Questions…the visual kind.

These are simply amazing. I wish I could answer these the way they deserve to be answered. I encourage you all to just think about these…they are eye-opening and that’s what many of us need.

Ten Rules for Being Human

by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.

Eat. Clean.

I know what you’re thinking.

Here comes the “holiday time I’m gonna diet or die” blog post. Yeah, I guess it sort of is. But, it’s been coming for months now. I just finally have had enough. Haven’t you?

I used to be a size 5/6. And, surprisingly, this was AFTER baby. I am now bouncing between a 10 and 12 and I am MISERABLE. It’s not about the size or number on the scale. It’s really about the fact that I feel UNhealthy and lackluster about life. I have zero energy. I pay no attention whatsoever to what I put into my body. I am lazy…and it shows. I miss feeling alive. Pretty sure lots of you feel the same….

I stumbled across an incredibly inspiring blog a few nights ago and my lord, it made me want to jump out of my chair, throw away all the processed crap in my fridge and cupboards and sprint off down the street.

Instead, I devised a new grocery list, and a new BELIEF in myself and my health.

For the first time in a long time, I feel excited.

Some like to put down “thinspo” or the numerous health/diet/skinny blogs on the internet…but, they are really the only motivation that seems to work for me (and, many others).

The site and way of thinking I now follow are part of the “Eat Clean” Diet. Not a diet. Just a simple way of eating, without all the fillers, chemicals and processed crap we are so used to.

Here’s to a new way of thinking. Our bodies are so important. Mistreating them has become a way of life for millions and I don’t want to be part of that club anymore.

Eighties Power

Oh, I feel very sorry for anyone who doesn’t love the 80s.

To most people, it is no secret that I am all about the eighties. The men, the music, the fashion, the movies, the television, the attitude. If I had a choice between shuttling back into time ….it’d be a hard choice between the 40s, 50s and…the 80s. Ugh! So hard!

So, last night I FINALLY saw the newest Duran Duran video.

Oddly enough, I didn’t know anything about it. I’ve been so out of the loop with albums, movies, etc. for like, an entire year. I used to be so right on top of all that shit.
How did I hear about it? One of my employees is a hardcore 80s, punk and new wave fan and she actually sent me an email out of the blue. I’ve only met her once but the conversation we had about music was enough to cement a new friendship. (She also mentioned she thought I was rockabilly more than goth, based on my look. Haha! Totally flattering, either way.)

And here it is! The new Duran Duran video. Or, the month old video anyways.

FYI – I also know a colossal amount about supermodels…of the 80s and 90s. I pretty much studied them when I was a teenager. So, it was such a fun surprise to see Naomi, Cindy and…HELENA in the video. Kinda brought me back to my “old self” in more ways than one 😉

Above and Beyond.

When I think of best friends, I think of someone who is there for me at my best….and my worst. Who loves me no less if I’m having an awful day (or month) than if I had just won the lottery.

I’ve been blessed with several “best friends” in my lifetime already. But, one in particular is always, ALWAYS right there. Even if she does live over 1000 miles away from me…

Last year, I was overwhelmed to receive an original painting by her for my birthday. It literally makes me beam every time I look at it, not only because it’s beautiful but also because it came from love.

I wasn’t prepared to get another one this year. But, I wasn’t exactly surprised either. She is truly an amazing woman.

I mean, who does this?! My best friend, that’s who =)

Now, I want to puke…

There are very few things in this world that disgust me. Rap-metal aside, I can stomach just about anything. And when I mean anything, I mean…I can watch back to back Tarantino, Rob Zombie and Hostel movies like they are Care Bear movies.
Watching TV the other day with my 4 year old, a commercial aired that had me kind of grossed out.

“Creepy Crawlers Incredible Edibles.”

Among the many great features, you can create “disgusting and delicious body parts like slimy and gooey brains, hearts, eyeballs and more!” And also, “gross out your friends and family as you slurp and gulp down your hideous creations!!”

No shit.

Mission acomplished, Mattel. And what’s funnier, these are sold at Toys R Us. Guess the ouija boards weren’t selling like hotcakes anymore.

Am I a conservative mother? Ha! Hardly. Obviously, I understand this is a toy. But, really?
I just cannot, for the LIFE of me, understand why children would want to eat body parts — gummy or not. Why not just stick to the old time favorite (while still grossing people out) and just pick your nose?

Thankful.

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

This past week has reminded me of all the things I have to be thankful for. I am indeed grateful for the personal strength I have, the family and friends who surround me. the second (and third) chances I’ve been allowed and the life and opportunities I’ve been given.

Mostly, I am thankful for the gift of motherhood and my beautiful, little girl.

XOXO,

And All That Jazz

One Proud Momma!

Check out my little munchkin. Like, seriously? I am overwhelmed at how amazing she is.

Am I bragging? You bet your sweet ass I am.

November.

November is a big bundle of feelings and emotions for me.

On the one hand you have: Thanksgiving, the beginnings of Fall, the anticipation of Christmas and, my birthday. All fabulous things, obviously.

On the other hand, it’s a time of sadness  – there were two deaths (one 19 years ago, the other 14) that are still very poignant to me and make this month bittersweet for me, personally.

The death of a close friend who was a mainstay in my childhood, and, a musician who I’d loved for years; two people who I still think about a whole lot.

In remembrance of Stan Mason and Michael Hutchence ♥ Thinking of you both this November.

Update: A Boy Called…Lucy.

On Friday night, we made a startling discovery.

Our new little kitten, Lucy – is in fact, a HIM.

Glad we found out now. I would hate for him to have “issues”…..

So, let’s try this again…. Welcome Ash to our family! =)