Welcome to the Love Your Body series, featuring guest posts from amazing women bloggers who are brave, inspiring, beautiful, smart, and pretty kick ass! They are here to share their body-related stories to encourage and inspire you to Love Your Body. 

As I sit here reading through a few of their guest posts, I am not only learning about who they are but I am learning from them as well. Every day isn't going to be an "I Love My Body" kind of day, but guess what ladies? That's okay! Life is a journey, it's a roller-coaster of emotions filled with ups and downs.  Some days our jeans will fit better than others, some days our hair won't cooperate because of the high humidity. And on those days you'll just want to scream, "I hate my thighs" or "I hate my hair", and that's okay, we all have those days. 

But what is not okay is to feel ashamed of your body, especially because someone else said, "Those jeans look terrible on you" or "Wow, I really hate that hair color on you". It's also not okay to feel bad about how you look because the media keeps body shaming celebrities like Kelly Clarkson, Melissa McCarthy, Mindy Kaling, P!nk, and others. 

Ladies, don't compare yourself to someone else and don't strive to look like someone else. LOVE YOU; love your hair, love your thighs, your eyes, your skin tone, your booty, love it all and just LOVE YOUR BODY! 

To all who are new here: Hi, I'm Diana. I'm 6 foot tall, weigh 215 lbs, I have grey hair coming in, I wear size 14 jeans, large to x-large top, glasses, size 10/11 shoes, and I LOVE MY BODY! 

These things about my body don't define who I am as a person. Growing up and being teased for being the tallest girl, for being "big boned" {overweight}, having bushy eye brows, stained teeth, and frizzy hair, I thought that's who I was and I thought these things would follow me every where I went. 

But then in college and post graduation I finally met people who inspired me to be more than a label, I met people who thought I was beautiful, who thought I was funny and intelligent. I met people who believed in me and pushed me to believe in myself, which is why my word for this year is "Believe". 

{My favorite necklace from Creative Carmella}

It took me some time to finally Love My Body, but thanks to those around me and thanks to getting away from those who put me down, I can say it and I can say I love myself and I believe in myself. I'm paying it forward to anyone who wants to listen, anyone who needs to believe, who needs to hear the words, "You are beautiful" because you are. You are beautiful and you are worth it. 

Thank you for listening to my Love Your Body story, stay tuned to next Wednesday when Marie of Just Plain Marie will share her story with us. 

#IAmBraveandBeautiful

We all have those days when we just don't feel brave and beautiful. We don't feel like getting out of bed, showering, doing our hair, and putting ourselves together.  There are days when I think, "Heck I work from home and don't need to go any where today, why should I bother!" However, those are the days when I feel less energized and less motivated. So, why bother? Because it makes me feel good inside. It doesn't matter if no one else knows that I'm having a great hair day or can see the awesome new color I painted my nails, I can see it. I'm doing this for my soul, because if I can't make myself happy, no one else ever will. When you start your day off right and have a happy heart you can accomplish and conquer anything. 

Today I am putting myself out there thanks to blogger Megan at Brassy Apple and 101+ other bloggers who shared their #IAmBraveandBeautiful story. Megan was inspired by Colbie Caillat's new song and video Try....

Colbie and the women in her video take their makeup off, let their hair down and show us who they are beyond what everyone sees every day. 

These women are being Brave and Beautiful and that's what Megan, and her friend Cobi of Peace from 6 Pieces want every woman to feel, makeup or not. So together with a few other bloggers and with the help of Robbins Creative they created this beautiful and inspiring video to keep Colbie's message and movement going....

A lyric and powerful message from Colbie Caillat's Try:

 "Take your make-up off. Let your hair down. Take a breath. Look into the mirror, at yourself. Don't you like you? Cause I like you..."

I didn't always like myself, because others didn't like me. 

I was never trendy and wore clothes that no other kid or teen would be caught wearing to school. I was taller than everyone in my class, and even a few of my teachers. My deep voice makes me sound like a man, and more often than not I was overweight. These are the insecurities I carry with me because other kids and teens didn't like these things about me. 

It wasn't until I met my husband that I finally started to believe someone could love me for me. I actually thought I would end up a scary cat lady! Yes, I knew my parents loved me, but the hurt and pain was already there and will always be there. However, I have come to learn that it's not about how someone else feels about me and whether or not someone else likes me, it's about who I see when I look in the mirror. 

Do I like me?

My wedding day was probably one of the few days where I actually wore makeup on my entire face. But it wasn't about the makeup, it was about me loving myself makeup or not. It was also about the man I met who loved everything about me and wanted me to love everything about me too. 

Give yourself the power to be brave and beautiful, don't give that power to someone else. Stand up for yourself and be kind to others. This movement is not only about how we see ourselves, but how we see others as well. There are too many young girls and women out there who hate on each other and bully because they have their own insecurities. But it's time to let it go, it's time to inspire one another and reach out to the women who don't feel brave and beautiful. 

