Fab Find at under $1

Hello friends!

Check out what I found at a good ol' 99cent store!

A palette of Twelve fabulously SHINEY glitter eyeshadow. I absolutely love finds like this. I swatched them on my skin and the payoff is not too shabby. I think I'll go out and grab some for my friends if there are anymore after I write this. This is perfect for my dance friends and also since Halloween is just around the corner, or if you just wanna be divalicious!  Go out and get yours, too!!!

Glitter makes everything better!  ;)

Smiley facez!

Closet Confession #6: My Former Cleanfreak Emerging???

I am blogging at 12:something at night (or morning) only because I was struck with the most strongest desire to clean my entire house from top to bottom.  To keep myself from grabbing the Windex bottle and the Magic Eraser, here I am propped up on my bed, with lights off, except for this supersonic glare coming from my laptop and I'm looking for some sort of "therapy".  I've heard that cleaning is the new therapy, by the way.  Well, cleaning is certainly not my type of therapy but when you are going through a transformation, be it physical or emotional, or perhaps you're in some sort of "transitioning" period, all I can think about is..."doing whatever will occupy, relax, or free my mind".  But seriously, why cleaning?  I could be doing other things, like sleeping....

I came home tonight and opened the refrigerator door, and I so wanted to grab a damp cloth and wipe every clear shelf and container.  I walked into my room, and saw tiny particles of dust on my dresser and nightstand and I thought to myself, "Wow, I really need to get the wood polish and remove all these dust bunnies." I saw the row of flip flops that I usually place under my dresser for when I just need to "slip n' go" and I wanted to remove them all from their usual spot.  I placed a towel in the laundry room and I wanted to scavenge through the hamper and put a load to wash.  Mind you these observations all came to me within a half hour's time!  The aliens must be taking over because this is not my usual thought pattern.

However, when I was a very young girl, I was the ultimate cleanfreak and it was a habit that I may have lost friends over.  I would invite my friends over and before they would arrive, I'd make sure my room was cleaner than a hospital sterilization room.  My bed was neatly made, my clothes were put away, my dresser mirror was fingerprint-less, not one dust particle was living or breathing in my room, and absolutely not one thing was out of place.  But when 2 or 3 of my ten year old friends came over to hang out in my room, a sudden state of anxiety would blanket over me.  I panicked at the sight of one of them sitting on my bed because my sheets would wrinkle.  I held my breath when I saw them reaching for my hairbrush.  I distracted anyone who would grab for my collection of encyclopedia books because I knew they were all in order.  Because of this insane debaucle, my friends soon found "other places to hang out".  I look back on all this now and think, Dang, what a freakazoid (meaning ME, not my friends)!  I dropped the habit as I got into my early twenties! Yeah who has time to clean when you're in your twenties, right? I can proudly say the habit has yet to return even in my thirties, yay!...until.....Tonight! NOoooo! THE FORMER CLEANFREAKAZOID RETURNS!!!

So I got to thinking, why do people clean so much? And what makes them stop cleaning?? 

I have a few friends who spend a majority of their days off cleaning their entire house.  To some it's an outlet for stress, cleaning can be mentally therapeutic and it's a way to gain control of their lives.  It is also something many people worry over if they were to leave their home untidy.  We all know it's something that has to be done, we all have different reasons and different paces.

Tonight I visited my cousin whose father (who resided with her) passed away last night.  Prior to her father's passing, she was undergoing a ton of stress, like most people are who are hit hard by the economy, she had to be out of her home by LAST Friday and she was still packing and now on top of that has to deal with her father's funeral.  As I walked into her home tonight, I pictured someone taking her house and cupping it in their hands, shaking it like a pair of dice, and then placing it back down on the lot again. Everything was everywhere.  So I got to chatting with her and she explained to me something that made sense, her mind was so jumbled that she couldn't even think to clean. She may have been there physically but her mind wasn't.  She said to me, "How my house looks, is how my mind feels. How can I clean it when I'm too stressed out?" My eyes and my mind were opened at that point.  My cousin was right smack in the middle of a transformation and transitiong period.  Well maybe she had just started the phase.  Who knows?  But at one point, she stopped cleaning because it was no longer serving its therapeutic purposes.  I stopped being the freakazoid because I became too obsessive.  It's when things become "too much" or "not at all" that we have to step back and make a change.  But I do know this, that once all the dust settles, she and I will grab that Windex bottle and Magic Eraser and get to scrubbing again. 

p.s. THE CLEANFREAKAZOID will not be making it's return!  I am just gaining control of my life again.  :)

My new Golden Rule: The "No DoucheBag Rule"

As a birthday present to myself, I'm enforcing a new Golden Rule and that's "The No Douchebag Rule".

