Back in it!

"If the biggest thing in your life is you, you will not make an impact." - Jason Stonehouse

Tonight I get back out there. My passion is people.  People and their stories.  Tonight begins a journey that I have post poned for a few years.  My story has many parts, but this part of my story began in Vegas.  Most of you know, I was given the opportunity to go into brothels, strip clubs and porn conventions with the message that Jesus loves all and that we were there to love on the men and women working in these places. What an honor it was to be in these places. Yes, an honor. You cant just show up in someones space expecting them to trust you, without knowing you.  No matter where you work or how you live, there is trust that needs to be built. The stories are endless of the beautiful people and stories I experienced living there.  That part of my story gets to continue tonight.  

Tonight I will be joining an organization who's mission is to "Through urban outreach and anti-trafficing efforts, empowers the at-risk and unreached, to make a break from the past and build foundations for the future." This next weekend the super bowl will be here in Minnesota. Now, I'm not going to argue about if the super bowl ramps up the sex trafficking that already happens.  I am well aware of the articles going around.  That is not the point.  The point is that whether the super bowl is here or not, it happens, and its not ok.  So, this week, there has been a safe place created for women and men to come when they have been rescued from being sold, this week.  Beds and resources.  I am not exactly sure how it will all work yet but I get to be apart of it.  I will be at this location every night until the super bowl, ready to do whatever needs to be done to get these women/girls what they need. 

This kind of thing is never a quick fix.  If and when girls show up, there is so much that they carry.  If you pray, pray that these girls will feel safe as they walk in the doors.  That they have been made for a purpose.  That they are loved and cared for.  That there practical needs are met, and that there can be recovery and healing in their lives.  

I'm so grateful to continue my journey 

"You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know."
- William Wilberforce

be Lovely is BACK!

It has been so long!  Oh how I have missed the blogging, the makeup, the parties, the people, and the fight!  Now, let me tell you why I have had to miss...

It all came to a pretty big hault when I got pregnant with my first, Oscar, almost 4 years ago now.  It wasnt because anything went horribly wrong.  At the time I was doing be Lovely and just started doing some outreach on the streets of Minneapolis with an anti sex trafficking organization and quickly realized that it wasnt a safe environment for me to be pregnant in.  That was kind of my first realization that I was going to have to take a break.  This is not to say that being pregnant or having kids should stop anyone from their dream.  I actually believe the exact opposite of that....I'll get into that later. I  then had 3 kids in 4 years.

 At first I was not happy about feeling like I needed to take a break from the work I was doing.  But it became pretty clear it was the right thing to do.  It has been an honor to raise my three beautiful and crazy little humans.  I waited impatiently at times, for God to be like, "ok, Rach, its your time now." And at the same time I wanted to live every moment fully with my kids and be content in the space I was in.  So 3.5 years pass, and I met a lovely woman at some random event that said she worked with an anti trafficking organization here in the cities.  And so it begins, the rebirth of be Lovely.

I am now in the beginning stages of working with an organization here in the cities to do what I am passionate about, meeting women where they are at, trapped in sex slavery and the sex industry, to show them love and point  them to resources that could possibly help them escape their reality.  I am so excited about this opportunity and so excited to work along side people with my same passion.

With that random (not so random) introduction, at that random event....it was the "ok" i needed to get back in the lives of women, which gave me the opportunity to completely revamp be Lovely.  be Lovely will still be a for profit business that gives a percentage of all sales to anti sex trafficking organizations that are already doing amazing work. It will still function in the same way it always has.  I will do home parties, events and speaking as a way to bring awareness to this reality. What will be different is the product itself.  I have decided to make my own makeup, starting with lipstick!  I used to use a private labeling company, which was fine for what it was, but I continually had people asking me "do you make the product yourself?" "whats in it?".  So, you have inspired me!!  I have already started testing it and doing tons of research.  I want the product to be natural (truly natural)  but have quality.  I have done lots of research and will continue to, so that I can make a high quality product that everyone will want to use.  A lot of you have asked to place orders, or how to get the product.  I promise its coming but before I sell it to you,  I want to make sure I create the best product  I can.  So,  know that as soon as i'm ready to sell,  I will be plastering it all over social media so you dont miss out, and you can spread the word that be Lovely is BACK! :)

This is my whole reason for be Lovely.  Not everyone has my same passion and not everyone is going to fight against it like I do.  So, this is where awareness and practical steps for people come in.  If you already know my story you know this part, but be Lovely is just a tool for bigger things.  I want people to buy be Lovely product because they love it, but also because, the next time someone says, "I like your lipstick, where did you get it?"  you can reply with an answer of love for people and an awareness of the reality of sex trafficking.

I'm so excited to be back.  I'm excited to live my passion.  I'm excited to show my kids that their mom LOVES peoples stories and wants to fight for them.  I can still be a great stay at home mom that lives the way God intended me to live, loving people through their stories and fighting for and with them.

If you have followed me from the beginning, thank you for being on the journey with me and for inspiring me in so many ways.  If you are new to be Lovely,  welcome.  My old entries will give you my story and will show my heart for what I do.  We are also on other social media so feel free to follow us there to get all the updates and soon....PRODUCT!

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/belovelymakeup

Twitter:
@belovelymakeup

Its gonna get uncomfortable....

Here's the deal, I know that pornography is a touchy subject for some.  You may be all for it, completely against it, affected by it, addicted to it, or are very naive.

I know that most of what I do is anti human trafficking but the idea of pornography and how it affects and feeds into human trafficking is very real, and it has been on my mind a lot.  I used to be one that was very naive about it.  Didn't know how many people it affected and if it did, it was such a foreign concept.  Now after my own life experience and making the effort to understand both sides, I now more than ever have a deeper understanding and a compassion (not pity or patranizing ) for all involved.  If you know my story, you know that I have a good idea what porn is all about.

In my own life, I saw others around me with an addiction to this now $57 billion worldwide industry. Its often said "its a need" or "its two consenting adults, so its ok".  There becomes a sense of entitlement because someone is paying for it. Society feeds into this distorted view.  I have met the people behind the camera, and now have a son myself.  If I thought my passion to combat things like pornography and sex trafficking were intense then,  with a child, it is indescribable.  I now know the love that a mom has for her child. I feel it, I live it.  Even as an infant, the need to protect him is nothing I have ever felt for another human before.

