Seriously? What are they thinking?

I'm 22 and in a pretty long-term relationship so I would say, hopefully, most of y'all would agree that after dating 3 years its not that illogical for me to think about the future, right? I like thinking about whether we would make good parents together, how our personalities would show through in our parenting styles, and what it would be like to raise children together. I try to be realistic and think ahead b/c those things are important, and I truly can't wait to have a family way down the road. I'm pretty sure there is nothing wrong with that. Anyways, I like to watch how other people parent-- friends, family, total strangers-- and take in the things that I find useful to do or not do one day.

I don't know if any of y'all are familar with the new TLC show Toddlers & Tiaras, but it's interesting. Most of the time its like a horrible accident that you just can't turn your eyes away from, but sometimes I have seen a flip side to the fake eyelashes, orange spray tans, bad 80s hair and over done make-up that these infant-12 yr olds are doning. Some parents want there girls to just have fun, and they skip the fake stuff and just stick with hair curled at the ends and a pretty dress up gown. (I commend the parents that don't look at their daughters as Barbies) I have at times thought, "Aww- that's cute!" when they show a 6 month old fast asleep in her huge, frilly, pink pagent dress and a big flower hairband on being judged- seems pretty harmless. But an article I read today kind of has changed my opinion once again.

**Places just one foot on the soap box..And Begins..-- I'm intrigued not infuriated :) **

An article from Newsweek is titled "Generation Diva: How our obsession with beauty is changing our kids." I hit panic mode as I read this article, y'all. [I realize I've been focusing a lot on kids this week, and I know some people may say, " Why would I read something you suggest? You don't have kids. You are still a kid. You don't have a clue what it's like." And that's all true. But what I know is what I see.. so I keep sharing :)] Here is a few snipets of the article:

But this, my friends, is the new normal: a generation that primps and dyes
and pulls and shapes, younger and with more vigor. Girls today are salon vets
before they enter elementary school.--- And instead of shaving their legs the
old-fashioned way—with a 99-cent drugstore razor—teens get laser hair removal,
the most common cosmetic procedure of that age group.

Four years ago, a survey by the NPD
Group showed that, on average, women began using beauty products at 17.
Today, the average is 13—and that's got to be an overstatement. According to
market-research firm Experian, 43 percent of 6- to 9-year-olds are already using
lipstick or lip gloss; 38 percent use hairstyling products; and 12 percent use
other cosmetics.

"My daughter is 8, and she's like, so into this stuff it's unbelievable,"
says Anna
Solomon, a Brooklyn social worker. "From the clothes to the hair to the
nails, school is like No. 10 on the list of priorities."(Is she seriously OK
with this?!- Here's an IdEa.. dont buy it for her!)

It's been estimated that girls 11 to 14 are subjected to some 500 advertisements a day—the majority of them nipped, tucked and airbrushed to perfection. And, according to a University of Minnesota study, staring at those airbrushed images from just one to three minutes can have a negative impact on girls' self-esteem.

If tweens can be convinced they need to spend to perfect their already
youthful skin, it's hard to imagine what they'll believe at 40. And with all the
time they'll spend thinking about it, it's even harder to imagine all they're
missing along the way.

If these things are true.. I think I need to think a little longer about how to be a Christian parent in this type of culture. I seriously applaude every single one of y'all who have daughters, and sons, who you are trying to teach Who is important in this world, and that they are important just the way He created them... While going up against a very large battle out there in the world.

I can't wait to have girls (Ankoo claims I'm doomed to have 4 boys because I want girls and boys so bad) to play dress up with, but not so they can be glamorous and "sexy"! Why would a parent want their 5yr old to look sexy?! OMG! Seriously? *Sigh* It seems like a useless battle, but we all have to teach kids that this is far from normal... and just pray that one day things will flip back to normal!

Who knows, when I was 10 yrs old bellbottoms and peasant shirts came back in to style for a good 5 yrs.. so maybe all this beauty obsession will be a passing phase! It's in his hands, but I did just want to pass along the article to anyone interested. Go to Newsweek: Genereation Diva to have a quick read for yourselves!

*removes foot from soap box, & smiles*

Back to the grind!
Love x Infinity-- KK

Magical Fairy Princess Dust

Is this really happening? I couldn't believe my eyes this morning when I check my email from my phone and saw that Jen at Tutu's Bliss had left me a comment letting me know I had won her giveaway!!! WHAT?!?! How is that possible!? I screamed my head of in excitement and called Ankoo to tell him IMMEDIATELY, "I WON!!!!"

This pic is from Tutu's Bliss-- The dress is one of many that she creates.

He didn't understand because oddly enough just like back at Christmas when I had thought about buying an ornament from Blu Creations, then won one from Natalie.. the same thing happend with this, well sort of! I spent all yesterday at work checking on the Ebay auction for the Tutu's Bliss tutu dress. I kid you not, I stalked it like a cheetah because enough though I've been staring at the dresses for weeks on Etsy I couldn't make up my mind, so I knew that the auction was a "sign" that I just had to buy the dress, especially since the money was going to The Children's Tumor Foundation. Well, 53min were left at it was right past 4:30 so I had to leave work... I decided to go ahead and bid.. I mean, no one had bid for HOURS and although someone had skyrocketed the bids from $20 to $45 in under 4 minutes it still seemed awesome. So I put in my $46.00bid, and automatically was told "You were out bid! Bid again?" I refused to give up! So I bid again. I think I bid 48.05 that time... "You were out bid!Bid again?" Nope! Game over... I gave up. I was happy for the person who was crazily using an automated machine to outbid me.