Join the movement and help us inspire the world...

#IAmBraveandBeautiful makeup or not. 

I Have Flaws, Please Forgive Me...

I was going to put together my mason jar post for today, but things don't always go as planned around here. Right now, it's 2 am and I have other things on my mind that I needed to write about. You see I'm 31 and I feel like I'm still a work in progress. I'm still learning and growing, making mistakes and bad decisions, what can I saw...I'm flawed. 

I will never be flawless, I'm no Beyonce...

{source}

I'm just trying to accept my flaws when others look down on them...

{source}

I'm from Philly and I shout when I talk. 

I take everything personally and hate when someone doesn't like me. 

I lack self confidence and don't give myself enough credit.

I get emotional.

I say the wrong things before thinking twice about them. 

I talk too much and give unwanted details.

I make mistakes and sometimes make the same ones over and over again. 

I bite my nails and trip over my feet. 

I watch too much TV.

I procrastinate and have a million other things on my mind instead of the one thing I should be doing at the moment. 

But that's just who I am.

I have flaws, please forgive me.

Take the good with the bad. 

Take all of me and love me just the way I am. 

I will learn from my mistakes (eventually) and grow as a person, but these flaws will always be mine. 

Just as I will always stand 6 feet tall, I will always say things with a Philly accent (punkin instead of pumpkin, ice-ning instead of icing, wooder instead of water), so don't try to correct me! 

I have flaws and don't expect you to embrace them, just don't use them against me. Don't hate me because of them. 

I have flaws, please forgive me. 

PS, linked up over at TwoThirty-Five Designs

Five Things: You May Not Know About Me

Two weeks ago my Five Things co-host Tairalyn over at Little Miss Mama linked up with five things we may not know about her. It was such a cute post about who she is and it inspired me to share a few things about myself that you may not know, are you ready for this?! 

1. Five Things link up is posted every Thursday at Midnight EST. Share any five things that are on your mind right now. Whether it's something you are obsessing with on Pinterest, a new and exciting event going on in your life, or even sharing five of your favorite books; it's totally up to you. 

2. Please put the Five Things button on the post you're sharing for the link up; sharing is caring, the more players involved the more fun we'll have.

3. Please follow both your hosts Diana from The World Around Her and Tairalyn from Little Miss Mama via Facebook {here and here} and/or Twitter {here and here}. As it’s not mandatory it is greatly appreciated. 

4. If you tweet about your post or Instagram it, feel free to tag me or Tairalyn and use the hashtag, #FiveThingsParty

5. Check out the other bloggers who have linked up, show them some love and comment on at least one other bloggers link-up post.

Shall we get the party started...

1. Some of you may know that I have an owl tattoo, but did you know that I have four tattoos total?! I have three others on the top of my back near my shoulders. I got my very first tattoo of a Pisces symbol (the fish and the astrological markings) when I was about 21/22 years old, then a few years later I got my second tattoo of a butterfly with a heart stomach, and my third tattoo I got with my husband right before we said 'I Do'. It's a combination of the symbols that represent my maiden name and married name, which results in a Feather and a Horseshoe. I am looking to get two other tattoos soon, one on my wrist near the owls of the quote from A.A. Milne (author of Winnie the Pooh), "You are Braver Than You Believe", and another tattoo that my sisters and I will get together, we haven't decided on a design yet! 

2. That's little baby me in that photo! If you've been following my blog for a while you may have seen this in my 25 Random Facts post back in 2010! But if you're new here, then this is something you may not have known about me. If you look at the photo you will see that my right eye is shut (looks like I'm winking, right?!). Well, I'm not sure if the doctors took notice when I was born but later on when I was fitted for glasses at around age 10, we found out that I was about 80% blind in my right eye. I can see things but they are very blurry, and 3D glasses that just have one red and one blue lens on each side and not a combination of the two, don't work for me! 

3. So, here is another little quirky thing about me when I was born! See that photo of me with my grandpa, who I love and miss so much. Well, take a closer look at my foot, can you see it?! No?! Should I tell you this fact you may not know about me?! HAHA, are you ready for this? I was born with 11 toes total! TRUE STORY! The toe was actually removed and I now have a little bump on the edge of my foot, next to my pinky toe, that sticks out and is a pain in the butt when trying on shoes. 

4. Do you recognize what movie this is from and who the beautiful actress is? Well, shame on you if you didn't know that it's from "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" or that this beauty is none other than Drew Barrymore! So, what does she have to do with me?! Well, ever since I saw E.T. I have been obsessed with Miss Barrymore and have pretty much seen every movie she's ever been in, even the not so popular, B rated movies, hey I still love them! I just love her quirky, free-spirit attitude, and hope that one day I can meet her in person. I even wrote into The Oprah Show when I was younger that I would love to meet Drew! #DREWBARRYMORE ARE YOU READING THIS?! Hmm, maybe I should write to The Ellen Show?! 

