The Operation Beautiful book comes out in FOUR DAYS!  Can you believe it?  Get ready to be inspired!  More information on the book, including how you can preorder it, is available here!

Stephanie posted this note at the fertility specialist:

Rachel wrote, “I was in borders yesterday browsing through the Teen Books, when I saw the “Clique” series. Although I don’t know the specifics, I know its about self hate and striving to be perfect. It got me down about life. That’s when I saw a little yellow paper stuck to the wall. It said “Smile, Gorgeous, the sun shines just for you.” That made my day, especially considering what series it was by.”

Elizabeth wrote, “My friend Maya and I have always loved the idea of Operation Beautiful.   So back in our small town of East Aurora, New York we put out a few notes of our own, along with some roses!”

Here’s some thoughts on the mantra “Real Women Have Curves:”  Sarah wrote, “I’ve read Operation Beautiful for quite a while now and I love the fantastic stories and ideas. It’s a great idea and a fantastic cause. But every once in a while, I see a message that says, “Real women have curves.” Even though I’m accused of being anorexic occasionally, I’m not – I eat more than the average cow. But I have a high metabolism, so I don’t have a lot of curves. So that kinda docks my confidence when I see it.”  Remember – all women are beautiful, curvy or not!

Shannon wrote, “I just posted my first ever Operation Beautiful notes in the gym’s locker room – one on a mirror where a lot of ladies do their makeup, and one on the scale.”

Allison wrote, “I just got my Operation Beautiful book in the mail today! I pre-ordered it from Barnes & Noble, and it was shipped early.  Receiving the book couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m about to spend the weekend shopping, swimming, and eating with my mom, younger sister, and grandmother. All three generations of our family have a self image issue. I’m excited to show them the book, and I’m sure they’ll be purchasing their own!  My worst fear used to be that my future daughters would grow up with the insecurities about their bodies that I have. Thanks to the healthy living blog community and Operation Beautiful, that no longer frightens me. I know I now live a lifestyle that is worth showing young girls.”

Rhonda posted these notes:

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at OperationBeautiful@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

The Operation Beautiful book comes out in FIVE DAYS!  Can you believe it?  Get ready to be inspired!  More information on the book, including how you can preorder it, is available here!

Hannah wrote, “Here is a note my sister and I put under the glass on a table at Maidrite.”

Kris wrote, “I spent several hours working on some of these…I’ve posted a few around so far, and it’s amazing how good it makes you feel!”

Lindsay posted this note.  It was her very first Operation Beautiful note!

Savannah sent in this note!

Rae wrote, “I’ve been following the site for awhile now (subscribed to the rss) and reading the notes each day is always a highlight.  A few days ago I posted my first notes.  It was all rather spontaneous, but once I started it was very addictive.  I posted a few on the train and then some more on the bus so I hope those who found them enjoyed it.  Smiles rarely feature on public transport in my experience but I couldn’t help grinning to myself the whole time.  I’ve struggled with depression and an eating disorder for a long time and little things like this really help break through the negativity.  I’m full of ideas of notes I want to post next time and I know that the more I post the more likely I am to come across one written by someone else.  It hasn’t happened yet but I’m looking forward to it spreading throughout my part of the world (Brisbane, Australia).”

Abby wrote, “I just wanted to let you know that the message is being spread…I didn’t have time to take the pictures, but while on a trip to China I made my friend teach me the Chinese characters for "you are beautiful" and posted some notes around Beijing and Xi’an!  Also, Chinese people seem to do Operation Beautiful without even realizing it! While I was there, two strangers stopped and called me beautiful. Both times, it made my day! I wish people did that more often in the U.S.”

Erin wrote, “I’ve been reading about all the wonderful Operation Beautiful notes that people are putting up and was secretly hoping that one day I would find one myself. Then it dawned on me…I should spread the message myself! We are constantly told to get out there and go after what we want rather than sit back and wait for it to come to us. So I’m getting out there and doing it…I’m spreading the word about Operation Beautiful and I hope that one day it finds itself back to me.   Thank you for starting such a simple, but effective, way for all of us to let others out there know that we are thinking of them and like them just the way they are!”

