I'm so glad it's summer!

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Tomorrow will be the first day that I have absolutely nothing planned to do in I can't remember how long. I'm ready for a break to commune with God and to love on my family.

I really love what God has called me to, I love speaking, writing, traveling and all that goes with it but y'all, I'm a little tired.

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I'm excited for the next 2 months to hang out with Luke and talk about boy stuff. I'm excited to not have to rush my quiet time to finish a deadline. I'm excited to sit on the front porch with Dave and watch the cars go by. I'm excited to meet my friends for lunches and coffees.

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I'm even excited about writing posts on my blog.

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About 2 years ago the Lord led me to take the summer off. Completely off just to spend time with Him and my family. To study, to prepare for the upcoming speaking season, to refine my talks, make them better, work on me and hear what God wanted to say to me.

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Last year was my first summer to do that and it was so amazing. I went thru some hard lessons and God taught me some really cool stuff. I don't know what He's got planned for me this summer but I'm sure He's got something up His sleeve.

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What about you.

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Do you need a break? Do you need to set some boundaries for yourself? Maybe say NO to some good stuff so you can concentrate on the better stuff?

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I hope you'll be good to yourself and spend some time reflecting on what's going on in your crazy world, cause all our lives are pretty crazy, you know.

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Maybe you just need to get a sitter (swap time with a friend) once a week so you can have some "me time".

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Anyway, just reflecting tonight cause I'm really excited about the summer.

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And the best part is Luke comes home from basketball camp tomorrow where he's been for the last 5 days and I really miss him. What a way to start my break.

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Love you much and will see you next week!

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Shari

Swimsuit Shopping!

Hi girlfriends, I am re-posting this article about swimsuits from a post I did last year as a few of you requested it. I have 2 more weeks to finish my manuscript for Zondervan so as soon as it's done, I'll be back to posting on a regular basis. You'll be excited to know that my new book (Summer 2010 release) will have a full chapter with PICTURES on bathing suits! It was a fun chapter to write and I even learned more! Hope this post from last year will get you thru your dreaded swimsuit shopping for this year!

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Swimsuits are not like any other suits....you shouldn't wear them to the office, to the grocery store (although I've seen plenty of them there), or to a cocktail party.

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You don't wear them to church or to the movies. So why call them "suits"? That just doesn't seem fitting, does it? But, suits they are, so here we go.

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When buying a swimsuit, you must understand your body. Where do you gain your weight? Are you small chested, big chested or somewhere in the middle? Flat tummy, large hips, long legs? Once you know and accept your body for the way it is made, then you can move on to finding the right style for you.

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There are great suits out there that actually have a tummy shaper in them...they're great! Anything that will suck in my extra fluff, I'm all about it! If you have any fluff on you at all, a 2 piece isn't for you, not even the tankini's, unless they cover your belly completely...otherwise you'll just have a little fluff peak thru...not good.

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A solid color will give you a longer, leaner line. Make sure you buy a suit in a shade that looks good on you. Don't just settle for black cause it's easy. Be careful of prints on a suit as these can draw attention to areas you don't want to draw attention to. An all over print is nice, though.

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If you have fuller thighs, then you don't want a skirted suit, but one that has a higher cut leg. Fuller busts, make sure you have support in the bra area. When buying a swimsuit, make sure you are comfortable in it. Buy up a size if you need to, then just cut the tag out and forget what size it is! Sit, jump up and down, make sure it's still comfy. Also, make sure when you lift your arms, there is no extra fluff spilling over the top.

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Make sure you have a 3 way mirror where you try on your suit and look at yourself from all angles. Your suit should have a smooth fit all over. Long legs, don't go very high cut, otherwise you'll look out of proportion. Short legs, get a high cut leg. Narrow shoulders, don't wear a halter top, go for straps that sit wider on your shoulders.

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Beautiful Blessings!

Shari

Writing, Writing, Writing....need some more help!

Hi all! I am in the middle of finishing my manuscript for my 2010 release so forgive me for not blogging lately. It's travel on the weekends, writing in the airports, and writing at home in between life stuff, like laundry, carpool, basketball games and hubby and son time!

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Could use some help again, if you don't mind!

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I'm finishing up my swimsuit chapter now...(you're gonna love it!) and then getting to work on the hair and makeup chapter. Here's where you come in.

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I am splattering testimonials throughout the book from women who I've helped in the past, either in person or on-line thru e-mail, blogging, etc.

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What I'm looking for is one or two liners...or three, and then your first name.

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I've pulled some things from past blog comments for the other chapters and even got a few from last year's swim post. So some of you are already mentioned in there!

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If anyone has anything to say about swimsuits, i.e. finding the right one after last year's post, or finding the right style for you, suits, coverups, etc. or if I told you to get your hair cut or colored a different way...would love those comments now...you can either post here or e-mail me at shari-p31@earthlink.net

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I'll be asking for more stuff for the coming chapters so please ask anyone you know to contribute stuff...would love to add your comments...sooo appreciated!

