At My Worst

At the end of Monday’s post, my friend Michelle left an interesting comment. 

“I don’t know anyone as photogenic as you. Can you please look bad in a picture, just once? XOXO”.

I found it pretty funny, because I take plenty of bad photos all the time. In fact, I would venture to say I take just as many awful pictures as I do good ones; I am simply very selective about what I choose to present to the world. I am ruthless about deleting unflattering photos and will take a picture a second or third time if that’s what it takes to get a good one.

I am equal parts vain and self-conscious, and like most women, I can be my own worst critic. I know when I’m looking good, and I also know when I’m looking not-so-good, like in this photo. I think it's human nature to want to put our best face forward and hide any evidence of an off day, but we all have them. 

You will find no greater evidence of this than on women’s blogs. We have a knack for showing you the prettiest little snippets of our lives—the most beautiful brownie we ever baked, the most perfect outfit we ever wore. Lives look far more glamorous when presented in 200-word posts. 

In blog world, linen never wrinkles, cookies never burn and souffles never fall. We have perfect homes and husbands, beautiful babies and boyfriends. Social calendars burst at the seams and dance cards are always filled. The truth is, we obviously spend a lot of time at home on the computer. 

In the real world, I am a woman who doesn't look so hot without makeup. My skin tone is uneven and blotchy and I've had dark circles under my eyes since I was about ten. My hair is dull without highlights and I spend too much time playing with my split ends. I have bunions and bad skin days, and sometimes I forget to brush my teeth. 

My moods shift from good to bad, and though I am generally a pretty nice person, I definitely have my moments. Sometimes I can be a cranky, whiny bratty mess, and if you don't believe me, just ask my boyfriend or my mother, who've seen me at my worst but choose to keep loving me anyway.

I never want to give off the impression that I am perfect. I am far from it. And I'm cool with it.

My pictures come out blurry. 

My food shots suck.

My recipes bomb.

And I most certainly am not always photogenic.

Cheers to keeping it real.