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body_truth

Empowering Young Women to Embrace Healthy Body Image by Becoming Compassionate, Capable, & Strong. Join us!
✨Author, Juleeta C. Harvey M.A. ✨

It is important to remember where we are when beau

It is important to remember where we are when beauty strikes us. Isn’t that why we take selfies & video, enjoying our favorite people & places? We want to remember beauty.
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My #2019favoriteplace from the outdoors is here — the winding, full bodied Lake Creek that flows just outside the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming.
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Will you take a moment to share your favorite “outside” place from 2019 in the Comments below? We help each other when we acknowledge where beauty resides & thrives! #explorewyoming #lakecreek #lifeisbetteroutside #beautyinnature🍃 #bodytruth

As you look back at #2019, consider: Which places

As you look back at #2019, consider: Which places have felt like prison to you? And which places have gifted you freedom?💃🏼
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As an intelligent & perceptive young woman, you know the answers to both of these questions.👍🏻
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Your body’s physical responses in these two places help you know something about yourself.🛀🏽Which places have been anxiety-ridden, causing your throat to swell or your stomach to churn? Which places have been good & beneficial for you, allowing you to feel light and warm?💆🏻‍♀️💆🏽‍♀️💆🏾‍♀️
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🌴We’re wrapping up the year by recognizing our #2019favoriteplaces.🌴Join us @bodytruth tomorrow as we talk about the places where we feel free & alive as we walk in light, as daughters of God.☀️
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Photo Cred: Me w/my iPhone, taken from my backyard last week after the ugliest, grey rainy day I’ve seen in a while. Didn’t it turn out gorgeous? #favoriteplaces #bodytruth #peacefulmoments #takenoticeofself #girlswholovejesus #yearinreview2019

Our final #fridayintroductions Guest of 2019 is on

Our final #fridayintroductions Guest of 2019 is one of the most important women in my life. Enjoy meeting @surseegal, Leslie Johnson.
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“Hey lovely gal,
I have been thinking a bunch about my identity lately and the Lord has been encouraging me to think some fresh thoughts and renew my mind with His truth about who I am with a profound truth about what is really going on inside of our glorious bodies.
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In my mirror I see my outward appearance- the frosting in my hair, a few more lines here and there, a few more lumps. I feel young inside, but the outside says, Hey gal- you are getting a little older every day. Really, we all are.
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We all walk through this life, and our bodies change. This is happening to all of us — young and old.
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But the promise of scripture says that although we are decaying on the outside, the inside of us is being renewed day by day. This is great news! I am being renewed!
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner woman is being renewed day by day. II Corinthians 4:16
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Everyday when I spend time reading His word and talking to Jesus, I become more like Him.
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When I gather with other believers in community and we remind each other of what is important and how we are trusting Jesus more, I am renewed. When I memorize scripture to feed my mind with truth, I am renewed. When I confess the things I don’t want to do and ask God to help me change, I am renewed. Each day is a day of renewal and a fresh start.
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And I don’t have to do this on my own. The Holy Spirit is working with me to change me on the inside and make me more like Jesus.
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God sees our beauty on the inside and the outside. He promises to change us and renew us as we age.
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Each day is a new start. I do not lose heart. I focus on the inside changes.
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Each day is a dance with my God who loves me. He really, really loves me- all the nooks and crannies of me. All the outside and all the inside.”