Now, don't think that just because I don't watch porn, that I know nothing about it.  I have been and seen the sex industry.  I've been to the porn conventions where I am with both porn stars, producers and consumers. I've seen the culture.  I know that when asked, some porn stars say they love it and some say that they hate it.  I get that I may be the minority when I say that porn is a very unhealthy way to find pleasure in your own sexual world.

If we can start viewing pornography not as part of sexuality, or a norm of society, but instead view it as commercial sexual exploitation, we can begin to see where the discrepancies lie.

Definition of Pornography:
noun
obscene writings, drawings, photographs, or the like, especially those having little or no artistic merit.
Origin:
Comes from the greek
1840-1850
pornography 

1857, "description of prostitutes," from Fr. pornographie, from Gk. pornographos "(one) writing ofprostitutes," from porne "prostitute," originally "bought, purchased" (with an original notion, probably of"female slave sold for prostitution;" related to pernanai "to sell," from PIE root per- "to traffic in, to sell," cf. L. pretium "price")

The history of the word says a lot.....

When porn is consumed or bought it creates a false sense of sexual reality.  It creates a drive, desire and eventual addiction to wanting more than just viewing.  It gives a sense of entitlement in the real world of someones sex life, and an expectation to have it on demand.  It messes with the natural process of sexuality. Needing more and more "intense" porn is the process of becoming addicted.  I have seen it to people in my life before.  When the act of sex is no longer "enough" it becomes violent or illegal (child pornography) addiction.  When someone thinks they need it and will force someone (married or not) to give it to them.  

In a book called The Johns, Victor Malarek writes, "The message is clear: if prostitution is the main act, the porn is the dress rehearsal."

The connection.....women and children are being sold into prostitution and sex slavery.  There are times that a victim will be recorded in the act of prostitution and it will be sold without their consent. 

Porn is just an entry way into the mind that makes people eventually think that buy sex on the street or forcing someone to a sexual act is ok.  

I don't want to make this just a religious or moral issue.  This is a social and brain function issue. 

My goal is to look into how this affects someones brain scientifically.  It's easy to just say,  "I don't believe its healthy or right so you shouldn't either."  Although it makes sense to me, I know that convincing others of that is not so easy.

So get a little bit uncomfortable and start having the conversation with people in your own life so that this doesn't become more of an epidemic than it already is.....

How free are we?...

This week I've been watching the news more than I usually do, due to the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.  First off, I want to acknowledge, remember and give respect to the individuals who lost their lives, and the families that are now hurting because of it.  I was grateful to see all of the people who helped and continue to help the victims of that day.

Because of that tragedy, I head the word "freedom" being spoken a lot.  There are two different freedoms here.  The freedom we have because of the men and women who have fought and sacrificed for us to live in a place like the United States of America.  Now, dont be confused, I am very grateful and honored for that freedom.  My brother was a sniper in the Army, who fought bravely for this country and I am very proud of that.  He continues to serve in the National Guard.

The freedom I am going to speak of, is one of the kinds that President Lincoln fought for. The kind where slaves no longer exist.  Where people aren't forced into work, sex or any other act that they did not choose.  I think that Lincoln would be disappointed.....thats not the right word, more like devastated, to know that slavery is bigger now than it was then.  Not to say that he fought for nothing, because he didn't.  He made a huge impact on our world in that way and passed laws to fight and end slavery.  For that he is a hero.

So often as Americans, we feel untouchable.  Like, nothing bad happens here because its America, the best place on earth to live.  It may be an amazing place to live but we too have our dirty little secrets.  The problem is, this secret of slavery (human trafficking)  is not little...its massive.
I often think, "man, I'm glad that I didnt live when there were slaves, because it would have made me so angry to see people treated like trash/unfair/inhumane. I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut." (speaking of black/African American slaves).  Now let me challenge those of you who have had that same thought.  Think of how passionate that makes you.  What would YOU have done?

I get that slavery was legal at one point in our history.  Does that make it right? Just a thought.

The slavery that happens in our FREE country is BIGGER than it has ever been in human history.  Does that bother anyone?  Some people don't know what human trafficking is.  Does that bother anyone?  Some people think that its a problem in lots of other countries far from here, but not the United States of America.  Does that bother anyone?

How far are we willing to go, to tell people?  Ignorance is not bliss.  The problem lies within our own culture.  Porn.  Prostitution. Our young people, who are runaways, or just a young girl or boy from your local elementary or high school are feeding grounds to be sold into slavery/sex trafficking.

I cant say it enough....IT HAPPENS HERE!!! Please, take the time to look up the stats in your area.  I can tell you that Minnesota (the innocent midwest)  is number 13, for the most highly trafficked metropolitan area in the United States.

Please read this story.  http://www.startribune.com/local/east/202327981.html?refer=y
One example in St. Paul.  The names of towns surrounding this article are familiar if you live in Minnesota.  This is local.  It was a sex trafficking ring controlled by one family.

Educate yourself. Educate others. Take action.

Ways of action:

Buy from people you know are fighting this problem.  From clothes, to makeup to food.  Your purchases make a difference.  Prices dont matter when you put a face to the cost of destruction.

Find local initiatives.  Join them or fund them.

Talk to the people in your life.  A lot of people dont know that it exists.  And if they do, they dont understand the affects they have on feeding into it.

be Lovely is a tool for me to offer people to buy makeup that gives to help fight human trafficking. It is also an education tool for people who use it.  If you wear makeup, I encourage you to check my line out. belovely.com

Lazy day? Brighter day.

Its almost spring so I figured it was a good time for a blog on a simple makeup tip!

There are days when you dont feel like doing much as far as makeup goes...you're tired, you ran out of time, its too much work.  Whatever the case may be, there are ways to make you look like you did more work then you really did! :)  As a makeup artist, I have those moments too.

Its all about the lips.  If you make those look a little dramatic, you dont have to make the rest of your face that way.  Actually,  "the rule"  is, if you have a dramatic lip, dont have a dramatic eye, if you have a dramatic eye, dont have a dramatic lip.  I believe there is a little leeway.  Not much of a rule follower if its what inspires you  :)   BUT,  it helps when you just dont feel like it.

