"...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

Beauty: A Word In Your Vocabulary

"It just hits me, without her, beauty wouldn't even be in my vocabulary." ~ Michael Mayer

The 300 children in our See Beautiful Clubs constantly redefine beauty for me. They embody a hope, generosity and love that has the ability to fill this world with so much change in the most beautiful of ways. Thank you to children who constantly give grown-ups better vocabulary and purpose. Thank you for seeing beautiful with us in this moment and beyond.

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Bona Fide Beauty Film

We love people in the film industry who choose to extend the conversation beyond society's definition of beauty, and ask viewers to look inward - and we were thrilled when we connected with the all female group of producers seeking to break ground in the local film market!

AUSTIN, Texas, April 18, 2016—Bona Fide Beauty, a feature film shooting in Austin, TX, will begin production this fall. Inspired by writer/director Samantha Schell’s life journey, the film explores the assumptions and beliefs tied to all relationships and the issues of connecting deeply in today’s society; most importantly, with one’s own self.

“It was written to give myself permission to be me,” Schell says. “Almost 30 years old, single, career-oriented but with hopes of a family in the future, I’ve struggled with creating a balance in my life…Plus, there are just too many hilarious dating scenarios that can’t go untold.” Though production doesn’t begin for several months, Schell and her producers began their 60-day crowdfunding campaign on April 10, 2016, with a kickoff party at Aveda Institute Austin.

Their goal is to raise $50K through seedandspark.com, which will help with production costs. “Crowdfunding is a chance for us to truly captivate people who want to participate in and engage with our story before the film even gets shot,” states co-producer and social media manager Elena Weinberg. “Crowdfunding offers Independent Filmmakers an opportunity to do things exactly how they want to, without having to compromise their vision. Ultimately, a crowdfunded film thinks about its audience first, and our ultimate goal is to make a film that we are proud of that reaches the right audience.”

Produced by an all-female team (Weinberg, Genie Anderson, Stephanie Lauren Moore, and Olivia Gray) who wants the behind-the-camera message to match the one being told on screen, BFB seeks to empower women. “We want to shout from the rooftops that all women are beautiful and strong,” says co-producer Anderson. “This film has a true message at its core and we cannot wait to share it with the world. We just need a little help doing that.”

*For more information, please email bonafidebeautyfilm@gmail.com

Visit their campaign here: Seed & Spark Campaign.

Get connected with the women here:
Instagram: @bonafidebeautyfilm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BFBfilm (@BFBfilm)
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/BFBfilm

Samantha Schell has worked in the film industry for over 5 years, including assisting Directors, Executive Producers, and Actors from Betsy Beers (EP, Shondaland), Richard Linklater (Boyhood), VPs at Robert Rodriguez's TV network/El Rey, Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fringe, Breaking Bad), and Lili Taylor ( Carolyn Perron-,The Conjuring). She recently wrapped on her short film she wrote and directed entitled, “Twisted.”

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.

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!

I am not a Label. You are not a Label.

Who would you be if the world never gave you a label?

I am not a label.

You are not a label.

We were not meant to live as a label. We were made to love. Everyone. Love. Great love, that transcends how we "like" other people, but that we love.

Like A Girl

When did doing something "like a girl" become an insult? Pre-adolescence, "like a girl" is understood to be a badge of honor, but there is a shift during adolescence that leaves girls with a poor self-image and lowered expectations for life. Girls are often much less confident in themselves and their abilities, when compared to girls. Further, studies show that up to the age of 9, the vast majority of girls are confident, assertive and identify themselves using positive descriptors. By the time girls reach the age of 13, fewer than one-third of girls still feel this way. "Like a girl" isn't powerful anymore - in fact, it breeds powerless. 

The way we, as a society, talk about doing things "like a girl" shapes the way young children come to see it too. Exploring videos, like this one from Dove, is a powerful way to dig deeper into this understanding with young girls. If you work with students, I'd highly encourage you to explore this video with them and then discuss what doing things "like a girl" really means.

A huge shout out to a great part of our community, Katy McCalla for rocking the New York City Marathon LIKE A GIRL this past weekend as well. She is so strong - just like a girl. She sees and creates so much beautiful - just like a girl!

Floridina

Today is a day when I look out over my life and I see you there and I know there is more reason and grace to this world than we will ever understand. Thank you, Floridina, for loving so large, giving so great, and seeing so much beautiful.

Photo Credit: Bobby Neptune

Floridina is one of the 48 female farmers who we have the honor of supporting through Kula Project. When you purchase an item from See Beautiful and select "Kula Project" as the Giving Initiative of your choice, you are a part of helping Floridina and her colleauges run their 1000 coffee-tree-filled coffee plantation. Get involved HERE.

