This is the last of the Hawaii posts, I promise, because I know it gets kind of annoying when someone keeps pushing pics of their vacation in your face, but I took these pictures last week at the pool with my daughter, and as I was looking through them for which ones to post on the blog, I found myself vetoing most of them because I didn’t like how my tummy looked…
But the more I thought about that, the more annoyed I got, so you know what? F*ck that. This is how I look. This is real life.
And, ya know, I don’t want to feel bad about my tummy or my thighs or my elbows or my armpits anymore. I’m over it. I remember being a teenager and going to the pool and thinking that I had to wear a t-shirt over my swimsuit because I thought I looked chubby, even though I don’t think I was. I was a skinny little 13-year-old kid! I looked normal.
It aggravates me to think that Connor Claire would ever feel that way about herself, so if there’s ever a time to try to set an example, might as well be now. I may not be able to fit into a swimsuit the same way I did three, four or five years ago, but — deep breath — that’s OK. This 42-year-old body can still run for miles and do a sh*t-ton of burpies and push-ups. It grew a child and then spent 37 hours in labor. It’s not perfect, but it works, so I’m going to celebrate that tum! Because it’s a wonderful tum. And if I don’t look like a model, so be it.
I don’t think this post really has a point. I just hope that if you’ve ever had one of those moments when you saw yourself in the mirror or in pics and immediately noticed your “flaws” (air quotes), you at least consider making a tiny shift in thought. Beauty comes in all shapes, all sizes and all walks of life. TV, magazines and social media (even blogs) — forget all that crap. We are beautiful, tums, bums and all.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Absolutely loved this post and the attitude! 🙂
Amen to you! It is what real women look like. We are not perfect, but we can accomplish so much when we put our minds to it!
Love this post!!!
The only shocking thing about this post is that you are 42! How is that possible? You look fantastic! Go Momma!
Great post Karen! In fact, this is one of my favorite posts of all time 🙂 Thanks your honesty, bravery, and truth.
AMEN! Thank you for this post! I’m with you on that one. I’m far away from my pre-pregnancy body, although my son is 2+ now but in your wise words: f*!k it! :p
You look totally normal. Hot even. Rock that bikini! Look how much fun Connor is having with you? It’s so much better than trying to hide under an umbrella and not enjoying the day at the pool with your daughter. I hope I can adopt your attitude, because I have issues with my belly and love handles and so many other things too!
Kudos Karen. You are setting a great example. The shape of our bodies just doesn’t matter. At all. I thank my kids (3) for liberating me from worrying about the literal shape of my body. What a useless, damaging endeavor. I want my kids to see their bodies as a tool to live an active and awesome life. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I’m in very few photos because I felt self-conscious about being overweight. I regret that now, because it’s like I erased myself from the visual record of our family’s history. When your sweet girl looks back at these pics, she’s not going to see you tummy. She’ll see how much she was loved and how you delighted in her.
Good for you! I think everyone should embrace the body they have and be proud of it.
Karen, you look amazing! I love this post so much, thank you for sharing your pics. I had my daughter almost 8 years ago and my stomach never fully recovered from the pregnancy. So going to the pool or the beach isn’t always easy for me. But you are so right – we have to love our bodies for the sake of our children. Thank you for reminding me and for being awesome! 🙂 All the best from my family to yours, Julia
BTW, I really like your bikini top. Did you get it here in CA or in Hawaii?
I got it in Hawaii! It’s the Billabong Mas Olas Crossback Bikini Top.
This is such a great post! I’ve always had body image issues, and I’m also a recovered anorexic. I’m legitimately overweight due to some life circumstances right now, but my body is relatively healthy (way healthier than when I was restricting!) and can do some pretty cool stuff. I’m performing aerial at an event next month, I’m learning contortion, I can help my friend carry her 80 lb dog when he’s sick. And you, you grew a baby! A beautiful little girl! And that’s pretty badass.
I always enjoy your posts but I think this is one of the best. What a fabulous message, to your readers and your daughter. Thank you. Btw you look awesome!
You look like a normal, hottie mama! You look amazing! Love this post and keep the positive attitude going!
I didn’t think I could love your blog more, but this post proved it! You are doing the most important thing in the world for your daughter! Showing her it is okay to be the way you are! Bravo!
Yes, yes , yes!! Celebrate that tummy as it nutured that beautiful baby.
Love this post. I just found out I was pregnant just a few weeks ago with my first child. I’m 39 and I’m going to hit 40 this fall. With age comes wisdom. Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome! You are setting a great example for Connor Claire. And it was a great reminder for me as well. Thank you!
