Project 31 Day 8: Beauty Secret

Day 8.  Have a beauty secret?  Share, please!

Okay, so I really don't have too many beauty secrets.  I use basic products, which probably aren't the best for me, but that are affordable.  I could probably use your advice more than you could use mine, but here is one little trick I learned a couple of summers ago.  It is a little sensitive of a subject, but worth sharing.  So, you know after you shave your bikini area how those pesky, irritating bumps show up?  Admit it, we all struggle with this and find it incredibly annoying.  We are all grownups here.  We all want to find a remedy to this, right?  Here is one that someone told me about that has worked pretty well.  It is not a cure by any means but it helps.  DEODORANT!  So after shaving or waxing use a solid deodorant (like the one shown below) on the area.  One with powder is best.  This will help calm and soothe the area and hopefully cut down on the irritation.  I know this is not the best beauty secret, but hey, it has helped me, so I thought I would share.  So, what are some of your beauty secrets?  I would love to know.  Hope you all have a blessed day and that you are enjoying the summer!

 

Project 31 Day 7: Encouragement

Day 7.  Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman

1 Thessalonians 5:11
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

 

 When I think about beautiful women in my life I think of several people, but for this post I want to focus on my beautiful sister.  My younger sister, Melissa, and I are two years apart but close as ever.  If you were to know the two of us you would quickly realize that we are complete opposites, but completely related at the same time.  My sister is not only gorgeous on the outside but has a free spirit, a strong will, and a beautiful heart.  Currently she is getting ready to start her final year of college where she is studying social work.  She has a giving spirit and desires to help young women and young adults through her career as a social worker.  She is continuously growing and I notice new changes in her every time I see her.  She is doing amazing in school and is becoming a stronger woman daily.  I am so proud of you!

  

One thing I adore about my sister is her sense of humor.  Melissa, never lose your sense of humor, continue to crack yourself up, and be goofy.  I love being goofy with my sister.  It is one of my favorite things.  I get very giddy when I know my sister is coming home for a visit and I know that I can be myself when she is around.  She knows me, my flaws and all and yet continues to stand by me.  From a mutual love of Taylor Swift to a connectedness through corny jokes, our friendship and relationship has grown stronger over the years.  I think the world would be a sad place without sisters.  We fight with each other, share secrets that sprouted in childhood, support one another unconditionally, share clothes, laugh together, sing loudly in the car, and have a bond like no other.  Melissa, I am so proud of you.  Continue to shine inside and out.  I admire you and know that God is doing great things in your life.  I can't wait to see you next week for the T-Swizzle concert! 

Project 31 Day 6: Jaded Beauty

Day 6: Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

 Every day the world's idea of beauty impacts my idea of beauty.  Women are bombarded on a daily basis with what the world believes is beauty.  Size 2, blonde, blemish and cellulite free, sex kitten, quiet and unheard, the list goes on and on.  I think one of the main ways that the world has jaded my idea of beauty is that beauty is only a physical characteristic.  A woman's beauty is not seen in her confidence or ability to stand up for herself, her independence, or her intelligence.  

Growing up, I was a goody-goody and a little nerdy.  These adjectives are not a part of the world's definition of beauty.  I grew up thinking that I could not be both confident and strong and be beautiful.  I did not see my beauty until I was much older, like in the last couple of years.  I still struggle with trying to fit into the world's narrow keyhole of beauty and often wonder why I even try.  I still have days where I let the world define my beauty.  I don't want to be defined by the world's sense of beauty; I want to be defined by my creator's idea of beauty.  Being a virtuous, faithful, strong woman of the Lord who sees herself as fearfully and wonderfully made.  For I am a masterpiece in the eyes of my Creator, whereas here I might be ordinary or lacking in the beauty department.  I want to be fearless, inspired, healthy, strong, bold, not size 2, sex kitten, unrealistic, and expected.  

