Your Hair!

Here's a question for ya: When was the last time you got a compliment on your hair? I mean a real "Wow, I love your hair" kind of compliment? Now let me ask you this, was it from someone who didn't know you?

The reason I ask is because we get lazy. We get older. We get tired. And when at least two of these occur we might just look in the mirror one day and scream. Because older, lazy, or tired are never a good combination whether in two or three! And sometimes we've stumbled upon all three and didn't even realize it.

So, let me ask you again: When was the last time you got a compliment on your hair....from someone other than your husband, children or other close family member? I throw in the family members cause sometimes they just want you to always stay the same-looking. I had a woman ask me the other day if she should cut her hair....she was close to 50 and had long hair. She certainly would have looked better with shorter hair, more angles, layers, something near her shoulders and not below. What she said next shouldn't have surprised me (because I know better) but it still did. She said the reason she hadn't cut her hair is because her daughter liked it long. Her daughter is ten. Yes, I said ten...as in 10 years old. Probably not a fashion expert. And you know what? This woman is. Interesting isn't it? Here is a woman who is in the fashion industry and she wasn't cutting her hair (making her look older) because her TEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DIDN'T WANT HER TO.

You might be reading this thinking that YOU would never do that. Or would you? So here's what I want you to do.
After showering, dressing and getting ready for the day, make sure your hair is ready, too.
That probably means not putting it in a pony tail :) I want you to really notice how other women's hair looks today. Which styles do you like? Who are you complimenting? (don't forget to do this) And who is complimenting you? Yes, I said WHO is complimenting you? And what does HER hair look like? I want you to keep up this exercise for one full week. Really, really, notice what others are saying (or NOT saying) to you about your hair. And report back.
Let's get honest with ourselves on one of our most important aspects of our physical beauty. And listen up here, if you don't have your own hair, but are wearing a wig because of cancer, chemo, some other challenge, or you just like wigs, don't think you are not in on this one....you are. Maybe you have the wrong one....and maybe not! So let's get to it. Here's what you need to keep track of:

1. Who complimented you?

2. What did her hair look like?

Are you ready to get honest with yourself? Here we go...now go to it! I can't wait to hear. I'll blog on tips for hair, color, styles for the next few posts so you can all get on track and be summer-hair ready! Beautiful Blessings, Shari

Need Your HELP!

Special note to reader Amy: Oh Amy dear, Amy dear......are you really rolling your kakhi's up 2 folds? It's time for a new pair okay? I love your take on the fact your pants are shrinking...those darn dryers! But, really, don't fold them up anymore as it just looks like, well, rolled up pants. If you want to wear these same pair into the summer, then take them to an alterations person and have them shortened and then find a new longer pair when it comes to fall. Make sure your slacks are shortened to the "diamonds" in your legs....you'll read about that in the book.

Speaking of the new book, "If Clothes Could Talk" I am looking for a few (or more!) reviews to add to my website. If ANY of you have read the book yet (yes, I realize it's only been out 2 weeks but maybe you're a fast reader!) would you mind commenting on it? It's hard for me to say whether or not you find it beneficial unless you tell me and then I know what to tell others! Sooooo, here's your chance! Please sign your name to the comment as you'd like it to appear on my website. Thank you, thank you!

And now I need your help on something else!!!!!!! Actually, I need your daughter's help. I am going to be writing a book for teenage girls about style, fashion, beauty, makeup, and modesty. BUT, here's the question for your girls (age 11 to 17):

What exactly would they like to see in a book on this subject being geared to Christian girls? What do they want it to tell them?

And Moms: Would you like a resource to help you understand your girls and fashion? What would it look like? What would you want to know? Should this book be a mother/daughter book? A resource you could read together? What would that look like?

Okay, I think that's it! I honestly respect your opinions so much.....please get your girls on this...I can't wait to hear what you all have to say! Beautiful Blessings, Shari

Hi all! The winner of my e-book is AmyD...so congrats to her! The reason I picked her is because of her comment, "My mother never taught me anything much about fashion"....and on the first page of my book I actually say the reason I wrote the book is that the thing I hear most is that very thing! So Amy, congratulations! If you've already ordered the book, I can send you another for you to use as a gift for someone OR I can credit your card....just let me know if that is the case! Just e-mail me at shari-p31@earthlink.net and give me your address and the details.