Sarah wrote, “I posted my first Operation Beautiful note ever today! It’s such a great feeling! I also just pre-ordered the book!”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

Kelly wrote, “I posted this in a bookstore.”

Heather found this note! Did you post it?  She wrote, “I was at Target today and saw this in the bathroom. Thank you!”

Jessica found one, too!  She wrote, “I saw this posted at Pick’n Save in South Milwaukee, WI!! This website is wonderful! Thank you!  I will be posting my own Operation Beautiful notes around town!”

Francesca wrote, “This is such an inspirational site! I’ve had two friends struggling with eating disorders, and all I want to do is tell them that they are beautiful no matter how much they weigh. I will definitely be showing them this site. Thanks.”

Kathleen wrote, “Some "graffiti" that was recently plastered along Dekalb Avenue in Atlanta, GA. I love it!”

Marie wrote, “Thank you, thank you for this great site.  Each day I will try to live by it, and most important be an example to all women and yes men too, by trying to practice what you preach….! I sent this site to all my nieces, friends, sisters and coworkers. We need more of this kind of reinforcement instead of trying to live up to hate, punish, and despise our bodies. Once again, may God bless you by creating some REAL MEANINGFUL BEAUTY in our world!!!”

Sabrina spotted this very Operation Beautiful-ish note at a sleep-away summer camp.

Rhonda posted this note at a Christian book store:

Sarah wrote, “I am a yoga teacher in a studio shared with a belly dance troupe.  The other day, before class, I went around and put notes in places my students would find them.  I have never felt so alive .. it was the best yoga class I ever taught and my students just BEAMED!”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

The Operation Beautiful book drops in less than a WEEK!  Check out the details here: www.operationbeautiful.com/book/

Remember this note from yesterday?  Katie found it in a bathroom.

Well, we located the mystery poster!  Ari wrote, “I’m the one who posted the note in Jacksonville, Oregon.   I posted it in the bathroom during a concert at the Britt Festival there. Having done so, I subsequently watched several women wash their hands at that sink without even looking at the note. I was a little disappointed at the time, but I’m so glad to know that Katie found it and appreciated it!”

Claire posted these notes:

Kat wrote, “As a young girl and teenager, I suffered with severe acne and weight issues. I had no self esteem and I hated myself. At 21 years old now, I still have the occasional breakout and I am still a bit overweight, but something my husband said to me really helped with my thinking. He said: “If your best friend put on a few kilos, or got some pimples, would you think they are disgusting and stop being their friend?” That helped me put things into perspective. I wouldn’t do it to a friend, so why do it to myself?  I am a good person with a good heart, I’m generous and loving and kind. I try to help people. I’m a great cook and quick witted. I have cute features and a nice curve in my back. My legs are strong and my skin is soft and I love my brown eyes!”

Alycia posted this note at the YMCA:

Jhoanny got into a taxi and found this note taped to the back of the seat!  How fun!

Jenn wrote, “A few weeks I got my hair cut. It was right before vacation, and by the time I realized how much I hated it… I was in another state. The cut really bothered me… a lot. I was breaking down in tears when I looked in the mirror, and it was ruining the vacation. I couldn’t even put my hair up. I finally decided that I would stop focus on the cut and focus all of that energy into putting up notes. It really helped me to get to a better place.”

Samantha wrote, “I drew a hummingbird on it not only because I think they’re beautiful themselves, but because to me a hummingbird symbolizes a sort of calm and free-spirited way of life, and the way you live can be beautiful too! I hope whoever sees this takes a minute to make their lives a little more beautiful.”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

Check out the latest guest post about body after baby:  The Size of Your Heart, Not the Size of Your Clothes.  And have you pre-ordered the book yet?  Only a week left until publication!

Katie from Jacksonville, Oregon found this note in a public bathroom!  Did you post it?