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Love you, Shari

I Need Your Help!

I need your help!

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One of the chapters in my upcoming book will be "What You Really Want to Know". Everything from "What's the best eyeshadow for me" to "What is the best thing for my wrinkles (or breakouts, etc.)

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Here's where you can help!

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What do you want to know? What questions do you want me to answer in this book for you?

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If you will do me this wonderful favor and start submitting your fashion and beauty questions (knowing they won't be answered now!) I will love you forever!

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Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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I pray you are having a wonderful spring season and that you are stepping out in obedience to wherever God is calling you. I want to say a special hello to those women who went to Hearts at Home in Illinois...it was such a privilege being with you.

Faith Baptist, Loris Presbyterian, and Christian Celebration Center, I love you! We had so much fun, didn't we?

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Praising Jesus for all of you!

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Beautiful Blessings...please post your questions in the comments or feel free to e-mail them to me at shari-p31@earthlink.net

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Love, Shari

The Empty Chair

The one thing in my life I couldn’t live without is my team of prayer warriors. If you don’t have a group of friends, even one or two, who pray for you, then this post is for you.
If you do, then you’ll appreciate them even more after reading this.
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Many of you know that for quite some time, I have been trying to have a book published. My current workbook, If Clothes Could Talk, was born out of the need for such a resource to be sold at my speaking engagements since I can’t go home with each person and invade their closets nor can I go shopping with each of them! We self-published because of the requests from my audiences and the Christian publishers didn’t quite understand that need.
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Let me give you some info here. I have several specific groups of women who pray for me and I for them. The first group is my weekly Moms In Touch group at my son’s school. We have been meeting every Wednesday for 2 hours for the past 2 years. They are Patti, Dawn, Dana, Sharon, Tanya, Anne and Susan.
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And then there is the “around the world team” These girls are: Bev from Iowa, Maria from Hawaii, Kim from Ohio, Lucy from China Grove, Mary from Michigan, Heather from Charlotte, and Gabie and Cindy from Miami.
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I then have a few other friends who pray for me and I for them that include Nicki, Yvette, Victoria, Darya, Lisa and some P31 prayer sisters.
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For almost 2 years, most of these women have been praying that my book would get published by a real live publisher. We have been praying that if God trusted me with it, I would do whatever I could to draw women to Him and help them see themselves in a more positive way.
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About 2 weeks ago, I was sitting with my husband having coffee before running out the door to my weekly prayer group at school. Just before I left Dave reminded me to send an e-mail to someone. I told him I’d do it later (cause I didn’t want to be late) and he reminded me “there’s no time like the present.”
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I quickly turned my lap top on,(I was very hurried) and a new e-mail came in.
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It was from Zondervan telling me they were having a meeting that morning at 10am and I should pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be in the room because they were going to decide on my book that day.
I quickly forwarded that e-mail to my “around the world team”, headed out the door, cried on the way there because I was so emotional and went into prayer group and told them.
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Exactly at 10am, the girls laid hands on me and prayed. They specifically prayed at 10am, the time of the meeting.
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When I got home, I read the prayers that came in from my “around the world team” and one of them, Bev, prayed that there would be an empty chair in the room and that would be the Jesus sitting in it, leading the conversation of the meeting.
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At 1:30pm, I received a call from Sandy at Zondervan.
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They were going to publish my book.
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You see, every other publisher that my agent had ever presented to has turned it down. And now, the biggest of them all, had said YES.
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This past weekend as I was speaking in Michigan, Sandy from Zondervan came to meet me and watch the Friday and Saturday events.
Afterwards at dinner she told me that the meeting went so well, it was as if the Holy Spirit was right there in that room. She said they started brainstorming and the ideas just kept flowing. They even came up with a new title for the book. And then I asked what I’d been wanting to ask her:
“By any chance, was there an empty chair at that table?”
She said, “Yes, as a matter of fact there was, we sat around a table with 4 chairs, and there were only 3 of us.”
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What they didn’t see, was Jesus sitting in the other chair!
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Oh girls, the power of prayer…believe that God will perform a miracle for you!
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When I was getting turned down for the last 2 years by all the other publishers, God just had bigger plans for it.
And so,

Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad

will be released Fall 2010 coming to a bookstore near you!
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Never ever underestimate the power of praying friends. Find some today and commit to praying for each other. Watch your life change and see miracles happen. Do you need a miracle in your marriage, for your child, for a job for your health? I promise, you’ll see one, but you must pray without ceasing.
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Love you all and thank YOU for praying for me, cause I know many of you do.
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Shari

Spring Trends

Special Note: A portion of this post has material from a post I wrote for the RadRevolution website for teen girls in January.

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Spring is in the air!

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I don't know about you, but there's something about spring that makes me want to shop. In fact, I've been doing some "pre-shopping" just this week! Pre-shopping, you ask? That's when I find a few websites and find things I like and add them to the shopping bag as if I was actually going to buy them! Just today, when I was on my computer NOT pre-shopping (!) my husband asked me what I was shopping for...he just assumed I was at the web mall!

