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Win a Signed Copy of 'Already Pretty' by Sally McGraw

UPDATE: And the winner is… #12 Yolanda Mosoeu! Congrats to our winner and a sincere thanks to everyone who entered, I was so touched by your responses. xoBB


Win a Signed Copy of 'Already Pretty' by Sally McGraw

Please note: This giveaway has ended and is now closed to further entries.

Today's giveaway is near and dear to my heart. My friend and fellow blogger, Sally McGraw, just wrote her first book, Already Pretty: Learning to Love Your Body by Learning to Dress it Well - and she's giving away a signed copy to one lucky BB reader!

Sal's blog (www.alreadypretty.com) goes beyond fashion trends to cover the issues we all face as women regarding our body image and self-love. She shares thoughtful advice and engages her readers in meaningful conversations about true beauty - beauty that comes from within but can be nurtured and enhanced through the decisions we make about our physical selves and the ways we present ourselves to the world.

Sal's book, "Already Pretty" is a natural extension of her blog and while I'm waiting to get my copy, I have no doubt that it's filled with the same smart, down-to-earth, sophisticated advice that makes Sal's voice so unique and so desperately needed in the fashion blogging community.

So. On with the giveaway!

To enter:
  • Tell me about one of your own personal self-love revelations in the comments section below. What's helped you accept your body? Love your flaws? Made you smile when you looked in the mirror? Write whatever comes to you!

Entries must be posted by 12 noon EST on July 2, 2012 to be eligible to win. Open to readers worldwide.

Here's the back cover copy for the book:

Structured as a fun and accessible self-guided makeover, Already Pretty is the antidote to cookie-cutter style guides. Instead of dumping you into a body type category and restricting what you can and cannot wear, this friendly, funny, body-positive book presents a highly customizable regimen to help you define and hone your own personal style.

Packed with enlightening exercises, mix-and-match figure flattery techniques, and effective tutorials, Already Pretty illustrates how personal style can foster self-love and self-respect. After determining your current personal style and evaluating pieces from your existing wardrobe, you’re taught to define your ideal style – a process that includes identifying personalized figure flattery priorities. These priorities are tailored to your preferences and your unique body, and may be quite different from the style mandates parroted by fashion industry insiders. Working through this process moves you closer to your fashion aspirations, ultimately allowing you to merge your current and ideal styles through careful culling of your current wardrobe and targeted shopping for new, key pieces.

Already Pretty reveals the fundamentals of fashion and figure flattery, but also encourages you to create a style that is both expressive and unique. This book is judgment-free and reader-centric in every way. A true guidebook to crafting personal style, Already Pretty teaches women to love their bodies, dress impeccably, and embrace the philosophy that dressing well is key to living well.
Comments
I used to have very low self-esteem when I was younger. I think as I got older, caring less about how others perceived me came naturally. After I adapted this new attitude, I quickly realized that more and more people will overlook your "flaws" and admire your admirable qualities (personality, sense of style, unwavering confidence, etc). Sometimes, we're our own worst critic. :-)
#1 HilLesha (Homepage) on 2012-06-22 15:55 (Reply)
Over the past few years with changing my lifestyle, I've learned that deep within me is an extraverted girl craving to get out! I am actually outgoing! When I first realized this fact about me it was kind of shocking. I had spent most my life hiding behind food and when I took the barrier away I learned to love myself for who I truly was. It's a great feeling knowing that the smile everyone sees is genuine and that I really can love who I'm meant to be, which isn't suppose to be model size.
#2 Meredith (Homepage) on 2012-06-22 19:22 (Reply)
What helps me to love my body is remembering that most of the time you are your own worst enemy. When you're in a bad mood and look in the mirror, you may see pimples or wrinkles or bulges, but when the rest of the world sees you, they see somebody beautiful and don't even notice the little things you were nitpicking about!
#3 Laura on 2012-06-22 22:27 (Reply)
I'm a plump 59 year old and I've come to accept my excess weight upon learning that plump seniors tend to live 4 years longer than skinny seniors.
#4 Judith R. on 2012-06-23 00:10 (Reply)
I suprised myself a few months back when I realized how much people's reactions and comments to me have shaped how I feel about things in my life, especially clothing. The attitude of, "It's been some ten years now, surely I can let this go and wear whatever I want." has been amazing!
#5 Larissa on 2012-06-23 00:14 (Reply)
Appreciating my body not for what it looks like, but for all the things it can do. It can take me places, dance, run, walk, stretch, reach for things, carry things, and play!
#6 Elise B. on 2012-06-23 10:06 (Reply)
Over the years I have yo-yo dieted always trying to get to "an ideal" weight so that I would look great and feel confident in clothes. Now I have tossed the ideal weight into the trash and am happy to just maintain healthy. I have learned to accept that while some of the latest fashion trends are best suited for that "ideal weight" that there are ways to incorporate portions of those trends into more flattering classics. Love a great wrap dress or a well tailored blazer. Thanks!
#7 Amy K on 2012-06-23 10:57 (Reply)
I am going to be 50 in 4 weeks.I know that I no longer have the body of a younger woman as this body has had three children.I have accepted the fact that my body is going to stay like this forever and it is the only home I have.
#8 Dianne K on 2012-06-23 14:27 (Reply)
I am learning, having been many shapes and sizes, multiple times, that it is those unique things about ourselves that we don't like that hold our outer beauty. That one strange thing that we wish was different is the very thing that makes us an individual. So be it a large nose, weird lips, fat cheeks or a huge bootie, that is the part of us people are drawn to, that is our most beautiful identifying mark. It makes us interesting to look at and approachable. I need to work with that part or area and own it, dress it well with make-up and /or clothing.
#9 Danielle H. on 2012-06-23 19:30 (Reply)
As bad as it sounds, I always tell myself I am lucky to be me because there is someone always worse than me
#10 Rina on 2012-06-24 22:24 (Reply)
At 32 I still battle myself in the self-acceptance department. It's been a long fought battle since my younger years. I grew up with endless ridicule from my peers over my appearance and my family's financial status. I never care to hear "Welfare Bum" or "Ugly" again. By the time I reached adolescence I had enough and attempted suicide. I've battled depression along with a terribly low self-esteem while growing up.

