New Year, new attitude!

Towards the end of 2020, I felt restless and uncomfortable with the pain, hurt, anger, sadness and depression in our world.

I am one person among billions, but I made a vow to myself to spend 2021 and years to come making this world better.

Personally, I will be doing more volunteering – photographing when possible, but also working in other ways. My specialties in photography – boudoir (I see as service to women and empowerment) and animals, dovetail nicely with some of my passion projects. Again, more on these ideas later.

Professionally, I will continue to work with women to discover their sense of self and confidence. I’ve seen this play out so many times – before, during and after a boudoir session. For pets, I truly believe that they leave us all too soon. It’s very important work for me to keep memories of them safe.

Lastly, I am working on designing a photo project that will be ongoing and enlightening. Much more to come soon on this project. My dream is to highlight volunteerism and altruism.

I urge everyone to seek out ways to be part of the solutions to our world’s problems. We each can make our own little corner of the world a nicer place!

Carol

What the heck?

I mean come on…how much more can we take? I will be the first to admit that when the covid pandemic started, for the first 2 or 3 months, I didn’t handle it well. I panicked, then worried for our kid’s future with school, and then came to a grudging acceptance that it is what it is. In the last 5 months or so, I have worked hard to protect my mental health and try to help my family as well.

I like yoga. I do my own little version of a class. I figure something is better than nothing, right? I walk, and sometimes with my sister, or a friend. At times that has been my old socialization during this time. Trust me, I am a very social person. I like to strike up conversations with strangers in the grocery store. Try doing that these days especially with a mask on! Oh, yeah, I did it the other day! I complimented a young mom on her little boy’s pretty red hair. She and I talked about what he must be thinking about all the masks, and I told her that my little boy with red hair, is now almost 22 years old!

My point to this is….I have found my way….and You can too! You can find a way to do almost anything, safely and almost normally. And right now – ALMOST normally is pretty good!

Take care and do something that feels good today! Oh, and just so you can see, this is a photo of my boy, Tristan.

Carol

I’m okay, you’re okay…

So…yeah….this pandemic sucks.  I have really struggled during it, hence the fact that I haven’t blogged in months.  I feel like my legs were knocked out from under me.  I sure didn’t realize how much socialization I had on a weekly basis until it was literally all gone over night.  I am one of the lucky ones…I am living in my house with my husband, our teenaged son, and our college aged son.  So, I have people to talk to, but the majority of the things that really make me who I am at this point in time were gone in a flash!

The other part of this whole mess is that I care about everyone and everything.  I absolutely ache for each and every death that has occurred.  I cannot imagine the sadness and the horror of losing someone to Covid!  While I don’t personally know anyone who has even contracted the virus, I believe it is real and taking lives and livelihoods with it.  I am really not sure how and when we will ever recover from this on all levels.

I did decide early on to give myself a break.  I don’t really wear makeup anymore, my clothes really resemble my pajamas most days, and I don’t always have a ‘To do’ list every day.  I pray every day,   I do yoga at least 4 times a week, and walk….a lot.  Yesterday, I had an awesome conversation with a friend over the phone…2 hours and 15 minutes long!

I think for now, every day doesn’t have to be productive.  Never have we ever felt fear and sadness, and economic fear and every emotion there is all at once for weeks and months at a time.  I’m exhausted, I bet you are too!  It’s okay to just be…every once in a while.  Make sure that tomorrow you get outside and listen to the birds.  The next day, call someone.  If you feel comfortable, put on your mask, and go into a store that you love!  It will be okay.

For now, at least part of each day, make yourself the priority.  Do something good for you…because you know what?  You are okay.  It doesn’t feel like it a lot, I know, but we are okay, and we will be okay.

Carol

It’s Okay…

Hello…whew what a couple of weeks it has been.  In the best of times it can be hard to navigate thru the world of social media.  Nowadays, it’s impossible to go two feet without hearing COVID19, masks, PPE , etc……

I had a couple of days of just being down….I didn’t watch hardly any news, didn’t post on fb, except for the occasional like…and you know what ?  It’s okay.

I think I have been trying since I gave birth to my oldest son, now 21, to be all things for everyone.  I even have gone so far as to try to think ahead and work at getting things set up for the family, so they don’t have trouble, or extra work etc.

One ‘benefit’ and I cautiously use that word…in slowing down, is to really take a look at the people around you.  Our two sons, 21 and 17, are very responsible,  well on their way to independence.  Thinking of the people and things you love and miss the most right now really helps you take stock of what is important.

I know this is somewhat rambling…hard not to be now with so many thoughts racing around the brain.  Just saying, be gentle with yourself.  Take help any way you can, give love and peace and joy however you can…We are stronger than we think!  We will make it out of this.  Love, Carol

I Can Drive!

Ok, I’ve been driving since I was 14, a number of years ago.  However, I have never learned to drive a manual transmission car.  My family came to acquire such a car a short while ago.  Our youngest son desired to teach me to drive it after he learned.  It will be fun!  he said.  More on that later…

As much as I am an advocate for women and girls, working and volunteering with agencies to empower women; photographing boudoir sessions to show women their true beauty within….I have a secret.  I’m afraid when I try a new task, that I won’t be good enough.  Really… it’s the reason I don’t try a lot of new things.  I am scared to look silly, and that I won’t measure up.

So.  The boy kept at it, and last evening there was no denying that we weren’t busy, weather was nice, car had gas….my favorite shows were not on tv.  I agreed to try.  I couldn’t believe that I was so keyed up about driving a car!  My son was an awesome teacher, and believe it or not – I didn’t kill the engine!  Not even once.

Moral of the story is that I was so afraid, but I did it anyway!  Maybe next time I won’t worry that I will look silly or dumb.  We all need to do scary things to gain confidence!  Come on, You can do it!!!!!

Carol

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