From Cancer Victim ... to Survivor

I am a Survivor     In January of 2012, I had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Grayson County team. I wrote the poem below and read it at the end of my talk. Numerous copies of the poem were printed and placed on card stock and given out for donations.   My Relay For Life Regret, as I hear “You have cancer” – the dreaded “C” word Effects of treatments – physically and mentally a challenge Life changing - physically, emotionally, and financially Always waiting for results after treatments and tests Yearning for remission; hoping for the “finish” line Filled with lots of drama, tears, anxiety, & sleepless nights Onward I fight with all that I have; surrounded by love Remain strong and keep positive; never give up hope   Living a healthier life; whole grains, raw organic veggies In remission; now cancer free; prevention is the key Forever a survivor; a life changed – a better me Every day I’m still alive is a gift; I will live it to the fullest                                        - by Dawn Lauridsen, January 16, 2012 Relay For Life events are life-changing cancer fundraising events that help communities across the globe fight back against cancer. http://www.relayforlife.org/ See my cancer short story at http://www.dawnmichellecreations.net/About_Us.html

 

My Cancer story

You asked ... You got it!

Many of my fans have emailed me, messaged me on Facebook, and more requesting that I share my Cancer story.

Many of you know that I am a survivor .. but few realize that I survived "terminal" ovarian cancer.



And even few of you know that I was diagnosed with "terminal" ovarian cancer just a few months after having a total abdominal hysterectomy (yes, that took my ovaries, uterus, and tubes out).

Since there was no cure, I signed up to participate in an experimental study, not knowing if I would get any "true" treatments or not. There were no guarantees at all.



Through many miracles, I am a survivor. Every day is a gift!



Go visit my web page, and read my short story.
http://www.dawnmichellecreations.net/About_Us.html

Preparing for your portrait session

How to prepare

Seniors

Senior pictures are a lasting memento for your parents and you. It's a glimpse of who you are at the beginning of adulthood. It's not about the pose. It's not about the lighting. It's not about the clothes. It's not about the location. It's about YOU.


Whether you feel really confident about what you want and are ready to go, or feel shy and don't know what to do, we'll work to make your portrait be what you want it to be.

Your best preparation is to think about how you see yourself, who you are you at 18, and what you want to say about yourself in a portrait.

Senior pictures should reveal your individual style. We'll work on-site, we'll try things and we'll try some more things. Your pictures won't be like anybody else's pictures because these are yours and they are about you.

Engagements / Weddings

Your engagement / wedding is about you, not about your photographer. I want to photograph your engagement, bridal portraits, and wedding so that if someone wasn't there, they can look at your album and feel as if they spent the day with you. They'll know how you looked... and even better, they'll know how you felt...

The details of photographing a wedding are customized to you. Your wedding photography will reflect your individual plans and your individual style. We'll talk about it at length before the day and make detailed plans about your wishes. My main task will be to take that discussion and create your story so that anyone can read it... especially you, 50, 75, or 100 years from now.

I also highly recommend pre-wedding pictures. No matter what photographer you choose, please have engagement and bridal pictures taken. Pre-wedding portraits provide a study of how you will look on your wedding day, your hairstyle, the details of your dress, hair, and make-up. Although you are photographed on your wedding day, the relaxed atmosphere of the pre-wedding sessions allows for capturing the fine details of you on your special day. This allows the wedding day to become about capturing your expressions, your relationship with your fiancé, and your relationship with your friends, and family.

You need to find a photographer that you feel comfortable with so you won't look fake or stressed in your pictures. You need to be able to make your photographer really understand what you want. We specialize in listening first and photographing you with your desires in mind. We'll do our best to make your wedding portraits match your vision and your needs.

 

Children

Your goal for your professional portraiture session for your child may be to show your child's individual personality, a reserved study, the relationship between you and your child or between siblings, or, simply, capturing an intangible quality of that child's age and interests. Dressing up as a princess or a cowboy, playing with Mommy's jewelry, engaging others through a particular expression or activity, capturing your child painting (the painting and portrait look amazing side by side) and much more are all fleeting moments that we can help you capture forever.