Great post! You look fabulous. I never like the way i look in pictures but I just had to get over it. I feel like after a certain age you just learn to love yourself and learn to get over insecurities. I also think on vacation or at the pool anything goes wear what you feel comfortable in screw everyone else.
Thank you Karen. We all needed this. I’m 60 and my body isn’t what it used to be and I just have to keep reminding myself that that’s okay. I loved your pictures.
I had two kids and despite working out and weIghing the same I did before, my body is completely different now. Sometimes I embrace it, sometimes I struggle, but I would not undo a single thing just to get back a flat tummy. And I want to be outside and enjoy the sun and the beach without trying to hide. For my daughter, but for myself as well.
Thank you for posting this! I may not be perfect but I am perfect in my daughters eyes. I hope I can set a great example for her. ❤️
So, so amazing and inspirational. Thank you for all your posts, but this one especially. Thank you for creating a place where makeup fanatics are welcome, where we can be whatever we already are, and it’s ok. So thankful.
you look beautiful! I regret either skipping or deleting photos through the years because I hated how I appeared in the photos. In hindsight, I think it was more about how I “felt” in the photos. I was in physical pain, tired, sluggish and miserable and God Bless those I was with for tolerating me.
AMEN AMEN!!!!
Aloha Karen!!
You go girl!! Each person is beautiful in their uniqueness so Thank you for sharing YOU w/ us!! We were on the Big Island last week (visiting from SoCal)…what a coinkydink;) There’s never “too many” Hawaii posts…I can’t get enough of them. We need to retire there asap!! I just ordered the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Bronze (tried a sample packet and loved it)…please please please try it as I’d love to see your review (and also threw in the Citrine highlighter because I’m a glutton:).
XOXO,
Dru
Still a hot mama, rawr!!!
You look fantastic! I just bought my first ever bikini (like ever, in my entire life) and I’m probably at my highest weight. I haven’t been brave enough to wear it out of the house yet but I hope that I’ll summon up the courage to soon.
Thank you for sharing your body positivity!! I am a 32 year old mom of 2. I am tall and slim, but I have a large scar from a surgery 12 years ago and major stretch marks on my tummy from carrying my babies. I have never felt comfortable in a bikini. I have a 10 year old daughter and DANGIT I want her to feel great in her skin and be proud to be in it. This reminded me that I have some very impressionable eyes watching me closely. I need to be better at owning this incredible body that has been through so much. I also want my son to see the beauty in REAL women. That, no my stomach isn’t perfect, but it has served a perfect purpose and it reflects that journey with my stretch marks and scars. <3
Thank you for posting this! I think so many of us can relate to this.
Preach it!
This post is awesome. I have always felt a twinge of shame about my body whenever I head to the beach for the first time each summer. When I get there, I always realize how silly that it. Everyone looks just fine. Tall, short, thin, curvy, pale skin, tan skin, dark skin, farmer tan, big boobs, small boobs, no boobs, man boobs, freckles, acne, moles, hairy, bald, bikinis, skirted one pieces, and speedos. The happiest dads and mamas at the beach are the ones having grand time with their kids, not the ones peering out from under a towel wishing they looked like someone else.
“Amen-ing”this post, Karen! We have got to be as kind and loving to ourselves as we would be to our best friend… stopping the body-shaming starts with US! – er, ME!
I can only hope to look as good as you when I’m 42. 🙂
Bravo! You look great!
You rock, Karen! Enjoy your fabulous trip with your beautiful family! You look gorgeous!
Karen, you look awesome!! Good for you for loving yourself, you are inspiring!! 🙂
I love and appreciate that you posted this pics and kept it real. As women we catch so much grief about not looking like made-up supermodels all the time. But you know what! We’ve had children, and our bodies change. Who cares? I tell people who comment on my pregnancy-caused freckles and tummy pudge that they can talk after having carried and borne babies….and even so, who cares? if this is the price of having my baby, then it’s worth it!!
I love this post and you are so gorgeous. Burpies and push-ups and strength is where it’s at! You go girl! Seriously, I thought you were much younger than 42.
Work on being and staying healthy and strong and teaching Connor to be the same.
You have such a loving and generous personality which makes you beautiful inside and out.
YES!!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!! You are gorgeous !!! Love your courage, your transparency, and your vibe. I admire you even more now! I will always, always – be jealous of your ability to do a damn brown smokey eye!!!! :>}
Love,
Gina and Gracie
Thank you everyone for the supportive comments! You gals are the best.
Thank you for this post! Posts like this change the effing world and are way more empowering than anything you can find in the beauty aisle! ??? Body love = freedom.
