Category :Glasses

Textbook Mama

Sweater & Jacket – Jacob; Scarf – Street Stand; Arm Warmers – Ruche; Jeans – AE; Belt – ?; Shoes – Payless; Socks – Hue.
 

First off, I’m not usually one to wear turtlenecks – I kind of hate them – but I’ll make an exception for a black, soft knit fitted one. What I really like is pairing it with loose boyfriend jeans.  I like the contrast of sleek and loose and relaxed. It was a perfect outfit for playgroup. Husband called me a New York Bohemian.

But moving on.  I just had to share this with you.

A cool six week series has started at The Toronto Star examining childbirth all over the world.  They started with this focus article on Haiti.   This particular region was spared the earthquake devastation, and that makes this all the more unpalatable.

The conditions were shocking: no running water, no electricity, no sanitation, no ambulances, no operating rooms, and also therefore no c-sections.  Just women crammed into a dirty room in unsanitary conditions with one doctor for them all.  Needless to say, mortality for both Mother and Child is high. “More women die during childbirth in Haiti than in any other country in the Western Hemisphere…For every 100,000 live births, 630 Haitian mothers perish…In Canada, only seven die.” Haiti also holds the “regional record for infant mortality.”

Reading this article was like reading a piece of horror fiction.  My mind constantly asked, “Is this really happening in the world?” It’s scary to think.

I gave birth naturally here in Toronto, Canada in a pristine and sanitized hospital room surrounded by both family and two midwives, running water, a personal bathroom, doctors, medication, and an operating room ready and waiting should there be any complication.  I thought I had it bad because it hurt so much, felt like it went on forever, and I felt like my midwife pushed her beliefs a little too forcefully regarding how I should deliver.  *Really, I had a ‘textbook’ labor according to my midwives – perfect with no complications* Now, after reading these conditions I count myself blessed.  I gave birth in a situation where I knew that my chances of living, and my baby’s chances of living, were extremely high no matter the possible complications.

I can’t imagine delivering under those circumstances.  My heart bleeds for these brave women.  It grieves for them too, and their young lost babes.  It may be a little cliche, but I feel united with them because we are all women, we are all mother. There should be no reason for conditions like these in 2012.

Tomorrow’s Challenge:
Notice one thing you take for granted that others don’t have and give thanks for it – to God, the Universe, or whatever you may believe in. 
For my challenge yesterday I tried to barge my way in to four people’s offices for impromptu meetings.  It didn’t go so well: one wasn’t there, two I couldn’t get past the receptionist, and one actually met with me.  But at least I did it!

P.S. The winner of the Ruche giveaway is announced here. If you didn’t win, don’t worry I’ve got more giveaways coming up soon!

I-Have-Nothing-To-Wear

Having a little trouble with the umbrella.

Success!

Glasses – F21; Shirt – Walmart; Skirt – Gentlefawn; Boots – Petite Pied.

First off, welcome to all my new followers!  And thank you sooooo much for reading.  You totally make my day!

Now, do you ever have those days when everything you put on looks horrible on you?  *at least in your mind* Well, I had a day like that with the above outfit.  I spent forever *and in a Mom’s life forever is like, 30 minutes* trying on tons of stuff.  I hated everything I put on.  One of those I-have-nothing-to-wear days.  It’s not that I have nothing to wear, it’s just that everything I put on just doesn’t sit right today, or just doesn’t feel right, or just doesn’t project the image I want today.  So I gave up.  I put on a skirt I like and just tried to keep things simple and not go nuts.  It’s just one day.  And I have to just get through this funky mood.  And I did.  And so will you.

True Story: 
Me squealing about something pretty on a website that I want.
And Husband’s answer to me squealing, “Yeah, and you have so many pretty things upstairs.”  
Poo!  
I don’t like it when he’s right.
  *crosses arms and sulks*

Standing Out In A Sea Of Beauty

Top – Ruche; Maxi – Spotted Moth; Booties – Aldo.

 A friend and I were recently talking about beauty.  We were discussing the prevalence of a certain standard of beauty in society and the pressure we both feel to live up to it, and the fact that we both deviate from said standard in highly “negative” ways.  So it’s kind of interesting that in the September issue of Flare magazine (a Canadian fashion magazine) there was a whole reader survey about beauty, standards, and pressures.

Us Canucks had some interesting things to say:
The images we see on the internet, and social networking sites on a daily basis heighten our expectations of beauty and perfection in ourselves.  This sets the bar higher and higher for ourselves, and we feel a pressure to live up to it daily.  And while most of us have a dissatisfaction with our body shape and weight, overall we feel beautiful.

Do you agree?

This sort of goes along with what my friend and I were talking about.  The prevalence of amazing photos, and such a huge assortment of beautiful women makes both of us feel we have to live up to some unachievable bar of beauty.

Do you struggle with weight and body image?  Do you feel beautiful?  In such a menagerie of beauty, how do you stand out?

Just a side note since we’re talking about photos, I’ve been just using curves and color balance exclusively in my photos recently.  So how do you like it?

Quote of Today:
“You’re evil Justin Bieber! You’re mistreating that bear in your castle!”
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