While it’s common for many people to jump into a new year full of motivation and armed with a lengthy list of things they can’t wait to accomplish, I’m not one of them. Sure, I have things I’d like to do over the next 12 months, but they can wait. January is my season of wintering. It’s my time for cocooning and living gently. The animals and plants do it to prepare themselves for the long days to come, why can’t people?

The Season of Wintering

Living in Southern California, my winter looks a lot different than many other people’s. The thermometer rarely drops below 40, and when it does, I’m usually already snug in my bed for the night. Gray, rainy days are few and far between. We might even experience a heat wave or two (like we are right now). No matter what the weather may be outside, I embrace winter with open arms. I welcome the long evenings and continuously seek ways to make them pass even slower.

I stock up on the things I seek out this time of year: cozy blankets, warm beverages, and my favorite winter reads. I choose something to do with my hands, whether it be a simple knitting or crochet project, or a coloring book filled with images I love that aren’t too intricate or involved. I admittedly don’t watch much TV, but this time of year I choose to play cozy ASMR rooms over sitcoms or movies. The food we cook takes more time to make, and we linger around the table a little longer, wanting the nights to last forever.

On the weekends, there’s no rush to leave the house, and we instead decide on a second pot of coffee and contemplate the day ahead. Perhaps we’ll venture out into the world for a bit, but we know we’ll be just as happy at home with no plans at all (perhaps even more so).

As the weeks go by, I feel myself letting go of all the stress and worry from the past year, like I’m physically leaving something behind. I’m finding more peace and contentment each day. I’m really recharging my batteries, getting ready for the busy spring.

This isn’t laziness; it’s intentionally slowing down. I’m taking care of myself, both physically and emotionally, so I can tackle anything that comes my way in the coming year with fresh energy and a clear head. It’s wintering.

Embrace the season of wintering with our latest issue of Bella Grace.

The post A Time for Wintering first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Bella Grace: New Generation! This new magazine, hitting newsstands in the spring of 2018, will feature everything you know and love about Bella Grace, but made especially for girls ages 12 to 19. Want to share feedback as we develop this exciting new title? We’re also looking for teenage fans of Bella Grace and leaders of young women’s groups, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts to join our focus group.

As we prepare for this exciting new launch, we’re seeking young, female writers and photographers to contribute to the premiere issue. Whether you are a passionate writer or are an Instagram rockstar, you have the opportunity to be a part of the first issue of Bella Grace: New Generation.

“Ever since we made the decision to launch Bella Grace: New Generation, I’ve been so excited to bring the type of content we know and love from Bella Grace to a younger group of girls. When it comes to magazines for teenaged-girls, there isn’t a lot out there that deals with more than fashion and celebrity news. Our goal is to create a publication that goes right to the heart of what matters most to those ages 12 through 19. New Generation is a place for readers to find stories from girls their age, and find comfort and empowerment as they read words that will make them say, ‘Me too!’ We know that growing up can be a tough experience for many, but we want to show that it can also be a beautiful adventure.”

— Christen Hammons
Editor of Bella Grace and New Generation

How to Submit

Please send all written and photography submissions via email to

bellagrace@stampington.com

With the subject line “New Generation Submissions”

By December 20, 2017

Don’t know where to begin? Here are some suggestions for where to start:

Written Content

• Personal Narratives (no more than 500 words)
• Unique perspectives to offer on everyday life for teenagers
• Advice on how to claim your individuality in a world of sameness and “fitting in”
• Tips and techniques for balancing the demands of the everyday girl
• Stories of body acceptance and celebration
• Suggestions for creating a healthy relationship with social media
• Struggles and lessons learned from friendships

Artistic Photography

• You and your friends living your best life
• Nature
• School life
• Books
• Florals

In order to be selected for publication, photographs need to be hi-resolution images (300 dpi, at least “ x 6”)

Lists

Are you a list-maker? Creating lists can be a very effective and inspiring form of writing. They’re also incredibly fun to read! Make it funny, make it sweet … the choice is yours. Rather than to-do lists, we’re looking for your life lists. A few ideas include:

• 15 Thoughts I Secretly Want to Share with My Friends (But Don’t)
• 5 Times I Laughed Uncontrollably
• 10 Things I’d Tell My 50-Year-Old-Self

Instagram Collections

We love Instagram. It’s such a great way to beautifully share our days with others. It also serves as a diary to help us document small, yet significant moments. If you have an inspired and creative Instagram account, you could be published! For consideration, please submit 15 images that you feel capture your Instagram and a statement about what living a Bella Grace life means to you.

