Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Regarding the facebook "Breast Cancer Awareness Games"

***THIS is my blog. I am aware there are other "copies" going around the internet. It has been brought to my attention many of them have been "edited". This is the one to read. ;)


**NOTE SEPT 2nd 2011, 2:55 pm eastern time. I am overwhelmed at the response I received from this blog entry. I never imagined in a million years how many others would be so understanding, including those who played the game. Thank you. I would also like to apologize ahead of time for my lack of writing skills. lol. I am not a writer or journalist. I am simply a woman, with feelings. I never meant for this to become viral. So, point being, please don't let my writing inabilities take away from the point I am trying to make. I was simply defending the infertile community, the TRUE Breast Cancer Awareness Cause, and then, myself as I was personally attacked. This blog was NOT written to attract attention. Apparently it has. Whoops. I had no idea the masses of eyes that would stumble upon this.

A couple readers pointed out that by THIS blog post I am doing exactly what the creator of the game wanted; to bring breast cancer awareness. Well... I just don't think they planned on me coming along. lol. My destiny can not possibly be that special lol. But I am very glad that by getting up here on my soapbox (I'm really short, I need one lol), that I did make it (the game) about Breast Cancer Awareness again; as it should have been in the first place. That doesnt mean their game worked, it means the people who protested it did.

We have recieved THOUSANDS of letters from hurt & confused people with valuable emotions who felt this way. We have yet to hear of one single person who has actually scheduled a mammogram due specifically to THIS game. There doesn't seem to be a mass exodus of women rushing to their Dr's right now because their co-workers, sisters, teenage daughter posted a facebook status message that made them think they were pregnant for a few hours. ONLY hurt and confused people, and still, men who are left clueless. That says it all.

I love the ideas from commenters! Many of you have opened my eyes as well! Thank you!!!!!
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Warning. I'm long winded. lol.


Ok I'm going to be the party pooper. :( I know someone will get offended & try to judge me in return for my feelings. I hope instead of being angry, if you participated in the latest facebook "breast cancer awareness game", that instead, you will open your heart and listen to me and maybe be able to see things from a different perspective. Pretty please? Our circumstances tend to be the basis for our opinions right? Ok. :) So here's a different point of view.

Last year a game was started on facebook, to "raise breast cancer awareness". Women emailed other women, to keep it a "secret from men" (which slices the possible amount of awareness spreading in half immediately), of how to play, to post their bra color as their status, so men would wonder what the fuss was all about, and somehow, this was helping to raise breast cancer awareness. Maybe because bra's are for breasts, that was the link *shrugs* When you get a minute, read that story about the bra game from a survivors point of view. It's worth it. Short read. Informative.

CLICK HERE FOR A SURVIVORS OPINION ON THE BRA GAME

Then it became posting where you like to leave your purse by saying "I like it on _____", so you were left with a sexually suggestive status message. For instance, "I like it on the chair in my office" Again, I'm having difficulty understanding how this helps anything related to breast cancer. And what is the point in "hiding it from men", when men TOO can be the victims of breast cancer... but many don't know.. because nobody tells them! I mean, if we were really trying to raise awareness, we'd want it to reach everybody, right?

Then we were told in secret, to post our shoe size, but in inches, with a sad face after it, another sexually persuaded status message. So I guess if you have big feet, or small feet... well you get it. In the end, most people had NO idea it had anything to do with Breast Cancer Awareness. :( If you did. Cool. I'm glad. But I have found that the majority of folks, had no idea.

Now another game is being played. This particular game, was when I had enough and felt I needed to speak up. I was going to keep my mouth shut, but then I saw dozens of people I am in touch with online voice the same hurt I felt. So here I am talking about it. We now have women on facebook pretending to be pregnant by choosing a number representing their birth month, and birthdate. Yea seriously. The birth month states how many weeks "pregnant" you are, and the birthdate claims what you are craving". There was a cryptic chart being emailed from women to other women via facebook with a list to choose from as far as "weeks" and "cravings". For instance, had I played the game, my facebook status message would have said, "I am 13 weeks and craving gummy worms!"

When someone figures out that it's a game and that person is not really pregnant, they are not an ounce more educated about breast cancer than before they fell for it. :) They're actually probably either extremely annoyed, upset, or just laughing at being thankful that someone WASN'T pregnant.