🍨When hunger translates to wanting a bite or tw

You see those ☝🏼 people with me? Yes, you’v

🥨This is the kind of snack that makes my mouth

❄️One December morning, after college finals,

❄️One December morning, after college finals, weak from a semester of not eating enough and exercising too much, I curled up in bed and tightly held my pillow.
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“You are going to have to eat,” I heard a voice speak, inside my mind. “If you don’t start eating more, you won’t get to do any of the things you’re dreaming of doing.”✨
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Looking back to that December, I know God was speaking to me.✨That was the first Christmas I chose to eat, without hiding, after struggling with an eating disorder. And ever since then, I’ve been keenly aware of how hunger and food are a significant part of how we celebrate Christmas.
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And you know what? Our hunger, which is part of being human, should be a part of how we celebrate Christmas.
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As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we choose to recognize our Savior is fully God and fully human.
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But Christmas might invite you into spaces & 🤨awkward conversations😜 with family, friends, or acquaintances who see Jesus differently — people who see him as God, but not as a vulnerable, dependent, and hungry man who knows deeply how hard it is to be human.
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💁🏻‍♀️And those people may not appreciate your desire to honor Jesus. And to honor yourself — as his disciple who sees your body as a gift.
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Your body is a gift.🎁
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Your body isn’t fat, ugly, awful, or disgusting.
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It is a vessel for loveliness. And, yes, in the Christmas feasting, it needs to be fed.🥣
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Join us tomorrow as we share a few time honored recipes from one my favorite local home-chefs that you can make at home.🥧🍪🥗Healthy ways to nourish & feed your beautiful body make up this week’s Christmas posts.
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Photo Cred @unsplash, Brandless. And Recipe Cred goes to the one and only, @surseegal. All week long!🎄#christmastreats #foodforyoursoulcookedwithlove #youneedtoeat #sacredtable #simplecooking

If I had the ability to time travel like #madeline

If I had the ability to time travel like #madelinelengle, you would meet today’s guest in person. But I am limited. Not so limited, though, that I can’t bring you some of her story.
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Today, you’ll meet the most famous young woman in the history of the world, besides Joan of Arc and Anne Frank. Mary, the teenage young woman who was chosen by God to bring Jesus into the world.
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As you celebrate Christmas, consider Mary’s willingness to receive and rest in the wake of startling news. In the middle of her engagement, at around 15 years old, an angel drew near and revealed to her she would be pregnant, though a virgin. And the mother of the long awaited Messiah.
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No pressure, right?
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Imagine. Really consider. How might you respond if approached with that kind of news?
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It’s a hard one. But Mary’s response in Luke 1 is one of the most beautiful moments in the New Testament.
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In the Magnificat, she meditates on God’s character, & she responds in song by praising God for His goodness to her.
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Above are depictions of Mary, from different cultures that span the globe! How people all over the world see her is different, but you’ll see something similar in all of these pieces. You’ll see her calm, peaceful presence as she trusts God to care for her.
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God cares for you, Lovely. I am praying, this morning, that you believe this. And that each reader here will REST in God’s loving presence as we celebrate Christmas. Tag a friend below to join us @body_truth.
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Photo Credits found at my Pinterest account, on the Virgin Mary Board. #marymotherofgod #bodytruth #christmasscripture #madelinelengle #maryismyhomegirl #jesusisthereasonfortheseason #luke1 #trustandrest #fridayintroductions #finalexamweek

“Rest & Reward.” These two words go together l

“Rest & Reward.” These two words go together like sugar cookies & milk, brownies & ice cream, a mug of warm hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
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I know some people don’t like to associate rewards with food, but I do. Are there foods that nudge you to snuggle in a cozy spot, rest from the hustle & bustle, and simple taste? Savor? Enjoy?
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Taking time out to rest and reward yourself is yet another way to treat your mind and body to a short break. It could be just the breather you need to help you cross the finish line.
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And, Hooray for Thursday!!! You’ve almost made it to the weekend, Lovely!
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Photo Cred @unsplash, Food Photographer Jennifer Pallian. #restandreward #foodiesofinstagram #bodytruth #allfoodsfit #christmastreats #finalsweek #savor #whenyouneedasnack #cozychristmas #feedyourbody

