Project 31. Day 6.

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

So, I sat here and stared at this question for quite a while. Jaded isn't exactly a foreign word, you hear it all the time. To me, Jaded always meant something similar to scorned, a chip on your shoulder, made bitter. That is typically the way jaded is used in our society. So I am staring at this question and wondering how I could ever be jaded by the world's deffinition of beauty. Like a puzzle piece, I kept trying to make past thoughts and feelings fit in the jaded spot.

Have I ever been disappointed that I am not as skinny as the world prefers? Sure. Jaded? Not so much. So with this, I wanted to be able to actually write on this topic so I visited dictionary.com to see what THEIR definition of jaded was. Perhaps I can take a different spin? I was surprised at what I found:

Looking at their definition, it doesn't carry near the heavy negative connotation as I felt that it did. So lets look at #2 here, as it would be the most fitting of our topic: worn out or wearied, as by overwork or overuse. I still don't think that I can ever say I was 'jaded' by the world's definition of beauty. Beauty is all about perception, confidence, and inner spirit. None of these things I have ever felt jaded about. I certainly do not give physical attributes enough weight in my worries to be considered wearied or worn out.

So... final answer: NO, I do not ever feel jaded by the world's definition of beauty.

Project 31. Day 5.

Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive

To my sweet & precious love,

Since the day I first felt you move in my belly, I was overcome with a feeling I wasn't sure that I recognized. You continued to grow, and I began singing to you and telling you stories. I think you heard me. :)

We have been through so much my pretty baby. You came into this world with such a struggle on your tiny, little hands. From the moment I saw you, I recognized that feeling: true, unconditional, unaltered, deep-seeded love. It seems like the first year we fought, and fought hard together to get through one obstacle after another. But we made it.

I love you more than words can tell you, I want things for you even greater than I can know. You are intelligent, beautiful, happy, funny, witty, creative, and loving and I admire you in so many ways. I hope that I can guide you down the path of life and help you gain every glory and success your heart desires in this life.

The one thing you may not know, or ever know... is how completely, and utterly you changed not just my heart... but my soul. Before you I was lost and struggling to find myself and my purpose, and by just existing you pulled the blindfold off my eyes and revealed a beautiful, delightful world to me that I never knew existed around me before. In loving you, I was able to find me. Thank you, my Olivia. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing me real beauty and helping me to understand my heart and my soul. Thank you for making me want to be a better person for me as well as for you. Thank you for blessing each day.

Olivia full of Grace... I love you.

-Momma

xoxo

I feel pretty.... ohhh so pretty!

This just tickled me this morning, so I wanted to share! We were getting ready and this morning Olivia was particularly adamant that SHE was going to brush her hair this morning before I put it up. No big deal.

As you can see she has a big lump of hair, well I told her not to worry about it because we were going to put it up anyway and you wont be able to tell.

It was at this point that she pipes up and INSISTS that she must make it all "beautiful" for her friends at school. Then she continued to go on and on about how it has to be beautiful for her friends.

Kids say the darndest things, don't they?

Project 31. Day 3

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

First of all... I apologize for skipping Sunday. It was a very busy day for me. So lets call today... Day 3, shall we?

When being asked who is someone I know that inspires beauty, my mind automatically goes to one person, my sister. Katrina has a way of making anything she touches beautiful. She also makes anything ordinarily beautiful simply amazing. Her creative soul, and positive demeanor is wonderful and even inspiring. She sees the world through pink puffy glasses and just being near her is infectious! Her sense of humor is so very candid that you cannot help but retract to a child-like self.

Besides her glowing self she is so very creative. You could give her popsickle sticks, construction paper, and glitter and she would build you a modern, ultra-hip kitchen table. Ok -- maybe not really -- but at least something cool to sit on TOP of the table.

Thank you for being your wonderful, beautiful self. I encourage you all to take a peek at her blog.

xoxo

Project 31. Day 2.

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?

I'm a mother

a daughter

a sister

a friend

an employee

a student

a girlfriend

a homemaker

an aspiring chef (in my own home!)

a humanitarian

a realist

So what makes me uniquely me? My heart. I adore most people I meet.... I worry about those I will never meet.... I want to make a difference and touch others lives, as so many have touched mine. Whether it is through volunteering, being a good friend, helping when needed, or any other means, I hope I too can make a difference. There is so much ugly in this world and such a lack of beauty that I believe that we can make it so much more promising if we all work together.

"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." -Gandhi

Project 31. Day 1

Day 1: What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty comes in so many forms, shapes, and designs. Everything from mother nature… to your neighbor down the street. It is too easy to get wrapped up in daily tasks and ignore all the beauty that surrounds us every minute of every day. While I appreciate nature, it’s beauty is fairly obvious. People, on the other hand, do not get nearly enough credit. People are beautiful. To me, nothing is more beautiful than a person with a kind heart. So for this blog, I won’t give a single definition for beauty… instead I will share with you traits that I find beautiful, that I admire, and above all that I hope to possess.

• Laughing without caring who hears you.
• Smiling…just because it feels good.
• Loving with your whole heart.
• Rejoicing in your victories and accepting your failures.
• Compassion.
• Creating your environment, not letting it create you.
• Respect and appreciation for everyone and everything around you.
• Loving yourself just the way you are without needing someone else to.

So, what do you find most beautiful?