It’s safe to say that last year, 2020, was nothing to mess around with. In the midst of my first year teaching, there was a Global Pandemic. Schools were closed, teachers worked from anywhere there was an internet connection and students were left with mom’s and dad’s realizing just how important those teachers are. Not only was my work life completely flipped upside down, the governor invoked a stay-at-home order. All visits with my brother, who has cerebral palsy and lives in a group home, were suddenly postponed “until further notice”. These visits happened monthly, sometimes weekly, since he had moved out. All the while I was silently, or not so silently, freaking out that I was going to turn the big “4-0” in December.
December 29th, to be exact. I was getting so excited for the plans that I had started. I was going to have a huge 1940’s style, 40th birthday. I had been Pinteresting about this party for least 2 years. I had also dreamed of having a real life adult smash cake. With this pandemic business happening around the world, I wouldn’t be able to have this AMAZING birthday celebration. I wanted a live band that played 40’s music, dancing, 40’s dress, food, etc. It was going to be amazing!
So here it is, December 2020; the holidays were officially upon us. Thanksgiving was not, and I repeat, NOT, the same. My 92-year-old gramma had just passed away from Covid. I hadn’t seen my brother in 9 months and I was just in a kind of FUNK. I wanted to do something extra meaningful to celebrate this ridiculous birthday, and I happened to be scrolling around on the book of Face. A friend had posted asking for ideas for something to get her husband for Christmas and someone had mentioned a Pin-Up/Boudoir photoshoot with Grinkie Photography. I checked out Christie’s website and the instant I saw the pinup photos, I knew what I was going to do. A 1940’s pinup style photoshoot was exactly what I was looking for. I emailed Christie within the week and was booked for December 17th. I was pampered by the amazing Lela, who did my hair and makeup. I tried on a ridiculous number of amazing outfits and fell in love with the ones we chose together. I could not have asked for a more special birthday present for myself. It was everything I dreamed of for my smash cake and I am beyond excited to have the mementos that come with one of these photoshoots.
Thank you Lela for taking the time out of your busy schedule to make me look fabulous and PINUP ready. And thank you Christie for providing such an exciting and unique experience for me. I cannot wait to do it again. You have made my 40’s dreams come true!
