The JANUARY 2016 | Series No. 2, Issue No. 2
ease
Issue
Embark on a Beautiful Detour & Embrace Change with Amy Oestreicher
ALSO
Pat Yourself on the Back • Beautify the Bathroom • Let Your Light Shine
I N THI S I S S U E
Create
ease
by Embracing Beauty
realize
Discover the beauty that is inside you by embracing meaningful self-care practices, positive mind-body products, a bold T H I S M O N T H ’ S COV E R : creativity, three beautiful Take a beautiful detour novels, your with Gutless & Grateful’s Amy personal Oestreicher and experience style, and beauty, ease, confidence, and your deepest humor in a whole new way. desires.
dwell
Infuse beauty into your home, from the smallest details to the overall sensibility of your space, by styling with feminine, divine touches; incorporating natural elements; and proclaiming positive affirmations through your décor..
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
live
Feel the ease of being your true self—through love and acceptance, authenticity and awareness, conscientiousness and confidence—and remember there’s nothing more beautiful than being you.
T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU VI S I ON
The Perpetual You is a movement in which women are encouraged to love and share who they already are. We believe in choosing, embracing, celebrating, and unleashing the best parts of ourselves-the parts that never change-our Perpetual Selves.
Welcome to t he Movement.
T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU TE AM
LaKay Cornell
Lee Lee Thompson
Jessie Leiber
Co-founder & Editor of all things people-related
Co-Founder & Editor of all things words-related
Editor of all things design-related
LaKay is a true believer in consciously orchestrating your life. She is a lover of people, networking, champagne, the world of self-actualization and social media. She can frequently be found enjoying craft beer and introducing friends to things they didn’t know they needed. You can find her on twitter @rootsandwings04.
The lee lee is a mother by choice, writer by trade, and designer by heart. She loves shopping, drinking, redecorating, and traveling. She keeps busy trying to do all of this while remaining true to her thrifty roots. Her online personalities include @leeleeinp and @boyswholovepink.
Jessie is a multi-disciplinary designer & art director striving to make her world more pixel perfect. When not staring at computer screens, she can be found singing (loudly) in her car or compulsively buying striped shirts. You can stalk her on Instagram @jessieleiber or see work with her at createlittlelegends.com.
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T H E P E RP E TUAL YOU MAKE RS
The Perpetual You wouldn't be possible without the help of our amazing team of volunteers. We would love to take this opportunity to introduce them to you.
Jennifer Photography Jennifer Wenzel is a wedding and lifestyle photographer in the nation's oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida. She never leaves the house without her camera, because beauty is all around waiting to be found! You can connect with her on Instagram @jenwenzelphoto or hop over to her website.
Walker Sisters
Sarah A.
Photography
Photography
Deb Photography
Amy and Kay Walker traverse New England and beyond chasing sunsets, circling crowded dance floors, capturing tears and laughter, all in the pursuit of preserving stories of love, friendship, and family. You'll find a camera around Kay's neck, a paintbrush in Amy's hand, and joy on both their faces as they do what they love best. See some of their work online and connect with them at @walkerstudiosllc.
Sarah Annay is a full-time photographer, storyteller and globe-trotter. When she’s not taking photographs she’s teaching, blogging, relaxing by the waves in St. Augustine, introducing herself to the newest craft beers and camping in Vermont. Sarah’s newest project is teaching photography workshops for women in Kolkata, India. See more of her photography on her website or @sarahannayphotography.
Deborahhannah Neele has been traveling the globe since birth. Growing up internationally and moving countries every two years, wandering has become her norm. She picked up photography out of gratitude for her crazy life. She lives in the Midwest, but since her bags are always packed, she may be across the ocean by next week. You can follow her on Instagram: @debneele
The Perpetual You is a place where creatives and coaches can come together to showcase their work and be part of a movement designed to shake up the world. Interested in adding your talents to the mix? Email hello@theperpetualyou.com.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Kirsten Graphic Design Kirsten Eike is a creative entrepreneur with a love for food, photography, and design. When she's not curling hair for her bridal clients, she spends time dabbling in hand lettering, food photography, and yoga. She is a true homebody and enjoys relaxing with a glass of wine and a good movie. You can peruse her lifestyle photos on Instagram or her beautiful hair styles @kirstenmariedesignllc.
