What I Wore To This Year's Costume Party!

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Some call it Halloween and some call it Harvest! I like the sound of harvest better! So, I opted for the lighter side of wearing a costume of my favorite character - "Catwoman". Hence, why I went more in the direction of being a batty type of catwoman - dominatrix style! Woohoo - it was so much fun!

Here's what I wore:

• A cowgirl hat from Urban Outfitters
• Black leggings from H&M (very old)
• Black knee high boots from Macy's (years ago)
• A dark grey cami top from Urban Outfitters 
• Grey sporty and hooded jacket from H&M
• Black and silver chain belt from H&M
• And last, jewelry made by me

How cool! I enjoyed the dressing up process and prior to that I played around with a catty makeup look, but I winded up scrapping it and went for a more simple look, because I'm quite the minimalist - no fuss type of gal! See it all below! What do you think?

My Book Announcement/Launch News!!!

Hey, Guys!

I'm so super excited about this year - 2014! I believe there are great things just around the corner for all of us if only we'd develop the right mindset or thinking in order to make it happen, and my book, "A GREATER You Now!" can serve as that tool and is available and ready for purchase here as an e-book version. Check it out and be sure to pass the link on, as it may just be what you or someone that you know could benefit from at this very moment in time, in order to get unstuck and begin moving in the right direction again. It'll surely fire you up and give you that zest of zeal to do and become all that your heart desire. As important, please drop me a line or two in the comment section below and let me know just what your thoughts are about it. It would be greatly appreciated! :-)

In addition, the paperback version will be available for purchase in the first half of February, just a couple of weeks away. Anyhoo, take a look at the attached free preview pages, which include the front and back cover, plus one of the "About The Author" pages, that shows what a few folks had to say in light of me.

XOXO and much love and success this year and beyond!!!!

My Transition From A Closet Full of All Black Clothes To A More Colorful One

It's amazing how the changing of one's perspective about the way in which we view life, changes also every thing else around us, and such is the case for the colors in my wardrobe. I've moved from an all black wear to being more colorful. Though, with all those black pieces that I owned, you would have thought I was mourning some loss, but in a sense, I was, without even realizing such was the case. I was mourning all that was at loss from a very costly decision that I made four years ago and a fire that took place three of those years, at my former residence, that stripped me of EVERYTHING I owned, including my clothes, to say the least. So, I had to go out and buy new ones, and of course, I naturally gravitated to black pieces of garments. I was really in a dark place within my mind back then, as I was distraught over what had happened to my life and that of my children's, all whom my decision also affected, but thank goodness to the Universal God for looking after us through it all. I was really beating myself up about it over the years. It wasn't until recent, like late last year, that I decided to let it all go and start over from scratch. I made a conscious choice to just let bygones be bygones and simply move on from that pain of what I didn't have anymore, and instead, grasp onto the newness that awaited me if only I'd just let go and that's what I did - I let go. However, out of that pain, I learned that what determines how quickly we maneuver through our sufferings and become victorious has a lot to do with our perspective - how we think of and view what's happening to us, our beliefs, and ultimately, our faith that assures us from a distant view that it's actually happening FOR us. So, having the right perspective is so key to getting over and through, much more quickly than not, the obstacles or mountains that we sometime have to face in life, and in this case, in the physical, I was facing it alone, in addition to carrying the weight of those whose lives I'm also responsible for, my children - talk about having to carry the cross and being nailed to it, is an understatement of how I was feeling during that period of my life.

Anyhoo, now that I've moved out of that dark state of being, today, I'm more appreciative and inclined to reach for the more colorful pieces of clothing rather than my normal go to color of wearing black all the time. Don't get me wrong, black is a timeless color and very beautiful and slimming for many :-) and goes with every other color that you can think of out there, but it's just not good to wear it all the time. It's a color that retracts and absorbs and binds with whatever energy it comes in contact with, trapping it in, whether good or bad (positive or negative). So, if you're going through dark stages within your life, to help your chances of moving out of it at a faster rate than not, it would not be wise to wear only black. It only buries you further in that pain that you may be experiencing. Therefore, it's more intelligent to select pieces of clothing that have more vivid or subdued colors that'll brighten your spirit, raise your vibration, and/or calm your mood if you find yourself being a bit too anxious in getting the results that you seek. It's true; colors do alter your mood, for the better or worse. So, be conscious of that fact and choose wisely when out shopping for your next outfit.

