30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 2: What I Wore Today

I know. I know. I’ve already fallen a day behind on this 30 Day Photography Challenge. I know.

Moving on... What I Wore Today..

You guessed it. Head-to-toe black.

Black flutter-sleeved embroidered long tunic from Old Navy circa 2009 over black stretch capris from Old Navy circa 2007.

I think I’m one of very few who’s Old Navy pieces have survived more than just one year. Thank Goodness for that, because I’m not exactly in the position of buying a new wardrobe every year, either. And, I’m not one for clothes shopping. So, when I find a piece that fits (and is black), I hang on to it for as long as I can – mixing it with newer pieces or with older ones. I wash all my colors and darks in cold water, and I dry in Medium heat setting. I’m convinced this is why many of my clothes last as long as they do.

The thong sandals were a gift from my mom. She bought them at Stein-Mart back in 2004 when she was living in Florida.

And, my jewelry consists of a necklace and earrings from Black House White Market, a silver necklace that used to belong to my Dad that I twisted into a bracelet (and I wear most of the time), and another silver bracelet that’s actually a rosary that came from my mom’s last trip to Peru.

The only price-less pieces I’m wearing are my wedding rings and my Dad’s necklace that I made into a bracelet.

Nothing too glamorous.. Not even my bathroom, some of which you can see in the photograph, including the bath towel thrown over the shower doors to dry, the cluttered counter, and the dirty mirrored closet doors.

What can I say? Real life, people.

30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 1: Self Portrait

I cheated and took this picture on Friday.

This is me – bespectacled, in black, and slightly awkward. I think if you ask anyone who knows me to describe Patty, they’ll give you the same description.

The glasses are four years old, and I’ve been wearing them 100% of the time for the last couple of years. I forgot how messy glasses can get at the beach, until we went to Cape Cod on a mini vacation last month - sweat, sand, and sunscreen everywhere. Ugh. Must. Renew. Contacts. Prescription. And, dust off the Jackie Os. I miss my Jackie Os…

I’ve been wearing black since high school. My mom started calling me The Merry Widow – still does, in fact. She could never understand (and still doesn’t) how a young woman would choose to wear black all of the time. Honestly, it’s not for any philosophical reason. I just like black. It’s forgiving, and easy, and versatile... and forgiving. ;-) Although, slowly but surely, color is finding its way back into my wardrobe, and for that, I credit the little 30lb toddler who is currently ruling my life. Doesn’t make much sense to be draped in black when she turns the universe into a Technicolor rainbow, now does it?

Like most everyone, I have some awkwardness in me. I’m painfully shy and prone to anxiety, but once I’m comfortable, I’m an open book to the point of being borderline outspoken. Ask Tony. As exhausting as it must be, he has the ability to talk me off that proverbial ledge while also letting me be me, and all without judgments – God bless him. I can’t say I share in those abilities, but I’m working on it. It’s funny how easy it is to tame the crazy when your objective now is to raise a daughter who’s happy and confident.

So, there you have it. Day 1 – Self Portrait. A peek into Patty. Come back tomorrow for Day 2 of this 30 Day Photography Challenge - What I Wore.

A Challenge

I’m desperate to update this sorry excuse for a blog. So, while satisfying my new addiction to Pinterest (What’s Pinterest? More on that later.), I found this:

Why a photography challenge, you ask?


Because, yet again, I have to somehow revitalize this blog, I want to make it a point to share more with the one or two readers I might still have, and I recently upgraded my iphone 3g to an iphone 4. The 4 is now equipped with a better camera, a flash, and I like the real-life-as-it’s-happening perspective that I get from iphone pics.

Also, August is mere days away. Perfect timing to begin this 30-day challenge.

Should be fun.

Or not.

Check back throughout the month of August to see for yourself.

OK, so... Pinterest.

Basically, it’s yet another form of social media, like Facebook, Twitter, and the like. Only Pinterest is a place to inspire and be inspired by sharing – or pinning - your favorite images (of anything, really) that you find on the internet with the world. OK, not really with the world, but with Followers - not unlike how you’d share your photos and status updates with your Friends on Facebook. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of all you can do on Pinterest.

For me, Pinterest is my go-to source of inspiration to try a new recipe, a new haircut, or a new paint color. It makes me think about travelling, redecorating, or changing out my wardrobe. And, it offers me a window into what inspires my Friends... uh sorry – my Followers.

And, to call it addicting is an understatement.

It’s like crack for the eyes - beautiful, creative, delicious crack, from which you can’t ever turn away.

