Defining Beauty

I am so excited!!! As of last Wednesday, I had done this project for ten days.  That might not seem like a lot to you, but for me not wearing make-up for ten days in a short amount of time is a very big accomplishment.  It has already been difficult for me, but it has been a great adventure so far.

Today I could not imagine going through with this project and I thought, "Maybe if I just gave up on this blog, and wore make-up no one would really mind or care.  I look better with make-up on, and I'm not doing anything for anyone."  I put make -up on at 3:15 pm and I felt terrible about myself.  I went to class and after received a beautiful message from a friend.

She expressed things she liked about my blog, and that she was trying to apply things like not worrying about make-up or clothes in her life.  The most touching thing was that she told me I reminded her that we were created in God's image, and some things I wrote helped her in her own relationship with God. I got this message at 4:20 pm, and removed the make-up at 4:30.  This sweet friend brought me back to the beautiful reality and truth of why I decided to embark on this journey in the first place.  So that others may know and understand the freedom that comes from discovering your outer beauty and more importantly-inner beauty.  If you do not think your life is beautiful-know that someone out there appreciates something about you, and they respect you.  Remove the heavy burden of trying to become beautiful, and accept the truth that I have to remind myself--You are beautiful.  

And when I say beautiful I mean the wonderful definition as described by Dictionary.com 

beautiful:

1. the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.),a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

It is your personality, your mind, and your heart that make you beautiful.  That beauty will not be contained, and it radiates with such presence bringing joy to others.

Also I LOVE this little reminder:

Love,
No Make-Up Nina

Just Keep Smiling

Thank you, Gemma for finding this!!! You are the best. And this is so incredibly true. :)

Beautiful People

Audrey Hepburn was a very neat human being.  I am a big fan. 

Make-Up Remover

Oh dear friends, the world can be a pretty amazing place.  Let me tell you why.  Because it was created by a wonderful, loving, and beautiful God.

I warned you that this blog is going to be about my faith, too. How could it not be?! It is the most important thing in my life, the only thing that keeps me going in this often draining world.  Today I felt surrounded by love, prayer, and endless support.  I woke up this morning, and I was excited to dress up for church. You know, sunday best and all that jazz.  Anywhooooooo. I started to put on make-up when I came to some awesome realizations.

Who am I trying to look nice for? Who at church am I trying to impress?  Well after a bit of soul searching (or five minutes of it) I realized my reason for looking good at church were not good reasons at all.  Also, I tried to justify wanting to wear make-up by the fact that I would not wear it for the next four days.  But that's not the point of what I'm doing.  That is terrible way of viewing this project. Wear no make-up for four days, earn three days of make-up?? Umm...nope.

Here's the thing: God made me. In His image. Not in the image of any movie star, supermodel, or singer.

Feeling good in the outdoors! (And make-up free!!!)

1 Peter 3:3-4 came to mind as well.  I kept thinking of the part that says, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  I want that.  I want to be beautiful because of my spirit, not my face.  Even though I had not planned on taking off my make-up today, it was such a refreshing thing to feel beautiful without it.  So much joy. :)

Love,
No Make-Up Nina

To Write Love On My Arm

Yesterday was not a typical day of this journey, yesterday was hard and full of some sorrow.

Six months ago to the day, a friend of mine, committed suicide.  His name was Nick Trebonik, and when I really knew him in my senior, he was so full of life.  It is heartbreaking to see a young life taken away when you know that the potential inside of them was so very great.  He was so happy-go-lucky, goofy, and just a lovable guy.  Also, yesterday was National Suicide Prevention Day and in honor of him, I wore tie-dye (Nick loved his tie-dye!) I wore the bracelet students from my high school made in his honor, and I put the most important thing on last.  I wrote the word, "love," on my arms.

The organization, To Write Love on Her Arms, is a suicide prevention group who shares hope for everyone and anyone.  It truly is a wonderful cause, and has touched millions of lives.  I wrote the word, "love," on my arm in hopes that someone would see it, and I can let them know how precious their life is.

