Beautiful…

The balmy dense air touched my skin through my clothes. Clouds moved in thick light puffs across the dark starred sky, blocking. The night lanterns placed here and there dripped with moisture, heat and dimmed the large glass encasings, which brought a kind of romantic hue to the solitary night.

My gaze… appreciating the pink in the martini glass that rested on the low wide wicker arm, watching the tiny bug circle and circle the clear glass, avoiding the condensation.

Mirroring the hushed light of the late night, my mind deep in thought. The days before… behind.

Under the glimmer of dark, I listened to a group of young men, the table over. It was interesting and not. Almost, I piped in to add to the conversation, and …no. Let me, be.

Earlier,

Hello boys!

“We followed you out here where it’s cooler.”

Yes, it was simply unbearable in there!

“Hahaaa.”

As I sat long reclining on the cushion-less chair, my seat sore from the long drive of the day, I listened and relaxed and enjoyed.

The deep male voices and my pink raspberry martini. Soaking in the night, with me.

A date with me. For a blissful first moment of time, I wasn’t missing something. For a blissful moment, my alone became… beautiful.

 

Discovery in Reality

The little square of paper tore as the Girl held it between her fingers.  She purposefully walked to the center garbage can to be closer, pulled out the tiny swipe of alcohol and began rubbing her fingers with it.

I love your skirt, the Lady had said.

Something had pulled at the Girl. She had seen it in the stranger’s demeanor, her expression. Somehow she knew.

The opening was made. Chitchat. The Girl smiled and the kindness in the Lady’s eyes held hers and she shared her heart.

She shared why she was there. At the gas station. The emotion, the sadness, the overwhelming longing and mystery of discovering Why and When and How and WHY. The Girl, was alone.

The Lady was alone. There was kindness. Content. No, peace.

Do you want to have dinner with me? The Girl asked.

Okay. I’ll follow you. The Lady weighted.

The Girl, not knowing the area, drove here and there searching for a place. All the while, the Lady stayed just behind her.

Thoughts came and went, doubts, scenarios, questions until finally, the Girl found a place in an old hotel that was perfect.

They entered together and kind music carried them to the corner table. The Singer was gentle and sweet and his acoustic guitar soothed the empty bar.

After the Girl unloaded her emotional tirade of self discovery and frustration, the Lady shared her life.

70’s. Alone. 4 sons, 9 grandchildren, top Special Ed teacher in the state. The Lady told stories of her experience as a teacher. Her job was one of the highest drop out jobs, and yet here she was in her 70’s still teaching.

Compassion, tenderness, love. These, she said, were what she gave her students success. The Lady worked with severely emotionally traumatized children and rehabilitated them to be able to attend schools and grow up to have a relatively normal life. How she got through to them was compassion and being able to see to the heart of the child.

She spoke of a tall and very large Boy who had Autism, and wouldn’t do anything. Everyone was afraid of the Boy who, she described as resembling the Pillsbury Dough boy, would scream and throw tantrums and not do anything but stand off to the side, alone.

One day she went over and poked him.

He said, Why did you poke me?

Because I wanted to. She replied.

This went on for days and weeks. It became a game and before long, the Lady and the Boy were dodging each other so much, they were jumping.

Look! We are Dancing! The Lady said.

The Boy with size 16 shoes laughed and began dancing with her.

I’m Dancing! I’m Dancing! I can Dance!! The Boy exclaimed.

After that, the Boy was happy to be at school, be part of the class. That love and compassion shown him, made all the difference.

The Lady impressed on the Girl, No matter what you do in life, make time for compassion and love, for it is the language we all understand.

The Girl and the Lady walked away as friends with a shared understanding of love for others and at the same time, love for themselves.

The Singer, watched the two ladies who knew each other a long time. His voice followed them out as he sang his closing song, California Dreamin’.

 

 

I’m talkin’ PUSSY! Stop it!!

The coffee foam swirled in the large cup and I watched it go round and round, watching the cinnamon making lines in the foam inside the circle. I took a sip. Cold.

I thought to myself, who am I? What kind of life do I want to have? What am I doing?

Someone told me a few days back, make a list of all the things in your life you want to improve. Good advice.

I made my list. All the things I want to improve, all the complaints about my life, my home, my career, my time management, my finances, and so on.

As I made this list, I realized something profound. My favorite saying, Questa e la vita cosa che poui fare, This is the life, it is just what it is,… is NOT just what it is, It IS what It ISN’T!

