A Vision of Unity with Helping Mamas

We have a lot of caregivers, educational stakeholders, and families in our See Beautiful Community. We also have an amazing opportunity for you to get kids involved in an art project that leads to more beautiful for an extraordinary non-profit: Helping Mamas!

Short story: Your kid(s) creates a piece of art depicting "A Vision of Unity" and it will be on display at Helping Mama's Art Show!

More details: Helping Mamas is an amazing Atlanta non-profit doing incredible work to empower families and organizations in need. They're hosting an Art Exhibit called: A Vision of Unity. All of the art displayed will be student art work and YOUR kid(s) can create it! The art will be matted by Helping Mama's and on display at their event on Saturday, May 13th at The Hudgens Center for the Arts.

Please let us, or Helping Mama's, know if you'd like to participate and we can get you additional details!

Visit Helping Mama's invitation HERE.

Seeing Beautiful in a #Home4Refuge

We're sharing Refuge Coffee Co.'s gift today. It truly is something to smile about.

If you don't know Refuge Coffee Co in Clarkston, GA, treat yourself and go there.

Now.

Seriously.

And when you go, be sure to meet Leon Shombana. His Congolese accent is like Christmas for your eardrums. Order the Nepali Chatpati (I dream about it). Clearly grab a coffee or tea because they're all divine. And take a load off in their home. You're always welcome.

Refuge Coffee is a special place for a lot of reasons. It's a dream that has been brought to life. It is a space where all are welcome and loved. Loved well, actually. Centered in what CNN dubs, "the most diverse square mile in America" Refuge Coffee celebrates the diversity that everyone brings to the table. You sit down with a stranger and end up engaged in an hour long conversation about historical significance of African boarder placement with maps drawn on the white board (that also serendipitously dons the words, "The world needs more of you.").

Take thirty seconds to disengage from the hustle of life and the scroll of social media to let Leon make you smile. I can watch this video on repeat.

To dangle the carrot, because it's beautiful written to, here's what Leon has to say about home, which is truly beautiful since it would be easy for Leon not to see beautiful. He was forced from his home in Eastern Congo and came to the US as a refuge. He's rewritten his definition of home after the life he has led. With Refuge Coffee, he's writing a beautiful story. We should all want homes like Leon has.

"My idea of home, is a place you live peacefully. Is a place you have good neighbors. Is a place you can interact with people. And if you look at what Refuge Coffee is doing, that is what you call home. It is a place you can find life. Is a place you have good neighbors. Is a place you can share your problems...and you rejoice with your friends or your relatives or your neighbors..." ...now hear it in Leon's voice.

And I would be remiss to share that Refuge Coffee is currently working to permanently find a #Home4Refuge and you can be a part of making that home a reality here: https://www.purecharity.com/createahomeforrefuge

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://vimeo.com/191002544

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To See Beautiful

Sometimes feel like you're not quite sure how to create more beautiful in the world? Here are a few ideas from nine & ten-year-olds in one of our See Beautiful Clubs. Turns out, creating beautiful can be as simple as smiling. We really love that reminder.
Smiles for days..all the days.

 

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The Most Important Thing

Love; it's the most important thing. 

When we keep it the most important thing life gets really beautiful...and inspiring...and full of so much awesome.

"...But Most of All, I See Beautiful"

We have new soft-as-bunnies tees in our See Beautiful store, but that's not the big news. The big news, the beautiful news, is a story of beauty and vulnerability and strength by Sarah Naomi who's modeling this shirt. Sarah is a teacher (as are all our models). Sarah is full of grace and bravery and a love of lifting others up. It's fun to unveil new products for See Beautiful, but it's infinitely more beautiful to see how Sarah has seen beautiful:

"Like many young girls, I struggled with self esteem, self worth and self love throughout my adolescence. I've looked back at old journals from high school and see pages upon pages filled with things I hated about myself.

...A few weeks ago I was invited to model new merchandise for See Beautiful. I nervously joined, put on a brave face and tried my best. Tonight she sent me the photos and I don't see the little girl who hates everything about herself. Instead I see happiness. I see joy. But most of all, I‪ #‎SeeBeautiful‬."

~ Sarah

You can get your shirt here, but you can leave your love and join Sarah in this See Beautiful Community when you follow in her footsteps. That's way more important than the tshirt.

http://seebeautiful.com/clothing.html

Breathe it all in. Love it all out.

Breathe it all in. Love it all out.

Together we give when you receive. That's what love is all about. Choose the Humanitarian See Beautiful Giving Initiative of your choice and help create more beautiful in the world. Live to Give.

You can feel the love here: http://seebeautiful.com/jewelry.html

Let's Keep it Moving - Full of Seeing Beautiful...

