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ometimes the Universe speaks in whispers. You’ll hear it as you’re busy doing things, driving along, washing the dishes, hanging out the laundry. It’s a little voice at first. Sometimes you’ll ignore it, and if so, the voice will appear at another time, a little louder. If you ignore it again, it comes back at a later date a little louder still. This continues until, perhaps, you’ve ignored it so long that it’s holding a megaphone, staring you in the face, yelling for you to listen.
I like to pay attention to the Universe. I think it’s smart, and I have a lot to learn from it. You might not understand what I mean by the whispers and the yelling. You might even think I’ve gone quite cuckoo {which let’s not rule out as a possibility}. But let me share an example of what I mean…
Lately I’ve been thinking about bloggers a little bit. We tell stories everyday, in our own way. Whether you’re reporting hot topics, sharing photos, sharing your life, or showing off a little bit of fashion. There are many different reasons for blogging. Some are driven by money {not me, I make nothing}, some are driven by passion, some are driven by a need to share… really the reasons are endless. I started blogging for me. I was bored and wanted to write. So I did. People started to relate to the things I was writing, and here I am today. {That’s the short version – perhaps the longer one another day}.
I’ve mentioned before that this blog is only a teeny tiny percentage of my world. My guess would be about 6.3% of my life is shared here. Sometimes I share the good {because that’s fun}, and sometimes I share the bad {because it’s good to vent, and I know that some of you have been there before… sleep deprivation, anyone?}.
But mostly bloggers put forward their best self.
So those thoughts were my whisper. As I read my way through the blogosphere these past weeks I’ve thought how perfect, unique and amazing each blogger is…
And then I read a post by Susannah Conway that validated my thoughts. We’re putting our best selves forward mostly, which is cool, and normal, and how it should be most of the time. So that was another whisper, only louder this time.
And then I came across this post by Jodie about Bloggers Without Makeup. That was it. I thought I had better start really listening before the Universe gets out the megaphone.
So here is this post. And here is my photo. A Blogger Without Makeup.
I don’t usually wear much make-up anyway. I feel dirty if I wear foundation, and it irks me. But this is me. All squinty eyed. Regrowth. Bra strap. Weird expression. It’s me. If you saw me a cafe lost in my thoughts {or trying to get my remote control to work on the camera like I was doing here}, this is what you would see. And I’m not going to even apologise for any of it… I’m embracing it.
Who do you let see the real you?
You look gorgeous. What a beautiful blog. I'll be back to visit you.
What a lovely, naturally beautiful you. I want a picture like this! Gorgeous is also the word that comes to mind. Thank you for posting.
Dana
You look amazing..and what a beautiful post as well!
You've explained (so eloquently) EXACTLY how I felt leading up to my post on this. I kept getting little messages to me about needing to post about this, and it seems there has been good reason to. To witness so many women feeling a sense of freedom to be able to bare their true selves…incredible.
Thanks for getting involved Chantelle.
xxx
You look gorgeous. Here's to showing our ourselves honestly.
Beautiful photo! And beautiful writing. xx
You look amazing!
I feel grubby when I have foundation on too.
I also want to remark on how gorgeous you are even when you look a little worried.
Beautiful. xx
You are gorgeous, fellow Universe listener! I am always astounded when I start picking up those messages again…why do we ever stop? Glad the Universe led me to your beautiful site, too!!
Chantelle this is is a great post and an even lovelier photo!
I've said it once and I'll say it again, you are inspiring. This weekend I'm going to show the real me to my dear blog readers.
You are so beautiful!!
I love getting my daily dose of Fat Mum Slim – truly inspiring Telle xo
You said it so beautifully.
Great photo, great post! xx
Great post, and you look just lovely, albeit a bit perplexed! I too heard the Universe whisper to me when I read Jodie's post and just had to join in!
