Holes

I have had quite a few piercings over the years, and one of my favorite and most painful is one that I unfortunately have taken out.

I currently still have 4 holes in my left ear, 6 in my right, my nose, and my tongue. If I had the nerve, a few of my other past ones would go back in ;o)

After Rory was born, I got an industrial bar across the top of my ear. It is a free hand piercing (no clamps) that runs from the top edge of your ear to the front right next to your head. It is a great one, and one that I wish I still had. But after having it for a few years, I got pregnant and during my pregnancy, the skin began to grow across the bar and I had to take it out. Had I left it, I would have had worse scarring then I do now!

I have a few more holes I would love to have poked, but I fear that they will not grow properly because of the bar... maybe one of these days I will get a new industrial bar though... maybe. I think I will have the scar removed first though.

Here is the scar, and my new earrings that Carl had made just for me for Christmas. Affixment is a great company and has an awesome artist. We actually own quite a few of her paintings in our home.

Still no shoes...

It is funny what people notice about your appearance, or find odd about your appearance...

I have never gotten a rude or cross comment about my dreadlocks from anyone in Asheville, quite the opposite, most people stop me to complement them... no one has ever said anything about my clothing... but I constantly get stopped about my choice of footwear!

I have not worn shoes regularly for 10+ years now. Yes, I know it is winter. No, my feet are not cold. No, I don't get sick because of it... I lived in Northern Ohio for goodness sakes, and until it was below zero, with significant snow, I wore my sandals there too! We live in the south now, cold here is in the 30's.

I just find it amusing that with everything people have to choose from, my footwear is the most commented!

New Jeans...

I think I really need new jeans... after 6 years, my favorite pair has become unwearable. There isn't just a "punk" style tear in them, or just a little place they wore out... the entire knee has ripped out and rips more each time I bend my legs... they don't look cool, just worn out. Even the thigh is starting to rip now.


So farewell to my favorite pair of jeans, your replacement will arrive tomorrow on the UPS truck.

Driving...

I spend a lot of my time on the road driving. I drive my children to school, to play dates, activities, and really anywhere we want to go. I have to say, the most amazing part of being home with my children is the freedom. I'm so glad that I have the freedom to take the time off of finishing my masters, from working, and from the stress of all of that...

This is the view that I see so often:

And you know what? It makes me smile. I love my wedding rings; they symbolize a promise, and love. They are the only "real" jewelry that I regularly wear. The other thing I wear often is a wooden necklace that was crafted for me when I was pregnant with Rory.

My days...

My days are spent with my children. We go where ever the day leads us, which is often to the river. Here is a shot I took with my tripod at the river, (and yes I am aware that new jeans are needed, they have been ordered and should be arriving soon!):

Color

I love color, and our house shows that!

In this shot I am working on the computers... (yeah there are 2, the desk-top and lap-top) but you can see the yellow kitchen and dining room walls, and then the brown contrast wall; in the back ground you can see our blue living room. All rooms in the house are brightly colored except the master bedroom. In 5 years I haven't figured out what color to paint it yet!

A mom...

Yup, that is what I am, a mom of three, and my body definitely shows it!

I have curves, stretch marks, (which are not purple or too obvious), a stretched out BB piercing hole, and a little extra skin I should work on getting rid of... but over all I am pleased.

This is me. This the my body. This is what real moms and real women look like. It is hard to come to grips with the changes that my body has undergone because of birth and pregnancy, but I have, and I am learning to embrace it!

The leaves have all fallen...

The leaves have all fallen onto the forest floor. We have gone hiking a lot lately and as I walk through the trees all I hear is the crunch-crunch-crunch of the leaves under my feet. When I look down, the leaves cover my feet completely most of the time! I love this time of year.

Haven't done a lot of posting...

Sorry for slacking off on my personal 365 of me blog, I am going to start up full force after Turkey Day, and will let you all into little windows of my life. I have been updating my family blog daily so be sure to check it out while you wait. www.lmgittings.blogspot.com

:)

More Dready Goodness.

They are so nice and tight. I love how they look this close!

Dread Bun

Just a quick up-do that I wear sometimes. It is super easy and only takes 2 hair bands, nothing else!

Sorry for the lapse :o)

My dreads, all natural, and all me :o)

Needing some love...

My dreadies are needing work!

Day 6

I hate dirt under my nails. But with three boys, we play in the dirt, a LOT.

Day 5

I have worn shoes maybe 5 times in 10 years. All I ever wear is sandals.

Day 4

I have always been fascinated by the Muslim religions, but I cannot imagine wearing a head wrap like this all the time!

Day 3

Tonight we went to BeleChere in Downtown Asheville. As usual, it was a blast, and we were lucky enough to enjoy some good brew and awesome music.

Day 2

The River is a huge part of our lives, not just a particular river, but the nature, the power of water, the beauty... For me, there is nothing better than the feel of the cold water and cobblestones on your feet.

Day 1

I really am unsure of where to start, do I want to take a true "self portrait"? Do I want to take a photo of parts of me that I am proud of? That I am self conscious of? That I think are odd? What?

Well I decided to take a photo of something that really is "me" and my family. Recently I got a new tattoo on my forearm that has symbols representing our story. The top symbol, that is in focus, literally means family.

ANOTHER Blog?!

Yup. I decided this evening that I need to work on a few things.

#1.) Taking photos that aren't my normal type of shots.
#2.) Being less self conscious.
#3.) Getting in front of the camera instead of hiding behind it.
#4.) Some of my photography skills.

So, I am going to try to take a photo a day of me (or at least some part of me) starting tomorrow.

I've come to accept that I have the body of a woman who has given birth to three babies, who will never be a size 4-5 again, who threw out society's definition of beauty, but who is beautiful none-the-less.

So please feel free to lurk, comment, and enjoy my photos (just don't be too harsh!)

Here I am, not a great photo, but just my starting point: