Words of Wisdom: Audre Lorde

November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 Mstldelano2 Comments

When I first started on my emotional and spiritual journey, I came across a lot of unsound advice from well-intentioned (but clueless) friends and family. The main problem with the advice I was receiving was that it lacked nuance and context for my specific circumstances.

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They knew me but they didn’t KNOW me, if you get my drift.

I kind of resigned myself to walking this path alone, until I came across the quote, “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house”. I was perplexed by it, but I thought it was interesting enough to dig deeper and learn who said it first. My research led me to Audre Lorde.

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And. My. World. Changed.

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I found so much of what Audre wrote about mirrored my personal experiences, frustrations and concerns. She inspired me to find my voice, to own my personal power, and to care for myself. I owe a lot to Ms. Lorde.

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Whether you’re familiar with her or not, I’m sure you’ll find a gem among her words. The hardest part of this post was limiting the number of quotes so as not to inundate you all.

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Enjoy, and talk to you all tomorrow!

(all photos courtesy of Pinterest)

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Creating a Staycation

November 2, 2017October 30, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

After experiencing several intensely busy months at work, I had intentions of taking a vacation to the warm, sunny island of Puerto Rico. I saw myself walking the beaches, touring Old San Juan, and getting the tan of a lifetime.

Then Hurricane Maria happened.

So, needless to say, my dreams of soaking up the Caribbean sun were dashed to pieces. No beaches, touring or tanning for me. However, I count my blessings: my Puerto Rican friends are safe and healthy, the island is starting to recover and I’m positive that they will rebuild and be better than ever.

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(Photo courtesy of WeClipArt)

That being said, I still have a few scheduled days off and no concrete plans.

What’s a girl to do?

Time for Operation Staycation! I started getting everything I need to have a fantastic time at home. Here are some of the elements needed for a restful and restorative staycation:

An itinerary. Just because you’re staying at home doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t plan out how to spend your time. The reason why most staycations fail is because there is no clear plan in place. Trust me, a good staycation involves some sort of planning.
Tools of relaxation. Clean sheets with high thread count, a fluffy robe and comfortable slippers, plush towels, and luxurious bath products are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tools of relaxation.
Limited distraction. Lesser amounts – or complete elimination – of social media, television, phone calls from annoying people, no checking into work email accounts should all be the goal. Whatever distracts you and makes you feel stressed or tired should be minimized or completely removed during the stay-cation.
A commitment to relaxation. Be clear on what it will take to make you feel rested and relaxed then DO THAT!

If you all can’t go somewhere fabulous during the holiday season, at least commit to enjoying a little bit of staycation time. You won’t regret it!

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Artist to Know: Lina Iris Viktor

October 31, 2017October 31, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

I regularly mention my love of art in my posts, and one of the highlights of my art experiences came this year, when I attended Neneh Ada Yang’s first U.S. Art Exhibition. Now, I’d like to discuss Lina Iris Viktor, an artist that I find fascinating and incredibly talented.

You can check her out at her website, but for the sake of getting a quick preview of her work, look at photos of one of her hauntingly beautiful paintings. This one is Syzygy (2015).

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Lina’s works are striking combinations of black, white, 24 kt gold leaf, and Majorelle blue (a shade closely resembling Yves Klein’s preferred shade of ultramarine blue). Obviously, I have a thing for Majorelle blue, too (check out the handbag on my Current Wish List to see what I mean).

Lina’s paintings have an indescribable, otherworldly quality. There’s something so luxe yet approachable about her creations. I’m inserting an interview with Lina below. I really enjoyed hearing her discuss her preferred color palette, thoughts on the importance of art, and her personal opinion about “starving artists”.

Lina currently has an exhibition in London (unfortunately, it ends today). I’ve signed up on her website so that I can get updates as she releases new exhibition information. In the meantime, I’ll browse through her online gallery (you can access the gallery here). You all should check her out! In fact, I’ll add another video for your viewing pleasure!