I'm not playing this game. As it appears, I can not have anymore children due to health issues and an ovarian disorder. I have one child. My Abby who is 8 years old, who, yes for the record, I appreciate and love to the core!!! If you look at the rest of my blog, you will clearly see that. :)

I suffer from secondary infertility. That means I can not have anymore children even though I have had one. An estimated 15% of americans, (more than 5 million people) suffer from infertility. This means, someone you love, who wants a child and deserves one, can not have one (who is likely on your friends list). My husband and I have tried since we got married to have a baby, pretty much every month. My daughter really wants a brother or sister. We have tried vitamins, bettering our health, counting days, taking temperatures, creams, ovulation kits, you name it, even taking unsolicited advice from friends and family. Everything we can do besides invitro, as we can not afford it. I did conceive in March of 2009, but miscarried around 4 weeks after conception, when I did not yet even know I was pregnant. We were devastated. As you can imagine, pretending to be pregnant as a joke, is downright vulgar to me. It would PAIN my family and friends who have been praying for us for years for me to jest of pregnancy on facebook and then say "just kidding!".

From this game, I witnessed someones mother become ELATED at thinking she was about to be a grandmother by her daughters (newlywed at that) participation in the "game". It took nearly a day for her daughter to sign back onto facebook (I'm assuming she has a job :) ) and tell her she would email her; the email that informed her that no blessing was on its way. I haven't seen that girls mother say much since then on her page in the last few days. Is it related to her post? I don't know. Maybe not. But, nonetheless, at least for a bit there I imagine she felt like a dream come true for her had just been ripped out of her chest. But hey, it was for charity right? I mean, come on, it's for a good cause, why should anyone say anything bad about it! I'm not alone in feeling this way. Maybe if you played along, your family and friends don't mind that kind of humor. Ok cool. If you're that confident that absolutely nobody on your friends list wasn't disapointed or felt awkward after, then hats off to you. And for the record, I recieved about a dozen emails just from other moms who experienced something similiar. One of them was so excited, she called her husband at work, her sisters, and they all started to celebrate and squeal in excitement. She is so hurt, she doesn't even know how to talk to her daughter about it :( . Doesn't that just break your heart?

And keep in mind, and this one is important folks, many of the young breast cancer survivors who won the battle, are now INFERTILE from the treatments they needed to fight breast cancer. So I imagine a mockery of pregnancy "on their behalf" via a facebook status message is probably adding insult to injury. :( not cool.

I'm the sure next comment will be... "yes but now people are more aware of Breast Cancer Awareness because of the game". Again.. this. whole. thing. is. an Epic. Fail. All this has done is cause strife and divided us as women. Not drawn us together. Not taught us anything about a serious medical issue at all. It is still pointless and a bit unintentionally, insensitive. Non productive for sure.




We know nobody meant to hurt anyone. Of course not. Nobody is being mean in return by asking folks to please stop or try to understand how hurtful this can be. But when you tell someone "lighten up" after they say "ouch", that's when it feels personal. Instead, just say, "I didn't think of it that way". Because we know you probably didn't. What ever happened to a good old fashioned apology without a "but, but, but!", right after it? I'm not lashing out at the people who sent it to me, gosh I know you probably meant nothing by it. I still love all of you :), promise! I know that no one intentially hurt me by sending it or by playing it. But I feel confident that when they decided to play, they weren't feeling a passion for raising Breast Cancer Awareness, but rather a bit of a giggle inside of pulling the legs of the people on their facebook friends list and eagerly waiting the reaction they got. Come on guys, you know you did that. lol. I wonder how many of you were excited for those who took the bait and actually emailed them and said "Ha! Got your attention! I love you and it's important to me that you get a Breast Exam", and they responded "Why yes, that's a fabulous idea! Had you not pretended to be pregnant, I would have never thought of that!" And if you were one of the few who WERE thinking about Breast Cancer Awareness, I'm super proud of you. Honestly. Maybe siking your friends & family out into thinking you've been given a blessing is that much fun to you, ok, fine.  If you enjoy that kind of shock value, have at it I suppose. Maybe it is funny for some people. But to connect it to breast cancer awareness is hardly justified or tactful. We all love it when we pull a good clean trick on someone, myself included. But please try to understand, this, is very, very, tacky. I understand that spreading Breast Cancer Awareness is a very important cause, but this idea, wasn't very well thought out for the cause at all. Not to mention the rumor mill that will come from those who are new to facebook and not internet savvy who saw someone post a pregnancy and doesn't check their page often or have any clue what is going on. You watch. There be those peeps out there, yo. *wink* lol. And now the loads and loads of teenagers and scared and angry parents who were affected by this game are coming out of the woodworks. And NONE of them are talking about Breast Cancer Awareness.