Even though I really wanted it, I prayed in my car as I drove home, "I'm not anger God. Don't let me be spiteful of someone elses joy. I hope with all my heart that the little girl who gets it loves it for years and years, and loves twirling in circles in it!"

I told Ankoo before bed I was bummed, but that I'd still enjoy eventually getting one once I could pick want I wanted..... Then I won her photo prop giveaway this morning! Oh gracious, how I don't know, BUT I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much to Jen! Your tutus and props are beyond gorgeous and I can't wait to have all your beautiful creations to use in photo shoots, and for my friends' little girls to play with! The package includes over fifty dollars of boutique hats, portrait pacifiers, floral clips and other goodies. After winning this, I promise y'all there is a tutu purchase in my future! lol

All of y'all with little girls, I am not exagerating! I've done the leg work to find all sorts of tutus online, and Jen's beat all of them by leaps and bounds. She even does special orders to make them the perfect colors and sizes that you'll love. So go check them out please! When you fall in love with them I promise not to say I told you so! :) Hehe

Have a Magical Tuesday!

~KK~

Oh My!

I won something!!! Whoa, I can't believe it! But I can't tell y'all what I won yet! Sorry to be so criptic, but y'all will understand eventually!

Thanks El! So so much! So glad the Fundraising went so well!

~Love~

KK

The Red Envelope Project

Please join me to help protect the unborn.
Red Envelope Day is March 31st. (Tomorrow!)

Get a red envelope. You can buy them at Kinkos, or at party supply stores. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.

Washington , D.C. 20500

On the back, write the following message:This envelope represents one child who died in abortion. It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world. Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail on March 31st, and send it.Then send this website to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president.

In the last few years I've become much more ProLife than I was as a teenager. When I was younger I had no clue what abortion was all about, and luckily today I still do not know any women who have had one as far as I know. It is a personal decision, and I'm not judging anyone who makes that difficult choice, however I just do not believe in it. I don't see the logic in a person saying, " I'm just not ready to handle that yet."--- For me, personally, if a person finds themselves "ready" to be in a physical relationship, then they need, and must be ready to be having a child, because sry y'all but that is the main purpose of having a physical relationship. I'm beginning to think they don't conver that part in sex education anymore... which is leading to younger and younger children making adult decisions.

I don't want to be gimmicky but PARENTS, TALK TO YOUR KIDS. DON'T ASSUME THEY AREN'T DOING IT. Be a proactive parent. It's not just "bad kids," its all kids, and the ONLY way they'll know you want them to wait is to tell them. I get wanting to save their innocents, but no matter if they are in a public, private, christian, all boys, or all girls school there will be that one kid who tells your child "Everyone's doing it." Don't wait. Please. Talk now. Pre-teen is too young to be watching girls lose their childhood. Be their biggest advocate.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

KK

P.S. If they act annoyed or tell you they don't want to talk about it, do not just let it go. It means they are scared to talk about it, and weren't you when/if you were talked w/ your parents about serious things like this?

Tutu's Bliss & The Childrens Tumor Charity

Go to Tutu's Bliss Blog right now! Don't wait!--- Seriously! What are you waiting for??

Okay..fine. I give in. I'll TELL you why you have to go over there RIGHT NOW:

Tutu's Bliss is not only having a HUGEEEE GIVEAWAY, but she is also apart of a charity auction that is going on right now for The Children's Tumor Foundation. ALL proceeds raised in the ebay auctions go to helping find new treatment for Children with Tumors such as children living with Neurofibrosis, a disease where tumors appear at random all over a child's body.

Go over to Tutu's Bliss and Click on the link to the Charity, and while your at it... if you go back to her blog and leave comment just telling her which charity item is your favorite you'll be entered to WIN her HUGE Giveaway which includes sooo many awesome items! Especially if you have a little girl, or granddaughter, or even just know a little girl who loves to dress up and be a fairy princess head over now!!

Okay-- That's all... I've tried to inform y'all, so I hope somebody will go check it to! :) As always, What Do You have to Lose???

~LOVE LOVE~

KK

Be Still Sunday

Happy Birthday Eli

Happy 2nd Birthday Eli!

Robert Elias McCall

Birth & Death: March 28th, 2007

***This pic is directly from Profoundly Seth! Go to the site***

For anyone who follows the stories of Ellyn's beautiful youngest sons, you already know who Eli is. Eli is a little boy whose parents, Ellyn and John, were so excited to have a 3rd child, their second son, be born on March 28th, 2007. But they had know way of knowing before that day that their beautiful son would die just hours before his birth.

Today the McCall family is in New York city with Eli's big sister, big brother, and little brother, all celebrating Eli's life and the impact that he is still making on this Earth.

I just wanted to take a moment to say Happy Birthday to him, because even though he's up in heaven with God, it's still important to remember him and his family that are still grieving his loss. The loss of not knowing the person he would have grown up to be.

Ellyn's family is beautiful, and they are firmly based in their faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. They challenge my faith daily-- and in learning about them, my faith has grown.

I wanted to share this video with you all today. It is mostly about Eli's little brother Seth, who is profoundly deaf and awaiting Cochlear Implants soon, but it is about the journey and the struggles that they have gone through and survived. *Turn off the music at the bottom of the page first :)*

Love y'all! ~KK

P.S. Anyone who went over and contributed to the Profound Pictures... You Are Awesome!! They raised over $3000 for Seth and two amazing charities! Thanks for helping!