Desha
Maya
Video
Photography Maya, of MOJALVO, is a cinematographer and photographer, capturing moments in hopes of telling rich stories of the world around her. On most days you can find her either: behind the camera lens, snuggled up with a big mug of coffee, baking something paleo, or exploring the northeast. See her work at mojalvo.com or on IG @mojalvo.
Kylie Graphic & Web Design Kylie Flaskos is a multidisciplinary Brisbane-based designer with a passion for organic food, animals and exploring Australia with her family. You can find her on Instagram @inkandpapercreative or experience more design here.
Desha Peacock is an Author, Retreat Leader & LifeSTYLE Design Coach. She’s helped hundreds of people find their “Sweet Spot,” a self-defined place of success & beauty. Her first book Create the Style you Crave on a Budget you can Afford, was listed in the Huff post as “the book to give your girlfriend” & sold out in less than 20 days. She’s been quoted in the Huffington Post, Yahoo News.com, Career Rookie, US News Money & has made radio & TV appearances across the nation. Get your free Sweet Spot Style Life + Biz Guide or join her on retreat.
Sarah S. Krystal
Editing & Proofreading
Video
Sarah Sandidge can often be found reading a book. When she’s not reading for fun, she’s reading for work as a freelance editor, which is also fun. Her love for language, cultures and sociology makes people fascinating to her even though she’s a bit of an introvert, albeit a chatty introvert. When she isn’t glued to a written sentence, she is spending time with her family, mostly taking care of her two beautiful children somewhere in the heart of Missouri. See how cute they are on Instagram @LulainLondon.
Krystal Brandt, Authenticity Coach, is a soulful, sensual siren who lovingly and powerfully guides highachieving women back to their innermost desires by reintroducing them to their own intuitive whispers of wisdom. She brings a provocative, feminine and powerful edge to creating deeply connective experiences where vulnerability is invited, divisive walls come down and your truest self comes out to play.
Susanna Editing & Proofreading
P.K.
Susanna Brown loves traveling through time with words and often has her head buried in a good book. She enjoys trying new vegetarian dishes, shopping, and going places she's never been. She is a writer of both historical and contemporary fiction for young people of all ages, as well as an editor and proofreader. She lives in Memphis, TN with a Yorkie named Boston.
Editing & Proofreading Our resident proofreader, P.K. McGill can typically be found on her back patio—enjoying a cocktail, talking with friends, yelling at her puppies, cavorting with her husband—or all of the above. Her better-known alias is Nani: she has four amazing, smart, & talented grandchildren, who all take after her. Connect with her on Facebook.
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WE L COME
Society Members, embrace beautiful music by listening to our Spotify mix.
“Every scar that you try to hide All the dark corners of your mind Show me yours and I'll show you mine Let me love you from the inside out” - Madonna
A
hhh January: the month that gets kind of a bad wrap. We are bombarded with constant messages that we need to resolve to change, be better, grow, lose weight, budget, plan...you know what I’m talking about. Many of us dread January just for that reason. If that weren’t enough, we also enter January hungover from the holidays. I recently read that January is the most common - “sober month” - when more people pledge to go the whole month without alcohol or sugar to recover from the indulgences of the Holiday Season.
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The truth is that life is full of ebb and flow. There are times when energy is high, lights are bright, and music is loud. These periods are naturally followed by slowing down, seeking comfort in the quiet, and snuggling with our loved ones. If we think not of January as a new beginning, but as a point on the continuum of our lives, we can embrace its quiet as natural and needed. And what true beauty there is in quiet: in giving our selves and lives the space to refuel and regroup. This month, I encourage you to wrap your arms around yourself–to show yourself comfort and self-care—to love your scars, your style, your roots, your radiance. We take the best care of the things we love the most, and we love the most the things that we take the best care of. Beauty is an infinite circle. Start with taking care of yourself and ease into loving yourself.
Join the movement.
realize to align your daily practices with your
ever-evolving desires
REALIZE
Embrace
Yourself
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths. — Etty Hillesum
I use what is already inside of me to reach my goals.
