7.20.2012

{Love You: Chelsea}

So today I am so honored to have sweet and G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S, Chelsea of  Buckets and Bunches to share what she loves about herself.  If you have not checked out her amazing site, head that way after reading her post to feast your eyes on more sparkles and fun than you can handle.  I have to tell you I am in awe of Chelsea's post. Read on to see why...

"I love the concept of this series our Jessica has come up with. I really encourage everyone to sit down and think about the things they love about themselves. It is a challenge that is totally worthwhile. Thank you so much for having me over here today! I am a chronic over-sharer, so this series gave me the perfect excuse.

(1) Overdressed Mess After feeling overdressed for most of my life, I decided that I am just a fancy kinda girl, and I am totally about embracing it these days. I love throwing on pjs at the end of the day, don't get me wrong. But I love getting dressed up even more- rhinestone accessories, lipstick, the whole nine yards. These days I just adore feeling fabulously fancy. Even if I am the only one. I let the movie play out in my head of a fabulous life being lived through sparkly earrings and party dresses.
(2)   Mirror Mirror The video that inspired Jessica's series is about girls who give up on the activities they love because of bad body image. The numbers were shocking- six out of ten girls will give up gymnastics, ballet, etc. because they feel bad about the way they look. So, I want to talk about my body for a minute. I don't love it that much. Wait, wait for it. I have struggled with an eating disorder since I was young, and I was that girl who quit because she wasn't perfect, wasn't the best at it, and didn't look the way she wanted in her leotard.These days, I can find things I love about my body. I love my freckles, strong eyebrows, nice nail beds, green eyes. Somedays I work up even further, perhaps to loving my entire face that day. I have been challenging myself, on the most difficult of body image days, to find something I love and play it up. Most importantly, I am trying not to let those tricky days stop me from doing the things I want to do.
(3) Ya'll Ready For This Last year I went into residential treatment for an eating disorder, self-harm, depression, and anxiety. After nearly a year of residential and out-patient treatment I found out that I am stronger than I knew. I am good at challenging myself. I push myself more and more to learn, to try things, to interact. I thought that I would always let my issues define me in a negative way that did not allow me to live my life. Now I face them (most days) and work on strategies for moving forward. Sometimes in tiny steps and sometimes with huge challenges. The thing is, I am trying.
(4) Funny Girl I think I am hilarious. Witty and sometimes just slap-stick silly. I know I have a small audience. My husband, David, is pretty much the only one who gets me all the time. But, man, when he laughs! I feel like the most adorable/wacky/silly thing and it makes me happy too.
(5) Hidden Talent I have an uncanny ability to predict the plotlines in television. Maybe its because I watch too much tv, but I swear if I ever tried my hand at writing a tv show, drama or comedy, I would rock it."

I have so many more warm feelings toward Chelsea after reading her post.  First off, I love to find a kindred spirit in the "OverDressed Mess" department.  And I am here to tell you, Chelsea you are not the only one!!  Second, I am honored that Chelsea opened up about her struggles with body image, even though she describes herself as a big sharer, and let me tell you why.  When I met Chelsea at Alt. I was struck with her beauty, bold style, sweet personality, and ability to have such a strong and amazing presence.  She was one of those ladies that left me feeling, hey I need to be more like Chelsea.  So it was sobering to hear that Chelsea too struggles with self love, like so many of us, but inspiring at the same time because it feeds in to the notion that we all have so much to love about ourselves if we take time to think about it.  Does not mean that it is rainbows and sprinkles all the time, but it is a place to start.  Chelsea if I can embrace my love to dress the way I like, be the funny girl {even if it is for a small audience}, and embrace my hidden talents like you have, I can die a happy lady.  Thank you so much for being you.  Love...J

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for having me again! I love you, your amazing heart, and obvi your jewels and style! xo

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  2. I love Chelsea's blog, she's such a sweet girl :)

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  3. I love Chelsea & her blog! Such a sweet, down-to-earth kind of girl. Great to learn more about her!

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  4. Thank you Chelsea for sharing a bit of you with us.

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  5. I love that your doing this! I am so happy that you bring women here to embrace and love what they love and not love about themselves. This is such an empowering movement that you are creating and I believe we should all love ourselves cause no is perfect and at the end of the day thats what makes us perfect, no?

    Stay fab,
    Jessica
    tinyredshoes.com

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