Florence Henderson says…

I am not sure where and when I saw an article written interviewing Florence Henderson.  She was a ‘mom’ of mine as a child, always so positive and fun.  Here are her words of wisdom.

Stay open to the unexpected.  Learn to let go of your self-limiting thinking.  Tomorrow something unexpected is going to happen that is exciting.  Let the experiences come.  Don’t be afraid to say ‘Yes’ a lot.  Be grateful and forgiving.  Stay flexible.  Know that there’s always another way.  Keep going and never stop pushing the envelope of your potential.  and stay courageous in your quest for inner peace and a life full of love.

Just wow!  When I think of her life, all the opportunities she had but all the turmoil and lack of privacy she experienced…I think these sentiments are pretty wise!

Carol

Introducing the 2020 Flirt Ambassador program!!!

I’m just so excited today!  I have been ready to do this for so long, and now the time is right!  I am still working on a new set in the studio, and getting some new props…

I will be looking for ladies who love to do boudoir, or have always wanted to do boudoir, and then are willing to show their digital albums to people.  There are perks, such as having the fun of getting photographed at least 4 times a year, and then receiving the digital album with some images from each session.  I plan to have perks besides….floating ideas right now, but definitely a party comes to mind!

Anyone, 21 or older, may apply.  In person interview is a must.  Ambassador will need to like to have fun….and show those images!  Real women needed!

If you think you can fill these shoes….text me at 785-633-0220, or email me at carol@memorymakerstopeka.com or message me at the Flirt Boudoir by Carol facebook page.

I look forward to meeting you and having a blast!

Carol

Happy New Year!

Ok, so I’m a little bit late…Isn’t it amazing how January flies?  I took a little time off during Christmas break to enjoy our sons and also helped put down hardwook laminate in our basement!

Do you have big plans for 2020?  I was able to reconfigure my office, and now have half the room for office, and the other half is for my hobbies and crafts~  I have wanted to do that for a long time.

I am really hoping to get healthier and in better shape this year.  Part of my office redo, was to bring all exercise equipment into the office, so I could see it daily and hopefully use it!  I am human…but trying to have a positive attitude and do this for myself, and health reason.

Take care of yourself, do something nice for you every day!  Life goes too fast and the years fly by!  Don’t regret giving in to some things.  In the end, it won’t matter if you skipped that workout to stay home and watch a movie with your teen; or went to bed early when there were still dishes!  Little things can perk us up and keep us going.

Talk to you all again soon!  Happy New Year again, from the Myers family

Thank you, Thank you, Thank YOU!!!

I value my clients, and in the end they become friends.  I strive from the beginning of my time with people to make them feel important, and valued.  I hope you feel valued and good every day!

My hubby and I just went to lunch.  We had a waitress who was young and cute, very chatty.  She was kind and concerned that we liked everything, and came back multiple times.  More on her later.

I know I’m in danger of seeming like a crabby elder, but I have seen a decline of thankfulness in our world.  Most anywhere you go to purchase something:   fast food, groceries, your prescription….whatever….I hear “Have a good one!”  While the sentiment is nice, that person who I just gave money to isn’t thanking me for my business.

While I can’t make the world do what I want..after all the world doesn’t work on my agenda….I can thank everyone who does anything for me.  Daily I receive love, gifts, compliments, business, prayers, friendship, on and on.  I am not always the best at thanking, definitely not the best at accepting compliments, but I am learning.

So…I sincerely want to simply say Thank You!  I am thankful for you all who read my words here.  I appreciate you calling me for a session and giving me the opportunity to get to know you and make awesome portraits of you.  Thank you for coming to see me, as I know there are so, so many choices these days!

Have a great day, thanks again!

Carol

“I’ve always wanted to do that!”

Let’s talk about goals, and bucket lists, and all that jazz.  I know a lot of you are moms with school aged kids, and believe me I know that those years seem endless, but they rush by too.

What have you always wanted to do, but never made the time, or had the courage to do?

When I talk to ladies about doing a boudoir session, the comment I hear most is “I’ve always wanted to do that!”….but…… insert many lines.

I think there comes a time when you realize that you have to do something for yourself.  I came to be a parent later than most, in my 30’s, and maybe that is why I started out taking time for myself right away, after the kids were born.  You need to take care of yourself, face it, You are the only one who will!

I am one of the only handful of boudoir photographers in Topeka, and one of the very few female boudoir photographers.  I have a studio set up in an office building.  It’s private, but public.  I offer phone or in person consults, so that you can get all questions answered, there is no obligation to book when you do a consult.  I feel like you will definitely want to book, but that’s just me, lol.