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Preparing for 2018: Listening to Your Intuition

October 24, 2017October 22, 2017 Mstldelano1 Comment

Hi friends! I hope you all are feeling wonderful, wherever you are. I’m gearing up for an exciting November, but I wanted to make sure to share this post that I think will help you as you prepare for an awesome 2018.

I previously wrote about what should happen before you set any goals and the importance of committing your goals in writing. But this post is, undoubtedly, one of the most difficult steps for really going after your goals.

You must become an expert at listening to your intuition.

(perfect photo courtesy of Exemplore.com)

I struggle with explaining this concept, so I will advise you now to check out Jeannette Maw, my favorite law of attraction (LOA) coach. Jeannette’s blog, Good Vibe Blog, and it’s companion, Good Vibe University, have been invaluable in offering ideas for reaching goals more efficiently. Jeannette also has a fantastic podcast, LOA Recon.

I came across Jeannette after listening to some other LOA podcasts and reading some books about deliberate creation. At the end of this post, I will reference the best podcasts and articles that Jeannette has written on the topic of listening to intuition, or “guidance” as she likes to put it (I use the terms interchangeably, and have really gotten fond of using “guidance” to describe those internal “hunches”).

Your intuition is constantly giving you feeback on what you should do. Getting really familiar with how you truly feel is key to recognizing intuition when it speaks. And trust me: when you’re at a crossroad, or confused about what to do next, your intuition has an answer. All you have to do is get quiet enough to listen to it.

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Meditation or, at very minimum, getting quiet, can help you listen to your intuition (photo courtesy of MostlyMystery.com)

That’s right: you have to get quiet. Remove as much exterior “stimuli” as you can, get quiet, and be still. You can say aloud, or quietly to yourself, what you desire and make it plain that you’re confused about how to get it. Don’t attempt to think it through: just state it and relax. Then, start listening for sensations in your body or unexplainable thoughts coming to mind. How does your stomach feel? Do you have chills/goosebumps? Did a thought pop randomly into your head? Look around you: does anything in your physical space catch your eye? Pay attention without overthinking. If it helps, write down whatever comes to mind, for as long as you feel like it.

The more you practice listening, the easier it will be to recognize when your intuition is speaking to you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself: a light touch works really well for this sort of thing. If you don’t come up with any hunches, then put the practice to rest while you do something else. Sometimes, giving yourself a break can be wonderful for helping you find the real answer.

There is one condition that I like to emphasize: your best bet, when taking a break, is to only do what feels best (Jeannette advises the same thing). The better you are about this, the more likely you are to actually start hearing your intuition loud and clear.

If you can master this, you will reach your goals more quickly and effortlessly than you could have ever dreamed.

If you struggle with listening to your intuition, check out Jeannette’s resources here:

Blog Posts

Follow the Signs

It’s a Simple Process

About Inspired Action

Podcasts

Reversing a Downward Spiral

Making Tough Decisions

Secret Instructions to Dreams Come True

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A Word to the Late Bloomers . . .

October 23, 2017October 21, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

Happy Monday, beloveds! I want to start off this week with a little encouragement for the “ugly” ducklings that are still trying to find their groove. It’s going to be okay, really it is. You may not know it, but you’re on the cusp of being your best, most amazing self.

I realized that I needed to write this post after talking to one of my fellow late bloomers. We mentioned how much more fun we would have had years ago if we were aware of the tools that could improve our looks and lives. We live in a shallow world: having advantages in the looks department is powerful. But, we were both late bloomers: awkward, conditioned to “fade” into the background, and constantly grasping for our most confident selves.

It took years of reflection, experimentation, and even some harsh critiques, but we’re both looking and feeling our best. Changing our diets, wardrobes, hairstyles, and perspective has done wonders for both of us. We’re finally “pretty” girls, and this side of life has been wonderful. The best thing of all is that being more confident in our physical presentation has led to us meeting more people, and those people eventually discover that our interior beauty – the beauty that never fades – is the most captivating part of us. The “pretty” packaging draws people to us, and those people can get to experience the inner beauty that’s been there all along.