LOVE this post, AGREE with all that is written before me & at 61, 3 kids, 3 c-sections later I can completely relate to not being in pics & hiding behind clothing. Thank you for keeping it REAL LIFE. You are the best, Karen. We love you! (I just don’t know what burpies are – being old and not too hip!)
You look fab Karen! So radiant and happy. Thank you for posting this! It is a little odd that we need to be reminded that this is real life, but we definitely do. I have a cake and chip body at the moment from too many holiday treats, trying to deal with it and just enjoy each day rather than stressing about my treat tummy!
I know that’s right!!! Our bodies are amazing! You two chick-a-dees look cute!
I needed this this week. Thank you! You are beautiful inside and out!
Love love love ❤️❤️❤️❤️
You’re are my favorite beauty blogger. I love that you always keep it real. I feel a lot on social media has become fake. All these perfect pictures on instagram, Facebook and many fashion/beauty/lifestyle blogs. That makes me worry sometimes b/c I have two girls and I don’t want them to think that this is reality b/c it’s not. I so appreciate you setting a good and healthy example for all the women and girls out there ❤️ You rock Karen ❤️ And you are beautiful inside and out ❤️
You are gorgeous! Thank you, thank you for loving your body and showing us we all can do it.
You are one HOT mama! And I personally can not get enough of your HI pics!
And love everyone’s comments too. With age comes wisdom, indeed. I wish my 20 year old self jnew this, but ya know I have a feeling that even if she was told, she would not ‘get’ it.
The only thing I see is a wonderful mom and her adorable daughter loving life and having fun together….nothing is more beautiful than that!
Best post! And your best photos yet! I came to the same realization after baby #2.
What a gorgeous person inside& out you are Karen. Genuine ? Yours is the only blog I look for daily-I always know I will get a smile with some witty writing and makeup&real life musings. Hawaii pics are awesome!
I love this so much! You look amazing and happy! In my 20s I was dancing 6 days a week for hours on end and had a 20-something metabolism. Now I’m 44 and haven’t had any kids but I’ve definitely put on weight. It’s taken a while but I’m learning to accept and love the new me and it is so great and empowering to see others doing the same.
You are beautiful ! Since I’ve had my little boy everyday I feel unconfortable about my body, that’s not fair ! What a stupid society we live in ! I’m 41, have studied economics for 5 years, I have an interesting job, a wonderful son and his dad, why do we all feel ashamed of our body ?! Thank you so much for beeing pridely you, a strong woman. I’m going to try 🙂 (sorry for my english, I’m french)
YES!
You’re just beautiful.Simply beautiful like are women who are comfortable with themselves.Have a nice day.
You (and Connor) look just perfect! Keep rocking that swimsuit, Karen 🙂
Thank you for this post.
Very brave and honest.
You can see by the number of comments that we all can identify
I, for one, am never tired of your vacation pics or anything that you post! 🙂 Good for you for saying Eff It – you are 100% right. I think most of us can relate. I think I look “fat” in every single picture and, for a long time, I shied away from having my picture taken. Then I realized a couple of things (that come with age and experience – HAHA!). First, is that, I looked back on pics where my friends and I thought we looked fat and NOW think “OMG, look how thin we were back then”, so perspective. Also, I could be gone tomorrow and what will my kids have to remember me by if I am not in any pictures with them? They see me every day and know what I look like. Stop being vain and just capture and treasure those moments. The last thing they’ll even think when looking through them is “boy, my mom looks fat”. Get over yourself (this is my inner monologue, not preaching to anyone else). 🙂 PS I think you look fabulous and, even if you didn’t, you’d still be loved by your family and friends. And that’s what’s really important.
Amen, Karen! You look great and the big smile makes you look even greater 🙂 I’ve had some issues with body image lately, as I’ve gained a lot of weight due to an autoimmune health issue. It’s tough when people you haven’t seen in a few years either don’t recognize me or flat out say, wow, you’ve gained some weight! (Manners, people, manners!) I was always the skinny girl, and without trying, so this is tough. Thank you for this post today, Karen. Brightened my day!
Preach on, mama! We are all so much harder on ourselves than anyone else, and it’s crazy! <3
Hi Karen, my child is 18 months now and my tum looks just like yours. I feel you! Sometimes in the elevator when I have time to look at myself I don’t approve…but then I forget about it and we head to the playground. I am having such a great time right now – I really don’t want to waste it with stupid perfect body thoughts. Life is too short!
Thanks for posting this! What a healthy reminder to enjoy life and not get hung up on how you look doing it! This has really made my day – and convinced me to bring my bikinis (and not just my one-piece suit) on an upcoming vacation. Thank you!
Love ur post. Makes all of us rethink our questioning selves and be more confident
Karen! I love this so much! We need to start bombarding media with images of regular healthy bodies so that younger generations know that this is what normal looks like!
