No Body Is Perfect ... Models Needed

Does this sound like you? 

"I'm fat." 

"I wish I could just lose those last 10 pounds."

"I'm ugly."

"I wish my face would stop breaking out."

"I hate my legs."

"I hate my arms." 

... the list of things we hate, wish we could change about ourselves or think about our own self-image is on-going and usually not very positive and anxiety can get the best of some of us at times. 

Myself included. Too often, from my own mouth, do I hear words similar to those above; I am on a journey to heal from the negative words that I hear come out of my mouth about my body, you know the ones when I say them, my husband looks at me like I've got 12 heads, because they just aren't true, but the psychological torture that we put ourselves through is very real and often times, unnecessary. 

If this sounds like you, please read on...

A few years ago, I began thinking about a project that I wanted to do, and am finally in a place where I can get it accomplished and prepare for a gallery show: 

"No Body Is Perfect"

Details: I am looking for volunteers to help me on a project of healing to include in a gallery show. It is all about the body.  Your body.  The part of you that you wish would just disappear.  Whether it is a literal or interpreted representation (ie, the mind), I want to capture it. This project is for women and men over the age of 18 only; images can be taken showing your face, or without, while the purpose of this is to complete a project, the context is completely up to you.  The photos will be displayed with a brief story about the person in the photos (names can be excluded if requested).

If you would like to participate, are willing to sign a release to have the photos printed and displayed at a gallery show, please contact me at christine@lifetimememoriesnwy.com, call or text 716-608-5539 to schedule your session.  I will begin shooting in May.  All participants will receive a printed copy of the photo chosen and story after the gallery show.  Participants will be able to help choose which photo is selected for the show, as well. 

Love starts with yourself, from there, you can go anywhere. 

Taking the magic out of Christmas ... and bringing it back. Part 11.

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart.  

To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child,

a good example. To yourself, respect."

~Oren Arnold

Part 11 is dedicated to best friends. I have a few besties, but one very best friend who I lost for a while but am lucky enough to have her back in my life.  Quite obvious, but best friends are those in your life who know EVERYTHING and are still there for you.  They are the ones we call first when we have exciting news, are sad, heart broken, scared, happy and when we just need someone to listen.  A true best friend will be the one to give it to you straight and won't sugar coat it.  

My bestie, Lynn, has been in my life since we were kids, I want to say maybe 7 or 8, maybe younger, it's been soo long that I don't even remember.  She's literally 6 days older then me, and yes, I make sure I taunt her for that! LOL  Lynn and I had a falling out sometime around age 13, when I was dating a boy that lived on her street that she TRIED to warn me about.  Needless to say, she was right, and I had lost my best friend.  So, we both struggled through the next 20ish years without each other. I thought about Lynn frequently over the years of her not being in my life anymore.  Tried to locate her on social media, then one day, it happened.  I guess the time was right for us to be back in each others lives.

Today I couldn't imagine another day of my life without her in it.  I would be devastated if something happened and she was no longer a part of my life.  We keep each other going. We build each other back up when we get knocked down. We laugh and cry together. Lynn is the one person, who, above anyone else, knows EVERYTHING about me.  I know she will never judge me for a single thing that I do and I know that I can count on her for anything!!!  We recently got matching tattoos of a Celtic friendship knot and a quote that says "Friendship is a knot tied by angels hands".  She is so much more then a friend, she is a sister to me, and having her in my life is one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.

Lynn and I at Def Leppard 8/2012

I should also make a few honorable mentions here as well, as I have a few other people who have really stuck by my side over the past few years and have helped me get through some of the toughest times and decisions that I've had to make.

Brian - I'm not even sure what to really call him, he's so much more then a friend and even more then a brother to me, he's like my siamese twin who was detached at birth, a part of me no matter how far away he is.  Brian has been there for me in ways that I didn't even know about until just recently.  If the day ever came that he was not in my life, a very large part of my soul and heart would be gone.

Jen, my soul mate, came into my life in 2009 when I first photographed her family for the holidays.  The moment we met, we were instant friends!  Jen is an amazing woman who I also do not know what I would do without her in my life.  We walk on many of the same paths, which helps us keep each other strong when the path gets a bit rough.

Nichole, my sister from another mister (and mrs, for that matter LOL).  Nikki was another friend that I lost contact with for a while, but now that she is back in my life, I don't want to go a single day without her.  We may not talk as much as could or should, but I know, without a doubt that if I needed her, she'd drop everything in the blink of an eye to be there for me and I would do the same for her.