I should also add that it’s “invite only”. So, you’ll have to request an invite from Pinterest, and once you receive your invite, you can register via your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Easy peasy.

See you in a couple of days with Day 1 of the 30 Day Photography Challenge. Until then, here’s a little something currently going on at the homestead.

Ha! Fun times, people.

Bento

Yup, I jumped on that bandwagon FAST. As soon as Gigi was old enough, I started to bento her lunches.

I gained inspiration from AVM over at Bento Madness, where she blogs about the fun bentos she prepares for her family. In fact, I sent her a photo of one of Gigi’s first bentos, and she graciously mentioned it on her blog. Check out that post here.

And, if you haven’t already checked out the rest of Bento Madness, I urge you to do so. Not only are there great pictures, you can also find AVM’s favorite online shops for ordering bentos and bentoing accessories. I promise - you’re going to want to start bentoing, too.

Gigi’s bentos are still on the simpler side. Here’s a shot of one of her first ones – packed in a Beaba Multiportions babyfood container, which I originally used on occasion to freeze Gigi’s purees when she was on solids (I mostly used ice cube trays). Once she moved on to finger foods, I used the container as a bento. Genius, right? Thanks for the idea, AVM!

{Clockwise, starting with cheerios, then green bean casserole, cut up chicken tenders, blueberries, cut up clementine, cut up red seedless grapes, and in the middle, homemade mac 'n cheese}

And, here are a couple of more recent pics of Gigi’s new and more grown-up bento – also by Beaba, this one is appropriately called The Lunch Box.

{Gigi was getting over a little stomach bug when I prepared her bento. So, I didn't pack any fruit for her - just some cavatelli mixed with a cube of pureed peas and some grated parm, some cut-up pumpkin pancake leftover from breakfast, plain cheerios, a pack of mum mums, and half of a cut-up grilled cheese on wheat.}


Fun, right?

Even Tony has gotten in on the action. Here is the one I ordered for him on Amazon. It’s another form of bentoing, but the idea is the same.

Hard to believe, but I have yet to get my own bento. I just can’t seem to decide on which of these is my favorite.

Vivo Square Bento Box

Laptop Lunch B620-Purple Bento Set

Zojirushi SL-NCE09 Ms. Bento Stainless-Steel Vacuum Lunch Jar

Microwavable Lock & Lock Bento Lunch Box Set

Kotobuki 2-Tiered Bento Box

The possibilities are endless.

The art of Bento - packing and presenting healthy balanced meals in a beautiful way - originated in Japan and is still common practice there. The catastrophic tsunami that hit Japan is not at all lost on me. I am fully aware that my own meager little blog means nothing in comparison to the immense devastation that has taken place in Japan. Please consider giving to the relief effort. The Red Cross is accepting donations. Other ways to help are found here.


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In other news, Gigi attended her first Sunday Mass this past weekend. She did great! Phew..

40 Days & 40 Nights

For the last 10 or so years, instead of giving something up for Lent, I’ve been making a promise to myself and to God – church every Sunday, prayers every night, move more, eat less, etc. I’m ashamed to say, I never really made it through those 40 days and nights.

Well, this past January, I joined Weight Watchers. Not many people know this – until now, of course. I did pretty well the first four weeks. Lost a smidge over 8lbs. The last four weeks, however, have been rough. My head has just not been in it. So, for Lent this year, I’m promising to track every single item I eat and drink, resume going to my weekly meetings, and committing to at least four days of exercise during the week. With that, I promise to drink more water; less coffee (can’t possibly give that up entirely), and be religious about taking my multi-vitamin every night before bed.

Oh, and I’m committed to going to church every Sunday. I’m curious to see how Gigi responds to this new Sunday morning activity – and hoping all goes well. Should be interesting.

Here she is with her papa - my other favorite person in the world.


I’ll be sure to report back, because my other commitment for Lent this year is to return to blogging. This sad little blog has been neglected long enough and way too many times at that, and not for any lack of subject matter. We’re chock full of that these days. We have a walking and running little person filling our time with the sweetest of sweetness, big bear hugs, and lots of laughs.

Here’s the little strawberry on the morning of her 1st birthday.


She’s 16 months now – and getting bigger and funnier every day. Here she is chugging her sippy of milk like a champ – and with flair!


And, here she is being busy and important reading her magazine – upside down.


Ha! I can talk and gush about her for days.

When all is said and done, these promises to me and to God are really all for her. She makes me want to be better, healthier, and happier. And, she is more than worth it.