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life. Six months to date since Nick's suicide, National Suicide Prevention Day, and I found this picture:

This was taken at Young Life Camp two years ago.  For some reason the whole week, Nick would come up to me and just shimmy.  It was hilarious, and we did that probably too much.  But it's how I remember him.  When I went to school, I lost touch with this dear friend.  I know that even before he took his life, this Nick was still there.  The loving, warm, kind, and genuine guy that I knew.  Not a day goes by where I don't think about him a little, but yesterday was the worst.  I did not know I had this picture, and when I found it...let's just say it took me awhile to stop crying and to finally feel my breathing level out.  But what a neat way to protect others' lives.  For me to honor him, and to tell the world how loved they are, how much they matter, and that their life has a unique purpose.

And I did not think about the fact that I wasn't wearing make-up.  Not even once.  I thought about the lives that are hurting so bad each and every day, and no one even knows.  The people who are depressed, strung-out, and just left to dry.

This is for you, and for my friend Nick.  You are so dearly loved, cherished, adored, cared for, enamored, pursued, fought for.  Please know that.

With Love on My Arms,
Justina

More Beautiful Us

So this video is one very close to my heart.  Oh, how sweet these lyrics are and I am so thankful that they always come at just right the time.

Even last night, I was just not feeling good about myself.  Which is okay, but this song is just such a great reminder of who we are and our beauty.  For me my beauty, my identity, and my self-worth comes from knowing a wonderful God who created me as I am.  Truly this song makes me cry every time I hear it because before I knew God I was looking for a guy to love me, a skinny figure to get the guy, and looks to match.  What a joy it has been to be a new person, but I am still growing in this idea that I am beautiful.

Some of the lyrics: "There could never be a more beautiful you. Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through. You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do, so there could never be a more beautiful you."  We are constantly giving into and listening to the lies that surround us on a daily basis.

Here is a truth you can hold onto, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."-Psalm 139:14

Take It Off Tuesday!

So I just wanted to add a quick disclaimer because I think it's confusing people:

1. I love make-up!!! Like a lot, but I rely on it too much for my every day life.  I have nothing against anyone who wears make-up this is just a personal journey thing, ya know?!

2. I do love who I am, and I am secure in many things.  I think I am beautiful, so I did not make my blog for people to try and boost my self esteem. I have insecurities sometimes, but I have GREAT confidence in who I am and who I'm becoming.

Today was an awesome day to not wear make-up.  One of my best friends from home texted me and said, "Hope you have a great day today, beautiful!" Talk about a good friend.  She is such a sweetheart.

Oh hey! Sorry I have really bad lighting in my room, but this is me.  I think I also felt good today because I had a lot of fruits and veggies yesterday, and some pizza (because I guess you can't always have a perfect day. And life is more fun when you actually live.) A great way to keep your skin looking fresh and clean is through lots and lots of water! Makes sense to me.

Also, if you are looking for some great acne treatment, this is what I use.  It's called Equate: Spot Treatment and it's about 2 dollars at your local Walmart.  I think they only sell it at Wally World, so keep that in mind.  But it gets rid of those pesky zits hot quick! And it lasts a surprisingly long time for such a small guy. But don't sweat the small stuff like a zit on your face, it just shows you are human like the rest of us.  And it made my friends laugh when I told them that their are nine planets in the universe, one being my zit. 

Live freely today, and live simply.

Love,

No Make-Up Nina  

I Found It.

The ninth planet of the universe. It's not Pluto, either.

It's this freaking zit on my face. And of course it appears on the second day that I don't wear make-up, and it made me feel about a million times more insecure about my face. Oh and of course I am trying to document every picture to make this really hard on myself.

So here I am: Day two without make-up. Day one of a new planet in the universe.

I put some zit cream on, and hopefully by tomorrow there will only be eight planets in the universe again.  But today wasn't too bad without make-up because I was home most of the day.

We will see tomorrow how I am feeling, but I think I can do this.  I've decided to go to not wearing make-up a second day of the week just because it hasn't been that bad! Thanks for your support.

Love,
No Make-Up Nina

PS- You are beautiful.