Pictures & jewelry

I realized this morning that I never let anyone take pictures of me for most of my adult life, especially when our kids were very little. They are 7 & 10 now. I have been going back through our digital pictures and back posting them on blipfoto as a digital scrapbook for my girls. One picture a day with a post or just a few words about each picture. Completely doable! I have faced the fact that I am not a scrapbook mom. I am ok with that. But I can do this and it is fun!! I have been learning to use our wonderful camera lately and have been taking lots of pictures....even of me and gasp....they haven't been horrible.

As I have been going back through the old pictures, you know, the few pictures of me weren't horrible either! I as young and tired and I had no idea what I was doing with a baby, but I was deliriously happy. That is so obvious on my face. I wish there were more pictures that show that. I wish I could go back to my 20s self and say "no one cares that you don't have make up on right now. No one cares that you haven't lost that pregnancy weight and it is a year later. Your kids will want to see you loving them and laughing with them as babies. Give yourself more grace. Have more confidence in your own style and beauty. Cut yourself some slack."

I am more comfortable in my own skin now that I am in my mid thirties. I have my own style. I don't really care what people think anymore. I have taken a lot of pictures of me lately, I guess to make up for the lack of pictures earlier. I guess I don't want there to be none to choose from if I get hit by a bus tomorrow and die. Until recently, my husband probably would have found about three of them....maybe from about 6 or 7 years ago. I want my kids to see the life I lived. I want them so see all the fun we have had.

Anyhooo, I took this picture to post for Noonday Collection's Facebook wall of this fabulous yellow handmade necklace because I was so happy with the co-mingling I did with some of my other necklaces. I tend to obsess about my jewelry selection and pairings because I am starting to have quite a collection. I think I am an addict.

Check out www.noondaycollection.com . They have gorgeous handmade jewelry, scarves and items for your home made by women all over the world who are working their way out of poverty. If you "like" them on Facebook, you can enter to win a gorgeous necklace in January!