Recently, I've been getting a lot of funky vibes and stink-eyes from individuals about the passions that I hold near and dear to my heart along with the things that I enjoy doing: all centered around having an abundant life and my reasons for happiness (even if they're somewhat temporary).  Normally I don't give two hoots what negative unimportant people think and I rarely care to give such people an ounce of my time.  Well this is certainly not an explanation of my actions, it's more of a big Orange Road Sign saying beware of the big-ass pothole that is about to bust your tires up ahead!!!

What some of these stink-eyed people don't realize is that what makes my life fullfilling may not hold the same value and definition as what is meaningful in their life (and why would I expect it to?).   Hey, if you enjoy feeding your pet turtle on odd days of the week, and prefer to watch reruns of horribly edited reality TV-shows, then so be it, I'm not gonna knock your meaning of a fulfilling life.  My ultimate goal in life is to lay in my deathbed and say, "Yup, hell ya I loved the life I lived." For me to accomplish this goal, I must rid myself of all the douchebaggery!!!

So to better understand me and my "Don't Be a Douchebag" Rule...we must first define what a Douchebag is...

A Douchebag... can be of any gender or age- the characteristics of douchebaggery does NOT discriminate.  Trust me, I've had a few run-ins with male and female douchebags, young and old, obviously the packaging is different but the stench is quite similar and can be detected a few hundred yards away. (Hence, the name) They can also be family members, friends, acquaintances, used-to-be friends, and admirers from afar.

A Douchebag... is completely oblivious of their own misery because they are so preoccupied with what is going on with your life and will talk you out of whatever idea that you may think will bring you happiness. They are convinced that your actions will have no benefit to your life and most importantly to theirs...WTH??? Really?? Pathetic, right? I don't get it either, so let's move on...

A Douchebag... will wander high and low and search the depths of the earth for the answer to this eminent question "How come we are not friends on Facebook?"  The answer: Perhaps, may be located in the Dead Sea, so look there!!! Need I say more?

A Douchebag... is, still to this day, waiting for an apology. An apology for what?  Who really knows?!! It's that entitlement mentality- that because you somehow hurt their feelings or something when you threw sand in their eyes when you were 3.  Really?? Seriously??  They have professionals for this type of disorder.

A Douchebag... feeds on the H word- HATE!!! They hate you and they want you to know it, they even want you to Hate them! But come on, HATE is such a strong emotion and is a ball of useless energy to waste on someone you don't care for.  Maybe it was because of the sandball incident, or because you did not ask to be their friend on Facebook, or you de-friended them because you smelled of their instant douchebaggery??? Who the hell knows...who the hell cares.

A Douchebag... is convinced you are insane but yet they are addicted to knowing your every move. They also scream obscenities at you in public and in the same breath will ask to have dinner with you.  I've found myself trying to act more of a nut so they can keep their distance.  This is when you flash them your straight-jacket while you are out dancing one night!!!

A Douchebag... revels in your discontentment, displeasure, and dissatisfaction. In other words, they enjoy seeing you unhappy.  Whether it is their doing or not, they thank their Gods that you've run into some turmoil.  (Beware, don't stay in this dissatisfied state for too long, you'd only be doing them a favor.)

A Douchebag... is the biggest bull$***ter, deceiver, and drama king/queen.  On the days they decide to be your "friend" and that they've miraculously confessed they no longer "hate" you, it is quite easy for them to tell you how happy they are for you or that they want you to be happy or that you make them happy when their actions state otherwise. Be mindful of this sneaky behavior (see above description).  This sometimes can be their bait to lure you into thinking they are on your side. They do this to sabotage you and their mission is to tear you apart, limb by limb.  Be smart and don't repeat the mistake I have made in the past in giving individuals the benefit of the doubt. Not everyone has good intentions.

