Hi everybody! Keep those thoughts on today’s 30 Days of Self-Love post coming. I love reading them. I wasn’t expecting to write all that when I sat down for the post. It just poured out. I knew the topic, but didn’t quite know it would turn so personal for me. I hope you all know just how much this movement means to me and just how much I value each of you for your support and friendship. 🙂

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I have a lighter and quicker post for this afternoon. Amber and Barbara, from the One2One Network and , sent me a tri-set of deodorants to try out and share with you. I received them at the end of last week and have used them since.

takes pride in their all natural deodorants and what they offer their consumers. Established in 1984, they are the original mineral salt deodorant. Mineral salts have many great qualities:

• all natural
• act as a buffer to prevent odor causing bacteria from growing on your skin for all-day, natural odor prevention
• won’t stain clothes
• no white residue
• long lasting – one application will last through the day, including workouts

I know I typically think of all natural products as hard to find or too expensive. proved me wrong. You can find deodorant products nationwide in stores like CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid. CVS currently offers a promo for the products, no coupons needed, for the entire month of September. Pick up an awesome deal now!

• $1 off the Crystal® Body Deodorant Stick ( )
• $0.50 off the the Crystal® Body Deodorant Roll-On (2009 Winner – All-Time Top 10 Classic Best of Beauty Award by Better Nutrition)  ()
• $0.50 off the Crystal® essence Pomegranate Roll-On (2010 Winner – Best Natural Deodorant by Better Nutrition Magazine)  ()

Now, I’m sure you want to know what I think! These thoughts are my own, despite being provided for free by the company (disclaimer!). I received the three varieties of roll-ons: Fragrance Free, Pomegranate, and Lavender & White Tea.

Oh, the things you do as a blogger….LOL! It’s fun though. 🙂

I really liked the light smell of the scented varieties. They certainly worked on odor and kept me mostly dry (see below).  They are light and easy to use. I also love the lack of white residue that I have to be careful with when using my traditional stick deodorant. I really love that the product boasts so many wonderful things as well – endorsed by Cancer Treatment Centers, rated safest by www.ewg.org (Skin Deep Environmental Working database), part of the Campaign for Safer Cosmetics, and not tested on animals.

I only faced one con. I didn’t feel quite as dry as I do when using my regular deodorant. I don’t know if it is simply due to not being used to a roll on deodorant that goes on a bit more moist than a stick…or if it is because the Crystal products don’t seem to be an antiperspirant. It wasn’t anything serious and I never felt sweaty when using it. I’m not sure if it would keep me dry for the entire day with an intense workout like it claims though.

There you have it! Have you ever considered using (or do you use) natural beauty products? What’s your favorite deodorant?

Good morning all! Thank you for all the wonderful reflections you shared yesterday despite the weekend. I look forward to reading more today. The support and care you all put into this moves me each and every day. 🙂

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The whole purpose of this movement relates to self-love. Today’s topic, however, relates to the love we have from others and how it can help us more fully grasp self-love as well.

In the dark throes of depression, I felt like no one loved me and placed very little value in my life and worth. I couldn’t see the tears in my mother’s and sister’s eyes or their hearts breaking when they finally broke into the bathroom where I was trying to find the “strength” to down a bottle of pills and end my misery. I questioned Peter’s devoted actions at the beginning of our relationship and tried to deny feeling anything for him in fear of getting hurt yet again. I attempted to earn love and respect the ridiculous ways of partying and being too “friendly” with too many guys my senior year of college, despite two of my good friends warning me against those actions and telling me time and time again I didn’t need that. I certainly wasn’t always this happy.

I didn’t believe others loved me or could even care for me in the slightest. That made me doubt and hate myself more than I already did. The most disturbing part of this situation comes from the fact that I did have people who loved me and, if I had seen that, I might not have hated myself so much. Then, avoided a lot of that pain.

I want to be clear here. I do not believe in placing your worth in what someone else thinks of you. For example, if I never stopped trying to determine my worth based on my father’s views or if my ex loved me at the moment, I would likely still sit here today lost in the black hole of my previous life. I do propose, however, that we each have someone in our lives who loves us fully and that we need to see our own selves through that person’s loving eyes.

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Don’t you even try to tell me you have no one who loves you, either. There’s somebody. Usually, many somebodies exist if we look hard enough. I’ll rebuttal your claim right now if you even try to say no one cares. I care! That is why I pour my heart, soul, time, and energy into this message. That is why I cry right now with the mere thought than anyone could feel no one loves them. I do and you better believe others do too! Friends, family members, co-workers, fellow church members, other bloggers, that nice woman you see every day at the gym…someone cares! I will also scream from the rooftops that God cares too. Whether or not you believe in Him, oh boy does He care for you and view you as the most wonderful person out there…no matter what you’ve done or what you think of yourself. That is my belief and truth.

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See yourself through the eyes of those that love you. See the joy you bring them. Open your eyes. View yourself in a different light. We all too often act as our own worst enemy and judge ourselves more harshly than anyone else. Instead, realize you are loved, cherished, wanted, and needed. Love yourself like others love you. Remember. They do. Don’t fight it.

Reflect on who loves you and what they see in you. Do you have trouble believing it and accepting what they see whole-heartedly? Try to think of all those wonderful things about you that others care for and use those to fuel your day.

My answer: I will try to remember just how fabulous M thinks I am. She believes I can do no wrong and can cure the tiniest of problems. She believes in me, so I shall believe in myself…even when nervous for posting something so heartfelt in today’s message.

Quotes to Reflect On
The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and how to let it come in. ~Morrie Schwartz

*To be added to the email list and receive links to the posts in the morning, please let me know of your interest in a comment below.

*For more 30 Days Inspiration visit these bloggers who shared the message and let me know if you do/did. I’ve also received a few questions and I want to clarify that you do NOT need to post about the 30 Days on your blog to participate. I only share these links to those who let me know of posts or that I come across when reading blogs as a thank you for spreading the message and so we can easily find more positive messages to reflect on. I still appreciate each person’s participation, whether or not you post on your blog!

• Courtney – Pancakes and Postcards
• Astrid – Two Feet Ten Toes
• Ela – Ulterior Harmony