Summer seems to be a pivotal changing point in people’s life. I high point and turning point of the year.
Each one has been drastically different for me. Growing up they seemed ages long, but since college they fly with flaming colors, and each has had its own tale to tell.
This summer, I know will have its own story. My main goal? To have this baby…. and then enjoy that baby with Gabe and my children. I think the rest of the adventures that will come will be side effects of this life event.
What about you? What do you hope your summer story will be?
After spending a weekend with my sisters, I realized we each still have a funny perception of ourselves and the flaws we have. As women, well actually, as human beings we all have flaws. Both interior and exterior. We are made perfect in God’s image, but in our own image we are skewed. Sometimes our interior confidence weighs heavy in the way we portray our exterior confidence, and on the contrary, sometimes our exterior insecurities can deeply affect our spirit.
I have freckles galore on my face. I also have scars. Two of them. One on my upper lip when I split it open at age 8, and the other on my chin when I fell down the stairs at 3 yrs old. I was holding onto a cross tightly, and it rammed into my chin. These might each be considered facial “flaws” but they have been a part of me for so long, I don’t think I would recognize myself without them. I went through a phase of trying all the best concealers to minimize the appearance of my freckles and scars, but after I met my husband, he would frequently comment about how much he loved them. I also realized my mother has freckles, and I think she is one of the most beautiful women I know, so now I OWN my freckles proudly. Maybe it takes just one person to sincerely tell you that you are beautiful to really change your perspective of yourself (maybe it doesn’t hurt when its someone you love and respect too).
It also just takes one person to remind you that beauty is far deeper than surface level. Don’t you find that you love being around people who have a confident and positive attitude? Who see people beyond what meets the eye? I have a few friends like this that I am blessed to know. It makes me sad when a group of women stands around and belittles their body image. We could really use that time to talk about anything other than image. Maybe the Encourage Beauty campaign and the Dove Beauty campaign (whether it was a good one or not) is the reason why this has been on my mind so much these past few months. My friends and I used to have a group blog called OWN IT. It was all about taking our femininity for all that it is and making the most of it.
So here’s my challenge to you.Name your scars and flaws. I thought it would be good to start a little wave of owning your flaws confidently. I am sharing mine publicly here on a lifestyle blog. This doesn’t mean you have to do the same, but what can you do to take those interior or exterior insecurities and start to accept them? The interior ones are much harder to acknowledge, but maybe if you start with the surface level, you will find yourself going much deeper than you anticipated. OWN those surface level scars and find a way to see that they are a part of you. Maybe even let them show. Sometimes a little vulnerability is what we need. I have stopped concealing mine. Its good for each other to know we are ALL flawed (okay maybe not Halle Berry, but you get the idea…;)) and in our imperfection we can find a very deep level of real untouched beauty that is unique only to each individual.
I would love to hear or see your thoughts on this!
If you do choose to share a photo, tweet, or post about this topic, please hashtag #ownyourscars so we can encourage each other and uplift. (Always my goal!)
I am thoroughly wiped out from a weekend of non-stop crazy fun in Nashville for a sister weekend. Some of you already got a good preview on instagram. 5 out of us 8 sisters were able to go, and our dear friends (who are also 3 sisters) met us there. My feet are swollen from dancing, and my eyes are puffy from lack of sleep. It was grand to say the least. What is so cool about sisters and close friends, is picking up right where you left off, being on the exact same page, and having an unspoken understanding of each other. We like to call these sort of friendships kindreds. My heart is so full…
Highlights:
Dinner with live music at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant in a giant booth under Willie Nelson. Had the best pulled pork I have ever tasted (next to my grandpa’s).
Getting ready in the hotel room….57 times…with all the girls- trading clothes, giving outfit advice, and catching up on serious life events at the same time.
Laughing to the point of tears (haven’t done this since the last time I was with them..).
Getting to meet my nephew Isaac for the first time. We couldn’t get enough of him.
Shopping in the Hillsboro area in the sunshine that was not supposed to exist that day.
Cruising to high school favorite tunes with my high school best friend….windows down, on full blast, with some serious car dance moves.
Sushi by the pool, and wondering how we all made it there.
Dinner at a true Southern experience. A white mansion on acres of greenery. Fried chicken with all the fixings served in bowls and passed around a giant wooden table. The house was out of a movie…giant chandeliers and wrap around stairwells with a large front porch for post dinner conversation. It reminded us of Gone With the Wind.