My life, the day in and day out, the moments, with my kids, with friends and fam, the small increments of time I cherish and don’t, the things that don’t get done, the appointments I forget, the big pile of laundry to fold, …the life I create, that is what it is. And it is what it is not.

What it is not is the life that I want and choose for myself. I choose a different life and I am in the same vein, feeling puny and powerless to have that life I choose to have.

Why is that? I’m looking at that life from the view of Here and Now, with my list of upcoming meetings to make, the deadlines needing to be met, and at home… the laundry on my bed, the dishes in the sink, the littler box needing to be cleaned again, the tires on my minivan needing to be changed… This, is my View and that is why I’m feeling powerless to do anything about it.

The life I want to live is free of the constraints of the Here and Now, to have the successes I dream about and want, the lives I want to touch with love and kindness of being who I am, the people I want to help save, the lifestyle I choose to live, the accomplishments I set out to attain, and I am looking at all that, all of it with the view of right Here and right Now. None of it will never get done!!! Its a pussified view and it makes me exhausted to look at it!! I have no way of getting there if I look at it with my pussyglasses. Stop IT!!

Stop being a pussy and get some IRON BALLS! Keep those new Ray Bans View on your face Lady and start living your life with some Giant-Assed Iron Balls! Your future you are living into, is now, RIGHT NOW! Stop the Pussytalk!

I smiled to myself as I got into my minivian and looked through the upside down number 2 my son had drawn with marker on my windshield. I was thinking 5 years from now, how my life will have changed so much and who I will have become, where I will be living. It was with the determination of inspiration, I drove away from the coffee shop.

My day just got fun and very busy.

 

 

chopping off the age

With the sounds of fabulous Salon chatter picking up, my deep Southern stylist Chris asked, So what ARE we doin’ to yo haya Doll?  We just gonna trim up those ayends?? I lovingly brutalize his vocab. lol!

(*note to Chris: no one can talk like you, but we might try! wink!)

I loved him! He took his FAB droll to the greatest level!

My glorious hair was his favorite, so he confided. I kinda believed him, but I think he went a little outrageous with his favs, (just some of the time).

We did the same thing, every month, dye, trim, style. Just this morning I enjoyed drying my long hair, thankful God didn’t hit my head with the Ugly Stick. Ok, I complained about the grays, B-U-T…

Nope! Cut it off!

Whahaat? NO!

Something new, I was ready for it! 5 years of having the same, or similar, style, length, the Works! It was time for a new ME!

Shocked! Chris tried, but no one was talking me out of The Chopping of The Locks!

With perfect scissor hands, he dropped into the ZONE and… Voila!

Asymmetrical Cut, which flatters my face and neck

(unfortunately for me, this top…, though all the rage in CA , un-flatters me with the illusion of asymmetrical boobs LOL!)

Its perfectly great for Fall, chunky sweaters, scarves, hats, even the big fur coat! LUV LUV

There is nothing more Chic, than a great hair style, to match the young new You!

blue fall

Fall is in full color, with vibrant shades to deeper grays. Its the ever glorious shades of the beautiful Scorpio. Mmmmagic!

 

 

 

Michael Kors knit sweater, AMB tie dye top, Marc Fisher boots, Franco Sarto cross-body purse

Model K. Gibson, Photo Shoot by Carmen

 

(ummm… CAMEL TOE!!!)

The Jazz Festival was simply AMAZING! (yeah, that was the wine talkin’ too!)

My girlfriend and I strolled down the streets peering into the tented booths, through our sunglasses. The heat killed the Class!!  Our very cool wine glasses held daintily, half-filled with our beverage of choice we got from The Cute Guy pouring vino, we found a few tents to browse.

The afternoon was boiling and we were thrilled with our second glass, ahhh chilled! as we kept strolling, talking, sipping, looking and sipping.

Some of the most unique designs I’d seen in a while, neatly arranged on shelves and tables. There was great talent here and I appreciated ALL of it! I happen to be a sucker for creativity and the obvious, ART.

There it was! The HAT tent! I’m a HAT GIRL, bags, and shoes! I love them all! And TODAY!!! happened to be a hat day, in this miserable hot California fall weather! So we looked and FOUND!

GOT MADE and looked FAB! It was perfect!

The Jazz Festival was hot, our glasses were empty and we were OUT!

