Surround yourself with beautiful things

{ Abby Powell }

♥ What I Love ♥

- the color pink
- Peonies and full blossomed flowers
- whispered secrets
- unicorns
- uncovering life's secrets
- the crinkle in the corner of ones eyes caused by laughing
- things that sparkle
- wishing on stars
- candles
- fairytales
- lace
- the sound of water
- seeing the world in one raindrop or snowflake
- being a girl
What do you love?

{ iputdeadlynightshadeinyourcupoftea }

{ credit: Elena Kalis }

Even tho the girls are under water & could be drowning, the scene paints a perfect picture of serenity in the comfort of one another. Holding each other so not to float away. Its easier to go thru this journey knowing that you are not alone. So thanks everyone for your lovely comments and support. For that I am grateful =)

Here is a list of ideas to help u out of a bad day:

♥ Reach out and do something for someone instead of focusing on yourself. Donate blood, volunteer your time, cook for your family, treat a friend out for some ice cream...etc

♥ Watch the movie "Chocolat". You'll crave chocolate after this so just indulge yourself. Well not too much or else you'll end up puking like me =P

♥ Create a vision board. Fill it with images, photos, clippings of anything that inspires you, makes you happy, empowers you.... it will symbolize what you want to attract into your life

♥ Remember a compliment you received and believe it

♥ Play dress up, put on some of your favorite makeup and be a camera whore for the day. This is how I figured out which angle is my best. lol* It's ok to be a narcissist sometimes... =P just as long as your not hurting anyone but your camera

♥ OPI has a variety of awesome shades. Paint your toes in your favorite color! Flip flop season is around the corner =)

♥ Go out with your gfs for a night of wine & chocolate fondue. This always makes me happy

♥ Get your fortune read for fun

♥ Try a new scent of perfume

♥ Give away free compliments just as long as they are genuine

♥ Write a list of the things you love about each part of your body

♥ Take a midnight stroll with someone special and wish on a star. Make your wish as BIG as you can and really believe it in your heart that it will come true

♥ Go swimming in your favorite bikini. Who cares if you're not in shape. Just let your body float effortlessly and feel the flow of water around you....calming you and freeing you of your worries

♥ Create and write a story of who you were in your past life. I could begin mine: In my former life I was an Arabian Princess searching for love in a world full of lies and deceit....

♥ Host a slumber party and invite all your favorite girlfriends

♥ Find yourself in nature. Go for a walk & let your senses come to life. Ask what you hear, feel, see, smell and you will start to feel more connected to nature and feel a sense of peace emerge

♥ Watch your all time favorite Disney Movie. Mine is The Little Mermaid

♥ Try something new. Like a new dance class, art, yoga? (thx pinksolitude)

♥ Try to see how long you can hold your smile

Growing Pains

I am only trying to express myself right now, not trying to teach you about the ego. None of this might makes sense to you so pls read this article from urbanmonk before proceeding.

Where do I even begin to express how I have been feeling lately. All I want to do is stay in bed. I believe that I am going thru a spiritual transition in my life right now and it's quite painful to say the least. When you look in the mirror who do you see? How would you define yourself? I am an artist? I am a woman? I am attractive? I am a sister, a designer, an accountant, a mother, an extrovert...? These are all ego based definitions of yourself. Who you are is greater than that and unable to define... at your core is consciousness. But not a lot of us are aware of our essence because our ego covers it. The ego is strengthened when we identify with it by defining ourselves by our good looks, by the money we have, our career, social status... etc. And what happens when we lose our good looks to someone younger? go bankrupt? or lose our dream job? We feel like we've lost a part of ourselves. But this is an illusion you see. When part of your identity is taken away from you it is the lessening of the ego that causes the pain, not the loss itself. The more you identify with something the more suffering it will cause. But if you can understand that this is actually a good thing for you soul you will begin to become more of who you really are. You are a spiritual being... pure consciousness.

This is what im going thru right now. Initially I struggled to re-gain control, to hold onto these roles of being a certain way but it caused me too much suffering that i realized how insane it was to keep fighting and to keep holding onto the need to be attractive...the need to be "the older sister"...the need to be a fashion designer...to be outgoing & socially acceptable. Getting rid of these definitions and expectations I have of myself will provide me with an opportunity to become more of who i really am. I asked for growth and in return God has given me the opportunity for it. Like a wise friend once said "when you ask God for money He doesnt give you money. He gives you an opportunity to make money. When you ask God for courage, He doesnt give you courage, He gives you an opportnity to become more courageous." So pls bare with me in the meantime. Im not really in the mood to post much.