Mavuno

Meet Philemon. Because of you, she and her child will be empowered. Because of you, Philemon and the rest of the community of Mangango, DRC will gain access to improved sanitation. The current lack of access results in well-documented public health hazards causing numerous illnesses, childhood mortality, lost school time, reduced productivity and more. Worse yet, in a region notorius for the hights rates of sexual violence in the world, women are exposed to a very real risk of rape and assault. Our newest giving initiative to support the beautiful work ofMavuno, will work with local community leaders to plan and create two public latrines and dramatically reduce sanitation-related illness. Further, the latrines are designed with an innovative technology to convert waste to fertilizer which is used in the community's cooperative farming projects. When you purchase an item and select MAVUNO as your choice your help create a safe world for women and children, healthier lives, and a more peaceful and prosperous community - one more step on the journey to create dramatic change in Eastern Congo. 

Photo by: Mavuno

Support their work and shop with us here:http://seebeautiful.com/shop.html

Framing See Beautiful

"Those eyes have seen so many places and that heart has felt so many things and yet you still smile at the darkest feeling and find expression in everything that's colored beautiful." ~ rm drake

The girls in one of our See Beautiful Clubs have traveled as refugees from a half a world away. They have been displaced and lost and no doubt scared, yet they see SO MUCH BEAUTIFUL in each other and the world. In fact, they filled handmade frames with the beautiful things they see in each other. Thank you Paint Love for the inspiration! Thank you Morgan Wright and Julie Owens for being so inspiring!

Inspiration from our Youth

I spent last week at 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue, Decatur, GA working with a group of girls exploring empowerment, the beauty industry, and human rights. The self-selected topics were inspiring, but the passion with which these girls care about self-worth and civil rights blew me away. The questions they are exploring are seminal and their hope to better understand, and ideally to impart change, remind me how important the work we are doing together through See Beautiful really is.

Molly asks: "Why is there an expectation from women to look and act a certain way?"

Joyce is exploring: "What are the effects of not having civil liberties on a culture; specifically civil rights as children being sold into slavery?"

Grace wonders: "Why are women viewed as less athletic than men - as evidenced by dramatically less pay when even more successful?"

While they are three dramatically different questions, my hope is that it shows this community the very real questions and confusion young girls see unfolding in our society. The bombardment of photoshoped models, unrealistic "ideals" and expectations for women, and devaluing the most basic rights of children and women aren't something for "someone else" to fix. These are real to children in schools across the US and bleed well beyond the boarders of this country. We can do something about this. We can continue to foster the lifestyle of See Beautiful and we can set a new intention every day to create beautiful for all in the best ways we can.

Thank you Molly, Joyce and Grace for reminding me that this work is not just for the present moment, it is for the future too - your future. We'll all work together to make it more beautiful.

Breathe

Give yourself permission to take time to breathe, to give, to love, to see beautiful, and be present. Our handmade, eco-friendly reminder also creates a lot of beautiful while you breathe. Select the giving initiative of your choice and change the lives of those you support from Eastern Congo with Mavuno, to Atlanta with BullsEye Rescue to Arusha, Tanzania with Glorious, to Utah with Little Lambs, to Oklahoma with Journey of Sarah, and so much more!

Get yours here: http://seebeautiful.com/jewelry.html

Seeing Beautiful In the Moment (and Manifesto)

At the age of 9, the majority of girls are confident, assertive & feel positive about themselves. By the time they reach high school fewer than 1/3 feel the same way. This is a statistic we're trying to change through the work we do with over 300 children in our See Beautiful Clubs. They'll continue to grow up understanding what it means to see beautiful in themselves and others, while also being equipped with how to create more beautiful in the world. One of our clubs decided to make "empowerment jars" full of inspiring quotes for each other to read every day.

Maybe we should all have a jar. You are enough. You make this world a better place. Thank you for being here. See beautiful in this moment.

Thank you to all of our teachers who make our See Beautiful Club space so special! If you're an educator and would like to learn more about leading your own See Beautiful Club in the future, send us an email and we'll get the ball rolling: lcrissmays@seebeautiful.com

A Beautiful Way to Live

"I want to change people. I want them to learn to feel each other. How to lose and find themselves in the eyes of someone they don't know. And I want them all to feel like they're not alone, that we're all in this together and I hope that never changes. Imagine that. What a beautiful way to live. What a beautiful way to feel, and what a beautiful way to survive." ~‪#‎rmdrake‬

Model is teacher and soon-to-be amazing Mom: Mrs. Illy Brogdon
Photo by: Natalie Watson

Get yours here: http://seebeautiful.com/shop.html

Be Glorious

This past year Glorious was confronted with a huge problem - a group of 15 orphans were evicted from their foster home and had no place to go. 

Photo of some of the children evicted from their foster home. Shared with permission from Glorious.

Alice, Glorious' Tanzanian Founder, immediately jumped to action and took the children under her wing. Although they are safe, sound and very loved, we are currently facing an additional problem of ensuring we have money each month to provide for their food, well-being and caretakers salary at Glorious Orphan’s Home. They're working to raise $5,000 to purchase a commuter bus to transport the kids to and from school, but during the day also serve as a public transport bus in the city. All proceeds from this bus will support the children’s food and caretakers.

These sweet girls will get to attend school with your support.

How your purchase helps: Your purchase will be used to allow Glorious to purchase a small commuter bus that will not only transport kids to and from school, but during the day serve as a public transport bus in the city to create a steady stream of revenue.