🧘🏽‍♀️Is meditation healthy for you? 🧘🏽‍♀️Or is it just a new-agey weird practice that self-help books and phone apps want to profit from? Well, you can decide.
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1. Definition: Meditation is focused reflecting & contemplating. Meditation invites one to stop, be still, and focus on a single idea. Maybe it’s a feeling. Or a song. Or Scripture that settles you.
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2. History: Meditation is a practice God’s people have engaged in for thousands of years. The LORD commands Joshua to meditate on the Book of the Law (Joshua 1:8), David meditates on God’s Word in the Psalms, and Paul meditates on God’s character in Philippians. 🌄
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3. Research: More & more studies prove that meditation has health benefits, especially for teens. According to The Cleveland Clinic, a few minutes of meditation “improves focus and concentration so teens can focus on homework and perform better on exams. It helps with self-esteem and memory, reduces blood pressure and heart rate, and helps balance the immune system.”💕
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💆🏻‍♀️So, there’s a few thoughts on meditation as you consider new ways to rest and recharge in the middle of this very exciting and probably exhausting week.💆🏻‍♀️Hang in there, Lovely.🤛🏻. You’ve got this!
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Here’s one meditation app I’ve downloaded (for free) that helps me check in with my emotions and quiet my mind — @sbtbreathe.👌🏻
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Photo Cred @unsplash, Leon Biss. #rest #meditateonjesus #restandrecharge #bodytruth #matthew11 #psalms #phillipians #finalsweek #finalexams #jesus #teengirlswholovejesus #jesuschicks #beautiful #liveyourbestlife #bibletruth #communityforteengirls

🎼According to the American Psychological Assn.,

🎼According to the American Psychological Assn., music is healthy for us, especially because it can reduce stress and help us rest.🎼
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“Researchers (have) found that listening to and playing music increases the body's production of the antibody immunoglobulin A— the cells that attack invading viruses and boost the immune system's effectiveness.🤛🏻
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Music also REDUCES levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”👌🏼
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As you consider how to take breaks and rest effectively, consider your favorite songs. Below are some of my favorites for resting and recharging!🙌🏽
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1. “Rescue,” Lauren Daigle @lauren_daigle
2. “My Hallelujah,” Bryan and Katie Torwalt #bryankatietorwalt
3. “Defender,” Rita Springer @ritaspringer
4. “Not Today,” Hillsong United @hillsongunited
5. “Way Maker,” Leeland @leelandofficial
Go on, get your music out and sing out LOUD! It’s time, don’t you think?💁🏽‍♀️💁🏼‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️
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Photo Cred @unsplash, Jacob Padilla

🤓Why is your head in the books?🤓Because Fina

🤓Why is your head in the books?🤓Because Finals. Are. Now.🤞🏾We’re WITH YOU, giving you tips and encouragement to get you through the week!
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Quick! Remember all you’ve learned over the last 19 weeks in 8 different subjects, and be ready to show up to school with all of it.
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Whaaaattt?!?!?!🤯
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I’m feeling overwhelmed just writing about #finalexams so I can only imagine what you’re feeling. Maybe a bit scared or anxious? Or just exhausted by the thought of it all?🤪
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The best guidance I can give this week is — REST.💆🏻‍♀️Create 5 or 10 or 30 minute spaces in your schedule to take a breather in between the reviewing and the studying and honor your body.💁🏼‍♀️Yes, your body and mind will need breaks this week!
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My #fridayintroduction girls know this is true! College Sisters in Christ, will you comment below? 🙏🏼 PLEASE, let our middle and high school girls hear from YOU about how important those small breaks/moments of rest recharge us when we’re in the middle of FINALS WEEK!🙏🏼 @hpatterson1 @olivia_gerwing @asc_tamu @karleen.rose @katelyn_denise25 @lydiabiles_ @kennedynm19 @erineeby @samsilv3 @camdries .....
And join us tomorrow for Rest & Music! Photo Cred @unsplash, Siora Photography.