For this year, I'm really feeling the deep sea mediterranean and mystical moonlight blues, paired with the color of the year, "Fuchsia", would definitely make for a bold statement. Those rich blues also can be toned down with neutrals, like warm gold, cold grays, or tans and lighter shades of brown. Either way, I'm just happy that I've moved away from the age old black wardrobe and into something more light reflective and refreshing!

Here's a photo showing a few pieces I grabbed the other day from Zara Int'l, one of my favorite clothing store. Their clothes have that European/Parisian flair that I truly love.

Btw, the necklace that I'm wearing over the burgundy dolman sleeve turtle neck is one of two pieces that I made from a t-shirt. Yup, and I love it! :-)

Ok, guys, always be stylish with what you wear. If you need some assistance in getting it right, drop me a few lines in the comment section below and let me know. XOXO and have a stylish weekend! :-)

My Short Hair Perspective

Wow! I've really come fully circle with myself: getting to know thyself, finding my happy within, doing what I love and loving what I do passionately, and my WHY as to living this life here and now. This self seeking to know the truth and thyself journey has led me to a more beautiful and enlightened perspective about life, one that I can truly be excited about, regarding what the future shall bring. It was in that moment of sudden realization or re-awakening that I decided to do an absolute brave thing and chop off my coiffeur. Yes, indeed I did, and boy, it was a real shocker, not only to myself but to others as well.

In that very moment, I was frozen by angst and concern, regarding what others may think. How would they now view me? Will this new look suit me? All of those pessimistic and negative thoughts came to mind, that it nearly stopped me from moving forward with my decision, but I pressed onward, with my eyes wide open (as is the look on my face in the attached photo) and chopped it all off. I gasped but quickly released a sigh of relief, because I needed to let go of the old me, in order to welcome in the new and improved one, and thus, here I am today, light and free to become and morph into that which is of my highest and greatest self. I'm truly fluttering like a butterfly, unchained from the cocoon within my own mind and that had stifled me against my own freedom. You know, that still, peaceful place within, where you are truly set free. Yes, it's that special place that we all can shine brilliantly from and extend that marvelousness back out into this world that we live in.

With that, I'm loving the new me that I've become, and for awhile I was truly stuck with the thought or idea that if I did this brave thing of cutting off all my hair, even though it was already in it's natural state, from my decision a year ago, in November of 2012, to do away with the chemical processing and treatment of my hair, I realized that I didn't do it right initially, as I should have done the "Big Chop", whereas I was to cut off the old relaxed portion of my hair from the new growth that stemmed naturally from my roots - hence, called "Natural Hair". So, because of that mishap of not doing it right the first time, I winded up with breakage along the way and that caused me to now have to, a year later, chop it all off. It was after trimming it myself that I realized that because of the damage done to my ends and that ate its way up my hair shaft, I was left with short hair here, long hair there, here, and everwhere. It was a hot mess, to say the least. So, off it went in quickly deciding to do so.

Subsequently, by cutting off my hair, I've also done away with the silly, pre-conceived thinking that says, "A woman's hair is her beauty". REally? I certainly can't tell, because I'm not my hair. My hair is a part of me, yes. It's an extension of my beauty, but it certainly does not define beauty. Beauty is something that is deeply rooted within and that we must draw from the inside out. My hair is merely an extension of that beauty, whether long or short. Therefore, even if I was to bald my head, would that make me suddenly ugly because all of my hair would be gone? No, you'd still see my beauty, inner and outer, and anyone else's for that matter, because afterall, beauty is something that shine from what's inside to the outside of oneself, time, space, and being. Hair is simply an accentuation to one's beauty, like accessories are to your clothes, and I'm fine with it being short and curly and straight all at the same time. Yes, I'm to be known as the woman with the curly-straight hair, as I've come to realize about the growth pattern of my hair, that it holds two textures - curly and straight. Odd right? But it is what it is, and I've come to fully embrace it, and I encourage all of you natural ladies to do the same, embrace and accept who you are, become who you were meant to be, and you do so when you let go of all the idiotic nuisances and stigmas and stereotypes within your mind and from others that says that this is the way you're supposed to be, because it's what everyone else is doing, and it's what society approves of. I say, no, do you truthfully and awaken to the greatest you there is to be. The truth is that there's no one else like you. So, why in heaven's name would you want to conform to wanting to be like everyone else? There's no real gain or growth with that sort of thinking. It's surely the kind that'll have you spinning in circles, lost and confused, and getting no where fast.