Danielle wrote, “So I heard about this a long time ago, and then I saw one in a movie theatre bathroom and I was really excited. That is the "smile, you’re gorgeous" picture. I showed the picture to my friend Morgan about 7 months later, and we were inspired to do it ourselves. We made a lot of notes (about one stack’s worth) and put them all around bathrooms, dressing rooms, makeup counters, in books, in magazines, in a mother’s section, and one in front of a men’s bathroom. We went to many different locations around our area to do this. It was extremely fun!  Me and Morgan really hope we make a difference women’s lives around our community, since I had never seen a note close to where we live. We plan on doing this once a week and going to different places to post them each time. At one place we went, we put two in a bathroom and one near the men’s room sign. When we came back they were all gone. We hope someone took the notes with them to remind themselves how beautiful they are.”

Caroline knows that something small can save someone’s life.  Here’s her story.  She wrote, “For almost a year and a half now I’ve been struggling with an eating disorder. Anyone who has been in that type of situation can relate to how utterly draining it is. It’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Last August, I found Jesus. I was filled with so much love I thought I’d burst, and I spread that love as far as I could reach.   But after a while the excitement faded and my old ways began to return. For the last week and a half I’d been starving myself, and I was pushing away from God as fast as I could manage. I was so sick of running after Him, I wanted Him to come after me. I wanted SOMEONE to come after me. Last night I went to church, and I spent the whole sermon praying as hard as I could that Jesus would bring me back in, that he would show me His love and take all this shame and guilt from me. This was my last effort, I had decided that if He wouldn’t help me now then I didn’t want His love and I didn’t want anything to do with Him.   As my pastor brought the sermon to an end, my heart sunk. God hadn’t come, and He hadn’t given me what I wanted. But just when all my hope was lost, Pastor Steven turned around and walked back onto the stage, looking nervous. "Guys, all night I’ve had this feeling inside me that there is a young lady in here tonight who is thinking about ending her life. She is thinking about going back into old habits." He said, scanning the crowd. My heart was beating so fast I thought I’d die, I couldn’t take my eyes off of Pastor. He asked the young lady who knew he was talking to her, to stand. Two other young women in that room stood, and I watched as they were prayed for, so proud of their strength. Meanwhile, the voice inside me told me that I wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t even sick, no one would care. But as we left the building after the service ended, God pressed on my soul to tell someone, anyone. So I told. I spilled my heart out to my mom. I can’t explain in words how last night changed me. I won’t ever be the same….”

Grace wrote, “Me and my best friend Rebecca posted these notes on our church mirrors! This is an amazing idea, and so inspirational, keep it up!”

The editor of Operation Beautiful, Caitlin, and some of her friends ran a 4.0-mile race this past Saturday.  The runners taped Operation Beautiful signs to their back, and a few friends made big posters to wave!

Hannah wrote, “My sister and I did this on one of the magnetic drawing boards at Dollar General. This was the first of many Operation Beautiful notes we will be putting up. I plan on putting up plenty on campus next year when I head off to college in about a month and a half. I have never seen one of these notes in person, but I found this website through a group a friend invited me to on Facebook called Good Morning Gorgeous. I get on this website every day and anytime I need a little something to brighten my day!”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

Have you heard the news?  The Operation Beautiful book will be released on August 3.  Check out this page for more info!

Britney wrote, “I’ve decided to start leaving my own notes around town, and I started by leaving this one in the bathroom at an adults-only dance studio I go to sometimes.  I was especially motivated because before I left home for yoga class, I was putting my brand-new driver’s license in my wallet, and as I checked it to make sure there were no errors I noticed that my height was correct – 5′9".  When I got my learner’s permit 8 years ago, I was in denial about my height and declared myself an inch shorter.  I was the tallest cheerleader in my high school and the tallest girl in my middle school classes, and years of sticking out had led me to want to be as short as possible.  Getting older and meeting other women who were even taller than I led me to embrace my height and all that went with it.”

Mallory wrote, “This was the first every Operation Beautiful note I’ve ever written!  It was on a whiteboard in a department store dressing room.”

