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TO THE PEOPLE WHO SAY I’VE CHANGED…

I realize I don’t owe anyone an explanation, so I’d like to get that out of the way first. I am completely aware that I am not responsible for how people perceive me — especially when their perceptions are askew. Full disclosure, this isn’t for them—it’s for me. Why is it important that I defend… Read More

Shelby’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

How postpartum depression and anxiety wrecked my world… First off, let me start this by saying I know Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety are two different things. However, in the case of my life… they came together. Both PPD and PPA sucked the joy out my children’s baby years like an evil little leech. They… Read More

Coco’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

It was a Saturday during the wee hours of a frigid November morning in 2015 that I had finally been found out. The wails coming from my hysterical sister’s mouth were horrific. We were on the back patio of her home, and I had just confessed to her my truth—that I was a drug addict.… Read More

“Dear Dad” – Anonymous Submission

*The following has been submitted to me, and the writer has asked to remain anonymous. Names have been changed to protect the identity of those involved.* I keep telling myself it’s okay to be angry. How could I not be angry after all the anger that my body endured from a man who was… Read More

Nicole’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

5 years ago I was happily married, with a beautiful little girl, and the home I always wanted.I felt complete. I had no knowledge of the demons that were hiding inside of me. Over time I started to have struggles with the loss of a previous pregnancy, and I wasn’t quite sure how to cope.… Read More

Kirsta’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Self Harm & Sexual Abuse. (Triggers) I grew up in a very chaotic and abusive family, my father and mother were born into chaotic families themselves and had very little skills in the way of parenting, loving, or emotional/self-regulation. They did the best they could, but it left me and my brother very… Read More

Emily’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Four years ago, I was a stay-home mom to two beautiful children. Despite being in an unfulfilling marriage and feeling like a desperate housewife, my children gave me purpose. Over time, the demands of motherhood and beginning a new career to get out of the home and find myself again, proved too much, too… Read More

“Last Tuesday” – By Aubrie M. (Recovering Beautifully)

Last Tuesday, my alarm didn’t have a chance to go off as it is on most days. My one year old daughter babbled softly in her crib; the monitor a beacon on my nightstand. I caffeinated and tip-toed around my sleeping husband and blew my hair dry and snuggled my baby and fed the dog.… Read More

Ambree’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

I recently celebrated six years clean and sober. How is it possible that the before photo was really me at one time.? I can’t believe I’ve made it this far. I remember getting arrested that morning six years ago like it was yesterday. I was so lost and so broken. I was only a shell… Read More

Gary’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

From as early as I can remember, I’ve never felt comfortable in my own skin. The outsides never matched the insides. I had it all growing up. Love from my parents, privileges, opportunities, and material items. Yet somehow, I was never happy and always wanted more. From a very young age I acted out,… Read More

Brittany’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

My parents divorced when I was 11 and I felt like I was robbed of a life. We went from family vacations and getting tucked into bed every night, to scraping up loose change in order to eat. Growing up in the house with my mother who was once a safe, at-home housewife, and… Read More

Shannan’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

I had a wonderful childhood. Hard working father and a loving and attentive mother. I have one brother, two years my junior and we were very close growing up. Middle class family in a beautiful neighborhood. The picture perfect “normal” family. I met and fell in love with a fella when I was eighteen years… Read More

Larry’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

I grew up the youngest of four, in Ohio. I dabbled in every drug known to man: pot, acid, brown mescaline, and I recall something from the late 70’s we took called horse tranquilizers? I’d hang with kids going to keggers, and waking up in bushes with no shoes on thinking it was hilarious. In… Read More

Cayla’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

I knew from a very early age that both of my parents were addicted to drugs. By the time I was fourteen my mom had left us to go be with some guy. When I was seventeen, a senior in high school, my dad was handed four – 99 year sentences. Despite this fact, I… Read More

“The Toolbox”

I wish I could take credit for “The Toolbox”, but it’s actually something I was introduced to when I first got clean. A woman named Sharon would talk about it every morning, at the 7:30 Wake-up meeting. It was actually her answer for everything: Bad day? “The Toolbox”. Boyfriend cheating? “The Toolbox”. Company Christmas party?… Read More

