End of 2013... Beginning Of So Much More!

As we reflect on another year gone, we are consumed with gratitude.  This year has been full of accomplishment and we have come very far.  Thank you to everyone who has stood by us and been on our crazy ride.  2014 will be full of much more excitement, education and beautiful things.  We are calling 2014 "The Year of Feeling Good" and we have big plans to help you feel good!  Fitness, charity, photo shoot, inspiration, advice, and love with be on the agenda.  Make sure to follow our steps on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you'd like a look back at Proud&Pretty 2013 check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQQb6z9cmOs

We encourage you to get involved with us and there are so many ways to do so!

-Become a Proud & Pretty girl by going through one of our Programs or Workshops.

-Write for our "Writings in Pink" blog. www.writingsinpink.blogspot.com.  Send all entries to info@proudandprettyinpink.com.

-Have a Wine, Cheese & Self-Esteem party for your women friends!  We bring the wine and conversation, you provide snacks and the guest list.

-Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter which goes out on the 1st and contains all things Proud&Pretty!

-Follow us and interact on Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/proudandprettyinpink.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/proudandpretty
Instagram: @ProudandPretty

Find all information on our website at: www.proudandprettyinpink.com

We are looking forward to a new year and we hope you are too!  We wish you happiness, love and tons of beauty!

Love,
Chelsie & Chandra
Proud & Pretty in Pink

Creating a Life you Love

During the month of April 2013, Proud and Pretty joined Scensiblesbags.com for Spring into Self-Esteem Week. We wanted to post the blog entry on Writings in Pink, that Chelsie wrote on how to Create a Life you Love.  This applies to all people all the time.

Everyone deserves to love their life.  But for most of us, a “perfect” life isn’t something that falls into our laps.  We have to work to set up a life that we can be happy with and proud of.  When using the word perfect, I am referring to a life perfect for you.  No life is the same and what leaves us feeling content with who we are and what we do is different for everyone.  Figuring out what we want in life can be difficult, but it’s necessary.  There are so many situations that are out of our control but helping ourselves to have control over the controllable is a great way to live a lovely life.

Here are some of the greatest things you can do for yourself to better your life:

-Live consciously.  Being aware of what causes us to feel insecure, negative and down helps us to seek solutions to fix these issues.  Be realistic about what you are good at and the things that you may need to work on.  We can’t all be great at everything and distinguishing between our strengths and weaknesses can help us feel more confident in how we live our lives. 

-Surround yourself with GOOD people.  You want to share your life with people that lift you up and separate from those who bring you down.  The influence that other people have on us can affect the way we live.  If you are around people who judge you, who criticize you and who do not have your best interest in mind then you are not getting the interaction you deserve or need in order to feel good about yourself.  On the other hand, if you are around people who compliment you, inspire you to be better, help you when you’re in need, and provide a personal mirror to help you see how wonderful you really are, then you are more likely to feel good about yourself and strive to be your very best.

-Stay focused on your health.  Although many people are consumed by careers, school, family, and the busyness of everyday life, it is important to remember that keeping yourself healthy should be first on your list.  Without health, we are nothing.  Eating well and exercising does wonders for your mind and body.  It can bring on feelings of accomplishment and worth.  When you eat a healthy meal you feel light and energized.  When you do some physical activity you experience the amazing affect that endorphins have on the body.  Focusing on your health is something you do for you.  It is your personal time to get intimate with yourself on multiple levels.  It shows you care for yourself and in turn your body will repay you with confidence.  

-Keep a Journal.  Being able to write your feelings down can help you to understand your different moods.  You can go back and re read what you have written and how you have felt.  This is a powerful tool because we need to identify our triggers.  What makes us happy?  What upsets us?  What causes us to feel bad about ourselves?  These are all things that we can learn by looking back at situations and how they made us feel.  Writing is also a good way to release pent up energy and emotions.  Things that you may not want to share with others can be shared between you and a pen and paper or computer. 

-Set realistic goals.  Everyone should have goals in life.  They keep us moving and they motivate us to progress.  Goals are plans that you commit yourself to achieve.  Goals give us purpose.  They give us something to strive for and to work towards.  Make a list of goals that you need or want to accomplish.  Set short term goals and check them off one by one.  The positive feeling that comes from seeing a check mark next to a goal is very motivating.  Set long term goals that the short term ones will help you reach.  Be realistic but at the same time, strive for the best.  Goals help us to create a vision while setting up a plan to successfully accomplish whatever we set out to do.