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recently heard this statement on a television commercial in the wee hours of the morning. As someone whose job it is to help others, I immediately identified with this as a powerful, affirmative mantra. How many times have I asked my clients to take care of themselves without tasking myself in the same way? Each of us has the guttural instincts it takes to get through life's up and downs, but how often do we recognize the amazing job we are doing of taking care of ourselves?? I want to ask you a question: What have you done to take care of yourself today?
Many of us would answer this question with, “Nothing really,” only to follow that up with a laundry list of amazing self-care strategies we have done that day: following a routine, sleeping, staying busy, spending time with loved ones, remembering to eat…and the list goes on. Despite life challenges, daily stressors, and over-committed schedules, we all manage to find time to meet our basic human needs—and doing this is the root of good self-care. We engage every day in selfcare rituals. Why don’t we give ourselves credit?” There are many articles, books, and self-help gurus discussing the importance of self-care to our everyday overall well-being. An internet search of the term “self-care” will reveal a plethora of options on how to “make self-care a part of your life” or “create a
better self-care plan now.” This well-meaning advice often asks us to make changes to our current eating, sleeping, or activity routines or to change our thinking patterns. All of these changes are big and may be easier said than done. Why do we feel we need to be doing something “better” than we already are? Do our habits and routines really need to be comprised of “special” things in order for them to count as “self-care”? The answer is no. Not if we are mindful of what we are doing for ourselves in the moment. Taking a moment to reflect allows us to realize that we are already doing so much for ourselves every single day regarding self-care. The current routines and habits we perform each day to nourish our bodies and souls are absolutely enough. I walk our two beautiful dogs every day, multiple times a day. This is a non-negotiable part of my daily routine. Recently one morning, I realized I was criticizing myself for not “exercising more” (sound familiar?). Then I realized that thanks to having to attend to the dogs' basic needs, I am moving my body outside multiple times a day. Since then, I remind myself when I take care of the dogs that I am also taking care of myself.
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7-Day Challenge Our Beauty Challenge starts on Monday, January 11th. Join our Facebook group The Perpetual You Society for details!
Start Today
and write down at least one way you cared for yourself in the last 24 hours. Maybe it’s as simple as sleeping or eating delicious food. Anything you’ve done that resulted in you feeling better counts!
How often have you said one of the following: “I just don’t think to take care of me.”; “I’m just not good at self-care.”; or, “I just don't have time for selfcare.”? This is negative self-talk that can impact our understanding of self-care and fuel the notion that we aren’t doing enough. Replacing these thoughts with mindful and affirmative statements isn't just uplifting—it's actually true!
Be jealous of others. Think about all of the ways
You often take care of your own needs.
You can bring mindful awareness to your self-care practices if you:
Give yourself props. Take a moment right now
you care for others each day. Make a “laundry list” of all the things you do for others, from bathing to chauffeuring and everything in between. Which of these things do you also do for yourself? Circle those things you would like to do for yourself or have done for you.
Love yourself more. Choose something you do for others but don't normally do for yourself and make it a part of your self-care routine at least once this week. Remain present while doing this activity by reminding yourself of how much love and attention you deserve.
Focus on the good. Institute a mindfulness moment each day for the rest of the month. Set a reminder on your watch or phone so you don't forget! When the alarm goes off, take note of something you’ve done that day that made you feel good about yourself.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Your self-care habits make you feel better each day. You do many things each day that count as self-care: eating and sleeping, for starters! One of the easiest ways to embrace ourselves is to notice ways that we are already practicing self-care. Take pause. Be mindful of your self-care moments, no matter how routine they may be. Bring awareness to your self-care and relax with the peace of mind accomplishment brings.
Katie Lynch is a wannabe Buddhist, mindful psychotherapist, newbie wife, avid baker, and blissfully recovering perfectionist. She really believes that there isn’t any problem a hot cup of tea and a nice long nap can’t solve.