We treat children as capable individuals, with respect, and honor their requests and wishes. In our experience, we find children do better when their parents are relaxed. Our technique is to interact with children and, with their feedback, decide how to best photograph each child. We wait for the unguarded moment and until they are relaxed, then take the picture.

It is a joy to photograph children because they are innocent, wonder-filled and, because they haven't become self-conscious, it is possible to capture their individuality. This means that their entire sitting becomes a true reflection of your child's spirit and personality.

Families

We understand that getting a family together, large or small, is difficult. Some family members never want their pictures taken. Some insist they need to lose weight, to postpone a session because there are more important things to attend to, or that it isn't really important.  However, it's important to remember that family photographs are some of the most treasured pictures you'll ever own, and if you wait too long it may never happen.

Families change all the time. Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, parents and children, and new additions to the family need to be recognized. Families are extraordinarily dynamic and it's essential to capture moments in time that will never be repeated.

Think about scheduling a themed session such as inviting your family for a BBQ, picnic, or a sports match up. Or schedule us to come and capture your family reunion so you can enjoy the day while we capture the memories. These events will create some awesome memories and you will have great portraits to remind you of the fun day.

Our advice is to allow us to help you organize and expedite your family portraits in a low-key, relaxed, and enjoyable setting so that your family's moments will never be lost. Your whole family will be glad you did.

I have scheduled a photo shoot... Now what do I need to know?

Preparing for your photo shoot

What to know for when getting ready for your individual session

Photography is this wonderful thing that allows people to express themselves.   There are people out there who love to get their picture taken and others who shy away from the camera but everyone can look good on film.  What's important is to relax, have fun, and come prepared.

A few days before your session 

1. Get a good night's sleep and stay healthy. If you're tired, it will reflect on your face, your overall appearance and your attitude. Try not to stress your body and mind a few days before the shoot. No alcohol, sweets, physical stress, or heavy eating either! Continue with your daily exercising on a regular basis. Drink fluids sparingly.
2. Shave or wax your legs and armpits a few days before a session. If you're modeling lingerie or open swimwear, take care of the bikini line. If you shave right before the shoot, the skin irritation will negatively impact the outcome, especially with digital photography.
3. Your hair. If you need some trimming, a couple of days before the shoot is the right time. Any coloring should be done at least 5 days before your shoot.
4. If you don't hire a make up artist, put a base makeup before coming to a shoot and don't forget your own make up kit. Don't use any gels or special hair treatments to keep it healthy during the shoot.
5. Get your outfits and props ready. Avoid bright whites, stripes or any other patterns unless specifically requested. Solid colors are the best choice. Careful with choosing V-necks. Be prepared a day before to avoid last minute runs. Bring the props that match your outfits in color, texture or by theme.       

    
Here are several things that are important to consider when preparing for a photo shoot.

1. GUYS - For the more traditional portraits, a suit or sport coat with a tie is good. Medium to dark sweaters photograph well. For the casual and outdoor photos, comfort is the rule - jeans, khakis and shorts look great.
2. GIRLS - Bring the colors and outfits you feel best in. Dresses and sweaters are good for a more traditional look. Bright colors, skirts, jeans, or shorts look good for your casual portraits. If there will be outfit changes, bring at least one dark and one bright color outfit. Avoid busy prints and patterns as they distract from the most important part of the portrait - you!
3. SHOES - Shoes may show, so they should compliment your clothing.
4. HAIR - Your portrait session is not the time to experiment with new hair styles or colors. If you do cut your hair, please do so at least a couple of weeks before the session so you are used to styling it.
5. MAKEUP - Makeup for photographs should be slightly heavier than normal. However, too much makeup tends to give you a painted look and too little might not show off your features. A translucent powder is helpful to eliminate shine, especially for oily skin. Since most portraits concentrate on the eyes, great care should be taken to make them look their best.
6. NAILS - Please do not forget the importance of your hands in your portraits. Whether you choose to do your nails yourself or have them manicured, keep them clean and use coordinating colors. Photographs often show your feet as well.
7. FACIAL HAIR - Make sure that you are clean-shaven before your session. Retouching can hide blemishes, but not razor stubble.
8. GLASSES - If you wear glasses most of the time, you will want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate glare or reflections, bring empty frames or remove the lenses from your glasses.
9. PROPS - You can use items (including pets, vehicles, sports equipment, favorite books, and musical instruments) that show what you enjoy doing at this time in your life. If you have something special in mind, just let us know.
10. SUNTANS - Do not overdo the sun for a portrait. It looks great, but in moderation. Sunburn can be an expensive problem. It causes facial shine, red noses and cheeks, strap marks, hat lines and peeling, which are fixable but at an additional cost.

