For A Moment Photography

This Mom is Fired Up.

 

 

 

The other night I'm watching a cartoon with my 4 year old and she asked me for some apples.  I go to the kitchen and cut up some apples.  Normally I fast forward all commercials, but while I was downstairs a commercial came on.  I walk back in the room and my sweet Baby Presley says to me, "Mommy I want shape ups".  Just as I see the tail end of a cartoon commercial, "Heidi has shape ups".

I didn't know what to tell her, I said, no those are for (who are those for?- they don't work!).  I was just so bothered that isn't even a conversation I want to have with my still perfect daughter all of 4 years old!..  Next thing I know, the cartoon we were watching came back on- relief...  

She did not however forget.  I was telling the story to two other Moms and Presley's eyes lit up, "Yeah, Heidi has Shape Ups (the chorus in the commercial)".  I almost didn't believe I saw that- how can they be selling these to kids?  WHAT parent would buy into this?!  So I looked it up on YouTube.  

Yup, true.  They come in sizes for PRESCHOOLERS- size 2!  I don't know if I'm more sadden, angered or offended by this.  Everyone has to know how I feel about marketing to kids but this is so hard to believe.  Has society really come to this point that we are selling, "you're not skinny/fit enough" to our two year old girls?

As a women I work very hard to do things to make me stronger and not focus on being "skinny".  I want to encourage my Sweet Baby to be strong and I'm concerned with all these messages saying otherwise.

What are your thoughts?  Repost this too please.  It's bullshit, and it's not ok. 

 

 

 

 

Yankee Baby?

Daddy's Sweet Baby Girl.

Love it!

Yesterday I had another newborn photo session.  Lil' Miss Ella was such a sweetie but she wasn't exactly excited to work with me.  I usually am pretty proud of my ability to calm a crying baby.  Miss Ella really wanted nothing to do with me, but once with Mom and Dad she calmed quickly.  I guess that shouldn't be too surprising.  Taking her outside worked well too and we were able to snap these sweet photos...  

As you may know I am a Red Sox's fan.  So I wasn't exactly thrilled to see the pinstripe uniform come out, but I was able to contain myself and take the photo.  Right after I snapped this shot she started crying so I'm pretty sure Daddy's little girl is a Sox's fan too!

 

The Best Mother's day to date!

My Abeulita is on the left.

I had such a great Mother's day.  We spend the afternoon with my Abuelita (grandmother), Ruth.  She's the one grand parent I've really become to know as a whole person.  I lived with her one summer during college and it was the best summer of my life.  She did spoil me with food and took care of everything no matter how hard I tried to help.  But the best part was hearing the stories that made up her life.

Today I was able to hear more stories about her parents and grandparents.  I had heard my great grandmother was french but nothing more.  During our talk I learned a little more about her and her husband.  I loved hearing my grand mother speak of her "Papa".  Her Papa was a judge and spoke four languages. Hearing her speak about him I could feel the emotion attached to his memory...

My Abuelita and Abuelo (who has been gone for over 10 years now) were so classy.  My Abuelita loved pearls and classic dresses with heels always heels.  My Abuelo Andres was retired during all the years I remember him.  However he wore dress pants and a dress shirt every day and a fedora.  I can still envision him at his dresser splashing on after shave.

I'm thankful for my time with her today and I am hoping to get my hands on some family photos of her and my Abuelo!  Happy Mother's Day.

 

 

 

 

Practice is Mastery

broken beads

Easter brunch where I ran into Coach Bryon.

Ahh, finished product.

 

Ok so I am so happy to post this story!  Here's a little back story first.  A few months ago I saw Bryon a coach from my gym walking around with these beautiful prayer beads.  I asked him where he got them and he said they were a gift  from his yoga teacher and they were from India.  I thought wow, those are so cool and I have no chance of buying some (I'm not going to India any time soon).

So fast forward to a few weeks ago,  a group of us are at a barbecue.  Bryon comes in wearing his beads and again I comment on them.  He told me they had just broke.  Lucky me!  As it turns out he was given these beads from his teacher with the instruction that once they break he was to give them away and the new owner must restring the beads.  Right then and there he took them off and gave them to me.  I was so excited and also had a bit of guilt!  Really!  Can I take these amazing beads!  They are my favorite color by the way but this is almost too cool of a gift.  

Bryon did tell me that I should not become attached to them and that when they break I need to pass them on.  As he's telling me this I'm agreeing but already feel this strong attachment to the beads.  The string was broken and tied together so I was very fearful that they would break again before I had a chance to restring them...

The next morning was Easter morning.  As I was getting ready for Easter brunch I thought of leaving the beads at home (I really worried about it breaking).  But I was also instructed to keep them close to me.  I decided to wear them.  Thankfully they didn't break and I ended up running into Bryon at Easter brunch!  All I thought about was how bad I would of felt had I not been wearing them just one day later...

So several days ago I go to the craft store get the supplies I needed to restring the beads.  Presley was off to school and I figured I would take a few hours restring the beads, take photos and blog all about it.  Well it started off smoothly, I sat down got the beading started quickly then I realized the string was too short. So I stopped cut each bead off one by one (there is a knot in between each bead).   As I'm beading I'm very calm, feeling very introspective and having a great time alone with my thoughts...

Soon my fingers are getting a little sore, by back is getting stiff and I realize the string is again too short.  This is now a few hours into the restringing of these beads.  I'm near tears and I spill the beads as I'm cutting them apart and they roll off the table on the floor and all around me.  Next I realize that I am now out of string.  I felt a little frustrated but I never break down and cry.  What I did do was really try to look into a meaning of this frustration.  I guess if I could turn into a teachable moment it was going to be worth it for me.  I didn't come away with a profound idea.  But I did begin the mantra, "practice is mastery"...

Now the beads are all restrung and I'm loving them.  I am thankful for the gift of the physical beads and of the experience of restringing the beads.  It gave me a real appreciation for them.  The beads will serve as a reminder for me to let go of attachments and the only way to master that is through practice...