Linda, Georgette, Dave, Kim, Jeff, Amanda, Ashley, Sarah, Jess, Diana, Theresa, Jerry, Henry and probably a few others that I left out (sorry in advance!!!!) - friends who support me and push me to keep going when I am losing hope.  All in my life for very different reasons, but all just as important to me. 

Who are your cherished friends? 

Peace, Love and Light, 

Christine

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Taking the magic out of Christmas ... and bringing it back. Part 6.

"That son of a bitch would freeze up in the middle 

of summer on the equator!"

~Mr. Parker

Part 6 is dedicated to the first snow fall of the season!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE snow!!!!!! I can remember growing up waiting for the very first snow fall of the year!!! We use to pray for a White Christmas and I honestly cannot remember ever having a green Christmas when I was young! 

I love going to bed at night and then waking up to freshly fallen snow covering the trees and houses.  It looks so beautiful!!!  New and glistening snow is my absolute favorite to photograph!!!!  

Snow reminds me of when I was young. I loved making snow angels and both of my girls enjoy it as well!  I think this year, when it snows again, I will make snow angels with them!  Laurana likes to eat the snow, I have to constantly remind her to not eat the yellow snow!!! And the brown snow!!!  She also likes to make snow balls and throw at me!  I miss the days of snowball fights over the bushes. Maybe if we get enough snow this year, we'll make snow forts and have snowball fights in the backyard!!!!

My girls in 2010

Do you have a favorite snow story?

Peace, Love and Light, 

Christine
http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Taking the magic out of Christmas ... and bringing it back. Part 5.

"Deck the harrs with boughs of horry, 

fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra"

~Waiters at the Chinese Restaurant in A Christmas Story

Part 5 is dedicated to the songs of the season.  I LOVE Christmas music!!!!!!  My absolute all time favorite Christmas song is "Baby, It's Cold Outside" followed closely by "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a lovely account of a winter romance and has been my favorite since I heard it many years ago!  And I can't even tell you how many times I've lost my copy of Mariah Carey's Christmas songs, but I'm pretty sure I'm up to 3 or 4 times.  I finally bought a digital copy of it last year, because I, yet again, lost my hard copy.  Ever since I heard "All I Want For Christmas Is You," I have LOVED that song!!! They both make me fall in love with being in love every time I hear them! 

Every year I have my radio station tuned to the one that plays the Christmas songs the earliest, usually beginning in November.  Then, the day after Christmas, it returns to normal programming.  This year, however, I haven't really been listening to it, so in an effort to return to my normal crazed Christmas spirited self, I created a list of my top 19 favorite Christmas songs on Spotify.  It includes my two favorites from above as well as several other classics, like "A Holly, Jolly Christmas", which is my dad's favorite song and "Do You Hear What I Hear," a church classic that I just LOVE to sing!!!!!! 

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Peace, Love and Light, 

Christine
http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Taking the magic out of Christmas ... and bringing it back. Part 4.

"If Higbee thinks I'm working one minute 

past 9:00, he can kiss my foot. Ho ho ho."

~Santa in A Christmas Story

Part 4 is dedicated to the Big Man in Red ... Santa Clause!!!! 

I can remember going to K-Mart when I was a kid to see Santa.  We went to the K-Mart that was on Ridge Rd in Lackawanna, now a charter school, but there was a cafe in the back of the store and I can remember seeing Santa there.  The only thing I remember really asking for was the big box of crayons, back then it was a measly box of 64, but to me, that was like hitting the lotto!!!!   

A few years ago, my oldest, Caitlin, was standing in line to see Santa at the mall (she's a skeptic) and said she was going to ask Santa for coal, so I dared her to ... tripled dog dared her, in fact!!!!  She was a little nervous about doing it, but followed through and when he asked her what she wanted, she said "I want a piece of coal" and Santa YELLED at her!!!  It was so funny!!!! He said "Oh, Don't say that!!! A nice girl like you doesn't deserve coal!!" She turned about 12 shades of red, it was a riot.  Well, as you can imagine, she got what she asked for, a nice bag of coal in her stocking!!! 

Laurana's First Christmas - 2009

My youngest, Laurana is now three and is really looking forward to Christmas this year!!!  Her last 3 Christmas' were less then desirable for me, I couldn't wait for her to be excited about Christmas, Santa, Reindeer and presents!!!!  I thought last year would be her year, but she could have really cared less, but this year she was picking out toys, circling them in the books and we wrote her very first letter to Santa.  But now that she understands the material aspect of the holiday, she is also old enough to understand the real meaning of it as well.  And so my job begins with her and instilling the values of what Christmas is really all about. 

