#WriterWednesday: A Piece I Wrote Has Made The Top 10!

Think these are cute? Order One.

Popularity has never been my strong suit or something that has come easily to me. I've been rejected left and right for most of my twenty-five years on earth. And it seems that today in the year 2016, that's all anyone cares about.

How many followers you have equals whether or not your qualified enough to not only write a book but sell it

Nothing else matters. If it isn't quantifiable, it's justified as worthless in today's world.

I am SO very sick of it!

For example, today I went to the post office just to find out how much it would cost me to send three signed giveaway copies of an author's book overseas and I nearly left the post office in tears. 

A small hardcover book shipped from Florida to the Philippines cost $22.95.

That means to ship all three it would cost me almost $70 alone and that's just for ONE giveaway!

I started this site in order to feel as though I was putting my skills to work every day: the skills I have a college degree in as well as the talents I've had since I was a young child: my love of reading, writing, and my love of music.

So if you have ANY form of heart at all and you don't believe everything in this world should be about followers, likes, retweets, etc then please donate and know that:

60% of funds raised from the purchase of these cute and stylish designs goes to the running of The Smart Cookie Philes.

40% of funds raised from the purchase of these cute and stylish designs goes to Metropolitan Ministries Holiday fundraiser.

Thank you for giving this site a chance and reading my words.

I hope you make the smart choice and purchase one of these items since the Smart Cookie Philes is and was founded on the principle of being true to oneself and expressing who that person is, no matter what.

Feel free to "espresso yourself this Holiday season."

 I added purple to my hair. I had to feel free to be ME.

Before I go, I have AMAZING NEWS!

My piece that I wrote for my dad for Father's day was one of the Top 10 most read posts on the whole site and I just want to say thank you to all of you who read it and shared it. It's great to know that a simple piece I wrote for my dad not only encouraged him but made a difference. My writing has power and that is AMAZING! Glory to God!

TOP 10 most read posts @EncouragingDads "An Extraordinary Moment" by @ChelseaDeVries. Please share! https://t.co/1Rmb1JfQdm

— John Finch (@EncouragingDads) October 19, 2016

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~ 

#WriterWednesday: How I Found Myself While Doing A Weight Loss Program

I'd hate to start out a blog post like this but the truth is for most of my life, I've felt like I can't really be myself. I've always felt proud of the person I am and the fact that I recognized who I was from an early age. I 've always been someone that cannot just be labeled or prematurely defined.

So recently near the end of August, I was contacted by a Beachbody coach on a Facebook picture I posted making a joke of how my unlimited meal plan really changed the way I look. In a bad way? No. In a noticeable way? Yes.

Plus, being that I've still not yet found the man who will love for me, I started to believe that I must lose weight and become this shredded version of myself in order for my dream guy (wherever he may be or whoever he may be) to love me Delusional thought #1

I also believed that by losing weight and becoming this different version of myself on the outside, I would be able to fit into the SoCal lifestyle when I do move there. Delusional thought #2

This coach gained what little trust I had by confirming my two current beliefs. So I spent $150 on a Team Beachbody Challenge and was beyond stoked to get started. The program I enrolled in was the 21 Day Fix Extreme. You find out your target calories and are supposed to abstain from the use of alcohol, sweets, and fatty fast food meals.

The first seven days I messed up big time because I was using the Shakeology in addition to three meals a day instead of as a meal replacement. So once I admitted my mistake to my coach, she offered to check in twice a day.

I started to really do good. I ended up losing two pounds in one week and for me, somebody with hypothyroidism and multiple food allergies, that was HUGE!

Then, I got to September 21, I woke up and weighed myself and somewhere along the line, I gained back the two pounds. Did I eat unhealthy food and consume alcohol? Yes.

Do I feel that that was the sole reason I gained the weight back? Heck no.

See the week after that first blissful week, I started to get sick to my stomach. I'm talking in the worst way you can imagine, and then some. Plus, I had to go to work while being sick and do long shifts on an empty stomach and while dizzy and lightheaded.

All in all, I loved the workout aspect of Team Beachbody.

Yet, I prefer lifestyle changes that include each meal already suggested or planned out for me.

Do I think Shakeology and 21 Day really work? Sure, if you have the money to do multiple rounds.

I do not since I just got this job at Wal-mart three months ago.