Mission Week – Day Six

Hello my friends! The week is almost over! Can you believe it? If you make it to the 7th day, I will need your address to send you a lil sum sum. Okay so it’s SATURDAY! For some that means a day of relaxation, for others it means crazy chaos because – kids.… Read More

Mission Week – Day Five

My beautiful (and handsome) friends… I spent HOURS yesterday watching all of your videos and I’m still not done. Mannn, I’ll tell you what, I haven’t been so proud of a group of people since my competition cheerleading squad got second place at nationals in high school. I mean, there are no words, really, to… Read More

Mission Week – Day Four

I’m going to be completely honest with you guys and gals… I am so freakin’ stoked for todays mission. The thing is – at first, you probably will not be as stoked, lol. I am though, I’m absolutely giddy, and I’ll tell you why. Today’s mission involves something that terrifies more people than not, but… Read More

Emma’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

The first time I snorted a Percocet, I knew I had found what I had been looking for; something to fill the void in my soul. Something to curb the depression and numb the anxiety. I had tried Vicodin before, but this was different. My body was warm, my smile was almost… Read More

Mission Week – Day Three

Again, you all are seriously killllling these challenges. I am just scrolling through all your pictures in awe, with a smile plastered across my face and a skip in my heart. It is such an honor to watch you guys try something different. Today’s challenge, however, is going to be a turning point for… Read More

Mission Week – Day Two

Let me start off by saying, that after looking over the hundreds of vision boards you all created today, my heart is truly full. It’s exciting that you all are so on-board with this week—but even more exciting that you guys took time out of your day to do something for YOU. I am so… Read More

Mission Week – Day One

Good Morning, *que The Walking Dead music* Today is a glorious day, for it is a day for change! *Pumps fist wildly*. Are you nervous? Have you been obsessing about what we are going to do? Have the excuses for why you can’t do it already begun before I’ve even given the first task? If… Read More

The Coolest Week Ever-Challenge.

Am I jumping the gun by assuming that the challenge week is going to be the coolest week any of us has ever experienced? Okay yeah, probably. However, I do know one thing, and that is that the week is going to be inspiring, uncomfortable, eye-opening and transformative. The idea came to me while I… Read More

Dana’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

June 5, 2011. Dear Diary: Crawling on the filthy floor, dodging needles, old cigarette butts, and moldy fast food wrappers, I was on my hands and knees today looking for a tooth. An expensive tooth. Well, more accurately, an expensive dental crown that fell out of my son’s mouth a couple of days ago.… Read More

Renea’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Food addiction is a hard thing to explain. Even though you can’t go to jail for it – it can leave you feeling like you have no control. Helpless. Worthless. And in the end, it can kill you. People giggle when I tell them I am a recovering food/sugar addict. They respond with “yeah, I… Read More

A Collection of Soul-Feeding Links to Follow, BEFORE You Lose Your Mind.

Hey friends! I’ve been hiding one of my truths from you guys, and I didn’t want to voice it until I had a solution. Thanks to a suggestion from one of my supporters, Tara, I think I’ve found it. I’ve been carrying a tremendous amount of guilt lately. I speak openly and honestly about addiction,… Read More

Kristin’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

*Triggers – Drug Use.* I was so good at hiding who I truly was. To the outside world I was a tall blonde, with long legs, who worked full time as a paralegal for one of the top Criminal Defense Attorneys in my area. In the evenings I went to law school to further… Read More

Jennifer’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Trigger – Domestic & Sexual Abuse, Drug References. So what went wrong?? After high school, I met….him. He was the “bad boy”. He was handsome, charming, said all the right things, and for some reason, he showed interest in me. The first time he hit me was because I made a joke at his… Read More

Ashley’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

When I was one year old, my dad was a high rise window cleaner and my Mom, a school bus driver. We owned our home, paid our mortgage, visited with family and lived a fairly normal life. Until my dad did not strap himself in, and fell off of a high rise building. Fortunately he… Read More