Today I want to answer 2 questions I recently got from you. First of all, I was asked how big is too big for sunglasses? Really, there is no rule except they shouldn't be so big you look silly! I saw a picture recently of Victoria Beckham (aka Spice Girls) and her glasses were so big they took up MORE than half her face.....now that looked silly. Sunglasses should be at or above your eyebrows but just slightly. They also should be flesh to the sides of your face....if they are narrower than your face, no good, if too wide, then too big. If you follow just those 2 simple rules you will have lots of room to do well! Hey, I'm proud of all you tortoise-wearing-sunglasses-gals! You go girls!

The next question was "can I wear silver accessories with my gold wedding rings" or vice versa?
The answer is Yes, you can. I'm not gonna tell you to go ask your husband for new rings! I don't want any bad e-mails! But, honestly, no one's gonna notice that. However, IF you really want to go the whole silver route, then did you know you can actually get your real gold ones dipped? Oh yes you can! And the other way around, too!

I hope that answers a few of your questions and you are getting excited about summer coming up! I cannot believe my son has less than 4 weeks of school left...yikes!

I am off to Huntsville, Alabama tomorrow (thursday) to speak at Southwood Presbyterian Church....Modest is Hottest Fashion Show on Friday night and women's event on Saturday! I hope I see some of you there!!!!! How fun would that be?!

Beautiful Blessings! Shari

How about a compliment?

Oh how I do love me a compliment, don't you?! But women today just seem to not get or give enough of them...when was the last time you had one? When was the last time you gave one?

My mom was so good at giving compliments and I think I'm pretty good at giving them too....but I really make a point of doing so. If I see someone with nice skin, I tell her. If my sister's hair looks good, I tell her. I even try to find something nice to tell the drive thru ladies at McDonald's (where I drive thru way too much!) But it's so good to get one, isn't it? So I gotta tell you about one I got last week!

I was speaking at Northside Christian School on modesty. Well this guy was there speaking to the students too, who used to be on MTV's Real World and has a great testimony. Out of the blue, I mean, the clear, clear blue sky, he said as he was looking at the fabric on my sleeve of this crinkly patterned blouse I have, "you know, you are modestly hot!" And then, after realizing what he said, blushed and laughed and all those around us, cracked up! Because, how cool is it, to be "modestly hot"? I think he just thought the fabric of my blouse was really neat, and it is, but the words came out of his mouth so fast, we all just laughed! He was totally embarrassed because he meant it so innocently but just saying it stunned him...and me! So girls, are you "modestly hot" today? What was the last compliment you got? I'd love to hear it....but even if you don't want to tell me, I challenge you today to go out and give one to someone who needs to hear it. Compliment them on their smile, their hair, their outfit. Tell them how nice they are to be around. Tell your husband how cute he is! Tell your kids they did a good job. But go give a complete stranger an honest compliment....and make her day! And don't forget to dress "modestly hot" and feel good about who you are! Beautiful Blessings, Shari

Hello all! It's Sunday afternoon and I'm home with my family enjoying this beautiful Carolina afternoon. After church we had lunch out and oh my goodness I had the best taco salad EVER! If you've never eaten at Tiajuana Flats, try it...it's yummy!

I have had a heck of a last 2 weeks. Besides being on 6 different airplanes, I've stayed in 3 host homes, spoken at 7 different speaking events and met some amazing, amazing people! My family knows that April and May are extremely busy for me and they are so very supportive, but oh how I miss them when I'm gone! It is fun to be back for a few days, catch up on laundry (because my son can't seem to wear the same pair of shorts more than once, which he just walked up, read this and said, "that's a good thing, Mom"....and so, with more laundry, I figured I better get caught up on my blog before I read my gazillion e-mails! I'm so glad you're here!

I know I typically blog about fashion, but I must tell you about last week.