Hi! I’m Lydia, and I am Nursing major at Brookha

Hi! I’m Lydia, and I am Nursing major at Brookhaven College. This wasn’t the path that I had laid out for my life. Which was exactly my problem...to think I was the one to create a life plan away from God.
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My daughter Shiloh was born on August 14th of this year, and that is an example of God's grace!
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All throughout high school, I used my body as a tool to get attention from others. I wanted to please people, be loved, and be known, but I was going about it all the wrong ways. Instead of leaning into God’s truth during my seasons of struggles, I pushed away and listened to worldly lies.
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Throughout my high school years, I constantly told myself, “You’ll be fine, you’re already saved” and “I have struggles, but THAT isn’t MY struggle.”
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By feeding myself these lies, and being consumed by how I would look or feel, I was in a dark place without Jesus. The shame, the guilt, and the deceit was miserable. I viewed myself with a critical eye, especially as I criticized my body, thinking it that wasn’t up to “standards”.
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Through Shiloh, God has shown me how much he loves me and how he made me just the way I am — a part of HIS design!
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I have a CD that I turn on when it’s nap time for Shiloh. It plays bible verse songs. One of them is Psalm 139: 13-14. It says, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
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How uplifting is it to know that from the beginning, you are WONDERFULLY MADE! God made you just the way you are from the very beginning!
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God used Shiloh to show me his abounding grace and love when I didn’t think I deserved it. Now he is teaching me how to show Shiloh how much she is loved, appreciated, and beautiful in God’s image. #bodytruth #inhisimage #wonderfullymade

👭👭You may have a group of close girlfriends,

👭👭You may have a group of close girlfriends, whether at school or church, who’d love to go in together & give to someone in need. Maybe gifting each other with physical gifts isn’t the priority this season.🎄
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Here’s a few ideas about how you could join with your girlfriends/family & give a gift that also serves those who don’t have as many resources this Christmas.
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1. @prisonfellowship hosts☝🏼Angel Tree Christmas, which provides gifts for families whose parents are incarcerated. Giving here is a beautiful way to gift and serve at Christmas!☺️
2. Ask your youth minister how to give to families in need at your church.🎚Most churches have special collections that help people (completely confidential) who need a little extra to get through a tough season.🙏🏼
3. Go to your school counselor!🌟Yes, really. Tell her a few of you would like to help someone in need at your school/in your community. She’ll likely have someone in mind, & she can see that your gift goes where it is most helpful.🙌🏽And even better, she’ll keep it confidential so the person receiving doesn’t even need to know it’s from you (or vice-versa).
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🎁🎁Share more ideas of how we can gift and serve in the Comments below! I’m sure a few of you have some great ideas!🎁🎁
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And join us tomorrow for our #fridayintroductions. 🌻Lydia Biles is a gift, for sure!🌻

“I've learned that people will forget what you s

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
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Gift giving doesn’t require overspending or overdoing. But the right gift for someone special might require a few minutes of effort and thoughtfulness.
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Interested in a few ideas that might offer up kindness, love, or appreciation? (That can be found around the corner @walmart or @target if @amazon isn’t an option.)
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1. A 2-3 sentence handwritten note about what you SEE in the person you are gifting, attached to a small item like a colorful pen, a book you love, or a journal with a fun cover.
2. A quote that reminds you of your special relationship with the person you’re gifting, written out on pretty paper, attached to something fun like lip gloss, cute and cozy socks, or nail polish.
3. Scripture that communicates love, written on a pretty card or printed on paper and backed on scrapbook card stock. Attach it to something delish — a small bag of gooey, chocolaty chocolate chip cookies or @traderjoes Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels!
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These kinds of personalized gifts are sure to leave the person (you’re gifting) feeling special and significant. Join us tomorrow for my favorite gift idea, which includes serving together! .....
Photo Credit @unsplash, Luca Upper.

What does it mean “to give” good gifts? .....

What does it mean “to give” good gifts?
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“Dounai” is the Hebrew word Matthew used to describe how Jesus chose “to give” his life for us. Dounai is used 33x in the New Testament.
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Dounai is also translated as “to offer up” and “to grant” in the NT.
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To give really good gifts to our most important people, we must consider the PEOPLE to whom we are giving!
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What kind of gift could “offer up” love for your parents? What kind of gift gives away or “grants” kindness to your closest friends? What kind of gift “offers up” respect for your coaches or teachers?
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Think about what is most important to your favorite people, and join us tomorrow for a few practical gift ideas.
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Photo Credit @unsplash, Swaraj Tiwari.