For even more ideas, please refer to our complete submissions page.

Questions about submitting your work? Leave a comment below and we’d be happy to help!

The post Be the Voice of a New Generation first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Here at Bella Grace, we believe there is beauty in imperfection.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating what makes you you – just as you are.

Today, we’ve collected three snippets from Bella Grace articles that focus on the importance of loving who you are and embracing the unique qualities that make you unlike anyone else.

In “Embracing Imperfection” from Bella Grace Issue 6, Joy Jordan talks about how cherishing her flaws taught her to stay humble and real.

“The more I accept my own imperfections, the more I make space for others to do the same. Just like judgment feeds judgment, acceptance feeds acceptance.” — Joy Jordan

Learning to love who you are replaces negative thoughts with a beautiful confidence. You’re embracing every part of you. It’s a powerful confidence that acts as a shield against the possibility of people’s words affecting your self-esteem.

“I believe bed day to be the ultimate form of self-preservation … You deserve it. And your soul will thank you. Deeply.” — Kimberly Wilson

From soft linens to twinkle lights, Kimberly Wilson gives helpful advice on how to make a day of preservation. A day to reflect on your life and just simply, be. A day wrapped up in your own thoughts and silence.

Read the full article, “20 Step Recipe for Self-Love: A Bed Day” in Issue 8 and discover a list of things you can use to create a day of self-reflection. You may find it to be the perfect time to journal and discover why your imperfect qualities are in fact beautiful.

“I love my freckles. Although some describe them as unattractive blemishes that should be removed with their special skin cream, I define my freckles as memories of places I’ve been; things I’ve done; and the people I’ve had the privilege to meet along the way. Life is hard, and everyone carries life’s mark on them differently. My mark is my freckles.” — Jocelyn Wright

You can find the complete list, as shared by our readers, in “51 Things We Love About Ourselves” in Issue 11.

We hope that this provides a bit of encouragement and reassurance for embracing your brilliant, beautiful selves – quirks and all.

Bella Grace would not be able to share women’s stories without the support of our kindreds, readers just like you. If you know anyone who might benefit from a positive start to their week, sharing this post would be the highest compliment to us.

Help Inspire Our Community

What imperfections have you learned to embrace?

The post Embracing Who We Are, Where We Are first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Have you ever dreamed of having one of your photographs featured on the cover of Bella Grace? Well, now’s your chance. We’re currently looking for the cover of our summer 2017 issue and we want your help!

If you have a picture that you think perfectly captures the “Bella Grace spirit,” or know someone who does, you won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity.

If selected, not only will your photo grace our next cover – you’ll win $300!

There are two ways to enter the contest:

• Email your submission(s) to bellagrace@stampington.com using the subject line “Summer Cover Contest.”
• If you are on Instagram, tag your submission(s) with “#bellagracesummercover”

Discover the Cover and Win $100

Not a photographer? No problem. You can also discover the cover and win $100!

If you know someone whose work would be perfect on the cover of Bella Grace, you can still enter to win.

Send an email to bellagrace@stampington.com using the subject line “Summer Cover Contest,” with the cover-worthy shot included. Be sure to include the photographer’s name and where we can find them online.

If you discover our next cover, we’ll send you $100!

In the odd event that two people refer the same photo for consideration, the individual who submitted their referral first will be awarded the $100 prize.

