True Beauty Archives - Embracing Beauty

5 Ways to Feel More Beautiful

October 24, 2013 by Ashley 7 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about beauty lately, as I always do, but this time I was focusing primarily on outward beauty. You know, what everyone else sees and judges you by. You know me, I think that people should spend the majority of their time focusing on inward beauty and developing better character traits, helping others, etc. However, every woman wants to feel attractive on the outside too and that’s okay! Going through life changes such as growing older, an illness, becoming pregnant {yep, that’s me!}, or gaining weight {me also!} can make us feel less than attractive…to put it mildly. I was thinking of a few ways that I try to make myself feel more beautiful and I thought I would share them with you in case you need to feel more beautiful today. Remember that you are beautiful, even when you don’t feel like it!

1. Have something sparkly.
Don’t tell your husband I’m telling you to go out and buy diamonds {Although that might not be a bad idea either! ha!}. Keep something sparkly around you. Lip gloss, nail polish, a sparkly pen, etc. If you’re not into sparkles, then surround yourself with your favorite colors and textures.

In school, I was always terrible in English class. Literature was great, spelling was okay, but grammar was pitiful. {I can see all of you grammar folk shaking your head in agreement. I know, I’m sorry!} Most of my school notebooks were plain white or black but my English 101 notebook was beautiful. My definition of beautiful changed from year to year but it was always something that gave me a little smile inside whenever I looked at it. Surround yourself with things that make you smile.

2. Make someone else smile every day.
I used to have a friend whose goal was to make someone smile every day. This was the end all be all goal of his life and while I certainly didn’t agree with that I did take note of his personal challenge. Obviously, it had an impact on me as I’m still thinking about it and writing about it 10 years later. When you do something for someone else it makes you feel good about yourself. That’s not why you should do nice things for others but it’s a nice side effect and it’s a good habit to get into.

3. Smile, smile, smile.
Studies have proven that smiling people are more attractive. That’s a good enough reason to smile, isn’t it? Plus, I read somewhere that your brain gets an instant mood boost when your facial muscles contract and that boost of happiness is maintained as people smile back at you.

That reminds me of a poster that was in our high school cafeteria that read, “Smile. Start an epidemic.” If smiling doesn’t come natural to you practice while you’re alone and then practice in front of others at least once a day. Try it and see if you don’t feel more beautiful and confident.

4. Work out.
I know people are groaning as they read this step. How? Well, because I’m groaning too. I don’t like working out, at least in the formal sense of the word. I don’t own tennis shoes or yoga pants. Crazy, right? I like music though and dancing silly with my daughter, I like taking exploring walks with her, I like swimming, and I like shopping. Those aren’t typically things people consider exercise but every bit of activity helps keep you healthy and boost your spirits. Any safe activity that raises your heart rate is exercise in my book.

When you exercise it gives you a spring in your step. You’ll smile easier, you’ll feel good about yourself knowing you’re taking care of your body, and your face will just glow.

5. Surround yourself with smells.
Smells are the biggest triggers of memory. The sense of smell is powerful. Surround yourself with scents that make you feel good. Wear your favorite perfume {discount perfume is okay too}, light a candle that embodies the current season, or keep your favorite Wallflower plugged in at work. Be mindful of those around you that may have a sensitive sense of smell but if you can, allow yourself embrace different scents. Wearing perfume will help you feel better about yourself and smelling it through the day will make you smile a little on the inside.

Those are my five favorite ways to make myself feel more beautiful.

What about you? What do you do to make yourself feel more beautiful?

Filed Under: Body, Fragrance, Makeup, True Beauty Tagged With: beauty

A Lifesaving Transplant and Hope

October 16, 2013 by Ashley 13 Comments

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine who is going through a trial no mom should have to face. I’ll let her tell you her story in her own words. My desire is that this post will help you cling to God for the struggles in your life, that you’ll pray for this family and sweet little Ephraim, and lastly, that some of you might consider donating to help this family through this dark valley. I’ve known Rebecca since college and I absolutely love her. I’ll turn this post over to her now…

