Just Winging It ...and a Blogger Award

via Style Caster

There is a hash tag on Instagram #pinupgirlproblems  ...my pin up girl problem is winged liner... I have not in oh, I don't know, thirty plus years of doing one "nailed it" as of yet. Each day I do one... rarely skip a day, and on no two days are they alike...never mind the eyes, the liner, the wings not meant to be twins, mine are rarely in the same family. So I spend the bulk of my one hour getting ready for the day, yes, and hour...that is another pin up girl problem...trying to make my wings match up and the sad thing is, that then I go outside and my eyes water and suddenly I am crying black tears. I have tried every style of liner, gel, liquid, pen, pencil, thin brush, angled brush, stiff tip, soft, felt, waterproof....I have tried a lot of price points. Ok not sure pricey ones, but pricey enough. I have a drawer full of black eyeliners! I use good light, a magnifying mirror, and even have make up glasses; yes they are a thing and you can still buy them.

via gramfeed.com

I have watched countless you tube videos, tried the tape trick, the spoon and business card trick, even tried the eye brow stencil turned upside down trick and yes those too are all things.. don't believe me, go look them up on youtube. Of course as it so happens is I am going nowhere, and will be seen by no one that cares, often as my luck would have it they turn out perfect. Maybe its being on a time clock that is my enemy. It certainly can not be lack of practice or skill...YES, I do have some make up skill...or maybe I really don't! The gals on the videos make it seem so simple. I have asked many of my friends and they will admit they do not always get it perfect all the time, there is "make up fails", even my brow gal Dorthy today says she often has them and she does make up all day long!! So if even the other pinups who always look perfect can't get it right, is there hope??

via buzzfeed

Brushes for the gel pot liner

I always have pointed cotton swabs and
a make up wipe, with one of the swabs
in it close by for touch ups.

My collection. Felt, skinny brush in
liquid both in a pencil type shape container,
and a little pot, gel in the pot, felt tips....

Looks simple right??? ( via pintrest) 

I tried on friend's tip of using a pencil first and then
going over it with the liquid...it worked the other day...
then today not so much.

Pretty darn good! Excuse the brow hairs...I was over due for
a pluck...it is all better now!

This was after three attempts, wiping it all off and doing it again,
not bad, but not perfect...and one inner corner I never seem to match it
with the other either... even on good days! 

When considering doing this post, I decided to ask a few of my friends who are ladies who make up always looks wonderful and who all seem to have different styles of wings and ways of doing them if they would not mind sharing with me, and you, tips, tricks, favorites etc., and they were all quite generous. Some are bloggers, some are models, some both...all are pin ups. 

@justalark on Instagram

"....the best and easiest method I've found is first lining my eyes with a crayon eyeliner as a sort of a base sketch, then going over it with a felt tip liquid liner. Creates a darker line and it's much friendlier to use" 

@kirstiemydear on Instagram 

"Gel liner is the best in my opinion! Helps make make a precise line more easily ( more control over the brush) and it lasts! Currently I use Bobbie Brown's gel, but may switch to Anastasia of Beverly Hills ( moussey and smooth texture) ...Maybelline is a great dupe at a lower price. I always draw my wings first." 

@missvintagelady on instagram

This lovely, who is a makeup artist, model, and all around gorgeous lady inside and out was kind enough to provide the below for me to use, and we chatted tips all evening long as well......

An All Dolled Up Moment with MissVintageLady....

"As a Professional Make Up Artist, I have always dabbled in finding the best products for my clients. Let me tell you it's not easy finding that perfect liner, you expect your eyeliner to be the perfect shade of black that lasts through the day, it must not flake, & most importantly easy to remove without staining the skin grey. Gosh I hate that with some liners. 

- My absolute Favorite Make Up Era is the 1940's! My go to Liner for the era is a Sharp Pointed Pencil Eye Liner a classic Pencil Liner you can find almost anywhere! I switch on & off between my favorite Pencil Liners, I use Chanel, Dior, & Givenchy I feel that they give the best results for me. 

However this is such a Classic Pencil that you can find so many lovely dupes! 

My favorite is from Chanel I use Le Crayon Kohl for a simple defined thin cat eye right against my lash line. For a more Dramatic look I use Le Crayon Yeux it's a Creamy Smooth Pencil that creates a defined thicker cat eye more of a 1950's feel. 