There is Always Beauty to Be Found.

"Sometimes life is hard and sometimes life is sad, but there is always beauty to be found." ~ lcm

Take all the little moments throughout all your little days which make up all your years and draw from them the beautiful. It is there. Oh, is it ever there.

This Is Not a Bag

This is not a bag. This is new hope.
This is not a bag. This is a child's education in Eastern Congo.
This is not a bag. This is income for a woman in need Eastern Congo.
This is not a bag. This is creating beautiful.

As you read this, I am sitting in the same town where the women who make these bags live. I prepared this post before I traveled to Goma, so there will certainly be much deeper reflections to share with you when I return. Though I have never met Solange, Riziki, Mapendo, and Argentine, when I carry their beautiful art I cannot help but feel the hope the resonates from them. 

From left to right: Argentine, Solange, Mapendo, Riziki

There is also a good chance that as you're reading this I'm sitting with the some of the 53 children you help us send to school every month by purchasing our products from the New Hope Collection. The magnitude of that is not lost on me. Your purchase brings new hope. Your purchase provides a future. I'm sitting with those future world changers - perhaps right this very second. I cannot wait to share with you their stories and smiles. You can give new hope and get beautiful. Thank you for being a part of this See Beautiful Community, the work you allow us to do is literally changing lives. 

You can further support our efforts here:http://www.seebeautiful.com/bags.html

In Da Club, It's Going Down

THIS! THIS is one of the reasons we do what we do. We're all born seeing beautiful. We work to strengthen this ability so children never lose it. Bless this sweet little one who is clearly a pro.

If you're interested in starting a See Beautiful Club with a group of children/youth, we'd love for you to join us! If you're a former educator or educational stakeholder and would like to learn more about the work we do, and/or help facilitate our Private online space to empower teachers to lead See Beautiful Clubs, join us too!! Send an email to lcrissmays@seebeautiful.com and we'll get you rocking!

Nurture

Society tries to tell us it's not our choice to nurture our thoughts and mind with seeing beautiful and focusing on creating beautiful, but oh how refreshing it is to do so. It's freeing really. As Dodinsky invites readers to do, imagine your mind as a garden, your garden. You can plant anything you want in that garden. You can nurture it as you choose. You can watch it grow and become a better gardener over time. You reap what you sew. The same applies to our minds. You get to choose the thoughts that occupy your mind. You can focus on finding the beauty in everyday situations. You get to nurture the thoughts and actions of your day. How beautiful to have that freedom in your thoughts, as those thoughts inform your actions and those actions inform the world. There is great power in that, so go bloom.

Love. Be. Do.

I think it is a battle for youth to grow up doing life by "letting the beauty of what you love be what do." Starting in Kindergarten, children are subjected to hours of standardized tests each week. When we start telling children they need to fit into a specific box at the age of six, we start sucking the creative, ingenious, imaginative life out of them. What we're doing to future generations worries me, but let's face it, society has told adults that they don't have time, and shouldn't use their resources, on what you love being what you do.

A growing number of people around the world are pigeon-holed into feeling as though work is life - and anything you do outside of that is 1) disappointing because you're not working; and 2) definitely not worthy of a large chunk of each part of your day. Can you imagine? A world where we basked in the beauty of what we loved being what we actually did? Oh my!

But I can imagine it. What I grapple with is how we, as a society, have created a norm of busyness, stress, over-worked and stagnant men, women and children to the tune of billions. The United States alone reports over 75% of us work WELL over the 40-hour-work week. Let's take a moment (seriously, you deserve to take a moment, you're working enough), and imagine a shift in your lifestyle.

I did this. I worked a "who knows how many hours" work week as a Professor for years. Before then, I studied "who know how many hours" a week as a Doctoral Student. Before then, I taught "who knows how many hours" a week as a teacher in a school most shudder to think of stepping foot into. The quandary is here is that I loved teaching and studying. I loved reading and writing and researching. I loved the moment when a child's eyes lit up and a future teacher was inspired. I still love these things - I didn't love the demands that swallow up all of the things that blur the work we love. So I quit. I quit saying I was busy. I quit letting busy run my life. I set parameters and walked away from unhealthy, overwhelming situations where the beauty of what I loved, wasn't squandered by societies expectations to "fill" my time with uselessness.

