Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Beautiful Bodies

I was unsure how to tackle this post as I feel like there's potentially a mega majority that won't agree with it - which is totally fine as we're all entitled to our opinions... Just please know I never intended on offending anyone, this is just my personal view on something really important.

I'm a little perplexed. (Thank you dictionary for making me seem smarter than I am. - If you read that in a Jimmy Fallon voice you're cool like me.)



The media's high trending topic it seems is to redefine beauty as to whatever body you're in and loving it - which I DEEPLY agree with. I'm perplexed though at the way they are attempting to achieve this: naked or nearly naked photos of women or women walking about scantly dressed in highly public sighted areas.

Why do you have to publicly show your entire body to the world to show you have a love for it? And how does this really help the self-esteem cause in any way? This makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever.

Having a positive increase in your self-image is deeply personal and individual (hence the SELF).

When I see or listen to certain headlines they entice me that there is a feel good universal self-esteem booster coming my way... And then all I see is naked images... Um, thanks?...These images are a super let down to me.  I don't care if you're a super model size -1 or hometown hero size 37; exposing what is publicly meant to be covered has nothing to do with increasing your self esteem in your self-image. When I have a really good day where I feel most beautiful in my own skin the thought never crosses my mind to display almost every square inch of me to the public. When I'm insecure however, thoughts do come where I feel the pressure of 'the flaunt.' Feeling good about how your body looks and your feelings towards it has nothing to do with anyone except yourself; So why are the media heads that be force-feeding images of women in their undies to promote self-esteem? There is now naked images of a variety of different shapes of people becoming more prevalent in the media, which is supposedly an attempt to promote a love for one's own body... but seeing these images has never made me feel more secure about myself AT ALL.

Props to media for trying, but the fault was never that only seemingly perfectly slender, busty girls made it onto all the covers of magazines; it was the seemingly nude images themselves that were always the problem.  

Hopefully this get resolved soon as I'm sick of the let down's. Bodies are beautiful and bodies are sacred. Bodies were never meant to be advertised for all to see in order to show that they had worth. I would get more out of the commercials and web links if they would just show women dressed in their every-day get up relaying their own personal stories on how they increased their self-esteem, regained their self-worth, and saw the beauty in their own body. I'm willing to guarantee none of them would say, "I gained it when I posed nearly naked for photos to be plastered on the internet." So, until this starts becoming the way the trending topic is relayed you can stay tuned for my personal 'Beautiful Bodies Part II' story.

Beauty is not something that is flaunted, it is silently just known.


Heaven's slice is modesty.


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Frugality

I'm kind of in love with this word. I've got pride issues I struggle with, particularly in regards to this word. I'm pridefully frugal. Even so much so that if I find someone got something cheaper or is living more frugally an ugly green jealously monster jumps out before me and inside I throw a temper tantrum: "But I wanted to be the cheapest one of all!!!!!" A poison apples recipe comes into my possession and it's about all I can bare to rip it up before reading it.

Seriously though - It's definitely a flaw sin and it's dumb that I've chosen to take a run on the pride cycle with something so odd. I've started biting my tongue whenever I get a compliment with something I own or am wearing because it's become such a habit for me to immediately respond - 'It was $5, it was 50% off, I made it with scraps I had around, it was a gift, it was f-r-e-e!' Do they really care Julie? Probably not, and you're coming off cocky. (If you are around me much you may have noticed I actually am improving on this. Self 5!)

Anyways...Enough of my awkward ramblings.


Here are 3 actual may be helpful tips on being more frugal according to my prideful expertise:


#1  Thoughts and attitude are e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g
It is not a punishment nor should you ever feel shame for saving your money for other things of value and for future family needs. In fact doing so should make you have feelings of security, preparedness, freedom, independence, and peace. But, perhaps you should start feeling the shameful punishment of guilt for not saving the money needed to provide for your family (a family consists of 1 or more persons. No one is excluded). I think it's important for people to start getting uncomfortable with excessive spending. Having to change your attitude to better reflect this basically comes down to simply looking at the larger future picture and debating whether or not that money could be better used going towards other things: retirement plan, rainy day savings, BILLS, special occasions, gifts, charitable donations, groceries etc. It's really about justifying in your mind the act of NOT spending.

#2 Find out what's important to you and what's not 
(Do this with your spouse if you have one.) Money has no value if it is only kept and never used, but you must first establish what the best uses are for it. Of course there are standard uses such as bills and savings, but what about the fun? This is a very individualized step. If you can cut down on other spendings that don't matter to you as much, then you can put that money towards what does. If you love to eat out at nice restaurants, do it! Just make sure you cut down in other areas, so you can actually afford to do that. Just as an example - my husband and I love going on an anniversary surprise trip every year, but we really don't care about gifts or store bought cards as much. So, we don't buy each other Birthday, Christmas, or any sort of special occasion gifts, we pretty well just write heartfelt letters with perhaps an inexpensive treat or two. We also have future dreams that will cost money so we're saving up on that as well whilst cutting down in other areas. This 5 love languages quiz may help shed light on what's important to you relationship wise. 

