No Words

Change

All I wanted to do was change my email address , simple you would think? Well you know what thought did! From now on it will appear that this blog is being written by two people but it isn't, it's just me. Apparently if I delete the old email address I will also be deleting all the photos previously posted....sigh! So from now on I have a split personality. Thinking about it, that would have been useful over the past week, well physically not mentally! I burned quite a bit of midnight oil trying to sort out photos for my SoFoBoMo project, http://www.sofobomo.org/HomePage. It's amazing that I began the project, knowing the time constraints and with a "plan" then left so much until the last few days - madness!! Well with that now finished and the photos from my first attempts at modelling nearly organised I can get back to normal for oh let's see...... Monday. Then I get to see the results of the second photo shoot. Hopefully I will be looking a lot more relaxed this time. It really has been a great experience, mainly due to the kindness and consideration of the Photographer, who did a wonderful job at putting me at my ease. I could really get to like modelling......... and I can't believe I just said that! (insert row of smiley faces) Hmmmmm........

Sorting myself out....

I've had a lot going on over the past few days and have neglected my blog but then it's not supposed to be a burden. I've had time to think about the photo shoot which, to be honest, has occupied far more of my time and thoughts than perhaps it should, but was so far from my "norm" and so enjoyable. After I looked through the photos, both the finished, edited ones and those straight from the camera, I couldn't wait to go through the whole process again, so the next shoot is booked. I can't quite work out why these photos are so much more "as others see me" after all I take a self portrait every week and the process is the same - me in front of a camera - the only thing that is different is the finger on the shutter so to speak. Anyway I'm delighted that I took the plunge and had a go.
I've also been on a bit of a spending spree........ shoes, stockings, dresses.The poor wardrobe has long since overflowed but I don't have the space to put another so some reorganisation is needed.  I'm sure that Lottie, http://lottieloves.com/ would faint at the sight of my wardrobe - it's actually quite hard to see the wardrobe as there is so much hanging around the outside - and demand that I sort myself out!!  As for shoe storage....well the bulk of them are under my bed, in their boxes, neatly labeled. The snag is that there are several pairs.....ok a lot of pairs still to be found a home. Storage is such a problem....... I can hear mutterings that perhaps I should have a clear out.......shame on you!! It is a known fact that as soon as you throw something out you need it..............

A for Attitude

Hmmmm attitude I can do but not the sort Lottie is prompting us to strive for but I'll have a go.  My biggest "positive" is that I'm succeeding in my hobby/obsession, photography. I have almost conquered my camera controls, learned to use a laptop and editing software and launched my photographs onto some websites. This has been a tremendous boost to my confidence which has affected many other aspects of my life. I am working at the gym to get my body back! It disappeared and I'm going to get it back - the one that fits into size 12 (UK) clothes that is. In the meantime I'm much happier with the one I have and not afraid to show it off a little, ok well sometimes a bit more than a little! I've let my hair grow longer and coloured it and it's good. My legs are fine so they deserve to be pampered with some lovely seamed stockings and high heels are back on my menu too. Gardening is now done in gloves so that my hands and nails are looking good. Small things I know but they are all taking me in the right direction.

Thanks Lottie!

Decisions

How to make a decision - actually that'd be a better title, then I could write " I have no idea"  end of blog post! But there is no getting away from them, they fill our daily lives and if we are particularly unlucky they fill our nighttime too. I have been making quite a few lately, nothing earth shattering but of importance to me. To be able to say that is quite a step forward as in the not too distant past I was unable to decide upon the simplest of things. And isn't it often the simplest that floor us? I have stumbled over 'do I have marmite or marmalade on my toast' and laughable as that may be, at the time it resulted in me not eating the toast.
The photo shoot I had earlier in the week was a good example of my improved ability to make decisions without pondering...... I couldn't dither, the answer had to be almost instant, though they were made easier as they involved clothes, shoes, makeup etc. All areas in which I feel comfortable. I can imagine that some would think them terribly trivial but on this occasion they were important to the success of the shoot, they had to be right. After all if you put the wrong stockings with a dress..........  I made the right decisions and at the end of the shoot I felt more confident than I have for a long while - I had held the whip hand (and NO it wasn't that sort of photo shoot!) and the decisions I made had resulted in success.
I might even decide to post one or two of the photos.....ummmm let me think about that one ;)

Friday is Frock day!