Now, I have very specific and personal reasons for starting See Beautiful. I talk about in my TEDx talk here, but there was a poignant shift in living what I loved that took precedent as well. That right there is my hope for you. You're allowed that freedom to NOT be busy. I would highly recommend making a mental list of the top two or three priorities in your life and spending a few minutes reflecting upon how you're living those priorities. How do you, or can you, spend more time basking in the beauty of loving what you do and doing what you love?

THAT is the stuff of life - the very essence of every day that makes life such a blessing. We're here to do, see, experience and create such beauty. Society, your work, does not have the right, or deserve the space, to take that away from you. Let that liberate you for a moment. It is a beautiful thing and I invite you to live it.

We Love Rebels

There are three guiding components of See Beautiful:

1. See Beautiful in yourself.

2. See Beautiful in others.

3. Create more beautiful in the world.

We believe that this starts with you - and the value you place on your self-worth. To be able to see beautiful in others, and create more beautiful in the world, you have to begin by seeing beautiful in yourself. When you do this, you take a step forward. You actually help fight the battle against societies push to profit from your self-doubt.

Once you tap into the beautiful rebel in you, you cannot help but want to bring out the rebel in others and there is a desperate need for more of that "we rise by lifting others" spirit in our world. We rise, we move forward, and alas, we create more beautiful together. 

I love this quote by Rupi Kaur, because it captures the power of the resounding connecting between seeing beautiful and creating beautiful. It comes from staring at ourselves and those around us and as we recognize this incredible resiliency and the beauty from others, we move forward - we create beautiful. We can do a little alone - surely you can do your part, but oh, striking one, how much more we can do together as well. 

Thank you for being part of this See Beautiful Community. 

I Fell Off the Wagon...

...the Blogging Wagon, that is. It is really easy, too easy really, to get sucked into the quick-picture-sharing of social media and pretend that the words that back up the images you've created don't matter.

Your. Words. Matter.

A lot has been happening with See Beautiful lately and while I am living it, I can't expect others to grasp this daily life and the long term goals without sharing it. So, I didn't really fall off the wagon, I stepped off of it and into the grass and dug into creating beautiful. Here's some of what we're doing, and how you can join us, to create beautiful as part of our community:

In a few weeks, See Beautiful will come to you from Africa. We're headed overseas with Kula Project to do some pretty incredible things; what's even more thrilling is that you can be a part of this journey. You can help send children to school and improve play therapy for children at the New Hope Center in Eastern Congo, provide coffee trees for 48 women in Rwanda, and while I'm away, you can do something spectacular in your own backyard by providing 250 diapers to a family in needs all with the swipe of a few keys on your keyboard.  There is no shortage of beautiful in this world, but there is infinite beauty still left to create. Thank you for all you do to make See Beautiful such an incredible Community of people connected by a common thread to make this world a better place.

GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: The New Hope Center, with whom we've worked for the past three years, is in need of new/gently used soccer balls for their play therapy with children. If you'd like to donate a soccer ball for us to hand-deliver, please let us know!  Additionally, we send and keep 53 children in school each month. To send a child to school, simply purchase any of our products benefiting the "New Hope" Collection. You receive a beautiful product, children receive new hope.

KAYONZA, RWANDA: We are so proud to support Kula Project in raising $3,000 to provide (get ready for this beautiful) 1,000 coffee trees for 48 women to create sustainable income to provide an education for their children. The female farmers have named their group, "Fight to Live." They are creating beautiful every day and you can provide them with the very coffee trees that will keep their fight alive. Shop our "Fight to Live" Collection and provide the very coffee trees we get to plant alongside these 48 beautiful women in October.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: One in 3 parents must choose between purchasing food or diapers for their family. Our new See Beautiful Giving Initiative to bring a truckload of diapers (literally, a GIANT truckload with 300,000 diapers) is special because we have partnered with an incredible non-profit, Helping Mamas, that is supporting families in need, right here in our home-state of Georgia.  With every purchase of our special edition "Stronger Together" bracelet (or any of our products where you select "Helping Mamas") you will provide a family with a YEARLONG supply of diapers (250 diapers)!

The Bam Jam Speaker

LIMITED OFFERING!! The all natural speaker that lets you amplify the beautiful music you jam out to!! Created in a bamboo cooperative, your Bam Jam speaker provides jobs and supports a local community in Haiti!! 

No wires! No batteries! Completely sustainable! 

Plus, you choose the See Beautiful Giving Initiative of your choice at check out and create even more beautiful. Get your Bam Jam Speaker HERE now.

Strength for Today; New Hope for Tomorrow

They're back in stock and even better, every purchase of our New Hope tanks sends/keeps a child living in Eastern Congo to school for a month. Get you some!!

AND (drumroll, please) new color, same beautiful giving! It's soft as bunnies too!