Tag Archives: beauty

Finding Confidence in the Chaos

May 3, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Faith, Lifebeauty, confidence, forgivenessCatrina

I love cleaning. Maybe it’s because I am so easily distracted, but I am far more engaged in a clutter-free environment that sparkles and shines. For me, cleanliness creates confidence.

I didn’t recognize my love for cleaning until I had my own home; before that I felt like it was a tedious requirement that I always failed at. When my husband built our home, I found that anything misplaced or dirty stood out like a sore thumb because everything was so new, but it also had a place to go so I could easily clean it up–especially since I was a stay-at-home mom then. Sustaining the beauty of my home became a rewarding challenge.

Now I work outside the home and my kids are older with busy social lives. With all the traffic and little downtime, it’s not as easy to maintain the laundry, dishes and paperwork. I’m sure you know what I mean. When life gets chaotic, we need to take some time to bring back the order so that we don’t become completely stressed over the little things–like finding sox.

Our soul is like our home. We cannot really shine with confidence or beauty unless we have a thorough cleaning. The reflection we see in our mirror, no matter how perfect, will always feel like a mess in our soul until we experience forgiveness.

We need to forgive ourselves for the mistakes we have made.
We need to forgive others who have wounded our hearts.

Unfortunately, most of us wait until there is so much to forgive (or clean up) that we don’t even know where to start–so we just keep going through life, making more messes.

I believe that the secret to lasting confidence and beauty is allowing God to do the major cleaning. When we take a moment to stop and accept the forgiveness that Jesus offers us, we are empowered to forgive all the little offenses that come daily. Try it. I bet you will find that sustaining the beauty of your soul is actually a rewarding challenge once everything is fresh and clean.

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Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker who is using her 30 years in the beauty industry to help women understand their personal Image Identity (Img.ID) and overcome Image Issues that affect their Confidence. Her message is empowering women to BE and LET BE. You can now find her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul in your favorite bookstores. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Letting Go When Babies Grow Up

April 30, 2014Confidence, Lifebeauty, confidenceCatrina

It may not feel like spring yet, but those of us on Cape Cod, can’t allow the weather to keep us from preparing for the busy season of tourists and houseguests. In between weddings, graduations, proms, recitals and play-offs we must prepare for summer. Today I was filling out some applications for my children’s upcoming events when the reality of what’s happening in my life hit me.

Every time my husband and I send our kids to summer camp I consider being a counselor/leader. When my older ones ventured out from under my wing the younger ones needed me so I had to let them go without me and trust they would be safe. When it was time for my last one to go I ventured out to the woods of New Hampshire with her in an attempt to keep up with other crazy youth leaders who had a lot more strength and stamina than I just because I wasn’t ready to be without her. We had an amazing time together. In fact, after seeing how well run camp was, I had no problem releasing her the next year–but I didn’t. I went back several more years just because I wanted to.

This year Victoria is a teen. As I was filling out her papers today I realized that it’s time to leave the leader application alone and let her enjoy her time without mom around. That’s when it hit me: my newest baby, my book, needs me now.

Tomorrow Confident Beauty will be launched into the great big world as a new publication.

This summer I won’t be pulling floats stacked with kids across a rapid river racing against other counselors while my team cheers me on. Instead, I will be leading my “new girl” through the busy roads of Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Books a Million and all your favorite local bookstores and then releasing her to do what she was written to do. I want to personally thank you for joining me in cheering her on, “Go, go, change a life. Reach that girl, make a difference.”

Whether your spring is a time of letting go or holding on, may your season be full of purpose and power as you, too, do what you were designed to do.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

*****

Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing our Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Is Fashion Foolish?

April 26, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Life, Personal Stylebalance, beauty, confidence, imageCatrina

My grandmother was known around Wellfleet as, “the lady with the hair.” She died at 67 still having a long, red mane, which was always tied back loosely with a simple scarf. As a little girl I was in awe of her confident beauty.

Some people think it is shallow, selfish or vain that so much of a woman’s confidence is rooted in her beauty. But how many of those people feel the same way about a man’s need for strength?

