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It’s okay to venture out of your comfort zone… Lately I’ve been doing it quite often.
Gigi bosslady…
This weekend is going to be one of renewal, my personal Super Bowl. What are your plans? I will be working today and tomorrow.
Happy Friday!
XOXO,
GIGI
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It has taken me a long time to learn this. If you don’t expect much you can’t be disappointed…I however always want the most from everyone, it’s my nature, but I am realizing everyone is not wired like that. One of my flaws is always wanting success for everyone, I will navigate the path and want others to follow, and when they get sidetracked or go backwards I’m disappointed instead of accepting maybe it is something they are not really interested in doing.
We are all so different in so many ways, I don’t know if it is an age thing or what, but I am not as accommodating as I used to be. I’m more of an observer, taking little mental notes, but always figuring out a plan and knowing what I can do to make it happen. I never give up on anyone, but I’ve learned that it is difficult to instill desire in another person if they don’t feel it or crave it from within. Everyone has their priorities and once you realize and accept that their priorities are not necessarily yours you can keep it moving and continue to work on your plan or align yourself with someone who is on the same path. This new awareness comes from a place of acceptance, not anger at all, basically accepting others from the level they are operating from and not expecting more than they are capable of giving.
I often tell my kids, “I can’t want this more than you do…” and I really mean it. We as parents sometimes can create what is perceived as a heartbreak from our children, when in reality it is simply our children wanting something different than what we want for them. My son wants to study art, and I have had some well meaning people ask me “what is he going to do with that?” and my answer is “be happy”… Growing up my well meaning family expected me to embark on a traditional career, I wanted to do something in fashion or art, but that dream was squashed and hence for a long time I was a “disappointment”.
I’m fortunate that my husband is the same way, no matter what obstacles are presented, no matter how difficult, he will always work on finding a solution. In the 27 years we have been together we have had some real challenges along the way, and have overcome the impossible at times ie. IRS, bankruptcy, lawsuits, just to name a few, but you get it…
I’m at a place in life where lots are changes are taking place, my son will be going away to college, my husband’s business is changing rapidly, and I am figuring out who I am as an artist and what my business model is going to look like in the next 6 months, year, 5 years. The one thing I know for sure though, is that if something starts to feel uncomfortable, I will figure it out before it gets to disaster mode.
Happy Tuesday XOXO,
Gigi
Gigi
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I connected with this quote. It is easy to focus on yesterday and the day before, especially if it is something negative, I have been guilty of this on many occasions. Does it really help? No. If anything those feelings come up to the surface again and put a damper on the current day. Each day is opportunity to embrace something new, go forward and keep it moving. Spending time on yesterday takes away from new experiences and memories you could be creating. Of course it is okay to share something the key is to know when to let it go. I’m still learning this…
On another note I read about something that uber is doing today in Los Angeles…puppy bowl. Sponsored by Animal Planet every year around the same time as the Super Bowl, Uber and Animal Planet coordinated to provide the puppies, most which are available for adoption from local animal shelters. Between the hours of 11 and 3 you can order a uber to come to your office and bring puppies for you and your staff to play with for 15 minutes. The cost is 30.00 which goes to the local animal shelters. If I had an office in LA I know what I would be doing this afternoon…
Happy Wednesday,
Xoxo,
Gigi
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This quote speaks to me, every time I pick up my camera and look through my lens, I know the history of all the images I have viewed, everything that has ever inspired me and influenced me is captured. This brain of mine has years and years of information stored, memories cataloged, and my own personal itunes library there as well.
Do your life experiences creep into your profession and influence your work?
Photographer Gigi
Happy Wednesday!
Xoxo,
GIGI
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Love this quote…no matter what is going on, I always think about, something good is going to come.
Happy Wednesday.
Xoxo,
Gigi
Came across this quote today and it really resonated inside of me, I read it a few times and thought about what these words meant to me…
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We spend so much time trying to be what we think we need to be for others. At 54 years young I am finally living each day as the woman I am meant to be…This did not happen overnight, it was a long journey and the most difficult part was learning to say “NO” and accepting that everybody was not going to like me all the time. Many times being who you are meant to be sometimes means not following the group, being an independent thinker. It can be unsettling, especially if you have spent a lot of time “creating a facade” of yourself.