Plus, I don't think it's necessary to spend that kind of money on a lifestyle change/health plan.

Basically, the truth is I am 25 years old and I want to indulge in the sweets, the booze, and the fast food without feeling guilty about it.

Do I think I could lose a little weight? Yes, but couldn't we all really.

My point here is that at the end of the day, this world if FULL to the brim especially nowadays with pressures from every side of this all important go with the flow or get the hell out of our way mentality and I find it to be utter bullshit.

For example, you can see it in the U.S. election. God forbid you actually admit you agree with Donald Trump. You might as well be admitting to all your past and future sexual partners that you have every STD or STI known to man.

As you can see, I am an individual. I think for myself. Have my own beliefs and pride myself on the fact that I tend to go against the grain in every aspect a person possibly could.

That's just the thing that bugs me about the whole Beachbody thing. I realized that I need a lifestyle change that makes me feel comfortable being me not scolds me for being honest about my mistakes and tells me to keep pushing when I was rounding the verge on my second near-death experience.

All in all, as an individual in a free country I would hope to be greeted with a little more respect and admiration, especially more love. And a lot less of rolling eyes and scoffing at me for being NOTHING less than me.

Until next time, remember: Individuality is what makes us human and separates us from the wild animals. We don't all have to follow the pack to survive.

For anyone who's ever felt this way, BE YOU! Do You! And RESPECT That I AM ME!

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

#WriterWednesday: The Strength in Utilizing Grace by @ChelseaDeVries

Sunday morning on my way to church, I opened a Snap that an innocent friend sent me but it's nature was a bit...unwelcome.

Saturday night, I posted a Snapchat picture of me celebrating a victory for my presidential candidate. I won't reveal who that is because he isn't very popular among people with opinions.

I ignored my friends Snap because one thing you will never see me do is openly discuss politics with anyone. That's mostly because throughout my six years as being a voting citizen of the USA, I found that someone, somewhere will always find a way to argue with you about who you think would make a great president.

It all stems from the human's unanimous need to be right which stems from the innate need to be valued, appreciated, and accepted for who they are.

Which turns out was what my pastor was preaching about at church on Sunday and I couldn't believe how sweet his message was simply because I literally just got done telling my mom why I had ignored my friend's Snapchat.

What was he preaching on?  You ask.

Grace. Simple grace. And it seems like a lot of people in church talk about this topic a whole heck of a lot. It's a major theme in the Christian faith, if you consider yourself a member of it.

Yet, one thing people don't realize is that true strength lies in utilizing grace every day.

Grace to be a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Feminist, Hip Hop Music Enthusiast, etc.

This world wants to put everyone in a box and when you go against the grain (it's like I was born going against the grain because somehow I always find myself doing it without thinking), this world will tell you that your voice, your beliefs, you as a person do not matter.

Thank God for grace. What is grace? According to the Vine's Bible Dictionary, Grace is something beautiful; something free. It also means to extend kindness to those that don't deserve it.

Grace encourages individuality. -Ephesians 2:10

God created us to be different. It seems lately that the election has really brought the demons out of the people I call friends because of course, I don't agree with everything they believe and stand for, and they definitely don't agree with me. Yet, one thing I love about the election is that it gets people talking about the issues in our nation that need to be talked about. One thing I love about Democrats is how they want everyone to be happy. One thing I love about Republicans is that they care about the people that easily get forgotten. And one thing I love about Independents is that they respect everyone as individuals.

So with all this talk about politics and who's right and who's wrong, we are in desperate need as a nation for Grace.

Grace is accepting who the Lord created you to be. -Colossians 1:15-18

Grace is accepting people just the way they are. -1 John 4:7-8

Grace frees us from the tyranny of pleasing people -Galatians 1:10

Grace offers people freedom and choices. -Joshua 24:15-16

Yeah, I'm not always popular because I don't always follow popular opinion but hey, I'm me and I'm free. And to the friend who I ignored your Snapchat, I love and accept you for who you are. I hope you will forgive me and allow me the same courtesy.

Until next time, remember: Strong grace not only allows us to be who the Lord wants us to be but also allows us to love people just the way they are.

Love Times Infinity,

Chelsea

xoxo

God Bless!

~Just Keep Swimming~

P.S. If you feel this message inspired you positively, please do share it via the button to your right that reads TWEET. Thanks so much♥