Now Karen, you know I had to hop over here to leave a (late) comment!
I am so glad you posted this.
Body positivity and self love for the win!!
You’re right…this is real life and our kids (dare I say, especially daughters?) need to see us being happy with who we are…
You look amazing, by the way!
And I wouldn’t mind MORE vacation posts haha
Thanks for posting this Karen!! I think you look adorable!! I’m going through a rough time with my body now. I had some pain issues related to my spine and some pinched nerves. I had to have a couple of cortisone treatments which made my stomach and waist fatter, so I’m not too crazy about my body right now. Thanks again for your body positivity post. It helps a lot!!
What a lovely positive post!!
You look great! It’s sad that we all feel so self conscious about our bodies. Men don’t feel that way. I can’t tell you how many times I looked back at pictures and thought “why did I think I looked fat/bad, etc?”
Thanks for sharing… just perfect to remember what really matters!!!
I read this awhile ago but wasn’t able to post (baby lol). I kept it in my feed though so I could later. I just wanted to say how brave you are for accepting yourself and even showing the world. You ARE beautiful and you ARE perfect! I think we all have the same struggle. It’s what’s wrong with the world, not what’s wrong with us. Mid thirties (and after having a Mom bod for the 2nd time – my second baby) I suddenly stopped just caring about having a perfect body. I no longer wanted to be someone else’s definition of sexy. I decided that I am just perfect as I am. I still work hard to achieve a fit body and I probably always will, because that’s just something I care about, but I’m not the same body that I was in my 20’s and I’m sooo over trying to be! I am proud of who I am now and I work hard not to ever put myself down ever again. NO negative thoughts! Love yourself and the beauty that is you! Nature made ya (God, the universe, etc), and nature doesn’t make mistakes! Lots of love! You go on with your bad self!! Rock that beautiful mama bod! ❤❤❤❤
Good for you! You look beautiful!!
You are awesome and beautiful! Your blog has helped me so much. Primarily with fine tuning and selecting products to enhance our external beauty. However, this post is so powerful and gets to the real beauty – authenticity and beautiful memories with your gorgeous baby girl. I have a daughter too and hope to always inspire her in the same way. “Perfect is the enemy of good”.
Love this! I wish I had your confidence.
Catching up on some blog reading! Kudos for you for your shift in attitude & how you view your body! It is a message that we should more often IMO. Connor is absolutely adorable! Enjoy your time with her! And you look great!
I never , ever post, I’ve been a lurker for years, but that post from you is beyond awesome Karen. What a better world this would be if everyone felt this way about themselves! I have always had huge(pun?) shame and body image issues, I pretty much let it ruin most of my childhood and adult life. I hope I can be more like you and actually live fully for my remaining years. Thank-you Karen!!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for this. When I wrote this I hoped it would help in a small way; I hope it brings you some peace and confidence. We are all beautiful! 😀
You look beautiful. And all your writings, especially this one, tells us you’re beautiful inside and out.
We’re our own worst enemies… thank you for sharing this post and photos. I’m 43, haven’t had a baby & my tum…does not look as smooth or firm as yours. 🙁
I used to not wear shorts in college because I’d gained weight… I looked better then, than now…but now, I will wear shorts! I’m only a few pounds shy of my highest weight at college & I agree, hindsight is 20/20… the cruel things we said to ourselves as teens or how we thought people shouldn’t have to look at our bodies.
I loved this post! Thank you for putting yourself out there. I can’t even tell you how discouraging it is sometimes when I look at my pictures. I am never happy with the way I look. My hair could be more luscious, my teeth whiter, and my makeup more blended. You look beautiful! You should be proud!
Hi Tara,
Thank you for the sweet comment. You should be proud, too. Hugs!
Love the post, you go girl ?
completely awesome post, Miss. K. *WERK 🙂
Amazing post Karen! I need to remember this more often. You look great and your daughter is so cute!
Karen thanks for your post. This is the brst so far, reading this just made me feel like crying. I don’t always look good in pics so I shy away from them and I have some brown spots on my legs. It makes me not to wear the things that I really love l, I’m always covering my legs and shying away from pics but I ‘ve decided to stop all that cos people don’t even see all those flaws we look at and hate our bodies for. Life us too short for u not to live happily and enjoy the good health God has given to us. All is vanity upon vanity. U rock in ur glorious beauty.
Karen I love this post and am so grateful for it!! As a teenager I’m reading this post from a different perspective and I’m still so in awe and impressed and in love with the loveliness you show in this. Thank you for the message and for your post- and for the record your swimsuit is really cute 😉