I am Brave and Beautiful – a beauty movement that is sweeping the globe. Colbie Caillat started it with her recent song and video called TRY. And I wanted to push this movement along and invited women from all over to join me and share what they looked like without make up on!! I’ve been hinting about it on social media as my “secret project”. It’s not a secret anymore! Colbie’s song says, “Take your make up off. Let your hair down… Look into the mirror at yourself, Do you like you? Cause I like you… “
I teamed up with Cobi of Peacefrom6pieces to pull this project off (she’s a warrior!). Our worldwide vision included creating our own video inspired by the song TRY and the movemnt. The talent of Robbins Creative made it possible for us to pull it off. It could’t be more beautiful. I am so grateful to the brave women who participated and also took the time. I have watched it several times, each time catching little bits of different meanings here and there, glances, smirks, and yes I’ve cried more than once. You have to click play and see the beauty and bravery displayed, feel my heart and passion for this project and you might even recognize a few faces in there.
Me along with 101+ other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes have decided to be Brave and Beautiful! You can join in this movement too by sharing what you look like without makeup on. You don’t need a blog either! Just tag your photo with #IamBraveAndBeautiful on Instgram and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. ALSO, if you tag it with a second hashtag – #ColbieTRY we just might be able to get Colbie Caillat’s attention since she was the inspiration behind it all! If you don’t want to share your own photo you can still do some good by SHARING this post. Facebook it, tweet it, Instagram it and Pin it. Tell your friends, tag your girlfriends, your sisters, your mom, your daughter(s)….When we share goodness it comes back to us in ways that we might not expect.
Are you brave and beautiful? I am, here I go!
Here’s what I look like on the average day – except that this Summer I went ALL blonde.
And here’s me without makeup on. My brave and beautiful self, in the raw. Not photoshopped or touched up. No editng and stripped of all my favorite accessories. This was taken right after the video footage was captured from the movie above. The uber talented @Lindsayblack_cfcdesign was on sight to capture our natural selves. She did a beautiful job (thank you Lindsay!).
I am truly humbled with a heart bursting full of gratitude to each of the 120 women who felt the importance of this movement and joined in with my idea. It’s not easy to share or show yourself without make up on in a world full of perfect moments, photo filters, selfies, airbrushing, peer/media/social pressure and judgement. Some blogging women jumped right in and others stepped aboard with hesitation and nervousness yet wanting to conquer that. Colbie Callaits message is to be ok with yourself WITH your makeup on and WITHOUT. Don’t try so hard to impress everyone else and live up to someone else’s standard or ideal of what or who you should be. Just like she says, “do you like you???” …….SO – Do you like you?
In my Refashion your life Videos last year the somewhat underlying message that was constant throughout them was loving yourself enough to change. Having a healthy love of self creates good ripples of change that in turn strengthen those around you – family, friends, community and beyond. Isn’t that what it’s all about?…..helping others know of their importance and helping them become their best selves.
There is something very empowering about taking your makeup off and still loving that person you see in the mirror. Even more empowering to share it with the world! If you know me or are a regular reader or follower then you know I am big advocate of getting up and getting ready. For me that includes shower, hair, makeup, accessories and dressed for the day that I want to have (which is usually jeans, blouse and heels). No yoga pants and ponytails here! LOL. BUT – I do all that for ME, not someone else. On the flip side, I’m not overly concerned or obessed with the perfect outfit, perfect hair, perfect body, etc. You know how I feel about my body and “lack” of boobs! I’m ok with me. I am more concerned about doing good, making a difference, learning, growing and experiencing this daily gift of life. I heard a quote just this weekend that sums up some of my thoughts perfectly. Whether you believe in a God, or a higher power or none at all, I do. I know that my Heavenly Father created me for great things and with a divine mission. I find joy in living this belief each day and keeping it all in perspective. Here is the quote:
“Do you suppose it matters to our Heavenly Father whether your makeup, clothes, hair, and nails are perfect? Do you think your value to Him changes based on how many followers you have on Instagram or Pinterest? Do you think He wants you to worry or get depressed if someone unfriends or unfollows you on Facebook or Twitter? Do you think outward attractiveness, dress size, or popularity make the slightest difference to the one who created the universe? He loves you, not just for who you are this very day, but for the person of glory and light you have the potential and desire to become.” —President Uchtdorf
I hope that as you get clicking around (links are below!) to all the other women who are being brave and sharing their own beauty you will feel a spark inside and that you follow that in the direction it takes you…. Where ever that may be for you! xo – Megan
Time to get clicking around – its a blog hop! Below are more brave and beautiful women bearing more than their natural beauty. They each have a little bit of their heart to share with you. Some get very personal. Some share stories. For some this was very hard to do yet they gathered their courage and did it anyway. We hope as you click around (and YES pin and share these different posts!) you will feel the importance of it, the empowering effect it has and that it encourages you in some way.
