what is real? as the above dove commercial shows, we live in an age where so much is distorted...but why? are we all so afraid and disgusted of what is actually REAL?
i know i've struggled with this as i navigate through blogs and flickr and facebook, not to mention the mainstream media's onslaught of what a perfect life should look, act and smell like...the cult of personality and celebrity has seemed to trickle down to all of us and the temptation is to get preoccupied with making sure what we put out there looks perfect...it's like we all have suddenly become a stylist and PR person for ourselves...we want to make sure everything shows how wonderful and beautiful our lives must really be...we want people to look at us & say "wow...her grass is pretty darn green over there!"...
we are all painting such pretty pictures of ourselves...whether it be through our blogs, our scrapbook pages, or our facebook profiles...but is it real? is what we all are spending so much time recording & writing & capturing, the real truth? in 25 years, as our children page through our albums will they even recognize our photoshoped & colorized & cropped & edited selves???
the REAL ME is imperfect...totally flawed...make no mistake about it, there is a load of room for improvement here :) but despite it all, i am truly loved to the moon & back by my husband & kids...my family & friends...they think my un-photoshoped & un-skin-smoothed, REAL self is beautiful...maybe it's about time i begin to truly believe that too :)
the bottom line is that the REAL life i'm living each and every day IS worth recording, and writing about...it IS worth capturing these real memories with their built in faults and flaws...my story, as i record it, in my journals and paper crafting may not be the most exciting or fabulous...it won't be color coordinated & it may be messy...my photos are not a study in perfect composition and you may get a glimpse of the dirty laundry that threatens to take over my house...but i think need to keep my focus and ensure that what i record is REAL...and guess what? it'll be wonderful and beautiful in it's own perfectly imperfect REAL way :)
i'm so excited to see the REAL you and the REAL in your lives that you share with us this round...i know, absolutely positively, it will inspire...truth has a way of doing that :)
and speaking of REAL....we have a REALLY fantastic sponsor for you this week. Purple Onion Designs is offering up a gift certificate so the winner can do some amazing shopping... and not just a little one...$50 Gift Certificate to the store will add tons of awesome stamps to your collection. We also had so much fun creating with Purple Onion Stamps!
xoxo
gi
skiny dip alpha, deluxe labels
Vintage Label Plate, Scallops, Ribbon Label
2009 Vintage Calendar, Vintage Postmark Date Set, Vintage Blank Ticket, Diesel Number Set, Artistamp Alphabet
harlequin set, dirty number run, photograph no.
Flea Market Set, I Love, 2009 Vintage Calendar, Carnival Set, Skinny Dip Numbers & Puncuations,
Don't forget to link your creations to this post by March 20th, Midnight Mountain Time (-7 GMT). If it is your first time playing with us welcome. We encourage you to check out the F.A.Q for frequently asked questions.
WOW....this is WOW!!!!!! LOVE what the DT came up with ... and Ronda... WOW WOW WOW...that LO is beyond REAL and TOUCHING!!!!! {{{HUGS}}} :):):)
Posted by: Julie | March 11, 2009 at 05:21 AM
Absolutely FANTASTIC works ladies!!!
Posted by: Penny B. | March 11, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Love all the DT creations! Here's my take on the challenge:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30786541@N05/3310394805/
TFL!
Posted by: Gracie | March 11, 2009 at 10:01 AM
WOW! Such a poignant and IMPORTANT subject!!!! You ROCK for celebrating women (people, really) as they are!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Lauren | March 11, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Gi, I love your words, so well said and that video made me go "WOW". And then had my boyfriend asking me, "What?"...so, then we started talking about how bad it was for me back when i was young and for all young girls that try to live up to or compare themselves to these images plastered on the fronts of magazines. Such a great word, such a great challenge! ;P
And beautiful work by all ladies !
Posted by: Beth Perry | March 11, 2009 at 05:39 PM
AMAZING word and i love the DT work!
Posted by: Wendy Kwok | March 11, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Yes I did!!! I loved the words... and the word REAl was fantastic!!!!
So here is my LO! TKS!!!
http://lauraizola.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Laura Izola | March 11, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Ok, after my earlier rant.. I dropped what I was doing and went straight to creating! lol
Here is my take:
http://ilovedirtylaundry.blogspot.com/2009/03/for-real.html
Thanks! :P
B
Posted by: Beth Perry | March 11, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Here's mine..
http://yyam.blogspot.com/2009/03/u-are-just-keepin-it-realolw-challenge.html
Posted by: Yvonne Y | March 12, 2009 at 02:01 AM
mmh, deep question for me.. this is my page :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57758891@N00/3348522797/in/pool-onelittleword
Posted by: Alice Marla | March 12, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Here is mine....TFL!!!!
You can see it here:
http://thetuckerwolekclan.blogspot.com/2009/03/update-on-brookies-surgery-get-well.html
OR here:
http://www.scrapinstyletv.com/portfolio/view_layout.php?layout_id=161039&user_id=7807
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Posted by: Julie | March 12, 2009 at 03:15 PM
So true!And after reading this i HAVE to play!
Great challenges girls!
Posted by: Fauve | March 12, 2009 at 03:42 PM
GREAT word! Here is mine:
http://petracastelijn.blogspot.com/2009/03/real.html
Posted by: Petra | March 13, 2009 at 06:34 AM
Great word and very inspiring work by the DT. You can see mine at http://jessiscorner.blogspot.com
under the post Keep It Real
TFL
Posted by: Jessi | March 13, 2009 at 06:41 AM
I REALLY LOVE YOUR WORKS!!!
You inspired me everytime!!! :))
This is mine:
http://www.lasarinascrapperina.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/real-love.jpg
Many thanks
Sara
Posted by: Sara | March 13, 2009 at 02:39 PM
Love this weeks word as always!!
Here's mine:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1466199
Posted by: Christa P. | March 13, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Here is my first LO here loved this weeks word
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1466470
Posted by: Jodi T | March 14, 2009 at 01:00 AM
Great word!
Here's mine:
http://hegeal.blogspot.com/2009/03/blog-post.html
Posted by: HegeAL | March 14, 2009 at 04:14 AM
Here's mine....
http://sweetandcolorful.blogspot.com/2009/03/olw-challenge-real.html
Posted by: Mirjam | March 14, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Here's mine....
http://sweetandcolorful.blogspot.com/2009/03/olw-challenge-real.html
Posted by: Mirjam | March 14, 2009 at 05:27 PM
I love this word!! Here's mine:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1466679
Posted by: april y | March 14, 2009 at 06:31 PM
Here's my layout for your challenge:
http://www.createmykeepsake.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44243&cat=500&ppuser=16358
Posted by: Leigh Penner | March 14, 2009 at 08:31 PM
Just put minesy up on my blog!
Please click on my name..or here:
http://paperbutton.blogspot.com/2009/03/one-little-word.html
Thanks for the f u n!!
Posted by: Niella | March 14, 2009 at 11:10 PM
oops..did I leave a link..sorry!
here it is:
http://paperbutton.blogspot.com/2009/03/one-little-word.html
Hugs..Niella.
Posted by: Niella | March 14, 2009 at 11:15 PM
DT samples are sooooo inspiring!!
Here's mine:
http://teacupofscrapisms.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Mandy Dodd | March 15, 2009 at 07:27 PM