Sep 29, 2014

I Am Brave And Beautiful

I am Brave and Beautiful - a beauty movement that is sweeping the globe. Colbie Caillat started it with her recent song and video called TRY. My blogging friend Megan of Brassy Apple wanted to push this movement along and invited women from all over to share what they looked like without make up and I joined in!! Colbie's song says, "Take your make up off. Let your hair down... Look into the mirror at yourself, Do you like you? Cause I like you... "
Megan and her friend Cobi of Peacefrom6pieces have been the team behind this whole project. Their worldwide vision included creating their own video inspired by the song TRY. The talent of Robbins Creative made it possible for them to pull it off. You have to click play and see the beauty and bravery displayed and you might even recognize a few faces in there.
Me along with 101+ other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes have decided to be Brave and Beautiful! You can join in this movement too by sharing what you look like without makeup on. You don't need a blog either! Just tag your photo with #IamBraveAndBeautiful on Instagram and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. ALSO, if you tag it with a second hashtag - #ColbieTRY we just might be able to get Colbie Caillat's attention since she was the inspiration behind it all!
Are you brave and beautiful? I am, here I go!



I admit, I like this picture of myself, taken by Caitlin Nalder Photography.
I mean, I'm all made-up and photo-shopped. What's not to love about that?
But here's the thing...it's not completely who I am.
It's only partly who I am.
Yeah, sometimes I'm an attractive gal all made up,
but the real, everyday, around-the-house mom who likes to
craft, cook and decorate doesn't usually look like that.

I usually look like THIS.
There was a time when I would have NEVER allowed anyone to take a picture like that of me.
When I was in high school, one of my friends said to me,
"How can you look so pretty with your make-up on and so ugly with it off?"
I was emotionally scarred for years to come.
I almost NEVER left the house without my make-up on for DECADES after that.
There was one time on a lazy weekend evening I ran over
to a video shop to rent a movie (without my make-up on)
and I was absolutely convinced people were
staring at me in shock of how ugly I must look.
I am not making this up.
THAT'S how much importance I placed on make-up and my self-image.
So sad how we let ourselves believe baloney like that and let it handicap us.
I don't stare at people who aren't all made up and think,
Ohmygoodness, she looks horrible,
so why would I think anyone would have done it to me?

Since I'm baring my soul and face, I'll let you in on another secret.
Recently I was diagnosed with skin cancer on my forehead.
(As much as I've over-exposed myself to the sun, it's a miracle
it took this long!)
I wasn't thrilled about having to have a little bit of my forehead skin
removed, but I thought, oh, it'll be no big deal.
Turns out the skin cancer was much deeper than we thought and by the time
the doctor had gotten it all, there was a huge crater in my forehead.
The assistant handed me a mirror so I could
see it before the doctor stitched it up.
I didn't even stop to think what it must look like.
I just took the mirror and looked.
OH. MY. GOSH.
I got light-headed and woozy with the shock of what was in the mirror.
I had no idea it would be that bad and I tried for the rest of the day to not cry.
I started playing that old message of my youth in my head
"I'll never be beautiful again".
I cut my bangs shorter and thicker so that they'd cover up the scar.
Fast forward a few weeks and I tell ya, I'm over it.
I have a scar, so what.
I guess that means over the years I've grown.
I only let it get me down for a few days instead of decades.
Hooray for progress!

If I could just say one thing, it would be this.
You are beautiful, no matter what.
On the inside AND the outside.
We are creations of our Father in Heaven
with the DNA of our earthly parents.
image via

I first saw Colbie Caillat's video TRY
and posted it on my Facebook wall about a month ago.
I ***LOVE*** the message she sends in this song!
I am honored and excited to be a part of this beauty movement
that encourages each of us to be comfortable
in our own skin and love ourselves,
no matter what we look like on the outside!


share your natrual beauty - brassyapple.com
Don't stop here. Get clicking around - its a blog hop! Below are more brave and beautiful women bearing more than their natural beauty. They each have a little bit of their heart to share with you. Some get very personal. Some share stories. For some this was very hard to do yet they gathered their courage and did it anyway. We hope as you click around (and YES pin these different posts!) you will feel the importance of it, the empowering effect it has and that it encourages you in some way.
>>>>>>>Important info! Blog Hops often have glitches the first day. If the link has an ERROR, simply click on the HOME button for each site, or google the blog name next to the link, and you should see their brave and beautiful post there. Links will be updated as soon as possible.<<<<<<<<<<<<
women sharing their natural beauty - no makeup
women with our makeup on and what makes them beautiful
women from around the world share their face with no makeup on - BrassyApple.com
Mommy bloggers share their face without makeup and what makes then beautiful
Natural beauty untouched photos
raw natural beauty - join the movement
beauty and bravery - women wearing no makeup - Brassyapple.com
#colbietry #iambraveandbeautiful
Ready in join in?Snap, hashtag and share! Tag @BrassyApple and @Peacefrom6Pieces if you can too!
Also follow our Bravery and Beauty PINTEREST board for more inspiration!
Attachments area Preview YouTube video Colbie Caillat - Try Colbie Caillat - Try

4 comments:

  1. I love your beautiful natural face!!! xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love this post and love you. You are beautiful in and out and with our without your hair and makeup all in place.��

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a great post!! You seriously are a natural beauty! We have loved being a part of this TRY campaign with so many amazing women!! FUN!! #womenneedwomen #hugstimesfive

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh ugh! I hate the things that stick in our heads and can hinder us for years! thank you for joining in and being brave!!! xo

    ReplyDelete

Fabulous Farm followers said...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...