Now if I want a Liquid Liner which is usually for my photo shoots I use N.Y.C Liquid Liner it's a Drug Store Brand! The fluid is rich & leaves a beautiful clean black line, perfect for a Pin Up! 

My number 1 tip is always use a flat angled brush with a concealer that matches your skin tone perfectly to clean up the edges & make them sharper than a barber's blade! "

Finally, is a dear young woman I have the pleasure of being friends with on line has not only sent me a wonderful tutorial, but photos to use as well! She too is a blogger, a model and just the sweetest! 

@laceychiffon via Instagram

Lacy writes...

When doing my signature cat eye, I always start out by priming my lids. I use just a basic eyelid primer from Wet-n-Wild. Once my eyebrows and shadow are on I go directly to my eyeliner.

I use Kat Von D’s Trooper. Her tattoo liners are amazing! However you have to prime your lids otherwise it rubs off. have very hooded eyes, so I start out by making a very thin line right on my lid.

Next I make a small triangle, the great thing about the eyeliner I use is that it glides very easily over your eye.

Once I love my little triangle I fill it in, then bringing the rest of the liner to my inner corners, trying to keep a thin line.

If I like it I start the next eye, doing the same thing, but of course it’s so hard to get it right the first time. If I need to go back over the other and make it thicker or longer I will. I finish the rest of my makeup at this point and then to set my look I use Maybelline’s newest setting spray, it gives me a little bit longer wear on my makeup, which I need!

I have learned a few new tricks...how about you...are you going to give it a try? You do not need to make the wing nearly as long as many of these lovelies, if it is too dramatic for you, I often make a much smaller wing when it is just a day at home or just taking a walk to the local bagel shop for coffee. I think a combo of using a pencil first and then starting my line a little in from the corner may be my two that I am going to implement in the future.

You may have noticed I have not included links for the bloggers, well, there is a very important reason. Just yesterday I was awarded a blogger award, The Versatile Blogger Award, by the ladies over at Style Lyfe Blog..... ( thank you ladies... I am honored!!)

There is rules that go along with receiving the nod from a fellow blogger(s) , and they are as follows...

If you are nominated, you’ve been awarded the Versatile Blogger award.
    •    Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
    •    Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy
    •    Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you’ve recently discovered or follow regularly.
    •    Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award
    •    Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

to find out more visit the official web site...HERE

For me? I am so honored!

So, first, I am supposed to name off 15 blogs/bloggers. I follow hundreds, but not regularly. And I am not entirely sure if they would like to be nominated and have to participate, bloggers can be a fickle bunch to be sure. I have in the past introduced you to a few, when I spoke of some of my idols and I share a few links via banners in the P.C. version of this blog in the side bar. So I am only going to name a few, and some of them I have shared with you above...but will do so again right now.. and a couple I have recently been over joyed to have guest blogged on their blogs and it is my way of saying "thank you" 

1. 

Kirstiemydear

2.

Miss Vintage Lady

3.

Lacey Chiffon

4.

banner is property of  Miss Amy May's web page and is subject to copyright.


Miss Amy May 

5.

photo is property of, and subject to copy write,
Pin up Persuasion 

Pin Up Persuasion 

So, I am going to stop at 5 as far as the blogs/bloggers I am nominating and now it is time to list my seven things about me. I find that hard, because if you have been a reader for any length of time you know all about me, but I will try.

1. I grew up on a small "farm" and would have to slop the pigs, and feed the steer before school each morning for a few years to help my Grandpa.

2. When I was a girl, I would walk in high heels to the bus stop, all day at school and then home...even on the dirt road portions I had to go on to get too and from

3. I love B grade horror flicks from the 50's and 60's and love to be scared and spooked, but will not watch blood and gore and hackem slashem movies. 

4. I drink hot tea every day, all day, even if it is 100 degrees out.

5. I am friendly, but really shy, and talking to people makes me nervous. 

6. I have not made a single close friend in nearly 9 years and spend a lot of time all by myself. 

&

7. Bad health has ravished my teeth and gums, so am ashamed with how they look, but I smile anyway.

Stylish Thoughts....