First thing first.  This may seem like work, but its just a little up keep that you can do daily that will help the lipstick stay on and make your lips smooth for application.

1. HYDRATION: Drink lots of water....I know I know...but, for those of us in these cold winters, it doesnt take long for our lips to start peeling, cracking and burning. Also, find a lip balm that suits you, to keep them moisturized.

2.  EXFOLIATE: When you are in the shower, take a wash cloth and go over your lips as well.  It will take the dead skin off, for that smooth feel.

3. PRIME:  When you use a primer on your lips before you put lipstick on, it will help the color have a long lasting effect.  Primer helps lipstick to stay in the lines too...no bleeding lipstick where you dont want it.

Touch up whatever skin you feel like you need to on your face (if any),  throw on you favorite mascara, and finally a pop of color on those lips!  Its spring, which means, bright and fun!

APPLICATION

If you dont mind constantly reapplying your lipstick all day, then you dont need this part.  But if you dont want to have to worry about it.....

1. Prime.  be Lovely (my makeup line) has a great primer that works on both eyes and lips.

2. If you have a lip liner color that matches with your lipstick, apply that first.  (If you dont have a liner, thats ok.) Outline the outside of your lips and continue to gently fill in the rest of your lips.

3. If you dont have a liner, this will be step 2 for you.  Apply the lipstick..I'm not particular how I apply my lipstick on myself. Use a brush, your finger or the lipstick tube itself. Whatever works for you.  Just stay in the lines! :)

4. Dab coated lips with a tissue.  (Place tissue between the lips and close....repeat)

5. Reapply a quick/thin coat of lipstick again and dab once more.

Thats it!  It stays on!  After eating a meal, I have had so many people comment about how my lipstick stayed on my lips so well!  It has everything to do with the prep, application and the lipstick itself!

You can go to belovely.com and pick out your favorite shade, along with a primer!  If you live in the area and would like to have a party to pick it out in person and bring all your friends let me know on facebook !  be Lovely gives 10% of all sales to help fight human trafficking!

Fun suggested spring colors from be Lovely! (Click on the color to see it on the website!) There are many colors, these are just some bright ones! So if you dont like any of these, check out the many options.  (33 colors to choose from)

Coral:
Gladys

Red:
Constance

Plum:
Sarah

Cool Pinks:
Amelia
Eleanor
Lucy

Constance

Constance is a girl in a music video, a spark that lit a passion, and then a lipstick color....

First, there came Constance, the young girl in a music video that was trafficked to be a sexual pleasure for a man in another country, she then was filmed to become a sexual pleasure for another man, in another country looking on the internet for pornography, with a family who thought everything was as it should be. This was the spark..... PLEASE WATCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqyLRpGgxRs

After being behind the scenes of this music video by Mr. J, I started the research....

-There are 30 million slaves in the world today, more than at any other point in human history.

-80% of all trafficking victims are women and children who are forced into the commercial sex trade.

-The average age of entry into commercial sex slavery in the United States is 13!

-15% of men in the United States have paid for sex at least once.

-Human Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.

-The murder rate for an American prostitute is 204 for every 100,000.  It is the most dangerous job in the world.  This DOES NOT include disease, physical abuse or starvation.  This is MURDER alone.

-The Twin Cities is the 13th most heavily trafficked metropolitan area in the United States.

-According to one service provider, 8,000 to 12,000 people are estimated to be involved in prostitution/sex trafficking in Minnesota every day.

Then the Lipstick.  How does lipstick even make sense?!  Well, it does now! :)  Constance is one of my best selling lipsticks in my line, be Lovely.  Without Constance, there would be no, be Lovely.  Now I am able to have a business that does my passion.  A business that will one day be well known because of the quality and the cause of the purchase.  I will be joining a team on a fashion blog this week!  Makeup is my business so makeup is what I will be talking about.  Follow us both to get looks that work for you!!  Fashion Fix with Linsey Kuhn! http://lifeinfashionwithlindaisy.blogspot.com/2013/02/more-on-board.html

I need YOU!

In this entry I wanted to talk a little bit about my business, be Lovely.  I am grateful for all the people that keep up with be Lovely through reading this blog, facebook, twitter and buying product, and want to keep you in the loop! First off, be Lovely is a for profit makeup line that I created almost a year ago!  As of now I give 10% of all sales to help fight against human trafficking and other social injustices.

It has been quite a ride for me.  Lots of learning as far as the business side of things go.  I still have lots to learn, and I am always grateful for ideas that people have about how to get be Lovely out there even more!

One thing that I want people to know is that because it is a for profit business, mixing the giving part for a new business can be hard.  More than anything, I want to be able to increase that 10% as quick as possible.  As a new business, I have to keep in mind that to stay afloat, I have to make money at the same time.  That totally conflicts with my heart sometimes, I must say :)  My passion for reaching people and relating to people is so important to me.  But, I do have to check myself because I chose to make it a for profit and not a non profit.  I want to show that you can create a business that makes money and still be able to give back with your profits.  I believe that I am well on my way.

I want to share some of my goals with you for a few reasons.  One, to motivate me to work hard for the goals I want to reach. Two, in case you have ideas of more things that I could do to help be Lovely succeed. And three, connections!  If you want to buy makeup, tell others or connect me with people that may be interested in be Lovely makeup.

GOALS:
- To be involved with at least 4 big events this year. (I am working on getting into a Professional Womens Workshop in March. It costs $1000 to have a booth, that I dont have yet)
-To raise the percentage that I give back to something higher than 10%
-Reach one person (famous/influential) this year, that would do something big or small to promote be Lovely makeup and cause.
-Be a featured product on fashion/beauty blogs
-Blog more often here about human trafficking and beauty.
-Sell my product in boutiques/salons

My goal will always be to reach and love people no matter what their stories.  Also, to challenge and educate people on the issue of sex trafficking.

These are a few of my over all goals.  I never want to limit what be Lovely could do. This is for your information but also, to get feedback and/or connections that people could offer.  be Lovely is my heart and I want to continue to learn how to do all of this but also to involve people in this mission.  Follow be Lovely on facebook (like our page) and twitter!

Thank you all so much for your support, love, and taking on the action of what be Lovely is calling us to be apart of.

