Hello to all my lovely deviants.

So sorry for having disappeared for several months but the winter blahs took me down a few pegs and I've been doing everything possible to get back to my perky self.
Today was my 6 month evaluation at work. I rocked it so as a congratulatory gift to me, I bought myself a Canon Rebel XS dSLR. I just got the box open about 40 minutes ago and I am currently charging the battery. I am so excited to play around and figure out all of the (many many many) awesome functions.
Now that I have a new tool to play with you may see more photography again.

In addition to this I started my lifestyle change about a week ago. I have been more careful about the amount and types of food I put into my body and I've been walking and exercising more. I'm hoping to drop about 20 pounds and get back to a more comfortable weight for me but it will take time and effort. In the meantime do not expect much in the way of modeling from me. I'm uncomfortable with my body and have been for about 6 months. Rather than sit here and bemoan the fact that I don't like how out of shape I've become, or bitch about societies expectations, I've decided to take care of me. I need to eat right and get more exercise anyway and losing weight is an expected part of doing these things. Once I feel more comfortable with my body I will see how I feel about modeling again but as it stands I am not happy being in front of the camera and will much prefer to be behind it.

My loverly boyfriend moved in and now we are all co-habity...it is interesting and bizarre to have another human being living in my space but also rather nice. I missed having a "room mate" and enjoy the fact that I now have someone to share the bills. It is also nice to have someone to cook with and clean with and chat with at 3am when I can't sleep for whatever stupid reason.

Work has been sucking up a lot of my creativity due to the joy of program planning and implementation. Anyone who works with children knows how fun it is to plan activities for children and have the children really respond positively. I love love love doing anything artistic with them as it gives them a chance to not only be creative but also be messy! (a must for young children). Tomorrow I am attending a seminar on open-ended art for children. Basically open-ended art is placing many different materials out for children and allowing them to simply create. There is no expected end product and however the child chooses to express themselves is not to be judged. I am very interested in finding out why exactly (scientifically speaking) it is so essential for children to have these experiences. I mean, intuitively as artists we know that sometimes being creative for the sake of being creative allows us to vent pent up energy and emotion in a safe and positive way. What I want to know is whether there have been actual studies done to support that this type of art is influencing a child's development. I also look forward to implementing what I learn in my classroom as well as in my own artistic endeavors. Sometimes process is what is important, rather than product.

On that note my friends, I shall leave you. I have to get up early for this seminar. I have to be at my old university by 9am...on a saturday...there better be coffee or someone will lose an appendage.

xxoxoxxoox

~Jenn~