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Friday, October 10, 2014

Dove and Dollar General are celebrating Real Beauty #DGFeelBeautifulFor




I have a question or actually 2 questions for you. Who do You feel beautiful for? Who inspires you to embrace your unique beauty? Dove with help of Dollar General asked me to share my answers for those two questions. At first, I was thinking “I have no idea, I don’t feel beautiful, how am I going to answer this and actually share this with the world”. After I thought about it for awhile I came up with a simple answer. My answer is me. I feel beautiful for me and my life has inspired that, and here is why.....




Ok, I know that sounds so superficial and cocky, but let me explain. I have been through a lot in my life so let me take you back in time. I’m only 30 years old and have had almost 2 dozen surgeries (various issues including a hip replacement this past June 2014), most since I was a teenager. In addition to having a ton of surgeries I was also very obese. I became obese as a child and it only got worse and worse as I got older. In 2010 I decided to make a change in my life. I decided to look into WLS (weight loss surgery). I was heading down a slippery slope and my health would get worse if I kept gaining more and more weight. I would have developed diabetes, high blood pressure, you name it and it could have happened.

I had surgery on 9/1/2010 and in May of 2011 I made it to my goal and lost 130 pounds. In the process of losing all of the weight I was also gaining more and more confidence in myself. A month after making it to my goal my husband and myself took a vacation to Bend, Oregon for a friend's wedding. During that trip I did something that I was one very afraid of doing (heights), and 2 couldn’t have done with the extra 130 pounds on my body and my bad joints. I climbed Smith Rock which is over 3000 feet in elevation. You will see from the pictures why I was so afraid. When we were driving up to it my first response was “oh hell no, no way i’m climbing that thing”. Just so you know they have a path so you can hike up it or if you really want you can really climb it, but yea, umm that would never happen. I started at the bottom of this monster Rock and never thought I would make it to the top. I made it, and as I stood at the top I felt strong, and I felt beautiful. I did this, I hiked up something I never dreamed of being able to do. In that moment nothing made me feel more beautiful than what I had just achieved.


I could have climbed that rock so that my husband would be happy that I did it with him, but I wouldn't have felt the same. I had to do it for myself. It’s the same with my weight loss surgery, I could have done it to look better, be skinny but I wouldn’t be able to maintain the weight then. I had to do that surgery for myself in order to be successful.

So in essence like I said above, I feel that I inspire myself and I am beautiful just for me.  

 
Dove is hosting a Twitter party and would love for you to join. They are embracing beauty. Join them Monday October 13 at 8pm ET for a chance to win 1 of 5 $100 Dollar General gift cards with @ResourcefulMom using the hashtag #DGFeelBeautifulFor. Make sure to RSVP HERE

In addition Dollar General is offering a great deal now through 10/19, save $2 instantly when you spend $7 on any Dove or Vaseline products in-store.

This post was sponsored by Global Influence and financial compensation was received for this post. The sponsor and any compensation received for this post in no way affected my opinion or any statements presented in this post. Top Notch Material blog always provides honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products and services reviewed. If you have any questions or would like your product, service or company featured on Top Notch Material, please contact katrina  from Top Notch Material at katrina dot gehman {at} gmail [dot] com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

24 comments:

  1. I feel beautiful for myself and my husband. I'm inspired to look good because i've let myself go for way too many years.

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  2. Just another reason why I love Dove! And you look amazing by the way!

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  3. Lovin' that dress in the 2014 picture!

    You have accomplished so much...and that is a truly beautiful thing. You are also far more adventurous than me because I don't know if I could have conquered my fear of heights like you did. Sometimes, I physically feel like passing out when I get around heights. I thought I was going to fall backwards and die on this really tall outdoor escalator once...maybe I was having a panic attack...but it was REALLY high and going so slow. Anyways...you also have a beautiful smile! What an inspirational post to share!

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  4. I definitely understand I have been fighting for my life for awhile now and spent most of 2012 in the hospital, it's important to find ways to feel beautiful for yourself. Ultimately not all friends, lovers, partners are forever, but your relationship with yourself is a constant! :)

    Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly

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  5. I love that Dove is doing this campaign. All women, no matter their size or what they look like should surly be celebrated!

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  6. I feel beautiful for my boys and the world, in general. Congratulations on your success! That's amazing.

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  7. WOW!! You look amazing!! I myself have recently started my own weight loss journey :) Looking to lose 40 by next summer. Im down 15 so far :) ANyway, I know Dove does al lot of female geared advertising, but to be honest, I had never used Dove until I met my husband. He will ONLY use Dove soap. When I was pregnant 3 years ago, I got bad acne. I tried everything, even proactive, and taking pres. medicine. He suggested I stop using everything on only wash my face with the DOve, and it worked!! No more acne!

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  8. I buy dove products all the time so I really appreciate the coupon.

    You look absolutely amazing and congratulations for turning your life around regarding your health. What a positive outlook and I love that. You are beautiful.

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  9. Can I just say HOLY COW.. What a great job you've done with your weight loss success.. you are truly an inspiration to others. SN. Love Dove also.. Really love how the soap fragrances my bathroom as it just sits out.

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  10. Wow - you look great. What a change. We do love Dove products. We stock up on them.

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  11. Dove is so real with their campaigns and I just love it. You look amazing. You were beautiful in the 2010 picture, and you're beautiful in the current picture, but you do look like a completely different person! Congrats on the weight loss, I know you're right about all of the amazing health benefits you have gained.

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  12. This post is so beautiful. I am overweight myself and it is struggle everyday, but I am committed to working at it and becoming the best me possible. Thank you for sharing your story. You look amazing!

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  13. I feel beautiful for myself and for my kids. You are beautiful! You were beautiful in the past, and you're beautiful now!

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  14. I really like the Dove campaigns that encourage women to find beauty in all forms, sizes and appearances. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. You look fantastic! Love all campaigns Dove does! They really care and it shows. Such great products! We love
    dove!

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  16. What an amazing and inspirational story!! I LOVE that Dove features real women instead of painted celebrities! It brings "real life" image back!

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  17. You're crazy inspirational! You are so right, you have to do it for YOURSELF! :)

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  18. You look so good! I have always used Dove. Something my mom passed on to me.

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  19. My daughter and I are both huge fans of Dove and all of their recent campaigns that support a healthy body image of yourself! Everyone should get to feel beautiful no matter what size, color, or anything else for that matter!

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  20. Congrats on the amazing weight loss. You look fabulous. You are a true beauty.

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  21. I feel beautiful just because. Congratulations on the successful weight loss surgery and for making good decisions. Dove makes so many wonderful products and I'm delighted they are providing a great way for consumers to find out how good they are.

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  22. That is awesome that Dove is partnering with Dollar General. Two favorites. I love what Dove stands for and I wish more companies would jump on board. Congrats on your weight loss!

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  23. You have accomplished so much. Congrats on losing that much weight that is amazing! Great post and inspiration...

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  24. I missed the party. You look great! I am so impressed with all of your hard work. It really is a life change. Thanks for sharing.

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