You Are a Potato

You look around at the other girls and think:

"I am a potato."

Well, you're right.

But not for the reasons you think.

If you think you are a potato because you are beautiful,

Then yes, you are a potato.

I mean, just look at how beautiful this is.

If you think you are a potato because you are sweet,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because you bring a smile to my face,

Then yes, you are a potato.

I'm smiling just looking at these little beauties.

If you think you are a potato because I would love to see you first thing in the morning,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because you are warm and comforting,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because you make everything better (including pizza),

Then yes, you are a potato.

 Never had potato pizza? You're missing out.

If you think you are a potato because you make late night food runs worth it,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because I would  love to go on a picnic with you,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because I want to keep you in my pocket to have you with me at all times,

Then yes, you are a potato.

Napoleon had the right idea about these babies.

If you think you are a potato because no party is complete without you,

Then yes, you are a potato.

If you think you are a potato because you are the best part of a family dinner,

Then yes, you are a potato.

Potatoes are diverse, amazing, and are capable of creating happiness in so many different ways.

So yes, you are a potato.

Go rock it, SpudMuffin.

Your Story in Photographs

Believe it or not, we all share the same story.

Though each of our battles may differ, we're all fighting in the same war.

Where we hear our messages and how we become shaped to believe a certain way may be different, but we're all being pointed in the same direction:

And it's not a good one.

I recently teamed up with Brianna of  http://breeze-boutique.com/ for a Valentine's Insta giveaway (congrats to Rylie, our winner!), and for a special photoshoot project to help us tell our story, to tell your story, in a series of photos.

This is Your Story.

What is it that stops you from loving yourself out loud?

What keeps you from spreading kindness to strangers?

What stops you from standing up against the negative voices of the world?

It's fear.

Fear of judgment.

Fear of repercussions.

Fear of going against the grain.

What blocks out positive messages?

What stops up your ear with untrue ideas of beauty and unrealistic expectations?

What is it that floods your brain, washing out truth and kindness?

It's the media, and the society around us.

It's billboards and magazines.

It's Instagram and Facebook.

It's that voice whispering "You're not good enough."

What is it that blinds you to your own beauty?

What makes you see yourself as "ugly" or "ordinary?"

What prevents you from being who you want to be?

It's doubt.

It's that nagging "but, what if?" in the back of your mind.

It's that dark corner that refuses to shine.

It's that weight that chains your soul to who you imagine yourself to be.

This seems like a gloomy story.

But it's not over yet.

What is it that lifts you up when you're feeling down?

What is it that reminds you that you're never alone?

What encircles you with strength and comfort?

It's friendship.

It's those late night phone calls that end in belly laughter.

It's that text reminding you that someone loves you.

It's those years-old memories that brighten gray days.

What is it that opens your mind and softens your heart?

What is it that fills you with peace?

What is it that finally tips the balance to allow you to look at yourself with love?

It's acceptance.

It's accepting yourself as you are, imperfections and all.

It's recognizing that others are different from you and choosing to celebrate that difference.

It's that voice that cuts through the chaos and says "It's all gonna be okay."

What is it that strengthens you, no matter what your circumstances are?

What is it that allows you to fail and enables you to succeed?

What is it that the people of the world need the very most?

It's self love.

It's that ability to look in the mirror and smile.

It's knowing when a bubble bath takes precedence over homework.

It's choosing to love yourself, exactly as you are.

This story is your story.

This story is my story.

It's written in our minds, on our skin, in the air around us.

It may have some dark parts, but it is also filled with hope and healing.

And I can promise that it has a happy ending.

Keep writing your story.

Choose to make it bright and beautiful.

The Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day

Single Awareness Day.

There are fluffy teddy bears and red rose bouquets and singing Hallmark cards everywhere you look.

It may be tempting to just sit in bed with a chick flick and a can of Reddi-Whip, but before you pick up that Ben & Jerry's, you might want to hear what I have to say:

Step 1:

Get Dressed

And I ain't talking about this kind of get dressed:

Credit: Sarah's Scribbles

I'm talking about cutest-clothes, favorite-outfit, work-those-heels, heck-yeah-I'm-fabulous kind of get dressed.

I want you to be dressed so that you can flip that hair without a second thought:

You know why?

Because you deserve to feel beautiful, whether or not you have a date on Valentine's Day.

Step 2:

Get Crap Done.

There is not a note on every professor/boss/landlord's calendar saying "It's Valentine's Day, so *insert name here* doesn't have to work hard or be productive, since they're single as a Pringle."

Zero wallowing is allowed today.

Zero.

You strut your stuff in all your fabulousness and you rock that test, or earn that salary, or take the best notes you can in that Psychology class.

You know why?

Because your single status in no way limits what you are capable of achieving.

Step 3:

Give Out Compliments Like They're Handfuls of Glitter.

Throw those things around; shower everyone you see.

Glitter never leaves.

Those kind words will stick to them for a looooong time. They're gonna be getting dressed one day a month from now and find traces of those compliments that they'd almost forgotten about.

Never underestimate how much impact a few kind words can have.

Go, glitter your friend. Glitter your class. Glitter the whole world.

You know why?

Because everyone needs a reminder that they're amazing, and kindness toward others inevitably uplifts yourself.

Step 4:

Treat Yo'self.

Go to Wal-mart and you clear those shelves of those delicious mini $1 boxes of chocolates (suggestion: wait until the 15th so they're on sale :) ).

Buy yourself flowers, or jewelry, or ice cream.

Enjoy yourself. Treat yourself.

You know why?

Because you deserve to be treated like a princess, starting with you treating yourself that way.

There you have it:

The Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day.

Share the knowledge, girls!

Make sure all your single ladies are rockin' it on the 14th.

Go kick Cupid's butt.

One Step is Enough

The average person walks between 3,500 and 5,000 steps a day. That is a lot of opportunity to go somewhere.  The average adult makes 35,00 decisions a day. That is an even bigger opportunity to go somewhere.

Sometimes you might look at how far you've been, both with your feet and with your choices, and marvel at how much you have accomplished. Other times you might look at the path ahead of you and be overwhelmed with how far you have left to go.

But I want you to remember something:

All of it begins with one step.

There are days when it's all I can do to follow Kris Kringle's advice:

But even on days when you feel like you have no idea where you're going, that you're just stepping blindly forward, or stumbling through a field of stumbling blocks and pitfalls, or dragging each weary foot forward with all the strength you have left,

You are still making a difference.

One step can make all the difference.

You don't have to know where you're going.

You don't have to be going there at a sprint, a jog, or even a brisk walk.

You can be stumbling.

You can be dragging your feet.

You can be blindly putting one foot in front of the other.

And that is enough.

If there's one thing I've learned over the last few years of my life, it's that life is impossible to roadmap. 

You might think you're going South, but this entire time, you've been marching resolutely North. 

You might walk hundreds of miles in one direction only to reach a dead end and have to turn around.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

There is a loving Heavenly Father guiding your steps, even when you don't know where those steps are taking you.

"Keep thou my feet. I do not ask to see/

the distant scene. One step enough for me."