the real you is sexy

I had absolutely no, and I mean NO, intention of writing this post today, but sometimes things happen in my life that I just feel moved to share with you all.  Not everything I write on this little blog is about diy and design…..sometimes I share very real heartfelt stuff…..because ultimately the point of this blog is to lift other women up that they might be empowered by the truth that they are indeed wonderfully and beautifully made.  

Yesterday, as those of you who follow me on instagram already know, I went bathing suit shopping. 
In the past bathing suit shopping would ultimately be a very depressing experience.  I’ve shared before about my personal struggles with body image.  
This time was different.  It was different for a lot of reasons.  For one, I’ve overcome my body image issues and have learned to embrace my body.  But while walking into the dressing room with a positive attitude was helpful, it was the message on the mirror that stopped me in my tracks and made me smile.  
As a woman who has had body image issues since her teens, as a 36 year old married mother of two and as a parent who is raising a daughter I would like to applaud Aerie for their messaging!  
“The girl in this mirror has not been retouched.  The real you is sexy.”  
I’d like to thank them for the pep talk and for encouraging women to love and embrace their bodies!  
In this overly photoshopped world we live in, when a company like Aerie comes along with a campaign like this I believe they should be applauded and celebrated!  I bought 2 bathing suits and a cover up yesterday.  Not just because they were super cute, but because I want to support a company that isn’t selling women an image of perfection that they should be trying to achieve but is instead telling women that they are already perfect just the way they are.  
Because they are darn right……….the real you is sexy……and beautiful and smart and perfect just the way you are!  
Want to know how to get the perfect bathing suit body?  Put a bathing suit on your body.  The end!  
P.S. No this is not a sponsored post.  I mean if it was I would have run a brush through my hair and possibly polished my nails first.  ðŸ˜‰ 

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  • I love this Carmel. As a mom, of now two adult daughters, I can tell you…the way we as mom's view ourselves and our bodies does rub off on them!!! I applaud a company who applauds REAL women. I am over the need for everyone to be an XXS, size 2, airbrushed, fake tanned, magazine cover worthy model. Because let's face it, the majority of women are not. Just take a good look around you. Do I promote healthy, heck yeah, but healthy does not always equate to smaller sizes. Thanks for you being so open and sharing. You look AMAZING!! But, more importantly confident!!!

  • Awww….I absolutely love this post! I've had body image issues since my teens too and I really just don't believe I see myself as I truly look regardless. Thanks for sharing.

  • Carmel, you are a brave and beautiful woman. Thanks for addressing an issue so many women have regardless of how justified it is. We all need to be more kind to ourselves.

  • You are awesome! This is awesome! I struggle with this so much. I just went the other day to try on bikinis and it was horrible. I hate it so much and I need to start with an attitude like yours.

  • Bravo! I applaud you for posting this! You look fantastic and the store's campaign for women is outstanding. I feel so much concern for young girls these days as all they see are the retouched photos, the urgency to be a size -0, peer pressure and so many others. We should all be kinder to ourselves and especially be cognizant of what we're doing and saying in front of daughters and grands.

    xo
    Pat

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