So, break free from the stereotypes, the cliches, and the tightly sealed boxed in way of thinking and allow yourself to become all that you were meant to be, here and now. The truth is that I'm enjoying this short hair journey, that'll lead to a longer and an even more meaningful and beautiful extension of myself. I am truly excited and grateful  for this experience and all of the wonderful possibilities and insight that it has brought and will invite into my life. I am open, and I am free.

Be brave. Be bold, but most of all, BE YOU! :-)

Winter Weather Wear

This is a pic I took outside today of all the snowfall - so beautiful.

 Overall, I'm in my floral fitting overalls :-), and they're super comfy and cute during this time of the year, don't you think? :-), especially with the brisk of the weather as it is right now - snow, snow, and more snow. It's so cold that if you're not wearing gloves you can easily get frost bite, and I went outside oblivious to this fact trying to clear the snow off the car, and in little to no time, my fingers were near frozen. I quickly cupped my fingers and put them up to my mouth and blew hot hair from my body onto them. It worked as it enabled me to finish the job, but they really got thawed out inside the car after I was through scraping icicle cubes from the car windshield, sides and rear view windows. So, survival thinking kicked in as it always does when we're in dire straits, so I placed my fingers directly in front of the heat vents - ahhhhh! I was so relieved.

Anyway, for the life of me, I really don't know where my leather pair of gloves are, and I really didn't have time to look for them. I was simply trying to get out the door to go do some grocery shopping at Whole Foods Market to get us through the next few days of  the winter storm that has taken out power and water for many in our county. Thus, I'm so grateful that's not the case for us on this side of the fence.

Anyhoo! Here's to gearing up for this winter chill the right way - be sure to pull out the big guns, like your heavy coats, scarves, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, sweaters, undergarment thermals, tights, etc..

Well, that's all she wrote until next time...take care, guys and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!  Be safe too.

Peace + Blessings + Success! :-)

WHAT I'M WEARING:

My big chop...lots of laugh :-)....Fur hooded goose down, mid-calf coat and cardigan by Calvin Klein - bought them some years ago at Macy's while on sale, Tory Burch suede/fur winter boots - a great steal that I bought from Neiman Marcus' "Last Call" store, a necklace and bracelets made by yours truly - me. More of my designs can be found at Style Haberdashery. I'm aslo wearing Mineral Fusion eyeliner and lipstick, by color name - "Alluring", bought them from Whole Foods Market, hand painted earrings by Wild Heart Bliss, and my floral jumpsuit by Zara. 

Perspectively Styled In The Green, With The Attitude Of Gratitude

This year started off slow and perpetually sped by like lightning in its last few months. So much, that we're just a month away from crossing over and closing out this baby. Well, I hope it's been a great run for all of you, either as means to realizing and accomplishing your dreams/goals, or you've learned a lot along the way, taking note of what didn't work and that have now allowed you to plan effectively for the one ahead of us, 2014. So, whether you've planned or achieved massive amount of success or little thereof it, you've definitely come a long way, so, be proud of that, as a little can go very far when you look at it with the right perspective - a gain instead of a loss.

Should the merits of your gain is the latter of a little, then take the cons of this year and turn them into pros for next year. Rework, revise, and renew your plan to stand strong next year where it fell weak for this one. Remember, life is about lessons learned. Therefore, don't take things so seriously. Shake it off. Rise up from the ashes of what didn't work and grab hold of what little success you did gain and soar like an eagle with it to higher heights to the calling of your heart's desires and where you want to be - that happy, joyous, peaceful, and abundantly flowing and glowing and beautiful place in life.

It's also good to keep yourself reminded that "The race is not for the swift, nor the strong but for the ones who can endure it 'til the end". It is that sort of thinking that'll keep you from being so hard on yourself and get you through your challenges in life. Nothing is ever a failure if you keep that in mind and know that there's a positive within every negative. There's a yin to every yang and vice versa. Therefore, it's wise to take the good from the bad and make the best of it. So, take it easy. Take it light and plan ahead and let 2014 (7) take you to higher heights.

