Project 31 days 18 &19

Day 18.  Describe your personality.

My personality is sort of different depending on who I'm with. When I'm with my friends from highschool, the ones who knew me growing up and my best friends I am loud, outspoken, goofy and very outgoing. I'll say anything to anyone and not give it a second though, I am fearless. 

With my husband I am sweet, weird as all get out, and constantly laughing. I am myself when I'm with him.

I have no desire to try and be perfect all the time and just do what ever comes to mind. 

With others (meaning extended family and people who I am friendly with) I'm usually very shy and quiet. I don't talk much, but listen to everyone. I try to be really nice and not say what ever comes to mind (because I have been known to put my foot in my mouth when I do that with people who aren't my husband or best friends.) 

I'm not sure why I act so differently around different people. I suppose everyone does it though. It's human nature to adapt to your surroundings and act accordingly. I'm trying to just be me..the me that makes me the happiest and not really care what others say about it. I'm working on it.

Day 19.  Write about your favorite comfort food (we are women- we ALL have comfort food!)

The one thing I'll always turn to when I'm feeling down or something wrong or just when I'm in the mood to curl up on the couch in pj's and watch sitcom reruns all night is Chinese take out. Specifically Sweet and sour chicken with fried rice and crab puffs. Even better than that though is mixing the chicken and rice and then taking a bite out of your crab puff, so the cream cheese can hold on to stuff and dipping it into the chicken and rice. Mmmmm so good. 

 

Project 31 day 17

Day 17.  Write about 3 things that make you happy.

1. This tiny girl.

Please ignore the fact that my pants are way too long. I happen to be VERY short and this happens with most sweat pants.

No matter how upset, sad, frustrated or angry I am this tiny face always makes me smile and laugh. She is the sweetest little girl in the world and her tiny hugs make your heart melt:].

2. Good music with coffee/tea in the mornings.

Or any time of day really. It's amazing how the right music can just life you up and make you feel so relaxed. That paired with Awake tea or a nice cup of coffee is an amazing addition to any day.

3. Godiva dark chocolate.

I'm pretty sure I've written about this before, but every time I have a piece of Godiva dark chocolate I have spontaneous bursts of ecstasy. Mmmmmm, so good!

Project 31 day 16

Day 16.  Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life.  Tell her what beauty means.

Dear Rowyn, 

What makes up a TRULY beautiful person, forever? Beauty on the outside fades with age, by the time you're in your 70's in pretty much all gone. Being beautiful on the inside will last forever and will shine to the surface.

You see, beauty on the inside is being kind, accepting, helpful, confident, interesting, passionate and just wanting to be all that you can be. 

The world will make you think otherwise. It will shove women with perfect noses, lustrous hair and legs that go for miles down your throat and it will make you THINK that that is the only beautiful there can be. It's not true, and you will learn that when you're a beautiful person inside, it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, people will just flock to you.

Love yourself, and people will love you. Respect yourself and your body..keep it healthy,  keep your morals close and never do anything that strays from what they are...you may feel insecure and throwing all of your morals out the window may make you think you feel beautiful, but it doesn't. 

You want some one to love you and think you're beautiful for the person that you are, not the things that you do.

If there's one thing I could teach you it's that you are the only person who can be "you" perfectly and to never let anyone else influence you differently. You are just the way God intended you to be, and that is perfect and beautiful in every way.

Love, 

Mommy

Project 31 day 15

Day 15.  Write to encourage a friend.  Inspire her beauty.

As sad and lame as this sounds, I really don't have any friends at the moment. Sure, I have people I use to be friends with who I'm still friendly with on facebook but with them being busy with their college lives and me being busy with my mommy life it's kind of like we've all just moved on. I'm not sure I even really know any of the people who I use to call my "best friends" anymore. I also have people who I am friends with but I don't know very well yet, so I'm not sure how exactly to apply them to today's challenge. 

I have what I guess we would call a "family friend" that I could write to though.

My husband's childhood best friend's wife has recently found out they are expecting their first child and she is about 7 weeks along. They are having a stressful time trying to keep this baby safe and sound in her belly.

