In January

{Keeping It Real}

This is for my new young female readers.

There are things we don't like about ourselves. We totally freak out when we look "fat" ("weird" or "ugly") in photos. We want to always look our best because god forbid someone sees us any other way.

We are our own worst critic.

We want men to think of us as the hottest woman in the room. We compare ourselves to models and actresses. We want to look like them. We want perfect skin and a perfect body.

I'll be the first one to say it...

These goals are unattainable.

I have oily shiny skin. I get zits and put zit cream on them (see photo above). I have a little bit of discoloration on my cheeks. I look like I over pluck my eyebrows when really I just have really light eyebrow hair at the ends. I may be the most awkward but I'm definitely not the hottest woman in the room, the world, the universe.

Like you (and models and actresses), I'm just a real woman.

Let's embrace it.

On that note...

{Strong}

I don't know how many times I've seen this ad this month.

As an athletically built woman, I like it when magazines run ads with athletic women. I think young women need to see more models who have muscles.

It's not size zero. It's size strong and healthy.

{Far Away}

I will learn to park a car properly.

Get this---I even pulled forward, backed up and straightened myself out.

Awesome.

{Sunsets}

During the week my uncle passed away, I spent a few weeknights driving back and forth to my parents house. I always noticed the sunsets.

Lovely, lovely.

{Gym Bag}

I don't bring my camera to the gym.

So, why do I bring a camera cable?

{Knitted}

A very sweet and wonderful person knitted me this scarf.

I wear it out and about...and when I'm home...eating, reading and sleeping.

It's very warm.

{Pancake Lady at 99 Ranch}

She makes these delicious mini pancakes and puts a filling between them. You can either have red bean or custard. She's very curt.

Next! How many you order?

I like her.

{Good Friends}

I like it when people make funny faces in pictures.

In this one, my dear friend is showing off the ghetto fabulous bag she got for Christmas.

I think her sister may have purchased it from the back of a van.

{Monks}

They have very soothing voices.

Whenever I speak to one, they listen patiently and never interrupt. They don't do small talk. No filler conversations.

This is not a bad thing.