The Heart Of It | Self Doubt

5.28.2014


Self doubt is crippling. It's worse than the loud out spoken voices, because self doubt is awaken from deep down inside. It steals your dreams and life accomplishes, and turns them into dust. When you start to have new ideas and thoughts of completing personal goals, self doubt is the voice in your head telling you it can't happen, your not good enough, it's too far away and not close enough for your reach.

I often have voices in my head telling me;
Your a perfectionist. Your not smart enough. Your too hard on yourself. You stress over the smallest things. You don't do enough. Your a procrastinator. Your too flexible. Your such an introvert. Your not worthy. You can't do it all. Your voice isn't beautiful. Your not creative. Your blog isn't popular.

I have come to the realization that self doubt are lies from the world, lies that you've heard others speak, and lies from deep inside you. Self doubt steals your confidence. Corrupts your dreams and ideas for the future. It eliminates your self worth in Christ. And self doubt ultimately ruins who you really are.


Where does self doubt come from? Why does it even exist? Self doubt comes from the voices outside your head and then they slowly sink in. You start to chew on the things people say about you, your personality, body shape, school grades, or even your career. It begins with a teacher telling you that your not smart enough for college, a girl telling you that your ugly, or social media telling you that your not popular enough and don't have any friends! Your too this, not enough of that. And then the voices and lack of confidence takes over.

I've never really had to deal with negativity from others or outside my realm of friends but then came the internet, which is a totally different story. The social media is full of people who are negative and mean. They won't always agree with you or like your opinions. When it comes to reading comments you can't see peoples facial expressions or body language or the tone in their voice when speaking. Everything written that's on the internet is permanent. No one can re-state what their talking about, or back peddle. What's said is said.

This is the point when you need to determine what voices matter to you. Which ones are real and true? What people you can turn to for support, honesty, love, critic, or answers? For me I have little and few voices I choose to listen to via the internet. That doesn't mean I dislike the internet or feel like comments on my blog are unpleasant. If that was the case, I would disable the comments on my blog, or simply not blog at all. You're going to have negative people everywhere you go. It's life and sadly human nature. It's not about only doing things in life that won't lead to self doubt because of certain people, but how to coop with it. How to guard yourself in those moments. When to let those voices in and when to throw them in the trash pile.

Blogging can be a scary thing. Usually a blog is open to the public and anyone anywhere can read it. Photos of you, posts about your life, and your beliefs, all of those are seen. Your blog is basically an open living room. Everyone can come on in, and read all about your life. Their able to stay there as long as they want, and critic anything they please. They might scroll through all your outfit posts with friends. Their fully welcomed in, and are able to feel cozy with your content while learning all about you. And they just might bring a cup of coffee or tea with them. But it isn't your readers living room, it's yours. You don't have to let certain people stay there. You have control on what you allow yourself to listen to. Because ultimately no one knows you like your family or life long friends.

For the two years I've been blogging, I too have dealt with this. No one truly knows me. They cannot see the real Jenna through a laptop screen. Because not everything about me is displayed through my blog posts. Somethings are hidden and certain topics are my personal secrets. So as we all know through blogging we are always hearing opinions about our blog, personality, body image, or popularity rank. But just remember that when your about to go take the downward self doubt spiral to not compare yourself with others. I truly believe self doubt is the root of not believing, or feeling confident in yourself. Once you learn to love yourself for all your imperfections and flaws then self doubt won't be an obstacle you constantly have to overcome. "Happiness is only found when you stop comparing yourself to others." Christ loves you, for all your sins, mistakes, and flaws. Your never going to feel confident if you don't have Christ in your life, telling you that your worth more than rubies! Every person is truly a beautiful gem in God's eyes! Proverbs 3:15 "She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her."



I also have some exciting news; I finally created a facebook account for A Beautiful Heart! Be sure to give me a "like" here

PARTNER WITH ME!

