Crossroads- love myself now or work for better?

I'm a big fan of the Dove Real Beauty Campaign.  I've seen several of their videos and am moved by each one.  The one I saw this week circulating facebook struck me extra hard. I admit to shedding a few tears by the end, as did most other women who watched, I presume.  Watch it if you haven't yet, it is worth your time.  

I'm left wiping away my tears and asking several questions.  Why is it that we're so hard on ourselves as women?  Why do we compare ourselves to others; to what we think we should look like?  Why is it so easy to find other women beautiful and to be our own hardest critic? 

The questions continue- Why am I hard on myself when I just had a baby two months ago?  Maybe because I am carrying around an extra 25 pounds?  I'm struggling with deciding to be OK with myself and my body; and working to change what I don't like.  How can I love myself now, while trying to be more healthy and not settle for a body I don't love?  I'm just struggling with knowing whether I need to be confident as the woman I am today or wait to lose the baby weight.  You see, the hard thing is that I know what the easy answer is.  Of course I need to be confident today.  I need to learn to love who I am now.  The mother of two.  The woman who has spent 17 of the past 34 months pregnant.  The woman who has been breastfeeding since January 2011.  

I know that's what I need to do, but WHY IS IT SO HARD?  I know my children think I'm beautiful.  I know my husband thinks I'm beautiful.  And I've had two different women tell me within the past couple weeks that I'm one of the most beautiful people they've ever met.  Seriously?  That hits me hard...

I'm asking a lot of questions here.  I am just at a crossroads, like I said.  Where are you in this journey?  Do you have advice to offer?  Can you relate?  

Lets get one thing straight----

"YOU ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU THINK!"

xoxo,

Riss

Is it Iced Coffee season yet?!

I've been thinking about my iced coffee recipe for a couple weeks now.  I've yet to make it because I suspect it's going to start my obsession with the stuff all over again.  I'm close to giving in to my craving though and I can't wait!  

For those of you that missed the recipe-- here's a copy and paste from my old post!

You will need:
Coffee
1 can sweetened condensed milk (local friends- cheaper at our walmart than our Kroger)
Half and Half

Brew some dark roast coffee- I suggest dark roast because I want it to be a strong coffee.  I like to use French Roast.  Depending on what I have on hand I use my Cuisinart Grind and Brew and either brew ground coffee or whole bean.  If making a pitcher of iced coffee I make a whole pot (12 cups) and fill the grinder or filter to the top with coffee.  Once brewed I add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and a couple cups of half and half.  Refrigerate.  Serve over ice with a straw and I promise you'll go back for more!  To avoid watered down coffee as your ice melts- freeze some of your left over coffee in your ice cube trays.  (thanks pinterest)

Per Pioneer Woman's advice I do love to slurp it up from a mason jar with a straw!  It's just so summery, you can't go wrong.  Unless of course you drink it all day every day, because then you may gain a few.  :)

I think I'll make it tomorrow!  Who's with me!?