Today  is a very special day, and not just because I am posting yet another blog, but because I have been honored by Imogen Lamport of Inside Out Style to be one of her ladies featured in her Tuesday posts " Stylish Thoughts". I had written last Monday about her Evolve Your Style program and Facebook group that goes with it, and gave it a tiny nod yesterday as well. Imogen had posted to the group a short time ago asking if any of the "Evolvers" would like to be featured and even named me by name within the query as one of the few she had at the top of her head...of course I said I would be honored to do it. Imogen sent me an email a short few days later with a list of questions and asked me to include a few photos. I was only to answer some of the questions, but as is my style, I answered them all, it was just too thought provoking not to. The photos were harder to share, even though I share photos all the time here and on my FB page and had shared them on the EYS page, putting it on a well known, around the world blog such as hers, well I had a bit of a butterfly nest in my belly in doing so, but I grabbed the few that were most recent and from the challenges and sent them to her. Anyway, the blog post posted today and already I have so many emails to answer and comments over on the EYS FB page, the tea is brewing already and I have my not so stylish slippers on and am ready to tackle them. OH!! You want the link, and you want to go see for yourself? Ok, I am happy to oblige *wink* 

Click below .....

Inside Out Style Blog 

Taking a Bow

Recently I was given the Liebster Award, an award given to blogger with 200 or less followers... I was honored... though I do have more than 200 in truth, I indeed only have 200 in Google followers... so guess that counts still. The award was given to me by a lovely lady and fellow blogger RETRO GRAN, who has a blog about living a small town life by a vintage loving Grandma. BIG THANKS!! It was so sweet of her to think my blog was worth noticing. There were stipulations to the award, such as.....

.... answer the 11 questions set by the blogger who nominated you.
 then pick 11 blogs who in turn have under 200 followers.
 then think of 11 questions for the blogs you have picked and also tell them.
and link back to the blog that nominated you.....

Now this kind of posed a problem. With all that has been going on I have not kept up on reading blogs for some time. I keep meaning to do so, but between illness and construction of our daughters space, and well illness, just has not been something I have been doing. The second thing that was so very hard was finding any blogs that I do read, when I am up to it, that only have 200 followers... so I will say this, click my profile and see the blogs that I follow and ALL of them, no matter how many followers they have, are worth visiting. So because I am not going to be able to pass the award on, I am not coming up with the 11 questions. HOWEVER, I did think I should at the very least answer the questions that Reto Gran posted for me to answer. I also will of course link back to her page.... in fact, I am going to do that right now!!! 

RETRO GRAN...

CLICK HERE for the most recent post 

CLICK HERE for the post about the award

Questions....

1. What have you learned from blogging? That it is not the following of the rules of blogging that gets readers, it is opening your heart. Being the real you. Sure, there are plenty of blogs that post nothing personal that have THOUSANDS of followers, and it looks impressive, but is it quantity over quality?  I do not have a lot of followers in any one place, and not every post is something everyone reads.. but if I only get 2-3 people that tell me how much they enjoy what I post, then it means the world to me. So to clarify, I  learned that I do the blog for myself first, be myself, show my heart and if in doing that, I touch even one persons life per post, then it is worth doing. 
2. How much time do you spend working on your blog? That really varies. In the beginning it was a lot more time. I wrote a post daily, and thought of it daily. With the move , then the death of my son in law, and the aftermath and being so very ill the entire last 5 or so months, well not as much as I would like.  I do not post as much as I would want  or like to, and most times I do not have even a clue what to write, so I just don't . I am sure that will change over time... as my life evolves so does my blog and how much I work on it. Recently my facebook fan page has taken on a bigger life than the blog and instead of the FB page being a companion to the blog, the blog has become a companion to it, and that is ok... either way, once again, I am being myself, I am showing my heart and doing what makes me feel good.. to inspire and touch peoples lives through words and photos. 
3. What is your guilty pleasure? Right now? It is watching The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie each and every day for hours on end on the Hallmark Channel. I like good, clean, and wholesome entertainment and both those shows offer that. Oh and reality shows... another guilty pleasure and on the total opposite side of the first one LOL , but what can I say, I am diverse in my tastes. 
4. Are you punctual or tardy? I try very hard to be punctual and even early most times. 
5. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? That  has been changing over the years. I used to dream of Paris, and other European countries...seeing the countries of my heritage, seeing historic buildings and art and experiencing other cultures.  As my health declines I find myself just wishing to be up to going places more local and being up to it. That being said, if I was healthier, I do not think I would aim for Europe at this point in my life, I think I would desire to see places in the United States . Alaska for its vastness and beauty of nature. San Diego ,  for no other reason than it is a lovely place to go with a beach and in my own state. DollyWood, who would not love that? The list goes on and on. Reasons? Just to experience new places. 
6. What's your favorite book, tv program, and film? Anne of Green Gables was and is my favorite book of all time... really anything written by L.M. Montgomery.. also the TV programs based on the books. I do not have one favorite movie. I have many. BUT if I had to pick one that I watch over and over, Hello Dolly with Barbara Streisand. 
7. If you could throw a dinner party and invite anyone in the world, living or not, who would you invite and why? Oh my gracious. This is tough. I know many people think about this, but I never have. Not even once, till now. I really do not have a single answer as there is so many answers. I am not saying that as a cop out, as I think of it, the list would go on and on.... from authors , to world figures, to people in history that made a difference.... it would have to be a very big party! 
8. Do you have a particular style icon or guru? Again I have many. Years ago I was dressing rockabilly mixed with vintage and drew upon Audrey Hepburn and her style as well as many style icons from the mid 1940's through 1950's , but then as I fell more and more in love with styles from the 1920's and 1930's it was of course people like Louise Brooks and all her contemporaries. Right now, tho it seems more like I am channeling Hugh Hefner and living in my pjs LOL 
9. What do you draw inspiration from, magazines, films, blogs or something else? Depends what this is referring to. If decor, all of the above. Fashion, well I follow my own heart on that and as well as looking to the past... the way past! Anything else, I think I just soak in everything around me and all the experiences and people that I meet. 
10. If you had to live in any other time period besides now, which one would you pick? I romanticize  about such things, kind of like the movie Midnight in Paris... which really explored the subject, and the whys of it all. But truly, given that my life revolves around the computer, at least to have contact with the outside world , as I am basically a shut in, I would say now. But I do still always crave a simple and quite life, so it is not another time period, but just another location. 
11. What is proudest moment thus far? When I married my husband and when I gave birth to my daughters. Nothing can top those two things. 