>>>>>>>Important info! Blog Hops often have glitches the first day. If the link has an ERROR, simply click on the HOME button for each site, or google the blog name next to the link, and you should see their brave and beautiful post there. Links will be updated as soon as possible.<<<<<<<<<<<<
1. BrassyApple 2. Peace from 6 Pieces 3. Is this Really My Life 4. Among the Young 5. Love Me Dani Marie 6. Sweet Charli 7. Kim Orlandini 8. XO, Ashton Tilton 9. She Calls Me Mama Leisha 10. Raising Memories – Canada 11. A Little Tipsy 12. Amy Cornwell 13. A girl and a glue gun 14. My Craftily Ever After 15. Maybe I Will 16. WhipperBerry 17. Paging SuperMom 18. All Things Thrifty 19. Ashlee Marie 20. The Project Girl
21. One Little Momma 22. Entirely Eventful Day 23. Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl 24. Tips from a Typical Mom 25. Utah Sweet Savings 26. Flats to Flip Flops 27. One Krieger Chick 28. What Meegan Makes 29. Simply Kierste 30. Live to be Inspired 31. HoneyBear Lane 32. Pretty Providence 33. Ma Nouvelle Mode – in FRANCE 34. MomEntity 35. Serger Pepper – in ITALY 36. Kiki and Company 37. Girl Loves Glam 38. Thrive
39. The Potters Place 40. Crafting in the Rain 41. Cooking With Ruthie 42. Delineate Your Dwelling 43. The Pennington Point 44. Bakerette 45. The Happy Scraps 46. Shannon Baird Photography 47. Tried and Tasty 48. Lionesses at the Gate 49. Fry Sauce and Grits 50. Lolly Jane 51. That’s What Che Said 52. Sugar Bee Crafts 53. Your HomeBased Mom 54. Happiness is Homemade 55. The Crafted Sparrow 56. R&R Workshop 57. I Should Be Mopping the Floor 58. Sassy Steals
59. Let’s Eat Grandpa 60. Being Spiffy 61. Sumo’s Sweet Stuff 62. Ginger Snap Crafts 63. Bless This Mess 64. Apronista 65. Dreaming About Someday 66. Frenchie 67. Tastefully Frugal 68. Four Marrs and One Venus 69. Your Sister Circle 70. Over the Big Moon 71. See Vanessa Craft 72. Infarrantly Creative 73. Family StoryTelling
74. Albion Gould 75. Life as Mrs. Larson 76. Tried and True 77. Play.Party.Pin. 78. Bite of Delight 79. Ink Happi 80. ObSEUSSed 81. U Create 82. My Mommy Style 83. Find it Make it Love it 84. The Contractor Chronicles 85. Novae Clothing 86. Mommy Makes Things 87. At Home with Sweet T 88. We Like to Learn As We Go 89. House for Five 90. Organize and Decorate Everything 91. Sassy Southern Gurl 92. The Creative Mom 93. Keep Moving Forward with Me
94. The Benson Street 95. Mom 4 Real 96. Sowdering About 97. illistyle 98. The Crafty Blog Stalker 99. A Fiery Red Life 100. Cupcakes & Crowbars 101. One Sweet Appetite 102. My DayLights 103. Restless Risa
104. Sypsie Designs 105. Vintage Mother 106. Like Mother Like Daughter 107. 30 Handmade Days 108. Queen B and Me 109. Apples by Ashley 110. Boutique Cafe – in CANADA 111. Just My Little Mess 112. Bombshell Bling 113. Sarah Tyau 114. Taradara Make it 115. Capturing Joy 116. Ivory Lime Photography 117. Jenkins Kid Farm 118. Free Time Frolics 119. Bella Storia 120. Dana Ohlsen Photography
Ready in join in?Snap, hashtag and share! Tag @BrassyApple and @Peacefrom6Pieces if you can too!
Also follow our Bravery and Beauty PINTEREST board for more inspiration!
The day has arrived! Nice job Megan. What a great effort on your part for something so important.You are beautiful inside and out! I am so touched seeing these photos. Its quite empowering. Have a FABULOUS week!
thank you Jillene for being brave and courageous and sharing your beauty as well! xo
I am definitely one that reluctantly joined, but I am truly honored to be a very small part of this project. I can’t wait to see the effects of this project.
so glad you did join in!!! 🙂 hopefully you are feeling the strength in numbers! xo
We are so thrilled to be part of this!! Just wanted to say THANK YOU for including us and taking the time to put this together. Its so important and needed. We are true believers that #womenneedwomen. Thank you again!! You are flooding the world with GOOD!!! 🙂
so true! We do need each other to SUPPORT and uplift each other. thank you for joining in!
You ARE beautiful, I love that you put this together!
thrilled with how it has turned out!!! thank you Kristen for jumping on board!
