My Boudoir Photoshoot

 

bou·doir

/ˈbo͞oˌdwär/

Learn to pronounce

        noun

1.    a woman's bedroom or private room.

This is not me in the photo, although I did do this pose. This pose was about as fun as doing a plank! Lol  In fact, most poses felt like planks. 

Yesterday, I did my boudoir photoshoot and let me tell you, it was more fun than I ever anticipated! 

The first 1-1/2 hours was in hair and make-up. They asked what look I was going for, when I showed them my outfits and said edgy and racy. My make-up was smoky eyes with cranberry highlights and sparkle to complement a deep red lipstick and sultry added eye lashes. It was bold and was truly the look I was going for. 

My hair parted down the middle with soft, long curls gave that special je na sais quoi when it comes to boudoir. I saw a couple of my photos on her camera and I was surprised that was me. It was me, but younger, racier, and edgier. It was me in my youth, she's still there. 

Back up... it's my daughter's step sister who's photography expertise is boudoir. When I knocked on the door her husband answered, who I have never met. He said, "You must be Mariah's friend." I said, "I am Mariah's mom." He said, "Are you kidding? I thought you were like 30 years old?! OMGosh, I need to hug you then!" I officially love her husband! 

Multiple outfit changes and I'm betting she took 500 photos, I was happy to hear her say I am easy to photograph and she'd like to work with me again. When it comes to volunteering and electives, I'm your girl! You want to try different shots, call me. 

My girlfriends I've mentioned this and expressed they've thought about it before, but have never done it. 

Ladies... inside every woman is a want to be beautiful, desired, feminine, and captured. You do not have to go public; rather, keep it quiet and private if you choose. I promise you, one day, you will forget what your body looked like. 

If your more modest, where something modest and go for "suggestive" in your photos. This isn't trashy, it's you beautifully captured. 

Short videos were taken, too. My photographer took 7 second videos in different poses. One shot was on the bed looking over my shoulder, sliding my strap off and at 5 seconds my eyes opened and looked into the camera. She will give me a compilation of these videos she created capturing my experience with her. 

As I was leaving she handed me a gift bag thanking me for trusting her. It was filled with girlie fun things: a fabulous face mask (one I have been wanting to try), lip gloss, a hair mask, makeup application sponge, and misc. items. It was a lovely touch ending a wonderful experience.

I simply cannot wait to see what she captured. 

My motives are pure and my methods often questionable; I believe this has been my life's motto. 

Look Who's 21!

 

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, BROOKIE! 

I am so proud of you! Mature, responsible, and you have embraced adulthood gracefully.

Married to the love of your life, homeowner and you've done beautifully making your home, doing fabulous at your job, and faithfully attending church.

It all matters, sweetheart.

Happy birthday, Alex! You are the perfect complement to my daughter's life and in our family. I am so proud of you and the truly great guy you are. You work very hard and never shy away from a hard days work, always have a smile on your face, impeccable manners, and respectful. Our entire family loves and adores you.

There is great peace knowing both of my daughters are well-loved. 

Happy, happiest of birthdays! I love you, Mama

My Grandson

 

The day Rowan was born and I learned he was a boy, I wondered what on earth I was going to do with a little boy. I didn't know how to be a grandmomma to a little boy. I had daughters. 

Little boys are so entirely different than girls. My Rowan has such a sweet and happy disposition, always smiling, with his pretty teeth and ice blue eyes. He doesn't care much for toys, but wants to play with everything else. A bag of plastic blue cups can be carried, cups pulled out that treasures go in, and thrown around. Territory conquered.

He found a new favorite chair in my home, one that requires a climb for him, but he can throw himself around on and bounce. Playing chase, which is always fun and for the record, no child has ever said, "I'm done, I'm tired" this chair became his safe zone, the one he runs laughing to.

He is snuggles and kisses, passive and playful, adventurous and all boy. 

Not to mention, very handsome...

My grandson calls me, "Ma" like Sofia used to do when they have limited vocabulary and he has the sweetest expression where he lowers his eyes and turns his head slightly when he feigns shy or his feelings are sensitive. 