Alas, The "No DoucheBag Rule" is to be mindful of the douchebags and to stay as far away as possible from them in order to keep their toxicity away from you- "The only things that matter are whether your life was fulfilling and whether you loved the people around you the best way you knew how." (~Peter Michaud)  Which goes without saying, treat people with respect and try to be a positive light to the people you connect with.

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend.  I only do the things I do because it makes my heart smile and I take life from a Deathbed Perspective.  I am just ME.  I would never force ME upon YOU.  And if I can put a smile on anyone's heart, I've done a lot more than I expected.

Hugs to my peeps (the non-douchebags).
And thanks to the douchebags for giving me something to blog about.  I hope I have inflated your ego a bit. :)

Obsessions that become Passions

Now that I am able to sit for a good amount of time to type up a blog, let me share with you my new obsession...(I'm realizing that I have collected a lot of obsessions...hmmm...no, it's called passion)...it's hula hooping! I get so giddy inside just thinking about it.  It takes me back to my childhood years when I would take my hoop outside and just take it for walks, you know like rolling it along side me as I walk.  That, to me was a lot of fun. 

So yeah, I'm officially hoop-happy!!! I wake up in the mornings wanting to grab it, spin it, twirl it, jump through it, throw it, fling it...well you get the idea.  And I'm up late at nights doing pretty much the same thing and I go to bed completely satiated.  I don't know what it is about hooping that gives me this joy.  I'm thinking it's the feeling of quick accomplishment when I learn a new trick.  Some tricks only take about an hour to get down, some may take longer, but it definitely is easier and faster to see your progress than it is with let's say dance, which can take years to really notice that you are doing it well. 

So in my, let's say passion for hooping, I've also taken the time to make a few.  I made my first one for Cruz, my 7 year old son who about a week ago, had no idea how to hula hoop and now he has a couple of tricks under his little belt.  He took onto it in a matter of minutes after I taught him how to move with it.  It definitely is a great feeling!  The next one I make is going to a special friend of mine as a birthday gift!!!

But let me just say, this new found sport/hobby integrates so well with dance.  I pop in some groovy music and MOVE!  Such an amazing feeling to just freestyle and let the music move you and the hoop.  The best part about all this is meeting new hoopers!!!

I dare you to pick one up and just FLOW!

My latest and greatest discovery in the world of fashion: Gypsy Junkies

Hey you's:

Eeekghad- I know it's been waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy too long since I've posted on this blog.  I've been playing this super bad blogger owner role because I've been neglecting my readers and most of you have probably gave up on checking for any new posts... :( my apologies.

Okay so I found this very unique store in Las Vegas called Gypsy Junkies and they have the cutest, funnest, and original things in there. Well I didn't necessarily find it, one of my favorite relatives told me about it and said when she walked into the store, it reminded her of me.  Squeee!!!

So this retail store holds dresses, pants, jeans, leggings, skirts, tops, etc.  You name it~ but with a gypsy charm. They are located on the corner of Pecos Rd. and Patrick Lane.  Sorry I don't have the exact address but it's located in a little shopping center.  Check them out, if you are like me, you'll love there cute style.  Then let me know what you bought.  I will definitely post my finds.

Until next time or the next time my fingers feel like typing. Ciao bellas~

High on Life

I've been feeling pretty swell lately...what I mean is that when someone asks me how I'm doing, the usual answer I give them is that I'm good or great!  Don't we all often say that out of habit? I am feeling more than just 'good' or 'great' lately, it's turned into some sort of 'high on life' right now.

I am loving the time I'm spending with my family.  I am also loving the time I'm spending with my friends and dance friends.  Most importantly, I am loving my alone time.  Is this what the self-help authors write about when reaching that abundance in life?   Could this euphoric feeling be more about balance and harmony?  Whatever it is from- I am thankful.  With the many readings I've done in the past, one thing that I have found to be universal in the land of happiness and joy is balance.  Too much of one thing can be damaging. 

Feeling good also means putting yourself on that pedestal.  What I don't mean about this is to think that you are above everyone else.  No one likes to be looked down on.  What I am saying is to give "You" that tender loving care that you need.  I have never felt more healthy in life as I do now.  I have gotten into the habit of taking my daily dosage of vitamins, doing my daily stretches, and my periodic workouts. 

Balance everything in your life and give some time for yourself.  Be careful of the demands of 'one' thing.  It will put you in a tailspin.

much love xoxo~

On the down low...