REALIZE
embrace
Mirror, Mirror–Reflections on the Way We Look by Isabel Duke, Pub 2004 Like an oozing spoonful of honey, this anthology of deeply personal poems by women about their own bodies is bound together by honest inner dialogues that may be hard to swallow alone, yet turn somehow sweet when consumed in the company of an understanding sisterhood. A collection as raw as it is ruthless, this book bleeds vulnerability and spins it into beauty. Women sharing their bodies with the world through thoughtful words and bravery ultimately amounts to a radiant and perception-challenging read. Think of it as a deep tissue scrub for your innermost beauty queen.
the Beauty Battle
A Wrinkle in Time
The Blue Girl
by Madeline L'Engle, Pub 1963
by Laurie Foos, Pub 2015
An oddball classic with many meaningful layers, this book lends its readers an incredible sense of selfworth. The young protagonist, Meg Murry, must battle everything from the ultimate source of evil to her own inferiority complexes. Interplanetary trips to recover her missing father mirror Meg's inner battles around selfworth; both struggles teach her the beauty that comes from embracing and proclaiming the very things that society has conditioned us to feel shame around. Allow this book to revive your mind and remind your heart that every path to radical self-love and beauty begins in our thoughts.
Keeping it bottled up, or rather, baked in–is the primary objective for six women living in an idyllic tourist town by the coast. In this unassuming work of magical realism, three mothers would rather bake their secrets and concerns into decadent Moon Pies and feed them to the terrifying, yet hauntingly innocent Blue Girl, than they would sit down and air out those grievances with their very own flesh and blood. This lavish story begs you to search for unrefined beauty & unrelenting acceptance–traits that only result when struggles are shared and fears take a back seat to that everattractive emotion–love.
Radically committed to magical mornings - Micayla is a wordsmith, entrepreneur, and mindset enthusiast living out a decidedly different post-secondary path while eating wholesome plants, drinking black coffee, hyper-organizing her days, and staying up too late working on poems. Lots more online and tweeting cheer from @Micayla_Vranic.
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REALIZE
Embrace of
Your Roots
May We Suggest… Warm up your soul with one of the following winter soups. Pair with a fresh loaf of bread and an appropriate wine, and dinner is served! Cauliflower & Cheddar (pictured), similar recipe via The Pioneer Woman Carrot & Coriander, recipe at Teabiscuit.org White Bean & Roasted Mushroom, recipe at She Wears Many Hats
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
the Comfort
A new year can bring with it the desire to try new things: perhaps you will check out the prepared foods section of a different market, or you were gifted a “cooking class” and have decided to take the plunge and make something out of nothing.
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nother way to experience new is to reclaim or discover the tastes of your heritage. What comfort foods did you eat growing up? What recipes have your ancestors handed down through generations? What tastes, flavors, and smells do you want your children feeling deep in their bones? One of the oldest, most tried & true comfort recipes is root vegetable soup. With aroma and texture straight from the cellar, a soup or stew steeped in tradition can place us back into a time when simple was good enough for those we love. Fresh herbs bought locally and a sprinkle of ground pepper can modernize your grandmother’s soup recipe without making it pretentious or laborious. We have all strayed from our roots, out of necessity to become our fully realized, beautiful selves. Now, we can embrace once again those good, simple bits of our backgrounds that lie deep inside, those strong and pure impulses that make adulthood easier and more pleasurable–just as a warm, nurturing soup can.
Lee Lee Thompson is learning to be intentional, whether mothering, writing, designing, or imbibing. A true collector and bargain lover, she’ll shop you under the table at the thrift store of your choice. Follow her journey through pictures or through words. You’re also welcome to come hang out on her front porch.
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Order Your Kit Get 10% off when you order your next cocktail kit from Crafted Taste .
*
CRAF TE D COC KTAI L
Kat Rudburg, founder of Crafted Taste, introduces us to the ease & beauty of their Bardot cocktail kit.
Use coupon code PerpetualCraftedBEAUTY0116 for 10% off your order from Crafted Taste.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Named after the classic French beauty, Bridget Bardot, this month’s Bardot cocktail kit from Crafted Taste features a modern cocktail beautiful to both your eyes and palate. Crafted by Gabriella Mlynarczyk, an LA based bartender who is creating some of the best modern cocktails on the west coast, this cocktail is a unique take on a classic & romantic drink, the Mint Julep. The curated addition of St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram to this cocktail adds complex notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg whereas the method of preparation invites us to appreciate the beauty in simple things: hand-crushed ice, a frosted julep cup, and the pop of fresh mint alongside our easygoing friend, bourbon. Treat yourself to this delicious, updated classic and enjoy the BEAUTY of modern imbibing.