Wow. What a fantastic post. I love your words and your picture is just beautiful. Just gorgeous. Isn't this an amazing community to be part of – the support and excitement out there and the willingness to show our true selves is amazing. xx
like you say… its expected that people will always do their best – put their best foot forward and we need that drive to succeed in life. but it is really nice to sometimes tell it like it is. to be real! your beautiful in every light. with or without makeup. your the same person to me! going to check out jodies post now… rowe x
I love the nude you. Terrific post as well.
Chantelle you look wonderful – beautiful!
Chantelle, I have taken the plunge and posted a photo of myself sans makeup on my blog this morning. Love your pic by the way!
You look lovely.
I linked up as well. Great idea.
You look so beautiful! I love it =)
Well, hello there! 😉
Just Lovely. xCassiex
You have a lovely writing style *wonders how I have not found you until today….*
Great post, beautiful photo.
Gorgeous pic. The only people who ever see me sans hair/makeup are my Mum, my husband and my son. Perhaps the only three I really care about and know they feel the same about me?
honest and gorgeous – I love it!
So brace Chantelle – I am THINKING of doing this today…but will probably take me all day to work up the courage! Am off to check out some other bloggers that might be doing it…have a nice weekend x
Lov this post. Your photo is beautiful and your honesty is just so refreshing. I will be back to read more from you!
Beautiful post and photo. Love your expression and your honesty. Actually I love how we've all taken to it as a chance to be the “real” us out there in the big-wide-world!
You look gorgeous, as always! xx
Beautiful. Love it. Thanks for sharing!
I love your expression here. You are beautiful.
If you'd like to add your nakedness to my mclinky then please visit my naked post and add it 🙂 Bloggers Unite!
http://welcometotherockgarden.blogspot.com/2010/05/naked.html
Everything about you is gorgeous Chantelle, make-up or no make-up! xx
Going round looking at blogs today Im starting to wonder if we have been sold a bill of goods by cosmetic companies because seriously, how gorgeous are all these photos?
You are a beautiful woman. x
Absolutely beautiful Chantelle xxx
I have taken the plunge on my blog too 🙂
Honest+ beautiful – thats you !
I think its a stunning pic. and the words, oh how I understand what you are writing about, I just can't say it as eloquently as you 🙂
Lady, if that is your re-growth you are one LUCKY GIRL!! 😀
Looking beautiful!
So so beautiful!!!
So well said Chantelle. I hope after this we see more of you with your whole gorgeous face in front of the camera. xx
i love this! and love your blog, beautiful lady xx
I love this!
I will be taking a pic first thing tomorrow 🙂
xoxo
Gorgeous
Love it
xx
Gorgeous! Just how I always imagined you'd be.
I agree with your sentiments- having just been asked to provide a picture for a little feature on a blog I quickly took one- I am wearng mascar- which is the extent of my makeup wearing – but man you should see the wrinkles I just noticed after I had emailed it and a really akward smile- like I need to go to the toilet or something… part of me ( the vian bit) wanted to wait to tkae a better one- the other part of me just though bugger it and I sent it off. (there is a link on my blog to the post)
A stunning photo.
You also write so well- you should be proud!
Hi FMS,
Loving your blog. It's my daily cup of 'yay' in the mornings! I love your honest and candid style and great sense of humour. I have started a little blog me self if u r interested in your own little cup of 'crazy' mama talk!
http://www.stickybabychronicles.blogspot.com
I am a young mum myself, somewhat understimulated like you were, same reasons for starting a blog – which is why I dig yours so much!
My own 'bloggers with no makeup' pic coming soon. Inspired. I will link back to you, of course, in true polite bloggess style!
Cheers,
Mama L
Your inner beauty shines through Chantelle, perplexed expression and all. You really are stunning, I've always thought so and this 'bare' pic confirms it!
You're gorgeous! I don't think I could post a picture of me without make up. I won't even leave the house without at least mascara on!
You said it so beautifully, and you look so beautiful. I like your take on the photo, the this is me as you'd normally see me. Love it. xxx
What a gorgeous photo. You look real, and that's beautiful.
The 'real me' doesn't have a lot to do with makeup, but not many people have seen 'her' anyway. I'll let glimpses through now and then, but I'm not sure I've decided how fit she is for public consumption!