What is your favorite Santa story? 

Peace, Love and Light, 

Christine
http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Nov. 15, 2012

“Broken hearts and dirty windows make life 

difficult to see, that's why last night and this 

morning always look the same to me”

~John Prine

I find it best to always start the day with a fresh set of eyes.  A broken heart hurts, and each time it is broken it seems to get harder and harder to allow ourselves to be that vulnerable again.  You begin to wonder if it is possible for your heart to ever fully mend.  I have recently discovered that the secret to mending a broken heart is to love again, or rather, to allow yourself to love again.  Keeping the pain and hurt attached to your heartache causes your "heart-windows" to become dirty.  The only way to remove dirt from a window is to cleanse it, right?  Well, your heart needs the same cleansing (just don't drink the window cleaner LOL), it requires a fresh start, a new chance at loving again.  If you find yourself living day to day with nothing but pain in your heart, start to look within to see what you can do to cleanse your "heart-windows" to be able to see clearly through them again.  

Love will wait for you. The person worthy, may not.

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Nov. 12, 2012

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that

makes your rose so important.” 

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Today's entry is a little something I wrote, a poem, of sorts, if you wish to classify it. 

a single red rose stands out of a crowd with it's beauty and it's strength.
a single red rose says "I love you" with no words at all, yet wilts away while strengthening love.
a single red rose knows it's strength with thorns so rigid, yet means no harm.
a single red rose displays it's beauty with petals so fragile, yet does not fear falling apart.
a single red rose has many meanings but none more important then it's beauty being passed from one hand to another.
                                                                                                                                          Written by Christine M Wallace
                                                                                                                                           Copyright 2012

 http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Nov. 9, 2012

“The secret of life…is to fall seven times 

and to get up eight times.”

~Paulo Coelho

I believe wholeheartedly that with every fall there is a reason to get back up.  A reason to start fighting again. Even when you feel defeated it is important to continue to get up.  As with everything in life, it is often questioned "Why is this happening to me?" when the question should be "What is the lesson is this?"  It is not the why, but the what. What is the lesson? What do I see? What can I do differently this time? What will I be able to take from this situation and take to the next?

Life is a never-ending path connector.  One path leads you another, then another, then another, etc. Sometimes you end up going back down the same path, sometimes you end up at a fork in the road and both of these situations pose questions that you need to answer for yourself.  No one can tell you the answers to your life path, only you. Some people can help guide you, but the answer already lies within you, you just have to pick yourself back up, and trend forward.  That last fall is always the worst, but getting back up, is always worth the pain.

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Quote of the day ... Nov. 5, 2012

"There's something liberating about not pretending.

Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk."

~Drew Barrymore

Dare to challenge yourself ... by being yourself.  Speak your opinions, live by the advice you give and love like there is no tomorrow.  Take a risk on life.  There are no guarantees in life, you may not get a second chance to tell that special someone "I Love You."  You may not get a second chance to tell someone "I'm Sorry" or "I'm here if you need me." So don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.  Try to keep your heart free from regret and let go of past grudges that may be dampening your spirit.  

Dare to be YOU.  Even if it means standing alone. You will shine no matter what. 

Quote of the day ... Nov. 2, 2012

"Who does not thank for little will not thank for much."

~Estonian Proverb

Gratitude. (n). The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

How does one show their gratitude towards others and life?  It's quite simple to say "Thank You" and to smile when someone does something for you. But how do you feel on the inside?  Are you thankful for everything you have?  Do you look at things and put up a front because you just can't find any satisfaction? Or are you genuinely thankful for everything in your life?  

This question came to me when I seen, heard or read others "complaining", or mocking about how Hurricane Sandy didn't hit my city the way it was "suppose to".  Yes, I found it ridiculous that they closed the schools because of a bit of wind and rain, but I would rather have had my child home safe with me, in the event we did get hit hard, then stuck in school.  I seen a photo of a lawn chair turned over mocking the "storm" we got hit with going around the social media streams, but what about those in NYC, NJ, PA and even OH that got hit HARD with this storm?  I wonder if people can look at their life and say "Thank you for everything I have." Not just a few days out of the year, but everyday, even the days that seem the worst, there is always something to be grateful for.   Yes, we dodged the bullet of the storm, but others did not and perhaps we should all show some compassion for those people who are without home, food, water and power. 