REALIZE
Embrace your
Day
This month, embrace movement even before you've gotten out of bed! After the alarm goes off, use your usual snooze time to s t r e t c h each body part, working from your toes all the way up to your neck muscles. As you
s t r e t
c h, focus on the things you love about your body and remember how good it has been to you.
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embrace
Keep up to date with all of our carefully curated products by following us on Pinterest!
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
a Positive Mind/Body Connection
This month’s products will help you stay hydrated, comfortable, and focused before, during, and after your yoga session. And if you’re only interested in the beautiful body products? Go ahead and embrace that too!! Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just interested in connecting your mind to your body in a new way, Yoga is a form of self-care you can embrace on any level.
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Affirmation Yoga Mat ($66, affirmats)
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Reiki Blessed Water ($48, Create Beverages)
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“Hello Beautiful” Sweatshirt ($25, 28 Newport)
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"Deer Love" Yoga Legging ($67.43, Inner Fire Apparel)
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“Beautiful You” Natural Probiotic Deodorant ($9.99, Handcrafted Honey Bee)
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“No Reason to Hide” Transforming Serum and Perfecting Moisturizer ($68, $45, Philosophy)
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Flow Magazine ($19.57, Flow Magazine)
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REALIZE
Embrace
Boldness & Creativity
When you look at yourself, what do you see? Beauty... Allure... Virtue... Radiance... Loveliness... Talent... Grace... We embody all of these things, as strong, confident women.
T
oo many of us have been conditioned to be the woman that we need/think/feel we should be. We encourage others (friends, family, children and partners) to meet their potential, but hide our selves behind the mask of fear: fear of failure, of not finishing, of possibility, even. Then there's reality—too many days are filled with busy work. Where do we find the time to be our whole amazing selves? The essence of our true selves can get lost in life's daily choices and responsibilities. We forget to tap into the parts of ourselves buried beneath the mundane moments of life—our inner beauty & creativity—and complacency sets in. We base our self-estimation on how we look: our clothing, hair, or weight. Things that can fade or can be manipulated; things that do not express fully the beauty that resonates within. What if we let our true selves shine through? Start by gazing inward and recognizing your beauty. Realize what you want to do and how you wish to express yourself. Let the beauty and creativity that is inside manifest itself on the outside. Be Bold! Beauty is contagious when shared. Think of the look on a friend's face when you bring her a bouquet
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
of flowers, or how your child shines when you stop to dance in the living room with her. The deepening affection of your partner when you share a hidden part of yourself. Our sprit of inner beauty can be shared with the world in so many ways. Find that THING that is inside of you and set it free. Write. Draw. Dance. Sing. Dig deep and look inside. Be courageous and liberate your inner creativity. The adventuresome beauty doesn't hide behind a lack of time or the surplus of expectations. She lives boldly and with courage. She makes time for her Self to emerge, and creates a world where her inner Beauty is recognized and respected. She lives a radiant, unexpected, magical life.
Life is so full of everyday moments that are worthy of recognition. Summer is finding her way, living this dream and taking a moment everyday to say thank you. You can find her at airabess.blogspot.com and Instagram @airabess or #findingmywaylivingthisdream.
#fromwhereistand
“Find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.” — Elizabeth Gilbert
Try This at Home Manifest an outward expression of your inner beauty. • Buy yourself a sketchbook and create something. Write a story. Trace a leaf. See where the pen takes you on your adventure with paper. • Share a discourse about something that is in your heart with someone you know and trust. Speak up in a room of strangers about something you believe in. • Make music-with your voice, with an instrument, or with your kitchen utensils. Let the rhythm guide you. Sing aloud and channel your inner karaoke goddess.
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REALIZE
Did You Know? You can look up ingredient concerns of over 64,000 products on EWG's Skin Deep® Cosmetic Database
Embrace
Healthy Skin “Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin.” - Zoe Saldana
D
been introduced into the marketplace in the last 50 or 60 years, many of which have been linked to negative causes and illnesses. In fact, only 10 to 20 percent of those chemicals have been tested for human safety.