Hey peeps,

I've been on the down low with my shopping adventures because I'm saving up that "green" for a special trip in May with a super duper belly dance crew!  However, I'm still searching online for some random awesome-ness.  So with me being an accessory-driven-wear-stuff-for-fun kind of gal, I'm eye-ing some finger baubles (rings) from UO (Urban Outfitters).

I also love their vintage inspired jewelry!

I'm still and will forever be in love with my black rose ring (that I snatched from Forever 21 about a year and half ago).  Did I mention that I found matching black rose earrings at Betsey Johnson? I have a thing about black roses and I don't think they symbolize "death" at all.  They are so beautiful... and when have you really laid your eyes on a black rose- rarely, right?  But there's such a distinct beauty about it.

Anyhoo~ I'm excited for spring to come that means more donning of accessories and baubles! My jewelry stand is already overflowing with goodness.  It's the only thing I want to take with me when I die.

Have a great time searching for your very own special "to-die-for" accessory!  Ciao~

A Dancing Frenzy!

Where have I been, you ask?  Well, my legs have gone crazy and I've been on a dancing frenzy! I performed my very first solo (I mostly dance with a troupe) on January 30th to a full house of bellydancing enthusiasts.  Then last night another solo performance at a cozy Greek restaurant.  I'd like to take a class on controlling nervousness and the stage jitters...sometimes I think my knees shake so much you can hear them rattle!  My body is a bit exhausted but mostly my brain is fried from coming up with choreographies and counting beats and steps.  It has been an awesome first two months of 2010- it's just what I planned- a dance inspired year!  So far so good!

How is your year coming along?  Have you set your goals for the year?  Have you established in your mind what you want to come out of this year?  (Besides a whole lotta Ca$h Money!) 

But be careful to not compare yourself with your neighbor or try to rise up to someone else's level.  We are individuals and we can only work on our own path/level/journey/skill asset/capability whatever you want to call it.  No matter what, we all have something unique to offer to one another.  Don't ever think you are not good enough yet.  It's that kind of thinking that will buckle you down to the ground.  Rise up on your stage and dance! 

Think it and Live it up!  ;D

Closet Confession #5: Brow Obsession

So, I'm sure you've all heard that the eyebrows not only frame your eyes, but they frame your entire face.  It's true!  And my obsession for clean eyebrows happened when I was 18 years old.  I discovered the beauty in nice well-kept eyebrows.  I soon became obsessed when I would come home from work during my lunch hour just to pluck my eyebrows!  Crazy, huh?  It would annoy the heck out of me when I noticed a small stub of hair growing and I would immediately grab my tweezers and pluck it!  Soon, I was developing scabs from picking too deep at the not-yet-grown out hairs. 

A couple of years later, I took up a job working part-time in a salon and I had the convenience of getting my eyebrows waxed for free!  Cha-ching!  I was delighted that my eyebrows were waxed and trimmed weekly.  I was told that my eyebrows grew out instead of growing down- so in my head my eyebrows were unruly!  *sigh*

I soon outgrew all the obsession when I went through a "cleansing-phase" in my life (that's a whole other story in itself). 

So fast-forward to the present- I don't wax my eyebrows anymore, I found the wax to be irritating to my skin.  I pluck them myself.  And suprisingly, I will sometimes forget to pluck for a week and half.  Funny how habits change!  But my eyebrows are still thin but I love them just as much.  When applying makeup, I use a dark brown eyeshadow (like Brun from MAC) to shade them in with a gel-based color (like a dark brown fluidline) on top to keep them intact.  And I love a slight arch in the brow.  (Check out kandee johnson's youtube vids on her eyebrow tips.)

So, yes the eyebrows may frame the entire face and give definition to the eyes and forehead but what really matters is that you perfect your beauty from the inside and your true radiance will shine through!

p.s. even unibrows were in fashion at some point in history.

Keep Smiling Beauties!

F-F-F-Fresh J's- my love for Urban fashion!!

Yo! Check out my funky F-R-E-S-H J's (Jordans)!  While my hubby and I were out shopping this weekend- he spotted these hi-top Jordans for me and he said they had my name written all over them!  It's no wonder I married this man- he knows exactly what my style is!


