Portfolios, Photographs, and Pant Sizes - OH MY!

After my second weigh in with DPT, I'm happy to report that I'm down a total of 15 pounds and several inches off of my waist!  I haven't seen much change in myself, but I can tell when I put on my clothes.  I was holding up my pants with a safety pin, and I knew that had to change when I was folding over more than the safety pin could hold!  Even my work out clothes were too big.  When DPT tells you that you look like Santa Claus by tucking in your shirt (so your pants won't fall off), then you know it's time to upgrade the wardrobe.  As of my most recent shopping trip, I've gone from a size 28 women's plus size clothing to a size 22 women's plus size clothing!  I <3 RESULTS!

So, one of my earlier excuses was that school work was kicking my tail.  Well, um it really is!  This is, hopefully, my final semester at WVU for my RBA degree with an emphasis in Communication Studies.  In the final weeks of September, I diligently worked on my portfolio to qualify for graduation.  My portfolio consisted of a narrative detailing my skills and information regarding my work experience in relationship to college courses, samples of my work, and letters of recommendation from past and present supervisors.  I was super nervous after submitting it, and I am waiting on pins and needles until I get confirmation about graduation.  I actually got a fabulous email from the RBA Academic advisor regarding the organization of my portfolio yesterday.  She stated that it was the "best one so far" and "that they would like to use my work for reference for future students" and "that I should have nothing to worry about" (in regards to credits for graduation)!  More updates on graduation will come as I know them! :)

Graduation is 10 years in the making for me!  I started my journey at WVU in 1999, directly after high school, and life events got in the way of finishing my degree sooner.  This journey has made me stronger, because I know that it really takes hard work and determination to reach your goals.  Being an independent student is a blessing and a curse in itself - a blessing because it allows me the freedom to complete my work on my schedule, and a curse because it allows me to put other things before school work and procrastinate to get certain items done.  I'm really going to value this degree when I get it and I can't wait to start the next journey in to graduate school.

I wanted to celebrate this milestone in my life with some new pictures.  I haven't had professional pictures taken since our wedding over 8 years ago, and pictures by myself since my senior year in high school.  I've been following (read: stalking) a local photographer, Amanda Reed Photography, and I just had to have her take some fantastic pictures for me.  And she did not disappoint!  I had an idea in mind for the perfect picture to fit my personality, and she completely delivered my vision.

I hand-made the tutu, and the colors are like cotton candy.  I wanted the picture to be fun, flirty, carefree, and innocent, and she captured that image straight from my thoughts.  We may have ruined a pair of white leggings in the process, but it's all for a good shot!  I had the best time shooting with her.  It didn't feel staged or posed.  It felt like an old friend was talking with me, and I felt more comfortable than I ever thought I could taking photographs.  In addition to the tutu pictures, she took pictures of the hubs and I sporting our WVU gear and another single of me showcasing my best feature - my eyes!  My parents thought these were the best pictures of me EVER.  Amanda really knows how to pull out the natural beauty of her subject and the environment around them.  I can't wait to see the rest of the photographs, and I know who my go-to photographer will be from now on!

Until next time, I leave you with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."  Until recently, I didn't carry my beautiful with me.  I didn't see that in myself.  But now I know that beauty is not only on the outside, but on the inside as well.  I know my inside beauty shines out, and I'm finding my outer beauty on this lifestyle journey.  We are all beautiful and unique, and this is what makes us special!