A Pretty Giveaway

I always want to feel pretty. Without question. You can use the adjectives here: beautiful, gorgeous, out of this world, whatever word that you ascribe to being pretty is the word I want to be. Daily. The problem comes because all too often I don't feel that way. Far from it. Yet, an involuntary impulse within me makes me want to be pretty every day, and therefore makes it impossible to leave the emotion behind.

So when I gave the challenge on Tuesday to tell yourself every day that you are pretty, I had already been doing so for over two weeks. And this firsthand account is what I have found:

To be honest I would forget to tell myself I was beautiful in the mornings. I was rushing to get ready, but when I was at work or I had a moment to actually look at my reflection, whether I felt it or not, I would tell myself out loud (not too loud for others to hear - I said pretty, not creepy) I was beautiful. I didn't always believe in that moment, but later on I would catch a glimpse of myself and I couldn't help but see something good reflecting back.

The more I told myself this one thing the more effort I put into my hair, make up, and clothes, and I already put quite the effort. However, there was an element to it that hadn't been there in a while: fun. I had fun picking out my outfits, decided what color to put on my eyelids, and how I should wear my hair.

It has put such a wonderful spin on my thoughts toward myself in the past few weeks that I believe I will keep going. I recommend it to everyone, especially you, the one who thinks that by doing so you will gain nothing. Why not try it? Why not, for a few days, or weeks try doing something that requires nothing more than telling yourself, what others already see. And yes, they do see your beauty, far more than you do.

And now for the giveaway. The subject of beauty is so deep for women that there is a multi-billion dollar industry that caters to the subject. However, I think the attack on women, and the subject of beauty goes far deeper than simple appearance. One of the best books I've ever read on the subject and one that touched me so deeply on it was the book, Captivating, by Stasi and John Eldredge. So profound on the subject that if you have not read it I want to give you the opportunity to read it now.

I'm giving away one copy of this book to my readers, you may give it away to any female you know who needs to read a book that was written specifically for them in mind. I'll keep it open until next Thursday, June 9th. To enter just comment on what makes you feel beautiful.*

* No out of US entries (Sorry!) and this contest is entirely supported by me, and in no way related to anyone else.



Stay Beautiful
by Taylor Swift

Much Love,
Kelli

Being Pretty

Before bathing suit season fully commences, and women's self esteem plummets because of the dread swimming attire I thought I would address the being pretty attitude.

If you feel ugly or fat there is nothing I can type here that will change your opinion. However, there is One who can: Jesus. I want you to understand that God will always require our cooperation when He is doing something in our lives. So, please, never think that if you pray for Jesus to make you thin you are suddenly going to be thin.

Quick Tangent: Being thin does not automatically make you beautiful.

Did you know God created you? When you hate the way you look or hate on yourself you are hating on a creation God made. Now this is nothing against plastic surgery, at all, but I find it sad when a seven year old girl needs surgery on her ears because the bullying is out of hand. I get how important looks are in this world, but if you are doing surgery to change your life, then I think you need to re-look at why you are doing it.

No matter what state your body is in I fully believe (and see) where telling it that it is beautiful is beneficial. You may feel like the fattest blob this side of the century, but if you wake up every day, and tell yourself you're beautiful, you will start to believe it. What's even better you will start to act it. What you believe about yourself is what determines your choice. Remember you are the daughter of the King! He created you and He thinks you're beautiful! SO BELIEVE IT!



You Are So Beautiful
by Joe Cocker


Much Love,
Kelli

Day 19: Getting Healthier

By my photos and posts I think you can tell I am NOT an authority on weight loss or extremely healthy eating.  However, I do care about my health.  I try to keep my portions small and eat what I should with what I will eat.  The part that remains elusive for me, the part I give up the quickest and most willingly is exercise. This is usually do to three factors: time, boredom, and money. 

With time it isn't so much that I don't have 30 minutes here or 15 minutes there.  It is that I have the moments at weird times and not the extra time to go to a gym or to a park to walk.  However, I do have an elliptical so that helps.

However, then we go into the second issue: boredom. I can get bored easily.  I'm okay with anything until I have had too much or I know the routine too well.  Then it becomes boring to me and I have to move on.  So, sometimes the thought of actually doing the elliptical, again, makes me cringe.

Finally, and this is what keeps me from buying a ton of work out videos or equipment: money.  I just don't have any.

So, I need something that will help me with time, boredom, and money.  I happen to be looking more closely these days as I'm trying to get more healthy.  I don't want the health problems that my parents are starting to experience.  What I've found today gives me hope and I hope it will for you.

The first is this article on the Kettlebell.  Odd little device, but it is suppose double the calorie burning you do when you use it with your normal routines. Such as burning 300 calories in 15 minutes.  So that takes care of money and time for me.

Then today they had a video from North Texas about Boot Camps for Beginners.  I know that sometimes going to an actual gym is intimidating if you are really over-weight because you feel like you are being judged.  So, a safe place to do Boot Camp and it is for beginners?  That takes care of boredom. 

I'll tell you in the coming days what I plan to do, and if I get some extra money I'm buying that kettlebell.

Feeling Vulnerable

I haven't felt this horrible about myself since August 2008 when I looked in Denise's mirror in Mexico and really saw all 260 pounds of myself. I know I had gained weight, someone close to me pointed it out in a rather crude manner. I felt so disgusting and ugly at that moment that I believe it will be forever lodged in my memory.

Flash forward to today, (at least 25 pounds lighter, but obviously still heavy), and I think I've had that sort of moment again. I have had horrible skin since I started puberty. I was a thin girl before it got a hold of me with beautiful creamy skin. Now, I suffer from roseca and I field questions from kids about my skin. My self confidence is shot, has been for a while, and I'm usually able to rally myself around the fact that it will get better.

However, day after day, and year after year, I can't help but lose that hope. I have been hoping for so long for so many things and I've tried so hard to pray, to hope, to have faith, and I'm so disappointed now that I just feel like resigning myself to the fact that it doesn't get better than this. I know that's not true, but that is how it feels.

It's 12:23 in the morning and I need to get some sleep, but I just couldn't get past the tears tonight. Writing always makes me feel better, and so excuse this self indulgence in self pity, I just needed something tangible to tell this too. I hope soon, very soon, I can give you the praise report I've been praying and hoping for.

With love, Kelli.

New Years Come Early?

No, it hasn't. I turned 28 yesterday and realize I want to change just a few things. I don't want to change myself, just fix some issues that I can. What has happened is that I'm issuing a challenge for myself. If I were to look in the mirror or have to go on one of those shows and tell you what I don't like about myself there are five major issues I have.

1. I don't like my weight first off. I am a size 18 on a good day.
2. I have a few moles. Nothing gross that is really outstanding, but they drive me nuts. I just need to find a good doctor, which leads to number three.
3. I have some medical issues that I need to get resolved. The problem is finding a good doctor.
4. I may be looking for a new job in the very near future and I want to make a good impression. Despite the weight.
5. I want to feel good about what I look like despite what size I am.

The Challenge:

Starting July 7th I will fully begin the challenge of remedying all of this. The reason is I will be back in the States and I get my new haircut on that date. A great hair cut is a great way to feel good about yourself, so we will start with something simple, easy, and something everyone can do. After that I will try to tackle each issue and by July 7th, 2010, I hope to have each issue resolved.