It's Lovely!

I received a lovely surprise today, I was the recipient of a blog award from a long time follower and friend, Lil Russia over at Fashioned By Love . Of course it means listing 7 things about myself and then passing the award on to a few deserving recipients....both are rather tough assignments. I know many do not participate, and well listing 7 things about myself when I am so very open about myself on a regular basis, maybe often too open, it is tough to come up with anything new. But I shall try. 

One.

I believe in fairies...always have, since childhood. When I was growing up on our small farm I would lay in the fields and watch the dozens of dragonflies and imagine that they were fairies in disguise. When I was older, I planted my gardens to flatter the fairies and represent those from the books under the names of Flower Fairies, and once there even cropped up a fairy ring in the midst of it all! I would like to think I have not let go of all the magical wonderment from childhood, as I think in my most serious life it is a nice fraction of my being. 

Two.
Angels. I truly believe in Angels, both the heavenly, and those on Earth. I know often they have touched my life in so many ways. Especially those of the human variety. 

Three.
For my wedding I dressed as a 1920's themed bride. Nothing about my wedding past what I was wearing was to the same theme, it was a home spun wedding, at my parents home, in the front area of their yard, and the food was picnic style, and the cake made by a friend. My dress cost no more than 25.00, and I had a bad perm and dragon nails ( hey it was the 1980's) ! Would share a photo, but none of them are decent, and it is my dream to redo it. Done better. I still have my head dress and gloves, my dress has since yellowed and fallen apart....always dream of how I would do it and the photos that would follow. Something worth framing.

Four. 

I have always dreamed of traveling the world. Seeing places from my family tree, books and movies. My husband has traveled all over Europe as a young man, and we always planned on it, but alas our lives have taken such turns as to make it something that most likely is a pipe dream, even leaving our general area for a day is barely in our budget. So instead I live through those books, movies,images and even music that transports me to the places I would like to see. 

Paris of course.....

But dream of walking through the lavender of Provence.

Though I enjoy what the city and burbs have to offer, living in the English country side is always a fantasy. I even read English style cozy mystery books.

Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables.

Rome, Italy

Five. 

Though I enjoy cooking and eating gourmet foods, I am really just a burger and fries kind of girl...

Six.
And though I drink coffee daily, I am more fond of tea, and there was a time I was obsessed with having tea parties and partaking of high tea on a regular basis, baking my own goodies and making the tea sandwiches....

 

 Seven.