Linnea wrote, “My friend is away at camp for a full month until she goes to band camp and sees all of her friends – one of which she literally hasn’t seen since the day before school got out. Camp has been harder for her this year because half of her camp friends aren’t there, she’s a counselor for the children, and the magic has been lost. Half of her friends have already had mental breakdowns and it’s been only halfway through. I sent her a note saying "Smile, you’re beautiful" in her letter. I hope that in the very least it lets her know that we’re all here for her and that no matter what happens, she is who she is She’s an inspiration to me.”

Callie posted this note:

Paige wrote, “I just want everyone know that I think what you all are doing is incredible and so awesome.  I’m going into 10th grade and I constantly feel like I am not pretty enough or I just look at the mirror and see only flaws.  Seeing these notes everywhere makes me and my friends smile and we have even posted a few around school.  So thanks and keep it up, you’re doing a wonderful thing!”

Paponda left six notes through the city of Durham, North Carolina.  Here’s one:

Pamela wrote, “My husband thinks I’m a little nuts, but I’m alright with that. =) I get a lot of excitement leaving these notes and I have a passion for helping others.”

Lizzy wrote over 250 notes to create this massive Operation Beautiful display.

Here’s two of her 250 notes!

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

Jason and his friends went through the mall and passed out Operation Beautiful notes. Men love Operation Beautiful, too!

Zoe wrote, “I wasn’t able to get a picture, but today in a washroom stall in a train/bus station in Vancouver, British Columbia I saw that someone had written “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL” In big sharpie letters on the wall of the stall.  I added the words “so are you!” and wrote www.operationbeautiful.com underneath.  I hope someone sees it and checks out the site! It makes me wonder if the original poster knew about the Operation Beautiful revolution, or was just doing some random good.”

Bailey posted this note:

Kelly wrote, “I posted this note on the trash compactor at my work.  Taking out garbage isn’t very glamorous, so I decided that it needed a little beautification ”

Erin wrote, “This is a very encouraging yet simple thing to do to help ourselves and others. I just found out about this from Facebook and I think it’s the most amazing idea ever! I love leaving little post-it notes for my boyfriend while I’m out of the house for him to find when he gets home and I know he likes to get them I think that finding one of those randomly would be just what anyone needs to keep they’re head up high and help put a smile on their face. I plan to start making my notes right now!”

Julie wrote, “I work in a place full of women that constantly criticize their physical appearance. We are teachers and regardless of our outward appearances, we are beautiful people, nurturing and educating future society.”

Rhonda posted this note:

The editor of Operation Beautiful left this note in a public bathroom:

If you love Operation Beautiful, please support the site by pre-ordering the book!  The Operation Beautiful book will be released on August 3, 2010 and is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble,Borders, and Indie Bound.Won’t you reserve your copy today?

Thank you for your support!

Claire wrote, “I recently took a road trip to the Black Hills and left these (and many more) notes there!”

Anonymous wrote, “My friend and I got a little giggle posting this up. Friends on Facebook loved it when I uploaded from the store…..”

Ashley wrote, “ I wrote something like 200 notes the night before we planned to post them, and then about 100 more the day of the postings. We (my friend Catherine and myself) posted them at our community pool’s bathroom, mall changing rooms, movie theater bathrooms, and all over Home Depot.”

Ashlyn wrote, “Here are some pictures of the notes I posted in the local movie theater bathroom The whole Operation Beautiful project has inspired me to do something better with myself!!”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!

Caitlin wrote this Operation Beautiful note in the road:

Morgan wrote, “I’m a seventeen year old, and this site was so inspirational. I struggled with an eating disorder for many years. I went up and down, and up and down. I could never find myself. I felt lost and alone. I finally realized that people love me just the way I am and was. People didn’t love me because I was rail thin, they loved me because of me, and only me and my personality. It’s so sad how many negative messages are sent out to kids my age. It’s hard to ever feel comfortable in your own skin. And the worst part of it is, these kids will go to college and deteriorate. The stress of college and the stress of what people perceive as beauty is ridiculous. I wish we could all learn to comfortable in our own skin! I really appreciate this site!”