Love,
Rach (owner of be Lovely)

"We were the lucky ones"

This blog entry is one of the reasons I do what I do.  This is why be Lovely is so important to me.  This is how lives are changed.  Most of this blog will not be my writing, but writing of a friend who came to me asking how she could help with be Lovely.  She has that same passion as I do, just with a different story.  I asked her if she would be willing to write out her story and have me share it with the community that follows be Lovely.  Stories change people and I believe by telling her story, lives will be changed and redemption had.

Now, this is real. By real I mean, this actually happened. By real I mean, these are the harsh realities that have been unmasked.  I believe that people need to hear those harsh realities in all their intensity so there is no room for being ignorant if you choose to read.  So prepare yourself to get a glimpse of what I would describe hell on earth for a young child.

The Truth

I never had a childhood.  Not in the real sense of the word.  It was stolen from me before I was old enough to know what that meant.  My brothers, sisters, and I were the victims of child abuse. 

When most people trade memories of their earliest memories, I stay silent.  I have no memories of the time before I was rescued- only nightmares.  I have a nightmare of my older sister running to get my baby sister, who couldn’t even walk, off of the stairs as the man I knew as a father threw the woman who called herself mother down them.  I have memories of being chased by the cops while we were in a white van… to this day, I still start shaking when I see white vans.  I have memories of being so hungry, that eventually your body stops registering it as hunger.  Of watching a six-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl divvy out ketchup and spinach to their three younger siblings, because that “mother” and her “boyfriend” left all of us alone for over a month, and that was all there was to eat.  And, when that disgusting fare was gone, wishing for more of it. 

I have other memories as well.  Much, much worse.  Of being told that a body part tastes like butter.  Of being forced to watch people have sex.  Of being forced to have sex- both with those three adults, and my siblings.  I have memories of standing, huddled in a corner, all five of us, not making a sound.  Of them raping us right there, in front of each other, and thinking that that was normal.  All they had to say was “Next.”  It would only be worse if we tried to fight- the sex was bad enough, but they would find other ways to violate our bodies.  They would whip our behinds until they bled, with a belt, and then rape us anally.  That was if we were lucky.  If we weren’t, they would starve us, and punish us that way.  No, the only time that we fought back was to defend the baby.  I remember the “mother” coming over and grabbing the baby from my sister’s arms, and that my sister screamed and ran after her, wrenching her from their grasp and shoving her at us.  Of her giving herself to them, so that they stopped going after that tiny innocent.  We were all afraid for our lives, but even then, we all knew that she would die if they did that to her tiny body. 

Finally, we were told the worst news of all.  It happened one morning, when we were staying in a run-down motel.  That my sister was “old enough to earn a living,” and that we “would all have to learn”.  That they were selling her.  That didn’t make sense to us.  Then they told us that she wouldn’t come back.  My sister started to scream, and fight, as they dragged us to the door.  He punched her, hard, and told her to shut up and “be nice”, or they’d hurt the baby.   Then the door opened.  A man stood there.  None of us made a sound, including my sister.  They all spoke in whispered sentences, and then all sorts of things happened at once.  I don’t remember much of it, except that we were all ushered out of the house and into a bunch of cars.  They tried to split us up, and I remember shrieking when they pulled my older sister away from me.  A cop had to grab me and shake me, so that I would listen to him.  He said that they weren’t taking her away, but we all had to go to the station- that they were the Police, and we were finally safe.  I didn’t know what that meant.  I kept asking if that meant that my sister got to stay, and not stopping until he said that yes, they would try to keep us all together.

We were the lucky ones.  Every year, there are hundreds of children who do not get rescued.  And the rescue of the foster care system is, in some cases, worse than the situation these children have left.  Some of the parents rape the children, and some beat them mercilessly, treating them like slaves.  But these particular children never fully trust, anyway.  The boys usually have so much anger, that they end up on the wrong side of the law, with juvenile and criminal records.  A lot of people label them “unsalvageable”, because they can’t be trained to be good members of society.  And the girls, statistically, prostitute themselves by the time that they are twelve, and kill themselves before they turn eighteen.  This is not happening in some foreign country; this is the United States of America. 

I have a friend who confided that her mother sold her to a drug dealer for a hit, and that she was raped by multiple men that night.  She was twelve.  And her mother, when she came to pick her up, told her to sit in the back, because she didn’t want to ride beside a “slut”.  That girl joined the Army to change her fate. 

Our daughters and sons face this, every day.  And the world continues on in blissful ignorance.  I now have a friend who recently told me that he has a porn addiction.  It started as normal things.  Then he started to watch things that were slightly more daring, slightly more violent.  He said that it is now to the point where he looks up pictures of nude families, to see the children.  That that is all that stops him, because seeing the children makes him hate himself. 

We all hear of the criminals as though they are “born that way.”  I challenge you to think differently, and to realize that they are created.  That somehow, at some time in their life, they started inching their moral boundaries over bit by bit, until their perspective of right and wrong became so skewed that they no longer saw that the people that they were hurting were more important than their hunger.   People don’t like this perspective- it’s dangerous.  You see, the perspective that it is about choice, and addiction, and a desire to rebel, means that any of us is capable of becoming that monster.  It means that, if we don’t take reign of ourselves, and own our brothers and sisters of the world as “our responsibility”, then we share partial blame for what happens.  That the choice to look the other way is not the right one, and that the only way that this can stop is to put people before things.  That somebody else’s needs outweigh your own.  Recognize the consequences of turning on that little bit of porn before bed, or after your wife is asleep.   That when a girl or boy is standing on a street corner, she/ he didn’t ask for that life.  No matter how much you try to tell yourself that she/he is an adult, and it was “their choice”, please force yourself to remember my story.  That girl could have been me, so easily.  And that boy one of my brothers. 

Everyone was a child.  Not all of us got to experience what that is supposed to mean.  But the choice to change that for the next generation begins with you and me.

I want to thank my friend for being brave.  Its not easy to put yourself out there. But her heart is to bring awareness and redemption.  My goal for be Lovely has always been a way that stories like this could be shared. Voices that have been unheard....heard.  If you have a story that relates to human trafficking that you would like to share, please, send it to me.  I will be making a tab on the be Lovely site for stories to be shared. be Lovely is an outlet for people to bring awareness from wearing the makeup to telling their story.  email: rachel@belovely.com

Vintage Entries...from a girl with a passion

This week has been all about me looking back to where it all started.  Getting real with myself and my vision/passion.  So here it is....

