Pass it on: A post about self love and not looking like a model (but also not bashing models because that isn't cool)

 Tonight I sat in front of my TV to watch the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. This was the first year I had watched it while it was televised or really been interested in it. Last year I saw a video on YouTube of the 2012 fashion show and it made me realize that it is SO much more than skinny girls walking around in lingerie. It's a production that takes nine months to plan and needs a team of 26 make up artists, 22 hair stylists and eight manicurists. This is an event that they work for all year long and the one night where they get to show an entire room of people everything they've got. And they own it.

On Twitter before, during, and even after the show, people were just assuming that these models are just pretty faces with perfect bodies and no brains. It's part of their lives to look the way that they do and they work their asses off  and deserve respect. I'm sure it isn't easy to do what they do for a living and they probably do have their own struggles but there is no need to dehumanize them. Adriana Lima wanted to be a doctor, and got into modeling by mistake and stuck with it, Miranda Kerr (possibly one of the most beautiful woman on the planet in my opinion) was a gymnast as a child and got into modeling when she was "too tall" to go any further, Erin Heatherton almost turned down a modeling contract for a basketball scholarship and Lindsay Ellingson was going to UC San Diego before being scouted. Not one of these women had set out to be models.

Another thing that I am bothered by is the amount of people who were claiming that the models "too skinny" and need to eat something and it made me really angry. Not everyone is built to be a model, it isn't in everyone's genetics. But saying that someone is too skinny is just as bad as saying someone is too fat. Sometimes it is out of their control, it can be genetic or they could have a fast metabolism. Bashing them for being thin won't solve anything. When they are dieting, they do it in a healthy way. Adriana Lima goes to a nutritionist before beginning a strict 6 week diet consisting of a gallon of water a day and several protein shakes as well as taking vitamins. She does not just starve herself to look that way. The average VS model is 5'9 - 5'10 with the measurements of 34-24-34. And not all of the models are sizes 0 or 2. Doutzen Kroes is a size 6 but nobody hears about that. These woman live a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and exercise, they work for what they have because it is their jobs.

I think that people get so caught up in all that, they forget to appreciate themselves and their own bodies. I am 5'3, I weigh around 130 pounds and I will never be a model and I am perfectly okay with that. I am learning how to love my body but it doesn't mean I don't have those days when I want to rip my hair out and cut the fat off my thighs. I take a minute and relax, I tell myself that I am only human, this is the way I am built and I should be okay with this. I go for an apple instead of kettle chips (I do love me some kettle chips though). I know that if i want to change something about my body that it is up to me and only me.

 The point is, if you don't like something about your body, its up to you to change it in a safe, healthy way. And if you're happy with who you are and how you look, more power to you. We all need to remember that we are all human, we are all built differently and we need to love ourselves first. There is no harm in looking in the mirror and telling yourself that you are okay with the way you look. You will always have those bad days where your jeans don't fit right or your hair isn't cooperating but love yourself anyways. Tell yourself that you have nice eyes or a cute butt. Appreciate your boob size. Find an outfit that makes your body look killer and wear it whenever you are feeling down. Don't be afraid to eat a doughnut, but at the same time it's okay to want to try a juice cleanse or a new diet for a little bit. Do whatever makes yourself feel good.

Love yourself.
Pass it on.

I <3 Sweaters

I just wanted to share some cute mirror selfies I took in the change room of Forever 21 on Friday while I was shopping for some new sweaters

The first one (which I bought) is plan black, knitted with a white X on it. I thought it was cute, plain and simple and would be a wonderful addition to my fall/winter wardrobe and I can't wait I style it.

The middle one is grey and says Boy Los Angeles (much like Boy London), I did not get this but I plan to order it very soon

The last one is my favourite that I bought. It's a super warm white crewneck with Minnie Mouse's head with a gold chain around it.

I hope to write more posts like this in the future!

Man Candy Monday

In honor of  their third album out November 25th (THAT'S TODAY) I have no other choice but to award this week's MCM to...

Tattoo?!

So as I said before, I was going to make a post to talk about my forth and newest tattoo and here it is!

Bit of a back story:

1. It is a daisy, my favourite flower

2. It is inspired by John Green's novel Looking For Alaska, which is my favourite book of all time

John Green is my favourite author and I had been thinking for a while now that I wanted something to show my love and appreciation for him and his works. I wanted something simple, but couldn't put my finger on what exactly I wanted. 

3. While in my last semester of high school I read Looking for Alaska five times. It was my safe haven. I felt like I could relate a lot to the main character, and I longed to be more like Alaska Young. She was reckless, beautiful and just didn't care much, which was the complete opposite of what I felt I was. 

XO Jess. 

Tuesday's Quote

This is a find from "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" by Rachel Cohn and David Levathan. I came across it while reading (will review when I'm finished!) and it was one of those things where you have to stop and re-read it and think about how relevant it is to your life. It felt like the passage was taken from my own brain, that's how it made me feel.

Man Candy Monday

This is the long awaited return of Man Candy Monday! For this week, We are going to look at the one boy who has the ability to break my heart over and over again while being a fictional character.  Who, you may ask? Take a look after the jump!

I HAVE RETURNED!

If any of you are still reading this, I want to say HELLO and apologize for my hiatus (not as long as the Fall Out Boy hiatus, so be relieved). I have been busy just living my life, building up experiences, and thinking of what the future will hold for this blog.
 
So I will start off by re-introducing myself (again), My name is Jessica. I am nineteen years old and I live in Ontario, Canada (about an hour north of Toronto). I am currently in college to be an esthetician and the two normal responses I get from that are as followed: "What is that?", "Oh, so you know know you have to wax people, right?", and my personal favourite "EW, YOU HAVE TO TOUCH FEET?" And after I am finish shaking my head I tell them that I am aware and that estheticians not only paint nails, wax, and touch feet, but are also trained professionals in the health of the skin (which is the area that I someday hope to get into). I am a little more than half way through my first semester and I am loving it. I have never enjoyed going to school more and at this point I don't even consider it to be school anymore.

Aside from college, I am also working. I have been part-time at a clothing store in my local mall for almost two months now and it is a whirlwind experience, let me tell you. No one told me that working retail is doing 50 tasks at once, and still having to smile. It's a miracle that I have lasted this long, it makes me happy and miserable at the same time. Sometimes I feel like I'm in that game "Diner Dash" (If you don't know what I'm talking about, I don't know what you've been doing with your life). It has been fun so far though, I have been learning a lot about how to deal with different kinds of people, and the ins and outs of retail!

As far as some other things I've been up to, I went to the Fall Out Boy concert in Toronto back in September (It was fantastic and I will link a video below), and I recently got a new tattoo which holds a whole lot of meaning which I am going to post a blog post about in a couple days!

Here is a video of one of the many highlights of the concert, "Twenty Dollar Nosebleed" featuring Brendon Urie from Panic! at the Disco:

(video is not mine, credit to original uploader)

I hope you will all forgive me and allow me to figure out a posting schedule that works for me and I hope to hear from you soon!

xox Jess