Later on that night, I was showing the pics to a friend of mine who loudly announced to his own hilarity, “CAMEL TOE!!!” (Of course a GUY would have to find something wrong like that!!!!)

I looked, and there it was!! My great outfit, my MADE outfit, was uproariously ruined by my own neglect to wear the correct panty!!!!! NEVAHHH Again!!!

Ahhh, well… it happens! Even to the Fashionista Extraordinaire. (wink)

 

Polka-Dot Power

 

 

 

They keep coming back!

 

I like polka-dots! They have stood the test of time and are back on the racks this Fall!

 

As a young girl, I remember a particular dress I chose for Easter. White ruffled skirt with black polka-dots and a black cap-sleeve button up top. I loved it! Sadly, I have not donned the dots in years.

 

The Dots out there now however, have certainly caught my eye!

 

 

Rachel Zoe Polka-dot Scarf Top

 

 

Kate Spade Maya Dot-print Shift Dress

 

 

Kate Spade Cap-Sleeve Top

 

 

 

 

The power of the Dot is contagious…

So why not brighten up your wardrobe with a few Dots this Fall?!! I certainly will!

 

Related articles

• Spotted, Literally: See How Jessica, Gwen, Diane, and More Perfect Polka Dots (fabsugar.com)
• Day and Nite JCrew PolkaDot Skirt (chanelwears.com)

 

Gorgeous Jackets for Fall

 

Armani is another example of luxury designer clothing label. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

There is one thing I love about gearing up for Fall. Jackets!

 

Living in California, I don’t need to shop for heavy jackets till Winter months. Nights are getting cooler and a light layer is nice…

 

While browsing the Armani Exchange , I found a few styles I simply love! These classy Jackets have an eye-catching appeal that you wouldn’t want to miss.

 

Peplum Jacket

 

This new jacket has a touch of  feminine flare while staying true to the clean lines.

 

 

 

 

Suede Trim Leather Jacket

 

This jacket just says “Sexy” all over it! The suede trim and modern neckline give this leather jacket an enticement all its own.

 

 

 

 

Croc Embossed Faux Leather Jacket

 

My Pick ~ This jacket has the endless style of the moto, in a soft elegant look.

 

 

 

 

Each of these jackets have beautiful, original style that looks HOT in the dark and light!  Great with jeans or skirt, grab your jacket and GO…!

 

He wore WHAT!!?

On a Girl’s Night Out, I discovered that there were a lot of men who do not know how to dress. It’s time to get a little personal Fellas!

When dressing for a Friday night out, plan a little sex-appeal into your wardrobe.  That’s right!!

She’ll take in the whole package instantly, shirt to shoes. If you have great style, you’ll bag more than brownie points!

Most men I’ve seen go with the long sleeve button up. Don’t do that!  Try a different approach.

The V-Neck.

 

This is probably the sexiest style made for MAN. In every shade, the V-Neck takes casual to class!

The great thing I love about the V-Neck is, versatility.

Dress it up with a dark blazer on cooler nights or wear it alone. You can’t go wrong!

V-Neck sweaters are a nice alternative this Fall, but choose Cashmere to show off your muscle.

Date Tip~ Don’t shave it off! Keep a little scruff. We like it and want to touch it!

Why not draw her attention to you?!

Give yourself an upgrade the next time you go out. Put on the V-Neck.

 

Date Fashion

 

 

 

What to wear?!!!

When planning an outfit for a date, I give it some extra thought. I love to feel fabulous and sexy, so I choose my pieces carefully.

I chose a white ribbed tank and layered it with a fabulous Armani Exchange moto shirt.

Keeping my look simple, I wore black 4″ heel booties to add height and style.

Silver and burgundy stone earrings gave me the splash of color I needed.

The look I achieved was simple and sexy for my hot date!

He wore a slim-fit Tommy Hilfiger oxford and gray Geoffrey Beene slacks.

To dress up his look, he chose fashionable black Frattelli boots.

For a touch of class and sex-appeal, he rolled his sleeves the Italian way.

The Italian Way –

1. Unbutton the cuff.

2. Take the edge of the cuff and flip the whole cuff back.

3. Drag the cuff slowly up past your elbow until the bottom seam of the cuff is in your elbow pit.

4. Fold the extra 3-5 inches of  sleeve up, to secure the cuff above your elbow.

The cuff won’t come undone and the look is timeless Class.

On this date, both of us chose to keep our looks simple. By this, we emphasized our figures and drew attention to only one piece.