I found an old notebook with a few fun things in it.  First thing was notes on helping with the creation of the music video, "Constance".  Constance was where it all began for me. Its when I first heard about human trafficking for the first time and how it affected the porn industry, brothels, strip clubs, and all areas of the sex industry.  Its when my heart and mind opened up to a world I knew nothing about. And now has become the name of my signature red color in my makeup line be Lovely.

The entry talked about the locations we were shooting at, the actors, the props and jobs that I had to help with to bring the final project of this heart wrenching music video done by Mr. J.  Part of a moment that changed my life forever.

The second entry I found was my first "gig" with makeup for a porn star.  I feel like I need to quote myself so you get the full emotions that I was feeling in that moment.

January 9, 2009 (Las Vegas, NV)

"Today is my first makeup gig.  I am terrified. I am thankful. I am hopeful.
I am terrified cause I feel incapable.  I am thankful because my dream is coming true. And I'm hopeful because of touching a life.
Krissee and I are going to Room 2794 in Planet Hollywood to meet Alyssa.  She is a porn star that we met at the convention.
God, I need you to work miracles today.  I know I cant do this alone. I am way out of my comfort zone (which I am thankful for).  I need your help with my words with Alyssa and the other girls.  I want her to feel loved. I want her to know that there is better for her life because you have created her.  I need you to guide my hands and creativity with the makeup.  This is my first "client".  I have only practiced a few times.
I want Alyssa and the other girls to see you in me.  I want them to not only know your love but feel it.  God I need you more than I ever have before.  This is a huge step and I am excited!  Do big things even through this one time.  May more opportunities come because of it.  K....here I go.  Thank you for everything.  I do this in your name, to love others."

A lot has happened since then.  My life has turned upside down.  I've had some of the hardest moments in my life since then.  I've failed, I've thrived, I've learn, I've grown, but the one thing that hasnt changed is my heart to love people.  No matter where someone is in life, no matter what they have done, no matter how many times they screw up, no matter what they think of themselves...one things stands firm, that I will share a love that I have experienced myself.  One that will never fail, and one that anyone can feel because nothing done is too big to forgive.

I'm not one of those people that shouts from the rooftops that I am a Christian, its not the first thing that I bring up when I talk to people.  I am a Christian but I fully believe with my whole heart that it is an action. Its not a religion or an excuse, or a right to tell people they are wrong.  Everyone has their own way to do life and I claim this one.  Everyone is made for different things, but we are all made to do great things. That is what I know and believe.

My heart has the same passion as it did back in 2005 when "Constance" was created and in 2009 when I had my first "gig".  Those were two pivotal moments in my life that have helped shape who I am today. I want everyone to know that they are loved. I want to use makeup to allow people to see for themselves that they are beautiful because of the story that makes them who they are, not just the colors that enhance the outer beauty that they have been given.  That everyone, has something to offer. EVERYONE.

be Lovely is my tool for others to use to spread a love for people and an awareness on human trafficking. It is a way of life. Its a way to bring all kinds of people together. I am proud of be Lovely and the people that have been apart of this vision with me.  I am forever grateful.  To all of you that have supported be Lovely by buying makeup and in turn sharing what be Lovely is all about, to those that have heard the message and been touched, and now spread that same message....you get it, you get that be Lovely is an action and I thank you.  Lots of love....Rachel

Alleged drug deal gone bad....

Alleged drug deal gone bad....that was how numerous deaths were described as we remembered the lives of women who have passed from human trafficking.  So many of these young women and girls deaths dont get investigated but instead slapped by a label because they are perceived as "throw aways".

Prostitution is the most dangerous job in the world, despite what you may have heard.

I had the honor to march with many people from Breaking Free and around the twin cities down the streets of St. Paul last night.  We marched for the women and girls who no longer have a voice because of the violence that happens all the time in the trafficking world.

We had a candlelight vigil to honor these women. Their names and "how they died" was read allowed as we stood outside.  I held on tight to my candle and protected it from the wind.  I wanted so badly for the flame to burn as long as it could.  I wanted it to burn bright to honor the women who died in such horrific ways.  I wanted it to burn long because I knew that those women died scared and crying out for someone to help them.

As I held my candle tight and protected it from the wind I looked across the crowd of people who were also holding their candles, just as tight, and saw a young woman...standing there with tears rolling down her face.  A girl that knew that life.  A life of beatings, drugs, rape and sexual exploitation.  She knew what was being talked about in a personal way.  I saw her and held even tighter as a tear rolled down my face. Knowing that I didnt know exactly how she felt but knew that my heart felt hers.

My heart aches for her and other women trying to find a love that that industry tears apart.  I want so badly to be able to really connect with women like her.  Women who are loved and they dont quite know how much yet.  Women who feel broken but can be redeemed.  Women who dont feel worth anything but have more value then any dollar amount. Who dont feel beautiful but who are beautiful because they were created for amazing things.

These stories make them who they are but these stories do not own or define them.

I will never be silent in sharing their stories and giving a voice to those its been taken from.

Thats Slavery...

"When a little girl is sold by her impoverished family, or girls my daughters' ages run away from home and are lured- thats slavery"  -President Obama

That was a quote from President Obama who spoke about Human Trafficking at the Clinton Global Initiative. It was actually a very good speech.  He really spoke a reality into the situation. That brings me to this story.

I got to meet with Dick Wexler today.  He is one of the co directors of Not For Sale Minnesota.  We are two very different people but after meeting I know that that does not matter. We both have a strong passion to do what we can to fight human trafficking and this morning, that is all that mattered.  Telling each other our stories and how we got to the point we are at...its truly a beautiful thing.  No matter who we were or where we can from, how old we were, different life experiences...we shared our passion for fighting human trafficking for a good 2 hours.

side note: As most of you know, I give 10% of all my sales from be Lovely to Not For Sale.  When I chose them, it was really important for me to choose an organization that was involved both locally and internationally.

While standing in line at Caribou before we sat down to talk, USA Today sat at the counter with the front page headline reading "Thats Slavery, Children's advocates are battling the nations plague in plain site"

This is something that the government sees too.   Dearest readers, this is modern day slavery.  Something that the past fought so hard to abolish.....it's still here...it may be a different kind but its more alive than it ever has been.  So onward we fight.  but before this ends here is a little reality check I will leave you with.

