatology). So you aren’t the only one who suffers from it. Look past the blemishes to the beauty underneath. In fact, forget that they are even there. Life is too important to be stressing a few blemishes.

The point is, if we want to appear beautiful to others, we have to see ourselves as beautiful first. Stop the comparing, and wishing, and degrading. Put on those imaginary, self-appreciating spectacles and see how beautiful you truly are. Be happy with who you are. If you aren’t happy, then change those things you can and want to change, but for the right reasons. Do it for YOU, and not because someone else says beauty is a specific hair color with a specific body size and perfect skin. It’s time to see your-self more clearly. So follow me on the road to self-ratification. Be happy. Be Healthy. Be Be-YOU-tiful.