Dear R, 

I know this is a very emotional time for you. It's exciting, scary, stressful and marvelous all at the same time. Being a mom for the first time is especially scary, you think "what if something goes wrong? What if something happens?" You fear that you're heart is going to be ripped out of your chest at any second. You thank God for every day that goes by that your baby is healthy and pray that the next day is just as successful.

I remember feeling scared about these things, but I learned that there is no reason to be afraid. God is looking out for you. He has plans for this baby, big plans. 

The best advice I could give to you about being afraid is to just keep looking forward. Don't dwell and stress yourself over the things you are afraid of, keep yourself as healthy as possible and trust that God is going to keep you both safe. Trust in him that he will get you and your little family through the rough times and you will all come out victorious with a healthy, happy little baby. 

Don't be afraid, just keep looking to the future.

Project 31 day 14

Day 14.  Style 31.  Post an outfit pic!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I honestly don't have a cute outfit that I'd actually want to be photographed in at the moment.
So I'll post some pics of an outfit I would wear when I get in shape again.

Pink tunic dress $24.99, Pinkice.com

feather earrings $8.00 Mandee.com

Knit tights $7.50 Charlotte Russe

Boots $21.99 Papayaclothing.com

Project 31 day 13

Day 13.  Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.

 

When I think about all of the things I would like to change about myself, they all boil down to one main thing that would help me achieve all of these things. Will power. I would like to change my lack of will power. Not having enough will power to eat better (which I'm currently working on), to just suck it up and learn to drive, to continue with projects even after that little voice in my head tells me that nothing is going to work and I'm wasting my time is really frustraiting. 

So what I would really like to change about myself for the better is my amount of will power, and I am currently working on it.

Project 31 days 11 & 12

Day 11.  Post a recipe.  Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).

 Just recently I started cooking more, so I don't have a recipe off hand. I'm going to try and make this for dinner tonight, I'll update you after with photos and how it turned out in "project 31 day 11 cont."

Clean eating fajita's

marinade: 1 T. tabasco sauce 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 T. honey 1 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, sliced into strips 1 green bell pepper sliced into strips 1 vidallia onion, sliced into strips 4 whole wheat low carb tortillas 2 tomatoes, diced 4 oz. low fat cheddar cheese, shredded

Mix together all marinade ingredients in a pie plate or bowl. Add chicken strips and turn to coat. Let sit for at least 10 min.

Meanwhile get your pepper and onion washed and sliced into strips. Dice your tomatoes.

Heat olive oil in a large pan or wok. Stir-fry chicken until cooked through. Remove from pan and add pepper strips and onion strips. Stir fry until cooked to your preference. Add chicken back into the veggies and mix.

Serve 1/4 of the mixture rolled in a low carb tortilla with 1/4 of shredded cheese and 1/4 of the diced tomatoes.

Serves 4

250.3 calories
11.6 g fat
25.3 g carbs

Day 12.  Write about what wears you out as a woman.

I think the thing that is the most tiresome is just trying to balance my daughter, my house work, and finding time to be "me". Just finding the time and energy to do something that I like, that is just for me is so hard to do. Especially when the dishes are piling up in the sink, Rowyn has gotten into some thing or another and has mad a huge mess all over the living room, and clothes are going unfolded and my husband is complaining about his lack of socks or underwear. 

This blog is actually the first thing that I've done continually since becoming a wife and a mother that is for me. That makes ME feel good and that I make time for in my day. It makes me motivated to do other things also, like start yoga, eating clean and trying new crafts. I feel hopeful when I blog about these things, and it makes me feel accountable for them. I feel like I NEED to keep going with them because I want to inspire people to make the same sort of effort for themselves. Some days it's hard, and I'm tired and stressed out and I just want to sit on the couch when  get some down time and veg out, but I make myself do these things and it makes me feel so much better after I do, like I've actually accomplished something.

Project 31 day 10

Day 10.  What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)

Since I've become a mother and a wife Jesus has been teaching me patience. Patience to take care of my daughter with out letting the bad days get to me, to be a better mother and be able to handle "melt down" situations in an appropriate manner, patience with my husband in letting him follow his dream and explore this aspect of this life. I am learning that I do not control other people and how they think and feel, so there's no point in getting upset when they need some time to learn something. I am also learning to forgive. To not harbor ill feelings towards people who've done me wrong. Forgive my father for not being there enough, forgive Brennan for any fight we may have, forgive myself for things I am not proud of. Jesus is teaching me a lot of things, and I am more than willing to accept what ever he has to offer because I know what he needs to teach me, is what I need to be a better and happier person.

