During my labor/delivery of Dasharoo I threw my back and hips out. I couldn't walk I was in so much pain. If you were to look at me you'd see how one hip was higher up than the other. I couldn't roll over without help, I couldn't stand up straight, and I was in constant pain. Because I'd just had a baby, and an epidural, I didn't want to have it adjusted, though. So I lived with the pain for a couple of weeks. Slowly things seemed to go back into place… enough that it didn't hurt every day anyway.

But there'd be times when the pain would come back. I just ignored it. I played like it was just a normal back ache. That was, until a few weeks ago when I began experiencing shooting pains down my legs. Something was wrong and I needed to finally admit it and go get help.

After seeing my DO with no help, I made an appointment with my family's chiropractor, Dr. Kevin. I was nervous, and if you follow me on twitter than you are fully aware of how nervous I was. But something happened that day. Not only did he begin to relieve my back pain, he also validated that I am, indeed, suffering with an overgrowth of Candida. And he also validated what I had been saying and thinking for so long. That an overgrowth of Candida is very real and more common than medical doctors want to admit.

Having gone through the physical healing of the anti-candida diet I knew that was the problem, but it was finally so nice to hear it from someone else… and not have them roll their eyes and laugh me out of their office like had happened before.

My back is slowly on the mend. This coming Monday will mark my 3rd appointment in a weeks time. I had a lot of inflammation, and my back was in bad shape, but with Dr. Kevin I'm on my way to recovering. (and can I just say, i'm learning so much about nutrition/taking care of my body from this man.)

If you've hurt your back, don't let it go as long as I did.

And if you feel like you're suffering with an overgrowth of Candida, and no one will confirm it, talk to your chiropractor, or simply go on the diet and see for yourself.

You can learn more about Candida and how to rid yourself of the imbalance in your body at Whole Approach.

I'm 30 years old.

I've lived in this body for 30 long years.

And I've had quite the love/hate relationship with it over the years.

As a young teen aged woman I pretty much hated my natural beauty. I didn't see it as beauty. People would always tell me that I had a unique beauty, and every time I heard that I only heard, " You really aren't pretty… you're, well, interesting to look at."

All I wanted was to be conventially pretty. I wanted to be blond, with blue eyes, a little cute nose, perfect teeth, and be just like everyone else. I even wished for a different name. Everyone I knew was a Jen or Amber or Amy… and here I was a Janelle. I didn't know another Janelle.

Once I graduated out of the insecure teen years I became a little bit more comfortable with myself. I should clarify that I became comfortable with the self I had created. The self that was tanned and hair colored and make-up drenched and sexy clothes wearing. I didn't know it then, but that wasn't me… that was who I thought others liked and thought was pretty.

It wasn't until I got pregnant with my first born son that I finally began feeling pretty being me. I stopped tanning, and coloring my hair, and wearing a lot of makeup. And obviously I wasn't dressing sexy. And a funny thing happened… I felt beautiful. And others were complimenting my beauty.

That was over 5 years ago, and I've had my ups and downs along the way. I've gotten side-tracked into that old way of thinking a few times. I've gotten insecure a few times, and heard the compliment of being a unique beauty and cringed.

But something happened this month. I got healthy again. I began treating my body better, eating right, exercising, getting into the word, and spending more time with God.

And now I actually do see my natural beauty.

I find my pale white skin beautiful and don't long for a good tan anymore.

I look at my naturally dark, black hair and find it shiny and lovely.

I feel sexy about my body without having to wear revealing clothes.

And when I hear someone say how I am uniquely beautiful, I smile, and feel thankful for the sweet compliment.

Why it took 30 years I'll never know. But I'm here. I feel good. And I'm happy to be unique.

(close up of my dress, which i totally love, and bought at target the other day.)

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Several months ago I was gifted an Old Navy gift card for Christmas. At the time I was 9 months pregnant and in no shape to shop. And then months after I had the baby I was nursing/recovering, and just didn't feel like going shopping. I wanted to lose some weight, and feel better about myself before I spent the money. I'm sure many of you can relate.

So last week I went shopping … finally! I walked away with four dresses that fit my body well, and make me feel so pretty. But my definite favorite would have to be this little number…

(click here to enlarge)

The color is perfect and goes so well with my skin and hair, the fit is perfect, and I love the buttons and pleating effect. The dress is above my knee, but not so much that it's too "young" for me.

Old Navy always has clothing I like, and it was my favorite place to shop while pregnant, too.

What about you? What's your most favorite store?

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Hey, did you know about Old Navy Weekly? They put out weekly coupons and savings off your total purchase.

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The heat broke. The humidity gone. A nice slight breeze blowing over my skin.

Just me, the dog, and God.

Everything felt more beautiful than the word 'beautiful' can describe.

The way the setting sun played with the tops of the tree's, and the depth and glory of the pinkish orange clouds danced in my eyes.

I felt like a newborn child taking in the magnificence around me for the first time.

Every few minutes I glanced down at my 9 year old dog, making sure he was keeping up with my pace, and enjoying the moments with him.

Not too many more years left with the old guy I suspect.

Its nights like these that I wonder if God looks down at all that he has created and smiles to himself. If it still brings him immense joy. If he gets lost in the same moments I do as I swim in the glorious beauty around me.

It was the perfect evening thanks to a cool breeze, an old dog, and the glory of God.