5.21.2014


Want to become a sponsor? Well good because I finally have everything ready. A while back I posted about sponsors here on the blog, but a lot of you seemed confused and I keep getting so many emails about how to become a sponsor! So I finally created a shop so you can buy some ad space and partner with A Beautiful Heart. Depending on the size of ad space the prices vary, but I tried to keep the prices reasonable and affordable! I have also added two different ways your blog/shop can be featured here on the blog without having to buy ad space. So be sure to check it all out! Very excited about all the little features I've been adding, especially when this has been on my blog to-do list for a long time now!  If you have any questions contact me here; pianokey21@gmail.com

*Congrats to Brittany Marie who won the $45 gift card to Starfish & the Sea! Alex and I will be contacting you very soon to get everything set up! :)

My Happy Place

5.17.2014






I am so excited to finally show you my room. Plus I loved being able to have Lily in the photos too! She was so fun to take photos with, considering she literally loves the camera! It's been on my list for a long time but I have so many blogging notes laying all over my room it must have gotten lost in the high stack of papers. I love being able to see how and where people live and enjoy their space. Seeing the way one decorates sparks so many ideas for myself and my own room/space.

Another reason I have been putting off this post until now, is that I have been waiting and searching for just the right items that I felt like I still needed to complete my room. If you know me, you probably know I change my mind quite often and therefore my room décor is sort of new. Well that is if you call giving your bedroom a makeover since last summer, than yes it's new! Before I changed my bedroom décor my theme was Paris and soft purple colors for my bedspread. It was beautiful but of course I wanted a change and so I switched everything including the bedspread, pictures on the wall, color theme, decorative pillows, and even my floor rug! So now my room is beach themed!







I was a little nervous at first about redecorating my room because of how cheery and bright the colors are, but they are actually very soothing for me. I've always been one for earth tones and dark colors but it's been so nice to have more of a uplifting and happy feel. Every time I walk into my room I feel more energized and awake. Definitely makes me inspired for more spring/summer projects and fashion styles. Now that my room is beach themed I am so ready for summer.

My room is my haven. Its the place where I journal, and jot down blogging notes. It's the one area of my home that explains me. My room is a special place where I can let loose and be myself. Here I can regroup and reenergize myself after a long day at school, work, friends, etc. I love having a quiet little corner where I can relax and unwind. Nothing sounds better than laying on my bed with a blanket over me and Lily, while sipping on my coffee and pouring my thoughts out on a plain empty white sheet of paper. You could say my room is my happy place.

I spend a lot of time in my room and its honestly the one of the few areas of my life that is well organized and clean. I have to laugh because I literally cannot enjoy my room, when it is messy. It's one of the many traits I've taken over by my mom. Growing up my mom has always taught me to pick up my things and how to keep a clean room. When I was younger, mess and piles of homework laying all over my floor and bed never use to bother me. It's weird how I've changed over the years. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm so thankful that my mom has instilled in me organization, and cleanliness. Know I appreciate it so much. So, yes mom I have to thank you for being a neat freak! 










chair, floor rug/Target :  cork board, chevron throw, white table, chevron pillow, beach necklace hanger, all beach signs on wall, love you forever pillow, shams, frames/Home Goods : candles, lotions & body sprays/Bath & Body : bed comforter/Pottery Barn Teen : beach decorative pillow/JoAnn's : jewelry box/T.J.Maxx : Jenna sign/San Diego local fair
photos by: Into the Woods

5 TIPS FOR CAPTURING THE PERFECT OUTFIT PHOTOS

5.14.2014

Being able to take self-portraits here on the blog is probably my favorite part of blogging. I enjoy seeking out new landscape locations, trying new poses, and even editing my photos! I've been able to experience so many exciting opportunities because of my photography here on the blog! So I thought I'd share some tips on how to capture the best photos for variety, creativity, and uniqueness.






1. Use different angles + point of view 
I'm not a fan of seeing someone stand in the same place using the same pose with slight variations in outfit photos. Granted, I'm guilty of doing that sometimes but It's a good habit to break if you tend to be that person that lacks variety and creative in your photos. Snapping photos at different angles can help bring more variety to your post and be more interesting to the eye! 





2. Use movement
This is one of my favorite tips because it's so much to see the result in the photo afterwards. Smiles and poses get boring so this is great way to switch it up a little bit. Feel free to jump in the air or twirl in your favorite dress. Just find your go-to movement poses and have fun trying new moves.






3. Don't always look directly at the camera 
It's nice to see a photo shoot that has a variety of poses and angles. So don't always look straight at the camera. Look away, look at the ground, or smile the other way. I do this all the time, and it's more fun then just starring into the camera lens. When you look the opposite way from where the camera is, your photos have a little more creative to them.