Project 31 day 9

Day 9.  What virtues do you value in yourself?

 

I've never thought about this question before, so it has me a bit stumped...I've never had to put it into words before. 

I value the fact that I believe I am a good mother. I am proud that I'm not like the stereotype that people have made for teen mother, that my life isn't "interesting" enough to be on a reality show. When people meet me I hope that they take away that not ALL teen moms are like the ones you see on MTV. My husband and I work hard to make my daughter as happy as humanly possible and I am very proud of that. 

Another value I have, that I wish to share with my daughter is that I believe that everyone should be loved and no one should ever feel hated for who they are. Everyone is the same regardless of what they look like, what color their skin is, or how confused they seem to be.

I'm sorry if this blog is boring and awkwardly laid out, it's very hard to concentrate on this subject while being pelted with cereal by my restless one year old. 

I will probably come back later to revise and make this better, but for now this is what you get.

Project 31 day 8

Day 8.  Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)?  Share, please!

Exfoliating and moisturizing, I can not stress this enough. It not only keeps your skin soft, smooth, clear and fresh looking but prevents wrinkling and age lines. 

I exfoliate every other day, gently using a loofah  to scrub my face in tiny circles. 

I also recommend using a moisturizing that is meant for age rewinding, early prevention is the best. Apply to your face, neck, and chest every day after you get out of the shower. You'll notice almost immediately how much smoother, brighter and softer your skin is. 

Also, for stretch marks (and I had those huge ugly purple ones after I had Rowyn) I use a mixture of vitamin E oil, almond oil and cocoa butter on them every day (also out of the shower) and they have dramatically lightened. I honestly can't see most of them anymore and the ones I can see are a light pink color. 

Hope this helps!

Sincerely, 

Lea

Project 31 day 7

Day 7.  Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.

It is my opinion that every single woman is beautiful in her own way, so I chose to address all of them. 

To ALL woman,

You are amazing, you can do what ever you want to do and you can do it damn well. All you have to do is believe in yourself. 

Never let anyone else feel any less than perfect, because you are. God created you to be perfectly you. You are smart and funny and interesting. 

If you ever want to change something about yourself do it for YOU to make you feel good about yourself. Never change just for someone else, never do something you don't feel comfortable with. Anyone who asks you to change yourself in any way isn't a real friend. Real friends accept you for who you are, love you, and encourage you in what ever you want to do.

You are beautiful.

Never let anyone make you feel differently. 

Project 31 day 6

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

When I read this question my first instinct was to put no, that I have never been jaded by the world's definition of beauty but I don't think that would be true. I think that the world has so much of an influence on what "beautiful" is that the lines between what the world thinks and what I think are blurred. When it comes to things like clothing, paint colors, furniture and other home decor the world's opinion doesn't really matter much to me anymore. When I was 13 the world's opinion on the amount of my personal style didn't mean much to me. The world's opinion on my blue hair didn't mean diddly squat to me.

But the world's opinion on a beautiful body..that has ALWAYS jaded me in one way or another. I'm really not upset by that though. I don't hold unreal expectations to look like the stick thin model in my Cosmo magazine..I really don't. I DO want to be thinner than I am now, I want to be healthy. Only because I know that my body now is NOT healthy. It may be beautiful to my husband but it's not beautiful to me. That may be a bad thing, actually I'm pretty sure it is. I just really don't mind much, it is motivation for me to get healthy and be healthy for my daughter. It's an opportunity for me to teach my daughter to live a healthier life and it's an opportunity for me to see my body as beautiful and be happy with it. How can I really be happy with my body if I know that I'm not doing anything to prevent what it is I don't like. If I were trying to be healthy, and my body still looked like this, I'd probably think it was beautiful because that means that obviously this is the way god intended me to be...but I can't think that I'm doing everything in my power to be healthy while eating a large pizza and pretty much living for food.

So I guess, yeah, the world's view of beauty HAS jaded me in some ways...but I may as well use it to my advantage as a way to better my life. 

Sincerely,

Lea 

Project 31 day 5

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

I am going to write a letter to my husband. Oh how Cliche' of me.

