Self Portrait Project 2014

Ok, while on the surface this post will seem extremely vain. Self centered even, but let me explain. Like most of my gal pals out there, I tend to pick myself apart any chance I can. Who's with me? As women I think that we are just conditioned to do that for whatever reason and I think I have just had enough of it. Enough of looking at magazines and the internet and seeing perfect bodies and faces everywhere. Enough self hating on myself or other women. Enough wishing that I could change something on my face or for lord sake, my thighs! I don't have a flat tummy and I suffer from boob butt syndrome, lol! I have them in spades and I tend to look down on them instead of embracing my curves.Well, enough! Enough of the male dominated, social media, fashion magazine culture that tells us that we have to be on and perfect all the time. Haven't you had enough? There is way too much fat shaming out there...skinny shaming too. Did you know that now the debate is about thigh gaps or lack of thigh gaps? It's just crazy!

When my daughter was born, I swore I would never let her pick herself apart. I told her every day that she is a beautiful and wonderful person, both inside and out. After all, our children are gifts and should be cherished. However, some of my self loathing leaked out of me and onto her, for lack of a better analogy. For she too has developed the same syndrome as her Mother and my Mother and all of the other ladies out there. It is sad really...sort of breaks my heart. My syndrome got worse after I suffered a bells palsy a few years ago from untreated lyme disease. Because I did not know I had been bit, and it was untreated, lyme is with me for life now and I deal with its effects every day. So, after I healed and my face got back to normal, well the new normal really, I tend to struggle to find myself in the mirror every time I look. It has been hard and damaging and a whole bunch of other emotions. I tend to beat myself up for it a lot.

So, I thought that I would start a sort of project to see if I could find something beautiful about myself. I do not usually like photos of myself, I picked that trait up from someone who I love, but will remain nameless. So, today I shot some selfies. Something I am not super good at, but I try. Don't worry, there are no duck lips to be seen, lol. I picked 4 that had something I liked about myself in them. These are not photo-shopped at all. (but I do have makeup on.) I just brightened them a bit. My faults are there, I have crows feet, a somewhat droopy eye and some weight to me. But it's ok. My eyes have seen beautiful things through the lens of my camera and my smile has greeted many friends warmly. My body brought a wonderful girl into this world and helped my husband through some tough times.

Today, I choose to stand up for myself and say enough is enough Anna. I hope that maybe it may inspire all the ladies out there too. You are beautiful! You are good and kind and enough just the way you are. Go ahead, hug yourself. Like your shoulders and your toes. It's ok. And maybe if we all start to love ourselves, we can change the world? Well at least our world, lol! After all, life is far too short to be anything but happy with yourself.

Have a blessed day my Mothers, my Sisters, my Daughters!

Photo Copyright Anna Patten 2014

Camping Under the Stars-Question of the day

I wish I were camping right now! There is something about sitting under the stars with the smell of wood smoke in the air! Something about roasting marshmallows until they are burnt and telling scary stories with a flashlight under your chin. Yes, it sounds pretty relaxing right about now. Now here is the question of the day...Tent, camper or rent a cabin? I think they all have their merits, but let's break them down.

Tent: I have only been camping in a tent a couple of times. The first time, it rained the whole time we were out there and I did not like it one bit. The second time the weather was good, but there is just something about a tent that leaves me feeling exposed. If you are in a place where bears tend to roam free, (which we usually were when I went camping as a child), a tent just doesn't feel secure. Having said all of that, I would be willing to try it again. Buzz and I have been talking about doing just this recently.

Camper: Now this is the way I camped for most of my childhood. My grandparents had several as well as camper shells on trucks. The last one my grandparents had was just short of a palace on wheels. Complete with a full shower and a fireplace. I am well versed in staying in a camper and perhaps, this is why a tent never feels right to me. I have very fond memories of camping with my family. Cooking outdoors, sitting around the fire, going to bed smelling of wood smoke and and s'mores. The table actually folding down into a bed!! Yea, it was pretty awesome and as a kid, I was mesmerized! This is an option that Buzz and I have been talking about too for a lot of reasons. We have friends who sold their house and most of their stuff a year ago. They packed up the rest and hit the road. They have settled in a place now, found jobs and such, but they have the freedom of no house payments and lower monthly costs. Now that our daughter has graduated, we have talking about this option a lot. It's still a ways off, but getting the camper soon, could be on our horizon. Oh, and your safe from bears...did I mention that?

Cabin: I have done this numerous times. There really isn't much downside to this option. Everything is provided for you, you have running water sometimes and you are safe from all things the woods can throw at you except for maybe, spiders and of course, fire! LOL! (No really...the spider thing really happened to us and we woke up to a scene liken to the the one in The Great Outdoors! Yes, there was screaming! Yes, I did run around like a mad woman begging for Buzz to get them off of me! Ahh, nature!)  This could be a short term option for us, as we live in an area where there are many available to rent. This might just be the option we go with.

