To look your best, embrace the things that make you-- you.

Look at it this way, I am saving you from one super-long, monster blog post...

Everyday since attending the "Just you, only better" workshop this past Friday, I have attempted to sum up the experience in one post.

However, it is proving impossible to adequately cover the key-points that every speaker made, without creating a ridiculously long post. So instead, I'm admitting defeat, and over the upcoming days I will post the highlights from each of the separate segments.

In hindsight,  it was interesting to note that after everything was said and done, the net take-away from all of the speakers (including the hair-stylist, makeup artist, fashionista, nutritionist, yogi, chef, fitness guru, etc.) was the same across the board, and totally on-topic with the name of the workshop.

You are who you are. Your hair is the texture it is, the size and shape of your bones is predetermined, and your body type is genetic. You can fight against everything you naturally are in order to meet a perceived notion of "perfect", but in the end-- it will make your life so much happier and easier to just embrace the unique qualities that make you, You!

Each speaker emphasized the ways that self-acceptance would improve their specific area of expertise. For instance, the Bobbi Brown make-up artist shared that the key of makeup is not to fix your face, but to enhance it. (She also pointed out that the most important thing to ensuring good makeup application is healthy, clear skin *ahem* but more on that later.)

While the Philly Fashionista reviewed some upcoming clothing trends to look for, she advised that each new fashion craze may not be appropriate for everyone. However, with some discretion, most styles can be tweaked to work for any wardrobe. (For example, if huge floral prints are not flattering, choose a smaller print, or perhaps get your floral fix with a printed hand-bag or scarf.)

Bottom line: do not change yourself to fit a desired mold, figure out a way for everything else to fit into your life.

By accepting, and appreciating, yourself, you poise yourself for a more satisfying life. Embracing your curls, hips, personality, and current life situation, allows you to clearly see ways to happily improve yourself, so that you're still just you... only better.