A collection of articles, interviews, fashionable musings, and photos from the adventures of sci-fi author, interviewer and fashionista Kendra L. Saunders.
This blog celebrates body positivity and body diversity!
The
versatility of makeup made me fall in love with it. The power that it
can make people feel empowered, and show their beauty, also has been a
major factor in my obsession with makeup.
What is your go-to moisturizer?
My
go to moisturizer is Nourish and Shine by Jane Carter. My skin is very
dry and it gives me a lot of moisture and a silky feeling to my skin.
Also it doubles for hair, and thats a wonderful bonus, because of my
natural hair!
Matte lips, or lipgloss?
Matte Lipstick is everything to
me. I like when I can wear it all day and it doesn't feather on my
bottom lip. And it is non-transferable !
What time period in beauty do you most wish you could live in for a few days?
I
will always say I wish I could've lived in the 1700's era of Marie
Antoinette and King Louis. I absolutely love the pastel colors, the
art and the SUPREME BLUSH! It's such a staple, along with the beauty
mark. I know it's way different but I love studying that era in history!
Favorite beauty IGs to follow:
My favorite Beauty IG's to follow are @celia_leslie, @aaliyahjay & @goldenbih
Best way for fans to keep up with what you're doing?
Through my instagram @cocobeatit_ and my youtube which is @LifewithCourt.
What is your advice for plus sized fashionistas who want to look and feel fabulous?
Find
the silver lining in everything that happens. I love and accept who I
am . I love to stay positive even when it doesn't seem like there is
anything to smile about. I just do it. Stay fearless!
What can we do, right now, to make the world a better place?
To
make our world a better place, we should uplift ourselves. I feel that
we should change the way the younger generation perceives us. I use my
social media platform to show that there is more to me than showing my
body. I believe as women we should be better role models and think
before we act and change the perception that we only care about our
outer features, rather than what's inside of us. Encourage each other more. Implementing positivity is always a must, and I feel we sometimes
lack that whether we are male or female. It's essential that we all reach
for higher standards for ourselves and do not settle for less than we
deserve.
Favorite red lipstick: BeautyByRudy Wildfire; it is perfectly
pigmented and glossy lipstick.
Favorite song: Team by
Lorde, I honestly keep her whole album Pure Heroine on repeat everyday.
Favorite website for buying beauty: No website, I prefer to be at a
store seeing the product and swatching it. I don't like ordering online
for any beauty related products unless I really have to.
Favorite
nail polish: Currently chrome. Any color chrome, by the way. It's my
favorite and it lasts so long without chipping, if done the right way. I
get so many compliments too!
I'm so excited to have Anastasia Amour as today's guest. Anastasia is a champion for body positivity, health, mental wellness, and all around good vibes. Her book, Inside Out, is a practical, down to earth guide to having a better relationship with yourself, inside and out.
Recently I had the honor to speak briefly to her about advice for breaking the cycle of women putting other women down, fitspo, and a few of her favorite things. Read on for more!
I loved your list of 55 ways to love
yourself. You mention something I have become more and more
passionate about- not putting down other women. We have been told
from a young age that girls cause drama, that if you want to avoid
drama, you'll avoid girls. We've been taught jealousy against each
other, and to compare ourselves negatively to each other. What do you
think we can do as women to make sure we are deprogramming from that,
and why is that good for us, individually, as well?
The dichotomy of jealousy and
comparison hurts us in so many ways. It keeps us from forming amazing
friendships because we learn to see other women as threats, and it
stops us from realising our true worth when we're constantly
comparing ourselves to others. One of the biggest steps that I
encourage girls and women to take to overcome this mentality is to
start actively seeking out positive attributes in other women.
For instance, if you see a woman
walking towards you on the street and you automatically find yourself
mentally critiquing her, notice those thoughts. Tell yourself that
those thoughts aren't helpful, and instead actively seek out
something positive about her. Even if it's only tiny or insignificant
(like maybe she's got a beautiful necklace on), it still counts. Get
into the habit of doing that every time you find yourself needlessly
critiquing or gossiping about another woman. The more you do it, the
more habitual it will become and slowly but surely, you can begin to
overwrite the previous patterns of jealousy. This helps hugely in
positively influencing our inner dialogue, overall. And, as time goes
on and as we become more aware of our thoughts and how they shape
their reality, we can then improve the patterns that we set up for
ourselves even more – for instance, by making a conscious effort to
notice positive attributes about other women that aren't
appearance-based.
But in order for us to fully recognise
our own worth, we have to realise that other women aren't the enemy.