I have grown quite accustomed to living out of a suitcase. I wish I could say it’s because I’m a jet-setter and a world traveling adventurer but it’s nothing quite that glorious. In fact, many would consider it the exact opposite. My son was born with failing kidneys-Posterior Urethral valves, Vesicoureteral Reflux, and Renal Hypodysplasia, or so “they” call it. It’s just a whole bunch of hullabaloo words to say “Your son is dying”. At least, that’s what I would have said had you asked me what it all meant back when he was first diagnosed. As you can imagine, raising a child with a whole host of life threatening diagnoses’ inevitably means a lot of hospital stays, hence my intimate familiarity with living out of a suitcase. If you ever need tips on packing for a hospital stay— I’m your gal. I even have a few tricks up my sleeve on how to sleep comfortably on those sorry excuses for a pull out couch most hospital rooms have. Regardless of how comfortable I‘ve become spending my nights in a cold and sterile hospital room, I still have not grown accustomed to the sounds that often surround me-especially at night. I’m a sensitive soul, and just like recalling a joyous memory at the smell of a familiar aroma, noise, be it harmonious or horrifying, stirs my emotions easily. I can’t help but hear the whirring of my son’s feeding tube machine, his multiple IV drips and med pump machines, the random alarming of a pulse ox or his blood pressure being taken, the alarms of a heart rate too high or too low, the quickening of a nurses steps coming down the hall to rescue a child in distress, the cries of the tiny baby next-door who is barely visible underneath all the wires and the restless sleep of my precious firstborn struggling against the pain and discomfort his ailing body feels. I close my eyes as if to block out the noise, willing my raw emotions to stay at bay. My eyes flutter open to another all too familiar sound and I watch as the Children’s Helicopter prepares to land just outside our window, life-flighting one more child to this hospital with one more life threatening diagnoses. I’m heart sick and this time the tears fall unbidden. “I’ll never get used to this.” I whisper.

Oh, how I yearn to cuddle that baby next-door, to rescue these particular children from the effects of renal and multi organ failure, I long to pray over the child being life-flighted in, eradicate the need for life support machines of all kinds, I want to cure cancer, see every child in this hospital relieved of their pain and save the world. But even more than all of that, I want nothing more than to save the life of my own son. Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. Alas, I cannot save him. I cannot take his place. I cannot heal him, fashion him a new kidney or promise him a brighter tomorrow…only my Savior can do those things,…and I know He sometimes chooses not to.

I do not understand His ways, nor His thoughts, they’re so much higher than mine! The view from where I’m standing could not possibly reveal the picture of the whole horizon. I am so often at a crossroads left with only a choice. Faithful trust or foolish worry. Today, I choose to trust, praying for more miracles that only God can take the glory for. Tomorrow, I choose to trust, knowing His will is far better than my own. He is sovereign even if those miracles I pray for never come to fruition. Forever, I will choose to trust because there is no other Hero who is more qualified to rescue the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve than Jesus Christ, my Lord!!! I cling to Him as my soul groans with all of creation in longing for His final return. I long to see Jesus make all things new, to set all things right in this world once more. We weren’t meant to die, you know. Children weren’t meant to die,…and yet, I often find myself sitting in a hospital room watching my son do exactly what he was never meant to do. Die. I’m reminded of it almost daily.

It seems almost surreal. Over dramatic, really. I mean, he isn’t really dying,…right? He can’t be. He’s only 4 and this stuff only happens in the movies…Wrong. He is dying. His organs have failed and short of a miracle, my son would no longer be able to survive without the life-saving need for hemo dialysis. Dialysis. A nightmarish word, really. My husband and I have spent over 4 years working, praying, and believing Ephraim was meant to journey on apart from the need for dialysis. We held on to the hope of a pre-emptive kidney transplant because staying away from dialysis meant we could bypass the reality that our son was really dying. His kidneys failed too fast for that and dialysis was our only hope to survive through the next week. Now, for the past 6 months my son has lived for that machine. We spend the better part of his week attached to it, a giant blood cleaning machine doing the work his kidneys failed to do. My family and I are habitually tired, chronically exhausted from juggling a 1 year old, a 2 year old and a 4 year old on dialysis, we struggle with disappointment, battle the feelings of being completely overwhelmed and yet we are so very grateful. Hopeful, even. God IS good. He will lead us through the valley of the shadow, He will provide wisdom along the way, He will pour out His peace upon us and bring us comfort when we haven’t any. We have seen His hand at work in the life of our son from the day we found out his diagnoses. I was 15 weeks pregnant and time after time, day after day doctors gave us no hope he would ever survive the challenges that came his way. Miracles happened, doctors watched in awe and our son grew to the old age of 4 going on 40. Every day is a celebration of another moment to enjoy him-and each other. Every day is a reminder that there is One who makes ALL things new, every morning, with every breath. Even living out of a suitcase, bogged down with burdens, or stumbling around in the darkness I have hope that sets me free. I’ve experienced what rejoicing in our sufferings produces; endurance, the strength of character and hope…and believe me, God’s Word says it perfectly, “Hope does not disappoint.” Romans 5:1-5

