Self Portrait: ‘Into the Woods’

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My portrait for ‘Self Portrait Saturday’ found its backdrop in my sons’ room

after I checked on their progress of making their bed.

The house we rent is filled with unfinished wooden doors and

came with similar style wooded wardrobes and armoires.

They do not all necessarily match however.

Which gives as an eclectic look to work with

when it comes to instilling our own interior design.

(side note: Yes, I wear my sunnies in the house sometimes.

The prescription is better in these than my current frames

so if its light enough I tend to wear them.

Besides they are one of my favourite fashion accessories

as well as being practical.)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban Coat: Lux

* For information regarding the use of photography by Bonnie Rose and photographic services contact bonnie[at]bonnie-rose[dot]co[dot]uk

TCK: Saying Goodbye to Friends Pt. II

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“Letting go of people or traditions is hard because you invest so much in them but to let go can be scary. But it can also be liberating. Or even essential to your happiness.“

– The Carrie Diaries (Season 1 Episode 13)

Now a days friendships have a better fighting chance with the current age of social media. With the accessibility of apps like Skype and Google’s Hangout you can have face time with friends from all over the world. There are family portraits being taken where family members stand in front of a projection screen showing a live feed of the members who live far away. My iPhone from the states that i cannot use yet in England (would have to be jail broken and unlocked) I can send text messages with it to my mum in Arizona with Whatsapp. Whether you are on a smart phone, a laptop or at home on a computer you can talk to anyone instantly through Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. The vast huge world just got immensely smaller with the technology age by which we are surrounded. It is now more common to be close friends with people you interact with online and do not live in close proximity with nor have met in person. It benefits families today just the same. When I was growing up I might get a card from a grandparent on my birthday, but I only got to see them for a few days every three or four years when we visited the US. Now that my mum is a ‘Nonna’ she can message me on Whatsapp to ask if I can get her grandsons online for a Google Hangout. Within minutes she is visually there in our kitchen asking her grandsons about what they did in school that day. It is a much more connected world than our past.

It is through that connection that I gather and keep close the friendships I have made through out the past thirty years of my life. On Facebook I have friends from as early back as primary school. I was living in England back then during the late 80’s and early 90’s from when my father was stationed at Lakenheath AFB in Norfolk. I have friends on Facebook from each place I have lived since that time all the way up to my current friendships here in Bath, England. I would say the majority of the friendships are people I have found again through Facebook, whom I may have lost contact with after moving away. These would be former classmates from the three high schools that I attended, from my University, and from the three technical schools I attended for my vocational license. What I have found interesting is how I connect closer with some people now as a expat mum with kids to some classmates whom were more of a well known acquaintance than a close friend back then. Then there are friends that I was really close with back at school and we may now be more distant and message each other once a year. Life happens and time plays a big factor. It is what plays into the love factor of the ‘love/hate’ relationship of Facebook. I love being able to reconnect and being able to keep in touch with people from all over the world. Despite how much I loved my camera, relationships are more valuable than any material item I own. After all it is relationships that give purpose to life.

On the other side of things, I see often where people will clean out their friends on social networks and try to stick with only people they actually talk to on a regular basis. I admit I have tried to do that in the past, especially during traumatic times in my life as in the death of my father. But to be fair I cannot bring myself to get rid of a whole class of ‘friends’ from my social feeds because junior high was so long ago. If I had grown up in one or even just two places as a child than it might be a possiblity. However since a TCK experiences this cycle of loss in regard to friendships and personal identity, I cling to the many places in my life where I grew up. Where I may not hold German citizenship, I do take possession of my time living in Germany as mine and the memories of that culture that are a part of who I am today. Classmates who lived in Germany at that same period that I got to know are unique because no one else can say they have shared that experience. That is what makes a TCK so complex and the friendships they make so priceless.

What has placed this subject so close to my heart recently is looking back at friendships that I am clinging too. As someone who has moved so much and has had to say goodbye so many times, I have still fought for many friendships to keep going. There is a misconception about TCKs that we do not let ourselves get to close to people, or that we can easily just walk away. There is a certain way that nomadic people prepare and work through the process of having to say goodbye and having to make a new life in a new place. That process and going through the continual cycle of it I feel has only made a TCK’s heart bigger and more accepting of people. I can open myself up to anyone that I have just met, just as someone would to a friend they have known for awhile and have gone through those specific phases of friendship. I believe that fact tied in with the amazingly large number of people I have met or became friendships with is the root cause of being overwhelmed. I want to be a great friend to everyone and I want to relive the memories shared. It can be hard to rebuild friendships with people if you find you are giving a certain higher percentage to the equation that is not being reciprocated. How much of yourself and your time do you invest in friends and relationships that become more of a one way street?

It boils down to one main realization. By finding friends that I had lost touch with through out the years in this online world of social networking, I find parts of myself and my life I had said goodbye to once already. Why would I want to have to say goodbye again?

Q: Are you a TCK/ATCK/CCK or a person of a highly nomadic life that has experienced the cycle of saying goodbye and letting go of friends? How has social networking affected your life?

Bonnie Rose

This is Pt. II, to read TCK: Saying Goodbye to Friends Pt. I click here.
For more information on Third Culture Kids, TCKs, and ATCKS.

* For information regarding the use of photography by Bonnie Rose and photographic services contact bonnie[at]bonnie-rose[dot]co[dot]uk

Photography: Living Dolls

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Throwback thursday and I bring you today my Living Dolls concept from a shoot back in 2010 while we were living on Oahu, Hawaii. This idea came about after I had met worked with model Alysha and had come across another model, Kristen. Both girls are beautiful but also had a quality that reminded me of dolls. So with the help of my make up artist, Melissa Hurley, we transformed the models into china dolls. Alysha’s Outfit I put together from two different dresses I found from vintage shops. Kristen’s blouse came from Target and I sewed her skirt from my own design without a pattern. I loved that pink skirt because it was my first time to put bustles into a garment The models were accompanied by china dolls I found from vintage stores and used a bit of trick photography and post processing to put them on bookshelves. Overall it was a fun shoot that we shot with the use of my then new Alien Bees lighting equipment.

Here are the final edits from the Lolita Living Doll shoot
and make sure to check out the Behind the Scenes video at the end of the post.

Watch the Behind the Scenes footage from the photo shoot with Bonnie Rose.

Models: Alysha Busha & Kristen Elizabeth
Make up Artist: Melissa Hurley
Hairstylist/Styling/Photography: Bonnie Rose

*photos belong to Bonnie Rose Photography © 2013 All Rights Reserved | www.bonnie-rose.co.uk* For information regarding the use of photography by Bonnie Rose and photographic services contact bonnie[at]bonnie-rose[dot]co[dot]uk

Wedding: Destination Vow Renewal

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Sixteen weeks, which is essentially four months, to go until

we renew our vows for our 10th Wedding Anniversary.

Guess what? We will not be staying here in Bath, England as planned.

I had originally envisioned taking photos in the beautiful Sommerset countryside

and an intimate reception in our back garden with Solsbury hill as our view.

While that would have been just perfect for us,

my husband wanted to do something a little bit more.

It is now a destination vow renewal and we are taking this fete to Wales!

Snowdonia, Wales. The name alone sounds like a mystical location in a fairytale story.

It is a region in northern Wales, a national park, and gets its name from Mt. Snowdon.

Not only is the area beautiful beyond words it is also tied into the Arthurian legend.

The area is bustling with outdoor activities like cycling, climbing,

horse riding, golfing, canyoning, caving, water sports.

There are the historical sites, railways, food, shopping, and events.

bridge and river by photoeverywhere.co.uk

I must find out where this bridge is or if there are more like it near where we will be staying.
As a photographer my mind is racing with ideas for wedding and family photos.

I really want to go see Portmeirion, pictured below, during our time in Wales.

It is a unique coastal resort in Snowdonia that really could be a fairytale.

The colours of the landscape alone really make the colour buildings come alive.

It is no wonder so many brides choose Portmeirion as their wedding destination.

I have one dream to add to this new location and that is to ride horses there.

Also envisioning being photographed in my gown with a horse.

That would be perfection.

As of last week we booked our holiday rental where family and friends will join us for a week.
I now am pouring over images and links of things to see and do in the area.
I know this will be one trip that will have to be followed up with return visits.
There is just so much to see and do and Snowdonia is quite a big area to cover.
My family is very outdoorsy and we do a lot of walking and enjoy outdoor activities.
I am hoping for as much sunshine as Wales will allow this blushing bride 2.0

Q: Have you ever been to Wales? Or do you have any ideas for our Vow Renewal?

* Self portrait by Bonnie Rose Photography © 2012 All Rights Reserved | www.bonnie-rose.co.uk
** For more information regarding photographic services by Bonnie Rose Photography see link above.
*** Snowdonia images by photoeverywhere.co.uk

Travel: Père Lachaise Cemetery

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On my return trip to France there was one place I had marked down on my list of ‘must see places’ in Paris: Père Lachaise Cemetery. As the largest cemetery within the city of Paris it is thought to be one of the most visited cemeteries in the world. When the eternally resting occupants include Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Moliere, and Chopin it is no wonder that hundreds of thousands visitors pay their respects every year. Though I named a few, many more are buried here that enriched the country of France over the past two hundred years. Edith Piaf, the popular French singer who died in 1963, was at the top of my list as my favourite ‘La Vie en Rose’ played in my head. While it only boasted about a dozen graves when it opened in 1804 it became popular as a final resting place with the first few celebrities.

Now a days it is very hard to be buried here with restrictions to having lived and died in Paris. With very few plots available the waiting list I have heard is quite long. Together with the famous Whose Who’ of France are not one but three World War I memorials. Suffice to say that you cannot walk the cobbled stone paths without feeling you are being immersed lifetimes of history, culture and life. I will say that it can be quite easy to get lost. My advice before you arrive is to research online and if you want to be really prepared bring with you a map noting the different graves you would like to see. Alongside the most famous celebrities there are also many notable people whose headstones are like art and they mark not just history but interesting stories.

That is my visit to the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France.

We actually stayed at a place via https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

which was only a short walk away and in a beautiful and quiet neighbourhood

if you are looking for a place to stay in Paris.

Have you been to this cemetery?

Would love to hear your thoughts!

Make sure to also check out the other travel posts for

Travel Tuesday with this link below:

I am linking up with ‘Travel Tuesdays’ and you should too!

* For information regarding the use of photography by Bonnie Rose and photographic services contact bonnie[at]bonnie-rose[dot]co[dot]uk

Featured today on Expatsblog

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I have exciting news for you! Today I am a featured expat on Expats blog.

The questions were asked, I answered, and you can read

the whole interview here:

Featured Expat Interview

with Blogger Bonnie Rose

An excerpt from Bonnie Rose’s featured Expat interview on www.expatsblog.com

Please head over to Expatsblog.com and view the full Featured Expat interview.

Never Have I Ever…

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With my friend from our time in Hawaii, Evette, out on the town in London

Shortly after my 29th birthday in November of 2011

I shaved the side of my head in the tiny bathroom of our flat outside Brighton, England.

I had been thinking and talking about doing it for sometime.

Fueled by the idea that I would be turning 30 in a year I took the impulse and shaved away.

If you feel to watch I highlighted the moment with a video on youtube.

I had a whole bucket list of items to do before turning 30 and some were achieved.

Others are still life dreams that I would like to do while I am alive.

Today I saw that Ashela with an A did a Never Have I Ever post.

Since I leave Sundays open for posting about anything,

this felt like a perfect time to come up with a list.

Easier said then done.

Its not that I have done everything

because I most certainly have not.

Not even close.

But now that I have put myself on the spot…

Reds and Brunette with the shaved side look in 2011 – 2012

Let me digress for a moment.

Once I shaved the side of my head I got it touched up a couple of times

by a barber in Brighton, England.

The shaved star design was my favourite.

However with my busy home life and work schedule

I finally decided it was best to just grow it out.

That and I kept thinking about how long my hair would be

in time to come if I let it grow it out then.

I believe it was March 2012 that I decided to just grow it out.

A year later and my hair is now two inches below my chin.

It may be a bit annoying to grow out.

But in the end well worth it and I am glad I did.

So now on to my ‘Never Have I Ever’.

Or the things I have yet to do

(and some may never. See item number #2)

NEVER HAVE I EVER

…been to Canada. Having not spent much time in the USA growing up, it just has become a place I’ve not yet travled too though many Americans have. Having loved the Anne of Avonlea as a child, I would love to see such beautiful scenic locations like the films pictured.

…seen the Sound of Music. My mum disliked the film and I never had an inkling to watch it. Ironic perhaps since Austria is one of my most beloved places from childhood. I cannot wait to go back with my family and could see retiring there.

…owned an iPad. I almost feel lame to add this but I now finally feel like one of the few who has not yet bought into this device at least from those who love Apple products. I love Apple products. But so far my iPhones and laptop have sufficed. There are usually other things that take higher precedence in items needed for purchase.

…been to a wine tasting. I have however been to a whiskey tasting for the Balvenie Rare craft roadshow in Los Angeles. But with a sister who is a sommelier I really need to pay more respect to the vino. Especially with having grown up in Italia.

…been to Japan. I wrote this for my husband because he got to go before finishing up his tour in Hawaii with the USAF. I have been in the airport in Japan many times with traveling to Australia, Thailand, and Cambodia. But I have yet to leave the airport and see the real Japan.

…driven in England. Or Europe for that matter. I was never old enough while we lived in Europe and to this day I have yet to get my drivers license in England. It has been about two years since I have even driven a car since moving back here.

…made a wedding cake. Which I am going to attempt to do for this August for our 10th Anniversary vow renewal. I almost made my own wedding cake ten years ago. I had a cake lady all set up whom had been referred to me by a friend at University. I met with her and she told me she did not do red velvet or fondant…two things I really wanted. A week before my wedding my father found an amazing cake shop that could help a poor bride out last minute. I love watching Cake Boss, it cannot be that hard? (famous last words…)

…been to a Zumba class. While I have tried a lot of fitness programs and classes (including step aerobics with my father as a teen) Zumba has not been one of them. I am more a Crossfit or Yoga sort of girl.

…let my boys drink soda. They may have had a sip or have been snuck some by my in laws but I do not plan on letting them have it for quite a while. If they want something fizzy they can live up to their European sides and drink S. Pellegrino. I used to be addicted to soda to the point that if the drive through of McDonalds was still open I would drive through with my kids just to get an XLG soda with no ice. After going cold turkey in England I do ont even like soda anymore. My brain lapses and I think I want one and I will buy one. But after a sip, and deeming its too sweet, I just set it aside. I’ve used this story with my boys to educate them on the issue of addiction and why starting to drink soda is probably just a bad idea.

…gotten into Fresh Prince of Bel Air nor do I know the theme song. I was at a church camp in Australia and I was the one American who could not sing a long wile all the Aussie kids knew all the words. I grew up in Europe and moved to the USA at 17. Consequently there are quite a bit of Pop Culture references for two decades in the US history of which I am not aware of nor understand. On that note I never had a favourite New Kids on the Block. I dont even know a single song.

…liked Haunted Houses. I hate being scared and I really dislike Halloween aside from the dressing up part. Which makes sense since my mum never liked Halloween and had a rule we could never be anything scary or evil. A rule I have kept in our family traditions. Somehow I have slowly started like to watch scarier programmes with my husband like Dexter. Recently we have started watching Hannibal the Following, and the Bates Motel. Still no pleasure in going to be scared at a Haunted House though. Unless its the Haunted Mansion at Disney. That ride is my favourite.

So what is on your ‘Never Have I Ever’ list? Link below!

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Coffee Beans

Self Portrait: ‘Into the Woods’

TCK: Saying Goodbye to Friends Pt. II

Photography: Living Dolls

Wedding: Destination Vow Renewal

Travel: Père Lachaise Cemetery

Featured today on Expatsblog