We need to stop viewing femininity as a competition – someone
else's wit, beauty, charm or success doesn't take away from our own,
and we all rise by lifting each other.
You're so right! Such wise words,
and definitely something we can all work on. Next, your post about
fitspo really hit close for me. As someone who suffered in the past
due to an eating disorder, I know that sometimes looking at "fitspo"
has made me feel just as much self-hate as looking at models in
magazines. Do you think that any fitspo is helpful, though? And if
so, in what way?
Absolutely not. The core messages of
fitspo are generally based around themes of fear, guilt and shame
used as motivational tools. Through subtle language cues they teach
us that fat is bad, that we need to repent for our food sins and that
if we're not about to "puke, faint or die... keep going!"
(no thank you, Jillian Michaels). We know that in the long term,
shame is just not a sustainable motivator and keeps people trapped in
perpetual infinite loops of insecurity, particularly when they're
setting themselves up with such absolutist measures of success.
It's one thing to have fitness goals
(like wanting to gain muscle mass or lose weight) or to look up to
someone for their fitness – and I don't think either of those
things are inherently problematic. But when you bring fitspo (in the
cultural sense) into it, you're ultimately only harming yourself.
Recently you posted on Instagram
about fashion and body image. Who are some of your favorite fashion
designers? And who are some of your favorite fashion brands in terms
of body inclusion?
I'm not hugely into fashion so I don't
gravitate towards any particular designers. What I look for is a
brand that produces ethically and if they have a body positive ethos,
even better! Some of the best brands leading the charge in
inclusivity, representation and diversity are Smart Glamour and
ModCloth. There are other brands that do this too, but Smart Glamour
and ModCloth in particular get it consistently right.
What are three songs that motivate
you?
With Thoughts - Art Vs. Science
Spectrum - Florence & The Machine
Sonnentanz - Klangkarussell
Favorite lipstick shade(s)?
MAC's 'Ruby Woo' - it's a classic
blue-toned Red and makes me feel like a bombshell.
Number one reason readers should buy
your book?
Because we ALL benefit from body
positivity! And whether you're just starting out on your journey or
whether you're a seasoned self-love veteran wanting to reinforce
those themes, the exercises will help you. I pinky promise.
Favorite feel-good movie?
I'm actually not a movie fan! When I
want a pick-me-up, I always gravitate towards a sitcom (Seinfeld is
my favourite).
(Anastasia chose Spectrum, by one of my favorite artists, Florence and the Machine, as a favorite motivational song! I couldn't agree more with this choice. Enjoy)
Every now and again you bump into a social media account that just changes your life; whether it's a Twitter account that makes you laugh until it hurts, a Youtuber who gives the actual best tutorials on hairstyles, or an Instagram star who makes you want to up your makeup game, sometimes you just find a go-to favorite. For me, one of those go-to favorites is Martina Gutfreund of instagram/enchanted.forest
Martina is many things- part modern fairy, part hippie, part artist. She creates paintings, jewelry, and beautiful pictures that she shares on Instagram, all from her stunning Canadian homeland. Her 25k+ followers know they can look to her for inspiration in magic, purple hair, great lipstick, and brightly colored paintings, and there's a sense of easy girl power about her circle of friends and social media presence. And she loves sci-fi! (Super excited about that, as a science fiction author myself). I reached out to her for an interview, and we talked about cultivating a social media brand, spirituality, her favorite model, and how she upkeeps her gorgeous hair...
I’ve
been following your Instagram for quite some time, and have found
myself having the following conversation with friends, “Look at
this… isn’t this beautiful? This girl is amazing.” You’ve
curated such a beautiful, peaceful social media presence, both
because of the content of your pictures AND the color palette. What
is your secret to making a cohesive Instagram presence?
I
definitely started my theme from the very beginning and improved the
quality of what I was posting over time by browsing through popular
blogs and other Instagram accounts. It really helps when you can take
inspiration from other popular photos and re-create them in your own
unique way! I figured I wanted to share the things that I found most
important in my life, which are art & the environment, so most of
my photos generally relate to those themes. I’m not sure why my
colour palette is so cohesive, I’m not the best at editing so I
will give all of the credits to my camera and the Valencia/Aden
filters. The best tip I would give, is to choose a theme that you
seriously enjoy in your own life, so that creating the photos never
becomes a chore… the only times I struggle are when I can’t find
the time to paint enough new stuff!
You
are very interested in spiritual matters. Do you have any rituals for
happiness or peace when you are feeling stressed out?