I want to encourage you as you read this; Whatever you’re going through, whatever you’re facing, I entreat each of you to cling to hope. While our expectations may disappoint us, hope, hope IN Christ-never will!

On October 24th, I will once again hand over my baby boy to be taken in to surgery for the umpteenth time (I’ve lost track,…) but this time my son’s life will be made like-new again. He’ll have the chance to live life apart from machines, to feel free to be more like a normal 4 year old, to act like a normal 4 year old. He gets a second chance at life as God has provided a living donor willing to sacrifice one of her kidneys in order to save my son. There are no words to describe such a beautiful gift. No one can explain it, it’s just grace. It’s beautiful. Please join with us and pray for Ephraim’s Kidney Transplant!

Want to read more about Ephraim’s Story and receive updates? Visit COTAforEphraimH.com and watch the video, read the updates, “Like” us on Facebook at “Ephraim’s Encouragers” and donate to help save his life. Praying for world transformation through Christ!

Come, Lord Jesus!

-Rebecca R. Harding

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: Charity, Surgery, Transplant

Happiness is…

September 17, 2013 by Ashley 16 Comments

Happiness is a sunny day.

Happiness is wearing a long sleeve t-shirt.

Happiness is a warm cup of coffee on a cool morning.

Happiness is your favorite song playing on the radio.

Happiness is a hug from a friend.

Happiness is a new coat of nail polish.

Happiness is the laughter of a child.

Happiness is an encouraging text message in the middle of the day.

Happiness is snail mail.

Happiness is blueberry muffins.

Happiness is watching a movie with a warm puppy on your lap.

Happiness is laughing so hard you can’t breathe.

Happiness is the blank pages of a new journal.

Happiness is an unlikely friendship.

Happiness is an empty laundry basket.

Happiness is hearing your name from someone you didn’t think knew your name.

Happiness is the straight lines on the carpet after vacuuming.

Happiness is a newly ironed shirt.

It’s the little things in life.

Now that I’m finished, it’s your turn.

Happiness is…

Filed Under: True Beauty

My Traditional Braces vs Invisalign

May 30, 2013 by Ashley 3 Comments

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My teeth aren’t as straight as I would like for them to be. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way but I HAD BRACES. Every time I think of my braces I get frustrated. I had THE worst orthodontist. I mean, I’m sure he was a great guy and all but he was not in the right profession.

I had the old fashioned metal braces with bonded brackets that were connected by a metal wire that went across my entire mouth to the edges where it connected with metal pieces that were fit snugly over my teeth. It wasn’t pretty. I always tried get the white rubber bands on my braces {when my orthodontist had them} because I didn’t want to draw any unneeded attention to them.

Not only were my braces unattractive but they hurt! I’m not talking about the teeth-moving-pain that is expected but the wires on the end would come loose and poke my gums. Ouch! Sometimes the brackets themselves would be sharp and cut my gums. I was given wax to put over top of them so they didn’t rub my gums. They were sharp when my finger rubbed over them so of course it tore up my gums. I’m confident this wasn’t a normal experience for most braces wearers. All of my friends that had braces ate whatever they wanted and the brackets never came off. Me, I was a rule follower. I avoided the foods I was told to and my brackets still came off! It was frustrating. When I would go in for an appointment he would re-adhere the brackets that came off and reuse the wires. I didn’t know until later that this wasn’t common practice.

Again, I’m sure my orthodontist was a nice guy and maybe he had state of the art equipment 20 years before I was his patient but it was long outdated by the time I was there. I can remember vividly that he was grinding down two of my teeth {at least he saved me from vampire teeth!} with a drill that he had to pump with his foot. I’m not kidding! There’s no way I could make this stuff up.