I am thankful for my daughters.  I was told by four doctors I'd never get pregnant, and I did, twice.   Both of my girls are miracles.  I am thankful for my parents who are always there for me no matter what.  I am thankful for a family to share both good and bad times with.  I am thankful to have a few very best friends that have my back, even when I am in the wrong. I am thankful to have a heart that continues to believe in love regardless of all that I have been through.  I am thankful to have someone to give my heart to.  I am thankful to have a roof over my head, food to eat, water to drink, clothes to keep me warm and a vehicle to take me places.  I am thankful for a talent to be able to share with everyone.  I am thankful for music and dancing.  I am thankful for being ticklish.  I am thankful to have the ability to put the English language to some use.  I am thankful for grapes and the people that turn them into wine.  I am thankful for the ability to always be me. The list goes on and on, but I won't bore you with anything more. 

These aren't just words I speak, but feelings I genuinely have and and never take for granted.  Life is too short to be anything less then grateful for what we have.  What are you thankful for? Do you radiate your gratitude from your head to your toes or only feel it when you have to?

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct. 31, 2012

"Only one book is worth reading: the heart."

~Ajahn Chah

Ever get a feeling that just seems to radiate from your insides out?  That gut instinct that you just cannot ignore?  What do you do with it?  Do you question and second guess yourself? Or do you just go with and it trust that everything will work out?  

I always follow my gut. There has been very few times when I have decided to go against my gut instinct only to have it blow up in my face and I end up going the way of my gut.  I may not always understand the reasoning for my instinct or know the exact outcome, but I always know that no matter what my gut instinct will never lead me astray. 

Whenever people come to me and ask me what I think or what I think they should do .... my advice is always: Trust your heart.  Always.  Follow it thru and see where you end up. 

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct. 30, 2012

"I was the shyest human ever invented, 

but I had a lion inside me that wouldn't shut up!"

~Ingrid Bergman

Coming out of your shell is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  It's like walking around completely naked in a room full of complete strangers who are judging you.  I feel like that when a microphone is placed in front of me.  I could talk to just about anyone, have a conversation about almost anything but put a mic in front of me and I become a blubbering fool. True Story.  I'm also very shy. Most people challenge me on this, but it's truth.  I honestly am a very shy person, I CHOOSE to force myself out of my little box of comfort though.  The reason I do this is so that I know I can succeed under any circumstance.  It's not always easy nor is it always fun, however, to me, it is necessary for my personal success.

How do you answer to your inner lion? Do you let it out and allow it to take you where you are meant to go or do you hide from it?  If you are still hiding from it, let it out and see where it takes you. You won't be sorry. 

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct. 26, 2012

"If you scratch some saints you will find the devil."

~Austin O'Malley

We all  have a good side and a bad side.  There's no point in trying to hide that fact.  What is important is which side we CHOOSE to have on prominent display for all to see.  The choices you made in the past do not necessarily have to mean you are still that person today.  And there's not point in regretting those choices either.  There is a lesson in every choice you make.  Your past, whether good or bad, has made you who you are today and the choices you make today will determine who you evolve into tomorrow.

There should be no shame in having made poor choices in your life.  Every person has made at least ONE poor choice at some point during their life and the person who tells you otherwise is probably the biggest offender who just doesn't want to admit it.  But when it comes right down to  it, if you have a bad side that you wish to keep at bay, don't hide it, don't run from it, face it head on and start to make the choices you know you should be making so that you are almost always putting your best foot forward.  Yes, I said almost because let's face it, what fun would life be if we are ALWAYS being good???? 

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Quote of the day ... Oct. 25, 2012

“If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet,  you'd best teach it to dance."

~George Bernard Shaw I seen this quote the other day and fell in love with it.  We all know how hard it is to keep secrets about ourselves under wraps, partly the reason why I am such an open book about my life.  There are just some parts of life that people wish to erase, but why?  This has forever been a question in my mind. Why not try to learn from the occurrence?  Why have a heart full of regret and a head full of secrets? Freud believed you could gain insight by making your unconscious thoughts conscious, meaning by repressing certain occurrences and making yourself believe that they never happened, you are doing yourself a great disservice.  In most cases, bringing to light the reasons behind what happened can often bring you to a place where you can live with the occurrence.  He believed the treatment process for many depressed and anxiety ridden beings was to go through a psychoanalytical healing process where repressed emotions and experiences are brought to the surface and dealt with on the conscious level. This is not to say that if you have skeletons in your closet that you are depressed or have anxiety attacks, and it is also not to suggest that you need therapy.  However, if you are keeping skeletons locked away, and are in any way feeling the burden of them, free them, or, as Mr. Shaw suggests, teach them to dance.  The first step in any process of healing is always to accept that we no longer have control over what is ailing us.  The step is there, it's up to you to take it, it is also the hardest. But is well worth it. http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct. 19, 2012

"Service to others is the rent you pay 

for your room here on earth."