 

Work It Out Girl

With no job and no schoolwork, I've had a lot of time on my hands.  This means I need something to do.  I am the type of person who gets very bored, very easily.  I need to be on the move most of the time, I need something productive to fill my time.  That being said, I have been focusing a lot more on fitness and working out.  I have always loved being active.  I grew up playing sports three seasons out of the year and spent the summers at summer camps and on the go.  Now that I am all grown up there are no more summer camps and I have to be diligent in staying fit.  So, what are my activities of choice you may ask.

I love, love, love step aerobics.  It is a great cardio workout and it also works your mental capacity through choreography.  I go to a step class at least once a week at the YMCA, my favorite is on Tuesday afternoons.  I much prefer going two or three times a week.  Step can be very intimidating for first-timers, but I promise I looked just as goofy my first time and it definitely gets better with practice, so keep at it and you will be doing the most complex choreography soon.  So, if you have access to step aerobics group classes, give it a try you might surprise yourself.   

Now, I am by no means a distance runner.  I can run about 2 miles and that's about as far as I go.  I just love the feeling and the challenge of running.  It is such a mental exercise because your body can always do more than you believe it can, so you have to train your mind to be in accord with the body's capabilities.  There is definitely a lot of self-encouragement going on when I go running.  I try to run outside at least once a week.  I either drag Brandon along or I bring my trusty Ipod.  I'm hoping to get Piper to be my running buddy as soon as she is big enough.  I usually pair running with some toning exercises like an ab workout or muscle toning and of course a nice stretching episode.  My goal (which is a lofty one for me) is to run the Cooper River Bridge 10K in Charleston next year and possibly the Warrior Dash in August.  I really should begin training, haha. 

This one is waaaay out of my comfort zone, but I love it.  In case you aren't familiar with Zumba, it is a high-energy dance workout that features Latin (i.e. salsa, meringue, bachata, etc.), reggaeton (my favorite), hip-hop, belly dancing, and any other kind of dancing you can imagine.  The goal of Zumba is to have a fun experience while burning calories.  I used to go to Zumba on a weekly basis, but then stopped going because I got busy.  I went to my first class in a while today and it was amazing.  There were about 100 people there and the energy was off the chart.  It doesn't matter if you can shake it like Shakira or you move like a white girl (like me).  All that matters is that you let loose, have fun, and get a great workout.  It is freeing as a woman to be able to embrace your sexy side and power as a woman.  I challenge you to try a Zumba class at least once, you might find you have moves you never knew you had.  

Finally, my favorite activity is softball.  I have played softball since I was 8 years old.  I played throughout school and continued with intramurals in college.  Now, I play on a rec league team with some people that I grew up in church with.  We play a game once a week and I absolutely adore it.  Even though it isn't fast-pitch it keeps me in the sport.  There is something about being on the field that makes me feel at home, fulfilled.  It indulges all of my senses.  I love the ping of the bat from a solid hit, the feel of the dirt between my cleats, the smell of the dirt and leather on my palms, the sweat on my brow, the breeze and sun on my cheeks.  It is a feeling I can't explain.  For that hour once a week I am free, I am at home.  Do you have an activity or hobby that gives you this feeling?  I hope you do. 

I love being active and try to make a part of my weekly routine.  Sometimes, working out can become a burden or something that is easily given up.  I try to schedule it into my daily routine as if it is an appointment that I have to go to.  It is one of my self-care activities and I not only benefit physically from it, but mentally, emotionally, and psychologically.  Also, having someone support you and hold you accountable is important as well.  I encourage you to find the workout routine that works for you.  It might be yoga, cardio, lifting weights, dancing, whatever gets you moving.  So, what are some of your favorite fitness activities?  

