Beauty Heals And Gives Us Wings
Yay! It’s Saturday! I’ve been waiting for this day all week!
Halloween is upon us, so you can expect a lot of people to be out and about as they gather some last minute items.
In the spirit of the season, I’m posting links to incredible Halloween makeup tutorials. Even if you don’t celebrate, you’re bound to find something fun that you can incorporate into your everyday look. Enjoy!
While cruising around Carytown (a quaint neighborhood in Richmond, VA), I stumbled upon Xtra’s Cafe, a sleek, vintage-inspired restaurant quietly tucked away on Cary Street.
The hostess was warm and charming, and getting a seat was a quick process. While I sat near the stairwell (that takes you from the ground level to the actual dining area), the seats facing the bar was full.
Painting closest to the patio
I loved the vintage paintings on walls and the abundant light streaming from the patio. The paintings really enhanced the classic, speakeasy feel of the restaurant.
But the real star of this restaurant is the food. Honey, the FOOD! I tried the crabcakes with asparagus and jalapeno macaroni and cheese. When I tell you that the food was delicious … My mouth waters at the thought of it! I can’t wait to go back and try some of pita pizzas as well as the other entrees.
Y. U. M.
If you’re ever in the Richmond area, Carytown is a must-see, and you should definitely stop into Xtra’s Cafe (3322 West Cary Street). You won’t be disappointed!
Well, now you all know why I’ll be out of the loop in November. I’m fully participating in NaNoWriMo 2017, so that I can get back into the habit of writing fiction.
(Photo courtesy Clipart Library)
I’ve written a few books, but I’ve never published. I can’t tell you why I didn’t take the next step, other than the fact that I didn’t believe in my abilities. It’s funny: I can get on this blog, talk about pretty much anything that interests me, and I don’t feel shy about it. But my fiction, where people can actually read the worlds, characters, and scenarios that I create? It feels almost intrusive!
But the thing is, I have to publish my work. I believe in writing for your own satisfaction, first and foremost. But I think it’s powerful to make your words available for another person’s consumption: you never know who will be enlightened or inspired by what you have to say. No writer is required to publish, but it can be a “full circle” action for those of us that choose to do so.
I’m ready to come full circle. It’s time.
So this November, I’ll do NaNoWriMo, and in December, I’ll do my 3rd round of revisions for a previous book I wrote. In January, I’ll start on a new book, and in February, I revise a different book: one that I haven’t revised in a couple of years. I’ll stay on a “Write/Revise” rotation for the next few months, until I have a book that I feel is truly ready for the public (probably Summer 2018).
Are any of you participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo event? Or have you participated in the past? Let me know in the comments below: I’d love to hear your stories!
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.
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
Podcasts
Secret Instructions to Dreams Come True
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.
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.
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.
“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 . . .
. . . The love affair you have with yourself.
(courtesy of Pixabay)
Take time to nurture yourself, embrace the beauty of every moment and BREATHE. You’ve got this.
(courtesy of Pinterest)
Take time to relax and do the things that make you feel ALIVE!
(Courtesy of Dreamstime)
(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.
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:
(all pictures from Pinterest)
Do you have a favorite Mae West quote that I didn’t include? Make sure to let me know in the comments below!
Happy Friday, my friends! I’m eagerly looking forward to the weekend, as there are a lot of events going on and I’m ready to enjoy the last, lingering bits of warm weather.
But, if the weather should turn chilly, I have an online course I can check out to pass the time. I recently found a gemology course that I think will be great for increasing my body of knowledge. The woman that created the course, Barbara Smigel, is a college professor that knows her gems inside and out.
(image courtesy of Moziru)
Even as a child, I was enchanted by gemstones. The sparkle, the colors, the amazing cuts … I can’t help but find myself hypnotized when looking at high quality gems. So it only makes sense that I would be drawn to this kind of course. I’m looking forward to going through the materials and learning more about gems!
Other than that, I don’t have much else going on this weekend. I hope you have some fabulous plans in the works! Talk to you all tomorrow!
Hello friends! Thanks for stopping by. In a previous post, I discussed the fact that I prepared for the things that I wanted during 2016 and 2017. I also touched on the fact that things don’t have to already be perfect in order to create a better reality in the year to come.
Today, I’m talking about goals. If you’re expecting the same kind of chatter that you would get from your average Facebook/Instagram/Snapchat “life coach”/”guru”, I’m going to disappoint you. I don’t repeat the words and sentiments of charlatans that make their living spouting off cliches and charging $97/$197/$997/any figure ending in “7” for exclusive “workshops” to tell you what you’ve already heard. I also have no interest in positioning myself as an “expert” in anything but how I choose to live my life.
Goals are as personal as fingerprints: no two people desire the exact same things. Because of this, I can only give you some general advice on setting goals for 2018. But this is the advice I’ve followed, and it worked for me, so take it for what it’s worth.
-It’s okay to start out vague. Most of the time, we are told that our goals must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Results-Focused, Time Bound). The truth is, our biggest dreams are usually fuzzy and not very specific at all. That’s because our big dreams often are some general emotion that we want to feel (happiness, joy, love, contentment and satisfaction, secure, confident, etc.,). The problem with SMART goals is that the concept disregards the WHY behind the goal. Every goal is rooted in how it will make us FEEL. So it’s far more important to understand the desired FEELING than to have a SMART goal.
(plucked from @ImprovUpdates on Twitter)
-It’s important to be honest about how you feel while aiming for particular goals. As the phrase goes, “Happy endings do not come from unhappy journeys”. To the greatest degree possible, avoid taking “unhappy” journeys in an attempt to “justify” your success. In other words, you don’t have to be uncomfortable in order to deserve good things. We often take to heart the phrase “no pain, no gain”. Yes, we can learn a lot from our pain and missteps, and yes, there are often sacrifices that must be made when going for our big dreams. But don’t torture yourself on the path to reaching your goals, simply because you *think* that the only way to get to the goal is to do it the “hard way”. The “hard way” isn’t always the best way. Personally, taking uncomfortable actions doesn’t work for me: the action must either feel neutral (doesn’t make me feel happy but doesn’t cause discomfort) or feel good to me. If the action doesn’t feel good, then it doesn’t serve me in the accomplishment of my goals.
-Get very acquainted with how you want to feel when you reach your goal, and tap into that feeling regularly. What I found is that regularly activating a particular emotion can reveal the fact that I’m much closer to my goal than I initially thought. Some emotions are harder to activate than others: activating a feeling isn’t always a clear, easy-to-do task. How can you feel “secure” when you don’t know if you will have a job next week? How can you feel “love” if you’ve never had a nurturing, satisfying romantic relationship? In cases where it’s hard to generate certain feelings, your best bet is to find someone that easily exhibits that emotion and emulate them and associate with them. Birds of a feather …
If the previous points resonate with you, try putting them into action before you get specific about what you want to realize during the upcoming year. Getting clear on your feelings prior to pinpointing your goal will help you get much closer to what it is that you really want.
adsff
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Bronze Butterfly 