Dear Brennan,

 The first day I really met you, you were unpredictable, goofy, and kind of a jerk. Standing me up on our first meeting was probably not the best course of action to start a relationship....and neither was making me wait about 2 hours at the park in your neighborhood the next day waiting for you to show up while you didn't answer your phone ( I'm still not sure WHY I even let Molly talk me into calling you and asking you to meet up again.) After you finally showed up though, and we REALLY got to know each other, I knew you were the one for me.
  Every time I feel scared, or sad, or insecure you always, without fail, make everything better. You stood by me when most boys would have run away and left me alone. You've provided for our family so well that I don't really have to worry about much. You are always willing to help anyone who needs it, because your heart is so kind. You are teaching me to be a better person and I don't think I could have made it this far without you. You are always my number one fan in anything that I do and support me 110%. 
 That first day I met you you were unpredictable, goofy, and kind of a jerk. But now...you're my rock to get me through the roughest times, you are the sweetest, kindest man I know..and you're still kind of goofy, but I love that. Thank you so much for being such an amazing father, husband and person. I can not wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Love,

Lea

 

Project 31 day 4

Day 4.  Style 31.  Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.

This photo was taken WAY pre-baby when I was 15

Let me make this clear, this is only my "favorite outfit" Because 1. I was 30 lbs thinner here and I think I look cute. 2. That was my favorite tube top...actually the only tub top I ever owned and I love the color. and 3. I'm not feeling cute enough to go look for something to wear and then take a photo of myself in it.

Do you like my dirty mirror? yeeaahh.

Project 31 day 3

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

I am inspired by my daughter. 

She is the most beautiful person that I have ever known. She teaches me so much ever day and just watching her grow and learn is the best thing in the world to me. 

 I want to be a better person for her, I want to make something of myself that she can be proud of. I want to be the best possible mother for her.

I want her to experience life and do all the things that she'd love to do. I want her to have the best life humanly possible and just be happy. Because she deserves it.

She is the inspiration for everything beautiful that I want to do, have done, or will do. 

Just seeing that little gummy smile lights up my whole day and makes my heart all warm and fuzzy. 

I can honestly say that she is my inspiration for life.

Sincerely, 

Lea

Project 31 day 2

Day 2.  What makes you uniquely you?

What makes me uniquely me? Hmmm these are some thought provoking questions. Kudos to you Mandy for this awesome challenge.

I am a indecisive and constantly changing. Never ask me to decide on the place we're going to go out to eat at or what color lipstick you should buy because it will probably take me over an hour to just pick two options to decide between. I've tried to change that about my self. I've tried to say "okay, I'm just going to pick a favorite something and stick to that so when this problem comes up again I'll just know instantly what I want. But that's not me. 

I love changing my mind and experiencing new things. Exploring every option and detail of where we should go eat so that I know I am satisfied.

I will change my hair color 12-13 times a year and every time I do I think "okay, this is the color I'll stick with" knowing that it's totally not going to happen. 

I've rearranged my living room about 5 times in the 10 months we've lived in our apartment and every time I do I say "Now THAT looks so much better than it ever has before, Why didn't I just do this the first time?" 

What are some other things about me? Well...

I love teacups. My favorite are vintage china ones and the ones that are pretty much bowls with handles. 

I have an ongoing love affair with coffee with pumpkin spice and Godiva dark chocolate.

 I would probably buy everything in the home sections of Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. I adore that eclectic and funky look.

Blythe Chair $1,598.00 from Anthropologie

I LOVE vacuuming my floor. I find it relaxing and therapeutic, plus my house always look twice as clean right after I vacuum.

Sincerely,
Lea

Project 31 day 1

Day 1.  What does beauty mean to you?



Beauty, to me, is anything or anyone that is different.

In a person, it is some one who oozes confidence and takes pride in the person that they are. A beautiful person loves the skin that they're in. They march to the beat of their own drum and then throw in an awesome acoustic solo as well.


In an object it's something that has charm and character. Something that actually says something about it's owner or the world that it's in. I want a story when I look at things. Beauty is not just the way something looks, but the way it makes you feel when you look at it.  

Example: This home to me, is gorgeous. I hope some day my house has this much character.

Sincerely,

Lea