#3  Set rules
This is also individualized. If you don't have clear boundary lines for items beforehand you will easily fall victim to the shiny store displays. Your rules also will start to set you into habits. For instance - I only buy clothes if they're on sale. My eyes only go where a sale sign is shown; I don't even notice anything else. Tops have to be $10 or less and pants $25 or less. (There may be 5 exceptions to this in my closet). I ask myself 'do I LOVE  this', or 'will I regret not buying it a month down the road?' These rules have helped me out a lot. 


The caution:
Sometimes I get too wrapped up in frugality that I don't look at the value behind the $ sign. There is extremes to frugality that can make you a little cooky. I struggle with with a little too much guilt at times and it's not only worrisome, but completely unnecessary. If you have a good savings stored and are not behind on any payments and such you really need to breathe and relax, expenses are ok even if they aren't a need. I Remember when we were first married and the hubs wanted to buy a brand new lawn mower and I about had a heart-attack, "why would we ever buy a new lawn mower?!" He brought me to sane thinking when he said "You realize we're going to have a lawn for the rest of our lives right?" I breathed and realized that buying new was probably worth it so we didn't have to borrow forever or worry about breakdowns with used ones. PS this was a simple push along mower I had the concerns about...like I said you can get cooky.



Heaven's slice is being frugal, but also HUMBLE...



Wednesday, May 14, 2014

I wonder...



I wonder if the band Maroon 5 knows they're named after swimming badges/levels.













I wonder if Bert off of The Raccoons cartoon is Cyril Sneer's secret love child. That's why he doesn't like his other son Cedric playing with Bert! I mean the kid is the only raccoon with an anteater nose, like what's that about? An Anteater crossed with a racoon...










I wonder why my exercise/sport clothing is also my lazy day couch-laying clothing.      














I wonder if my husband will notice if I eat ALL the golden graham bar thingies that taste exactly like my bestie's square recipe.











I wonder if I'll ever learn to not over-eat sugar foods in one sitting so my stupid pains can be kept at bay.













I wonder why my daughter sleeps better between 6-11am than from 12-5am. Is there a night-owl and non-morning person gene she got from me?












I wonder what GIF and TIA means - I see this on pinterest and swap and buy's a lot.

I wonder why 'thank you' was that hard to type that it had to be shortened to 'Ty' for typing slang. If you're really grateful isn't it worth the effort of 6 more letters?



I wonder why women's wranglers are so expensive. If (I wouldn't) I was to buy a $70-$90 pair of jeans there's no way I'm getting one spec of dirt on them or hopping into a saddle. And why are men's jeans consistently cheaper? SALES please!!



I wonder why all of my glasses/sunglasses tilt sideways on my face, or do I wonder why my ears are so lop sided?

I wonder if I use the word wondering-ment in this post if anyone will catch the reference.

I wonder how much longer my daughter is gonna nap for.


I wonder if I'll ever be able to sleep all the way through the night again. It's totally ok if I don't, I just wonder.


I wonder if people outside can see me take all these photo's of myself.



I wonder if one star will shine... I wonder why the song When He Comes Again keeps playing in my head as I wonder this.







I wonder if there's something I should be doing right now...













Heaven's slice is having time to sit and let your mind wonder.



Thursday, May 8, 2014

Just For Me

I love writing poems, especially for someone else. A few years back, I wrote a poem for my mom for Mother's Day and I thought I'd share it with you during this special time of year.





Just For Me

You see when God created children, He planned so carefully.
This person, who would care for us, would be the best that there could be.
With a smile that lights up the world, and a look that tugs at the heart;
There needed to be someone that would be with them from the start.

He needed someone bold, who would dare to take this role.
He needed someone kind that could mend a troubled soul.
A kiss would heal wounds, and a hug would stop fears.
A touch would make a memory, and a word would chase tears.

He could not choose just anyone; it had to be just right.
This person was particular for each child in his sight.
She was his pride creation, ‘A mother’ she would be called;
There to care for the helpless, and give life to those who fall.

So when God created you, He made you just for me,
And a mother always will you be called, for a mother you were meant to be.

By Julie Jensen





Feel free to use it! But please give credit where credit is due (i.e. the author's name imbedded in). If you have any questions regarding usage of it feel free to ask.

p.s. my mother is awesome. (love you mom!)


Heaven's slice is mothers.