Radiant Thoughts

My Halloween costume was a huge success! It was so simple (my hair was the hardest part) but I got a lot of compliments on it! All I did was order a navy blue button down collared shirt, a Rosie patch and wore a red bandanna in my hair and voila! Rosie the Riveter was born!

Some people, at first glance, thought I was Lucille Ball or Betty Boop, but once I flexed my muscles and yelled "WE CAN DO IT!" it clicked!

What do you think?

I'm so excited for Halloween this year. Not only is it fun to dress up, but getting into character with friends and family is a blast! Who wouldn't want to pretend to be someone else for a day?

This year I am dressing up as Rosie the Riveter. In the spirit of getting into character, I did some good ol' fashioned research on Rosie (using my company's electronic databases, naturally!) and was so surprised at the amount of information I found.

So, who is Rosie the Riveter? All the PR and media folks will be happy to know that Rosie was a media propaganda created to encourage women to fill in for men who were fighting in the war.


During World War II, Rosie the Riveter became a national symbol of millions of women who took new and challenging jobs in the wartime economy. The term "Rosie the Riveter" was originally coined when song lyrics in 1942 talked about a dedicated riveter named Rosie. Soon after, newspapers and magazines began publishing stories of strong women working in the place of the men at war. The original "We Can Do It!" poster (see right) was created by J. Howard Miller in 1942 and in 1943, Norman Rockwell created another Rosie the Riveter image (see left) which was featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post and became a legendary symbol for social change in the 1940's.



The Rosie era has paved the way for women to be:
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters
Carpenters
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
Civil Engineers
Construction Laborers
Cost Estimators
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
Painters
Electricians
General and Operations Managers
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Helpers
Machinists
Mechanical Drafters
Mechanical Engineers
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Paving, Surfacing and Tamping Equipment Operators
Pipelayers
Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
Sheetmetal Workers
Stonemasons
Structural Iron and Steel Workers
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Did you know that there is a Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Richmond, California? It's sculpture of a ship's hull under construction to symbolize the work women did during the war. I would love to go see it someday!

What does Rosie mean to you? What does she stand for for women in the 21st century?

One another note, Norman Rockwell is the man. I saw the exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts in March and it was incredible.

Pictures from Halloween to come!

Finally! A REAL woman, baring it all, in a magazine. This is truly a monumental event. Many women (and I admittedly put myself into this category) struggle with body image. Much of this is triggered by how women are portrayed in the media, models, celebrities, etc., with too-thin bodies that mold our internal expectations from a very young age. We see Lindsay Lohan's ribs and Madonna's sickly arms and think this is the way a woman is supposed to look. Well, I've got news for you! The average woman is a size 12-14. We have curves. And they're beautiful! Did you know that Marilyn Monroe had a dress size 12? And she still remains one of the most notorious sex symbols of all time. How about the singer-turned-actress Beyonce? She's a size 10-12 (and had no problem kicking the crap out of Ali Larter in Obsessed)!

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." ~ Albert Schweitzer

My trip to Chicago was amazing. However, I didn't get the opportunity to take many scenic pictures because I was so enjoying the time with two of my closest girlfriends, Meredith and Lauren. Mere's recent post about our visit inspired me to write a post about the power of true friendship and how it can be life-changing. I can honestly say I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for my friends.

One thing I've learned in my twenties is that we, as women, have many different types of friendships. We have acquaintances, good friends, great friends, bff's, girlfriends, boy-friends, best friends and lovers (otherwise known as boyfriends and husbands). We have friendships with siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. But at the heart of them all there's a connection. And if you find a friendship in which nothing can ever break that connection, you've found a freindship for life.

I came across this poem which I thought was exactly how I feel about my friends:

Thank You Friend
I never came to you, my friend,

and went away without

some new enrichment of the heart;

More faith and less of doubt,

more courage in the days ahead.

And often in great need coming to you,

I went away comforted indeed.

How can I find the shining word,

the glowing phrase that tells all that

your love has meant to me,

all that your friendship spells?

There is no word, no phrase for

you on whom I so depend.

All I can say to you is this,

God bless you precious friend.

-Grace Noll Crowell

Thanks to all of my wonderful friends. I wouldn't be the same without you!

I am very much looking forward to my travel in the next three weeks. I am headed to Chicago with L-Boog to visit Meredith and see her new digs, driving down to Columbus with EK to visit Kelly and her son, Logan, and road trippin'-it to Toronto with Shub and Lisa for the Caribana Festival. I'll be a busy girl this month! Don't worry, I'll post pics from my adventures!

Last weekend I journeyed to Kentucky with some of my closest friends for a Houseboat trip on Lake Cumberland. It was so beautiful there! I was in camera heaven (which was extremely evident since I took over 350 pictures!) Here's a sampling of my photos. I did a lot of exploration and climbing and had myself a blast. I miss it already.

My friends and followers all know by now that I have a heavy interest in photography. I've posted a lot of pictures and shared where I'd like to take the general interest in the future.

Now it's time to make a plan and put it into action. First step on my list is to invest in a better camera. This is actually a difficult task for a beginner. I don't understand much about equipment, though I am excited to learn. At the risk of sounding like a rookie, I want a camera that takes kick-ass pictures. So I am trying to learn all I can about this 'stuff' so I can make an educated decision.


All I know is this: I love taking pictures. I love capturing a moment in time- something that can never be truly replicated- to share with the world. (That sounds familiar- am I repeating myself??)

After I buy, I'm just going to take pictures of anything and everything. I'll definitely be one of those tourist-y people who bring their cameras everywhere and snap pictures at the most inconvenient of times. Good thing my friends and family love me. From there I'll see where it takes me. I'm sure I'll be blogging more about my adventures behind the camera.

Photo top: This is m'dear friend Lauren. We were at a bar celebrating our friend Erin's last days as a single woman, better known as her Bachelorette party, and we all tried to squeeze into a booth. As you can see, we all didn't fit. I don't know what it was about this photo-op, but I liked the way her legs curved, so I snapped a picture.

Photo bottom: There's no better feeling than buying a pair of new stiletto peep-toe heels, to me anyway.

Some photo-blogs I adore:

http://www.ksenijasavicblog.com/
http://jkphotographyonline.net/
http://michpics.wordpress.com/
http://www.ourcitylights.org/
http://www.whatseanwrote.com/
http://photowanderer.typepad.com/the_wandering_photographe/

This is an old note I posted to my Facebook page years ago, but have been recently thinking about the little things in my life that bring me joy. I absolutely agree with all of these!

I LOVE to photograph babies. There's something about capturing the innocence of a newborn that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This is my friend's baby, Logan, born December 22nd. He is absolutely precious! I just love the drool dripping down mom's arm ;)

Taking his picture gives me baby fever, but, for the record, I'll wait a while before having one of my own!

It's funny how interacting with children makes us remember what it's like to be curious about the world around us. They're easily amused (and agitated!) and are constantly learning and taking in the world around them. Never lose your childish curiosity for life!