~Mohammed Ali

How often do you help others? Do you help when you are asked? Do you offer help when you know someone is in need? You may not even realize it, but your every day actions may be helping another person.  I recently was told by someone that I was a mentor to them and I have met this person maybe twice, simply by my posts on social networks.  I was shocked, honored and a bit proud of myself as well.  Proud?, you may be asking ... yes, proud.  Proud because by me, just being me, I have, even if it was in the smallest form, help someone else become motivated about their own life.  Someone who is almost a stranger.  Think about that.  How many people are you really helping just by being ... YOU?  No matter how big that number, the point is you are being of service to others, whether it be mentally, physically, emotionally, near or far, you are helping people.  That is <insert whichever higher power you believe you in here>'s  plan.  To be of a greater good is to be of service to those around you as well as yourself. 

Even a smile can be the highlight of someones day, the uplift they needed, even if you don't get one in return.  Holding the door for the mother with the stroller so she doesn't have to struggle or helping that little old man who is having trouble getting his hands to work the way they use to.  It takes a very minimal amount of time to help another, and even if it takes longer then you anticipated or expected, remember that everything happens for a reason and the delay was to prevent you from choosing another path to go down at that particular moment.  Being of service to others brings us back to a point in time when things didn't move so quickly.  When life had meaning and people valued others. The more you help others, the better YOUR world will be.  Being the change you wish to see does not have to be on a global scale, it simply has to begin ... and end ... with you.  

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct. 15, 2012

"Mirrors should think longer before they reflect."

~Jean Cocteau

Take a look in the mirror.  What do you see? Do you see someone you like, or more importantly, do you see someone you love?  In order to fully allow another to love you, you must first love YOU.  I firmly believe that.  I believe that without the love of oneself, it is impossible for another person to fully love you.  The reasons are simple, how can another love you when you aren't really who you want to be? How can you ask another to love you and learn who you are at the same time you are also learning who you are?  

Loving yourself is an important part of becoming who you want to be.  I honestly believe that people who settles on themselves are the ones who end up lost and looking for more change later on in life.  I do also believe that we are ever changing beings, constantly growing and evolving into who we were meant to be.  Some people just take longer to get there, but at no one's expense but their own. 

Look in that mirror again, really look at the person staring back at you.  How can you NOT love that person?  

Love you. Love your reflection. And let your self love shine. It's worth it, trust me.

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct 6, 2012

"We acquire the strength we have overcome."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Fear. Fear is something every person has, whether admitted or not. Facing fears is not always easy and rarely a fun experience. Necessary, nonetheless.  What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failure, ridicule and pain?  These three things are not to be feared, they are to be endured.  We find success through our failures.  We become humbled by those who ridicule, or critique, as I prefer to call it. And we find strength through our pain.  It's not easy to make something positive out of a negative situation, but when you can, you will find it easy to remove fear from your life and can allow yourself to move forward.

Come out from behind the shadows of your fear and let the sun light your pathway to success and happiness. 

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct 5, 2012

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."  

~Auguste Rodin

Every chance you take on life provides you with a lesson, one you can either choose to learn from or ignore.  Ignoring the lesson put in front of you leads you blindly down the next path, which will only lead you back to the same fork in the road.  Taking the time to really see the lesson and what it's value is on your life will take you to the next path you are to be headed down.  

How do you handle your lessons? Do you embrace them and learn from them or do you ignore them and continue down the path to come back full circle only to wonder why you keep having the same thing happen over and over again?  The change you wish to see begins with you and only you.  No one else is responsible for your choices.  

Embrace your lessons.  Walk blindly no more. 

http://www.lifetimememorieswny.com

Quote of the day ... Oct 3, 2012

"May you live to be a hundred years

With one extra year to repent."

~Author Unknown

A life of regret is something I refuse to ever have.  I love taking chances, risks and have faith that I will always end up on the right path.  I have recently been forced into change that I was not fully prepared for, although, I am probably more ready that I think I am, because I am here, doing this and loving it all. 

How do you react when change is forced upon you?  Do you take in stride or immediately panic? Do you turn inward and see how only the here and now is affected or do you force yourself to see the situation for what it is and what opportunities are there for you?  Your life is dependent on no one but YOU! Make it great!  

Go fishing where you are prohibited.