How to prepare for a Glamour Shoot     

MODEL / FASHION / GLAMOUR PHOTO SHOOT

Before you even schedule your photo session there are some things that will make you look amazing on film.

1. Practice! Get in front of the mirror and search for expressions and poses. This is not a one minute run just for fun. You have to study your body. Learn how your facial expressions actually feel when you laugh, smile, frown or relax. Try to feel each muscle. You should develop your own methods of controlling yourself to produce a desired expression "on demand". Practice when you are alone, have time to concentrate and calm enough to listen to yourself. Can you feel a perfect smile without seeing yourself in the mirror?
2. Search for body poses in front of a mirror without any clothing on. Why? Because without wearing anything to cover your body with, you will suddenly find that it is a challenge to find an attractive and natural position using only what was given to you by mother nature. With clothing on, you have pockets, textures and colors that distract you from the main object - your body. Once you master that, you will feel much more confident about virtually any modeling assignment!
3. Look at modeling shots from the fashion and glamour magazines and pay a close attention to poses, arms and legs placements and facial expressions. Analyze those separately and as a complete composition. Bring the shots you like with you.

Professional Photographer Series

Hiring a Photographer



Whenever we make a purchase, we consider the “value” we receive. It’s no different when hiring a professional photographer. Unfortunately, not many people readily understand the value of hiring a professional photographer. As the number of digital photographers continues to increase, it seems there are a lot of misunderstandings as to what a photographer does for you.

Ultimately for many, the choice of whether or not to hire a photographer comes to down price. If they do choose to hire one, they must evaluate the great photos in the photographers online portfolios and decide who they can afford.  Since this is the type of thing that is rarely stated, I feel it is time to set the record straight.

A popular reason for many calls and emails received by photographers is to inquire about basic head shots, event photographers, model portfolio photo shoots, weddings, and their respective prices. The truth is that the range of photography prices is highly variable and depends on many factors such as location (in studio versus traveling to a location) and length of time needed for a particular session.


Pricing can be as low as $50 up to $600 or more for a portrait session alone. In my opinion, any photographer selling their sessions for $50 probably isn’t much of a professional, although that’s not to say that they are not a good photographer. Still, many people are absolutely amazed at the fees associated with photography so let me explain what is involved in the process.

A professional photographer is not your friend grabbing a point-and-click camera on the fly. They are an experienced professional who knows how to capture impressive images by choosing the correct settings on their camera - not just pushing a button. In addition, the difference between a professional image and an image from a friend is in the details. For example, the whites of the eyes should be white.


A professional photographer will spend time getting to know their subject(s). Their preferences, needs and special requests. The professional photographer brings the knowledge, experience and capability to capture and craft images in the manner and style you prefer. Whether traditional or photojournalistic, a professional photographer works with your desires in mind. A professional photographer helps you establish his or her “assignment” so you can focus on making the memories.

Professional photographers are artists. A professional photographer brings an artistic eye to the equation. One focused not only on the subject but also the background, the lighting, the composition, the depth of field and a host of other elements that not every one can “see” when crafting an image. Artistic vision and the ability to “see” the image helps a photographer craft memorable images versus snapshots.