Sometimes it can be something simple like changing a hairstyle, I remember when I started wearing my hair natural many years ago, many well meaning friends and family had reactions, it was if I somehow let them down by changing my long relaxed tresses. I even had one person say to me “what about your husband?, is he OK with your hair like that?”. Now 10 years later the natural hair movement is booming.
I remember when I started dating my husband, after a few months he wanted to take me to his church, which unbeknownst to me was pretty uptight. On this particular morning he picked me up and I was dressed, but I had on no stockings and a pair of hoop earrings, so on the way to the church he stopped at the mall and told me he had to get something. So we go in the store and he finds stockings, a “little house on the prairie” dress and some little flat shoes and he asked me to put the outfit on, and take off the earrings. He explained that his church was really conservative and I would be more comfortable in that outfit, so I reluctantly changed into my costume and we went to church. I remember feeling really uncomfortable in my “new” outfit, and thinking this is not me, and I cannot transform into this person for him or anybody else, there had to be a happy medium. So of course we talked about it later and I told him that he was attracted to me the way I was and I can’t change into someone else and perhaps he could meet one of the ladies that already have the image he was trying to create. So my friends you know the rest of the story almost 25 years later …
So everyday I strive to be my true self, most days it is effortless and some days not so easy. I find that having transparency frees my mind to be creative, because I’m not fixated on keeping up an illusion, I’m just being me…plenty of flaws included.
Photographer Gigi
XOXO,
GIGI
Came across this quote today, and it really resonated with me, so of course I had to share it with all of you…
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It is so easy to give up on dreams, especially when there is someone whispering in your ear discouraging words, of why you can’t do that. Usually it is someone that means well, a close friend or family member. When I graduated high school I wanted to go to the Fashion Institute of Design and become a buyer for a fabulous store and travel all around the world shopping. My mom of course had another dream for me, and it did not include FIDM, her theory was that I would end up working for The Broadway for minimum wage and that I would be better served going to the university to pursue a traditional career. So fast forward 30 plus years since high school graduation and I am still working on that day dream, never was successful at the “traditional” career piece. I am totally jazzed about photography and perhaps I will travel the world taking images and maybe publish one of those beautiful coffee table books filled with my view of the world…or maybe a book filled with incredible 50 plus year old women that are making a difference in this world.
What are your dreams? Are you living your daydreams? What is stopping you?
Xoxo,
GIGI
http://youtu.be/4mLrm1cuhWM
My thoughts and prayers are with the James Gandolfini’s family at this difficult time.
Read more about James Gandolfini here
Wonderful Man Blog. The Art of Manliness-check it out.
Love this one too, guerreisms, especially “sick shoe game” for guys…
Brittany Howard
Loving this artist, from Alabama, ex postal worker to grammy nominated…
GET YOUR SLEEP…OR ELSE. DID NOT KNOW ALL THESE RISKS WERE LINKED TO NOT ENOUGH SLEEP!
new york post boudoir session
Love this piece in the New York Post, I love photographing women and letting my lens discover the beauty in each of us…so many of us have not had a nice portrait since we were married or graduated from high school…this would be fun to do.
I love orange, all shades, coral, apricot, peach, melon, salmon, etc. I use it in my home decor, and wear it often, I have always been attracted to orange.
Orange Crush
Gigi’s Orange Gym
Love the light
elle decor
elle decor
love this coral skirt
recovered these in orange
love these roses
And lastly remember…
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XOXO,
GIGI
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Came across this quote today and I thought to myself, why not leave a little sparkle wherever you go? I’m a sparkly, glittery sort of girl, always have been as far back as I can remember. I love baubles, glitz , beads, sequins and shine, I’m happy when I’m glowing like a Christmas Tree. So when I read this quote, knowing how happy sparkly things make me–I figured I needed to make sure I leave a trail of sparkle dust wherever I go.
My Sparkle Plan:
Smile-means a lot and does so much more than a frown, the same in all languages.
Embrace– touch is so powerful- give hugs.
Listen– We are always in a rush or connected to our devices (me included) take the time to really listen and look into some ones eyes and actively listen.
Care-let some one know you really care about them and are concerned.
Love…unconditionally don’t judge.
So my friends go out today and sprinkle you sparkle dust…
Xoxo,
Gigi
Moi
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