Readings from USA Today Thursday September 27, 2012

"Across the nation, the stories arrive with varying imprints of the callousness and depravity of the sex traffickers.  One girl was sold during a sleepover, handed over by her classmate's father. Another slept with clients during her school lunch breaks.  A third was chocked by her "boyfriend", then forced to have sex with 14 men in one night."

As you dream your big dreams....

"We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make, which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot for see."  -Marian Wright Edelman

So, recently I have been challenged by something. Over the past few months I have been extremely busy.   Going to Africa, getting married, honeymoon, and visiting family. During this time I have to admit that I was anxious to get back and continue building be Lovely. Not that I didnt enjoy all those moments....cause I did...tons.  I just want be Lovely to grow. I want people to know the vision and be the action of what be Lovely is all about.  I want to share the passion in my heart and make it infectious.  

But, one thing I struggled with in the last two months was understanding that I could make a difference in the everyday life I was living no matter how busy I was. My actions needed to be my voice.

I dont know if anyone has ever read the book "How to be Lovely" by Melissa Hellstern.  But my business be Lovely is partially based off that book and how to live genuinely with grace. It has been one of my goals since I read the book myself. 

Learning that its not about making it big by things you accomplish in life (although great) but the actions and words you share with others while accomplishing those things. When you make life about caring for others and putting them before yourself it makes life easier on you.  Not that you shouldnt take care of yourself....thats not the point.  The more often you care for others the less you think about the small details in life that dont matter and your world becomes revolved around giving life to situations instead of pulling from them negatively. 

Thoughts as you dream your big dreams. Dont forget about the "small" details, because those end up being the big ones that change lives.

love because of their stories

I finally get to sit down and think about the past few weeks in Uganda.  Its hard to gather all my thoughts because we were constantly meeting new people, hearing new stories and seeing how change was being brought because of organizations there in Uganda.  So this may take a few blogs and very random thoughts to say what I want to say.

I came back so encouraged. Encouraged by the amazing friends that I met. Encouraged by the tragic turned beautiful stories I heard. Encouraged by the motivated individuals of Uganda who have given their every day life to make a difference in a torn place.

A torn place, just like here in the States. It may not look like the same kind of torn but, indeed, they are both torn and in need of passionate people to change the ugly reality of human trafficking.

Everywhere you go, human trafficking exists.  Small villages, big cities, suburbs, and everywhere in between.  From the most unlikely places, that look like perfection, to the ones where you can point and almost be for sure that it is happening there.  I saw differences in how human trafficking is perceived and the ways of going about the effort to end it.

In my mind there are three stages of fighting human trafficking.  Of course there are details in between, but this is how I simplify a complicated issue.

#1 Awareness- This comes in many forms. Media (posters, radio, tv, or billboards), word of mouth, story telling, being a real life example of change.  The list goes on......

#2 Meeting someone where they are at- Stepping into the middle of the circumstances to be a friend and show love in the middle of whatever situation someone is in no matter what.

#3 Aftercare- Providing a physical, emotional and/or spiritual safe place for victims of human trafficking to go to tell their story and continue living as they have been created to live.

That being said, it will be easier to understand what I learned.

In Uganda awareness is lacking.  There are so many dedicated people that want to spread the word of the desperate state that human trafficking has caused but to bring awareness to the people that can legally and physically help is the hard part.  The need is to create awareness for police, politicians, NGO's, and other people in leadership so that the amazing law that Uganda does have on human trafficking can be used properly and effectively.  In hopes that it will bring the people of Uganda to trust the protection that they are most deserving of and understand the difference of culture and human rights.

Uganda has many NGO's that are doing very good work for victims of child trafficking and child soldiers.  I did see so many good programs for kids that were truly changing lives.  I was blessed to see and be apart of it.

Now, to compare it to the States.  Again, I want to emphasize that the issue is in both places.  It is in both places in a very big way.  It comes across very different because of culture.  In Uganda, in some ways its a part of culture and something that has just been there for so long.  In the states, its hidden and made to seem like we got rid of slavery years ago, when in all reality its bigger than its ever been....EVER!

You may have noticed how human trafficking has become something that is talked about a lot in the States, so awareness is becoming more prevalent. Although we are not filled with aftercare programs, I do believe more and more are opening up. The 2 step is what I think we lack in the U.S. Someone to meet them where they are at, no matter where it is.  The streets, a brothel, a strip club, a bar, whatever it is, no matter who it is....all people need to feel loved. They need to feel loved no matter what part of life they are in.  So I come back with an urgency to do exactly that.

In every day life my goal is to meet people where they are at, hear their stories and love them because of their stories.  I want to find myself in a place I normally wouldnt find myself, so that I can find people I might not have normally met, and hear stories I might not normally hear and love people I might not normally find to love.

I come back not feeling like I want to save people but feeling like I want to love like I have never loved before.  I want to hear stories of heart break, and redemption.  Stories that will change the way I think and act, the way I love and dream.

More thoughts to come....

Last days...

Last days..

I can hardly believe this trip is coming to an end. I am deeply saddened because I have family here now and I hate thinking that it could be years before I see them again. But, I have had the most amazing time. Things I will never forget. Stories, faces and hearts that will be with me forever.

We traveled to Busia on monday which is the boarder town of Kenya. We spoke with the probation officer. This guys works alone. He deals with every problem imaginable when if comes to protecting the people. He was the one person that spoke a lot about the corruption in the government, police and other officials involved with trafficking. Seems that this problem of people that should be taking care of citizens, are using them, destroying them and taking their trust just as it happens in the states. It makes it feel hopeless when you know you need those people to protect. We continue to see the same things.

Just as the states are missing certain steps in this fight, Uganda is just missing different ones than we are. When I get back I will be writing a blog about all I observe and how that applies to us in the states. I've learned so much. I have many opinions and facts to come home with!