Sarah from London posted these

Vitorya wrote, “I love making people happy but I am really shy so handing someone a note or saying something of encouragement is WAY out of my comfort zone even though so often I would love to do just that. This gave me an avenue for those desires that is not so far beyond me comfort zone and I want to thank Operation Beautiful for that. Thank you so much! You probably have no idea how much this means to me. Now I just need some post-it notes and a little more courage. I have already compiled a super-long list of ideas. This week I was at a camp, and each morning I wrote notes all over a piece of notebook paper and cut them apart and set them along the sinks in the bathroom. Each day they were gone by the time I checked back, but on the last day they were still there when I came back, and I saw another girl reading one and she was smiling and it made me so happy that someone was reading it.”

Mackenzie posted these notes up!  An old friend Facebooked her afterwards and wrote, “i just wanted to say thanks for everything you do. We may not talk much, but you are really trying to make people’s days better through Operation Beautiful, and it’s helping.”

W:SH wrote, “I think this is incredibly empowering not only to the women who find the notes, but those who leave them!”

BIG NEWS FOR OPERATION BEAUTIFUL!  To celebrate the book release (learn more HERE!), the editor of the site will be on The Today Show on August 5 at 10 AM. If you live in the NYC area, please consider coming out and joining us in the outside audience with giant poster board Operation Beautiful signs!!

BIG NEWS FOR OPERATION BEAUTIFUL!  To celebrate the book release (learn more HERE!), the editor of the site will be on The Today Show on August 5 at 10 AM.  If you live in the NYC area, please consider coming out and joining us in the outside audience with giant poster board Operation Beautiful signs!!

Katie posted this note on one of the Operation Beautiful Facebook fan pages!

Amanda created this lovely display!

Alaura wrote, “I’m fifteen. I notice that I always fat talk because of the fact that I have stretch marks and I’m not active or have a high metabolism. I always feel bad about my body but when I read or see things telling me that I’m beautiful and stuff like that, I take it in stride. There will always be days when I don’t like my body but I will just learn to embrace it, saying that it’s only human. Being a teenager really calls your body to attention although that’s the time when it is changing most. This website is some kind of miracle for women everywhere. I want to do this for others and post sticky notes like all the other people on this website seem to do- I intended to a while ago but it slipped my mind and, to be honest, I don’t have the greatest memory. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that I’m thankful for people like these who try to make the world a better place by lifting people’s spirits and making them more confident and feel more beautiful than ever. I think that people like that are just what the world needs. Thank you.”

Heather wrote, “This was my page of the day calendar the other day and I thought it fit right in with the Operation Beautiful movement.  I put it in an envelope and will be handing it off to stranger tonight at an event I’m attending – Just a small Give & Go inspired act of kindness.”

TeacherMama wrote, “I just found this at Teachers College at Columbia in NYC. It was my first Operation Beautiful note sighting!”

Pam wrote, “A few months ago I was in the bathroom of my pole fitness studio…it had been a long, mundane day and I wasn’t feeling particularly motivated or interested in anything at all…when I looked into the mirror the first thing I saw was a heart-shaped post-it with the message: "You are beautiful just the way you are! Got out there and rock it, have a laugh and spread the joy! operationbeautiful.com"… needless to say it instantly got my attention and I almost cried at these wonderful words from a complete stranger. That night I looked at the website and was completely astounded at the fantastic work everyone is doing and they way this phenomenon is spreading. I’m from Australia and just wanted to let all know that this message is definitely spreading and reaching out globally to empower women everywhere.”

Sarah wrote, “I have never before come across any Operation Beautiful signs, but I will make sure I post these signs all over town…  This site is really inspiring me to make a big difference in people’s lives through these small acts of kindness. Remember that YOU are beautiful inside and out, too!”

If you love Operation Beautiful, JOIN THE MISSION!  It’s easy to participate.  Post a note, take a pic, and e-mail it to Caitlin at seebriderun@gmail.com.  Spread the love and spread the TRUTH!  You are beautiful, too! All the notes go up on the site!