Project 31 Day 3: Stay Beautiful

Day 3: Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

 Ok, I know it said "someone you know", but I have to write this post about someone who is inspiring from far away.  It might sound cheesy, but Taylor Swift really does inspire beauty.  She is as genuine as she is talented and obviously gorgeous.  She truly is a positive role model for young girls and does not fall into the mainstream life of stardom.  Even though she is a couple of years younger than me she is inspiring to me.  She is not afraid to be herself in an industry that so often calls women to be objectified and to fit into a sexualized mold.  She inspires women of all ages to be comfortable in their own skin and to believe that beauty is not a one-size-fits-all quality.  Her songs are positive, without cursing or derogatory lyrics and she is not afraid to speak her mind, which is something I would like to be able to do more often.  Her music is so relevant for women and for what women struggle with.  I really do admire her for taking the risk to be a different type of female celebrity and for being a fearless woman.  Taylor Swift is my favorite musician and a woman that inspires beauty from the inside out.  So, even though I do not know Taylor Swift personally I do respect her platform as an artist and what she stands for when it comes to beauty.  Keep it up Taylor because you are inspiring the beauty within me and so many other women around the world.  I'll see you in concert July 8!

 

 

Project 31

So I have been reading Meg's blog for a while now.  She has taken on a challenge called Project 31.  It is a reflection project that encourages women to reflect on their beauty, as the Lord sees it and to celebrate the beautiful people and things of life.  The project is based on Proverbs 31:10-31. I have been thinking about taking on the challenge myself and finally decided to give it a go.  I cannot guarantee that these posts will be inspiring or insightful, but I can guarantee that I will grow in the process.  This is all I can ask and pray that the Lord will help me be a better wife and woman of Christ through these reflections.  So here we go.   

Day 1: What does beauty mean to you? 

This is such a loaded question.  To me beauty is being completely yourself from the inside out.  For me as a woman, I have always been a little self-conscious, but at the same time able to develop my confidence over the years.  To me, beauty radiates from the inside out.  It isn't about the clothes you wear or the people you call your friends.  When you are able to look at yourself and be comfortable with the armor God has given you, that is beauty.  Beauty is striving every single day to be a better person, to never settle, but to grow.  Beauty is investing in the lives of others by using your character and radiating from the inside.  Whether you are sweet, goofy, introverted, extroverted, a thinker, a nerd, an athlete, or a little edgy, when you are comfortable with yourself from the inside out and are able to embrace yourself with an air of comfort and confidence I believe you are beautiful.  Have you ever met those people that are so genuine it's like you can see their heart?...Those people whose smile will melt your soul and make you feel completely comfortable?  You know exactly who they are because they know who they are...these people are few and far between, but they are so comfortable with who they are that they consistently embrace their beauty and are able to convey this to others, not in an arrogant way, but in an inspiring manner.  I think when you embrace your own self and are able to be comfortable in your own beauty then you are able to more easily see the beauty in others and it becomes a contagious chance to encourage someone else in their pursuit of self-actualization.  Being genuine from the inside out and letting that spillover into the lives of others, that is beauty.  To me, beauty is not a visual sensation, but a feeling that is obvious from the moment you meet someone.  Beauty is a combination of things and is not created but embraced.  If you are able to take your God-given compassion, boldness, creativity...all those spiritual gifts and bring them to the outside, that my friends is beauty.

Natural Beauty

The other night while celebrating Brandon's birthday at dinner we somehow got on the subject of makeup.  My foundation has run out and I really don't want to spend the $20 on another bottle, but Clinique is the best and does well for my skin.  Anyways, Brandon looks at me and says (totally genuinely) "do you really need it?  I think you are beautiful when you go all natural."  Okay, all at once "awwwwwwwww".  Honestly, I hate going out without makeup.  I know it sounds superficial and self-conscious, but I really feel "unpretty" without it.  Not that I wear a lot of makeup, I actually prefer the natural makeup look and didn't start wearing makeup until I was a junior in high school, but something about makeup makes me feel prettier than when I wear my bare face.  Isn't it amazing how someone else can look at you and see a completely beautiful person that we can't even see ourselves?  I know I have found the right man because he sees and loves the real me.  He doesn't need me to be all dolled up or to cover the flaws that I see in the mirror.  He loves me just the way I am, even if I don't.  He makes me feel pretty when I feel grungy and question my beauty.  What a blessing and a great illustration of how Christ views each of us!  I know that I will still go out and buy that bottle of foundation for my own sanity and self-esteem, but it is a nice reminder to know that my husband sees me just the way the Lord created me and he loves me all the same.