My heART Work: Unscripted Moments » SE Michigan Metro Detroit Newborn Custom Lifestyle Portrait Art Photography

Susan Massie - April 12, 2012 - 1:36 pm

The dolphin photo is my favorite but I love the slot machine and airplane seat photo too. The dolphin photo has to be an award winner! They are all great. I can’t wait to see the others.

Mar 29 2012

13/52[nobody's perfect]

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Week 13…

I’ve always been an optimistic person, except when it comes to myself. Looking in the mirror I never saw a perfect person. I want to say I never tried to be perfect but that would be a lie, most of us strive for perfection. The idea of perfection has made many people ~~millions~~ billions of dollars over the years. Everywhere we turn we’re told we aren’t good enough, we’re told we aren’t perfect and need a pill or product to enhance our lives that much more! All I know is all the enhancements make me feel worse about who I am.

As some people know, I had gotten a second tattoo. I wanted a heart to wear on my sleeve to remind me that’s who I am, it’s who I’ve always been but never realized it until the past few years. ANYWAY, this tattoo did not turn out the way I had visioned it to look, not how the artist or I discussed, and as soon as I looked at it I thought WTF!!!! After a moment, I calmed my thoughts down… thinking it’s not that bad, it may just take some time to get used to. Time to let the what I wanted and what I got to settle, then I can figure out if I liked it or not. During the 20 minute drive home i decided I didn’t like this new tattoo, it had to be removed from my arm….immediately!!! I wanted to scrub it off, I started looking for tattoo removal places, I cried. A few weeks later, after I had already scheduled the appointment with a plastic surgeon to start the process for removal (which will be a different post later), a friend sent me a link about regret:

I watched the video and shook my head at everything this woman said, then laughed! The great thing about the video was I had already thought about keeping this tattoo and using it as a reminder of regret and imperfections. As much as I want this tattoo gone, I wanted to remember I’m not perfect. The tattoo is not perfect, not for me anyway. The scar of getting this tattoo and hating it will always remain. It will always be a part of me, an experience I can’t change, yet I’m still alive and well.

After getting my first tattoo, so many people have commented how they have always wanted one but can’t decided on what to get…you know because a tattoo is permanent. For a long time, I too, was terrified of the permanency of a tattoo, but now I realize it’s just a mark. There are people who hate tattoo’s, who think people who have them are trashy, or messed up in the head. For me a tattoo is an outwardly expression of what I have always felt on the inside. Getting the tattoo’s hasn’t changed “who I am,” they changed how I am. I am less fearful of screwing up and more relaxed. Sure there are a few things I regret about the tattoo but a lot of good came from it too. The tattoo is a reminder of ONE of my own imperfections, yet it’s perfect in so many ways.

inspiration song: Nobody’s perfect by Jessie J.

xo
Kim

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Trish Molina-McCoy - March 30, 2012 - 2:12 am

I heart all your words here.

Mar 22 2012

12/52[Imagine]

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As I laid in bed at 1:30 am, trying not to cough because my muscles hurt too much from all the coughing, I wanted some water to help my throat. Being that I was too lazy to walk downstairs to get some water I simply walked into the master bath, went pee, then crawled back into bed. Sure enough, I laid there trying to fall back asleep but couldn’t. I played my turn on words with friends, looked at photos, then started browsing the social networks. Water.org on twitter reminded me today is World Water day!

Laying in bed, I started to feel selfish. Here I was laying in a warm bed, indoor plumbing and water at my disposal and I was being lazy and ungrateful for what I had. So today as part of my 52 week project, I’m dedicating it to World Water Day.

International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. (per World Water Day 2012) It’s easy to forget there are people who don’t have access to clean water. Many people get their drinking water from the same spot they wash their clothes in or they have to walk miles to fill containers several times a day. In some parts of the world, women are attacked, raped, or killed at night while trying to go to the bathroom because they do not have indoor plumbing. Let’s not forget all the disease which could be prevented if people had access to clean water. So if nothing else please take a few minutes and read about how clean water can help millions of people around the world. For more information or to donate go to Water.org, Charity:Water, Wateraid America, or World Water Day 2012 plus the many other organizations out there trying to make a difference and bring clean water to everyone.

Inspiration song: John Lennon Imagine

http://youtu.be/LfJ8BzcTyyw as sung by Cheryl Llyod

xo
Kim

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Mar 20 2012

Blogged You’re It!!

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The lovely Meghan Davidson of Life Refocused tagged me to share in a fun Blog game. I’ve never been tagged before, and while I’m sitting here fighting the flu I thought it would be fun to play along. Don’t worry, the best part of this kind of tag…you can’t catch the flu by me touching you!

•To play, copy and paste the rules below:

The Rules

~ You must post the rules (hence, here they are!).

~ Answer 11 questions the tagger posted for you.

~ Create 11 questions to ask the people you tag.

~ Tag 11 people.

~ Let them know you’ve tagged them.

•Answer the questions the person who tagged you asked:

Your Questions

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Normally, my answer would be Africa to go on a Safari. Lately, I have this desire to go to Paris. The architecture and beauty intrigues me.

2. What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?

I like to write poetry.

3. What’s your go-to book recommendation?

For something light-hearted and entertaining a book titled “Compromising Positions” by Jenna Bayley-Burke. IMO, it’s better than the now popular “50 Shades of Grey” women are reading at the moment.

4. What do you like best about yourself?

My willingness to forgive and let go. I find there is no place in my heart to hold on to the hurt anymore, it’s not worth it.