When it was time to get my braces off I was given a mouth piece to wear on my top teeth for three months. After that I was told that I didn’t have to wear it any longer. You can bet that I was counting down those months! Unfortunately, I later found out that he gave me horrible advice and to keep the progress I had made I needed to continue to wear my mouth piece at night. My husband had braces and he still has a built in little brace on the back of his teeth to keep them straight.

I could go on with my orthodontist horror stories but I’ll stop. I’m sad that my parents paid so much money for my teeth to still be crooked just a short while after I had them removed. I’m sad that my teeth are still crooked. I’m sad that they didn’t have the sophisticated braces like Invisalign when I was younger.

Just as the orthodontist my husband had was using took advantage of newer technology, many orthodontists today are using the latest technology they have available by using Invisalign. If you’re not familiar, these aligners are made of lightweight plastic that sits smoothly on the teeth {which is bound to be much more comfortable than metal shoved between your teeth!}. The cost is similar to traditional braces but usually requires fewer office appointments, shorter visits, and no shameful “emergency” visits for a broken bracket. To find out more information on Invisalign you can check out the Invisalign Website.

If you or your child is considering Invisalign try out their Invisalign Smile Assessment to see if you or your child is a good candidate for Invisalign. If it looks like these would be a good match for you, you can use the Invisalign Doctor Locator to find a doctor nearest you.

To stay up to date on the latest Invisalign news you can follow Invisalign on Twitter or “like” Invisalign on Facebook.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Tips, True Beauty Tagged With: beauty, Braces, Teens, Tips, Tweens

Netflix Introduces New Kids Programs #NetflixKids

May 25, 2013 by Ashley 8 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

I don’t really like for my daughter to be in front of the TV too much. We didn’t allow her to watch TV at all until she was 18 months old. Since then she’s watched it on a limited basis but she does have favorite TV shows. Because her favorite shows aren’t on constantly we looked to Netflix. Netflix streams kids videos and TV shows 24/7. It’s such a life saver!

Netflix is great for cuddle time!

I usually watch a 30 minute show with my little one in the morning while I wait for my meds and coffee to kick in. After that we play and don’t go back to the TV until the next morning. Occasionally, I’ll use it as a babysitter but only briefly! For instance, today I had to work in the kitchen, running back and forth, with the oven door open and I didn’t want to chance her coming in. It worked wonders and as soon as I was finished we turned it off and went to playing with her kitchen.

The Netflix app would be great to rescue kids from the boredom of long road trips!

We’ve had a Netflix subscription since a few months after we were married. We love it and use it daily! We have our favorite TV show reruns we’ll watch like Psych, whole series’ like 24, old Jimmy Stewart movies, new action flicks, and, of course, now that we have a little one in the house we’re partial to the cartoons on demand and the Disney movies!

Netflix has recently added new content from Hasbro, Disney Jr. and Cartoon Network. Explore the TV shows and movies available from these networks and find your family favorite from the list below:

My Little Pony
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally
Cars Toons: Mater’s Tall Takes
101 Dalmatians
Batman and Beyond
Transformers Prime
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue
The Aristocats
Pocahontas
Angelina Ballerina
Tron: Uprising
Powerpuff Girls
Thomas & Friends: Go Go Thomas
Pingu
Justin Time
Jake and the Never Land Pirates
The Adventures of Tintin
Curious George
H2O: Just Add Water
Caillou
Sesame Street
Johnny Test
Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Curious George
ParaNorman

A little evening cuddle with Netflix and Daddy! What could be better?

What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.

And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business. Check it out here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: kids, Movies, Netflix, TV

Dreaming of Hawaii

August 16, 2012 by Ashley 2 Comments

Are you thinking about planning a trip to Hawaii in the future? What about, wanting to go but thinking that there is no way you could possibly afford it? That’s probably where I’m at.

My friend spent a few years in Hawaii with her husband and I just love to see their pictures on Facebook. It’s gorgeous there! One thing I’ve always want to do is swim in a crystal clear blue ocean. I guess you could say that it’s on my bucket list. While browsing around on Pinterest I kept finding beautiful pictures tagged with the name Aqua Resorts. I ran into it so many times that I decided to check it out. I don’t think that was a good thing to do. This place looks like paradise AND they have affordable options. Seriously! Of course I would still have to buy airfare but I’ll try not to think about that right now.

As I sit here dreaming about day dreaming on the shore side I’ll share some of Aqua Resorts’ coupons/deals with you. Who knows? Maybe you can send me a picture of you there!