4. Remember props 
I can not stress enough how much props make a huge different in your photos. It can be anything but the more creative you can be the more amazing your photos can turn out to be. Sunglasses, purse, coffee drink, iPhone, pets, bike, balloons, or food...these are all great ideas for different props depending on your outfit and location of course 




5. focus on the details 
Don't forget to include all your adorable accessories and essentials in your photos. I love taking close of photos of my jewelry or purse to display more of what I'm wearing. It adds more variety in my outfit posts here on my blog, and it makes it more visually entertaining.

LOVE YOU MOM!

5.11.2014


What would I do without you? You have been there for me every time I called your name & every time I needed help. You've been there for me through thick and thin. You've seen me at my very worst and yet you still love me. Mom you are the most amazing person I know. You've been my role model not only as what a great mom and wife should look like, but in so many other ways as well. Your sweet, generous, kind, thoughtful, caring, & godly.

You've been there for every soccer & softball game, dance, piano, & voice recitals, & all my horse lessons, always cheering me on the whole way. Ever since I can remember you've always made my birthday parties so memorable and special. You've always set aside time in your schedule to make sure I had "play dates" with my friends or sleepovers! All you've ever wanted for me was to be happy. 


I can still remember the time when we would watch I Love Lucy during our lunch break. I believe I was six or seven at the time, and lunch break was my favorite part of the day! And on special occasions we would devour a big bowl of chocolate mint n'chip ice cream. Or the days we would hop in the car and pile in our lunch box with a few towels and hang out there until the sun went down! Sweet childhood memories are my favorite.

Your love and support through my life has been incredible. Thank you for all you do and all of your time. I hope you have a wonderful day this Mother's Day! Love you. "A Mother is she who can take the place of others, but whose place no one else can take."


No Sleep Till Brooklyn

5.08.2014


 Now that summer is four weeks away, I always run around like a chicken with it's head cut off-ha! School becomes 10 tines more stressful and I get overwhelmed so easily. Finals are my worst nightmare and my junior year has had more subjects than I've ever experienced before. I'm trying to stay focused even though I have to constantly tell myself to breath and relax. With that said, I'm so happy I was able to get a photo shoot done considering my schedule! I think this photo shoot has been my favorite so far. I literally took ten minutes to take the photos I had in mind. I love trying new poses, although for me it can be hard to do because I always have my go-to poses, but I loved changing things up a bit! 



This last weekend my parents came home and It was so nice! Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss someone until your reunited with them again; and that's exactly how I felt. Saturday night my mom and I were able to sit down and have a long deep conversation over coffee. Something I love doing with my mom, but haven't done in a while because of them living in LA for the remainder of my dad's treatment. My mom and I are so tight, and I love being able to open up and talk about anything! It's something that's hard to do over a phone call, so spending time in a little coffee shop was exactly what I have been longing for. I don't know what it is, but if you talk to me in a large group you'll barely get thirty words out of me, but take me to a coffee shop I'll tell you my life story!




$45 Gift Card to Starfish & the Sea!

5.04.2014

I am so excited to announce that we are giving away $45 credit to a beautiful druzy jewelry Etsy shop! Alex and I have gathered so many wonderful bloggers to team up with us as well for this giveaway! So thank you gals, we couldn't have done with without you! Starfish and the Sea is a true gem, and so is their jewelry. Alex and I have been in love with druzy jewelry lately and this shop is exactly what we have had our eye on! I promise you that even if you don't win this giveaway, you will want to spend your money on her necklaces!!




Meet the Girls:
Alex from Into the Woods
Jenna from A Beautiful Heart
Sandra & Evelina from The Hearabouts
Amy from Amy Flying a Kite
Paige & Alex from Whimsy Darling
Ariel from Auteur Ariel



One lucky winner will receive a $45 credit to Starfish and the Sea. All you have to do, is follow us gals down below through the Rafflecopter! This giveaway ends May 18th, and we will announce the winner a few days after the giveaway ends! If you happen to win we want to remind you that you only have 48 hours to respond to our email! Comment down below and let us know which piece of jewelry is your favorite and why you would like to win! Good luck. 



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