Alechia’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Hi My Name is Alechia, and I am a Thankful Grateful and Blessed Recoving (Meth) Addict. My Clean Date is July 27 2008. Life wasn’t always the Hell I created it to be, I wasn’t always a prisoner stuck in my own mind. At one point I was a normal, regular girl who started going… Read More

Tracy’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

Jesus is a buzz killer…this is my story of recovery. My name is Tracy, I am 47 years old and I am a recovering alcoholic. I remember my first taste of beer. When I was a little girl my Dad would let me “pour” his beer for him. I would get a special amber colored… Read More

Lisa’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

***Triggers – Self Harm*** My story isn’t your typical addiction story. My story begins when I was thirteen years old, and I accidently got a scratch on my arm. At that moment, I remember feeling a sense of pain… But in a strange way, it also felt good. I couldn’t tell you the first… Read More

Kate’s Story – Recovering Beautifully

***Triggers – Graphic drug language and unwanted sexual situations*** I would say I had it pretty good growing up since I was never abused or molested, but growing up with an alcoholic/addict stepfather made for a pretty tumultuous home life at times. Because of the fact my stepdad used heroin and it… Read More

Sarah’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

**Trigger – Miscarriage** I was nineteen when I had my first miscarriage… I started having a severe pain on my left ovary, and I went to doctor after doctor for years trying to find the cause of it—with no success. I was referred to pain management, and it felt as if I had been given up on. My choices were pain meds…or… Read More

Jessica’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

“You know I hate when you just stand there and stare at me,” my husband said from the couch, barely looking up from his video game. “Yeah, but I married you, which means that I get to stare at you whenever I want,” I replied as a mildly defeated, sort of smug smile formed on his face.… Read More

Annie’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

My name is Annie and I am a addict. I come from a family of addicts. My mother, father and siblings battled this miserable disease long before I did. So let’s just say the odds have been stacked against me since I escaped the womb. My parents were also extremely abusive to one another. I can… Read More

Nikole’s Story – Recovering Beautifully

**Warning – Triggers** Growing up I had a tough life. My father was a police officer, and my mom was a prescription drug addict. My father’s new wife not only kept me from my mother, but she also abused me. By the time I was almost twelve, I had run away from home five times. The… Read More

Tiffany R’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

My name is Tiffany, and I’ll be 26 next month by God’s grace. Many years ago I found out through a prescription I had been given, that I liked pain pills. I didn’t think I would end up as I did throughout the years. I partied and was doing things at 13, that most people… Read More

Sylvia Rose’ Story – Recovering Beautifully

Hiyah, I am Sylvia Rose LeBeau. I grew up as a PK (Preacher’s kid) in the south. My future was already planned for me, I would be the wife of a missionary, and travel the world spreading the gospel. Whoops! I began experimenting with alcohol at the age of 12, it was Smirnoff (yeck). At… Read More

Andi’s Story – Recovering Beautifully.

*Trigger Warning* (Names of drugs.) Hi! I’m Andi, and I’m an addict. My clean date is March 23rd, 2016, so I just celebrated 20 months of freedom from heroin (and crack and meth when I was trying to stop the heroin). The following is my journey thus far… The first time I acknowledged that I… Read More

Story Submissions WANTED!

Each week I am going to be posting an inspirational story from someone who has battled, and overcome adversity. You all were so moved by my story, so imagine what a VILLAGE of us sharing our truths can do! Types of addictions will include, but are not limited to: Drugs, alcohol, food, sex, gambling, hoarding,… Read More

About The Mistakes In The Book…

**Picture of baby in hopes it helps you not to hate me…** Hey you, I am writing this from the floor of my bathroom, because I don’t want to stir my husband from his slumber, (lucky bastard). Sleep, what even is sleep? Anyway, I think we can all agree, that grammar and punctuation have never… Read More

Book Update – There’s Good News & Bad.

