{stories and snapshots from my new york city life.}

11.02.2011

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.

26 comments:

  1. Oh I love this post! I'm exactly the same as you and it's so awesome to see someone being open about what real is. Thank you for sharing!

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  2. I really dig this. It's so true. We edit so much of our lives, whether through decide which pix to share online, or not telling friends about struggles you're going through b/c you want them to think your life is rosier than it really is. And then your friends think that their lives must *really* suck if you've been able to get your life so picture-perfect and rosy!

    It's good to expose ourselves. Thanks. BTW, you look great in glasses!

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  3. Totally agree with Justine! Love this post and thanks for sharing. I'm inspired to do the same, and post some of my not-so-hot pics :)

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  4. my cookies burn all of the time, but i post them anyway. now, photos of me are another, completely photoshopped story. hehe

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  5. Such a great post, really open and honest. And sooooo true!
    I feel like you are describing me when you say you are equal parts vain and self conscious... I am the same. And I have a reputation for deleting bad pics of myself!

    Ekaete xx

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  6. yeah! I will never post a bad one though...I suck I know! LOL

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  7. NOPE, not having it! You are seriously gorgeous in all your shots and you're totally real/true to yourself too! That's what I love most about you/this blog Jenn!

    Ciao chicken,
    x.o.x.o

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  8. Ooo, talk about keeping it real! Love this. <3

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  9. I love this post! I love that you are keeping it real! It's so easy to only show the pretty photos, the happy times, all the perfectness...it's another story to let readers in on the imperfections...but that's what makes each of us interesting!! Great article :)

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  10. This is so true. It's easy to read FB and blog posts and think, "Ooh, everyone else is out having fun while I toil at my crumb-filled keyboard with greasy hair and copious amounts of dog hair on my sweats," forgetting that we all edit out the bad/mundane.

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  11. That's something that has always bugged me about the blog world, this inability to get real about life. What's the harm in showing some flaws from time to time? This just makes me like your blog even more.

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  12. You still look cute. Great post.

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  13. I adore your honesty Jenn! This post made me smile.
    And photogenic or not - you're so pretty!

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  14. this is one of the best posts i've read. how honest and real!

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  15. great post. and yes, it is so true about bloggers...we must all have perfect fun lives, right ?!

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  16. The fact that you posted your "bad" pictures just goes to show that they are SIGNIFICANTLY better than any of mine. Anybody who reads my blog should thank me that I don't post my bad pictures!! :)

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  17. I love your post, Jenn! I'm going to do the same thing on my blog - um, no I'm not. But YOU are awesome for it - makes me love you even more. xo

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  18. I love this! as women we are our own worst critic, but I've learned to stop taking myself so seriously!

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  19. Girl, this totally rocked!!! keepin' it real. Hilarious as always. Even in your not-so-perfect pics, I think you are absolutely darling. And I still think you could kick butt on ANTM. Hugs!!

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  20. Amen sister! I love this post, bc I am the same exact way-btw you DO look gorgeous!

    xx

    Erin @ http://www.trufflesnruffles.com/

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  21. I wish there were more posts like this out in the blogosphere. This post is quite refreshing and makes readers like me like you even more. We can all relate to your sentiments. Kudos for stepping outside your comfort zone.

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  22. Yes. Cheers! Some people's "this is what I look like at night when I blog after I've taken my make up off" pics look better than my "I spent 30 minutes applying makeup and another 30 fixing my hair" pics. Barf.

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  23. Loved this post. Way to keep things real! :)

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  24. You're a beautiful and strong woman. So glad you feel happy in your own skin. Go sista!

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  25. one of my favorite blog posts to date- so true, so awesome :)

    http://threadtheneedleblog.blogspot.com/

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  26. Really loved this post! So much is true--bloggers lives appear so perfect and awesome for the most part, but keeping it real is what's so relatable and fun to read. Loved this post!

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