There is very little regulation on the skin care industry—an industry that sells us close to $50 billion worth in products every year. 85,000 chemicals have
The good news? You can embrace taking care of yourself without applying unknown toxins on your skin. You can decide to be an agent of change this year, whether buying products from companies that
id you know that 1938 was the last year a federal law was passed in the United States governing our skincare and cosmetic products? To put this in perspective, hourly wage was 40 cents per hour and the average home cost less than $5,000.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Practice Safe Beauty
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Put some ease into your skin care routine by following this month’s safe beauty tips:
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Winterize your skin. Your skin is your largest organ–give it the attention it deserves! Using a creamy body wash and an ultrahydrating body butter will help keep that itchy winter skin at bay, making you and your skin comfortable on a cold winter’s day.
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Cleanse your skin. Happy skin is beautiful skin. Using products with quality ingredients will help balance your skin and keep it healthy.Choose a face wash like Beautycounter’s ͞Routine Clean Cream Cleanser͟ that has coconut oil, witch hazel, and geranium extract to help tone both oily and dry skin.
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Spoil your skin. Winter can be extremely rough on your skin. Pamper your skin just as you would your weary feet. A rich hand cream, a midday uplifting spritz, and a luxurious lip conditioner will keep you moisturized, bright eyed, and cheery all winter long.
This month’s beauty care products are curated by BeautyCounter, a company that values safety, savvy selections, and the support of women entrepreneurs.
3 care about you or using your voice as a consumer to demand more safety guidelines in the skincare and cosmetic products you already use. Let's make 2016 the year we embrace healthy skin and how to get there.
Leigh Schwab is a mother of twins who uses her love for skin care to help educate women about the ingredients in their products and the need for proper skin care legislation in our country. You can learn more about Leigh’s passion for a healthy and simple life on Facebook and Instagram.
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REALIZE
This month’s Self-Care Toolkit
Embrace
Calendula Helichrysum Amethyst Aphrodite
your Potential
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
The New Year is an opportunity to listen to your deepest desires. Is there a class you have always wanted to take? A trip you"ve been waiting to go on? Take hold of your passions this year and learn to love yourself on a whole new level. Your potential is full and infinite. The following essential wellbeing ingredients will light your soul's path this month:
H E RB
ESSE N TI AL O IL
CRYSTAL
GO D D ESS
Calendula
Helichrysum
Amethyst
Aphrodite
B E N E F I TS
BE N E FI TS
BENEFITS
BENE FITS
Repairs skin cells and boosts immunity
Heals surface and emotional wounds
Brings strength to change & grow
Brings comfort and connection
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beautiful addition to any garden, Calendula flowers are some of the most versatile flowers in the ground. Add the flowers to your winter stews or sprinkle the petals around your salads to brighten your day. Beauty products with Calendula help to repair your cells and treat skin wounds, scars, burns and bruises. In a tea, Calendula—a gentle lymphatic cleanser—helps fight infections and boosts your immune system. Helichrysum essential oil heals both internal and external wounds by regenerating cells at a very rapid rate. Just a little of this oil goes a very long way! Dilute and use on the skin for wounds, scars, blemishes and burns. Helichrysum heals deep emotional wounds as well, so apply it energetically near your heart. Amethyst helps your crown chakra connect to the divine so you can follow your soul’s path consistently. We all have behaviors that can cause negativity in our lives, so carry Amethyst with you to gain the strength to change your patterns and feel more at “home” in your
skin. Place this beautiful purple stone by your bed when you sleep, or wear it around your neck for a constant reminder of your path. The Greek goddess of inner beauty, love and passion, Aphrodite represents unabashed female sexual energy. If you ask for her assistance, she will help you feel comfortable in your body and connect to your inner beauty. Aphrodite’s message to you is, “Awaken the goddess within you through dance, self-care and appreciating your divinity.” Use this toolkit to dig into your untapped potential and move beyond wishing and dreaming to living and doing. You deserve ease. You deserve love. You deserve a beautiful year.
Ashley Dees frolics around Saint Augustine Florida, picking herbs, finding herbal remedies, and playing with aromatherapy, tarot cards and crystals. Learn more about her, and how she teaches and gathers goddesses together frequently at her website greenharmonyaromatherapy.com. THE EASE ISSUE
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REALIZE
Embrace your
Personal Style
When was the last time you wore something that you truly loved, without fear of others “judging” you?