As the twitt twitt bird said, "im nurturing myself back to life"

Too much sun

hehe I think I got a little too much sun =P Tan lines are no fun.

♥ Always wear sunscreen and apply very often. I did not do this. Also make sure you are very generous with the sunscreen on your nose, shoulders and knees. I looked like Rudolph for a week!

♥ Sun exposure is one of the main causes of pre-mature wrinkles so protect urself esp your face. Wear a hat. You can always use self tanner later to match your face to your body

♥ Dont get greedy and lay out in the sun the WHOLE day. Take breaks and hydrate yourself

♥ Even if you're not burnt or peeling, be sure to apply aloe to your skin after u come out from the sun. It will PREVENT any peeling. Thx to my lazy ass my arm started peeling and ive got spots now. grrr

So my sister decided on a resort for her wedding. The Royal in Playa del Carmen. Check out some of these photos:




Here's a little video I put together from our trip to Mexico.

I also discovered an international store called Pull & Bear while I was in Mexico. I believe it was started in Portugal and now they are located all around the world. They have thee cutest t-shirts ever and very comfy laid back clothing. They also have a blog.

im leaving for mexico. no cell phone, no laptop... just the sun, the beach and great company.

An Artist

credit { fashion-ation }

" I am an artist. I must learn that as an artist my credibility lies with me, God and my work. If I have a poem to write, I need to write that poem - whether it will sell or not. I need to create what wants to be created. I cannot plan a career to unfold in a sensible direction dictated by cash flow and marketing strategies. Those things are fine; but too much attention to them can stifle the artist within.

As an artist I do not need to be rich but I do need to be richly supported. If I don't create I get crabby. When we are not creating, artists are not always very normal or very nice - to ourselves or to others. Creativity is oxygen to our souls. Cutting off our creativity makes us savage and we react like we are being choked.

When well meaning parents and friends push marriage or nine-to-five or anything on us that doesn't evolve in a way that allows for our art to continue, we will react as if we are fighting for our lives - we are. To kill your dreams because they are "irresponsible" is to be irresponsible to yourself. Credibility lies with you and God - not with the vote of your friends and acquaintances.

Creativity is a spiritual practice. It is not something that can be perfected, finished and set aside. It is an ongoing process. Sometimes I will write badly, draw badly, paint badly, preform badly. I have the right to do that to get to the other side. Creativity is its own reward.

To be an artist is to recognize the particular. To appreciate the peculiar. To ask the question 'why'? To be an artist is to acknowledge the astonishing. It is to allow the wrong piece in a room if we like it. It is to hand on to a weird coat that makes us happy. It is to not keep trying to be something that we aren't.

If you are happier writing that not writing, painting than not painting, singing than not singing, acting than not acting, designing than not designing, for God's sake let yourself do it. "

-The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Above is an excerpt from one of the books I am reading right now. If you are an artist or want to bring out and develop your creativity this book will prove be a very valuable treasure. I received the extended version as a gift on my birthday and I havent even gotten thru half of it yet. It's not exactly a book you want to finish reading quickly. It's a book you grow with and live out daily. I savor every bit of it. After each chapter there are exersises you can do and questions to get your creativity going. Check it out or go flip through it at your local bookstore. She also has a website.

Design Exercise
I need to practice sketching more and exercise my creativity so here's where your help comes in. Give me topics or things I can use as inspiration (Ex: Flowers, the color yellow, birds of paradise, ballerinas, something from architecture, a country, a certain culture a fairytale, fairies....the list goes on). Then I will pick a few and come up with a few designs based on that, sketch it, and then post it up. =)

Invisible ppl pls make yourself visible

credit { Laura Su }

I have to agree with Becks at camerafilmroll. It dampens my spirit when i barely get any feedback on my posts when I can clearly see how many ppl visit me each day. I really enjoy posting and expressing my creativity so that alone makes me happy. I do take quite some time putting my entries together but I am definitely not looking for compliments or for you to applaud me in anyway. Nor do I want to force you to comment bcos its your choice. Im just saying that its nice to know who you are out there that read my blog. =) It's nice to make new friends that share the same interests but at the same time might have a different perspective of things. It helps me grow =) When it all boils down to it, one of the reasons for a blog is to connect with ppl. It's not fun when it's only a one sided relationship.