I adore wearing high heels, I adore shoes in general, but am happiest when barefooted, feeling the earth under my feet. 

A recent gift from a twitter friend

How I grew up.

So there you have it, seven things about me. And now a few blogs I find lovely...no pressure my fellow blog friends...but I do hope you will accept it all the same, even if you do not do what goes with it. Keeping with the number seven theme....because if I list all the blogs I think are lovely, and there are so many, you would be here all day!

Everything Fabulous 

Jac Marie

Margarita Bloom

ooh la frou frou

Paris Atelier

French Mademoiselle  

Scathingly Beautiful

Award with a Different Spin

I am not entirely sure if I am flattered or not with this one. Let me re-word that. I am always flattered to be thought of and given an award, but to have to lie ( you will see below what I am speaking of) oh now that is just not right LOL !! But I shall play. It is not what I had planned today, I was going to write about Oprah's latest magazine issue . Guess ya'all will have to just be patient. So here it is....

Here are the rules....


Display graphic. Phew....that was the easy part!

2. List 5 things about yourself, 4 have to be out and out lies. Seriously? Um not very good at that part.

3. Pass Meme on to 5 others. I'll infect other bloggers with this meme, but they will not like it LOL

4.  Rules have to be followed or you get blocked on twitter and other bad things Oh that would be death! LOL Wait who would block me???
5. Link up at Yeah. Good Times. 


Ok here we go...five things about me. Not too fun as you my dear readers already know I am going to lie, and I am lousy at it...so will just be blatant...can you pick out the truth? 

1. I can hardly wait to be a toothless , balding old woman ! 
2. Gotta have a glass of hooch each night or it just is not a perfect evening!
3. I adore practical jokes, I think they are the best ever!
4. I have a mouth like a truck driver and know how to use my words with skill!
5. I can hardly wait to get my next tattoo!   


Five bloggers......no pressure people , seriously...but click their blog and tell them how you found them...just in case I do not get to it today.


1. Destination Unknown
2. From Chaos Comes Happiness 
3. Stories From The Shoebox  
4. The Frump Factor 
5. Thing's I Can't Say  

WHEEEEEEW glad that is over...thanks my dear friend  over at A Beautiful Mess who tagged me ...and I used some of her comments and added to them after the rules hehehehehehe...thanks again my friend *SMOOCH*

http://aluckydame.blogspot.com/

Oh well at least I can laugh about it , needed a good giggle .......

Moving on ....and an award!

Picture available at Zgallerie's stores and online.

Time to move on. After much thought I shall be moving on from the book Seeking Peace by Mary Pipher. Oh now do not get me wrong, the second half of the book held as much of a connection for me as the first half. More so. I underlined so much, I fear it would take a couple of months to share everything and then I might actually have to get permission to quote from the book....was walking a tight rope not doing so. I truly urge you to seek this book out if you had any connection just to the passages I did use. 

There was things I did not share about my childhood, and young adulthood that got me to where I currently am. Things that make up the very fibers of my being. But I think that you get the general idea and we can now move on to the important part of my current journey, one to be happy with not only the world that surrounds me and what is inside of me and well ME! I want to be be positive, I want to be optimistic and as mentioned as my word for the year I want to    

image from Bing.com

  I did want to share one more passage from the book before doing so, one that sums up her wonderful journey and sums up what I have shared and why I shared it..........
"I believe that if readers see something of themselves in me, I may be useful. I may help readers feel less alone and damaged, just as I helped myself with these goals. We all share similar journeys. We live through childhoods filled with ups and downs. We share houses with people who both love us and make us miserable. We pass developmental milestones, build identities and see them change. We fail miserably and we accomplish important goals. We make the best of it. We take turns being the afflicted and the comforter. We experience a crisis and realize our old ways are not working. We stumble around lost and unhappy, only to see the light, find our new path and move forward. This is our universal human story." Mary Pipher, Seeking Peace 2009 Riverhead Books


 So now the journey will continue. A journey of bouncing back, learning to dance, becoming comfy in my own being, and my following the Project Happiness book to well, find happiness. LOL But all that on another day.  

Buy print at Zgallerie's in stores and online.

It appears I have won an award! A lovely friend of mine that writes about a journey all her own, though quite a different one ( making it through design school) , Deb ( LINK TO HER BLOG A Mind on Design) , has give me the Stylish Award. 