Follow their story and become part of there community on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and their blog.

New Goodies Unveiled: The Inspiration Set

New to our collection of eco-friendly products that give back to the See Beautiful Humanitarian Giving Initiative(s) of your choice! Buy one, or rock them all. Either way, the best part of these amazing hand-stamped inspirational bracelets is the beautiful they create in the world.

Imperfect Inspiration

// we don't need to try to be perfect to inspire others. let people find inspiration in the way you celebrate your imperfections. //

~ lcm

We were lucky to visit a Girl Scout troop with kindergarten and first grade girls at Martin Technology Academy of Math And Science to explore what seeing and creating beautiful looks like in their lives and community. It got messy and honest and vulnerable and beautiful - at the ripe age of six.

We're continually inspired by future world changers who celebrate strength and bravery and resiliency and the unwavering ability to see and create beautiful for those around them. These drawings may not look like much to the naked eye, but these amazing girls were drawing a lifesize version of themselves and all that they deem beautiful. There was a lot of drawing - and naturally, there was a whole lot of beautiful.

A Love Letter to You

A love letter to you:

Lately you have been hard on yourself - constantly critiquing your size and shape, questioning why you look the way you do and using others' looks as your "good enough" barometer.

The critiquing is one thing and it needs to stop. The questions are important because 1) there is an answer; and 2) the answer is significant.

You exist to be you.

Unapologetically, authentically and totally you.

You are not supposed to look, dress, act, or be exactly like your best friend, your family or even the people staring at you from a billboard.

We all have similarities and that's good to celebrate...beating hearts and lungs that fill with air connect us all. We all get those gifts, but the design of your body, your mind, your soul and the ways you love and give are completely unique to you. That is a gift to this world - to every living soul with whom you come in contact and for those you will leave a legacy on someday.
Some people, some companies might tell you you're supposed to look different, dress different, or act a certain way. That's not true. Let that sink in for a moment: It is not true. In fact, not only is it not true, but the big companies who tell you to look, act, dress, or be a different way are actually doing a job. It's not even their life, it's what they are paid to do.

Seeing beautiful in yourself is not always easy, but it is one of the most important things you can do for you. It's what makes it possible for you to genuinely see beautiful in others. The more you do it, the more you crave it. When seeing beautiful fills your life, you find creating beautiful is a natural extension of how to spend your life.

Life becomes beautiful.

Life is beautiful.

I feel it when you are filled with joy and love for yourself. I thrive in this space of love and thanksgiving. I know it's not always rainbows and butterflies. Everyone stumbles. Everyone. But you will come back to this place of seeing beautiful. It has nothing to do with being what you see reflected by pop culture and everything to do with what's on the inside. That's a job that only you can do - see beautiful in the gift given to you, YOU.

You're the only one who can truly celebrate and honor you. What an amazing gift. It's good and right to share it with others. The world wants you. There is no one who can offer the world what you do.

That is beautiful.
Love,
Yourself

Little Lambs Foundation for Kids

So thrilled to unveil our newest See Beautiful Giving Initiative with the Little Lambs Foundation for Kids!!

Little Lambs Foundation for Kids provides comfort kits to children transitioning into foster care, shelters and from other traumatic situations. Unfortunately, when children are removed from their home they are often not allowed to take anything with them. The Little Lambs Foundation for Kids provides each child with a "Comfort Kit" of items to call their own. They are in desperate need of a trailer to make their deliveries throughout Northern Utah. Their deliveries get larger as the need continues to grow.

To give a children something they can call their own that offers a bit of comfort during a devastating time is critical. See Beautiful is honored to support the work of the Little Lambs Foundation to help children see more beautiful.

How your purchase helps: Every purchase becomes part of a trailer that will help transport Comfort Kits to children in need.

In this picture, one of the youngest of the beautiful giving of Little Lambs Foundation, Jaxtin is showing his love and sharing some of the important items enclosed in their comfort kits. Help bring a trailer to Utah for this amazing non-profit!! Select "LITTLE LAMBS" from the dropdown box when you make your purchase!

To Begin Within...

"it is important to visit that place inside you.

that place no other human is allowed to enter.

there you will find no fear.

you will find the laughing sun and you will love there

and rise there and fall there

and break there and put yourself back together there.

let that be the only thing you live for

and let it take you back where you began.

to begin within, i swear...

that might be the most 

beautiful thing in the world."

~ R.M. Drake

Photo by Bobby Neptune

It Would Be So Easy...

It would be so easy to struggle to see beautiful. It would be so simple to not trust others. Most of us would understand an anger or confusion with life when you are a displaced refugee learning a new world and way of life. That's not the way London, or the 25 other incredible girls in one of our See Beautiful Club's lives at all. She invites you to see beautiful. She wants to create it with you. Every single one of these girls tells a story of bravery and hope and goodness and beauty. We have a lot to learn from their grace. They are world changers. Thank you Paint Love, for helping them turn a journal into one more of their "something beautiful's." Thanks to their teacher, Morgan Wright, for being an amazing educator.

P.S. Even misspellings are beautiful.

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