Please note:

• Pictures will need to be available in high resolution and 300 dpi, 8″ x 11″.
• Submissions not chosen for cover may be considered for use on the inside of the magazine.
• Those who do not follow instructions may be disqualified from the contest.

All submissions must be received by March 6th, 2017.

We look forward to finding the next stunning cover to encompass the magic of Bella Grace. Good luck!

The post Bella Grace Cover Contest: Win Up to $300! first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

Early in my artistic journey, macro photography beckoned. 

The sharp focus of a water droplet on a flower petal is dramatic and beautiful. There’s something fascinating about the ordinary, something that draws you in to the very simplicity of the subject. Close-up images are compelling, even magical. With all the chaos and hubbub of everyday life, seeing something so simple and plain can be a breath of fresh air. It can help you appreciate what life has in store and allow you to stop, ground yourself, and get ready to jump back into the chaos once again!

Viewing the world up close through macro photography has become a prominent feature in my work. This intimate point of view dramatizes the fragility of life and lets me live in the moment, allowing me to find the visual message in simple, everyday objects and events. It is a way of seeing the ordinary as the extraordinary that I find myself falling deeper in love with every day.

If you feel macro photography calling to you, here are some of my tried and true tips for achieving close-up images.

• Observe small details throughout your day. A fabulous macro shot isn’t “big picture,” it is discovered in the tiny details. The handle of a teacup could be more interesting than the entire cup.

• Simple backgrounds work best. The backdrop shouldn’t compete with the subject. A solid-colored wall, piece of white foam board, or piece of fabric can function as a lovely background.

• Isolating the subject can create drama. This might be as simple as moving the subject away from a distracting background. Changing the position of your camera equipment or zooming closer can frame a perfect shot. Only include things that add value to the image.

• Press the shutter halfway down to focus and all the way down to capture the subject in your image.

• Get very close (1-2 inches) to the subject.

• Backlight (sunlight) can help capture extra details. The source of light shines directly into the camera lens in this technique.

• You don’t need to go far to find interesting things to shoot with your macro lens. Head to your own backyard or a local park. It is constantly changing with the seasons.

• Most DSLR cameras accommodate switching lenses. Look for the “flower” icon which usually indicates the macro setting. Since I am a Nikon user, my favorite lens has always been the Nikkor 60mm 2.8 macro lens which allows for crisp focus and a dreamy blurred background. This lens is a perfect choice for low-light situations, especially indoors.

• Switch it up! Ask yourself, “How can I make this shot different?” Changing perspective can create stunning results.

• Practice, practice, practice. I suspect the hours of practice I have with my macro lens is a huge factor with how successful I have been at shooting my photos!

Each time my macro lens and I romance everyday life, I fall in love with macro photography again. Take the ordinary and turn it into something amazing with the guidance of a macro lens by your side.

Diana Foster, owner of The Studio 56, is a lifestyle photographer and photo card designer.  She is wife to one, mother of two, sister to many, a musician, a blog addict, and a hopeless dreamer.  Her days are spent romancing ordinary life and everyday stories.  To learn more about her work, visit her blog at thestudio56.com/the-blog and follow her on Instagram (@dianafoster56).  She welcomes email at diana@thestudio56.com.

The post A Different Point of View first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

There are moments where I wish life was wrapped up and under my control, but I also want openness and ease. I crave certainty, but I’m most alive when life unfolds in messy and beautiful ways.

Like many people, I hope for a quick fix — a magic pill that lets me leap over difficult circumstances. This is the craving of my small mind. When I listen to the big mind of my heart, I find wisdom: I only grow if I do the hard, honest work, knowing I’ll begin again and again.

People ask me about my photography. They inquire about necessary equipment for beautiful bokeh or quick tips for stunning images. My response is bare bones: watch light, slow down, pay attention, try new things, and make mistakes. It’s not about the equipment; it’s about how we see the world. Beneath these questions, I hear the longing of our small minds: If it’s about the equipment, I have a quick fix; I have an easy path. But photography requires time, patience, and commitment. A new camera doesn’t make art and beauty. That’s supplied by our souls.

