Black and White Wednesday

In my constant quest to write more, I've decided to challenge myself by implementing theme days.  In the past, I've had "Mondays Message", where I've selected a quote and waxed philosophical about it and how it applies to my life.  Truth be told, when I first started this blog in 2007 (!), I started by using quotes to springboard a discussion.  After a while, I stopped doing that because life provided enough fodder from me to chronicle and catalog.  From time to time, I had revisited those beginning blog posts.  There's a propensity to stick out my arm and have you verify that I do indeed where my heart on my sleeve.  I think that's why I stopped.  Sure, I'm happy to share things with you about myself, my kids, my Hubs (within reason), but those quotes started to feel really self-righteous. I mean, I wanted to pick something with some sustenance to it and found that I was grasping on how to draw a connection without sounding like a total blowhard.  Sometimes, it's best to just keep some air of mystery between us.

But, back to theme days (actually, that sounds kind of goofy like I'm doing "Hawaiian Day!" or "Pirate Day!".  Maybe I should say springboards). I've been doing pretty well with Recipe Friday, actually.  It started out as a post entitled "What's Cooking" in 2011 and I've been pretty faithful to it.  In fact, I've been posting some of my creations on my instagram account.  Some of my instagram followers have been asking if they can find the recipe on my blog.  I'm loving the potential for cross marketing!

A friend of mine suggested I check out a blog entitled Simply Seleta, because the author reminded my friend of me.  Evidently, Seleta has White Wednesdays where she posts images of white things.  Think picket fences, lush meadows of white headed flowers, white colonial style homes with red doors and black shutters.  I skimmed the last White Wednesdays and thought it would be nice to pick up another springboard for the roster.  Monday Message, while good in theory, just doesn't do it for me.  And truly, aren't Mondays bad enough without having to add another dollop of drudgery on top? *head slap* that's exactly what the problem with Monday Message was!  It felt like drudgery and as though I was lecturing to you on how to be better -- like me ).  I'm not a life coach and I don't want to be.

In the midst of all of this, I'm working on creating a new web-page (with little to no luck, so if you're good at web design or know someone who is, holla at me). I really want some good head shots for the homepage.  I've got some ideas, but I need a photographer to help me out.  Kendall and I can't seem to get our act together, what with us both being attentive parents.  My other friend Franklin, when we aren't having food battles via instagram, is busy with his own family/work/life responsibilities, as well.  I'm looking for someone who can either trade services with me or basically, gift me some pictures -- all on my schedule of course.  I mean, how else could this work? <-- That right there? That's sarcasm.  The bottom-line is I'm hanging up all of forward progress on the fact that I don't have the exactly right headshot that I need for the homepage.  Talk about procrastination.

So, I decided to stop pussyfooting around and just do something.

I give you, the at home, self portrait photo shoot.

hgd photography ©2013

It totally did not go the way I had anticipated. I set out to do some head-shots or beauty shots.  Black and white, from the shoulders up, real tight in the face with minimal make-up and a curly 'do. I got the black and white part down.  As for the rest. . .I think I was possessed. You know how Beyonce (ugh, I cannot believe I'm going here) claims she has an alter ego names Sasha Fierce?  Yeah, I kinda feel like that's what happened.  I let out my inner diva. She couldn't be bothered to tell me her name, what with all the face she was giving the camera.  

But, it's black and white photography, which I love, and I shot it! And I was in it!  And I have a new springboard for middle of the week blog posts: Black and White Wednesday! Or Black and White Photography! Or Head Shot Wednesday (which sounds kind of gruesome depending on how you interpret head shot)! 

And now I keep putting exclamation points at the end of everything! 

Happy Wednesday!