A professional photographer will utilize high end post processing software that allows him or her to effectively correct color, adjust exposure, manipulate hue, saturation, lens distortion and edit images for a professional look.

In addition, I assure you that professional photography equipment costs a lot more than your best friend’s camera. A high quality camera, specialized lenses, memory cards, digital software, tripods, umbrellas and lighting are professional-grade and are quite expensive. A professional photographer uses the latest digital SLR equipment and most importantly, knows how to use it. Today’s professional equipment has multiple and complex functions that allow a photographer to manipulate focal length, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field to compliment almost any subject. It also allows the capture of crisp and sharp photographs in low light, with little to no image degradation.

 

A professional photographer understands and knows how to capture natural looking images in any kind of light. Whether in the studio, outdoors or low light situations, a professional photographer knows how to add the right amount of direct, bounce or supplemental lighting to fill the scene, compliment the subject and maintain a natural looking image. A professional photographer won’t fall prey to “red eye”, blurred or severely under or over exposed images.

Also consider that a photographer’s time and experience are valuable.  You’re not simply going to someone’s place of business and asking him/her to “just take a few pictures.” It does not work that way. Even if you only need one shot, it will take time to find the best angle, prepare the lighting, and possibly choose the correct outfit for that one memorable photo. A photographer will give you advice on what to wear, make-up, and so on. They have done this before and guide you as needed. That’s why professional photos look professional.

Few realize the time it takes to produce your one headshot is more than the actual sitting session. It involves setting up the equipment in advance, blocking off time for the photo shoot itself, uploading the photos and going through them after the shoot, digital touch-ups and editing the photos chosen for printing, burning the photos onto CDs, getting them to the photo lab, retrieving them from the photo lab and then waiting for you to pick up your prints or mailing / delivering them to you. You may have lots of time on your hands but you should always be aware that photographers are busy running a business.

I think most would agree that that is a lot of work for a small fee, hence the great value you get from working with professional photographers. Moreover, I assure you that one of the biggest pet peeves of all photographers is people who do not show up for the photos and are too inconsiderate to call and let the photographer know that they cannot make it. Photographers don’t get paid in those circumstances (unless a small booking deposit was requested) but still took time to set up the shoot and possibly turned someone else down during that period of time because it was pre-booked.

A professional photographer focuses on capturing high quality images and the objective thereafter is to preserve these images high quality printing. Professional photographers will bypass the low cost volume “snapshot” printing providers and work with a custom lab that will help assure the delivery of only the finest images.

Finally, a professional photographer does this for a living. If it were that simple, many photographers would not count on photo shoots to be their livelihood. Again, this is not your friend lending you his camera to take a few photos. Photographers take pictures for a living.

You wouldn't expect a plumber, carpenter, hairdresser, doctor, dentist, optician, electrician, chef, mechanic, dressmaker, or shop owner to work for free would you?

Professional photographers bring value in other ways too. These are just a few examples. While it does cost more to hire a professional photographer versus a friend or relative with a digital camera, professional photographers bring far greater value and quality to the end product. As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for” and paying for a professional photographer will bring you custom crafted images you’ll be proud to display and share for years to come.

Do I need a Professional Photographer

Why use a professional photographer?



As cameras grow in digital sophistication it is becoming easier for everyone to get pleasing results for apparently little cost.  However, using an amateur to take an important picture can be a false economy. The impact a professionally taken image has on a client's market is far stronger than that of a quickly grabbed snap from a digital camera. Professional photography will sell your product or your company, amateur photography will not.

Photographers are not just technicians. A professional understands how to capture images that are right for a client's business and convey the message required. Their experience enables them to obtain successful results in any situation. It is as important for the photographer as it is you that the images are right for your business and convey the message you require. As a proportion of your media/print budget, the cost of getting the original imagery as good as it can be is tiny.

When commissioning a photographer the images they produce will be exclusive to you. Images bought from a photographic library will only be exclusive for the specific area you have bought a license for. Unless you negotiate an exclusive deal with the library other companies will be able to license the same image and use it for their own products or company. Negotiating exclusivity with a library is often more expensive than commissioning a photographer.