From the Aqua Resort website:

Help save a vet & save on rates! Write a thank you card to a veteran and enjoy 10% off our best available rates at all participating Aqua Hotels. Plus, when you book the Mahalo To Our Veterans rate, a portion from every sale goes to support the U.S. Veterans Initiative, Hawaii Chapter, Barbers Point Homeless Veterans Program.
Aqua is celebrating local style with Hawaii’s favorite footwear, and we invite you to go local and slip into savings! Book the Slip into Savings rate, show us your slippers (flip flops) and save 10% off at participating Aqua Hotels on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai.
In conjunction with the remake of the classic hit TV show, Aqua Hotels & Resorts is offering an “Aqua Five-O Special” at its 12 hotels in beautiful Waikiki. Only $50 for the first night in Waikiki.
Book* at least 60 days in advance and save 15% on your next Hawaii vacation. Call866-971-2782 for details. *Full prepayment required at time of booking. Non-cancelable or refundable.

Filed Under: Tips, Travel, True Beauty Tagged With: Aqua Resorts, Hawaii, Travel, Vacations

My 10 Favorite Quotes About Mothers

May 13, 2012 by Ashley 7 Comments

Here are my 10 favorite quotes about mothers. I hope they bring a smile to your face! : )

1. “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.”
— Mark Twain

2. “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
— Abraham Lincoln

3. “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?”

— Milton Berle

4. “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.”

— Cardinal Mermillod

5. “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.”
— Lin Yutang

6. “When I was a child, my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.’ Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.”
— Pablo Picasso

7. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”
— Theodore Hesburgh

8. “The phrase “working mother” is redundant.”
— Jane Sellman

9. “You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.”
— Albert Einstein

10. “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

— Tenneva Jordan

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: Live Simply, Mother's Day, Mothers, Quotes, True Beauty

Peace

March 6, 2012 by Ashley 3 Comments

Today I’m pleased to share with you a guest post from one of my very dear friends, Jessica. I trust this will be a blessing to you as it was to me.

Peace. What a lovely word. Take a deeeeeeep breath and just sit there for a moment and imagine what it would feel like to have complete and total peace…not to be in a rush…not to have regrets…to just sit there, and be…. and to be at rest, both physically, and deep in your soul.

I don’t know about you, but much to my shame, my life is not usually categorized by that word. This year, I decided to take a challenge given by Ashley on EmbracingBeauty.com, and come up with a theme word for 2012. My theme word is peace. While it’s still early on in my journey, I’d like to share a small portion of what God has been showing me.

I used to believe that if only I could get caught up on all the housework, and learn to play the piano, and organize all my pictures, and lose weight, and start extreme couponing , and memorize 1000 bible verses, and…and…and…(you fill in the rest of the blanks) and basically all life’s circumstances would cooperate with me and go the way they are SUPPOSED to, I would be at peace. Maybe you’ve thought the same thing. As I’m sure you’ve found out, life just doesn’t work that way. Unexpected company arrives, and always on that day that you’re way behind on housework and decided not to take off your pjs until noon. A slow moving utility truck pulls out in front of you, and of course it’s when you’re running really, really late. A neighbor’s dog gets in the trash and it ends up from one end of your yard to the other…and inevitably when it’s pouring the rain. So should we just forfeit the hope of peace altogether? How can a girl have peace when things don’t go her way?

There is a verse that flashes in my mind multiple times a day that answers this question very simply: Isaiah 26:3. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.”

Wow.

Not, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose house is sparkling clean.” Or “…whose children obey without whining.” or “…who’s got it all together.” No, instead the verse says God will keep me in perfect peace, if I keep my mind on Him because I trust in Him.

Too often I get caught up in worrying about things that won’t matter at all after today, let alone in eternity. I’ve discovered that if my perspective on life’s interruptions has God at the center, then company seeing a pile of dirty clothes or crumbs on the counter doesn’t really matter so much. Perspective makes all the difference.

Today, I challenge you to pay attention to your “peace level.” How do you react when things don’t go your way? Are you constantly uptight? Do your husband and children dread being around you after a long day? Do you believe that if you could just “get it together,” you’d be able to have peace? If so, remember that life will never be predictable. Never. So basing your peace on circumstances will end in a lot of unnecessary stress and frustration.

