I have nothing to wear!!!!!

So I am packing for a long weekend trip to go see my sisters and my adorable nieces and nephews when I realized that I have nothing to wear! Okay - so I realize it every day when I go into my closet but it always makes me feel worse when I'm going on a trip. I mean you have 3 days to dress for - you think you could find 3 outfits that would make you look cute, not fat, and be appropriate for the events - right? WRONG! It isn't like I don't shop - I shop all the time - it's just that the crap they are selling in the stores either doesn't fit or doesn't like good on my body type. It seems to happen every season, too. When it is winter I think -well I'm sure the summer stuff will be cute and then when summer comes I think well maybe fall will be cute. Vicious cycle!!!

Is it all just a game the media plays with us? Make all the famous people in the magazines look cute by:
1) specially designing stuff for them (and usually giving it to them for free) and
2) if they don't like the way they look in the outfit just use a little airbrushing in the picture and BAM - they are beautiful and their clothes look perfect on them.

Of course this isn't my reality so it took me 1 1/2 hours to pack! First I had about 25 different outfit changes - this shirt with those capris (nope), how about with these shorts (nope), maybe a different top - you get the idea. Then I franticly called my best friend to say that I am fat and my clothes don't fit (imagine lots of drama and screaming on my part). Then she talked me off the side of the building by reassuring me that I wasn't fat, always looked good, blah, blah, blah (this is why everyone needs a best friend:)!) So I tried on another 10 outifts, when I finally pulled my self together, gave myself a good strong talking to about self confidence, you only look as good as you feel, etc - threw 15 things in my suitcase and zipped it up!

My whole morning was then put into perspective when I sat down at work and began to read my emails. Currently I am trying to help out a 14 year old cutomer of mine who struggled with anorexia and has now started a non-profit organization called NoBODY's Perfect. Now why I wasn't thinking about this during the packing episode I'm not sure. So here's my new pact with myself - whenever I try something on in my closet and it doesn't make me feel good - instead of remembering when I used to wear it I am going to but it into the Goodwill Bag! I don't need that in my life - hell my dryer could have shrunk the clothes for all I know! No use making myself feel bad - I actually really like who I am as a person and my clothes shouldn't change that or be able to have that affect on me! So if you see me walking around Raleigh naked you will know why:) Okay - enough about that - I will let you guys know about my progess and possibly shrinking wardrobe (hopefully I will be able to buy new stuff that makes me feel fantastic this weekend!) Anway, so below is the press release for NoBODY's Perfect. If you live in or around Cary, NC please come support this little girl and join me in loving yourself just the way you are!


For Immediate Release:

Local Teen Launches Body-Image Awareness Organization and Local "International No Diet Day" Gathering

Cary, NC – Fourteen Year Old, Abby Kaufmann, has founded the organization NoBODYs Perfect. Using her recent two year experience with Anorexia Nervosa, she has found a passion for creating awareness for teenagers.

NoBODYs Perfect is an up and coming non-profit organization started by Abby Kaufmann, 14. The goal of the organization is to promote positive body-image and raise awareness about the poor media portrayals of what we "should" look like. Abby started this after struggling with Anorexia Nervosa over the past two years and seeing the toll that negative body image can take on people.

Since this is such an important issue facing many, many people today, others have recognized this issue as well. On May 6th, 1992, International No Diet Day was started. To commemorate this day locally, Abby has decided to create more awareness about eating disorders and promoting positive body-image by organizing a local International No Diet Day. This May 6th, join Abby and friends at The Loop (1207 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC) from 6:00 to 8:00 to enjoy great food without any guilt! At this event, there will be information regarding NoBODYs Perfect as well as a "body peace pledge" and a place to ditch those trashy magazines, diet pills, scales, measuring tapes, etc.

NoBODY's Perfect is a non-profit organization designed to promote body-image and raise awareness of negative body-images and poor media portrayals of what we "should" look like. By the end of 2008, the founder of NoBODY's Perfect hopes to have a fashion show, a rally downtown Raleigh, sell calendars, shirts, have meetings, give speeches and just make a difference! NoBODY's Perfect is looking for people of all ages, sizes, weights, colors, heights, complexions and anything else to model in the fashion shows and/or in the calendar. Hopefully, knowing that you modeled will raise your confidence about your body. Money raised at our future events or donated by the public will be donated to either NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) or The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. We are considering starting a fund to help people struggling with eating disorders get the help they need but may not be able to afford.

For more information about NoBODYs Perfect, please visit our website at
http://www.myspace.com/nobodys_perfect_org or contact Abby Kaufmann at nobodys_perfect_organization@yahoo.com