FOR WORK-RELATED EVENTS
You strive to be professional and knowledgeable in the workplace. Shouldn't your workplace use a photographer who is just as knowledgeable and professional about his own line of work?

Professional results for your professional workplace ~
Whether you're capturing employee portraits, documenting a special work event, shooting your company's product for an ad, or taking photos of a new building, a professional photographer will deliver the best results possible. Professional photographers specialize in areas such as portrait photography or architectural photography, so you'll know that your employees,  your products, or your workplace will reflect the image that your business wants to present.

The right person for the job ~
You wouldn't hire an engineer to head up your marketing efforts. So why expect your employees to capture the kinds of photos that a professional is trained to capture? If your business's image is important, it's important enough to require a professional photographer.

Haircut

Kayla's haircut

She went with a very short style!

Canton Trade Days September

Come get a deal!!

Come on down to Canton Trade Days and visit me
Pavilion 3 space 79 down by the creek where it is shady and cooler. I'll have a chair waiting.

Only 116 days until Christmas! Come get your shopping done while catching some great deals!

Complete your pre-session form and pay your deposit to get this pricing. Available this weekend for sessions scheduled in September.

It's Kayla's birthday!

Happy birthday, Kayla!!




Kayla turned 20 years old today!! We celebrated with a chocolate peanut butter cup cake.

Positive Thinking

Positive Thinking

There are many ways a person can change negative thoughts and self-criticism to more realistic and positive thoughts. Focusing on all of them at once may be overwhelming, but focusing on a few at a time and reminding yourself of these positive approaches regularly can change your self-esteem.



Read the positive thought strategies below and choose several that would help you most. Write them down and remind yourself to pause and change your way of thinking each time you are being critical of yourself. As you become more comfortable with each new way of thinking (for example, learning not to apologize or accept blame for other's anger) try adding a new positive thought strategy to your list.

Positive Thought Strategies

• Avoid exaggerations.
  Correct your internal voice when it exaggerates, especially when it exaggerates the negative. Try to avoid thinking in extreme terms ("I always make that mistake" or "I'll never get that promotion.")
• Nip negative thoughts in the bud.
  Sometimes putting a stop on negative thinking is as easy as that. The next time you start giving yourself an internal browbeating, tell yourself to "stop it!" If you saw a person yelling insults at another person, you would probably tell them to stop. Why do you accept that behavior from yourself?

• Accentuate the positive.
  Instead of focusing on what you think are your negative qualities, accentuate your strengths and assets. Maybe you didn't ace the test you were studying for, but maybe your hard work and perseverance led to a better grade than you would have had. Maybe you felt nervous and self-conscious when giving a presentation at work, but maybe your boss and coworkers respected you for getting up and trying.
• Accept flaws and being human.
  Maybe you did get nervous and blow that presentation at work - so what? Talk to your boss about what went wrong, try to address the error in the future, and move on. All people have flaws and make mistakes. Your boss, coworkers, friends, family, postman, congressman, and favorite movie star have all made mistakes. They've forgiven themselves; so can you.
• Accept imperfections.
  Perfection is a high goal to aim for -- you don't need to start there or even end there. Make doing your best your ideal -- what more can you realistically do? Focus on what you've gained from the process and how you can use it in the future. Avoid focusing on what wasn't done or 'should have' been done differently. Allow yourself to make mistakes and then forgive yourself. Try laughing instead of criticizing.