I think you look beautiful and your words are wonderful.
I love the 'real' photo of you.
And… yesterday I put up a quite real photo of me. Thats…. no makeup, spent the day in the garden, after a glass of port and licked by the dog real.
I know exactly what you mean … love the photo – natural, gorgeous!
This post of you listening, and posing as the 'real' you is marvellous. And you look gorgeous.
thanks!
Beautiful words and a stunning picture.
A beautifully expressed post and gorgeous photo! I'm very glad that Bloggers Without Makeup brought me here 🙂
No apologies necessary.
Stunning.
I've pinned my bravery meddle on my chest and joined the party sans make up
stunning
fantastic! Love it!
p.s I do realise I owe you an email with info. Am still working on it, promise.
Beautiful pic…beautiful blog.
I love this photo – especially the expression! You look beautiful.
i love this idea. so i did it too.
xx thanks for inspiring.
Gorgeous and vulnerable.
I love this photo Chantelle. It's so raw and beautiful.
Wonderful pic! It's so heartening to see us women accepting our natural beauty.
I see so much of little Lacey in you! Gorgeous.
X
How is it that all you Mums have smaller undereye bags than me, when I don't have to get up to small children in the middle of the night? I don't get it. But anyway, you look great.
Chantelle, you look beautiful here. Inside and out. Have a lovely weekend gorgeous mama.
Thank you. xxx
You look wonderful. I'm glad I found your blog through Bloggers Without Makeup.
Pensive. Smart. Thinking. Listening. Beautiful.
Few people see the real me physically. But usually they get the real me in most other ways–on-line. IRL I'm very, very different. But that's OK. I kind of like it that way.
Great shot. You look great.
What a wonderfully real post…
(and is there any point to being anything OTHER than real in our lives?…)
Thanks for sharing.
Such a great post – and I love the honesty of that beautiful photo too. x
As beautiful as i knew you would be…
You rock xx
I love that photo. It looks like something Annie Liebowitz would shoot. Isn't it amazing how beautiful we all are without that veneer we put on for the world?
i love this post! it encouraged me to post a photo sans make-up also! here's the link:
http://hellolovely14.blogspot.com/2010/05/bloggers-without-makeup.html
i absolutely love your blog! it's my favorite! thanks for writing! it brightens my day to read your thoughts!
What a beautiful and beautifully written post.
And dammit, not only are you a great writer, you're beautiful to boot.
You're lovely. I'll say to you what I have to say to all of the other bloggers who have opened themselves up: Thank you for trusting us with your true self. 🙂
Beautiful post that goes with a gorgeous natural pic of you..I'm just about to post my pic also, it's very confronting but also liberating too…
You're perfectly lovely. I sort of know what you mean. I immediately “untag” all the unflattering photos of myself from facebook for fear of being seen as less attractive than I'd like to be thought of. However, my brother-in-law recently posted two photos of me that I think are just awful. One right after a long day spent on the beach and one FROM THE BACK, showing my backside in a less than flattering light. I couldn't “untag” from my iphone, so I just decided to leave them. So there they are, in all their unflattering glory, showing me less than my best. I finally feel good about it.
🙂
Oh my goodness! I will refrain from saying I am completely jealous of how beautiful your pic is, but I WILL say… you are truly a stunner!!
WOW! Such a big *wow* that I've shared you with my blog readers. Check it out at:
http://lovely-silver-strands.blogspot.com
Thanks for the boost!
Denalee
How refreshing!
Hello – just wanted to let you know I've linked this post to my blog (http://charlieandtango.blogspot.com) I love your blog & I'm sure it won't be the last time I link to it. Please keep up your beautiful work.
Cat x
Gorgeous pic Chantelle. Good on you for joining in xx
Hi Chan,
I just wanted to say how lovely you look. Natural shots like these are wonderful and you really have a gorgeous photogenic face. xx
Thanks for sharing.
Cheryl. 🙂 x
Elizabeth Saxe Coburg-Gotha is an evil woman, why do we slave away at work our whole lives for money with her face on