I'm liking this idea more and more - one definite day to wear a dress - it's so easy to drag on a pair of jeans. Well no more will I do that on Friday. Today I wore one for my weekly Self Portrait. I think it looks just fine......

Shoes

Say hello to my new kittens!!

An adventure

No wonder I couldn't sleep and am writing this at some ridiculously early time, my adventure into an ever so slightly different sort of photography begins today. It'll be strange not to be holding a camera for once. Not sure yet how I will cope with being directed - having been used to doing self portraits when the only director is me and the lights are going to be a bit strange - I do hope I don't squint too much. My bag is nearly packed, well that's not strictly true. One bag is packed and the other is nearly done, I'm either taking way too much or only just enough!  At the moment I feel a mix of excitement and trepidation so all I have to do is turn that into calmness and composure.......I'll let you know how I get on.

Short on Words today.

                                            

A dress

For years I have worn skirts and trousers teamed with T shirts, blouses and tops of all sorts, but never dresses. So why the change of heart, why is my wardrobe now full of dresses? From the practical angle it is so much easier to choose and put on one item. No hurried matching of outfits to be done, no searching for just the right colour of top to go with those taupe trousers that look so good but are the very devil to match with anything but cream!  And there is another reason for the change, dresses, I have at last discovered, have a much more feminine look and feel. A dress, stockings and heels - perfect for that "feel good" factor which is so important to lift the spirits! So now to prune out the wardrobe to make room for some more shopping expeditions. Trousers have their place but it's dresses now for me at every opportunity!

The search goes on....

So I wasn't lucky with my search for kitten heels yesterday so today I'll try somewhere else! Retail village maybe - there'll be something I like there I'm sure. Perhaps the whole "kitten heel" thing hasn't reached the High Street yet........

Shoes

You can never have too many pairs of shoes, its a bit like lenses really, different situations require different shoes. From a couple of the fashion magazines I have read lately, and yes, I do read something other than photography mags, I was under the impression that kitten heels were back "in" Ha! if they are they haven't reached Exeter yet. The shops seemed to be awash with strappy flats and mile high stilettos. Not that I have anything against flats and heels, well heels anyway, but I really want some lower heels..... ah well the search will go on.  Of course being in and out of so many shoe shops I couldn't come home empty handed and a pair of sandals were desperate to come back with me.  As I'm at a loose end this weekend, the hunt for "kittens" will continue...... Retail therapy....bliss!

Positive

This is my word for the day. I am going to be positive about everything I do. I've even written down my day's itinerary - I hope you're impressed?  For too long I have been content to do not a lot, so now that I have several projects I have got to be organised........I CAN remember organised - I had to be every day for all the years I worked and now I need to get back into that habit. So first on the list - the gym, that'll get the adrenalin flowing..............

A-Z of .... well everything feminine really!

I have found a lovely blog which, when I read it, thought it had been written for me! I doubt that I am alone..... it is an inspiration and a confirmation that all is not lost for us women, we can be feminine and fabulous no matter what! We can't all be blessed with the "perfect" figure, but then is there such a thing or have we been brainwashed into thinking that there is? I think that we have.  Anyway Lottie is going to point us in the right direction for feeling fabulous with ourselves.  So if you are reading this please take a moment or two to read her blog - http://lottieloves.com/2010/06/02/feminine-and-fabulous/ You won't be disappointed I'm sure. Best of all she is a champion of frocks...wonderful!