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Since I've been getting prepared for you, looking for the new trends and doing research on color, I thought I'd share a few things with you that you might want to look for!

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Hues like super lemon, dusty rose and vibrant green will have you looking like a fashionista who’s in the know! Other shades in plain view this spring are slate gray, fuschia red, palace blue, and lavender.But what if you’re a girl who wants to wear prints? Are they going to be popular this season? And if so, what kind should you opt for?

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Get ready for a season of bold, beautiful patterns of gorgeous florals to give your wardrobe a lift. Wear these bouquets in fabrics of soft chiffons, lightweight crepes and silky, luscious poly blends. Pair delicious floral blouses with flowing wide leg jeans, add a pair of metallic roman sandals and, girl, you will look super cute!

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Flowers not your thing? Then ride the safari bandwagon cause the animal prints have it! Giraffe prints, snake prints and leopard prints are the talk of the town! For example, feel free to wear a giraffe printed slim skirt with a lacy t-shirt top (make sure to wear a cami under it for modesty purposes!) and slip on a pair of wedge sandals to make an entrance! Or if a skirt or dress isn’t your thing, yet you want to add a little bit of safari sophistication, then find a belt or scarf with an animal print and voila, you’ve just added a dash of flash!
Sound like a fun season? I can’t wait to go out and add a little splash to my own wardrobe!

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A few other items to look for this season are soft pants and shorts. These come in natural hues and many roll up at the bottom. They sit low on your waist and are amazingly comfortable. You'll probably reach for these instead of your favorite jeans.

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Dresses are all the rage! Jessica Simpson's new collection is very chic. You'll also find great dresses at The Gap, Target and department stores like Dillards, Belk and Macy's.

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No wardrobe would be complete without a dash of color from a new pair of tennis shoes...be it the new Keds Green Collection or a pair of brightly colored Chuck Taylors!

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Well there you have it! A leg up on Spring! Start cleaning out your closet and get ready to go shopping! Even if it is some "pre" shopping! It's fun, you should try it!

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Fashionable Blessings!

Shari

Proud to be 16

So what came to mind when you read the title?

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Well I am not 16 years old, I don't have a 16 year old in my house (although he might think he is) and I don't want a 16 year old in my house for another 2 years.

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So, yea, it's about my size. Yes indeed, Size 16.

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I couldn't sleep last night as my husband has come down with this nasty respitory flu bug that ended him up in the ER on Sunday and since it also was his 55th birthday I got to thinking of the condition he is in.

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And then I got to thinking about mine.

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You see, I am quite alright to be a size 16. Seriously. I'm really not kidding you.

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In fact, I think maybe I've even come to be proud of it.

What, you ask?

Yes, proud of it. Cause really, I don't think I look like it (I might to others, but I've completely convinced myself I'm thin!) And I figure if I think I look alright, then who cares what anyone else thinks!

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But then I got to thinking. I stand in front of hundreds of women every single weekend and tell them my height (5'11") and my size.

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I do that so women will honestly know that it's not about the size of your clothes, that we are not a reflection of the number on that tag. That God gave us the exact bodies He wants us to have, the exact frame size and everything else that goes along with that. We are made in His image and we are all so incredibly beautiful! I really believe that

(and I hope you do, too!)

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But then, there he was, sick as a sickly dog, and the doctors are telling him he must lose weight and begin exercising. Yes, he had a flu bug, but it was affecting his liver and his body so severely that something had to change.

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I have (and I think my husband has as well) convinced myself that exercise is completely over-rated. I really don't like to do it. I'd really rather be shopping, or talking on the phone, or watching (not playing) a basketball game.

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But as I watched my husband in the ER I realized that we better get serious about our health...and that means we better start eating better...and exercising.

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Because we ain't young chickens anymore. But, you see, we think we are!

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But mostly, I think we, as Christian women, have a responsibility to our Lord.

He wants us to accept our bodies, the way we look, and be grateful and know we are gorgeous. BUT, He also wants us to take care of those bodies.

The size 16's the 6's, and the 26's.

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I have to tell you and fess up that I've gotten so good at saying, "I'm 5'11" and size 16 that maybe some pride has crept in.

And in the meantime, my 16 firmness has turned to 16 fluffiness!

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I probably won't EVER be a size 12, God didn't make me that way, but maybe, just maybe, I'd be healthier as a size 14. If eating better and walking a few days a week brings that, then I'm okay with it, and I'll just have to say that from the stage.

But, ya know, I'm okay with that!

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Heartfelt question for you: What size do you wear, are you okay with it and do you think if you ate a little healthier and walked a few times a week would you be the same size? Cause you might stay the same, but then again, you might not.

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Do share!

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Fashion Tip of the Week:

Bright colors are in for Spring! Go out and buy a new eye pencil in turquoise, emerald or bronze and brighten up your pretty eyes! It'll bring some new life to them.

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Beautiful Blessings,

Shari (Still a Size 16)