We're just asking for understanding, and a better effort. Unfortunately, some people can't stand it when they accidently do something wrong and instead of trying to learn anything or think with their heart, they stomp their feet and throw toys. Instead, we ask that you please sample a slice of humble pie. It's good for the soul!

Yes, I know; we judge others based on their actions and ourselves based on our intentions. It is a human flaw and it's not fair of us. I don't see how a passionate intention to help spread Breast Cancer Awareness could have ever been the focal point in starting this game. This was a game that never should have had the Breast Cancer Awareness Cause pinned onto it.

Let's find more productive respectful ways to spread awareness instead of using silly facebook status messages. As a society, we have just GOT to be more creative than THAT. Mmm hmmm. I believe that in my heart of hearts. We can do better! *big smile* You know which one really worked that WAS funny and WAS focused on Breast Cancer Awareness!? The "feel your boobies" campaign! :) When I first saw this, I can tell you, I remember it. It was on my friend Renee's myspace page about 4 years ago. I cracked up laughing & I said to myself "well yea I guess you do have to feel your boobies to see if theres anything weird there, that makes sense". And honest to God, I gave myself an exam. I felt my boobies! And you know what, I found an OWIE! Turns out, it was just a fluid pocket & cutting down on caffeine can help it. PHEW! (and I learned that malignant tumors doesn't exactly = pain.) I have fibrocystic breast tissue. I wouldn't have known that or what it was even called or how to check for changes had my friend Renee not said "FEEL YOUR BOOBIES!" lol



Now THAT!!! Up there! That is great marketing! It's colorful humor, is what helps it get passed around... cause I know.. it's gotta be catchy and attractive to get it out there... BUT... it is so obvious what it's about so it's right on the point and DOES in fact make you think about getting a mammogram or doing at home self breast exam!!!! *big smile*


There were a few passionate ridiculers who felt pretending to be pregnant was a noble deed, who sent me hate mail. (Not very many, no worries, maybe only like 5) Apparently not only do I live with infertility, but now it is my responsiblity, my albatross to carry, to suffer in silence, while a very tasteless game is played in the name of a very serious cause. And again, I am not alone. I am just one of many many many.

Thinking that this is tacky is not being judgemental either. And please, don't try to use my faith against me. I actually had someone try to tell me that as a Christian, I shouldn't feel this way. I'm sorry, I disagree. It's called discernment, not judgement. Jesus Himself got angry when He saw something that was wrong. And He never sinned. Being a Christian or Jew or a Muslim or an Athiest or whatever you are, doesn't mean we aren't allowed to think & feel anger. Yes we are to control it. Sometimes our anger can be processed in a productive way to make wonderful things happen! God feels anger when something wrong is done does He not? It is not a sin for me to feel this way. I can "discern" that this isn't such a fabulous game. It wasn't a very well thought through idea. Just like when I see someone screaming at their small child in the store and cussing & acting like a fool. I'm not judging their parenting skills. I can discern that they need to calm down & learn more affective ways of parenting.

We are all AWARE of breast cancer. Being aware of it doesn't make you immune to it. You can be a Dr. who treats breast cancer patients and become a victim yourself, correct?

If you played the game, I guarantee you there is someone on your friends list who saw you post your fake pregnancy, and for a moment, she was reminded of her empty aching womb, preparing herself to congratulate you, because she loves you, and yes, she IS truly happy for you if you ever do get pregnant, please know that. She went through the emotions that come with such a sensitive situation for her, and she probably cried. And when she found out it was all a joke, she probably felt anger and pain and learned NOTHING about Breast Cancer Awareness.

This is blog post is NOT a guilt trip. If you played & you feel bad now, let it go. Here's a hug!  (((HUG))) I don't want you to feel guilty. I want you to feel inspired! And I want you to feel your boobies!! Haha!