Now considering that most of the other bloggers she gave it to have blogs on either fashion of the home or self, I was a bit confused. BUT it is ever so kind of her to give it to me. I can not think of blogs that I follow that have not received it already or who do like to participate in awards and all that goes with them, so I shall simply say THANKS and tell you to check out her blog and the others she listed. 

The other thing that goes with receiving this, like with all blog awards, you are to tell seven things that people do not know about you. Rather tough as I share nearly EVERYTHING with you my readers. So I thought instead I would list seven things I dream of. So in a perfect world.....

greatmodernpictures.com

 Seven Dreams.....

1. Clear Choice Dental Implants ( ok, had to) paid in full before the end of 2011!

2. A private chef to shop and cook for me and hubby ( these are dreams soo....)

3. Travel to Disney World /Epcot/ Animal Kingdom

4. Get a weave to make it easier to wait out hair growth (again cause I got snip happy and really regret it ) 

5. A personal trainer that knows how to work with fibro patients.

6.  Our dream home paid in full and decorated just right!!!Complete with a lovely English Garden, Koi Pond, outdoor fire place, swing and hot tub.

7. Winning Publishers Clearing House Feb. 28 2011 So that I can make our life better and that of my family, friends, and donate to charity as well. ( ok Yeah so when we win I can make the other dreams come true !!!) 

Till next time...keep dreaming !!!

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”Gail Devers  

Tuesday Check in and a blog award!

So it is Tuesday again. It has been a frustrating week , weight wise. It has been as high as 129 and as low as 126.8...today, 127.2. I have been doing the same thing as always, getting my walks in. Watching my sweets and salt. Portion control. I tried the normal water pills ...have mentioned before Fibro symptoms include loads of unexplained water weight. It simply does not help with the number on the scale,measurements or even how clothing fits. I often have this happen and then find myself trying to live salt free, exercising like a made woman and well taking the darn water pills and downing 10-12 glasses of water instead of 8....and I can still see my belly inflate like a balloon! FRUSTRATION !!!!! That is the only word for it. Oh then to top it off I am sick...with a cold ...so up all night....so needless to say I am not a real joy to be around this past week. OH and can we throw in my computer is sick and has to be turned in for repair BOOOOO HOOOO!

I have no big ideas on what to do, but today is grocery day, so going to pick up loads of vegies, fruit and lean meat and just stick to the plan and do my best. I did decide to indulge in a apple cider doughnut yesterday ...made fresh to order!!! Went wine tasting and did not pour out after a sip AND a huge bowl of chili and cheese and crackers....basically sometimes you have to say " To hell with it!!" TODAY I shall start with a clean slate...and hopefully next week, I shall be more in the mood to be motivational and have a great report on my progress....but till then....moving on. 

I received a blog award! Can you imagine??? YES, another blog award! Here sometimes I wonder if anyone is really reading or caring...yeah I have insecurities...I am human. But I guess they are, or at least a few are and I have been rewarded!!!

 Isn't this cute?? My friend The Lucky Dame over at A Beautiful Mess gave it to me. There are rules to receiving this award....

Rules for this award:

• Thank the person who awarded this to you. Well, duh!
• Copy and put the award on your blog. :)
• List 3 things which you love about yourself:  
• Post a picture of yourself that you love
• Pass this on to a couple of the sweetest bloggers...because we like to share the love.

So I thanked my friend, copied and put the award here, now , three things I love about me:

1. I have a huge heart, and am not afraid to show it, aka wear it on my sleeve.
2. I have become stronger and stronger through all the hardships I / we have faced over the years, not giving in ( too often) and not giving up ( even when I really wanted to!) 
3. I love that I have become comfortable with me. My curves,  my smile, even though it is not perfect and my teeth need a lot of work due to illness and age. I have also become comfortable with my photo being taken and then actually sharing it here for everyone to see, even though I see all the flaws in each photo and would rather not do so.  

Here is a photo I like of myself. I could have posted a fashion shot that I adore...but I love this one because it shows that despite my "obsession" with loosing some pounds/inches and wanting to eat more healthy, I can still enjoy life, and all the simple pleasures it offers....like Red Velvet Cupcakes and Cream Cheese frosting! Ok.......

Now I have to give it to others....I am going to delay this. I need to think on it a bit...I will do so. I promise. So next Tuesday I shall post the award, the rules and the blogs I am rewarding it to ...sooner if I find those that like receiving it and have not already.