Project Inner Beauty

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Keep being who you are! Your real self is what makes YOU happy and not what makes others happy.

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I find it interesting that the standard of beauty is still "tall and skinny". Fashion designers continue to try and perpetuate this standard by hiring skinny women for their fashion shows and photo shoots. If you wear plus size clothing, you usually have to shop in a specialty store, and as my friend has exclaimed on more than one occasion, "I can't find anything cute in those stores!" On a side note, nowadays there are plenty of plus size clothing stores online that do carry very cute styles.

Yes, I could blame the fashion industry for continuing to expose us to images of thin, young, air-brushed models. After all, those magazines are right in your face every time you pay for something at the grocery store. However, it's up to each and every one of us not to continue buying those magazines. Keep reminding yourself that these images are just illusions.
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Every year around my birthday I get a new haircut. I typically don’t do anything out of the ordinary, although I should follow my own advice and be a little daring every once in awhile. This year I had about 3 inches cut off with layers. Nothing fancy, but it did make me smile :)

There’s something about a haircut that, for me, symbolizes “new beginnings” and a fresh, new me. Perhaps this idea began years ago after I had broken up with an ex-boyfriend and decided to completely chop off 90% of my hair. Unless a hair stylist completely messes up, women usually feel good about themselves after a new haircut, right? We invest in our hair - both financially and emotionally - and for good reason. We simply want to look good. There’s nothing wrong with that.   Read more...

So true...

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Today I came across the The Inner Beauty Project where women have written empowering letters to themselves, so I was inspired to write this letter too...

Dear Maria,

You are beautiful.  Never forget that.

Yes, you're getting older, but that doesn't mean you're losing that youthfulness and beauty.  In fact, you are much more beautiful now because of your wisdom.  You're much more confident in your skin than you were back in your 20's. People around you can see that.  Read more...