Entries from August 2009 ↓
August 31st, 2009 — Body Image & Self Esteem, Hairy Issues (fashion, hair, clothes)
This is Ainsley’s Madmen self image. She doesn’t get to watch Madmen, but she hyjacked my self image, so I stepped back and let her create herself.
This is my self image. I tried to be as realistic as possible.
This may say a lot about how we feel about ourselves. Or it might be meaningless.
Some similarities – we don’t have the same nose in real life, but we did agree that the nose choices available were all pretty ugly. So we picked this one. Which says more about our beauty ideal than the noses on our faces, I guess.
We both chose classic dresses, most likely because there weren’t more slutty choices.
We do have the same bob hair. We both went for the donut, but I put mine back and picked up the martini glass and a cigarette. Then I remembered I quit for the kids and put them back. We both picked pearls, smiles and blue eyeshadow. Cause, duh.
Her eyebrows are more natural, mine are more highly-arched. Gimme a few years and our eyebrows will be identical via tweezer.
Go over to Madmenyourself.com to check out your own self image.
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August 27th, 2009 — Feminine Heritage, Mentors, Role Models, Peers
Dear New York Publishing Industry,
I miss you since I moved to Texas during the last recession. That baby I quit my really awesome travel trade writing/editing job for is 7 and the last baby is 3.5. I want to come back. I’ve been doing two blogs in the meantime, but everyone knows by now that the blogs aren’t paying the mortgage, except for that Dooce chick and Darren Rowse, The Problogger.
I know everything about science, technology and health. Of course, this is not true, but I do know how to research everything and document it and write it up. Because I’m a writer like that.
Please. Consider me for this position.
Sincerely,
Tracee Sioux
traceesioux@gmail.com
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August 26th, 2009 — Body Image & Self Esteem, Media, Marketing and Advertising
She looks like . . . . Me. It’s not me, it’s a model named Lizzie Miller. But, she looks like a normal woman. One I might encounter anywhere, including in my mirror.
I gasped when I saw it. In a good way. I’m not sure why I would prefer to see more women looking like this in mainstream media, but I would. I guess it’s a similar experience to seeing the Dove Real Beauty Campaign for the first time. Us. Real.
The editor, Cindi Leive of Glamour Magazine sounds open to it, according to this article. She also invites readers to tell her what kinds of photos they’d like to see featured in Glamour Magazine. So go tell her!
I’m also really, really curious . . . how does this photo make you feel, knowing that it was in Glamour Magazine?
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August 24th, 2009 — Education, Family Life
Today’s the first day of a new school year. Ainsley is starting 2nd grade. Zack is in pre-school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So, I get a lot of one-on-one time with Zack. And a little time to work uninterrupted.
I decided I should just create the habits I want to have for the whole school year right out of the gate. I got up at 6 am and worked out. Got Ainsley ready, fed her a healthy breakfast, and WALKED her to school. It actually felt really good.
It’s really only about 4 blocks, though across a major highway. In my day, she would have just walked with the pack of other children also going to that school and there would have been safety in numbers. Now, everyone drives their kids in their big SUVs regardless how close they live. I’m opposed to this, but trying to accept it as the reality.
This year the school is trying something new. Not only are they feeding all the poor and rich kids breakfast, but they are doing it right in the classroom at their desks. The middle kids, like mine, who won’t add $3 to their child’s daily food allowance just get to watch the other kids eat. Or bring a granola bar. Whatever. Previously, I had to deal with, Can I have a lunch tray today? NO. every day of the year. Now I get, Can I have breakfast today? No. Can I have a tray? No.
I’m trying to to be pissed off about this. I’m sure it’s really best thing the school can do. Really. I mean, parents can’t be expected to get up and tell their kids to make a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. Wait. I do. But, whatever. I’m just grateful I can afford to feed my kid healthy, nutritious food at home. Also trying to come to a state of peaceful acceptance about this.
It’s going to be a great year. I’m torn between being wistful about a very good summer gone by and wistful about the year ahead. We’re still doing it with one car. Which can be overwhelming if I think about it. But, if I just deal with the moment, the day, the tasks right in front of us, it’s fine. Soon, Jeremy will be driving his dream car: a Jeep Wrangler. I’ll have total control of my red minivan. Soon.
I signed up to be a substitute teacher this year. We’ll see how that goes.
For now,, I’m creating good habits – getting my work-out in before everyone wakes up, creating space to do yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making sure everyone gets to where they need to go with one car, working on my book proposal for the book I wrote this year, The Girl Revolution.
How’d your first day of school go? Goals for the year?
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August 20th, 2009 — Body Image & Self Esteem, Hairy Issues (fashion, hair, clothes), Sexualization of Girls
Hollister back to school t-shirts are inappropriate. They have sexualized messages on them.
I can’t even muster up any fake shock today. Sorry. Am I officially desensitized or just having an off week?
Jezebel can at least still muster up a paragraph of “gross and inappropriate.”
If we had half a brain we’d – as parents who buy their kids’ clothes – let Hollister, in this rough economy, go bankrupt. But I know us better than that now.
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