Female Bodies: A Weighty Issue

Love yourself.

shattersnipe: malcontent & rainbows

Hypothesis:

We have, as a society, such a completely disordered, distorted perception of female bodies that the vast majority of people are incapable of recognising what “overweight” actually looks like on a woman, let alone “healthy”. As such, we’re now at a point where women are not only raised to hate their bodies as a matter of course, but are shown, from childhood, a wholly inaccurate picture of what they “should” look like – a narrow, nigh on impossible physical standard they are then punished, both socially and medically, for failing to attain.

I don’t say this lightly. I say it because this is the only conclusion supported by the facts.

Let’s examine the evidence, shall we?

1: BMI

Overwhelmingly, the measurement used to determine whether or not someone is a “healthy weight” is the BMI, or Body Mass Index. Most people are still taught it in schools; indeed, it’s…

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The Summer of ’69?

|Old Lyme, Connecticut|

Okay…so maybe this wasn’t the Summer of ’69, but it sure felt like it was!

This summer I began, what many readers out there refer to as, ” The Real World.”

Luckily, I was blessed to begin a job that I truly love, however due to being inside for the majority of my work-week, I made sure to not take advantage of the lovely weather on the weekends!

Along with some of my favorite summer activities, including, beaching, flea market shopping,  day trips into “local” cities, I made sure step-up my hiking game, visit local vineyards (to fill-up my vineyard passport), and began guitar lessons for a fun, summer learning experience…

The past three months have been a fulfilling journey…now on to the next one!

Til next time,

A 

 

 

This Is How We Date Now

A disheartening truth of the world of dating in the 21st century.

The Year of the Closing Doors

2014.
Travel.Adventure.Freedom.Independence.Growth.Love.Lust.Heartbreak.Strength.Empowement.

This year has truly been a journey. From traveling abroad for six weeks, to entering my senior year of college, I have experienced more than I ever have before. This year I decided to change things up. How I was living my life wasn’t living and how I was loving was lust. This year has allowed me to continue my path of stepping stones. I have gained so much knowledge and strength. I have allowed myself to be empowered by my goals, not the goals society has for me. I have experienced love, and I have experienced heartbreak. I have experienced frustration and I have experienced confusion. However, even the most underwhelming emotions and freeings allowed me to continue rising to the top.

Being challenged through both the positive and negative experiences this year, affirmed that I deserve nothing less than one thing– to be happy.  If something or someone is causing unhappiness, it is time to let it/them go and walk away. At the end of this year, I will be closing (almost) all of the doors that only lead to unhappiness and striving to enter through new ones that only bring elation. Will this be hard? Yes. Will this be emotionally taxing? Yes. Will this be worth it? YES!

To whomever out there is reading this, remember, many times, your life has to get worse before it can get better. But, after what I like to call a “life detox”, you will be full of a new found energy that will only allow you to be the best version of yourself. You not only can do this, but deserve to do this.

Cheers to 2015!

xx,

A

Life After London

It’s been 18 weeks since I left London, and 23 weeks since my last blog post.  What was once a countdown to a trip of a lifetime, has been replaced with memories only to be be vividly remembered by pictures and stories, over coffee.

Upon my arrival back into the States I was quickly thrown back into reality. I realized that I was not in Waterloo anymore and that the responsibilities I was able to repress, had reemerged.

I will forever call London my second home, but until I can return, I have become cognizant that I need to make the most out of my current city…and I am doing just that!

London allowed me to grow as a woman, and learn what I didn’t know about myself.  What I have discovered, has only allowed for me to flourish, with a continuation of knowledge and life experience being discovered and obtained.

I am soon approaching my 21st birthday and we are all soon approaching the New Year.  A double opportunity for new beginnings. We all deserve many of those!

    A 

A Week of Transition

While writing this, it is difficult to fathom that one week ago I was in transit to begin the adventure of a lifetime.  Throughout the weeks preceding my departure I mentally prepared myself for the excitement, the unknown and the potential forthcoming tribulations, that I would experience during my next six weeks abroad.

Upon my arrival in London, I have swiftly become comfortable with with the district of Waterloo, where I have begun to call my home.  As this trip was a result of wanderlust, I have opened myself up to new possibilities, new adventures and new memories that will be looked back on for decades upon decades.

As quoted by R.L. Stevenson “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”  During the next five weeks of my travels I aspire to be a traveler living among the locals.

Until then,

 A 

Cue the Countdown

I’m casually sitting in my local Starbucks, attempting to fluently express my thoughts, feelings and emotions– the first signs to both a coffee addiction and my hopeless desire to move to London full time, become a writer, all while channeling my inner Charlotte, but pretending to be Carrie; cheers to a series that ran six seasons, and is still gaining an audience, ten years post its series finale.

Three weeks/ 21 days/ 528 hours/ 31,680 minutes/ 1,900,800 seconds until I will be siting in London at a local cafe, drinking my morning cappuccino, embracing the local culture and observing the city I hope to one day call my “home.”  This city will be the start of something new, the beginning of the future and the breath of fresh air I have been longing for.  The decade of your 20’s is for living, exploring, and deciphering who “you” are as a member of society and who you want to become, how you want to change the world and how you can help to inspire future generations to be the best that they can be.

To love yourself enough to follow your dreams is the ultimate key to happiness and self-success.

Cheerio!

A 

 

 

 

 

A Classic Girl, Living in a Modern World

It’s that time of year again…the time to “Spring” back into fashion. As a Classic Girl, living in a Modern World, high quality fashion, for a low price on the tag, is always a must. However, it can be difficult to find items that will not only maintain their trend for multiple seasons, but will hold up wear after wear.