I just pick him up and snuggle and kiss him.

When my house looks like a war zone, I've ran playing chase, and I need to gather both babies to wind them down, the kitchen sink is the perfect place. Nothing is more fun than water and getting wet. 

Children left unattended at Grandmomma's house will be fed snacks and treats, loved on, and sent home.

#Grandmommalife

God Is In Control

 

This election has rattled me to my core.

I have very strong beliefs that I want to catapult far and wide, yet there is so much division, and I know I am not going to change a fool's mind with sound argument based on facts. A fool is a fool.

My family, my closest friends, my community, on the same side. It has to be this way, a divided house will fall. 

Talk about a nation out of control with moral boundaries completely removed. The news and social media filled with disturbing election updates, covid, and rioting. I can watch it to keep up-to-date or keep it off to retain peace. Disturbing my peace is not going to change what is already going to happen, so I choose peace.

The only thing that gives me peace is God is in control. He knows. 

What is supposed to happen, will happen; I do feel like it is the beginning of the end though.

I think of hurricanes, mass fires, tsunami's... complete devastations. What a better tool for God to use to get people to turn to him. In distress, people cry out. What we call a disaster, may be the necessary event God chose for free-wills to change their minds. This election feels just this, as if we are on the verge of complete devastation, people will cry out.

This great nation is on the verge of changing in ways we cannot even know. As more people turn away from God, which continues to grow becoming the majority, we are becoming a God-less and entitled nation... it will [it's already begun] crumble.

Abortion and late term abortions? That is sick on levels my mind cannot even wrap around. We all sin, but hurt a child? You better read what God thinks of that. Vote this is okay, you are guilty. Period. 

I'm not ready for life to change and there is a strong chance this great country will crumble. 

God is in control. 

God is in control.

God is in control.

This is my only peace of mind. 

Bye Bye Pink

 

Bye bye pink, hello shabby chic!

It was time to transition my bedroom, from pink when I bought my home, to shabby chic. It is also amazing how a couple of hours of painting can transition the look and feel of a room.

My dad, the perfectionist, started off by saying, "Don't you have something to do? I like to work by myself..." I wasn't leaving and I am pretty good when it comes to painting. In fact, everyone should learn how, it's a skill you carry with you always. 

I cut in well and my dad rolled. 

Not too long into painting, Mr. Perfectionist said, "We should go into the painting business together, we could make a lot of money." Yea, told ya I can paint.

My next two projects have been determined. 

Hard Core One Month

 

Ahhhh... November! The month of no events, vacation time, it's dark early, Thanksgiving, then slide into Christmas the next day. 

I simply have to have goals to channel my energies into, something to strive for and check off the list as accomplished. 

Next, next, next, next... check, check, check, check. I always push for what's next, it's just who I am. To an adventurous soul, it breathes life into. To the average person, I'm sure it is a bit overwhelming. 

I call it passion, courage, and a force. [Remember this in my surprise in 2 weeks]. 

I've been on Keto for 7 months. Once I hit 53 lbs I went into Keto cycling, which means, if I want something I can have it, but I maintain my new lifestyle of eating clean. In Keto cycling, I've haven't gained anything, but I haven't continued in my weight loss journey.

But, November! Instead of a goal in mind, I want to see how far I can push and what I am capable of in one month. 

I am back on hard core Keto, and I now have two gym memberships! One gym is right by my house and is perfect for the cardo, weights, and let's be honest, their water massage beds.

The other gym is a hard core gym and offers a full schedule of classes. Being there sweating with the music pushing even harder, and meeting new people, I didn't realize how much I missed it. I feel like me again and it's becoming a new trend. 

I hit both gyms yesterday, morning and night. 

When I say I want to see what I can accomplish in one month, I am super curious to see what I can accomplish myself. 

Full Moon Blue Moon on Halloween

 

Two different people asked me the same question on the same day and my reply was the same, "No way, here's why..." 

I blame the full moon/ blue moon on Halloween, time change the next day, covid craziness, and the elections on Tuesday. Really, it was the blue moon and I completely changed my mind at the last moment.

It's a secret for now, but it arrives in two weeks!