5. How handsome is my guy! I know I talk a lot about us ( I hope that doesn't turn you away!), but one thing you may not have known is that next year we'll be celebrating 10 years together. We've been dating since 2005 and married in 2010, 10 years together and 5 years married next year...woo hoo! I think we should do something pretty special to celebrate, don't you?! HINT, HINT HUBBY!! 

OK ya'll now it's your turn to link up and tell us five things we may not have known about you! Or you can share with us any five things that are on your mind this week....

25 Random Facts...

Inspired by Dancy...check out her random facts too!

1. I have three wonderful stepchildren who are the kindest, sweetest kids I've ever met!

2. I love sitting around in my pjs having a lazy day with my husband...it's all I need!

3. I love writing poetry and can start writing random poems from any given word...try me, give me a word!

4. I have a degree in English with a minor in Journalism.

5. I am 6 foot tall!

That's Me...and no I wasn't winking, I am about 80% blind in my right eye.


6. I'd rather have one close friend that I can trust than have many friends that just think they really know me.

7. I have asthma.

8. I'm allergic to most pet dander and hair including cats, dogs, rabbits, etc!

9. I wish I could have a dog...beagles are my favorite!

10. I love kittens but I can't stand cats!

11. I love looking at all things weddings and blogging about weddings...could you tell?

12. I wish my grandparents were still alive and I think about them all the time.

13. I love football, basball is ok and I can't stand basketball.

14. I love watching movies and I still love watching Disney movies...just took my step daughters to see Toy Story 3!

15. It makes me sad to see my old Philadelphia neighborhood turn into a place where no one wants to live any more.

16. I love going to the beach in NJ but I can't stand the sea water!

He proposed at our favorite beach!


17. My favorite Disney Princess is Snow White

18. I love Top Chef, Real HouseWives of NYC, Bethenny Getting Married?, and anything on HGTV!

19. Used to watch Ugly Betty...sad they took it off the air.

20. Just watched Sense and Sensibility for the first time two nights ago...LOVED IT!

21. Love reading books with my husband...we just finished Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert.

22. I love to scrapbook and take pictures.

23. My husband and I love watching King of Queens episodes on dvd!

24. I wouldn't have changed one thing about our wedding day...it was a dream come true that I will remember forever!

25. I love spending time with my aunts and uncles...they're good people to talk to!

26. Bonus: Another wedding sneak peek!

Love this photo...another great one of the front of the mansion. This photo is us with my parents and two sisters (they were not bridesmaids)...will be posting bridesmaids dresses soon! Love how the sky looks...what a beautiful day!

(Pictures in a Snap)

The wonderful Sara @ Olive Weddings gave me an awesome award that was made by another wonderful blogger Jem for Dancy who started this fun random facts idea!! Thank you Sara...you are so sweet! ♥  

Follow the Leader!

I'm going to follow in Mrs. Chickadee's steps and play the question game! So here I go: Is there anything about me (D. Marie) that you would like to know?

My Obsessions:

I love checking out my favorite blogs and today I found this little self quiz over at a wonderful blog full of great things about family and life.

So here are My Crazy Eights:



8 TV shows I like to watch
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Heroes
3. Ugly Betty
4. Project Runway
5. Top Chef
6. Jon and Kate plus 8
7. What Not to Wear
8. Say YES to the Dress

8 places I like to eat
1. @ Home
2. Texas Road House
3. The Olive Garden
4. TGI Fridays
5. Outback Steakhouse
6. Bob Evans
7. WaWa (LOL!!)
8. PaPa Johns Pizza

8 things that happened yesterday
1. Slept until 8 AM...to go into work earlier than usual!
2. Spent some time @ home with my fiance and kids.
3. Played with the awesome doll house the girls made...yes they are so creative!
4. Ate some Thanksgiving leftovers!
5. Picked up my fiance and kids at the mall and did a little browsing with them!
6. Listened to Christmas music @ work!
7. Played Uno with family and the oldest daughter kicked our butts three times!
8. Read an email from my best friend and found out we will get to see her, her husband and their baby soon!

8 things I look forward to
1. Getting Married!!
2. Christmas...esp when the girls open their gifts!
3. Spending Christmas with the family!
4. Seeing my best friend's little girl grow up.
5. Relaxing at home with my honey!
6. Seeing new movies
7. Writing something new
8. Everyone getting along with each other...i.e. no more drama!

8 things on my wish list
1. To have a wonderful Wedding
2. Owning a house with my soon to be hubby.
3. Finding more time to write
4. Going to Italy some day
5. Seeing Wicked on Broadway
6. Getting away from the city
7. Getting in shape
8. Finding my perfect wedding dress