With Jackie O. as my main fashion inspiration until Kate Middleton began to be placed in the fashion spotlight, I have sought out clothing that is classic, wearable, and affordable. Shops such as ModCloth, Dorothy Perkins and ASOS can provide high fashion at a low cost, however all being British brands, there are no local stores, in the U.S., leaving online shopping as the only option. Cue the Indie music to my recent fashion haul at Anthropologie.

Having shopped at Anthropologie a few times before, I understand how to shop there– head straight towards the sale room. The sale room is organized, colorful and full of clothing that has been marked down time and time again. For those who have shopped at Anthro, you will probably agree that the prices tend to be a bit exaggerated, which is why the marked down items are usually the only ones purchasable.

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows and the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

Audrey Hepburn

Fairbanks Maxi Dress

Original Price: $148.00

Sale Price: $19.98

Paillette Cardigan

Original Price: $148.00

Sale Price: $19.95

Flocked Charlie Trouser

Original Price: $118.00

Sale Price: $29.95

After my short afternoon at Anthropologie, I left with $414.00 worth of clothing, paying only $69.85 (with tax: $74.29).  Needless to say, I left feeling as though I could conquer the world in my new Maxi Dress, that will not be going “out-of-style” any time soon!

Sincerely,

A

DIY: Egg, Lemon & Honey Face Mask

Skin health is an utmost importance for women, and men, especially by the time you make the turn into your 20’s.  To help maintain a healthy glow, blemish free complexion, and hyrated skin, I have begun to incorporate a weekly face mask into my weekend routine.  After trial and error with products ranging from oats to yogurt, I have found that a simple DIY mask, composed of Egg, Lemon and Honey, does the trick!

Items which you will need for this face mask are: a washcloth, an egg, half of a lemon , a drop of honey and a foam (or makeup) brush.

Step 1:

Place a hot washcloth on your face, to open your pores.  My favorite way to do this, which happens to be very simple, is to wet a washcloth and place it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.  Place it over your face until the cloth becomes cold to touch.

Caution: The cloth will be very hot.

Step 2:

Crack one egg into a bowl.  I prefer to use organic or farm fresh eggs for this DIY mask because of the antibiotics that may be in conventional store bought eggs.  If you do not have an organic or farm fresh egg available, a regular egg will do.  For this mixture, I use the whole egg, as opposed to only the egg white, because the yolk contains moisturizing properties that help to hydrate your skin; while the egg white contains natural collagen, vitamin A, and so much more, making both the egg yolk and white perfect for this mask!

Step 3:

Squeeze the juice from half a lemon, into the same bowl as the egg.  Along with the lemon juice, add in a drop of honey.  I prefer to use raw honey as opposed to processed honey.  Raw honey contains antibacterial properties, whereas processed honey does not, because of the heat treatment it goes through.  Fortunately, both raw and processed honey contain hydrating properties, so if you do not have raw honey available, there will still be a benefit from using the processed form.  As for the lemon juice in this mask, it is used because it helps to naturally exfoliate your skin, heal blemishes and fade scars and dark spots, along with providing a subtle citrus fragrance to your mask!

Step 4:

Once the egg, lemon juice and honey are combined, place the bowl into the microwave for 10-15 seconds.  This will allow the honey to soften, and make the whisking process easier.  After the honey is softened, begin to whisk the mixture.  Whisk until the liquid begins to foam up and forms a fluffy texture.  Once you are done whisking, use your brush to evenly place the mixture onto your face, neck and chest.  As shown in the picture above, I used a standard foam paint brush because I like how it brushes on the mixture, but a makeup brush will work just as well.   Leave the mixture on for 15-30 minutes.  Make sure to rinse this mask off thoroughly.  I usually try to use this mask right before I take a shower.

So, light some candles, make some tea, turn on some music and relax while you let this mask polish your skin.

Sincerely,

A

The Stages of Becoming a Coffee Adict, By Age

As I write this post, I am sipping on a hot cup of Cinnamon Hazelnut coffee, surrounded by the picturesque setting of falling snow.  As a self-proclaimed coffee addict, this is the ideal setting to blog and relax.  Never did I think I would become a lover of coffee, but as I always say, life happens.

The Stages of Becoming a Coffee Addict, By Age:

Age 8:  You quietly observe your parents morning habit of drinking two or more cups of coffee, and inquire the question of “why?”

Age 12: You ask your mother or father if you can try some of their coffee, not knowing that they drink it black.  No sugar, cream or sweetener included.  You take a sip and swear you will forever be a tea lover.

Age 14:  As your friends continue to have conversations about lattes and cappuccinos, you outwardly say how much you dislike coffee, but inside you secretly desire to try this so-called, “latte.”

Age 15:  You finally convince your mother to allow you to grab a latte at Starbucks and you’re hesitant to admit that you actually enjoy it.  This is where the addiction begins.

Age 17-18:  You begin college.  Early mornings and late night study sessions require extra amounts of caffeine.  Still unconcerned about the actual cost of a latte, you continue to grab one, on a daily basis.

Age 19:  You get hired for your first “real” job.  Business meetings with the casual setting of coffee become routine, and you begin to drink it as you previously drank water.

Age 20:  You finally grasp the idea of finances, and your daily routine of lattes is replaced by a cup of the “House Blend”, to save money.  You realize that with a little Sugar in the Raw or Agave, coffee isn’t so bad after all.  You begin to grab two 16 oz. coffees daily.

By the age of 20, most people will know if they are going to be/become a coffee addict or stick with a cup of English Breakfast tea as their morning source of caffeine.  If you find that at least 25% of your Instagram account contains pictures of Starbucks and cafés, you have probably reached the level of “Coffee Addict.”

Sincerely,

A