Nonetheless, it's not about how you started. It's about how you finish, and with that, you still have a month to go in making things happen. So, plan ahead, but don't close out so soon. There's still time left where alot can be done to be achieved. There are folks that have turned their lives around in just one month, with the making of just one decision that came at the opportune time. Therefore, timing is everything, and this last month may just be your time to finish strong. Whether it's as little as kicking a bad habit of drinking, smoking, or partying too heavily, writing that book, making those phone calls. It could be to still lose some unwanted pounds, even if it's 5lbs or 10lbs, etc., the list goes on and on; at least, it'll move you closer to your dreams. So, don't stop here now. The key is not to quit - don't give up. Don't check out so soon. You're near the finish line. There's still time left to turn it around. It all depends upon how you perceive it through your mind's eye. So, go get 'em tiger! :-) I'm rooting for you every step of the way. You can more than do it.

Speaking of closing out strong and furious, I gained a new skill this year, designing jewelry. I decided to make the best use of some idle time that I had and turn it into something useful and productive. So, I went out one day to satisfy my long thirst to design jewelry, along with learning how to sew using a sewing machine ( Fyi, I already know how to hand stitch with a needle - thanks to my beloved grandmother who've transitioned on to the heavenly realms - blessings to her soul). It's been itching at me to get going with it, and so, I got up and went out to visit a nearby bead shop I'd stumble upon some months before that inclination to now go there and inquire about buying some beads, to at least begin my desire to give it a go and create something from my own  God-given, intelligent, oceanic flow of creativity - the kind that's granted to you from the Universal God. It was out of that curiosity to enter therein that I learned that the shop owner also taught classes, and they were free. I simply couldn't believe it, but after purchasing quite a few semi-precious and precious gems, stones, and beads, strings and cords, etc., she was impressed with my eye for design and the quality from the pieces that I had chosen, as I laid them out and put them together on the table in her store. That is how I design - I see things in the moment, how well they can work with each other, and I then pull them together in just a flash of the light to what I envisioned or see. Furthermore, as means to some type of concrete confirmation from the Divine Guide above that I've come to the right place and is now moving in the right direction, the other customers came around ooohing and ahhing too at my creative vision ( I really wasn't expecting that...I didn't even think anyone was interested in what I was doing there, except me). Anyway, she went on to say, "I teach classes here every Thursday for free. You can stop in anytime, and I'll be more than happy to teach you how to construct those pieces." I was thinking in that moment, wow! Yet again, the Universal God has brought to me that which I need to get done what I want to do, and I'm grateful for being an obedient student at Its guide and will. So, here I am well on my way to honing this skill of constructing pieces that I love and faithing it that the rest of the world will too. So, I went all gungho design-happy wild 'n' crazy, creating now over 20 pieces in less than a month, considering being a newbie, with still more to go before the year is out. So, if I've done nothing else, at the least, I've done that - gain a new and exciting, soul-quenching skill to add beauty the world through the art of jewelry design. You can view them all here at www.stylehaberdashery.etsy.com. However, here's one that's to the tune of what's emerald in the green spectrum of the color of the year. Great way to close out by rocking this gorgeous green number, namely so, the "Heart Blown Bead Knotted Necklace" - simply beautiful!

To say the least, I'm truly grateful that I've gained what I had not before - a new skill of the trade - a new expression of my creativity, and it is through the right perspective that I've come to see it as such, as I could have easily chosen to be down on myself and negative about all that didn't go right, but, instead, I chose to look at what I've learned and what was gained, as "Gratitude is based upon perspective, not possessions, and what we appreciate - appreciates; it rises in value, and what you nourish will ultimately flourish." So, gain the right perspective, appreciate it, and nourish it in order to turn a little gained into a lot, as the attitude of gratitude makes room for you to receive so much more, material and/or spiritual. So, while planning for next year, don't forget to write down as means to give thanks for your wins - your gains, no matter how big or small. This Thanksgiving, for those who do celebrate it, give each person seated at the dinner table a chance to express their thanks/gratitude, telling of what they've learned or gained this year thus far. It'll open up a window of continued blessings to bigger and better things to come for this last month that awaits us and for the year ahead.

See below a stem of my creation from a new skill gained this year and to that I'm grateful for:

This piece, *Heart Blown Bead Knotted Necklace* was inspired by my explore of nature during the Summer months.

Well, with all that's said, I believe you'll close out this year strong and know that nothing's at loss, instead a gain when we look at it all with the right perspective. So, go forth and make the best of what's left of this year. Let the right perspective propel you forward and upward to where your heart desire.