When I teach meditation, I have people sit in chairs. No cushion needed, just a chair. There are no perfect conditions for mindfulness. We sabotage ourselves by thinking change must be grand or circumstances must be perfect. There is great gain in a 3-breath pause. Regular meditation, for just five minutes, creates a clearing. The practice: show up, be present with honesty and gentleness, and start again when needed. No quick fixes in meditation. No quick fixes in life.

During my time in academia — working long hours, feeling important yet equally feeling unworthy — I focused on equipment. I bought new books. I searched for the perfect floor rug, serving bowl, or colorful scarf. I used multi-stage, expensive skin lotions. I longed for new camera lenses. Yet this external focus removed me from what I most needed: self-kindness, connection with my inner compass, and space to listen inward.

My current life is less complex. With simplification, I gain clarity: It’s not about the camera, it’s about how I see. It’s not about the clothes, it’s about how I feel inside. It’s not about the meditation bench, it’s about how I stay with myself: stay as I would with a close friend. We often seek externally that which is only found internally. A contented life is not about equipment or circumstances. A contented life is built brick by brick from the inside out. Each day I remind myself to slow down, pay attention, and be kind; to start exactly where I am; to trust that everything I need is already inside of me.

Joy Jordan is both a teacher and student of mindfulness in Appleton, WI. She lives, teaches, writes and photographs with a curious mind and an open heart. You can find her at BornJoy.com.

The post It’s Not About the Equipment first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.

If you follow Bella Grace on Instagram, you may have noticed some stunning photos popping up from time to time from new and innovative photographers. Some are still-life images of flowers, teacups, and delicious sweets. Others are sweeping landscapes of vast fields, crashing ocean waves, and deep forests full of secrets. And for those who wonder what Bella Grace would be like as a person, she is found in the images of women throughout every stage of their lives; as explorers of wide open spaces, bookworms lost in the pages of a good book, and dreamers leaping into the air.

These pictures all come from our #BellaGraceGuest co-hosts. Each month, our editorial team invites women from around the world with joie de vivre to take over our Instagram and post images about what it means to live the Bella Grace life.

We have witnessed the beautiful poetry of living with these hosts, so let’s meet the women behind the photos featured in the collage above.

• Writer and freelance creative Alisha Sommer opened up her world to us, capturing how she finds light and devours beauty in all its forms in the city of Chicago.

• Over in Canada, still-life photographer Kim Klassen revealed that if you take a moment to stop and look around, you will see bits of lovely everywhere with her photos of weathered furniture and moments spent in her studio.

• Photographer and silversmith Jillian Lukiwski took us on a bohemian adventure through the West Coast, pausing to peer up at the glow of a full moon where the darkness provides sweet dreams to one and all.

• Southern Alberta photographer Schae Philpott showed us the moments that make her heart flutter, including her love for animals and the belief that all creatures deserve kindness.

• Along the coast in Southern California, photographer Claire Brocato shared splashes of color found in blooming Bougainvillea and more lovely images inspired by a fondness for flowers, books, travel, and all things vintage.

• We journeyed to Orange County with blogger and singer-songwriter Hayley Solano, a romantic with a penchant for falling in love with pieces of the past including her great great grandmother’s typewriter.

• Midwest photographer and blogger Adwoa Osei showed us how to surrender to joy, with stunning photos of oceans, flowers, and selfies that captured moments of calm along with poetry that captures the quiet song from within.

• Nina Hurum, a music producer and photographer based in Norway, let us glimpse inside her winter wonderland where photography freezes ordinary moments into a memory bank to treasure forever.

• And this week our featured #BellaGraceGuest, Paige Leigh Reist, will be sharing her tales of magic as an artist and photographer living in YYC, Calgary.

Follow us on Instagram @bellagracemagazine for more everyday inspiration. Do you know someone who would be a perfect #BellaGraceGuest? Comment with their username — we would love to meet them!

The post Meet Our #BellaGraceGuest Instagram Hosts first appeared on Bella Grace Magazine.