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hen was the last time you got dressed without consulting a women’s magazine or fashion blog? How many items in your closet can you honestly say are your personal “style”? Stop—Let’s start again. Style is a personal choice. Wouldn’t it be great to get dressed for ourselves and wear the clothes we love simply because we love them, or because those clothes make us feel beautiful? At some point, we started dressing to please others. I can remember being crushed when my parents stared disapprovingly at an outfit I’d put together on my own. I can also remember feeling proud when the outfit I’d chosen to impress my friends got many compliments.
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
Even as an adult, I’m guilty of “dressing for success” and dressing to fit in—thinking of who I'll see that day and wearing something based on the event: holidays, birthday parties, PTA meetings, blogger gatherings…the list goes on. We’ve all dressed for someone else, but we don’t have to anymore. Wearing something we don’t love or that isn't authentic to our personal style day after day can take its toll on our mental and emotional states. If we wear what we really want, our expectations for looking good will be far surpassed by the rewards we receive: confidence, poise, and beauty—inside and out.
Alice Tegtmeier is a Personal Stylist and mother of three who uses personal style as one way of helping women live authentically. You can see more of her passion for personal style, coffee, and encouragement on Instagram and Periscope: @aliteg.
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Character. Intelligence. Strength. Style. That makes beauty. — Diane Von Furstenberg
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Beauty is Personal To rediscover your long-lost personal style, start with the following:
1. Get Educated Blogs, books, magazines, and websites can all be helpful in determining your style. Instead of feeling pressured to look like the latest model or adopt the latest craze, pay attention to the styles that resonate most with you. If it calls out to you, listen.
2. Get Pin-spired
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Create a style journal or inspiration board. You can use Pinterest, or go old-school and make a collage or photo album. Make a rule that you will only hang on to the pictures that really WOW you. Also include items from your closet you already love and want to continue wearing.
3. Get Frivolous Accessories are the best way to add your personal spin on any outfit. Also, the possibilities are endless! Bright red kitten-heeled shoes or the latest and greatest boot style? A collection of bangles or an arm party full of mixed metals? Make a plan to purchase (and keep) only those touches that match your look to your personality.
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PE R SPE CTI VES from THE P E RP E TUAL YOU
What is the most
beautiful thing about your body?
I love the beauty of what my tattoos represent. One in particular I got to remind me of some hard lessons that took me years to learn. This powerful, constant reminder now feels just as much a part of me as any other part of my body.
My eyes—they help me see what
With my beautiful face, I
my special needs kids are thinking and needing, so I can help them to grow more independent. And they let me see my loved ones' beautiful faces!.
can look into another's face and feel what they are feeling. I can tell others of my love for them. I can show empathy, regret, or compassion. Without using words, I can express myself. I can bring all my inner workings into the
Melissa B. (Bonner Springs, KS, USA)
Randi B. (Bridgeport, CT, USA)
I inherited the Greek (hairy) eyebrow gene and have been tormented by it as long as I can remember. The last few years, though, I've made peace with them—my
eyebrows feel more dynamic by their prominence. Katerina P. (Clearwater, FL, USA)
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
The laugh lines around my eyes that document so many smiles, the rolls on my tummy that my baby pinches as she nurses to sleep, the injured hip and back that supported me in pregnancy & birth. Nothing but deep love for this body! Tessa C. (Oakland, CA, USA)
world, thanks to the intricacies of this face. Micayla V. (Hamilton, ON, Canada)
I love my crooked bottom teeth, which look just like my mom's did. When I glance in the mirror—for a brief moment—I sometimes think she is still here with me. Victoria Anne (St. Peters, MO, USA)
Society Members To share your feelings about beauty with like-minded women, join our Society Facebook group.
The ability of my body to heal and mend through trauma, illness and loss is beautiful. I've battled Crohn's disease for half my life, carried & birthed two miraculous children, and kept breathing and moving forward after losing my mother to cancer. My body may look nothing like the American "ideal" and, at times, I may feel "broken," but I have a strong body that breathes, beats, nourishes, and heals. This is both amazing and beautiful. Amy S. (Wallingford, CT, USA)
We want to hear your perspective! What's your favorite way to Celebrate Love? Email hello@theperpetualyou.com for a chance to be featured in next month’s issue.
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“ Beauty begins the moment you decide to be — Coco Chanel
T HE PERPETUA L YOU
yourself . ”
dwell to align your physical space with your
ever-evolving self
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