Why I Shop at Aerie

Every year around Christmastime, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airs.. And I don't watch. I've actually never watched it before, and it's not because of your typical feminist "I don't want to endorse that type of image" answer. I just have 0 interest in the Fashion Show. I always have until I came across some of Adriana Lima's statements about her diet as a Victoria's Secret Angel in a People Magazine article. 

She indulges in "no solids" for those nine days, and then, for 12 hours before the show, "No liquids at all so you dry out, sometimes you can lose up to eight pounds just from that."

Wow. Nine days of no food. Nine days of nasty protein shakes that give you much less than your body needs. Although she has tried to recant and say her regimen is not as drastic as it seems - I beg to differ. That is crazy. Millions of people across the globe tune in every December and applaud her for what she does to her body. I just can't. After knowing this about the "Angels," I can't seem to justify shopping there or condoning that type of treatment to the most important thing in this tangible world: my body.

These same ideals go along with the Barbie revelation that has been made recently about who she would be if she was made human.

  

Now of course, every 5 year old isn't going to pour over every dimension of a Barbie doll. But, it's the principle of the idea. I remember growing up thinking Barbie was who I wanted to be: smart and kind and beautiful! Instilling some of these ideas into our daughters at such a young age warps and changes our perception of what is acceptable. 

But all of that aside, I have fallen even more in love with Aerie and their response to these heightened expectations that have fallen into women's laps over the past decades. This past Friday, Aerie unveiled their 'Aerie Real' campaign in which all the women featured in their photographs are unaltered with no Photoshop and no airbrushing. 

 

It's refreshing and beautiful knowing I'm supporting a company that does not expect me to look like models in their ads. A company that believes in natural beauty. It's a breath of fresh air. I applaud Aerie for their new campaign and for their discontent with society's standards. 

Here's to beauty in a million different forms.

Xoxo, Ash.

Late Start on the New Year

Christmas is always my favorite time of the year (cheesy & trite, I know) because I am surrounded by good company for 2 whole weeks. Ending the year around the people who love me for who I truly am reassures me that each new year will be better than the last. 

So.. In order to hold myself accountable and actually attempt these goals I always make, this year (nope, they're not resolutions, good point Monogram Meredith) I'm gonna tell you all about them.

 

Eat out less.

It is incredibly painful to look at my bank account transactions and see so much money wasted on lunches & dinners - I've got nothing to show for them! For the sake of my wallet and waist.. I'm going to eat out less this year.

Drink more water and green tea.

Sometimes I just hit that wall and drink Diet Coke FOR DAYS. It's awful. It's addictive (okay, I'm sounding a lil crazy here but hey!) and not okay. So, I'm going to drink more green tea (with less sweetener) and water everyday.

Get my Starbucks Gold Card.

Okay.. This is completely and utterly shameful but I don't even care. I'm 19 stars away! 

Stay on top of my blog more and write about what matters.

I seem to get in this habit of just writing the daily occurrences in my life and never actually writing about what's heavy on my heart. Actually, I get into this habit of not blogging at all.. So I promise I will be better in 2014.

Live out of my planner less.

I'm such Type A girl and my planner is LIFE. I actually ruined my Lilly one the other day (spilt coffee allllll over it) and it gave me the worst anxiety. Why?! Because I'm constantly checking and re-checking my planner for all my to-dos and appointments and assignments. I want to take a few deep breaths, and back away from the planner more in 2014. I want to just go with the flow.

Keep my room clean.. All the time.

This one is gonna get me, I'll tell ya that much. I want to not destroy my room every time I try to find an outfit to wear.

 Love myself a little more.

Towards the end of 2013, I seemed to just beat myself up about my outward appearance. I would spend hours in front of the mirror, pouring over every blemish. I'm going to learn to love myself for who I am and who I am becoming in 2014.

Know where I'm going to college. (WHAT?)

Okay, this one is going to throw me for a loop but it's true. By December 31st, 2014, I want to know where I am going to school for the next 4 years. It will be such a relief to know that I can enjoy the second semester of my senior year confident that I am completely ready for my freshman year.

Treat myself.

I want to take one day a month to treat myself. Buy myself something new. Get a mani-pedi. Take a bath and read my favorite book. Make myself my favorite meal. Anything at all. I want to appreciate my body and take time to rest.

Read my devotional every night.

I won't lie, I'm pretty bad about staying on top of any of my devotionals.. But especially Jesus Calling. I want to take time to rest in God's presence and learn more about who He is and how He loves me.

 So, there you have it. All the things I hope to accomplish in 2014. Scary, looming but will be good for me, that's for sure. I am so grateful for the experiences I had in 2013; I think I am starting to love the woman I am growing up to be. 

 Here's to 2014: the end of junior year and the start of senior year!

Xoxo, Ash