Leave Lindsay and Amanda Alone!

by | Leave a comment

112666-original

Few seconds seem to pass these days without a tweet or comment about Amanda Bynes or Lindsay Lohan. With both being child stars, living in Hollywood, and constantly under the fire for how irresponsible they’ve become over the last few years, it’s no shocker why they’re constant targets in the press. Of course they’re not the only ones, but these are two women who I find myself thinking about and praying for often. I fell in love with their TV shows and films, and like so many others, it came as a shocker when the negative press began stirring up around them. Even though I haven’t met either women in person, I have to say, that my heart really does break for them. And even more than that, my heart breaks for those who don’t have any sensitivity for their struggles.

I’m not here to defend their actions nor am I screaming at a camera with emotion stricken eyes like Chris Crocker, of the infamous 2007 “Leave Britney [Spears] Alone!” viral video, but I am saying, that we have to be so careful with how we react to things that other people are struggling with, celebrities or not.

It truly breaks my heart when I read a nasty, supposedly funny comment about a celebrity’s struggles with addiction or other real-life issues. Just like we wouldn’t make those kind of comments about a loved one or a close friend, we shouldn’t do that about people we don’t know either.

Yeah, sure, they make millions of dollars and should be able to “take a punch” or “man up,” but let’s be real: no amount of money, fame, or prestige is above struggle. As a result, no one’s personal struggle should be above grace, forgiveness, and the ability to hold our tongues and not make fun of them. Addictions are not funny. DUIs shouldn’t be joked about. At all. They are real, serious issues that people lose their lives over every single year.

So let’s think twice before we tweet that “Lindsay’s at it again” or “Amanda Bynes is such a waste of human existence.” These are people with real feelings and emotions, and even if it’s *just* a tweet or a *funny* Instagram meme…it’s not a joke. It’s not funny. Let us learn to love and encourage much more than we condemn.

 

Also posted at The Novelate Show

#QUITEbeautiful Launch

by | Leave a comment

#QUITEbeautiful


Quite Magazine is launching a new campaign to showcase our idea of beautiful. Just as in the 2009 “Sans Fards” edition of French Elle Magazine, we want you to be inspired by and relate to REAL women sharing their REAL faces. By you, the readers, posting an all natural photo on social medias using the hashtag #QUITEbeautiful, we hope to spread this positive message around the world! Every photo using our hashtag has the possibility of making it in our print magazine (with your permission, of course)! We encourage you to be part of this special journey and spread the message from 1 Peter 4:3:

“Rather, [beauty] should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

When the Pressure Starts to Build

by | Leave a comment

705px-Soapbubbles-SteveEF[1] In life, there are just some times when the pressure builds. 

When things are not easy. When struggles come, whether they be a long-term battle beginning or just little daily aggravations. When someone or something pushes in on your personal bubble of peace and tranquility, the pressure begins to build.

There are one only two options.

  • To let it build and build and then finally when you are stretched so tight that you can’t take it any more, you explode! 
  • Or, you can poke a hole in the bubble and let the pressure slowly leak out.

We can poke a hole in our bubble by taking a moment to step back and think about the situation at hand. Try to figure out what it is that is making you stress. Is it your young kids? Is it stress from school? Is it work? Is it health concerns? Then think about your attitude. Are you reacting to the situation negatively because of selfishness, fear, worry or defensiveness? If the answer is yes, then try to think of a behavior that would be better.

Replace your selfishness with care and concern for the person that is frustrating you. Try to see life from their point of view or if maybe something happened to them and it has made them who they are today. Many people are a product of their past and though that isn’t an excuse, it can help you understand them better. If you are fearful or anxious about life, let it go! You can’t add a day to your life or even a moment to your life by worrying! And time really does help most problems! What is wrong today may be nothing to you in a few months!

Studies have shown that your thoughts can actually effect your health. So think positive and you will be doing your body and soul better than worrying. Also stop and think; Can you breathe? Can you walk? Can you see? Do you have enough for today? Don’t worry about the future, for it will get here when it does. We can take steps to be prepared for the future, but we can’t make it happen. It will get here when it does. Try to be thankful for the smallest of blessings, like being able to taste a cheeseburger! Or being able to go outside for a walk and smell the grass in summertime.

The next time your pressure begins to build, step back, think, take a breath, and let the air out slowly. 

 

Soap bubbles Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevefe/10106543/in/photostream/ By Steve Ford Elliott

 

Place Your Heart in God’s Hands

by | 1 Comment

Be encouraged today, beautiful single ladies! As you wait on God to write your love story, as He holds the “pen”, as you pray for your future husband, strive to stay faithful to him, and struggle with the difficulties of trusting God as you wait on His timing. Remember that God is always on time! He is never too early, never too late, and His plan is better than anything we could dream up! We can confidently place our hearts in His hands, because He created us in the first place. God-written love stories are special love stories. We can trust the author of life to write our life and love stories. Because God-stories are worth waiting for!

 

QuiteMagHeart

A Less Than $5 Oily Skin Secret…

by | Leave a comment

300

One night, when I found myself once again fed up with the oiliness of my skin, I was desperate to try something new. Rummaging around in my bathroom drawer, I found an unopened container of something called “Apricot Scrub.” Of course I knew what the words “Apricot” and “Scrub” meant, but other than that, I didn’t really know what to expect of this scrub.

I did notice that it was for blemishes and blackheads, which I didn’t really have much of at the time, but I thought I would give it a try.

I followed the relatively simple instructions (which seems rare for these kind of products these days) and after it was on my face for no more than 60 seconds, I gently removed the scrub and immediately, I could tell the difference in the skin on my face! Even though I wasn’t trying to remove any blemishes or blackheads, I am always trying to remove oil, which the scrub seemed to help with almost instantaneously.

I’ve been using it for about three weeks now, and I’m going to be honest, I’m the furthest thing from a skin or beauty guru, but I highly recommend giving this a shot if you have oily skin.

Still unsure of how this product found it’s way to my drawer, I was pleasantly surprised to find the scrub at my local drugstore for less than $5.

If you’re looking for an easy, affordable solution to oily skin, head on over to your local drugstore and give it a try!