• Don't bully yourself!
  "Should have, could have, would have ... " Try not to constantly second guess yourself, criticize yourself for what you "should" have done better, or expect too much from yourself. Don't put standards on yourself that you wouldn't expect from others. It's great to want to do well, but expecting yourself to be perfect (which is impossible) and then punishing yourself when you fail is a vicious cycle. Using expressions like "I should have" is just a way of punishing yourself after the fact.
• Replace criticism with encouragement.
  Instead of nagging or focusing on the negative (in yourself and others), replace your criticism with encouragement. Give constructive criticism instead of being critical ("maybe if I tried to do ____ next time, it would be even better" instead of "I didn't do that right.") Compliment yourself and those around you on what you have achieved ("well, we may not have done it all, but we did a pretty great job with what we did".)
• Don't feel guilty about things beyond your control.
  You are not to blame every time something goes wrong or someone has a problem. Apologizing for things and accepting blame can be a positive quality, if you are in the wrong and if you learn and move on. But you shouldn't feel responsible for all problems or assume you are to blame whenever someone is upset.
• Don't feel responsible for everything.
  Just as everything is not your fault, not everything is your responsibility. It's okay to be helpful, but don't feel the need to be all things (and do all things) for all people. This is taking too much of a burden on yourself AND limiting those around you. Let others be responsible for themselves and their actions -- you shouldn't feel responsible for their happiness.
• Do feel responsible for your feelings.
  Just as you can't "make" other people happy, don't expect others to "make" you feel happy or good about yourself. In the same way, they shouldn't make you feel guilty or bad about yourself. You create your own feelings and make your own decisions. People and events may have an affect on your emotions, but they can't dictate them.

• Treat yourself kindly.
  People often feel more comfortable treating themselves in ways they wouldn't consider treating others. Do you criticize yourself with terms like "stupid" "ugly" or "loser"? Would you use those terms to describe a friend? Remind yourself that you deserve to be treated as well as you treat others. Do something nice for yourself sometimes -- either in thought (give yourself a compliment) or action (treat yourself to a nice dinner or new book.)
• Give yourself a break.
  You don't need to be all things to all people or please everyone. Give yourself permission to decide you're doing the best you can. Remind yourself when you're doing things well -- don't wait to hear it from someone else.
• Choose the brighter side of things.
  You can choose how to interpret comments and events, so try for the more positive interpretations. If someone says, "You look good today," don't ask yourself "What was wrong with the way I looked yesterday?" Accept compliments graciously (don't ask yourself why you haven't been complemented on something else or why you haven't complemented you before.) Look at temporary setbacks as opportunities for growth.

• Forgive and forget.
  Try not to hang on to painful memories and bad feelings - this is a surefire way to encourage negative thoughts and bad moods. Your past can control you if you don't control it. If you can, forgive past wrongs and move on. (Don't forget that forgiving yourself is an important part of this process, too!) If you have a hard time forgiving or forgetting, consider talking through your emotions with a good friend or counselor, but try not to dwell. It's important to work through things, but you can't let the past determine your future.
• Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't.
  Avoid "can't" thinking or other negative language. If you say something often enough, you may start to believe it, so keep your statements positive, not negative. Don't be afraid to seek help in accomplishing things, but remind yourself that you don't need approval from others to recognize your accomplishments. Focus on what you're able to do. Remind yourself of all your capabilities and positive qualities.

Using just one or two of the above strategies on a regular basis can greatly increase your positive self-image and self-esteem. Making these internal changes will increase your confidence in yourself and your willingness and ability to make external changes and improve your life.

The Good in You

Remember Your Good Qualities!



Reminding yourself of your positive qualities is one of the fastest ways to improve and maintain a positive self-image.

Use the following list as a guide, or write your own list. What are you good at? What qualities do you have that make you feel good about yourself? What are positive things people have said about you? 



Create your own list and put it someplace where you can see it and remind yourself regularly of all your good qualities.

I AM ...

