All Dolled Up!

Hi! 
Lately, the only photos I have of myself consist of me in my bathrobe holding my dog.  Um...yeah...great for the personal family album but not so good for the blog.  Besides, I think about when I am old and I want to show my grand kiddies what I looked like before everything headed south and the middle age spread hit.  I don't want the only photos of me in my thirties to be either bent over in the veggie patch or in my bathrobe and bunny slippers.  So, I took matters into my own hands and attempted a self portrait while sitting in the car in front of our house waiting for DH to get the directions to the party we were headed to. 
I forgot to take off my seat belt but at least I cropped out the neighbor's garage contents.  Like I was sayin...this was very impromptu! 
Here goes...
This is me girls.  Christina (aka Cece) Van Doren age 32 sitting in my driveway. 
 
My attempts at looking glamorous resulted in looking like something was stinky. 
So, I opted for a more "natural" expression.

Posting photos of my smiling mug on my blog is a challenge of sorts for me.  Granted, I know I am not a total "mud fence" or anything but like many women, I am my own harshest critic.  As the years go by though, ironically, as I start to look older I simultaneously start to feel more confident.  Maybe confidence is the wrong word, I think it might be self acceptance.  I joke that my legs are meant to be plowing fields.  Long and lanky I am not! But hey, it is what it is.  I'm just going to take good care of my farm girl legs and if I want to show them off in all their glory, darn it, I'm going to.  I am thinking of challenging myself to post more photos of myself here on my blog.  I by no means have a model figure but I am really trying to just focus on my health and accept me for who I am.  And ya know, I want to see your pretty selves too.  We may not be supermodels but we are real women leading real lives and we should not be shy about it!  I want to see you too! 

Ok, I will get off my soap box for now.

On an all together different note...my friend Karen and I had a blast at the Alameda Antique Fair.  I wish I had taken more photos.  I kind of go into sensory overload mode when I am there so I sort of forgot.  But!  Lookie what I bought!  (drum roll please!)

The photo is not doing our new chandelier justice.  It is sooo darn cute!  (Hubby...it isn't really "cute" what I meant to say is that it is cool, and um...modern, yeah...that's it, cool and modern.)  Oh, dear...poor Hubby.  He married such a girl!  This chandelier is going to look so incredibly perfect in our dining room!  To heck with a super formal dining room I say.  I mean really, who are we kidding?  The last few holidays I have served food barefoot for goodness sake!  So, our dining room is slowly morphing into a cozy, sunshiny, and family-ish space.  And now it is going to have a daisy light fixture!  Yippee! 

If we had a little girl I would have snatched this up in a heart beat! 
How cute is this vintage trunk? 

I have always wanted a vintage trunk.  Even when I was a little girl I wanted a trunk.  I have this romantic (and inflated, I'm sure!) vision of a girl accumulating her cherished lifelong mementos in an old trunk.  Especially a trunk with little dutch girls and daisies!  ***sigh***

I wanted to take this puppy portrait home but alas, I settled for a photo of it.  I thought it might offend Poppy Flower and Ginger.  They are not white and fluffy like this dear girl so I would feel guilty.  I don't want to make my little pound puppies jealous!

I want to share photos of my other flea market purchases but I think I will wait for another day as I have already rambled enough for one day, for sure! 

Have a lovely day girls! 

Comments

[wren]

ahhh, i think you're pretty! cute photos- and i think you're lucky to have such pretty red hair and green eyes. my hair is just boring dishwater blond/light brown.

maybe i'll join you and post some self portraits too...

[Jessi Nagy]

aaahhh your gorgeous!!
so old school glam. beautiful!!
look at that sale. yummy!!
have a great week.
oxooxx,
jessi

[Dawn Gahan]

Cece,

OK, girlie, you have lit the fire under me. I have not posted a picture of myself and really should. As you so eloquently stated of yourself, I too am very accepting of my self. As content as I am, I'm the first to admit that I could lose weight, a pretty good amount too. I think that is what keeps me from posting. People seeing me who knew me when I was a size 6. Perhaps we'll get some good ones taken on Mother's Day.

You are truly beautiful. One of those gals who radiates on the outside, and whose face and smile reveal an inside equally as beautiful.

Can't wait to see the dining room when it's done!!!!!!!

Dawn

[knitsational]

You're gonna be gorgeous not matter what you're doing in the picture. Love that chandelier, btw!

[Elizabeth Mackey]

Love this post CECe!! You have such striking features. Are your eyes green? Mine are too! I can see how cute UMM modern and sleek that chandelier is going to be ;) I feel the same way about the flea market. Too much cool stuff to look at. I got so distracted one time that I forgot to cover myself up a bit more and got a bad sunburn there. Hope you were smarter than I was. Can't wait to see some pictures of when you hang up the chandelier.

[HeidiAnn]

You are adorable, and I loved seeing your pictures and the ones from Alameda. Looking forward to more!!

[Vicki]

I want that chandelier!!!! Don't even tell me that you got it for a song because they are outrageous on Ebay!!!!

[Leslie]

I have so much to say!

1.) I was in a bad mood, and wanted a bit of sunshine, so I headed straight to your blog and it was perfect.

2.) You are an absolute stunner. AND a redhead. I can't wait to see what cute babies you produce!

3.) I LOVE that chandelier. Tolleware is a secret lust of mine. My sister in law has quite a wonderful collection. Perhaps I'll have to take photos of it the next time I'm over there.

Thank you for the wonderful post. It completely made my day and took away all of the stress to boot!

[Holly]

I am loving that chandelier!! I have a secret passion for any sort of chandelier, so that is totally up my alley!! :) And you ar so super darling, I love those pix! I might have to actually take some normal photos of myself.. the only pictures I ever take are of my son, haha!!!

[theredvelvetshoe]

You are one of the most photogenic (sp?) blogger chicks I have seen so far! Just beautiful!!
It's true, the older we get the less we care what people think, as long as we are feelin' ok!
Great Chand~~nothing beats a day with a friend at the Fleamarket!!
Michelle

[prettyshabby]

Hi Cece,
what lovely self portraits..I love your fifties retro style in the way you dress, your make-up, homelife and your lovely homesewn items. I'm a great fan of that bygone era and its great to see when people hold onto that wonderful look and traditional values.
I have got to say I have never seen skin so beautiful as yours! 32? dont you mean 22? !!

[Jennifer]

It is so true about the self portrait thing. I cannot seem to do it without turning it into self mockery. What's up with that?

[tammyCA]

You're so photogenic...love your hair color, too. Really, you should get hooked up with a modeling/casting agency for period pieces...or get photos of yourself now. I never liked having my pics taken ('cuz I was self-critical) even when I was 'better looking' and now it is NEVER (I am over the hill & have that spread)lol. But, now I am glad that a photographer/artist friend wanted to take pics of me when I was 30 (years ago) because they are so nice and I can say to my kids, 'look, I was thin and attractive once'.

[tammyCA]

oh, and I love the daisy chandy...I hope I have good luck like that tomorrow at the flea market.

[Jennie]

My daughter just looked at your pictures and said you are beautiful and I am inclined to agree!!
The daisy chandelier is gorgeous!

[Melanie]

I just saw your pictures, and I, too, must agree with the girls' comments above. I love the chandelier, too--very cute! That's neat, you're the same age as I am!

[theredvelvetshoe]

Hiya Cece,
I gave you a link on my blog for a picture of a model in a 1950's photo shoot~~come see~~she looks just like you! (It's the one of the man and woman on the dock)

Let me know what you think! And don't forget to leave a comment for my Give~A~Way!
xxMichelle

[Karin A]

That dog picture is soooo cute!