Men are respected for their desire to be strong. Women are expected to be beautiful, yet they are considered foolish for following fashion and assumed conceited when do they look good. This confusing message causes an inner turmoil that I call the “Beauty Battle” and it wages war within every feminine heart starting at a young age. The battle climaxes in our teens and twenties and continues throughout middle age, when we find on a means of coping with it. Some of us decide to hate our beauty and hide it, others strive to attain it, determined not to give up, but very few do not get hung up on it somehow. Studies show that most women don’t really feel confident until they are about 60 years old. It seems that maturity is the key that settles the heart and allows for a peaceful balance of emotions. Mature women no longer consider beauty:

So important that they are consumed with it.
So shallow or foolish that they are ashamed by it.

Instead, they enjoy beauty (even their own!), and respect the human nature with all its confusions.

Maturity releases the trap of comparison because life has a way of developing proper perspective on what really matters. No wonder wisdom teaches us to learn from our elders! I wish my grandma were still around to help me with my confidence conflicts.

If you have a confident woman in your life, be sure to invest some time with her. If you have experienced victory in the Beauty Battle, be sure to share your wisdom with the younger women in your life and have grace for them while they work their confidence out.

*****

5 Reasons Feeling Beautiful Affects a Woman’s Relationships

April 23, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Faith, Life, Personal Stylebeauty, Classic, confidence, Dramatic, Gamine, image, Img.ID, Ingenue, Natural, RomanticCatrina

Confidence is what makes a woman beautiful, but feeling beautiful is what makes her confident.

So, what makes you feel beautiful?

A) A professionally coordinated outfit
B) Being casual and comfortable
C) Makeup and accessories
D) Soft, flowing dresses or blouses
E) Finding something that fits!
F) Wearing strong colors, like black

The answer is different for each style of woman, but when you know, for instance, that completing your outfit with a little makeup will make you feel beautiful, then eyeliner becomes your key to self-confidence (at least until it wears off!). Understanding what makes you feel beautiful is helpful for other reasons as well:

If you feel beautiful, you are. Even on a bad-hair-day, you can leave a good first impression if your attitude shows no shame (and no need for apologies) because it shows that imperfection does not cause you to stumble or become self-consumed.
Confidence gives you moxie, which empowers you to step out of your comfort zone and get involved in people’s lives.
Self-confidence builds the confidence others have in you. If you don’t like you, why should anyone else?
People are less likely to misjudge you. If you feel beautiful, most likely you are dressing true to your character–unlike a bold woman dressed like a delicate girl–which means you are not giving mixed messages.
People are more likely to offer themselves to someone who is true to herself. If your beauty seems as if you are trying to be someone you are not, then others will put up their guard around you.

All this being said, relationships are what life is all about and if feeling beautiful is a factor in making our relationships good, then I think that taking care of ourselves is a win-win, don’t you?

If you don’t know which style of beauty you are, be sure to take my complimentary Image Identity (Img.ID) quiz on my website, or contact me for an individual or group image assessment.

*****

Beautiful Hands

April 12, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Personal Stylebeauty, Classic, confidence, Dramatic, Gamine, Img.ID, Ingenue, manicures, Natural, RomanticCatrina

The time and money women spend on manicures may seem like an indulgence to some, but it is actually a simple and powerful way to invest in her confidence. Whether it is time or money that she spends, her Return On Investment produces a high level of confidence which gives her more energy and enthusiasm.

Women skilled at painting their own nails may choose time as their expenditure over money. If this is you, figure out how long it takes you to do a proper manicure (be sure to factor in drying time) and then purposefully invest your time. This may mean making yourself an appointment as if you were going to the spa. Normally nail polish lasts about 3 days if you do it yourself, but it should only take you half an hour to re-polish. (You might want to invest some money into a quick drying top coat so that your thirty minutes isn’t wasted by smudges.) If you learn a few tricks of the trade, you may even be able to make it last a whole week like the professional’s does. Whatever you do, if your polish starts chipping be sure to take five minutes and remove it right away or your investment will crash!

If you do not have the gift of (or eyes for) petite painting, you may want to spend the money for the professional service. When making this investment, though, you want to be sure to ask for the right color, shape and style manicure so that your hands represent you well.