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The inner beauty is always the most import (from ForHarriet)

You all have seen my Boohoo hauls (here and here) but you don’t know that I amped up my hairstyling game, too. I recently started setting my hair in Rita Hayworth-esque waves and curls. The attention I’ve gotten has been mind-blowing, especially since my hair is the same length and color: all that has changed is the curliness. I also pared down my makeup, focusing more on intense eyes and less on matte, full-coverage foundation. Again, the attention I’ve gotten is astounding.

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Current hair inspiration, Rita Hayworth (from Allison Barbera Makeup)

My advice to any late bloomers is to continue experimenting and have fun on the journey. Looking like an airbrushed supermodel isn’t the goal: finding a look that makes you feel your best is what you should shoot for. Take care of yourself, and be gentle with yourself. You’ll find your lane, I promise.

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Preparing for 2018: Commit It In Writing

October 17, 2017October 15, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie, though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:2, 3)

Happy Tuesday, loves! Look at me, already with a third part of the Preparing for 2018 series (Have you missed the other parts? Catch up here and here). This series is part inspiration, part instruction, and part reverse engineering. There’s no better way to duplicate success than to analyze what you did and try to recreate the results.

As part of the Preparing for 2018 series, I want to touch on one of the most powerful tools I’ve used on my journey. Without it, I’m not sure that I would have made progress as quickly as I did. That tool is, of course, the power of WRITING my goals.

I use writing to not only clarify my goals, but to help me identify my stumbling blocks, visualize the steps needed to accomplish my goals, as well as reflect upon what worked well and where I should apply some course correction. Writing is my favorite recommendation to anyone trying to turn their dreams into reality.

I advise everyone to get a journal and use it for capturing thoughts when inspiration hits. But, in this case, I go a little further: having a journal dedicated to your 2018 vision can really help you materialize what you want faster. Funny enough, writing down what’s happening all around us may help us see that what we really desire – happiness, prosperity, love – is already present in our lives: we just needed to pay closer attention.

Here is a book that I’ve referenced many times over more than ten years (!), which explains how to use writing in powerful ways:

I’ll do a review on “Write It Down, Make It Happen” by Dr. Henriette Anne Klauser in a future post. But for now, let me just tell you that this book is my ultimate guide when it comes to inspired writing. And, for the upcoming year, writing down your goals and vision should be nonnegotiable. After all, we actually want to accomplish our dreams, and writing them down will put you ahead of the game in so many ways; why wouldn’t you want such a powerful advantage?

That’s it for today. I have a special little series coming up soon, so look out for that. Until tomorrow . . .

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The Best Love Affair Is . . .

October 16, 2017October 11, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

. . . The love affair you have with yourself.

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(courtesy of Pixabay)

Take time to nurture yourself, embrace the beauty of every moment and BREATHE. You’ve got this.

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(courtesy of Pinterest)

Take time to relax and do the things that make you feel ALIVE!

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(Courtesy of Dreamstime)

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(Courtesy of VideoBlocks)

Have you gotten into the habit of getting into an amazing love affair with yourself? If you haven’t, I encourage you to give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.

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Words of Wisdom: Mae West

October 14, 2017October 11, 2017 MstldelanoLeave a comment

As you all recall, this month’s book selection is Mae West’s biography. I’ve gotten through the first half of the book and I’m absolutely HOOKED! Mae was quite the dynamo, and her talent, discipline and creativity are inspirational.

Mae’s mix of sexiness, wittiness and charm is one reason why I wanted to feature her words of wisdom. Aside from those things, she was very accomplished and her ability to balance brains and beauty – during a time where women were expected to be one or the other (preferably beautiful), but not both – leaves me awestruck. Here’s some of my favorite Mae West quotes:

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