Years later I'm much better off than I was at age 13. My biggest setback in adulthood was the breast issue and feeling inadequate in that sense. Anymore I could care less. After seeing augmented breasts and then reexamining my own, I simply thought "They're fine. They're healthy and I'm fine with that." My husband thinks I'm beautiful and with the right outfit, I feel like the damn sexiest lady around.

Even if I do not win this, I will for sure check this book out. I love books as much as fashion.
#11 Roxanne on 2012-06-25 01:41 (Reply)
Since I've been a teenager, I've always been on the very skinny type. As an African person, that was not the accepted mould at all. All my peers especailly when we got to Grade 9 all filled out in all the right places. I just never got there. you can imagine the teasing that i got which made me very self-concious most of my life. I went as far as drinking shakes and all sorts of things to "fatten" me up but to no avail. I would even wear 2 pairs of leggings inside my pants just to look acceptable. I thought that I would definitely fill out once I had a baby. After having my first daughter I snapped back into my pre-preggers bod literally within the second week without exercising or anything. I then had my second 5 years later, I suddenly had these breast, these curves which should have made me happy but I was still stuck in this distorted self-image. This was the story of my life until I reached the age of 40. In fact I celebrated my 40th birthday in May with a bang rocking a micromini dress. Up until this year, I would always find something wrong with my body. This one morning in February , I caught myself passing the body lenght mirror in the visitors room in my undies and bra fractically looking for something to wear as I keep some of my clothes there. I had an appointment with an important client in 30 minutes. My boobs and bum were just bouncing around and I took a second look and I just burst out laughing and did a 360 turn with uncontrollable giggles and it dawned on me that this was my "aha" moment. I was looking at a mirror and I was not disgusted at all. I thought "stuff" the appointment and I would call with some excuse but I could not really pass up this moment to really relish and cherish this body that has been following me around for the last 40 years. Although it was far from perfect it was looking damn good. I was in the body that I was meant to have and truth be told i was rocking. That was my opinion and despite what anyone would,could say was sticking to it and believe me when I say it felt like a MILLION bucks. I realised that I have been blessed to have the life I have,the kids I have and um sure aint not gonna be bothered by the package that it was in. I have survived molestation at 12 years, a rape at 20yrs, a miscarriage at 30 and a divorce at 35 and hey I'm still standing in my 6 "inch" stilettos. I had come to accept myself with the saggy boobs,bouncy midrift and all,the foul decisions I have made in my life,the fiascos and failures as well as the successes I had. I AM the me I want to keep. Wish I could attach a photo to check me out.
#12 Yolanda Mosoeu on 2012-06-25 03:38 (Reply)
My advice is to love every inch of your body, and to forget about the things that you don't like. Look at all the beautiful things about your body, and self. That even imperfections make you.
#13 Leah Baird (Homepage) on 2012-06-25 13:23 (Reply)
I wish I could say I have conquered all of the negative self-talk about my body, but I am only a work in progress. Whenever those thoughts creep in, I just remind myself that I gave birth to a beautiful baby and though my body may not be as tight as it once was, it was so worth it. For me, on the days that I exercise and eat well I am so much more accepting of my appearance. I think it's because there is no guilt and I know I'm doing everything in my power to take care of myself. marthalynn16 at gmail
#14 Marthalynn on 2012-06-25 14:15 (Reply)