March: Fairytale Friday - Princess and the Pea

Once upon a time there was a Prince who wanted a Princess... a real Princess... an authentic one not like those fake imitation LV handbags some girls carry around. He traveled near and far hoping to find his one true Princess but had great difficulty. The ones he came across were selfish and only wanted to be with the Prince because of his title. They only cared about their looks and material possessions so the Prince was left disheartened.

One stormy night, feeling discouraged, he sat infront of his fireplace. While pouring himself a glass of whiskey on the rocks he heard a knock at his door. When he opened it, he was surprised to see a young lady standing there wet from the rain and shivering from head to toe. He immediately let her in and got her a towel and some of his warm clothes to change into. She told him that she was a real Princess. But his heart had been tainted by his encounters with golddiggers that he just didn't believe her.

Maybe he will test her. The Queen will know how. So as she showered he got on his blackberry to call the Queen. "Real Princesses have delicate and sensitive skin," she advised him. So the Prince piled layer upon layer of mattresses on the guest bed and went into the kitchen to look for a pea. A pea? He thought to himself. I dont think that would do the trick. So instead he placed a 2 carat diamond underneath all the mattresses. If she feels this through all those layers he will know she is a real Princess.

He woke up early in the morning to make some breakfast. When the Princess woke up he asked her how her sleep was. She replied, "It was horrible. I tossed and turned all night trying to get comfy but it felt like I was sleeping on a big pebble. It had bothered me so. I was curious as to why. My curiosity lead me to discover THIS diamond at the bottom of all the mattresses." She handed the diamond to the Prince.

The Prince was overcome with happiness. "No, Princess. It belongs to you."

Princess & Her GF's Throw a Slumber Party

Me: So, Princess, what do you like to wear to bed?
Princess: I love being comfortable so I love wearing cotton camisoles and cute little boy shorts. If Im feeling sexy I'll slip on a silk robe or something with pretty lace (She smiles with her big bright eyes)
Me: So what is your nightly routine before jumping into bed? I sure hope your Prince got rid of that big diamond under your mattress
Princess: (laughs) oh I dont have to worry about that anymore. (she winks and gracefully flashes her ring finger) As for my nightly routine I have to brush my hair 100 times. Yes, I know I'm a little old fashioned but I've been doing it ever since I was a little girl. Before bed I'll do a bit of yoga to relax me.
Me: Oh that's wonderful (i smiled) I love doing yoga as well. Are you into the spiritual teachings of yoga?
Princess: Of course. What's yoga without it? Just plain stretches. It's definitely more than just that. You see I have this curious side to me. I love learning about new things that's why I have so many interests.

Princess Goes to the Beach

Me: I have to say Im rather impressed. You are very down to earth
Princess: (chuckles with a twinkle in her eye) I think that's what Prince likes about me. Being a Princess and all ppl assume I am a brat....that Im spoiled and everything is handed to me on a silver platter. That's what it was like when I was living in my parent's castle. I couldnt stand the way I was babied. I needed my independance so one night I just packed my bags and left to explore the world. That night I got caught in a storm with no cellphone and barely any money. Luckily I came across some shelter... and that's the night I met Prince
Me: I guess it goes to say that things happen for a reason.
Princess: (looking delighted, she nods as she picks up her glass of white wine and sips it between her heart-shaped lips)
Me: So tell me about one of your many favorite pastimes
Princess: I love going to the beach. Some days I will people watch, some days read, other times I'll daydream and write poems in my journal.
Me: Do you have any favorite designers?
Princess: If you're talking about shopping no. I'd rather not buy any designer items. Sometimes I will buy a handbag or shoes because they are very good quality but besides that I'd rather spend my money enjoying life....travelling, taking classes... (she pauses and looks at me) my, i must be boring you (she grins)
Me: Not at all Princess. Pls go on.
Princess: (smiles and twirls her glass of Chardonnay) ....designers... that's what we were talking about right? I love the classic ones.... Valentino, Coco Chanel, Dior, Madame Gres, Vionette....they were all true to their craft.

A Movie Date With The Prince

Me: So what kind of movies do you like to watch?
Princess: More so films... foreign films. I find that most mainstream movies are missing some kind of essence. I like historical fiction and romance films. Me and Prince are getting married in Paris and then we are planning to tour Europe. I'm so delighted. Europe has so much history... so many secrets to uncover
Me: Do you have any style advice?
Princess: Clothing is a way to show the world who you are visually so always wear things you are comfortable in. Piling on a whole bunch of brand name things can look like you're screaming for acceptance. Things like that should be accents to your clothing.... not the voice speaking for you. What you show on the outside shouldn't define you...it should reflect who you are. (pauses dramatically)...there's a difference, you see.