Hey friends, I’m gonna keep this brief because I have to leave the house in exactly 4 minutes. But, I couldn’t leave without giving you this update. The past week has been mentally exhausting. Making decisions has never been my strong suit (spelling? Too tired.) So making a monumental decision such as publishing a book… Read More

Ignorance is Bliss?

They say ignorance is bliss. I don’t find this to be true. Ignorance in my case, was the catalyst to my self destruction. I remember the very first time I experienced my drug of choice. I was sitting in a computer chair at my best friends house, and burning a Dave Matthews C.D. to play in my… Read More

Why Did I Start Using Drugs?

The smell of freshly baked cookies greeted me as I entered our tiny, two bedroom apartment. My mother often slept during the day, so the delicious aroma was a bit perplexing. My mother was a bartender and worked nights, usually staying out until the wee hours of the morning. She slept during the day and most times… Read More

Two-Faced. The Final Chapter.

Hey Friend! There’s good news and there’s bad news. Which do you want first? I’ll give you the bad news, because by now you already kinda know… This blog series is no longer available on this website. I’m sorry! I have always dreamed of writing and publishing a book, ever since my Dad bought… Read More

Book Review + Giveaway! Ha Ha Color-Me! Joke Book.

Hey friends! I know I said I was going to stop with all the giveaway’s, so when I was asked to review this children’s book, initially, I was hesitant. Once I heard however, what they are doing for children in need with the book, my heart soared and I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of… Read More

Two Faced- My Secret Life. The Beginning of the End.

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #21

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #20.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #19

The Miraculous Mundane.

The intrusive siren of my alarm ripped me from my peaceful island, and suddenly I found myself within the 4 walls of my bedroom. My fan hummed in the distance, a soundtrack to the army of thoughts suddenly invading my mind. I blinked a few times, and let out a sigh as I lazily kicked my covers… Read More

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #18.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter 17.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #16.

An Important Message To My Followers.

Hey friends. The past 5 months since I’ve started my Facebook page have been — incredible, to say the least. Everything has happened so quickly and honestly I was not expecting any of this. I have been averaging around 2,000 new followers a week and it’s totally blowing my mind. I am thrilled, grateful and… Read More

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #15

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #14.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #13.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #12.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #11.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #10.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #9.

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #8.

We Made It On The News, Guys!

Hello friends! And a big fat hello to all my new friends that just joined in on the craziness today! Whew. Speaking of today. I don’t want to braaaaaggggg…..buttttt….. We made it onto the news guys! A real live news channel with reporters and teleprompters and fancy business clothes! whaaaat?!?! In case you missed it,… Read More

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #7.

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #6.

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #5.

Let’s Clear Some Thangs Up!

I’ve included a Christmas picture of me from 1990 for no reason at all. Some of you watched my most recent “Live” video (…Er, sorry about that) and aside from witnessing me flop my “pool toy” around, you got to hear some news I shared in regards to possibly writing a book. Since sharing this… Read More

Two Faced-My Secret Life. Chapter #4.

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #3.

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #2.

My “Ah-S**t” Moment.

Hey everyone! So I haven’t written in a bit and my fingers have been itching to get some thoughts down on paper. Whew, what a crazy week it’s been, huh? Since I posted my “Eyebrow Stamp” video on my Facebook Page, things have been poppin’ off! I have gained like 700 something new followers and… Read More

Two Faced – My Secret Life. Chapter #1

120 Days In- My Time In Jail. The Final Chapter.

My Drug Of Choice Is More – A Confession.

Hey buds! I’m sitting here with a fancy avocado mask on my face, trying my best to stay looking like I’m 21 for as long as possible. But I need to get something off my chest. I have always believed in being completely transparent with you all, ‘cuz you’re my peoples. So I need to make… Read More

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #22

Tonight Was Awesome.

I just got home from a meeting and had to sit down and document the way I feel, because I want to remember this feeling forever. This evening at the NA meeting, I had the privilege of sharing my story in front of a room full of people in early recovery. I have been a… Read More

I Applaud You, Mother Hustler.

