Modest is Hottest!

For those of you who don't know, I come from a largish family.  I am the oldest (and wisest) of course, yet I am the shortest.  For whatever reason, my gene pool didn't get the memo that I was supposed to have long legs!  I have legs, but they are definitely not as long as they were supposed to be...sigh!  It is OK.  I have come to terms with it and frankly I am alright with me appearing like I am standing in a hole, constantly.

Besides the usual short people problems one might usually incur, I also have "assets" if you know what I mean.  I am keenly aware that I cannot wear V-neck tops, low cut stylish tank tops or anything along the lines of push up.  Because guess what happens?  Anyone taller than me gets a free show!  Not exactly the attention I am going for...but regardless, I have to set a better example for my sisters and now niece about modesty.

Claire Rachel is my 16-year-old curvy beautiful blonde-haired country girl little sister.  She is my big little sister.  I am so thankful that she wears her cowgirl boots proudly and wants her curves to be covered.  She wants to be modest, but she too wants to dress feminine.  I am so proud of her.  She one day came home from youth group and she goes...."Catie, you KNOW modest is hottest!"  We had a good laugh, but she is so right!  Modest IS hottest.

Being in high-school, teenagers are given so many messages.  They are surrounded by celebrities, models, and unrealistic body images galore.  They are told they are supposed to dress one way and act another.  Aren't they supposed to be teenagers?  Why are we forcing these teens to deal with such issues so young?  It is driven and perpetuated by our retail environment then reinforced by Hollywood.  Or maybe in fact it is the other way around...regardless, these poor teenage girls will develop low self-esteem and begin to look for all the wrong attention if the message of modesty is not expressed.

http://www.faithgrubb.com/2013/05/classy-modesty.html

I came across a really cool way a teenage girl by the name of Megan Grassell and her mother are promoting modesty among bras.  Have you ever gone through the bra section at any store for those who are developing?  There are push-up options, sequins and lace, patterns, and over all a lot of inappropriate seeds being planted.  Bras, last time I checked, were there for support not for drawing unnecessary attention at such a youthful age.  Megan and her mother are resisting these designs and immodest attempts to make our young girls sex symbols through the development of their company Yellowberry.

Yellowberry's mission is to create beautiful age appropriate bras for developing teenage girls.  They have beautiful colorful bras that are fun, supportive, and I think are pretty cool.  Please visit their website for more information: http://yellowberrycompany.com/.  You can also find them on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

You owe it to yourself to be modest, stylish and have necessary parts covered.  Self-respect is everything.  If you don't have respect for yourself then how could you possibly expect anyone else to respect you?  Just saying....

Catie Manning

A Non-Resolution 2014

So it is 2014.  Where did the time go?  It seems like it was only yesterday that we were ringing in the 2013 year with bells and whistles of hope and gleam.  For most it was a tremendously hard year with great ups and downs as the uncertainty of health care and world economics to which directly affected everyone in one shape or another.  There was scandal.  There was heartache.  There was much also to be thankful for like jobs, opportunities, and still hope remained.

A lot of my personal friends took great risks!  They started new business ventures.  They got engaged and got married.  They started having children and those are all wonderful.  That doesn't mean that it doesn't go without pain and hardships nor does it exist without a certain fear of the unknown.  And yet, my friends still took those risks and by their great faith continued to press on through their hopes, dreams and desires to make 2013 the best year yet!

It seems too with each new year their comes a desire for reenergized and refocus on our forever goals of getting in shape, eating properly and finishing up those unleveled projects simply stated.  I was one of those persons as well.  My resolutions come with great intentions; however the motivation to follow through for the betterment of myself was somewhat lacking.  This year seems a little different than those of the past.  Americans seem to be slightly more appreciative of what we have.  It is as though the greater majority of people are getting up and doing more to assist those in their communities.  They are stepping up to the plate of problems such as hunger, homelessness, and abandonment.  That truly is an amazing sort especially in reflecting just how lucky we are!

This year will be different for me too.  Instead of resolving to a plan that is set up to fail, I am resolving to NON-Resolution 2014.  I have a list that I would like to do just because!  I want to learn to cook healthier.  I want to find my love for working out again.  I want to be a better person.  I want to seek balance better in the day to day chaos.  I want to be a better example of a positive attitude and maintain my encouraging spirit with great hope.  I don't want to be complacent or take anyone/anything for granted this year.  I want to learn to love others and life.

I have a few action based plans, four to be exact!) created to accomplish the aforementioned goals.  I also have a few ideas of how to break it up so I can stick with it.  What it all comes down to is patience and awareness down to every little action.  So here goes nothing!

So what are your new year's resolutions?  Are you trying to be healthier?  Are you trying to be more mindful?  Are you just trying to exist?  We would love to hear what your plans for the new year are!  Share with us on Facebook or Twitter!

No matter what 2014 has in store, I have a feeling that it will be a great year...don't you?

Start smiling...dare you to make someone's day!
Catie Manning