Line Dancing the night away at Wild Horse Saloon. I am sure I scandalized many as I whipped my baby belly around the dance floor with no precaution. I may be a little sore today, but it went down as one of the best memories of 2013.
Brunch after Sunday Mass – A tradition in both of our families. It was the perfect closure to the weekend.
And a fun little video to preview the party my sisters bring wherever we go!
Someday, we will all live in the same state, but for now, I am grateful we had the opportunity to be together for these few days.
Breaking schemes and chasing dreams today friends!
A video review. That thing I thought I would never do as a blogger has come true. My awkward embarassing moments caught on film for your viewing pleasure;) I know videos are sometimes way more helpful than reading through a review so hope this proves to be helpful to you! Plus, I get to give these hair tools away today! Details on how to enter below!
If for some reason you can’t view above, you can watch here.
In the video I talk about my top reasons to love the 32mm clipless curling iron. Efficient, easy, and healthy for your hair. Its been a lifesaver for me on time and frizz management to say the least! Would love to hear your questions if you have any!
I also got to try out the wet and dry flat iron. You can use this tool on wet or dry hair! I tried it out on my post lake day half damp wind blown hair and it felt like I had washed and styled it after using this tool. I think I will commit for life;) I have spent so much money on cheap curling irons and flat irons, so I am looking forward to a having a product that will be around forever (lifetime warranty!).
Ready to win one of these pro tools?! I will be giving away a 32 mm Clipless Curling Iron as well as the Wet or Dry Styling Iron, so there will be two winners!
You have until next Friday to enter! Good luck and happy weekend!
*This post was sponsored by Jose Eber and is 100% my own opinion.
I met Jessica through IHOD months ago, so when I saw her announcement that she and her sister Christy were opening an etsy shop, I eagerly clicked over to see what treasures I would find. Based off of Jessica’s taste, I just knew it was going to be good….
Well, not only is it textile heaven through the pattern and color combos, but the styling and design of the shop setup is perfection. A shop full of bows and bow ties for little misters and misses. I sat for twenty minutes before deciding on a few to order for Veronica. When they arrived, I was so impressed with their customer service and packaging and immediately was ready to order bow ties for Gabriel.
Right now, I clip the bows on headbands to sneak on Veronica until her hair fills out more. They are available for order with clip or headband. Gabriel picked out his own bow tie to wear for his fourth birthday and I had a hard time not kissing his cheeks to death that day:) Hope you enjoy this new affordable addiction for your little ones as much as I do!
I had the privilege of working with Sarah Hubell and her beautiful work, Emma Magazine for a DIY feature for the May 2013 issue. I have raved about this magazine before and made an appearance in the April issue. Using some of my necklaces that had been broken or fallen apart, I up-cycled the gemstone pieces and made them into a few new ones. You can read the full deets on page 8:)
Every issue is loaded with style tips, printables, DIY’s, interviews, and color and design genius. You can find the current issue and past issues on Emmamag.com. You can also keep up with Emma Magazine on facebook, twitter, and instagram.
Here are a few additional photos. If you follow the general instructions for the gemstone bracelet DIY, you will be a pro at these! So easy to make and fun to gift. Hope you enjoy! Thank you Emma Magazine for having me as a contributor!
I don’t believe I have ever officially introduced my mom here on the blog, but I talk of her often. Mainly because she is my standard of heroic motherhood to which I hope to stand even at waist length someday. She raised and is still raising eleven children. I was the second oldest, so in many ways, I saw her grow over the years. With each year, and each child, she gave more of herself…her heart, her time, her energy…..and each year I saw her become a better version of herself. I guess that’s how it works!
She cooked dinner every night for as long as I can remember.
She and my dad made many sacrifices of their own so that we each would have the right education scenario for our different needs.
She shared our joys and shared our sorrows.
She made my childhood an imaginative world, challenged me to be steadfast in my faith, encouraged me to be strong in those blurry high school years, and cheered proudly through every small accomplishment I ever achieved.
She is now a very best friend. I miss her each day, and sometimes wish I could go back to my happy childhood… with my sisters by my side, dancing to music or rollerskating in the basement (to records of course)….or as we got older…chat at the kitchen counter.
It is a beautiful thing to witness how she loves each of her children in their own way and all with her whole heart. I hope to carry this into my own life. I have much to learn, but what I know, I received from her.
Now I get to witness my own children come to know and love her, and I am thankful for that. Wishing away the miles in between us today!