The are black with black patent holographic trim- splashed with bright neon pink and green with an old-skool flair!  I love them!  But most of all I love my man!


While I'm a girly- girl and all- I have always had a love for urban streetwear.  I grew up in the streets and in-the-not-so-rich-part-of-town and hi-top sneakers remind me of my childhood!! They send me on an adventure run of rainbow smileys... :o)))))

I was thinking of wearing them last night on our drive through town but it was raining and didn't want to get 'em wet!  Maybe when it's shining bright with sunlight outside- I might just pull them babys out of the closet.


Okay well have a cheerful Tuesday even though it's not so sunny out! 


Oh- and I will be posting a closet confession this week!  Watch out for it!

Step Off the Pony Express for a minute...

WOw!! I've just realized that I haven't posted in almost 10 days! Whoa!  These January days are going so fast I feel like I'm on a speeding train looking out the window watching all the trees and bushes whiz on by!  Ever feel like that?  Ever feel like you wanna jump off the train hoping that it will slow down life a little?  Or maybe have the Pony Express stop at the next train stop for a couple of hours while you catch a breather? 

Sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed, rushed, stressed, or just out of breath (figuratively speaking) I do a few things to get grounded again.  If I'm sitting at my laptop and I need to clear my mind for a few minutes, I turn to a website that always creates a sense of tranquility and gives me a burst of inspiration.  I go to zenhabits.net.  It's a blog and I'm a fan of blogs- the non-commercial ones.  The ones that sound like their is an actual human-being behind the words on the screen.   It's how I started mine.  I wanted to feel like I was talking to a group of my friends without actually talking but instead using my mind and fingers.

Another way I take a "breather" is to practice yoga, or do some sort of physical activity without creating too much hassle, like driving to a gym, studio, or having to get dressed for a class.  This year, I have every physical thing I need at my fingertips without leaving the house.  Lately, I've been jumping on my Wii Fit Plus almost every day when I have an extra minute.  Exercising increases relaxation and helps you sleep better and also puts you in a better mood, plus all the other astounding benefits it does for you.  And since I've made it a new year resolution to clear my plate of time consuming drama-filling things, I now have time to create choreographies for dance.  Which is my numero uno amore!  I also have my new hula-hoop and pole that the hubby got me for Christmas, which I have already played with and learned a few tricks.  I think I'm addicted to getting physically fit this year and to master my new toys!  I mean really physically fit and balanced all over.  I took a class at the end of last year that involved spinning poi and aerial tissue.  Which was very interesting and can't wait to dabble in it some more. 

Or do what you love like pampering yourself to a mani/pedi, a haircut, a massage, or whatever gets your mind off things.

So I guess what I am saying is, if you are feeling like me and feel like everything is flying by before your very eyes and all you wanna do is breathe: drop what you are doing, close your eyes, grab that moment and claim it for yourself.  Do something that you love, something that makes your heart humm, something that will ease your mind even if it's just for 5 minutes.  In the midst of all this January madness of new beginnings, new year resolution making, organizing-and-cleaning, you so owe it to yourself to stop that Pony Express and get off the speeding train of "must and have to do's".

Ahhhhhhhh!

Sending Serene thoughts your way!
XOXO

Wrist-y Cuffs and MATTE nail polish

Hello Delightful Friends,

I hope you all had a Lively and Entertaining New Years and if not, then a Peaceful and Serene one!  Wow there is already so much I want to get done this year that I haven't even finished my yearly to-do list yet.  (it's a work in progress)  But before I share that, I wanted to share with you all my wrist-y cuffs that I bought at the mall shortly before NYE- since a lot were on sale! 

I love the colors and the grab-your-attention to my wrist type of things!  They are fun and like I mentioned before- they are very helpful for doing pole exercises.  (the hubby finally got me a pole for upper body conditioning! ;-P)  It definitely eliminates pole burn and blisters on your arm!  Oh and I tried out the O-P-I matte color in Hot Pink (not sure that's the actual name of the color).  That's another fun thing to put on your hands.  The finish reminds me of those satin-y christmas ornaments rather than the high-glossed ones!  Check them out- I bought mine at Ulta.  The black one is a popular one.

Okay now I'm gonna get back to my to-do list and the million and one things I need to get done this month- like yearly reports!

Have fun in the New Year of 2010!!!