Naturals: choose neutral colors or French manicures–or skip the polish completely. The formality of most colors competes with your casual nature. It is important that your nails are neat and smooth, which you may be able to do this yourself; just be sure you do. Your nails should be minimal in length. If your cuticle line is slightly square, file the free-edge of your nail square as well. If your cuticle is rounded, file your nails rounded.

Ingénues: be careful with your polish choices, too. Your delicate beauty should not wear anything overpowering (like a bold color). Keep your manicures sweet, simple (not too long, rounded edges) and soft (French manicures or soft pinks/peaches). Never let them get rough or ragged as this contradicts with your gentle nature.

Classics and Romantics: keep your manicures simple (not too long, rounded edges) as well, but don’t hold back on the polish, just be sure the colors you chose are within your seasonal palette. French manicures or a colorless gloss are also a great option for you. Finished nails are an important part of looking professional, which is especially important to the refined or glamorous beauty. If you do not have the skills to paint your nails with excellence, you may want to invest in a little spa time.

Dramatics and Gamines don’t necessarily need coaxing to get to the spa. If you are a exotic or bold beauty, you may be more apt to over-invest. Consider getting false nails because they tend to hold the polish and look great for a whole week or two. The time and money you spend on this service will give you 7-14 days of beautiful hands. Not a bad deal. You can carry off square edges, crazy nail art and strong colors (unless you have soft coloring). Gamines should keep their length short to medium; Dramatics do well with theirs fashionably long.

If you don’t know which style of beauty you are, be sure to take my Image Identity (Img.ID) quiz on my website,

To take my Image Assessment Quiz, click here.

or contact me for an individual or group Supreme Makeover image assessment.

*****

Confident Hands

April 9, 2014Beauty, Confidencebeauty, confidence, Img.ID, manicuresCatrina

What woman doesn’t enjoy a good manicure? It’s not just the pampering that she loves. The finishing touch on her hands makes her feel confident and beautiful. The smooth, clean polish says a lot to others too. Well-kept nails show self-respect and attention to detail and this adds credibility to the professional woman and creativity to the fashion-conscious one. A bad manicure, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. It is hard to hide un-kept hands because they are right in front of the people we serve and we don’t need a mirror to see them ourselves. So why is it so hard for some of us to take the time or spend the money on this important part of our image?

Perhaps the reason is found in the emotional Beauty Battle that we face within our soul. Low self-esteem can make us feel like we do not deserve (or cannot afford) the luxury of being pampered. Our self-consciousness can blind us from the practical side of getting a manicure. This was my challenge before owning a nail salon. If this is you, I encourage you to consider a manicure an investment in yourself, your family and your business/profession. Think about this:

When you feel better about your hands you will be more willing to lend them to others.

Your family deserves your loving touch–unhindered by rough edges.

Your clients/patients/patrons need to know you care about yourself, or they may feel that you cannot possibly care about them.

This “investment” doesn’t require a lot of money. With a simple a decision to give extra care to your hands and nails, you could invest your time and give yourself a manicure. It doesn’t take a professional to make your hands look great. In fact, you can get a professional manicure that doesn’t look good on you and robs your confidence if you don’t know what to ask for.

So what should you ask for?

I will be blogging about that Saturday. Until then, consider what holds you back from investing in yourself. Or, if you are good about keeping up your nails, think about how you feel about the time or money you spend on manicures. Because in reality, whether you have a good manicure that suits you well or completely unkept hands, it’s the balance between making it overly important and not caring at all that will bring C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T BEAUTY, which doesn’t chip or smudge like a manicure does!

*****

What’s in Your Mirror?

December 11, 2013Faith, Life, Personal Stylebeauty, confidence, image, image issues, Img.ID, peace, relationshipsCatrina

You are who you believe you are.

If you do not know who you are, your confidence will waver.

If you believe a lie about yourself (like you are ugly/weak/unwanted), you will be self-conscious, and no matter how beautiful your image is, you will not give others confidence in you.

Sometimes what women see in the mirror is completely different than what she feels about herself. All too often even the most gorgeous of girls speak (or at least think) poorly of themselves. Why do you suppose this is?

The best of miracle products, spa services or surgical procedures may make the feminine heart feel more confident for a time, but have you ever heard of a case were they satisfy the deep longing in her soul for a better reflection? I don’t think it is because women are shallow or selfish. I think it is because God put this yearning in our hearts for a reason (more on that in Confident Beauty).

