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This is my lovely Delaney & today she’s 8!! She’s quite the little gem, if you’ve been lucky enough to meet her you know that she’s one of the most tender hearted and considerate children, ever. I’m honored that I get to share my life with her and if there’s one thing I’m certain of – it’s that she will make a remarkable, intentional, joyful imprint in this world. Happy birthday, my darling Delaney! ? @kaleighdsimmonsphoto

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Since we talked about my boobs in my last post I thought it might be a good time to (re)introduce myself! Since we started off on such an uncomfortable note, I decided to reel things in & share some less intimate details about myself!
First of all you should know that I give zero craps about beauty products. I wear what’s suggested by people I trust & never (like ever) branch out! I find washing my face & pausing a movie to go to the bathroom both horrible inconveniences. I get bored with clothes quickly & want to constantly reinvent my wardrobe! If I make a new clothing purchase, I (try to) find something that needs to go in order to keep things in balance – more is not always better. Like you, I’ve endured a lot of heartache in my life that’s left some marks. But I’ve chosen to live a life of surrender in order to uncover the growth in those seasons & allow it to be turned around for good – even if it’s simply to reach one hurting girl who needs to know she’s not alone in her heartache, that I’ve been there too. The older I get the more I wish I would have used sunscreen sooner, fine lines are the enemy & I’m considering botox. Judge if you want, it won’t change my mind. I was a birth doula for years in CA, the beautiful moments that I shared with those birthing mamas, dads & fresh babies is something I will hold dear to my heart forever! I cried harder than all 3 of them every time the baby arrived, it felt like experiencing a miracle every single time!
Emerald green, painted nails, dancing & jeans are a few of my favorite things.
If there’s one (or 2) things I could shout from a mountain top it would be to stop living your life afraid. Fear holds way too many people back from finding breakthrough. I would also shout that Jesus is more real than the air you breath & dang it, the things He wants for you so far surpass your wildest dreams! Trust Him. My kids are unreal, they’re my ultimate passion and greatest source of insanity. The two babes I have in school have both received good character awards every single year. Mic drop. They’re kind little humans. Lastly, occasionally I ask Scott to check the basement for bad guys before I go to bed. It’s fine.

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My lie: my boobs are too small to look womanly in a form fitted outfit. One of my truths: I’m outgoing, my ability to love others well is far more beautiful than the lie that my chest looks like a 13 year olds. Yes, that’s an actual thought I have had to fight to overcome. You’re not alone in fighting insecurity & just because someone’s eyes glance down at my chest does NOT mean they’re judging my bitty boobs. That’s a thought pattern that has to be broken if we ever want to move past an insecurity. And if they are judging it’s because they’re either a B or it’s because they’re dealing with their own insecurities, neither of which have anything to do with my boobs. It’s way too easy to notice a glance and consider it negative. Women are too hard on themselves when it comes to this! We allow those thoughts and insecurities to dictate the way we get dressed & I for one, am not ok with that.
It’s way too common for women to wear clothes that tell them everyday to feel bad about themselves. What we wear DOES matter, it communicates something to yourself & everyone you meet; Whether positive or negative. So when you feel kick A in an outfit it unlocks a dose of confidence and self worth in you that others pick up on! Suddenly their glances don’t carry so much negative weight. Step one: shake off the lies you’ve allowed in and write down your strengths.
Focus on what fuels you! Is it your creativity? Your femininity? Your edginess? Your need for comfort or simplicity?
Speaking out loud silences those harsh thoughts, when the lie creeps into your mind whisper out loud that you’re the best dancer there is, dang it! That you’re the best designer, communicator, you’re the best at advocating for others, at baking, at making others feel accepted, at decorating, whatever it is that makes you strong and beautiful! Whisper your truths and choose to believe that their beauty far outweighs any lie.
? @kaleighdsimmonsphoto

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I lost my wallet last week, but the good news is I found my fishnets so I didn’t need my wallet to buy a new pair. Silver lining! ? Ps. I found my wallet. But I’m still Looking for my energy after a gnarly week. Thank God it’s Saturday and I have no plans.

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Only a liar can make you feel isolated in a world full of people fighting the same battles as you. Depression, anxiety, divorce, miscarriage, grief, insecurity, self doubt, fear… we’ve ALL experienced something that’s left us broken. Every. Single. One of us. (Yeah, it’s gettin’ real up in here.) The catch is that most of the time we to choose shame and isolation from our brokenness over believing that it doesn’t define us or determine our future. A perfect Insta photo is lovely but it’s too easy to hide behind & we can’t maintain a life that appears beautiful when everything behind the scene is falling apart. It took me a long time to stop feeling shame for miscarrying 3 of my 6 babies. Who told me that was MY fault?! Who says you deserved to be abused? Who said you aren’t good enough to chase after that dream? Those are lies that too commonly take the place of our truths – that we are beautiful, we are desirable, we are strong, we’re fighters, we’re creative & fierce and capable! These truths & lies bleed into every area of our lives including how we dress & carry ourselves. Welcome to my WHY! I don’t believe that any woman should wear clothes that lie to her every single day & tell her she’s not worth looking good and feeling good. Clothes that make her feel unattractive & uninspired. Not when it’s something we can work on gaining control of. Clothes trigger our insecurities or they make us feel confident! Go through your clothes, don’t hold onto the things that keep you feeling uninspired. Save a little money & replace that item with something that makes you feel killer incredible! Even if it’s just one piece at a time, eventually your wardrobe can be a safer place for you. I want that for you with all of my heart!
Photo: @happyphotoco
#momlife #bettertogether #raiseyourvoice