Have plans to camp this summer? Let's share :) This is bound to be a great summer!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Anna
ArtfullyOddPhotos.com 

Saratoga Geyser Trail 2014

Hear that? That's right my friends, that is the sound of Summer approaching! Could anything else be more perfect? Buzz and I have been trying to get out and about more often. You know, like normal people do, lol. We were able to do that this past Tuesday when we ventured to the Saratoga Geyser trail. A lovely 5 mile hike that winds you through some of the most wonderful wilderness.

Traditionally, the geysers were used as a health retreat. You would go there and take the cure for about 3 weeks back in the day. The geysers are both carbonated and fresh spring water. It sounds like heaven to me really. What has happened to our country? 3 weeks to rest, recuperate and rejuvenate and you still had your house when you got back. All though this is what we would consider quack medicine today, the rest alone had health benefits I am sure. You can read more about the park here and if you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you them in.

On the downside, it is tick season here in upstate and it is in full force, let me tell you! Poor Buzz got stuck with 5 of them and we had to rush him to the doctors the next day for a big does of antibiotics and a tetanus shot. Happy to report that he is on the mend now and rearing to go hiking again! I look forward to our next adventure myself!

Posting a few photos below. They are available for prints if you find one you really like :) Happy Summer my friends!
Anna
ArtfullyOddPhotos

A Photographer tries to go the Natural Route

Hello world. I hope that this finds you all doing well out there. Now that Spring is officially here and on its way to being glorious Summer, I find that I am wanting to make some changes in my life. There is something about the changing of seasons that makes one think, ponder and sometimes even, dwell on certain things. One of the things I have been pondering is all the chemicals that we put into our bodies every day. This thought actually came to me in February, as I sat around the table at a beautiful Mexican restaurant with my family. We were talking about the pressures on women these days to look nothing but perfect and how, even if you try not to buy into all of that, it still effects us all. One of the point that I brought up was all the chemicals that we put into our bodies and how I think they make us fat. I mean, our food is pumped full of them, our shampoo is positively dripping with them, our lotions, creams and what not, (You know, the ones that are suppose to make us look better and feel better about ourselves because that's  what the media tells us we need to do...Yea, those) are brimming over with things I can't even pronounce. And on top of all of that, we are constantly bombarded with prescription drugs every time we see the doctor. There is a pill for everything my friends and our physicians are more than happy to prescribe it to us any time we have an ache, pain or just don't feel right. Yes, this is the world we live in. And while I can agree that some of the crop and preservative advancements that we have witnessed in the past 20 years, benefit us...the others simply do not.

So, what does this mean my friends? Well, it means that this gal has had enough. It's time for a change in the Patten household. I recently piled all of my old shampoos, creams, lotions, cleaning products and what not into a box and went on the hunt for natural alternatives. I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. I was prepared for sticker shock, but was met with reasonable prices. I found a wonderful line of hair care products called RenPure, new lotion and some new body wash from Delon Labs. I have been using them for almost 2 weeks now and while the shampoo doesn't suds up, I am liking the results. I found that Walmart has its own series of natural household cleaners and they actually work! I switched our laundry detergent to an all natural one and Buzz just said to me this morning, that he loves it and the way it smells and he's a guy! Today I decided to switch out one of the most important products we use...deodorant. I found the Toms brand and I am going to give it a try. It smells good and does not have any of the icky stuff that you find in name brands. One draw back though, its a little pricey. If it works though, I am all for it. We are also buying more veggies and fruit from the farmers market instead of the store. I am still currently looking for an all natural skin care regime, but I am happy with the little steps we are taking now. 

What have I noticed so far? Well, believe it or not, we are not as bloated as we were 2 weeks ago. Water weight has been lost I think. My allergies are also not nearly as bad as they were before. My hair feels better to the touch, our skin is not so dry and I am not nearly as tired as I have been in the past. Is this proof of chemical poisoning? Well, I can't say really. All I know is that the Patten's are feeling better and we actually might survive the zombie apocalypse when it comes! Whether it be mind over mater or getting the chemicals out of our systems, we are feeling better. I hope to be making another positive blog update on the subject after we have been at this for a month or two, so stay tuned. Given the state of the environment these days, I feel better just trying to lessen my carbon footprint. Other good habits will surly follow.

I would love to hear from some of you out there though. Have you tried the natural route? How did it go? Did you stop cold turkey or take baby steps? I can't wait to hear your comments. 

Have a wonderful day my friends!

Anna

Artfully Odd Photos