Hey friends! You know that moment, when your walking through the mall, minding your own business, and all the sudden in your peripheral vision you see a person beginning to approach you from a kiosk. You try to avoid eye contact and pick up the pace of your step, in an attempt to visually convey the… Read More

120 Days In-My Time In Jail. Chapter #21

You Have To Watch This Message On Marriage. (Bayside Community Church)

Hi friends! I hope everyone had an awesome weekend. Mine was great, thank you for asking. I did a lot of yard work, like, I raked leaves…With a rake, and put them in bags. Basically this means that if you look up the word “adult” in the dictionary, you’d find a photo of me, smiling… Read More

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #20

7 Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming A Parent, That I Wished I’d Known Sooner.

According to Wikipedia.org, the definition of “parenting” is as follows: “Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.” Jesus, that sounds serious. I mean, that’s a lot of responsibility, and since it’s my job to “support” and… Read More

A Quick Easter Message To Moms In Early Recovery.

Happy Easter my wonderful friends! As I sat on the couch and watched my kids running around this morning, my heart filled with gratitude, my mind began wandering. I began thinking about all of the moms in recovery, who are working to rebuild their lives, piece by piece. The moms who didn’t have the opportunity… Read More

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #19

The Egg Hunt From Hell.

Hi friends! I am wide awake because ice cream sounded good at midnight, and we don’t have the kids (whaaa?) so I hopped my fat a** into the car and did a soft serve run. I am on day 3 of my diet, so now that the ice cream has been inhaled, I’m feeling a… Read More

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #18

A Letter To My Pregnant Self About Having A Baby. (With Pictures)

Hey Tiff, Congrats on the news! Woohoo! A baby. Terrifying, amirite? Listen, I know right now you are a bundle of nerves. You are currently experiencing every emotion known to man and are in desperate need of guidance. Since Mom is in heaven, (and we obviously can’t call her there, which is stupid) I… Read More

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #17

How I Snapped Out Of My “Lazy Housewife” Funk.

I’ve always believed in being transparent. Honesty is key for growth. So if I am being honest with you (and myself), on a scale of 1-10, I am at about a 5 on the “awesome housewife” scale right now. I have been sllllllacking. I can’t pin point how, when, or why it started, but you can bet your ass… Read More

To Love An Addict…

To love an addict is one of the heartbreaking positions anyone could be in. You spend years building a bond with this person, and in the blink of an eye, they are someone else. Someone you no longer recognize. It’s their face, their voice, their hands and their smile; but the person they used to be is… Read More

Picking My Battles, Saving My Sanity.

When I was 21, I went to my mothers house because my boyfriend at the time and I were having a fight. I can’t remember now what it was about, but I can say with complete certainty that he was wrong, I was right, and it was all his fault… And he was a big… Read More

120 Days In-My Time In Jail. Chapter #16.

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #15

In Case No One Has Told You Lately, You. Are. Amazing.

From one mother to another, I have some things I feel the need to share with you. They are coming from a place of love, and complete understanding. I hear the deep sighs and I see the tired look in your eyes, and I believe you are long overdue for some appreciation, so here it… Read More

120 Days In-My Time In Jail. Chapter #14

120 Days In – My Time In Jail. Chapter #13

Quick Update

Hello friends! Soooo, some of you may have noticed I haven’t been posting for a bit (or maybe my ego is hoping you noticed, you may have been oblivious to my MIA status because I’m nowhere near as cool as I think I am), either way, I am going to make this brief, but I wanted… Read More

When You Don’t Want To Forgive, Do It Anyway.

Forgive. It is a powerful word. To forgive basically means to accept, and move past what you feel was an injustice to your sensibilities. The word forgive is terrifying at times, because it means letting our guard down – letting someone off the hook for something we feel is unforgivable. We feel that if we… Read More

My Top 5 Favorite Meditations For When My Brain Needs A Vacation.

In 2009 I had my first stint in rehab. I have a very vivid memory of a time when our counselor gathered us all into a room and had us sit in chairs that were placed in various places throughout the space. He dimmed the lights, asked us to close our eyes, and began talking us… Read More

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