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I'm all for being proactive. I have a plethora of ideas to help you be more proactive too!
  • Next time you get paid, donate some money to your favorite Breast Cancer Awareness Charity. There are so many to choose from. 
  • You could even donate to a local clinic that treats breast cancer patients who can't afford their treatments.
  • If you know someone who has breast cancer, go to her house after she's had chemo and help take care of her and cook for her family and clean her house so she doesn't have to. Be her friend. Be sensitive to her needs.
  • Ask her that if you faked a pregnancy on facebook, if that would help her get through her battle.
Here are some examples to help you understand more if you still don't quite see the big deal. For instance, I'm against animal testing for cosmetics. I can pretty much promise you being "facebook pregnant" isn't going to help make people realize how bad it is or stop big companies from doing it anyway. I'm also all for promoting Autism Awareness. Autism has affected a few children in my extended family. I don't think people realize how common it is. If I started a game emailing women in secret saying "Don't send this to men, leave them clueless, but post your status as the last time you vaccumed but say it like this, 'I did it yesterday' or 'I did it this morning', and we can spread autism awareness!" Really? Does that really help spread the word for a cause??

Oh wait here's an idea! Let's have all the men, email each other, and not women, and all post their shoes size on their status messages but end it with inches.... to help spread prostate cancer awareness!!! For instance.. my husbands status message would say "10 1/2"!!! See how easy that was to help!??!! Wait... what do you mean we didn't help..... Oh..... well it's ok,  my heart was in the right place and that's what matters. *wink*

I am pretty confident this "game" was started by someone who will never know what it is to ache and pray for a child and to not be able to have one, or who isn't close to someone who goes through the same monthly pain I do. You may roll your eyes in irritation when your dear Aunt Flo (period) shows up for her visit, but many times I clean myself up while I CRY!!!!! And your infertile friend or cousin, well, she does too. And then when I let my husband know and I see the disapointment in his eyes too. If you've never been through that on a consistant basis, please don't judge me or my lack of enthusiasm for this whole fad, or your friends who are going through it.

Breast Cancer Awareness is a noble cause. It deserves better treatment and publicity. Nobody who is truly passionate to the core for breast cancer awareness would be proud of a game that has not been effective in spreading breast cancer awareness, but only the hurt feelings of many of its sufferers.

ADOPT! Ok, well, for those of you who seem to think adoption is so easy and afforable for us all and are rude enough to insult me because I have not gone that route yet, trust me, I've thought about it. A LOT. I didn't get to tell my ENTIRE story in ONE blog! My journey with infertility is still young, I am only 31 yrs old (32 in a couple weeks, those of you who actually tracked my birthday from the game already knew that lol) . I may very well adopt someday. I'm sort of adopted myself. *big smile* and I'm an only child! :) And if it really means THAT much to you that I do adopt immediately, I'll give you my address so you can send me the money to pay for it. *smile*

I know things can always be worse. That's true for pretty much the entire population. Just keep in mind, there are no winners in the Pain Olympics.

I am stepping off of my soapbox now. I hope at least one person who played the game can see it through a different set of eyes and understand how tasteless and tacky and useless that "game" is.

NOW HERES Something to pass on via facebook that IS productive! You can CLICK a simple button right from where you are sitting, to give FREE mammograms!!!! Yay!!!

CLICK HERE TO HELP! <no seriously its really quick and simple and useful!

and join them on facebook! they have some GREAT easy to share "pass alongs" that are productive and cute!!!!

THE BREAST CANCER SITE ON FACEBOOK <great stuff to click "share" on you'll love!

Best Wishes! Hugs! Smiles!
CgW



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Abbys Dream Fundraiser Progress

Thank you so much to those of you who sent a donation to my daughters World Vision Fundraiser she is doing! So far she has raised $100 of her $252 goal. She couldn't have raised it without the donations from the generous people who mailed her funds. Thank you thank you thank you!

For those of you who don't know about it, my 8 yr old daughter Abigail is raising money for a World Vision fund to purchase a foot powered water pump, seeds, gardening tools and training for a family in Africa. $200 is for the pump. $52 is for the seeds tools and training. She is very excited to do this.

It may take her a little longer than anticipated to raise the money (she was hoping by the end of summer) but we will continue this until she reaches her goal. Being that she is only 8, I am helping her keep track of the funds and put them in the bank in a seperate account specifically for her fundraiser.

If you are interested in sending a donation of any amount to Abbys Dream (she also has a facebook page for this) feel free to contact me at christine@cgwardphotography.com ! I will be sure the donation is taken care of! As soon as she reaches her goal we will let everyone know! Donaters also get a super sweet handwritten "thank you note" from Abby. lol.

