I wanna see you be brave!

Today my blog post is all about our beauty, as women. Today is also this gorgeous gals birthday. Lyndsie was my Maid of Honor in my wedding! She's the spoon to my jar of marshmallow fluff :) this girl is truly one of the most beautiful (inside and out) people I know. She has a flipping heart of gold, and I just don't know what I'd do without her!

Lyndsie and I have been friends for about 11 years now, which blows my mind. But it really made me think about how far we've each individually come as young women, since we've met. I've been really inspired lately by all of these beauty awareness campaigns that numerous companies have started. The obvious is Dove, but another favorite of mine now is Always' "Hit Like a Girl", which you can see the video here. 

I used to be very self conscious, I had terrible acne, glasses and braces at the same time, and very, very dry skin. I was the 'pudgiest', and didn't understand why I didn't have "cute, bony wrists" like all of my friends. I know the things people said about me in middle school and my transition into high school, well, it just wasn't pretty. As I got older though, I kinda said screw it. I wore tank tops, even though my shoulders were sprinkled with acne every season of the year...I wore my glasses even when I didn't feel like putting my contacts in, and I learned to rock my ever-peeling nose on picture day due to my dry skin (and the nosebleed I got on that same day).

It's campaigns like this that make me so proud to be a woman. Thankfully, meeting Caleb helped me with my confidence a lot. I used to worry about him ever seeing me without my make up caked on, or in the Winter when I'm more pale than a vampire.. but he's somehow learned to deal with me even when I wake up like this... and also learned to make me feel beautiful, and loved.

Hiiii Caleb. I took this today!

We're all beautiful in our own ways...and it makes me sad to think about the young girls who tear themselves down because they aren't a size 0, or because they don't have perfect skin. As women, these girls need role models who LOVE themselves.

 I've realized to just get over it, when Im tagged in a picture that doesn't flatter me... why should I let it bother me? I need to be happy in the skin God put me in, because this is the only life I get to live! I know its like the most famous quote now, but comparison truly is the thief of joy. We can't let it do that to us, ladies! So WHAT if my nose is bigger than hers, or my acne flared up the night before my wedding?! Or if my ankles aren't super skinny, or if my double chin always sneaks its way out when I take my snapchats... I am ME, and I'm happy with it.

I'm lucky enough to be alive, have legs that run, and a heart that beats. I don't ever want to take it for granted. So remember friends, you are SERIOUSLY beautiful.