Rockstar Vacay Ramblings

Photo Credit: Craig Brimm, kissmyblackads.blogspot.com

I'm on vacation in Florida right now. Vacations are like being drunk in that they allow your mind to go places it won't go when you are all wrapped up in the stress of life. So now that I am drunk-like on vacation I have many ramblings that I'd like to share.

1. Why oh Why is that old fart of an angry man, Dick Cheney out running his mouth? When we needed to hear from him, he was missing in action or out somewhere shooting his friend. I just don't understand why he keeps going on news shows and holding press conferences and crap. Somebody tell him to sit down and shut up!
2. Am I in the middle of a baby boom? When I go into the doctors office it's hard to find a seat in the waiting room. Everywhere I look someone is waddling around with a round belly, and in 2009 there have been a large amount of bloggers who are either expecting a baby or have just delivered one. I'm not lying, here they are:
• Gurly Things
• Tanyetta
• Ebony Mommy
• Sewl Sista #1
• Sha -Boogie



3. Why does the child the age above the new baby feel like they have to start acting a little annoying strange?
4. Why won't people in Atlanta stop emailing and calling me about stuff I don't care about? Don't they know I am on vacation and their little concerns are not mine right now. My only concerns are making sure beach towels are clean and having the right chairs to take out to the beach.
   
5. Why was a dolphin swimming too close to my daughter? We thought it was a shark at first and totally freaked out as he glided by. Hmph!
6. Why do I keep forgetting I'm pregnant when I walk by a mirror, and think that I'm getting entirely too big.
7. I think the economy is getting better. Do you?
8. It's raining here in Florida and I have to catch the beach between clouds and showers, but guess what I am still relaxing.
9. The people are so much nicer here in Florida than in Atlanta that's why I am moving here as soon as I can. Now what I've got to do is get my nice game up, I've been in Atlanta for 18 years so I might be part of the problem .
10. I am so glad my mom is here with me because she is reading books with my daughter that I am totally not interested in. It's funny to see her laughing at an eight year old's book.
    
11. I finally got an iphone, and I miss my Trio.
12. I got such a great deal on summer camp for my children that in way I want to rush back, so they can get started. Mind you it doesn't start until the June 1st.
13. I guess that's it, for now.
14. Oh yeah, trying out wordpress for our office website and it's a real pain in the arse.
    

Taurus Accolades!

We have just a few more days left in the Taurus season, so today is my tribute day to them. Taurus ladies like the best of everything. They know quality and aim to have it. These ladies will drive a standout car, have a trendy designer bag, and will have high-quality attire. They will be the ladies in the room that are well-styled and impeccably coiffed. Despite having the best of things, they always seem to have money. They are great savers and investors in themselves bunk anybody else .

Taurus ladies are great at what they choose to do, but it's the choosing that's the hard part. They take a long time making up their minds about decisions. They quietly and peacefully decide what they'll do about this or that, and when they make up their minds they cannot be driven from it. No matter if the decision process yields a good decision or a bad decision, these women refuse to be moved from their original post even if it means destruction to themselves and others around them.

Their persistence and determination can be their formula for success, if they have made the right choice. They will stand by their man and treat him warmly and lovingly. However, if he doesn't recognize that she demands the best he may run into a rough situation. He may not realize that he's in a jam immediately because she is so loving and loyal, but once she decides she's done, there's no way back for him.

Have a few Taurus friends, and I just love them. I often find myself getting pulled into their decision making processes, although I know that they aren't going to take my advice at all. I get frustrated by this and realize that they are best for shopping, lunching and laughing. I am too much of a bossy Leo to give advice while knowing that I am totally not being taken seriously. Happy Taurus season to my bloggy friend Jennifer over at The Stumbly Diva.


Here are my Taurus celebrity Beauties.

This is Mick Jagger's first wife Bianca. She is a socialite.


Of course, Ms. Damita Jo needs no introduction.