 Here is a picture of Abbys progress poster as of now,



http://cgwardphotography.blogspot.com/2011/07/i-am-so-proud-i-could-just-pop.html

Monday, August 29, 2011

Oh. Em. Gee.

The world is indeed coming to an end.





I wonder what Mattel will think of next. *blink, blink*

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Vincent Van Gogh Facts

Vincent had an older brother who died at birth. His name was also Vincent van Gogh.

Van Gogh was close friends with Paul Gauguin, another famous artist.

Van Gogh suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy as well as other mental and physical conditions.

Vincent shot himself in a wheatfield in Auvers, France but did not die until 2 days later at the age of 37.

Vincent’s brother Theo died six months after Vincent and is buried next to him in Auvers, France.

Vincent’s brother’s wife collected Vincent’s paintings and letters after his death and dedicated herself to getting his work the recognition it deserved.

In a short period of ten years Van Gogh made approximately 900 paintings.

Vincent only sold one painting during his lifetime and only became famous after his death.

Vincent van Gogh did not cut off his ear. He only cut off a small portion of his ear lobe.

Van Gogh created his most famous work The Starry Night while staying in an asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France.

Vincent’s earliest career aspiration was to be a pastor in the Dutch Reformed Church like his father.

Van Gogh wrote over 800 letters in his lifetime. The majority of them written to his brother and closest friend Theo.


Deer... Home Sweet Home Part X

I got lucky enough to find this family of deer on the side of the road in Saranac Lake on my way back to Tupper Lake right outside of my old high school. Literally in the yard right outside of the track. I got so many shots because they seemed pretty friendly and didn't seem to mind me snapping away and talking to them. I made a lot of eye contact with them and got nervous at one point when one started to approach me a little too close for comfort. lol. So I backed up for a minute. I think I was being inspected for a snack honestly. But I couldn't help but picture one of those scenes from that TV show Worlds Dumbest when that guy got trampled and got his butt whooped by a deer with its skinny little kicking legs when he got too close. I didn't want to be that guy so I relied on the zoom to "get me" close enough to them lol.


Waterfalls Past Keene Valley... Home Sweet Home Part IX

This can be seen from the highway when you pass Keene Valley. I recommened pulling over to look at it or take pictures lol. Its in a windy road on the left not long after you pass the village.






Sunrise In Tupper... Home Sweet Home Part VIII

The morning after I watched the sunset alone, I decided to get my Abby girl up with me the next morning to go watch the sunrise! We drove down to the bridge on Simon for this. On the left side when you are headed towards the bog, and out by our last home (beautiful place) you can be lucky enough to capture this view if you show up at the right time. We made a memory here. This was so cool.





Campsite Waterfalls... Home Sweet Home Part VII

My dad drove us out here. I can not remember where it is. But we dead ended at a campsite and took a small hike.








Wilmington Area... Home Sweet Home Part VI







The Sun Setting over Tupper Lake... Home Sweet Home Part V

One night during my visit I took a cruise down to the park at the lake for some pictures. I eventually found myself sitting on the docks alone watching the sunset. Well not completely alone. I was visited by some curious seagulls double checking to see if I had any food for them. lol. Which I didn't. Sorry guys. lol





Friday, August 26, 2011

Indian Trail Off Rt 3 -Home Sweet Home Part IV

This is a neat little place right off of Rt 3 between Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. Abby hiked back there with me a bit and we even saw some cute mushrooms on the ground that looked like little Smurf houses. lol.





Adirondack Loj Rd, Home Sweet Home, Part III

Yes I spelled that correctly. That is how they spell it there on the sign :) Many years ago when I was a teenager.... I was 16 actually... ok.. so half my life ago lol.... I went to a 2 week long Wilderness Youth Camp down at the Adirondack Lodge. One of the most memorable experiences of my life. Loved it. And I've always loved the view from the very front of this road heading back. So many different colors in the fields!! It looks like God Himself painted it!! These photos were shot directly from the side of the road. :)

Keene Valley.. Home Sweet Home Part II

this is just one of those little stops you can take on the side of the road that you see everywhere in the Adirondacks. If you drive by.. you'll miss all the good stuff. If you pull over in the little parking area and walk down the trail... you'll see this...






The Cascades... Home Sweet Home Part I

What a beautiful view! I love driving through the casades when I'm headed to visit my family! I also enjoy picking up family at the airport in Albany and taking a trip through here when we're headed back home. People who aren't from this area love the view.

