Day 17 (9+5+20)

+ + =



Today's Friend Friday questions dictated both my choice of outfit and my photo selection.



1. Since you started blogging has your image of yourself changed?
I'm not sure. Not much I don't think. The change for me came before I started blogging, and in fact was the reason I had the courage to start blogging at all. You have to have a certain level of confidence and comfort with your body to post pictures of yourself everyday!

2. Are you self-conscious about any aspect of yourself? If so, do you go out of your way to avoid it or do you post it/talk about it anyway?
Absolutely. I'm self conscious of both my chin (or depending on how you look at it, chins) as well as my arms. I have what I call matronly arms. My arms are larger than I'd like and less firm. I don't normally feel comfortable in sleeveless tops or dresses without some sort of jacket, shrug or cardigan. And my chin is sort of a family curse. It's the first thing we check on a baby and we always apologize to them when we realize they have in fact inherited it. I do normally choose photos that showcase these at the best possible angle and I tend to really loath candid shots of myself from any angle. I am that girl who untags the picture you tagged of me on Facebook 10 seconds after you tag it. But today I've chosen pictures that highlight both my double chin and my bare arms, because really, neither is that bad.


3. Based on how you are feeling now, what do you think the future holds in the evolution of your body image?
I've noticed that I feel more comfortable with myself the older I get. I hope that continues to be the case as I age. I'd like to be 50 and feel absolutely at home in a bathing suit at the beach!

4. Do you photograph yourself for your blog? If so, how do you feel about the experience when you’re having your picture taken? If you choose not to post pictures of yourself, what prompted that decision?
I take most of my own photos. My husband does sometimes as well but I'm back to taking most of my own pictures now. I don't remember the last time I didn't post photos. I've only done it once or twice and it was always down to the quality of the pictures and nothing to do with how I looked in them. Since I take most of my pictures myself and have been doing it for a couple of years now it feels like the most natural thing in the world to me. I get up and wash my face and brush my teeth, I put on my make-up and style my hair, and then I get dressed and document the results. It's second nature.

5. What would you want every person who struggles with body image to take to heart?
Whatever the flaw is that you see, whatever it is that bothers you, NO ONE, notices it the way you do. In fact, I bet most people never notice it at all.

Tank, Urban Outfitters
Jeans, Target
Boots, Docs