Whatever it is, large or small, do something for yourself today, something you’ve always thought about!  Take the time today!

Carol

I’m on a journey too!

Hello, and Happy Monday!  I just wanted to quickly share my new ‘journey’.  When I work with boudoir clients, so often we talk about our weight and our body image.  It is the #1 reason ladies don’t want to have a session experience!  I get that, but I also talk to them about how we should be comfortable in our own skin….and sometimes we need to go ahead and do the things we fear!  That makes it so worth it!

I have decided it is time to lose some weight.  I have made small attempts over the past 5 years or so, but nothing has worked or stuck.  I am still trying to come up with the best method to be accountable, but I think I am still tweaking.

I am firmly working on my health, first and foremost.  I know that excess weight works against us in many ways.  I am of the age where it all can start working against me, so it is very important to me to really start taking care of the excess weight.

Now, I am going to put this into ‘print’.  My goal is to lose 30 pounds, and as of now I am at around 3 pounds lost.  I am hoping that there will be a lot less of me this Christmas!  Feel free to encourage me!!!   I am not shy about sharing this, and I am constantly working with anyone, personally or professionally with my boudoir clients; to listen and help in any way they need.  I am a listening ear only, I am not an advice person…

Here’s to you and any journey that you might be on!  You’ve got this!!!

What is your ‘why’?

There are many reasons to have a boudoir session done.

Starting the journey, first we talk.

The stories I have heard…ladies who have never  felt beautiful….ladies who have had breast cancer and need to get that sexy back after the long hard battle….ladies who have lost a good amount of weight and want to celebrate…brides to gift their soon to be spouse with an awesome gift…a gift for those married couples who know the long term commitment it takes to stay close for many years.  Perhaps the saddest ‘why’ story was having a ‘significant other’ who daily told this lady that she was ugly…She stood up to that person  – got out and did many things to heal.

One of which was have a boudoir session done.

Boudoir isn’t just a portrait session to get photos done.  It is a journey, an event,  a time period of a number of weeks where you pamper yourself, daydream of your fantasy or your reality and your ‘why’.  We do good work, and then you see the images of the best of you.  You feel the confidence soar, and know that you are strong, and that you can do anything.  Even things that  used to scare you.

This Guy

 

Okay, so you rarely ‘see’ me here….This is my husband Bill, and I, last fall while we were doing family portraits.

It occurred to me today that I wanted to celebrate my husband.  Now I know all the little things that I do to keep all the balls up in the air for our family…it got me to thinking that I bet he does a million little things too!

We met at Bill’s front door some 25 years ago.  He shook my hand in greeting, and my knees literally went weak.  We slowly became friends, dated…and then realized that this was the partner we had been looking for.  We will celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary in September.

I am the social media person in our family.  Part of that is because I do it for business too.  So…I post about our children…a lot.  When I post about their accomplishments, I usually get the compliments.  Well, let me tell you, their dad was there every step of the way; in his own way.  Showing them by example how to be a kind, respectful man.  Being gentle with them after his own not-so-gentle upbringing…

Bill Myers, I celebrate you today for the funny, honest, silly, good, kind, decent, respectful, hunky, sweet, loving, wonderful man that you are.  There is no one that I would rather spend forever with than you.

Courageous

Interesting blog post so far, wouldn’t you say?  I assume you know a few or many ladies who are courageous?  I am here today, well every day, to celebrate women.  In looking back at my recent images over the last few years, I got to thinking about courage, and it’s many forms.

The beauty to the upper right is my mother in her early adulthood.  She was a strong woman – twice cancer survivor, mother to 5, one of which she lost at 3 days old; she was a great one for sayings….you know ‘The early bird gets the worm”  that type.  Her saying that I try to live by most is “I’ll just take what comes ”  .  Her strength and courage helped  her thru 93 years on this earth.

Many of my ladies who come to me for boudoir sessions, are military wives.  Now this lady isn’t pictured here, but I have one recent lady in mind who works beyond full time, her hubby is deployed out of the country, and she has small children.  Her daily life must be so hectic, but she does it all with such courage.

My image at the bottom, is a sweet one and special to me.  You all know by now that I’m an animal lover…This lady brought her sweet old dog in for a session.  Unfortunately, we knew the dog was nearing the end of her life.  The courage to face the death of a loved one, and pets included…is some of the hardest courage to muster!  You can literally feel the hole in your heart…

Courage takes on my faces. I am here to lift up and praise all women with courage…small strides, nerves, illness, death….facing it all with courage is our daily task as a woman!  I will go out today and lift someone and hopefully make their task easier.  Peace.

Carol