I have so many pictures from the last few days, so I'm breaking them down into categories to share them with you. First, being the cascades. :) There is only one mountain called Cascade Mountain, however, us locals call the entire area, the cascades. :) Notice the highway in some of the pictures!? Its a gorgeous view driving through. :)





 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

shooting the cascades today!

Finally! LOL I've been ancy to do this for awhile and today's my big day! I'll be taking my time driving through the cascades today making multiple stops for some great photos. I've wanted to do this since way before I ever decided to become a photographer. As a teenager I was always so excited to drive through them. I've even hiked a couple of mountains in this area. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world to me! I can see why my ancestors loved these mountains so much. It feels like home here. Such a clean, majestic place to be. I'm packed up, pretty much ready to go. I just have to go make some sammiches now lol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Mountain_(New_York)




Monday, August 22, 2011

2nd Annual ADK Greek Festival

It was nice! I'm still bummed I missed the dancers! Turns out they had another prior engagement and were accidently double booked so they could only dance once earlier in the evening and had to leave. *pout*. I was really looking forward to that. But luckily I found out they will be at the Greek Fest in Schenectady in Sept and I've already made arrangements to be there. But it wasn't a total loss!

Before I even made it out of the parking lot from my car I was immediately greeted by two very friendly St. George Church members who let me know where everything was so I didn't wander around aimlessly (sometimes this happens to me lol). I knew right away if they had people that friendly in the parking lot, there would probably be more inside. They were also very gracious in allowing me to enter their sanctuary to take some photos. It was beautiful inside!!!!! Being of the protestant faith, there were several things inside I wasn't familiar with the meaning of, but I was intrigued by the beauty of the artwork. Naturally and respectively, I made sure not to touch anything. lol. I'll share some pictures from inside the church as well as the party. I have several friends who are Greek and of the Greek Orthodox faith, I'll have to ask them what some of what I saw was. :)

Afterwards I headed over to the party. There was food everywhere! Even outdoors! I'm told I should have expected this lol. Games for kids, prizes to be won. Totally bummed I didn't have my Abby with me, but she'll be with me for the next one for sure. The aromas made my tummy rumble but I really didn't want to get food on me or my camera. But next time (in september), I'm digging in & bringing Abby with me. lol. So I feasted with my eyes instead.

Inside I was greeted by even more friendly faces, beautiful music, and MORE food and desserts, as well as some great Greek Novelties, religious items and jewelry. I got a kick out of the hats, t shirts and aprons. Now if I ever find one that says "I'm only part Greek, but that's good enough", then I'm in. lol. The room was decorated very much as what I would expect for a party or even a small wedding reception. There were families eating together, visiting, and children playing on the dance floor together. Very friendly atmosphere.

I wound up buying a bracelet for my Abby & socialized with some sweet ladies & even learned a trick to improve my own baklava recipe. We exchanged business cards & she'll be emailing me her full recipe, although I think I can remember pretty well. Such nice people running the show at Greek Fest and I really enjoyed myself.
Thank you St. George's Church of South Glens Falls for your generosity and hospitality!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

You are my sunshine.. my only sunshine....

she makes me haaapppyyyyy when skiiies are greeeeeey. Don't think she knoooows juuuuuuust hooow much I loooooOOooOove heerrrrrrrr. Please don't taaaake my sunshinnnne awaaaaaaaay!

Abby & I hit the park again today. She wore some of her new big girl clothes she got for school and she wanted me to put a little make up on her. I kinda regret that part. She looked too grown up for my tastes. lol. I have such a pretty love bug!







All images on this website are copyrighted by C.G. Ward Photography. The images posted through this album are for viewing only. It is illegal to copy or reproduce these images in any manner. Please do not remove the watermark or alter these photos. If you would like to order professional high quality prints email me at christine@cgwardphotography.com

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Sara gave me fwows

yea that fwows thing again. For those of you who are newbies to my lingo, that is how I say flowers in honor of my daughter Abby who was obsessed with "fwows" as a toddler. When we would go to the Hott House she would squeal because we were "goin' to da fwow howze!". So fwows are flowers. Sara gave me fwows from her garden this week when I went to Tupper Lake. I sitll have some of them here in my office in front of the window in a wine bottle. :)