Peace + success + blessings to you all!

Here I Am as I AM - Styled To Be Me

I've never felt more empowered and liberated in all my life than the day I decided to transition from
relaxed hair to going back to the hair that naturally stems from my roots. I have truly come full circle with myself, that I now feel absolutely complete. Though, I've never been the one to conform to society's definition of beauty: fake hair, nails, boobs, lashes, eye color, nose jobs, etc., etc. and as it seems most around me were doing. I simply stood my ground and held fast to who I am and what I strongly believe in - being me to the fullest and naturally too, without any fake additions or facade of myself. I chose to remain me, and that's the woman that you look at today, whether in pictures or in person.

The decision to relax my hair was done outside of my will, when my mom felt it was a good idea to relax my hair as a girl upon moving here to the US. She thought it would be easier to manage for her and to the conditioning of the mind regarding what's acceptable as beauty by society. I totally didn't understand that as a child, as I was used to having and wearing my natural hair. It was all that I knew, loved, and embraced. So, of course, naturally, I was resistant to such change.

Anyway, here I was now, on my own terms and after getting used to the idea and action of relaxing my hair, never really thinking or was conscious of the harmful effects it was having on me, I would perm my hair over and over again as I saw just about everyone doing, while my scalp was being burned and bled clear liquids - so much that it left my scalp in agony when touched. My hair was damaged, broke off in places where it was burned/over processed, and then by some sort of automatic programming, I would go back a month later to pay someone (hairstylist) to repeat the same torturous process that I've experienced and unconsciously accepted. It was in that moment last year that it all suddenly became clear to me of how crazy that was to do. So, I stopped. In an instant, I decided to do away with relaxing my hair.

Mind you, when I initially got a relaxer my hair was coily, and when it was relaxed to be straightened, it went flowing down my back. So, I now had all this extra length that I didn't have before and that was truly exciting to me. So, the idea to continue relaxing was enticed by what seemed like such a convenience and effortless way to care for and manage my hair. How joyous was the feeling of inclusionary illusion that carried me further away from the truthful reality of it all, that it was actually of no good to my hair, my brain, and/or my blood, for as we all should know by now, whatever you place on your skin, hair/scalp gets into your blood stream after a few minutes if not seconds of applying it. Therefore, I was pretty much damaging myself to the tune of convenience and  to what was deluded to me as simplicity and beauty.

To the say the least, I am so glad the day I awakened to the truth that relaxers were never a good idea. Thanks but no thanks, Garrett A. Morgan (not Madam C.J. Walter as most believe). Mr. Morgan invented hair relaxers back in 1877 in thinking that he was doing us women of a darker hue a favor. Though, to give respect and show credit where it's due, I do appreciate his other more meaningful inventions, such as the three-light traffic signal. Anyway, my natural hair journey of returning back to my roots began in November of last year (2012). So, this month is actually my one-year anniversary of transitioning. Although, with transitioning from relaxed back to natural, the big mistake I made was not to do the "Big Chop". Hence, why I ended up with so many split ends/breakage from the remaining portions of my relaxed hair that ate up my hair as it was growing out. I kept telling myself that if I took really great care of it that somehow the split ends would magically subside and be no more (like abracadabra, poof be gone, l-o-l) - right, another way of holding on to what I needed to let go of - the mind the mind, will certainly play tricks on you if you let it.

Well, that thinking was an illusion to my hair's demise that left me trimming away at split ends, only to come to the realization of just how bad and far the split ends had traveled up my hair shaft, near the roots. So, Sunday night, November 10, 2013, a year later, I decided to take a rather brave step and  chop it all off and start from scratch the right way. The lesson here is to do things right the first time. It'll save you time and give to you the desired result that you seek. So, the pic above is me, right now, as I am: no foundation, just my skin, some eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipstick to enhance what I already am in the flesh and in spirit too, as I'm now fully living my truth - the truth of who I AM and what I've become - the natural me, and I couldn't be happier that I've found myself again! Thank God I AM healed. I AM whole. I AM complete - the way it should be. Now, I can move forward totally wild and free to be me. :-)

Take care guys and would you be so kind to like, subscribe, and share what you've found here. It could be of some sort of encouragement or inspiration to others. Don't forget to comment too and let me know what you're thinking or would like to add to this post. Your questions are also welcome.

Remember, "Be you as everyone else is already taken."