Getting Real
As a blogger, It can be really easy to sit all the way across the blogosphere and put forth an image of your ideal self, neglecting the parts of yourself that are imperfect, but make you the unique being that you are. So, I thought I would let you all in on some things about me that you might not know, and perhaps might find interesting.
- I sleep in far too often. It's a major weakness of mine and kills my productivity.
- From ages 15-21 I was tanorexic. I think I made up that term, but it describes someone who is never tan enough. These days I have embraced my paleness and encourage other people to be careful about sun exposure on their skin. No sense in becoming wrinkly sooner or dying young, right? And besides, I now think pale skin is beautiful.
- I don't wear makeup every day. But I do love to wear lipstick and blush. It's my way of putting on a "lady face."
- To me, skirts are more comfortable than jeans. So, if I'm hanging out at home and want to get cozy, I usually don a large shirt and a comfortable skirt.
- I have a pesky little scar just left of my left eye. When I was in high school, I had a cyst on my face, and two in my mouth. So, they were removed, and now I have this awesome scar. It really doesn't bother me aesthetically, but it's still super sensitive.
- I wish my boobs weren't so big. Gosh do I ever. When I was a little girl obsessed with being a woman, I prayed to Jesus that he would give me big boobs. No other woman in my family has them, except for me. I'm convinced God has a sense of humor.
- I have really skinny nostrils. That might be why I usually turn my head for photos. I think it makes my nose look nicer.
- I'm the queen of filling up my entire 4 cup french press, and then only drinking one cup of coffee. I get too distracted to finish it.
Outfit details:
Blouse: thrifted
Skirt: garage sale
i feel the same way about skirts...but its funny, eventhough im more comfy, i look more "dressed"
Posted by: Summer | January 28, 2011 at 02:01 PM
Too cute. I also fill my french press for 4 cups and only (oops) drink one cup. My hubby likes to tease me about it. I am loving the blue on blue here and the pictures are beautiful. xx veronika
Posted by: Girl and Closet (Veronika) | January 28, 2011 at 02:11 PM
This look is effortless! I just love it. Plus, that blue really shows off your hair. I have gone back and forth between brunette and redhead myself. Now that I'm brunette again, this picture is making me long for red! Sigh. Anyway, great post. Your blog is one of my favorites :)
Posted by: Elizabeth Holli | January 28, 2011 at 02:18 PM
You're awesome! This post was great.
Posted by: Sasha | January 28, 2011 at 02:18 PM
I love the fact that I identify with two of these points. Its always nice when someone you admire reveals something real that you (reader) struggle with. :) Thanks for such a great post.
Posted by: jeny | January 28, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Omagash. You too?!
So I prayed too.
In seventh grade, when everyone else was filling out, I prayed to God: "look. Here's the deal. If give me just enough to tent my shirt, I'll never complain about it."
And that's all I got. Just enough to tent my shirt. Whenever I start to get upset about how great other women look with their B & C cups, I have to bite my tongue. I gave you what you asked for, didn't I?
Posted by: roe | January 28, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Cute post! The "real" you is pretty cool, too!! :)
Posted by: Carrie Rosalind | January 28, 2011 at 03:35 PM
my family jokes that i'm afraid of the sun & that i'm the palest person in the sunshine state. i just knock back to my mom that i won't have to visit the dermatologist once a month to have skin cancer removed from my face like she does (she was in the 70's/80's era of lubing up with baby oil & baking yourself) i've never gone without someone making a comment on how pale i am & i've never once been bothered by it. i have fair skin, light hair & eyes & burn in 10 seconds flat. i think it's good you are learning to embrace it :) people always think i'm younger than i really am & i think it has to do with staying out of the sun... (or at least i'll keep telling myself that ;)
Posted by: kristy | January 28, 2011 at 03:54 PM
ok, HEY YO do i relate. I also prayed to God that he would give me boobs when i was little. what the hell was i thinking!?! God was like, ok you want boobs? I'll give you boobs.
I'm now a 32 G. uuuuugh.
I tried to get a breast reduction when I was 18 but the doc said that i would keep growing till i was 22. False, I am 24 and I am still growing. Good thing I didn't get the reduction. Not only because it wouldn't have stopped my boobs getting huge, but it also gave me time to learn to love myself despite the things that I see as flaws or the things that sometimes hurt me.
Curvy girls. woot woot!
<3 Moorea
Posted by: Moorea Seal | January 28, 2011 at 06:32 PM
Ha! Love this post. Like you, I come from a family of small chested women. I was a tall, skinny kid and totally resigned to the fact I wouldn't have large boobs. And then, I was the only one who got big boobs (and at a very young age). What the heck? I think God's sense of humor in our case was to "bless me" with all the wishes of my Grandma, Mom, and Aunts!
Posted by: Brandie | January 28, 2011 at 10:54 PM
I did the exact same experience with my boobs, and had a breast reduction 2 years ago.
Best decision I ever made!
Posted by: Cara Mason | January 28, 2011 at 11:39 PM
What a fabulous, honest post. It was so lovely to read. The real you is so wonderful and very inspiring. Thank you
Sophie x
Posted by: Sophie Isobel | January 29, 2011 at 01:30 AM
I quite like your little scar, it is cute. Like a dimple for your forehead! I only have a few scars, not on my face but on my legs, but I hate them because they are a horrid dark red.
Lovely outfit, the blue colours ore so fresh and crisp.
Posted by: Penny Dreadful Vintage | January 29, 2011 at 08:33 AM
if we could transfer your breasts just slightly to mine, that would be cool, because I'm an A cup. haha.
That's awful about all those cysts you had. I can't imagine having them in the mouth!!