-Create a plan.  Figure out what helps you be the best you.  List your strengths and weaknesses while having a solution based mindset.  Understand that not everything will go the way you want it to go.  Situations will arise that will test your strength both mentally and physically.  If you have a plan in place that you can put into motion these situations will be less stressful on your life.  Understand what calms you down.  Understand what and who helps you cope.  Realize the people that should be, and deserve to be a part of your life.  Figure out what motivates you and also what cripples you.   If you become more aware of these things you will be able to live a better, less stressful life.

Each one of us dances to the beat of a different drum.  Take some time to find your rhythm and get to know the person you really are.  Understanding yourself and what makes you dance will lead you to a life you love. 

Limit the Voice of Your Inner Critic...

We are on Day 2 of "Spring into Self-Esteem Week" which we are hosting with Scensibles and today we are talking all about how to limit your inner critic and the negative words you use to speak to yourself.  We are providing positive affirmations thought out the day to help change the negative into positive talk! 

Psychologist Eugene Sagan came up with the term Pathological Critic which is the negative inner voice that attacks and judges you. People with low self-esteem have a more vicious and loud pathological critic.  You have to identify this voice and be able to tell the difference from your own voice and this critic.

Picture from potentials-within.com

Five Steps to Take to Limit the Voice of Your Critic:

•  Being aware of negative, self hating thoughts is the first step.  You can work to replace the negative with more positive thoughts once you realize what the critic is doing.
• Constant repetitive affirmations can drown out negative thoughts.
• Be compassionate towards yourself.  Focus on understanding why you are upset with yourself and then start coming up with solutions to fix your feelings.
• Stop saying self-hating words out loud.  Don’t talk badly about yourself to you or other people.  (This is so important especially if you have children.  NEVER talk badly about yourself in front of your kids.  You are setting them up to do the same to themselves in later years.)
• Think about, write down, or speak out loud about the things you are good at. 

Please follow Proud and Pretty in Pink (@ProudandPretty) and Scensibles (@Scensibles) on Twitter and also on Facebook for all the wonderful things we are sharing throughout this week!

Moments of Weakness

Weakness. What does that word mean to you? According to Miriam-Webster’s dictionary, the word “weak” has multiple definitions. For example, lacking strength; mentally or intellectually deficient; not able to resist external force or withstand attack, just to name a few. But to me, weakness means vulnerability mixed with a little sensitivity and too many emotions. In my eyes, weakness has a very negative connotation and I hate to show it in front of anyone including myself. I lived the greater part of my life being weak minded and weak hearted and I try a little too hard to prevent that from happening again. To be honest, I sometimes judge situations or people by their weakness. I feel that people would be more independent, happy and satisfied with themselves if they didn’t let their weaknesses get the best of them. But, recently I have noticed that trying so hard to be strong has been my downfall. So, which one is worse? Being too weak or too proud?

Alcohol. Love. Sex. Drugs. Fitness. Shoes. Pride. Success. Food. Fame. Anger. All of these can be weaknesses; some of them can be goals. But, depending on how deep you’ve fallen, any of these can destroy you. How many moments of weakness do you feel each day, each week or each month? Obviously, everyone is different.  Some are mentally stronger than others and some are just physically stronger. How do you deal with your weakness? Please do share I’d really love to know. Because I’m sure the way I deal with it, hiding my emotions, bottling them up, drinking them away, is not the healthiest way to go about it. I tend to shut out the people who would be most valuable to me. I become an angry evil version of my self that bickers and fights with those that are closest to me. And I tend to sit alone and emotionally cut myself until I can’t take it anymore. How does that help anything? I’m so concerned with portraying this image of a girl who holds the world on her shoulders and wears nothing but a smile. I tend to forget that I have the most amazing family and friends that only want to listen and help. It’s them that make me realize that holding things in is what makes me weak. Being able to discuss them, confront them and work past them is what proves me a strong individual.

Reality is that we all have things in our lives that make us question our inner strength. But it is all about the way we deal with it that determines our strength. It’s okay to be sad sometimes, and sometimes you need to cry or scream. Sometimes you just need to have a soda or some ice cream to keep you sane. Sometimes buying a new pair of shoes or a bottle of wine just might turn your week around.  Saying “I’m Sorry” first isn’t going to kill you. Admitting that you care for someone who has major potential of hurting you just might give them the opportunity to make you very happy. And I’m pretty sure it’s still okay to mourn the death of a loved one that has been gone for years or even reflect on past relationships with people who will never be in your life again.  Sometimes it’s okay to watch sad movies or listen to songs with memories behind them. Its okay to want to be alone during certain moments of weakness but it’s also very okay to talk about them after the darkness has passed.