Maternity Portraits

What a gorgeous day it was yesterday! What a gorgeous lady I had to photograph! She is 31 weeks pregnant and absolutely beautiful! She makes pregnancy look sexy! lol. Ashlee and her boyfriend Kyle were a lot of fun to work with! I had so much fun and she was a wonderful sport with all the things I wanted to wrap around her, stick to her, and paint on her. Yup! She actually let me paint on her! I can't wait to show you all the pictures! This is just the sneak peak. We took about a 2 hour session, about 15 minutes of that was painting. I can EASILY do this again for someone else! Just call me at 524-4192 or go to my webpage at http://www.cgwardphotography.com/









Friday, August 12, 2011

My Daddy

I finally talked my dad into letting me take his picture! He doesn't like to be in pictures so I kinda had to beg. lol. When I was young my dad used to play his guitar a lot, and sing. He was in a band when he was a kid. Many times in my childhood I remember my dad playing and singing Bob Seger. He tried to teach me once, but I didn't have the patience to learn lol.The only thing I know how to play is my windpipes. haha.

So I got him down to the train tracks set up a chair, handed him his guitar and told him to sit. LOL. Dad took his seat, picked up his guitar (which belonged to one of his old friends who was sadly murdered when I was a child, that guitar is special to him). I started to walk away to find a good angle and distance to start shooting from and before I had even gotten 10 steps away I heard him break into "Stairway To Heaven". My dad is pretty cool. Well anyway, here are the pictures. And yes, I am very aware that I look like my daddy. :)




Saturday, August 6, 2011

Before and After

This is why it is essential to hire a photographer who also has mad editing skills to make your photos their very best! I LOVE editing! So if you feel like you aren't very photogenic...... believe me.... you'll look great! If someone accidently walks by during a great photo op, most the time, its correctable. If you're concerned about a skin blemish or something... NEVER HAPPENED! :)

I hear a whisper.....

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The watermark thingy....

I really wanted to change the watermark thing I had going on. For awhile my photos had a very simple "C.G. Ward Photography" in various fonts somewhere on the photo to mark my digital work online. (never in my customers final portraits). Then I started experimenting with translucent designs, stickers, and shapes and trying multiple fonts. I get bored doing the same thing over and over and over again. It's one of the reasons I love photography. I never get bored because nothing is ever exactly the same.

Because my work as an artist and photographer is always evolving, I've decided it's best to let my watermark do the same. I can't decide on just one. I like so many things. I just don't have it in me to limit myself to one trademark design as of yet.

I think I'll probably stick to a color scheme that matches the theme of the shoot I am labeling and just flow with whatever looks right. So for now, I am logo free.....

I feel so liberated lol




just kidding lol

CgW



Beach Baby Pics! Baby Buns included! lol

I had a great day Tuesday! Not only was the weather beautiful, but I got to do a photo shoot on the beach in Lake George with one of the cutest, sweetest babies on the entire planet! I had soooo much fun. I'm one of those moms that can never get enough baby giggles, wittle pudgy arms and legs and chubby cheeks (face or buns lol). Caden sure did seem to enjoy himself playing with the beach toys I brought him and he posed like a pro. Oh who am I kidding, he wouldn't even have to pose and he'd still be a perfect model! Caden just oozes "adorable". I drove home with a big smile on my face and when I loaded the photos and start going through them, I was actually laughing out loud at some of them. He's going to be a lady's man someday I'm sure lol. Lock him up mommy! lol

If you don't smile when you see this, there is something wrong with you lol








and as always... be sure to click "older posts" at the bottom of my blog for more!


Monday, August 1, 2011

Lake George Steamboat Cruise

If you're from the Lake George, NY area, or ever plan to travel here, I highly recommened a Lake George Steamboat Cruise. Yesterday was my second trip on the Mohican. I have yet to conquer Lac du Saint Sacrement!

We took the morning Paradise Bay Cruise. It's about 2 1/2 hours long, the boat has 3 decks. A little gift shop, a little bar, a snack bar, etc. It's a lot of fun. If you want to be in direct sun and catch all the breeze hit the top! If you need a little more shade but like the breeze, hit one of the decks on the front on either the 2nd or third level. If you want to be completely indoors and just look at the scenery through a window, there is plenty of room for that too. You can even get married on a steamboat!

Yesterday I took my baby girl on her first steamboat cruise for her birthday. She loved it. I took about 500 pictures. We boarded nearly 40 minutes before the boat left and I started snapping away at the local tourists and parasailers. I actually saw a man parasailing, who was texting the entire time. I couldn't believe it!

http://lakegeorgesteamboat.com/

^^^^ thats their website.

Here's a few of my photos.