To
be honest, I have very strange spiritual views; they can appear very
dry to most outsiders, but I find a lot of comfort in my ideas of
existence. Usually when I’m getting overly stressed, I just remind
myself that I’m a tiny blip of nothing in the midst of more nothing
in the grand scheme of things, really what I’m going through is
just another incredibly insignificant moment within the space-time
continuum. It sounds a bit dark and pessimistic, but man the universe
is immense and there is so much more you could be doing than spending
your energy stressing over little things. I’m not sure if I’m
making much sense at this point, but being so incredibly
infinitesimal tends to put things into perspective.
What
is body confidence to you, and what do you do on days where you feel
less confident?
Ahhhh
the never ending struggle of body confidence! This is a tough one for
me, as I have really only begun taking confidence in my appearance
and personality in the last 2 years or so. It is a constant battle to
stay positive about those aspects and truly love myself, I’m not
even sure how to define what that would look like if I were to ever
achieve it. I suppose not putting myself down would be a good start;
I usually deal with it by throwing on a flattering outfit and doing
some stellar makeup. It’s not the best solution, but it’s
something that has always worked for me… I know it’s a Band-Aid
more than anything else, and that can be bad when those feelings
build up over the years of being covered up and pushed aside.
Stellar makeup and a standby favorite outfit do it for me too. No shame there! Your
hair is gorgeous. What do you use to upkeep the color?
Ooooh
noooo, not this question! Well, I dye it about once every 2 months
with Manic Panic dyes, but it’s really my washing habits that keep
the colour. I wash the actual dreaded part once every 10 days or so
with a really gentle dread shampoo and lukewarm water, so the colour
lasts foreeever. My non-dreaded section gets a lot more attention
though since I hate it when my hair feels greasy, so it’s usually
really faded compared to the dreads.
(Some of Martina's beautiful creations)
You make jewelry, but do
you have a favorite jewelry designer? Clothing designer?
Hmm,
I would have to say my favourite jewelry designer is Studiolil on
etsy (her insta is just @Studiolil ) she makes the most beautiful
septum rings! I bought my first one from her when her shop was just
starting to gain traction around 2 years ago, and I am so impressed
with how much her work and business has grown since then. I can’t
say I specifically have a favourite clothing designer; I do a lot of
shopping in second-hand stores or re-purpose old unwanted items from
family members. I really admire anybody who sews or crochets their
clothes from scratch, it such an amazing skill set to have. A few of
my favourite instagrammers that do this are @cosmicsun_ &
@voodoufairy & @maya_gipsygreen … they’re all so talented!
You
live in Canada, and in the winter, it looks like you live in a snowy
fairytale. How do you keep to your aesthetic in winter?
It’s
a little tougher to keep up in the winter, since most of the flora
and fauna disappear under the snow and I can’t find as many
interesting things to photograph. I try my best to travel to the
Rocky Mountains on a regular basis, since it’s so incredibly
gorgeous there year-round. I guess things just get a little less
colourful for those months, I really love the beauty winter, but it’s
that dreadful grey period that kills me. Right before the snow and
right after the snow…everything looks so dead and lifeless - it’s
honestly a little depressing for me during those few weeks.
(Just try to tell me that this isn't a winter fairytale!)
What
are your go-to natural remedies and tricks for when you have a cold?
I
am a stubborn nut when it comes to sickness, I will do all it takes
to let my body fight it off without any help. I recently tried that
and ended up sick for 3 weeks; eventually a pretty little hospital
trip made me take some antibiotics… not kidding when I say
stubborn! Perhaps it’s a sign that I should start to use some mild
herbal remedies?
Ouch! Yes, herbal remedies for sure... Sambucol, vitamin C, and Zycam are some of my standbys. Who
are your female heroes?
I’m
not really sure how to answer this one, I want to come up with some
big name that people will resonate with, but all I can really think
of is Chantelle Winnie. She is an international model from Canada who
was born with Vitiligo and has become such a positive role model for
anybody struggling with low confidence related to appearance or
bullying. I mean she’s obviously freakin’ gorgeous, but I love
her level of maturity and depth when she’s speaking about
contemporary issues – definitely somebody to check out if you
haven’t heard of her!
What
is the greatest life advice a woman has ever given you?
Yikes!
I don’t have a very fantastic memory when it comes to the
specifics. I suppose I can definitely look to my sweet Mama for the
best life advice, she’s the only one that kept telling me to stay
true to myself and pursue what I’m passionate about. I highly doubt
that I would still be painting and creating if it wasn’t for her
constant support many years ago… believe it or not, I was actually
trying to go into business school before pursuing the arts.
What
would you like to say to all of your many, many fans who follow you,
create art inspired by you, and love your pictures?