Monmouth, Illinois was such a treat! I was at Maple City Baptist Church and I have to tell you that I was most impressed with their women's leadership team in charge of this event AND their pastor. Pastor Mike prayed the most amazing prayer before the first of our two events for the weekend and it is the first prayer that has brought me to tears. Real tears. This guy is amazing and with his heart for God and the people of that church and their city, he is gonna knock down barriers that most people are so afraid of. Most events I speak at I never even get to meet the pastor and he was there the entire time....and he had just returned from 2 mission trips! He was tired, exhausted, and probably spiritually spent, but you would have never known it. Jen and Carla (aka Cheryl!) led their team of women in such a beautiful way. My events are often used as outreach events due to the theme being around fashion and modesty, but the people of Maple City Baptist took it to a whole new level. Every one who attended the event who was from their home church was there in event t-shirts (cause they were on the volunteer team) and EVERYONE else was there because of their amazing outreach efforts. Women drove from 3 hours away to the event....they did radio interviews, window displays in their town, letters out to neighboring schools and towns and the hearts of these women and men blew my mind. I was actually sad to leave them. Hi Maple City Baptist! Funny, funny thing, too....the night of the fashion show rehearsal we had to go to the basement due to a tornado warning! The next morning I woke up at my beautiful host home, Jan's house to the sound of cows mooing outside my window and then dressed in my clothes for the event only to find it snowing outside and of course I brought no coat or socks!

Next I went to St. Pete/Tampa, Florida. I got to visit with my dear, dear friend Mary Brandes who has become more like family to me. She was my host home (I didn't even ask her, I just let her know I was coming!) and I did 2 speaking engagments at Northside Christian School in St. Pete. The highlight (well, actually there were 2!) was that I taped a new documentary/ video broadcast for my teen events on modesty and purity. I asked the middle and high school girls to write on an index card one question they have always wanted to ask a guy....and not sign their name to it. Then I got the MS and HS boys together seperately and asked them the questions in a group format. At the end of the day, I pulled together 5 senior boys into Mary's office and interviewed them. These guys were the star athletes, very very handsome, and true believers. Their answers were mind blowing. I believe this new video/documentary will change girls in a VERY powerful way. It is being edited now and will be ready for use by Fall. I cannot tell you how amazing it was. Wow!

The second highlight was speaking at WTBN Tampa Bay's Christian Radio Station's Pastors Wives Appreciation Tea! It was so fun to encourage women who are always in the spotlight and to give them some new ideas on how to dress with confidence. We laughed and laughed so hard I thought they were going to kick us out of the St. Pete Yacht Club! Can you imagine asking Pastor's Wives to "keep it down!" ? They really didn't but we thought they might...we were sooooo loud! I think the bra part was about the funniest ever!

And then home for 36 hours before heading to Apex Baptist Church near Raleigh, NC. They truly had the best decorated Modest is Hottest Stage I've ever seen....wow!!!!!! It was awesome! Their tech guy Adam was a genius and so on top of things. Dawn Ward (who's coming to She Speaks!) took over training the models on thursday night for rehearsal so I could get an extra day at home with my family (BLESS you, Dawn!) and did a superb job! The models were amazing and had the sweetest hearts. Their women's event on Saturday was set up at round tables and lunch was served in the same room. I believe lives were changed that day. And some came to know Christ in a whole new way.....how exciting to be doing this for God.....I'm humbled.

All in all, I am a very blessed woman. I love that God has invited me to use my passions to talk about what He has done in my life and that women get to walk out with a new confidence and renewed relationship with Jesus.

On a slightly different note, my new Style Guide called "If Clothes Could Talk"....is a Christian Woman's handbook to revealing your inner beauty on the outside....is READY!!! I actually took the first printing with me to Florida and Apex. Women were so excited to be able to take home a resource to learn from. It is 88 pages long and includes a multitude of information! We are ready to go to a second printing (we had 200 printed to begin with!) because so many women purchased a copy this past week....one week!!!!!!! Thank you to all of you for your amazing support! The Style Guide is available for $15 or as an e-book form for $12 at this link.