It took me years of stressing about how very pale my skin is before I could accept it. I've decided to care more about being healthy and wearing things that I love-- the color of my skin is so very me, and I'm not going to try to change it anymore! I do love Sally and how she embraces her skin tone as well!
#15 Joy W on 2012-06-26 08:51 (Reply)
some days something as simple as a favorite pair of shoes can bring me out of the body image muck. may not work every time, but it's always worth a shot!
#16 Brunette on 2012-06-27 11:54 (Reply)
Ever since I could remember I've had low self-esteem due to the fact that I was the "big" girl in my group of friends. Mostly everyone loved and accepted me as I was, but I couldn't love me for due to bullying and peer pressure of being a "normal" kid. Over the years, I would eat out of depression and seclude myself from people at times. Battling my weight among other things on my own. Once I turned 18,I was 200lbs going on 300, by pure gluttony and insecurity. Also, I didn't like what I saw around me as far as my family health history. So I decided to change my future and had an inner makeover to cut off all negativity and embrace myself how I am and to improve myself for the better and I did. I am now 24, and lost about 90lbs, not for vanity reasons, but for my health most importantly. Looking at myself a year ago, makes me smile to see how a meek girl could accomplish so much by pure faith and self-acceptance.
#16.1 Tiphani on 2012-06-30 08:26 (Reply)
I guess my moment of revelation came from people watching when I was a teenager. One day I looked around me and saw couples in love. Good-looking people with not so good-looking people, fat and thin, short and tall, black and white, etc. They still loved each other and appearances were just secondary. I thought you had to be great looking to have someone interested in you. I realized they had to see something else in each other, not superficial, something skin deep. It shook me to my core and made me realize these cliches, although sappy, are true:
-you have to love yourself first in order for someone else to love you
-beauty radiates from within

I'm glad I learned this at an early age. Although I was never one of the prettiest girls in my group, it gave me confidence those girls never had.
#17 sarah on 2012-07-01 01:35 (Reply)
a jog always gets me in a happy mood, and then dressing up after in nice clothes doubles the positive effect
#18 Trevor C on 2012-07-01 09:47 (Reply)
I used to be insecure and jealous until I realized I was miserable and making those around me miserable. Once I let go of that- the transformation was amazing! I love myself, flaws and all. And once I had that confidence, other things seemed to just fall into place!
#19 trisha mckee on 2012-07-01 23:16 (Reply)
When my therapist asked me what I would tell someone in the same position as me. That's when I realized that acceptance in my appearance was far greater than the desire to look different.
#20 Sand on 2012-07-02 00:17 (Reply)
I've always had low self esteem until I decided to turn my nerdyness into a plus. I thanked people when they called me nerd or geek. The thing that always makes me smile is my eyes...people have always told me that I have beautiful eyes.
#21 Marie Gonzalez on 2012-07-02 00:24 (Reply)
I have always dressed according to what makes me happy. When I met my husband and knowing he loves me for who I am is the biggest confidence booster. He accepsts me not wanting me to try to be somebody else.
#22 Veronica Garrett on 2012-07-02 07:03 (Reply)
I always have had low self-esteem but when I met my husband I feel better about myself when I am around him
#23 Erin Cook on 2012-07-02 07:08 (Reply)
We have worth as a child of God.
#24 Donna K on 2012-07-02 09:37 (Reply)
i have been overweight most of my life, but when i was in middle school, i learned that confidence is sexy. i have always been confident!
#25 susan smoaks on 2012-07-02 13:14 (Reply)
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