A
lot. Too much, so get ready for some soft cheese, because what you
have done for me has melted my heart! You guys have no idea how much
my perspective on both my career and self-image has changed since
gaining a presence on social media. I’m quite an introvert so I
never had much outside input on my work besides family and a handful
of peers, having the encouragement and support from thousands of
people has really helped me break out of that shell. It feels amazing
to finally have the confidence to bring my work to festivals and
display it for so many people to see… and to actually be able to
talk to strangers (that has been a struggle my whole life, but
interacting with all of the beautiful souls via the internet has
helped my socializing skills immensely – people are pretty cool I
guess!) hopefully it will all stick for a lifetime! I will be forever
grateful for the endless kindness I’ve been shown, and am on a
mission to internalize that and continue to pass it on to others for
as long as I can. I want everybody to feel that they don’t need to
put up walls, and can be comfortable with who they are… so thank
you all for showing me so much love, you’re absolutely amazing! <3
Fun
questions:
If
someone wrote a science fiction or fantasy book based on your life,
what would you want them to name you?
Ha!
This is a great question since I’m a huge fantasy and sci-fi fan -
I’m going to have to choose wisely. First off, I’d obviously be
some sort of weird creature, because I’m only human in this
particular reality… hmmmm. Zorbina of Blagdalon! Blagdalon being my
home planet, which is covered with small tree caves that each hold a
different dimension within them. I think I’d probably be covered in
lots of eyeballs and would resemble a sea cucumber or starfish…
Zorbina seems to suit that!
Pretend
MAC cosmetics is going to make a lipstick for you. What color would
it be?
It
would be a pink & purple pastel glitter galaxy!
Finally,
what is your current favorite:
lipstick:
I mostly wear Sephora’s nude shade of lipstick with a darker liner
underneath; I’ve been trying to rock a more natural look lately
I first came across Shea Kreations at the suggestion of a dear
friend, and was immediately impressed and excited by all of the
unique designs and materials Shea Kreations features. The wonderful
woman behind the art is Kat, and I recently had the honor of chatting
with her about her art, her advice for women artists, and her
suggestions for ladies who want to embrace their natural hair
texture...
I'm so honored to have you as a
guest! You have to tell us how you got the idea for the incredible,
unique and gorgeous earrings you make!
-First, my name is Kat and I'm the
artist behind the scenes of Shea Kreations. We are a family owned
business for approximately three years. The idea to make custom
handpainted earrings was just a thought. I was thinking of a way to
bring out a person's personality without words, and also a way to
boost one's esteem. After showing several friends they thought it
was a good idea.
You love to wear your own earrings
(understandably). Have you ever made earrings to sell and then just
had to keep them?
-Yes! Lol! I have several that are in
my personal collection. To be honest, if it's a one of a kind pair,
the need to let someone else love it reigns. This is truly art to me
and I feel that it should be shared with the world.
What is your advice for women who
are thinking of going into business for themselves selling art?
- 1) Believe in what you create and
others will believe in you. 2) Know your worth. 3) Each obstacle will
only make you stronger and wiser. You will thank them later. 4)You
have to help someone else if you expect to be successful.
Helping others really is such a key.
Especially as women, we have to stick together and do what we can for
each other. Where can we buy your earrings, and do you take custom
orders?
-Yes, we do take custom orders. You can
find our complete inventory at www.etsy.com/shop/SheaKreations or our
website www.sheakreations.com. We have an ongoing coupon code to save
you 10% off. The code is THANKS
You are a champion for natural hair.
More and more wonderful ladies (and men!) are starting to embrace
their natural texture. What is your advice for ladies who are
considering letting their natural hair out in the world for maybe the
first time?
-My favorite question. We as natural
women in a world that doesn't accept it "wasn't" easy.
First, you have to stand up even when you may want to cry. If you
start believing you are naturally beautiful, you will see it. Then
others will see it. Stand up! Let them know that you have made the
right decision and comfortable with YOUR hair texture. Being natural
changes many other things about you and I embrace it. The best
decision ever.
I absolutely love that. What are
some of your favorite products for natural hair?
-My favorite natural hair products are
created by me and I have used them for over 3 years: Whipped Shea
Butter Cream, Priscilla's Hair Mist (which is boiled herbs and oils
in a water base), Almond Leave-in Conditioner (which is an oil based
product) that is my hair serum. They can all be found on our Etsy
shop.
Who do you think is really killing
it hair-wise right now?
-Solange Knowles is killing it to the
fifth power. Can't you just feel the power within her knowing she is
rocking her fro? She is beautiful.
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