I know this was long...thank you for reading it. I will announce the winner of the E-book tomorrow (from the comments last week) after I read them...I may have a friend pick the winner! Thank you for being faithful readers! Love you! Shari

Accessories

Note: For those who want to read today's devo that I wrote for Proverbs 31, click here.

Hi all! I'm reporting on fashion accessories for Spring today! This is the time for color! Big, bold, beautiful color! No matter your budget, you can always find accessories that can spruce up an outfit even if that outfit is from last year. Trendy accessories will make your clothes look new, even if they're not.

You must find yourself a pair of big sunglasses! Buy these in a neutral color that flatters your natural coloring. If you are a blonde, light brunette or redhead, then tortoise is a great pick for you. If you are a dark brunette or have black, gray or silver hair, then pewter or black is a good choice.




Go get yourself a BIG ring, like this one! It is a fun accessory that brings life to your hands! Make sure it's in a brilliant stone and is big, very big!

I think every wardrobe needs a pair of medium size hoops. Whether you prefer gold or silver, have a pair you can put on because they go with most any other jewelry you might be wearing. Stone necklaces are big for spring, so if you don't have coordinating earrings, gold or silver hoops always look great with it. Keep your eye out for a colorful watch. Put your expensive watches away for spring and summer and go with hues that brighten up any white, beige or black you may put on.

Finally, get some leopard! Even if it's in a bracelet, it will add sparkle and fun to any wardrobe! And if you're just not a leopard-wearing kind of girl, then go find some wide, bold bracelets to give your wardrobe a lift. I promise, wearing fun accessories like this just make you feel better!

Oh and by the way, remember the trouble with the e-book I was having, well.........my new "Style Guide" is almost ready! In fact, I am promised it will be ready to take to my events in St. Petersburg and Apex, NC next week! I am so very excited! If you have already signed up to receive a notice for when it is ready, then you will be informed....if not, go here and sign up. This Style Guide will be available in a hardcopy (workbook format) and e-book format.

And if you found your way here because of today's Proverbs 31 devotional, welcome! I hope you'll leave a comment and let me know you've visited. Let's do this....if you leave a comment, I'll do a drawing and pick 2 winners to send the e-book to next week! Past blog winners, you'll be getting the new copy as well (or hard copy if you'd prefer). So for now, Beautiful blessings to you all, Shari

Hello Life!

Oh my goodness, I finally feel better! My illness lasted 9 days and just yesterday I was able to get up and get out! Thank you for all of your prayers and for understanding my week of bloglessness! Is that a word?? Ha!

If you've found your way to my blog from listening to the interview on WTBN in Tampa/St.Pete, Florida, I want to say "welcome"! I will be traveling to the St.Petersburg area next Sunday to speak at several events during the week. I'll be at Northside Christian School on Monday and Tuesday, April, 14th and 15th speaking to the middle and high schoolers on fashion and modesty. I'm also going to be interviewing the boys for my new documentary on how they feel about the way girls dress in today's society and how that affects them.

On Wednesday, April 16th, I'll be speaking at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club at WTBN's Pastor's Wives Appreciation Tea. I can't wait to be with them and share God's perspective on outer beauty! By the way, if you are from St. Pete and you are not a pastor's wife, I will be back during the weekend of May 9th and 10th, which is Mother's Day weekend to speak at 3 different churches! Friday, May 9th, I'll be at Liberty Baptist, Saturday, May 10th I'll be at Northside Baptist during the day and then at First Baptist of Pinellas Park for an afternoon/evening event. Please check out my schedule on my website to get ticket info for each event. Would love to see you there!

Thank you again for all of your sweet prayers and e-mails to me during this week. I haven't been that sick in a very long time, but I am pretty rested up! I will be leaving town this thursday, April 10th to speak in Illinois. I know those gals have been planning for this event for quite awhile and I can't wait to be with them. We will begin Friday night with a Modest is Hottest Fashion show for the girls and moms and then Saturday will be a day long conference for all the women of the church and community. God-willing, lives will be touched, including mine, by all the new girls and women I'll get to meet and minister to! Beautiful Blessings, Shari