Here is the impeccable Audrey Hepburn.



...and this is the model who said "we don't wake up for less than $10,000 per day."

Wanna Win A $100 Banana Republic Gift Card?

I do, I wanna win, but I don't think I can enter. You see my husband is hosting a $100 Banana Republic Giveaway Over at his blog, Kiss My Black Ads. It is in connection with a Digital album that Banana Republic is launching, you get one free with a purchase. The Rules of the Giveaway are:

1) Write a comment about what you would like to see on the Kiss My Black Ads (KMBA) blog site. = 1 entry
2) Write a post on your blog about the contest. = 2 entries
3) Follow KMBA. = 1 entry.

I am posting about the giveaway, but I don't think I can win the giftcard because that would be Bushism cronyism, nepotism, wifeyism, etc. Hey, but there is nothing in the rule book that says my readers can't bum rush his site and win the giftcard, hehehe. So rush over and get that giftcard for the Jewelry Rockstar team!




In other news, in the spirit of being well branded, I've decided to change the name of my etsy store to Jewelry Rockstar. The only thing is, I have to move my inventory from my old site to my new site and that is back breaking work, (you know the kind of 2009 back breaking we do on the computer). So in the coming weeks, look for more creative photography, and a new shop with my name, Jewelry Rockstar!

Happy Mother's Day

On Children

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.


Kahlil Gibran

The Masks

I've been facilitating a group for the last five weeks that focuses on women discovering themselves, so that they can be better people and better partners within relationships. We've been exploring what we are on this earth to do. We've looked at our likes and dislikes. Most importantly we've looked at the roles we play or masks we wear as a result of the expectations of others. We are looking at them, so we can take them off and become more congruent in our lives. A part of the affirmation we say every week is: 

"I know me, I like me...I show my true self to the world because I am alright."

To show your true self to the world is a really a life long struggle. First, you've got to know you then, you've got to trust you, then you've got to like you, then you've got to trust that other people will like you. Every time you change yourself, you've got to start this process all over again, so that you can live a congruent life.

Blogging is sorta a mask and a revealing of one's self all at once. What I mean is you start writing about yourself, your beliefs, your causes, your rants, and many times we use the keyboard as a mask to show the very best of ourselves. However, the more we type on our own blogs, and comment on others, our true self is revealed. As bloggers we feel elated to know we have followers and commenters because they serve as confirmation that we can trust that people like us.

This past evening I was invited to a Mom's Night Out by Renee Ross over at cutiebootycakes. We went to a Belly Dancing class at Nazeem Allayl Belly Dance Studio , and then for drinks sadly, I was the little piggy who had none and dinner. All the women who were there were bloggers, some Renee knew in real life, some she knew through the blog world. Some I had heard of, and visited, some I met for the first time. I didn't know who would be there.  I heard Mom's Night Out I quickly arranged things, so that I could get out of the house.  At a moment's notice I was out of the house and making my way down to Mom's Night Out. It wasn't until after I had returned home that I began to think that maybe I should have worn a mask. I was my regular loud and  boisterous self. Talking it up here and there. Giving my opinion on everything and anything. I had a blast and the ladies were very friendly and welcoming. There really was no need for me to play a role or to wear a mask, it just kind of hit me later that my blog persona may be different than the real life me, and as a result I should have hidden. I realize something though, Renee's real life personality is very much like her blog personality, so I'm guessing that mine is too. I couldn't hide if I had really wanted to. I know me , I like me...I show my true self to the world because I am alright.

Here's the distrustful clown mask, I've worn this one before. My lack of trust of people has caused me to act a fool a time or two hundred.




This an old European Mask. This look is the ole' "nothing bothers me mask," when underneath there is an eruption waiting to come out.



This one is the "geez, I'm sorry" mask. When really there isn't an ounce of remorse underneath the mask.








Here's the "I'm angry all the time" mask, when it's more like "I'm really hurting under here."