Music does something for me that nothing else can. It can heal me or break me; it can bring me to tears or put a huge smile on my face. I can hear a song one day and it means absolutely nothing to me, and then all of a sudden, the next day it does. I was listening to the Lady Antebellum station on Pandora a few nights ago and this song by Rascal Flatts came on. Needless to say this blog was inspired by the first few lines of the song “I’m Moving On”. I’ve dealt with my ghosts and I’ve faced all my demons. Finally content with a past I regret. I’ve found you find strength in your moments of weakness. For once I’m at peace with myself. I dare you to try! 

Written By: Michelle Flores, Age 25

A New Year, A New Chance, A New You?

   The New Year is finally here.  So many have decided on their new year's resolution but the majority will not stick with it.  I challenge the "New Year's Resolution" and I challenge you to do something more. Be real about what you say you are going to do this year. The typical resolution has something to do with weight and looks, maybe finding love or even working on yourself (whatever that means).  I never make the "Resolution" because I don't really believe in it.  We all tell ourselves that we want the next year to be better than the last, and some of us make resolutions so we can feel good about the start of the year.  But a month in, that all goes out the window. We as human beings, want everything and so many of us are not willing to do the work to get it...  So lets start being real with ourselves.  Stop using New Years as the only time you decide to make a change.  Use it as an opportunity to map out the year to come.  Make goals that are attainable and hold yourself responsible for completing them.  Don't simply blurt out, on the eve of a new year, something that sounds good but which you have little intention to act on.  Instead sit down and evaluate your life up to this point.  Go over the mistakes you have made.  Figure out how to better yourself in a realistic way and try to keep vanity out of it.  Keep weight loss and physical looks off this list.  Make it count and write things that will actually change your life for the better.  Think about what matters.  Figure out a way to be a happier you.  Don't stress about losing weight when what you should really focus on is becoming healthier.  Find things that inspire you and surround yourself with them.  Find the people in your life worth having and get rid of all the others.  Clutter is the absolute way to self sabotage yourself in 2012.  Whether it be people who bring nothing but drama and stress, a significant other who isn't who you imagined yourself with, or material things that cloud your vision and possibly keep you from seeing what really matters in life.  Get rid of all the clutter!  It does nothing but hold you back from becoming the best you. 2012 should be the year you find yourself..  The year when things start to make a little more sense because you actually took the time to look.  Make this year a NEW one, different from the past.  Make it a NEW chance to become better by eliminating all the excuses.  Become a NEW person who is positive, happy, and in turn can encourage those same things in others. If your old ways aren't getting you where you want to be, create NEW ones...

Love,
Chelsie

Words...

Females are very hesitant to put their struggles, fears and emotions into words for others to read.  I get that its hard to open up and let others have a glimpse into our lives.  But I would like to offer a little insight to this very therapeutic way of expressing yourself.  Words heal, words hurt, and words can make you feel important.  Encouraging words from others give us confidence that we never knew we had.  Hurtful words tear us down faster than we thought possible.   Sometimes we use words that we later regret and other times we regret not using words that could have helped a situation.  I have expressed myself through words for as long as I can remember.  I had many diaries, journals, and a blog or two.  I have a notebook at my desk, next to my bed, and under my couch.  I never pass up the chance to write when I'm inspired, when I'm hurt, and when I believe I can impact someone with my words.  Words for me are medicine.  They can heal if used right, they can harm if used wrong, and it is a definite possibility to overdose if you let them go to far.  But here, for Writings in Pink, I encourage your stories to be told.  I encourage you to give your opinions on current events.  I hope you will find strength to share your experiences.  I can only ask for you to give your advice to the next generation of girls.  Stories of women and girls, told by women and girls are nothing short of amazing.  We all have a different path that we have traveled.  Some of us have had hard lives, some have had privileged lives, and some have experienced a little of both.... But we all share the common ability to be overwhelmingly inspired by the words of our fellow sisters, mothers, and friends.  I encourage you to share your opinions, your stories, your hardships, your accomplishments.  The feeling of relief from expression is a great feeling.  To receive feedback from others that can help you or the recognition that you have helped another is a feeling like no other.  Let this be a place to share, laugh, cry, and connect.  Writings in Pink is for all who share the common want to help, to inspire, to motivate, to educate, to entertain...  Send your words to writings@proudandprettyinpink.com

Love,
Chelsie