Our last venture was going back to UDELL. Which was the rehabilitation home with over 200 kids. Two of our team got their hair done, but with my boy hair I couldn't :) I got to sit with a girl about 17. She wanted me to pray with her and tell me her story. What an honor. The shorter version of her story is that her father died, she hasn't seen her mother in 6 years and she had to get a job to take care of her grandfather. Keep in mind that she is now 17, not when this happened. She ended up working as a domestic. He worked for a long time and never got paid. She was a slave...
A lady found her, saw what was going on and brought her to this place. She is a strong girl. We found out at the end that we had the same birthday :)

Thank you so much for the support! Know that it was worth every moment. I'm headed to the airport today. First stop, Amsterdam and then home. Well...one of my homes :)

Aber (ah- bay)

Rhinos!! We got to stop at the rhino conservation park yesterday! We have been begging Brian and Doug to take us to see some sort of animal but you have to have a big jeep and a lot of time, which we don't have. :) so on our way back from Gulu yesterday we saw a sign for the rhinos! We went and it was incredible.

To see animals like that in their own environment was amazing. Imagining that these grazing animals are stuck in cages in zoos is very depressing. We had a tracker to find them in acres and acres if the land. We saw a mom, dad and little one. I will show pics when I get back. It was kind of our afternoon with no heavy stuff.

We spent most of the day traveling yesterday.

This morning we woke up an headed to the slums. The women we met have incredible stories! They make beads by cutting strips of paper, rolling the paper on a small stick, putting a gloss over them and then creating the designs. We sat there as around 10 women made necklaces. It is how they make a living instead of prostituting themselves or any other things that are so prevalent in that situation. The problem is, they are not allowed to sell right on the street because they cannot afford to rent a small spot along everyone else who sells. They had so many! So they only sell them to people that stop by which is hardly ever. We left with lots :)

We were able to go into 3 of their homes. Words can't describe the slums...it's what they know. They are happy women who have become a family.

When we left, they wanted to give us Ugandan names. We became family :) mamma Lucy, one of the lady that runs the women's fellowship wanted to name me and gave the name Aber (ah-bay) which means "good". I was honored :) it was a beautiful time with beautiful people.

A part of my heart will be left in this beautiful country...

It must be true!

It's so easy to believe something and conform to others ideas or beliefs when it is posted all over the Internet or even posted on YouTube a few times. It must be true right? I've been guilty of this.

Yesterday we started at Invisible Children. As I stepped into the gate we were immediately greeted and taken into an office where a passionate young woman from Uganda told us all of the programs that had been created and developed for children right there in Gulu and around the rest of Uganda as well. Things from mentoring programs, to schools being built to a Mend program that teaches women to sew and make a living.

The documentaries, drama in the states about Invisible Children and media that we heard so often in the states and were very quick to judge by only what we saw on tv, youtube or facebook quickly became reality once again when we met the Ugandan people that were so involved in making their people and environment a better place by serving each other.

I am only hear to say that I saw, experienced, and heard good stories coming from invisible children. We were able to go see the women at Mend who make the bags that are sold online. I bought one and took a picture with the lady that made it. Each bag has their story inside and their fingerprint on the strap. We were able to take a picture of the whole group. So beautiful. All the women there had been captured by LRA at one point and thankfully found themselves at Mend. What a complete blessing to meet all of them.

Next we showed up again to a crowd of kids waiting for us. Gulu youth development association. These kids were former child soldiers or traumatized in some way. We talked about human trafficking with them. They were asked what was the definition of human trafficking to them and now that we know what it is, what are ways that it can be prevented. I got video of their answers. It was eye opening to hear if from some kids that have actually been trafficked or know someone who has. One by one about 10 kids got up and shared their story of experiences they have had. Wow...goosebumps an aching heart and tears.

Headed back to Kampala today. A day of driving and rest. Lots to process...friends have become family. It will be hard to leave this beautiful place in hopes to visit dear friends again.

I don't dance....but....

Today we left for Gulu. A city in northern Uganda. 5 hour drive out of the city. It was really nice to get out and see more of the country.
I was thankful to have Doug and Brian with us on our journey (they are the two that have been taking us around representing Not For Sale and Global Exchange). On our way they explained the history as we drove north. They talked about where the war started and what the rebels did. It's one thing to see it in a movie or even a documentary, but to be driving through where it actually took place was a feeling of its own. Even though the villages were put back together they explained that a lot of the huts that were burned down, they rebuilt with brick instead for more safety. We drove by where the IDP camps were/are, the road where Joseph Kony grew up and saw all the people that had once fled their own village only to come back and continue living. I learned that Doug's village was affected by the rebels in a big way. It was definitely something I will remember forever.
When we finally got to Gulu we went to a rehabilitation place for women. This is their story, they mostly lived in the Congo only to find themselves in Uganda because the military from Uganda who had gone to fight in the war used these women for sex, told them they would take them back to Uganda and marry them. These women followed these men back to find the military men married with families. Because they had no money they prostituted themselves to make money.
Let me tell you...when we met these women, they were full of joy, real joy. They learned how to make bread and sell it to people in the village to earn a living.
Their smiles are sunshine. They said over and over "praise God". The fact that these women can go through something like that and still say praise God....that will make you check yourself the next time you want to blame God for something awful in your life or it will make you consider how your circumstances can turn to joy with work and a choice. They hugged us, blew us kisses and said they loved us as we bought some of their delicious bread. I want be Lovely to be apart of what is going on there. They need a new stove and more things for cooking. We were able to take pictures with them. I can't wait to share their beautiful faces!
Next stop, Undugu Family. This place started of as a place for child soldiers to rehabilitate. It started with an incredible man with a passion. We had no idea this was going to happen but as we drove up they all turned around and started to clap. They immediately called us family. And instantly we felt like family. It was the most humbling experience. There were so many people and kids. Now, there are more kids there that arent only child soldiers. But to see kids that had to go through the war as they did after driving through where the war was, made it even more real. They did tribal dances for us and sang. They did it all for us. It drew a huge crowd. Now, if you know me, you know I don't dance much. This time I had no choice, the asked us up there and there was a crowd of us just dancing together. Im not gonna lie, i danced my ass off! :) I had so much fun...who woulda thought. They fed us a meal and continues to dance the night away. I also have pictures and videos of this that I'm excited to share!
We will be staying here the next two nights and then head back to kampala.

As the representative of be Lovely, I am honored to be apart and my voice will not be silent for the people I have met. be Lovely WILL make a difference...across the world. In the states and in Uganda, no boundaries! I hope this inspires people that could use be Lovely product or ones that hear about this movement because be Lovely is going to change the world, one heart at a time! All of us...together.

