I AM PROUD OF MY SIZE! NO, REALLY

I've been shooting a lot of beautiful women (with a camera lens, silly!) for the Lady Bookworms project and it is SHOCKING how every single one of these gorgeous babes will berate themselves in front of a camera. While taking "boob portraits" someone would say  "Ugh, I don't have much..." or "I don't have anything to show off" or "I'm so embarrassed that they're not perfect". It's hard to believe that almost every single person suffers from some sort of physical insecurity. What the hell?

Ladies. Listen. 

You're perfect. 

Every single one of you, just the way you are.

I've never had boob confidence issues because as a fat girl, boobs are the only part of your body that society allows you love. And, lord knows, I've got boobs until the cows come home. In taking these IPOMS pictures, however, I found myself inadvertently hating on my chin. Or rather, my triple chin. But thanks to these sequential photo-op experiences, I had to stop and realize that no one hates my chin except for me. And no one thinks that these boobs are sub-par except for her/them. It's a completely fabricated mental state of being. In other words: "If it doesn't get thought, it doesn't exist." It's really that elementary, my dear reader.

So I've made a promise to my face. 

I'll stop hating it, and start loving it instead. After all, it does some pretty awesome things.

One of my favorite lines from Regina Spektor says:

"I've got a perfect body, though sometimes I forget...

I've got a perfect body, 'cause my eyelashes catch my sweat."

You should probably listen to that song.

Thanks Rachele for inspiring ladies to love themselves just the way they are.

Amy too.

Oh, and Moorea, I'm wearing red lipstick.

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BAKER BABES IV: YAY SANDRA!

I love Sandra. We started out as bar buddies and grew into besties over the years, and I feel totally lucky to know such a babe. She even asked me to be the photographer for her engagement pictures and wedding photos that eventually were highlighted on Rock n' Roll Bride. KIND OF A BIG DEAL. I credit it all to the chemistry of her and her hubby.

Sandra moved to Boise Idaho over a year ago, and designs her own clothing line while working as a MUA at MAC. She's the kind of girl that gets up early in the morning and bakes perfect scones from scratch simply because she can.

Name:  Sandra K

Occupation: Freelance hair & mua, not to mention bitchin' house wife
Dream occupation: I would love to own an amazing little B&B by a river or ocean for ladies only. (oh man I have big plans for this to happen someday hopefully sooner than later)
Age: 29 (30 in 5 weeks)

What was your earliest memory about baking? What I remember most is this huge red book my mom always took recipes from. I have asked her for that book so many times and they don't make it anymore. I never had one of those little bake oven things but got to bake with my mom all the time. I think the farthest back I can remember is when my father was in the Navy and out for Desert Storm 91' and baking him cookies to send in his care packages.

Howd’ja get started baking? I just kept up with it from helping my mom out. I use to bake cakes for Holiday parties my senior year of high school. Everyone thought I would go away to culinary school. I made a sweet 3D pumpkin cake for Thanksgiving that was chocolate with peanut butter icing. It was a smash!

When you picture “a baker” what do you see? Ratatouille. hahaha! Well at least a happy person from France or a sweet lady with an apron on.

What qualities or skills does it take to be a baker? Well I am no pro, but I have learned that it is okay to make mistakes. I get really upset if my outcome doesn't look good. But trying again and again is sometimes key to making something amazing.

What was the biggest baking FAIL you ever had? Oh man! There are a few I am sure. I will say last year on my birthday I made cupcakes that turned out so hard they were more like thick hard cookies. I cried! And last July 4th I made a pie and we rode our bicycles over to the picnic and it went all over in the case. It was still good though.

How do you feel about Martha Stewart? Sometimes I wish I pretend I am the new Martha. I think what she is gave a lot of women and younger girls hope that they too can be successful at being crafty and being in the kitchen is more fun than demand.

Tell me something random that I don't already know: oh man! Seriously you know so much about me already.... hmmm.... I do all my mixing for recipes by hand, almost always with a fork. I dream of owning a kitchenaid mixer. Oh and I LOVE hockey games!

If you had to be an ingredient in a recipe, what would you be? salt.... a little dash never hurt anyone and not everything can be pure sweetness.

Will you share your all time favorite recipe with us? heck yes! 

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES 

(with walnuts)- yields bakers dozen

1 cup Flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup brown sugar (not packed in)

1/4 cup butter (I use smart balance light, but that's just my preference. It's also a vegan option) at room temp.

1/2 cup applesauce (or one of those little lunch ones works perfect)

2 egg whites (or just less than 1/4 cup egg white substitute)

3/4 tbs vanilla (give or take depending on your preference)

1 1/4 cup old fashioned oats uncooked

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup walnuts

Pre heat oven to 375 degrees. Prep cookie sheet with spray or light oil.

Mix together your butter, brown sugar and apple sauce until it is smooth. Mix in egg white and vanilla. Stir in your cinnamon, salt, baking soda and flour. Gradually add in your oats raisins and walnuts.
Bake for 12 minutes. You don't want them to be hard at all. Make sure you put them on a cooling rack!  Enjoy! Beware the man in your life will fall head over heels in love with you after eating these(and they will all be gone).

Oatmeal Raisin cookies are my cookie of choice right now, so I'm STOKED to try these.
And talk about a cute couple! Amiright? Amiright?

Thanks for sharing Sandra. I'll always be a fan! <3

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