Instead of falling apart when the unexpected happens, look at those interruptions as from the Lord. Instead of focusing on the fact that you look terrible or your house is a mess when that unexpected company shows up, change your focus to what their needs might be. Maybe the Lord sent them to you today so you could encourage them or even witness to them. Use those extra minutes behind that slow truck to praise the Lord that you have a vehicle to drive and the ability to drive it, and maybe even say a prayer for the driver of the truck in front of you. Make a game of picking up the trash with your kids in the rain, then go puddle-jumping with them. Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% what we make of it. Make a choice today to cast all of your cares on the Lord, “…for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7b).

This quote does a good job at summarizing what a woman of peace looks like:

“A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God because she has come to know him to be worthy of her trust. She exudes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; she knows that we live a world at war, that we have a vicious enemy, and our journey is through a broken world. But she also knows that because of God all is well, that all will be well…In her presence, we can release the tension and pressure that so often grip our hearts…” from Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge

Lord, starting today, teach me to be this kind of woman.

Filed Under: Bible Study, True Beauty Tagged With: Bible Study, Peace, True Beauty

“The Most Beautiful People…”

July 17, 2011 by Ashley 2 Comments

Image credit

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: beauty, True Beauty

Interview with CEO of Faithful Fish, Chelsea Eubank

March 22, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

A few days ago I was on a small conference Q and A call with Chelsea Eubank of Faithful Fish Clothing and I just want to share with you a little bit about her and her ministry. This amazing woman of 23 years has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Extraordinary Teens, a guest on the Dave Ramsey show (my dream!), featured on Fox & Friends, and numerous other TV and radio spots. I felt blessed to have the opportunity to talk with this passionate young woman! She has been through so many hardships in her life yet she has trusted God and grew because of her experiences. She is the CEO of her own Christian clothing line and recently she has started the Wear It Wednesday movement where more than 500,000 young people signed up! This is an amazing little idea that has grown wildly. I encourage you to check out Wear It Wednesday and her clothing line, Faithful Fish.

Chelsea with Tim Gunn from “Project Runway”

Here is a little interview I had with Chelsea after the conference call.

Where did you come up with the name faithful fish? Because Faithful Fish’s trademarked logo is such an iconic Christian logo I guess the word fish just had to be in the name. Then I was running and kept thinking of names that went with fish and the bible verse about “Fishers of Men” popped into my head, I could actually feel the light bulb go on. Now I can’t even imagine having another name.

What has been the hardest thing to overcome when starting your own business? The vision to provide a branded Christian logo’d clothing line that expresses the customers positive values and lifestyle doesn’t resonate with everyone and trying to market a Christian clothing line has been a big disadvantage in the retail store space. Stores are concerned that if they bring in a faithful line they will offend other customers. But I have a vision a BIG vision, a HUGE vision and I truly believe that we are ready to have a Christian clothing line that can compete with secular clothing lines like Ralph Lauren or a company like American Eagle. It just seems that we need a line that represents our positive values. So to actually answer your question just to keep being positive even when things aren’t going as quickly as you want them to.

What keeps you motivated to do what you do? It is so much fun and I also get to work with people who are just as jazzed as I am about being faithful. Faithful Fish also gives a portion of all sales to charities so that is a true motivator. I also believe that we are offering something that is not in the market place and Faithful Fish is meeting a need.

If you could tell my readers one thing what would that be? From my personal experience of losing my Dad on the phone with me when I was 17 and then losing 3 family members within 5 months of each other I know that God doesn’t do these bad or tragic things to us but that he helps us through these hard times. He held my heart when it was broken and didn’t let the pieces fall to the ground.

What is your favorite Bible verse? Fruit of the Spirit. I love that it talks about all of God’s positive values. So many people say that Christians don’t want this or don’t like that but The Fruit of The Spirit shows all of the positive values that God represents and wants for us. (Gal. 5:22-23)

Okay, and a question for me…what was it like to meet Dave Ramsey? : ) He is so very nice and a believer like us. After talking his “Financial Peace” course I also felt that he truly has a calling to help people in their lives in a very relevant way. He helps people become good stewards. To then be able to be on his TV show and his radio show really was a miracle.

Thank you again Chelsea for your time! God Bless!!

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: Chelsea Eubank, Faithful Fish, Interview, Wear It Wednesday