The 4th of July is my favorite holiday (right next to Halloween), and so I always have plans, no matter how big or how small! This year my boyfriend and I went up to upstate NY for a little R&R with a few friends. His favorite band, Phish, was also playing nearby and so it didn’t take me a lot of convincing to persuade him to travel a bit north.

We took in the Saratoga weather (which was heaven compared to the 100degree Atlanta weather that we left) and wandered around the streets while we consumed ice-cream and played arcade games. It was fabulous, and I’ll say that playing arcade games as an adult is WAY better than as a teenager because now I actually have some money to throw away at Mario Kart.

Coming off of a full week away I’d be lying if I didn’t say that my body is currently 78% Cheeze-It’s and Tito’s vodka. It was a fun week, but I’m feeling an urge to get back to normal.

In order to motivate me to not fully morph into a snack-food I am looking back at some selfies I took a couple of weeks ago! And you know what, it got me thinking... we use a lot of others as inspiration for ourselves, and there is nothing wrong with that, but there is something quite special about being your OWN motivation.

I look back at my boudoir photos from the few sessions I’ve had, and I LOVE myself. Hell, this isn’t even from a boudoir session and I still LOVE it.

In a world of “oh god, can you retake that” we should all have images of ourselves that we love. Boudoir can do that, a great portrait can do that, amazing selfie-light can do that... but the point is that everyone deserves to be able to look at themselves with love for their OWN self ❤️

Let’s just put it out there: sometimes the Holidays really suck.

“Happy Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy all of the things!!!” Is it appropriate to flip someone the bird if they say that to you? The holiday season, or any holiday ever, isn’t happy for everyone.

The holidays can honestly be anything but happy, and I’ll come right out and say it: this holiday season isn’t exactly looking particularly happy for myself, my family, my boyfriend’s family, and a variety of the people that I have in my life. Generally I love a good email from Sephora and a spruce-tree candle, but right now I hate it all and also I’m avoiding them… along with any stupid, dumb, cheesy, warm-toned, Hallmark Movie. I did buy a tree, but it’s about as “Charlie Brown” as you can get while still making an effort.

Over the 2018 year there existed a litany of life circumstances (can we just call it SHIT?) that had myself and those around me wanting to crawl into a dark, warm bed, only to return after it was all over. And while I’ve only recently encountered certain circumstances that are making me dread the holidays, I know that “Holiday Hell” has existed for so many of you before now. It’s been years since you could look fondly on family gatherings, on special recipes, on memories that you now look back on with pain because they feel false. 

Since August especially we have experienced the deaths of two very important family members. Once on my boyfriend’s side and once on my side. During and before those deaths we have been faced with sickness, tragedy, and accidents with our family and friends. During an exciting trip to upstate NY in August we learned of the passing of Frank’s mom’s partner of nearly 20 years. During this past week we learned of the passing of my aunt, the matriarch of our family (and where I get my affinity for black and bling). Both passings were after we had already made plans to visit because the inevitable was going to happen. We never made it for our last good byes. 

For this holiday season we, and many of our friends, are experiencing a “first” holiday without loved ones. I say “a first holiday” because for the next year there will be many more “first holidays” without them. While I feel sad that this is our first holiday without each other, I also know that there are so many of you that have had countless holidays without those you love, and also without those that you wish loved you.

So, let’s be honest. The holidays are not always happy. They f***ing suck sometimes. Holidays, which are supposed to bring us together in love, joy, thankfulness, remembrance, and reverence, are often clouded with hurt, sadness, anger, apathy, loneliness, and distance. 

At this point I know we could add to the list of negative feelings, but that isn’t the point of this post. Mostly I want to let those of you that feel alone, anxious, pissed off, sad, and allllllllll of the other emotions that aren’t displayed in a Hershey’s or a Gap commercial that it is OK and that someone else out there feels what you feel. 

Hugs to all of you, I’ll be flying to upstate NY for a few days and immediately flying to Savannah, GA for gatherings at opposite ends of the country, but without opposite situations. For those of you in pain, in love, alone, sick, tired, hurt, isolated, pissed off, and on the edge: much love and virtual hugs. The holidays can suck so hard, and you’re definitely not the only one to feel that. 

I’m thankful for all of you that follow along and support OWN. The community of clients, photographers, and friends is incredibly encouraging during hard times and for that I will never feel an ounce of sadness.

-xoxo