• Adaptable
• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Ambitious
• Artistic
• Assertive
• Broad-minded
• Capable
• Caring
• Charming
• Cheerful
• Clear-headed
• Clever
• Compassionate
• Competent
• Confident
• Conscientious
• Considerate
• Courageous
• Creative
• Dependable
• Determined
• Devoted
• Dynamic
• Easy-going
• Efficient
• Energetic
• Enterprising
• Enthusiastic

• Fair
• Faithful
• Flexible
• Friendly
• Funny
• Generous
• Gentle
• Glad
• Goal-oriented
• Good-natured
• Happy
• Helpful
• Honest
• Hopeful
• Idealistic
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Industrious
• Intelligent
• Inventive
• Joyful
• Kind
• Leader
• Likable
• Listener
• Logical
• Lovable
• Mature
• Merry
• Modest
• Natural
• Neat
• Non-judgmental
• Nurturing
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Original
• Outgoing
• Passionate
• Patient
• Peaceful
• Persevering
• Persistent
• Pleasant
• Polite
• Positive
• Practical
• Precise
• Progressive
• Punctual
• Quick-thinker
• Quiet
• Quirky
• Rational
• Realistic
• Reasonable
• Reflective
• Relaxed
• Reliable
• Resourceful
• Responsible
• Robust
• Sexy
• Sincere
• Sociable
• Spontaneous
• Spunky
• Stable
• Strong
• Tactful
• Talented
• Tenacious
• Thorough
• Tolerant
• Trusting
• Trustworthy
• Truthful
• Understanding
• Unique
• Versatile
• Warm
• Witty
• Youthful
• Zany

Why not take a few minutes now to write your own description and include some of the nice things people have said about you. See if you can come up with one for every letter of the alphabet. I could not think of a word that starts with "X"... can you?

Self Image

Improving Your Self Image

Improving your self-image, like improving any skill, takes time and practice. Developing good self-esteem involves encouraging a positive (but realistic) attitude toward yourself and the world around you and appreciating your worth, while at the same time behaving responsibly towards others. Self-esteem isn't self-absorption; it's self-respect.



By working from the inside out (focusing on changing your own way of thinking before changing the circumstances around you), you can build your self-esteem. The goal of this positive thinking is to give yourself a more positive self-concept, while seeing yourself honestly and accepting yourself, and removing the internal barriers that can keep you from doing your best.

Canton Trade Days August

Come get a deal!!

Come on down to Canton Trade Days and visit me
Pavilion 3 space 79 down by the creek where it is shady and cooler. I'll have a chair waiting.

Complete your pre-session form and pay your deposit to get this pricing. Available this weekend for sessions scheduled in August.

August Facts

August Observances & Fun Facts

August 2013 is Observed as	National Immunization Awareness Month Children's Eye Health & Safety Month
Birthstone	Peridot
Fruit & Vegges for the Month of August	Peaches Cactus Pear Prickly Pear Nopales Cactus Celery Fennel
August Flower	Poppy & Gladiolus
Astrological Signs	Leo (till 22th) & Virgo (beginning 23th)
Other Notable August Dates & Events	Aug 3 National Mustard Day Aug 26 Women's Equality Day

Beauty

Beauty 

beautiful beau'ti·ful adj.
beautifully beau'ti·ful·ly adv.
beautifulness beau'ti·ful·ness n.

Beautiful is a woman who has a distinctive personality, one who can laugh at anything, including themselves, who is especially kind and caring to others. She is a woman who above all else knows the value of having fun, and not taking life too seriously. She is a woman that you can trust and count on to brighten your day. She is a woman who can inexplicably make you feel really good just by being around her, and yet brings such great sadness when she is gone. 

SYNONYMS   beautiful, lovely, pretty, handsome, comely, fair. All these adjectives apply to what excites aesthetic admiration. Beautiful is most comprehensive: a beautiful child; a beautiful painting, a beautiful flower...

Anyone can be beautiful. It's not about the clothing, the hair, the make-up. It's about the way your smile radiates warmth, or dancing when you're excited, no matter who's watching. How to be beautiful? There are no guidelines, and anyone who tells you otherwise is telling you how to be pretty. Pretty and beautiful are not synonyms. Pretty is a but an adjective, whereas beautiful is so much more. Beautiful is a sunset, or the rain, or being in love. Beautiful is singing in the shower, running at night, and laughing out-loud. Beautiful is the way a flower smells, or the feel of their skin. Being beautiful comes from within.

Client photo

Sweet!

Ari's Mom sent me this photo of her daughter wearing one of my designs. Isn't she adorable!