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!!!