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I dare you!! I dare you to take your biggest style insecurity head on & see what happens! This jacket is one of my favs, it’s loud & almost more pink than I can handle but dang it makes me happy! And yes, I’m so glad you asked – of course people look at me like I’m from another planet! Not to mention that my husband absolutely hates it, good thing I don’t wear it to bring him joy! Do you think you’re too tall for stilettos? Too timid for a bubblegum pink jacket? Or maybe too nervous to wear that killer dress with sneakers? Maybe you think you can’t pull off studs or fringe? Or how about that deep, bold lip color? Would you wear leopard print every single day if you could? Well, let me be the one to tell you that you can! Don’t set style rules for yourself that stem from fear & limit who you are, express yourself through your style! There are little things in our everyday that offer us extra doses of joy and our clothes are one of them! I dare you to care a little less about what someone else will think and do it for YOU! I teach my daughter that she doesn’t get dressed to make other people happy, she wears whatever makes her feel strong & beautiful! The same goes for you, my friend!

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Photo taken at: Grand Rapids, Michigan

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You are enough. You are worth investing in. Your dreams are worth taking the risk for. The things that bring you life are important! As a mom I’ve carried this thought that I’ll be frowned upon for wearing too many hats… that raising my kids and building a career shouldn’t go hand in hand. For so long I fought fear that my kids would feel put on the shelf if I sacrificed even a moment of my time with them to invest in a career. Or that they would turn out to be wretched little humans if I didn’t give up everything and give them ALL of me.
I was wrong. The people who made me feel shame for wanting more than being a stay-at-Home-mom were wrong. I’ve learned that a child who knows they’re loved & feels secure, is there cheering mama on to become a success in her endeavors! Mamas success is theirs to celebrate too!
When Delaney says I’m a great stylist, I feel humbled. When I get to buy the kids something fun with my earned money, I feel proud. When I take a step back and I realize that the dreams in my heart were put there by a God who calls me worthy, deserving & capable, I understand that He also equipped me to walk through motherhood & my career with grace and balance. Moms are bosses.
Photo: @kelseyhettinga

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New year, new mood.
Feeling a little more fierce, a little more equipped and a little less afraid of the unknowns ahead of me. So what changed?? Great freaking question. Last night I watched @msrachelhollis documentary and something sparked inside of me! Today I woke up feeling alive, I woke up feeling known and validated and I realized that what’s inside of me wasn’t put there by accident or just for me! I want to make an impact, see change in others lives, help women see who they were created to be! I’m a stylist because I believe in the power that’s inside of every single woman that I have the honor to assist! She’s capable of greatness in her own form & looking great means feeling great which makes her a force to be reckoned with! Clothes don’t define us but

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What makes your heart light on fire? What is it that you start talking about faster and louder with whole hearted excitement!? Girl, chase it down!! Hold on tight, let the fire inside of you ignite it in other women who need it too! You hold something more special, more wild & untamable than you know – your heart! Your ability to be YOU! No one else could ever fill the (sparkly, leather, red, sassy, comfy) shoes that were designed just for you! You’re fierce, don’t cave to comparison! You’re strong, tell self doubt to shut the heck up! You’re full of fire, fuel it with people in your tribe who love & support you! And don’t hold yourself back, you weren’t given a spirit of fear but of love, Power & a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)! Be fierce, be strong, be full of fire!

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Photo taken at: Grand Rapids, Michigan

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January. The month of fresh starts, refreshed vision & renewed motivation! This month I officially started training my first ever assistant stylist! That felt like a big step in the right direction, a big step also into unknown territory that totally freaks me out. But hey, if you don’t take the scary steps forward then the growth seizes to exist and that’s something I refuse to let happen. I had this realization recently, if my mentality moving forward is full of ‘somedays’ then I’m not really running after my dreams, I’m crawling toward them. That’s when I decided that now is the time to start training my first ever newbie because the day WILL come (and it’s quickly approaching!) that I need her. Expecting that growth, investing in it now and keeping vision for what’s beyond it means that I’m running full speed ahead! My heart and hands are open to the Lord to do His thing through my business and He will continue to open the doors if I continue to put my expectation in Him. I am a grateful and busy mom boss and it’s the greatest feeling in the world!

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Photo taken at: Grand Rapids, Michigan

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