5. Share an image that captures a special moment for you. Why did you pick this moment and this photo?

I have this print hung up in my living room, taken from top the Empire State Building in NYC two years ago. I had never been to NYC before, nor had I been on a vacation without someone I knew. This long weekend trip I was going to meet up with some friends who I meet on Twitter. For me, this was the most liberating vacations I had been on because of how much I had to rely on myself to get there, never mind get over my fear of spending the weekend with people I had never met before. Once of the best times of my life and now those women are some of my dearest friends.

6. If you could have a super-power, what would it be?

At this moment, to heal. My kids were sick which is scary when you have no clue how to make them better. Now, I’m sick and just want to be better. Plus, think of all the wonderful people who could be saved from illness such and cancer etc.

7. If a movie was going to be made about your life, who would play you?

Charlize Theron. It’s Hollywood, no one actually looks like the real person anyway so I might as well be played by one of the most beautiful women on this planet.

8. When other people talk about you, your life, who you are, what is that you hope they say?

I would just hope it’s nothing bad. Seems people think I’m someone who set in her ways and stubborn but I’m really not, so as long as people don’t talk bad about me I don’t care.

9. Share a photo of one of your favorite people. Who is it and what makes them one of your faves?

Of course my kids are two of my most favorite people in the world. IDK though, I have lots of favorite people it’s hard to choose one and have the rest think they mean less than another.

10. If you could have your perfect meal made for you, what would it be?

My mom and dad’s Prime Rib Roast with sauté mushrooms. They would say they never put mushrooms on their Prime Rib, but it’s so freaking awesome!!

11. Which of your blog posts is your favorite and why?

The post about Popcorn has to be one of my recent favorites, because I was so surprised at the girls reaction to making popcorn.

•Create new 11 questions for your friends to answer:

1. How many TV’s do you have in your home?

2. Favorite Season and why?

3. When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone to try something new?

4. If you could create the perfect ice cream what would it include?

5. Favorite memory from 2011?

6. Where do you plan on going for your next vacation?

7. Everyone has to put 11 items in a time capsule to be opened in the year 2099, what do you put in your capsule?

8. What do you talk about around the dinner table?

9. What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you? Something where it touched you so much, you share it with other people.

10. Post two photos you took within the past 3 months, and why did you choose to show those photos.

11. Do you have any personal projects you are working on that you’d like to share?

•Post those who you’ve tagged:

Hope everyone plays along. Even if they don’t below are some of my favorite blogs, please check them out!

xo
Kim

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Meghan Davidson - March 20, 2012 - 4:54 pm

Awesome, Kim! I love that you played along, and so fast. Feel better, too. xoxo

Kim - March 20, 2012 - 3:51 pm

Mar 19 2012

Over Protective?

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Have you ever seen the movie Babies? It’s a fabulous documentary. It’s been almost a year since I’ve watched the movie and I still think about those little babies. I found myself immersed it the different cultures and walked away thinking I baby my girls way to much. Seeing the little one’s crawling in the dirt and not being phased by the rocks, animals, or obstacles in their way. Two of the little babies figured out what worked and didn’t by doing. I will admit some of the movie had me thinking OMG, WTF, NEVER would I… but it demonstrated how kids adapt to the environment around them. Sure I want to protect them from getting sick or harm, but this one movie made me question if as a parent am I over-protective?

Growing up I don’t remember my parents entertaining my brothers and I the way my girls (mostly just one child but then the other follows her lead) expect to be entertained. I encourage them to use their imaginations but a blank look appears on their faces. It makes me feel like I have misled them as a parent. Sure once you get to know me, you’d understand why my kids would want to be around me all the time, but have just become a second brain for them? Maybe I let them watch too much T.V. when they were younger so I could edit my photos or giving them the latest and greatest gadgets wasn’t the best idea?

Over the past 8 years I’ve tried to expose the girls to just about everything. When it rains, I say put on your boots and go splash in the puddles, play in the mud, or pick up the earthworms then put them somewhere safe. They needed to learn how to ride a real bike before even asking for the electric cars, they ice skate and ski. I even have older typewriters and point out rotary phones for them, saying this is what I used to use. Despite all I try to teach them they still look to me for guidance about what to do. Do girls not play house anymore?

It started raining suddenly yesterday while the kids were out side. They laughed and giggles but then wanted to sit in the garage until the sun came back out. I remember, vividly, as a child seeing the ditches in front of our house fill with water, from melting snow, and wanting to be out there playing in it. Seriously some of the best entertainment was throwing items into the water and watching it race away, wondering where and if it would get stuck on a rock or grass, then trying to figure out how to get it unstuck without getting soaking wet. When I visit my parents and go past these childhood places I think of all the fun times by the creeks. So yesterday when it was raining and the girls wanted to come in I said put your boots on and go play in the puddles! Then I thought, “oh make little paper boats and race them down the hill.” *crickets, crickets* Off I went to ask the engineer dad to build a paper boat before the water stopped flowing. As the girls put the paper in the water they watched it float down a little, get stuck, picked it up only to find the paper stuck together. Typical. What made me shake my head was they didn’t want to touch the wet paper to figure out how to get the boat to float again!! It’s paper and rain water! I walked back into the garage saying to Chris, “we shelter the girls way to much.” as they followed me back up the driveway.

Last night I laid in bed, thinking about what I can do to help my kids use their imagination more so they experience life. I know I take my phone everywhere with me, maybe I need to disconnect from the cyber world so the girls will? Maybe I need to drop them off in the woods somewhere and say now build a shelter and find your own food, haha. Maybe I am being an over protective parent in the sense I want the girls to have everything I had and more instead of just letting their life play out the way it should?

xo
Kim

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