Love from Uganda!

broken hearts and hope

It has been a full two days here in Uganda....so I am going to have to pick and choose what I share or I will be writing a book. 

The first day was meetings.  Not the boring kind where you cant wait to get out, but the kind where you could sit for hours and listen to a passionate, hard working heart speak about saving the world they live in. :) Those are the two meetings our team got to interact with on our first day.  First was the ABA (American Bar Association).  The are the big advocators.  There goal is to teach people here in Uganda what human trafficking is and teach the police how to enforce the human trafficking law that was given here a few years ago.  It shocked me to find out how a lot of the problem here with human trafficking is unawareness of the issue or simply not knowing what it is.  There are people with good hearts in the law enforcement and regular citizens that simply dont know what human trafficking looks like.  I also found out that the penalties of human trafficking are very severe. Which you think would be a positive thing but it makes the police not enforce the law because the consequences seem harsh to them.  All and all I learned that Uganda needs a lot of advocacy here. Coming from the states that seems to be a big thing for us.  Interesting to see what is needed in different parts of the world.
ANPPCAN was our second organization.  They advocate on the protection of children from child abuse in the home and also human trafficking. They are fighting that same fight.  Advocacy is a big thing for them as well. This is where the hope is.  There are organizations doing exactly what they should be doing.

Now the second day....wow. I will add that to the list of overwhelming experiences due to the stories I've heard and the faces that go with them.  First stop was Sanyu(Joy) Orphanage here in Kampala.  It is an orphanage for newborns to 3 years.  Heart wrenching.  They take up to 50 kids and they had 49 the day we went.  Its something you cant explain. These children were either brought to them by police, left in a taxi or found in a hospital after birth.  The hearts of these workers are incredible.  There are not that many staff taking care of infants and toddlers running around. But man, did they make me smile.  We were able to play with them for nearly an hour, help take baths and get them to lunch.  Now these faces...leave your heart aching and bring you job all at the same time.  We werent allowed to take pictures do to security but the faces are implanted in my mind.  On our way out we were able to meet a couple that was adopting a little girl. I'm not gonna lie...I wanted to be them.  Part of my heart was left at Sanyu Orphanage.

Second day, second stop...Masooli Treatment Center.  Looking at the itinerary for the trip, this was the one I was looking so forward to.  It is a rehabilitation center for teenagers who have been involved in drug abuse, alcohol abuse and sex trafficking.  I believe they said they had 140 girls and 70 boys. Some of which stay at the center and some of which come daily. This place is legit.  This place is one I will talk more about in person because it is so close to my heart and typing it in a blog will not do justice.  They have few staff as well but hearts of gold.  They teach them trades to make it on their own. Give them counseling and a safe place to stay.  They are allowed to stay 6-9 months and then leave.  They keep their existence low profile due to the fact that they would have a line out the door of children who need help and they just dont have the facilities or staff to take that many.  They teach them sewing, hair, carpentry, cooking, electronics and lots more. I met a girl who was sex trafficked named Christy.  I got to take a picture with her but again, I am not able to share it on here due to security, but I will treasure that picture and remember the soft spirited girl who was broken due to a crime that I will fight against for the rest of my life. 

All of these places make me see how these issues cause so much brokenness and heart ache but it is good to know that there are amazing people here fighting for the same things I am fighting for.

I wish I could continue to write about all of this but, breakfast is being served and we are headed to Gulu today.  Lots of changes always being made to our next adventure but it has been a blast.  My team is great, our leaders are great and this place is incredible.  This was a bit of an info blog. I hope it was still fun to read :) More soon! 

This is what I was going for...

Well, I'm in Amsterdam! It finally feels real. I was sitting in the Minneapolis/St.Paul airport and it didn't feel real. But here I sit in the Amsterdam airport for the next 4 hours. Next, Entebbe, Uganda!
As I sit here alone I'm reminded that this is what I've been waiting for. This is the position I asked to be in. On my own headed somewhere I've never been, meeting people I've never met and experiencing things that will change me forever...yep, sounds about right.
I know this won't be easy. It's going to stretch me and teach me. I will be vulnerable because I don't have my usual people I can talk to about stuff or when I'm stressed out...just me. I have committed with only blogging as a means of communication. God will be hearing lots of my thoughts on this trip. Not that he already doesn't but I tend to tell more than just him :) not this time!
So onward....well in 4 hours! Oh, by the way. I apparently missed nighttime...I left Minneapolis at 3pm an it's 7am here. I missed that part of the day where you sleep :)
Hoping I can continue to do blog!

It's Time!!

Its that time....

Only a few days left until I leave for Uganda! (3 days to be exact) :)  I am genuinely overcome with so much emotion.  Excitement, anxious (in a good way), eager and a longing for the long plane ride to be over so I can just get there!
Before I leave I just wanted to address a comment that was posted on the be Lovely facebook page.  If you have kept up with be Lovely and my journey to this point you will know that there is much more there than just "saving the world with makeup".  That'll make you laugh!  I know that makeup doesnt change people, nor will it "save" humans in such horrific situations.  But what be Lovely DOES do is inspire, educate, and empower people to do something about a social injustice called human trafficking.   This doesnt come from some outward transformation, this comes from a heart that breaks because of inhumane things that are being done to people on your block, in your city, country, or across the world. be Lovely will always fight for these injustices because the people that choose to be involved with be Lovely through, makeup, events, financial support or anything else, have that heart that breaks and wants to do something about it. Its not made up of one person that likes a lipstick shade. Its made up of many that hear stories of agony, slavery and and oppression that are unwilling to stay silent.
So to those of you that have supported be Lovely in those ways, here's to you, because when you are wearing that lipstick, eyeshadow or lipgloss, you get to bring others along with you, tell a story and change lives.  be Lovely exists because of hearts that break for the broken and enslaved and do something about it.
So as I go to Uganda on Sunday I promise to learn as much as I can. I promise to be completely changed when I come back.  And I promise to hear these stories so you too will be changed and moved to make a difference.  Together we will fight the fight in our own cities and know that there are amazing people out there doing that in countries we may never go to.
I am truly grateful for all the ways people have supported the be Lovely journey.  Its one we can all be on together.

"You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know."
-William Wilberforce