When I am run down and not feeling well, I like to dress up. Most people dress for how they feel: when they feel run down, they put the sweat pants on or stay in their robe all day. I am not saying I never do that, in fact yesterday’s migraine kept me from ever getting to my makeup, but for the days I have to be productive no matter how I feel, I have found it wise to dress up. I feel better when I look better.

It’s a girl thing, don’t you think?

Not that men don’t have more enthusiasm for life when they know they look good, but I would dare to say (and I think most would agree) that the intensity of this natural desire to look beautiful is stronger for the female gender. Its just part of who we are. Our men may taunt us for it, but they like us looking fine so, really, they shouldn’t. If they only knew how deeply their harsh words sometimes wound us, they wouldn’t make us feel as if we were vain or self-consumed. They just don’t understand. But why do we expect them to? We don’t even give each other grace for this desire! We make each other feel badly for over-dressing or under-dressing!

But no one is a worse critic of what is in the mirror than the woman standing in front of it.

Yea, we are complicated and hard to understand. We need to have more grace for ourselves and for each other, do our best to understand the feminine heart. I encourage you to learn your personal Img.ID so that you can give yourself the makeover that works for you. It is simply a fact of life: women are more self-consciousness on bad-hair-days, and when mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!

Sort of like the days when a man feels broke or weak.

Just sayin.

*****

Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing a Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com

If you are interested in having Catrina come speak to your friends, colleagues or ministry you can contact her on facebook or by email at catrina@catrinawelch.com.

Let Them Stare!

November 7, 2013Greif, Life, Personal Stylebeauty, confidence conflicts, image issues, trisomy 18, unusual beautyCatrina

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I was pregnant with Rebecca when the doctors were trying to count her fingers and thought maybe she didn’t have them all because she held them so tight and they overlapped. Rebecca was my first girl and I was looking forward to the day I would hold those hands in mine and give her her first manicure. But they were telling me that the number of digits she had was the least of my worries.

You don’t hear of Trisomy 18 too often because most babies with this condition are aborted or stillborn; and those that do survive birth do not usually live longer than five days.

Rebecca lived three weeks before she passed away. During those three weeks, and the many, many long ones to follow, we had to wrestle out this stuff with God: Why is life unfair, and what do we do with all the people staring at us?

It wasn’t just our daughter’s uncommon beauty that people stared at.

Losing a child is out of the norm, and it makes people uncomfortable. Many times I’ve had conversations suddenly become awkward after I spoke of my loss; suddenly I became “different” to the one I was conversing with, and unless they had dealt with grief themselves, they no longer knew what to do or say around me; they stepped back and just stared.

Some things just don’t make sense in life, and we just have to choose to trust God or not. It’s not an easy decision, but I can tell you from experience that it is easier to give it all to Him than to become bitter toward Him. My husband and I figured out that if we could not trust God, there was no one we could trust, and we would be completely alone in our battle.

We chose to cast all our cares on Him, and He carried us through … not that the battle is over, but He promises to give us strength to handle whatever comes our way. We look at it like this: If there were nothing “unfair” and we had no weaknesses or challenges, then our lives might be easier, but they would be empty and meaningless.

As they say, “nothing good in life comes easy.” Having confidence in who you are and what your purpose is may not be easy, but it is good!

If you struggle with life being unfair to you, or you are tortured with thoughts about who you are–or who you are not–wrestle it out with God. Tell Him how you feel about it. Ask Him to help you deal with it. Perhaps that is the very purpose for Him allowing it: to draw you closer to Him.

He knows you better than you know yourself. Maybe He wants to use you the way He is using my husband and me. We have come to believe it is an honor and a privilege that others stare at us because of our loss. You see, if we were just like everyone else, no one would really get drawn to God by us.

Is there something about you that makes others stare at you? Let them look! And let God use you! I believe that is why He put your imperfection there; it captures others. Think about it: He trusts you to show His glory far more than the average girl who blends into the crowd.

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Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their image issues. It is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Loosing a Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available soon.

If you are interested in getting these books or having Catrina come speak at your event, you can contact her at www.CatrinaWelch.com or on facebook.