To serve and to give. ..... He chose to live life

To serve and to give.
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He chose to live life here, amidst family gossip and disagreeable people and hurtful rejection.
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On this side of heaven, Jesus also chose to SERVE & to GIVE.
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When we celebrate his birth on December 25, we simultaneously acknowledge, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
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You are a young woman that wants to SERVE those who are hungry for love & meaningful affection & GIVE generously. I hope you and your girlfriends join us tomorrow as we question how to do both this Christmas season.
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Photo Credit @unsplash by Craig Birrell.

💄As a color and style consultant💄@houseofcol

💄As a color and style consultant💄@houseofcolourdallas, Ginny Hudnut knows a thing or two about how clothes impact the way we see ourselves.🤳What she shares about color analysis might surprise you, in all the best ways!🌈
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“In short, color analysis is an appointment where you learn which palette of colors flatter you most. There are many benefits to this, but one of my favorites is that it give your freedom!👌🏻
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Color analysis empowers you to be confidant in wearing the colors that look amazing on you and be free to pass up colors that aren’t doing you any favors👍🏾. I like to think of wearing your colors as meeting your potential. When you nail your best hues, you look and feel healthy, alert, and beautiful!🧑🏻👱🏾‍♀️👧🏼
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Wearing the wrong colors can make you look tired, sick and dull. 😴🤤🤕And, well, those colors were meant for someone else.
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🕵🏽‍♀️I love knowing that I don’t need an army green jacket because it’s not going to flatter me while it looks 🎉amazing🎉on so many others.
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Knowing your colors helps you to be comfortable in the skin that God gave you and embrace your unique, natural beauty.”💃🏼
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If you have questions for Ginny, she’d LOVE to answer them!!! PM her about her services and see what she offers @houseofcolourdallas. Maybe you’re even thinking an appointment with her could be the Christmas 🎁 that keeps on giving!
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Comment below if you ♥️ the expertise @houseofcolour equips you with as you shop!
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I’ve had fun style adventuring with you this week, & I hope you feel more equipped to shop well as you approach this season of giving. See you Monday!

Statistics show we only wear about 15% of our clot

Statistics show we only wear about 15% of our clothes 85% of of our time. Doesn’t that sound crazy?🤪
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I think this has to do with buying a piece on sale.🤑Sometimes we buy a pair of jeans for the “right price”, but they end up being itchy, too short, or too long. And then we only wear them a total of 2x!😮
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Or maybe we see a dress on a celebrity and hope to emulate the look by buying something similar for ourselves.🤞🏾But it doesn’t quite give us the look we hoped for.👎🏽
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Let’s start pulling out the clothes we don’t feel good in. And thinking through the CLEANOUT, consider how God has carefully crafted your body shape, your skin tone, and your personality as you choose #whattowear.💪🏼
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Looking forward to introducing you to @houseofcolourdallas consultant, Ginny Hudnut tomorrow! She’s a pro 👌🏻!
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Tagging some of my favorite style hunters and small businesses to join us @body_truth. @lonestarsouthern @jmariecollections @impeccablepig @Inmanstudios @themodernmiss @theedgeofsimple @Jessicahonegar @tessamccubbin @trendsendofficial

💕Did you know that “your body architecture he

💕Did you know that “your body architecture helps dictate what style of clothing will naturally look better on you?”😇
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That means, what looks good on @lizzobeeating (5’10”) doesn’t look as flattering on @laurendaigle (5’4”).😉
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As we try on pieces from our closet and think about pre- or post-holiday shopping, look and see what pieces you have that dress your body in flattering ways!💃🏽🏃🏽‍♀️🚶🏾‍♀️
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For example, look at your skirts and dresses. Is the midi length your look, or does something just above the knee make you smile? Do you like a crisp A-line or the romantic flow of a long skirt?👗
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🎁And be careful here, Lovely. This is not an invite to be self-critical. This is about you discerning what you feel Beautiful in — the pieces that make you say, “Yes, this is me!”🎉
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Quote credit: Style Link @houseofcolourdallas . There may be some fun style research you can do here 👌🏻. #donttrustthemannequins #studybeforeyoushop #bodytruth #wisewords #yourbodyisyourtemple #holidayshopping #saksfifthavenue

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