Megan you look amazing in both photos! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting this together! WE are BRAVE AND BEAUTIFUL!
yes we are!!! let’s shout that from the rooftops! 🙂
I love everything about this. I love your passion for the good! Thanks for letting us be a part! Thanks for making me start my Monday with tears!!!!
~Meegan
aw!!! A great way to start a monday is feeling good! 🙂 xo
Love you girl – you are beautiful with and without make up on. Thank you for including me in this experience!
loved having you in the video and that you took the time to be a part of it. THANK YOU! xo
Thanks for putting this together! It is such an awesome statement. I love that we both used the Uchtdorf quote. So perfect!
completely PERFECT!!!! 🙂
I am so thankful for this project. Thank you for putting it together and letting me participate. It’s been empowering. I love that quote from Elder Uchtdorf! Thanks for sharing it.
thank you for joining in and sharing it!!!! not just for a day but for longer than that 🙂
I absolutely love this, I definitely want to join in!
http://www.livemystylebehappy.com
YOu are welcome to share your photos and link over to this one so we can all be connected!!! we would love that!
Well done Darling! You are amazing!!!
thank you!!!! xo
Girl you know I love ya! I am so proud to call you my friend….with or without makeup. Thanks for heading this up. Lisa~
proud to call you my friend….or sista!! 🙂 xo!!!! thank you for joining in!
Megan,
What do I need to do do join this movement. I hope it is ok if I share it on my blog.
http://www.countrygirlhome.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Lindsay
yes share the link, share the video, share, share share…. 🙂
You are an inspiration to me and the rest of the world. Thank you for letting me be apart of this experience. I love you and the message you live everyday.
Xo
xoxo cobi! thanks for being my partner in crime for the last couple of months while we put this project together!
LOVE IT!!! So beautiful, and the stories shared were amazing!! Thank you for doing this and reminding all of us women that we are beautiful just the way we are!!
YES!!! sometimes we need a reminder to stop listening to all the voices of the world 😉 xo
You’re gorgeous. I love that quote from President Uchdorf!
I was dying so many times during the conference! If they only knew what was coming that following monday! 🙂
Everything turned out amazing Megan! Thanks for all your hard work lady!
it was all worth it! thank you Pam for being a part of it!
Such a wonderful and inspiring campaign to put together to empower women and young girls. Would it be okay to share this on my blog? Beautiful photos 🙂
Diana – yes you can link over and share it with your audience. share the video, share the graphics on social media, etc. yes please share! 🙂
I am so lucky to know you and that I have gotten to know you more in just the last year. Like you mentioned above, you are always trying to do good and better things around you. You do such a great job at that. I loved every second of getting ready for this movement to launch, especially shooting the video. Thanks for all of your work and heart you put into this. It has been amazing clicking through and readings every ones 2 cents. You are beautiful and the person in that raw picture above looks amazing! xoxo
I’ve loved being able to call you friend Kami!! thank you for being a part of the video!!!! 🙂 truly a magical experience
I freaking love you and your face no matter what.
xoxo LUcky!!!!!
Thank you for putting this together, for being happy with who you are and radiating joy. I’m thrilled to call you my friend
lots of JOY over here as well! It’s been fun to get this started and hopefully it will continue! 🙂
As Uchtdorf was talking on Saturday, I kept thinking about this whole thing today. Such an amazing event..thanks so much for putting it together. It is so inspiring to see and read all of these powerful voices! xoxo
I know!!! me too!!!!
It looks as if you have eyeliner and lipstick/gloss on, at the very least.
🙂 I Had just taken all of it off in a field while being filmed for the video in the post. Could just be the lighting of the picture. Empowering to be without makeup and share it when that is not my norm.
Don’t wear makeup and don’t color my hair. Never considered myself brave for doing it. Still don’t! But, congrats to all of you who have taken this apparent leap!
I guess it all depend on your reality, your everyday circles, your everyday routine. For some it is the norm. for others it is not 🙂 thanks for checking it out!
Thank you so much for organizing this movement. I had reservations about participating when I realized the details but I’m glad I did it. It has made me think a lot more about being brave and my own kind of beautiful. Great minds – perfect that we both used the Uchtdorf quote. It clicked as soon as I heard it. So inspiring!
sometimes a leap of faith turns out to be a blessing! thanks for joining in!
I could only visit a few of these beautiful women, but I was touched by all of them. This is such an important and magnificent project. I hope it goes viral and that everyone is as affected by it as I was. Thank you for this amazingly good thing you’re doing.
thank you! thank you!!! It’s my hope too that it can keep spreading so more women and feel what we have all felt 🙂
Hello! I joined thanks! I was also inspired to write about my mom- which is something I didn’t think I was ready to do. So double thanks. http://www.notquitewonderwoman.com/breast-cancer-awareness-month-october/