I'm very pale too, but I've embraced it since I was at least 15. Since then I don't like to be in the sun much and usually put lots of sunscreen on or wear hats and I really need a new . . whatchamakalit. . one of those parasols. I used to have one but it ripped.
I think skirts are more comfortable too!
These shots of you are beautiful.
Posted by: Victoria / Justice Pirate | January 29, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Big boobs are seriously not all cracked up to what other people make them. I wish I could donate some of mine to someone that wants some, hahaha.
OH go read your twitter, us girls were talking about you on there because we have big plans for next weekend!!!
Posted by: Patty | January 29, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Aw, love your post! And I completely agree with you about the skirts - in the winter, especially, I feel so much cozier in a skirt and tights and boots, then in a pair of pants. :)
Keep up the good work!
-giedre
www.walkingdotblog.com
Posted by: Giedre | January 29, 2011 at 11:18 AM
i get about 10-13hrs of sleep everyday...lol.
the husband gives me hard time about it..but I LOVE SLEEPING! (this is one of the reasons i have not had children..sleep is to amazing to give up!)
i also was a addicted to tanning..(plus.. my dad is a dermatologist...ah. they hate tanning beds.) i didnt tan til moved out to go to college and went behind his back..lol. but now i love being pale. it is beautiful.
this post was perfect. i always love when bloggers this.
you look beautiful as always..your hair looks amazing when you wear blue.
xoox
Posted by: gee | January 29, 2011 at 02:14 PM
I just found your blog recently and found this funny and sweet. :) Love your photos.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 29, 2011 at 04:01 PM
Tanerexic! I know exactly what you mean. I, too, am a former tanerexix. Nice to meet ya:)
Posted by: Amanda | January 29, 2011 at 04:06 PM
I think it's hilarious that you prayed for bigger boobs. I prayed for little ones, and am the smallest in my family!!
Posted by: Alysse | January 29, 2011 at 07:04 PM
I have a scar next to my right eye from a cyst too! Yours is far cuter than mine though.
Posted by: Jamie | January 29, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Haha! I used to pray for smaller boobs! Ironic huh?
http://barefootblogginglove.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Deanna | January 30, 2011 at 12:42 AM
i always love posts like this! so honest.
i definitely agree on the pale skin thing. who needs wrinkles & sun spots when you can have soft, smooth skin!?
Posted by: Lindsey | January 30, 2011 at 01:26 AM
This is a really sweet post. And I'm glad to hear you sleep in late too =]
Posted by: Lindsay | January 30, 2011 at 05:15 AM
This post just proved how awesome you are. You are a beautiful woman inside & out!
Love the new hair by the way ;)
Posted by: Krysti | January 30, 2011 at 10:41 AM
You sound so sweet and adorable!! It is good to be self aware, but great to not be too hard on yourself for things!
I also LOVE wearing skirts. Just at work the other day a co-worker said, oh my goodness, you're wearing pants...I never see you in pants! :)
Posted by: .amanda. | January 30, 2011 at 11:49 AM
I know exactly what you mean! I hate wearing jeans at home!
Posted by: Cassandra Marie | January 30, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Wow do I feel you about the whole big boobs thing. It is such an inconvenience and a pain in the ass when you are trying to buy clothes! But it does make big shirt that bit sexier when you unbutton a button...
you are a great blogger and i always enjoy what you have to say. thanks.
xo.
http://www.thedaughterofaman.blogspot.com
Posted by: artviking | January 30, 2011 at 04:37 PM
oh what a lovely post! I am tanorexic too...If I get burnt...which isn't very often I just peel and go back to white!
You are right God does have a sense of humor :)
Posted by: Lauren | January 30, 2011 at 06:13 PM
I was the same way with boobs! I was a total late bloomer and hoped and prayed for them for years! I didn't get them until my freshman year of college, but man did they ever arrive! The coffee thing is totally me too, I bring a big ol' tumbler of coffee to work and then two hours later i realize I've drank hardly any and now it's cold!
Posted by: futurelint@gmail.com | January 30, 2011 at 10:05 PM
I sleep in waaaayyy too much too! And i never wear makeup. You are beautiful without it!
Posted by: Kristin | January 30, 2011 at 10:09 PM
OMG I totally did the same thing about my boobs!! hahahaha!! I remember looking in the mirror and just wishing and praying that my boobs would get bigger... Hello 36DD. Good grief.
Posted by: Jes | January 30, 2011 at 11:39 PM
I loved this. And I totally think skirts are more comfy than jeans.
Posted by: Busy Bee Lauren | January 31, 2011 at 01:04 AM
mandi, you are so pretty! i love your haircolor and the blue outfit a bunch.
so interesting how you worded that, i've never thought about how yes we do put forth our ideal image of ourselves. now looking into the things i write and post is kind of like an inner excavation of sorts. thanks for the perspective, i've learned something today! plus love all your in depth facts...i prayed for the big guns too but to no avail...he must have been working on your sitch at that moment ; )
"lady face" rocks!
Posted by: Lynn | January 31, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Very sweet post. I love the quirky things about ourselves that we never really share with anyone else. Thanks for sharing! Love the outfit as well. xoxo
Posted by: Jen | January 31, 2011 at 01:40 PM
loved this post. nothing beats being real. also, your scar is cute.
Posted by: angela hardison | January 31, 2011 at 02:10 PM
•I'm the queen of filling up my entire 4 cup french press, and then only drinking one cup of coffee. I get too distracted to finish it.
Haha! I do this too. Sometimes I'll make the regular pot and never finish it, so I'll leave it for the next morning and just reheat. Is that bad?
Posted by: Rachell | January 31, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Oh my I've never met anyone else who makes a lot of tea/coffee and then forgets to finish it! Usually I get distracted before I even finish making it!
~Newscutouts
Posted by: Divya | January 31, 2011 at 10:27 PM