•Artistic memory of Stephanie gifted to me by her family•
☆☆☆☆☆
Close to three years ago, I captured this footage of a book I handcrafted in memory of an amazing woman for a family who loved her very much and lost her much to soon. She was a good, kind creative, and very beautiful woman who loved nature and animals. She had a good heart. Making this gave me an opportunity to learn more about a woman who embodied so many wonderful things throughout her life. She truly made a difference while she was on this Earth she respected. It was an honor to gift her family with a mini archive in her memory.
“For within your flesh, deep within the center of your being, is the undaunted, waiting, longing, all-knowing… is the ready, able, perfect. Within you… waiting its turn to emerge, piece by piece, with the dawn of every former test of trial and blackness, is the next unfolding, the great unfurling of wings, the reforged backbone of a true Child of Light.”
□• The new cover I made for the iPad. It’s easy to be consumed by nothingness in shallow worlds. The mind becomes that which it consumes. This is one realization which will empower you in the gym more than any workout ever will. True empowerment lies in the gains reformed by the mind. •□
♡My friend Sharon working during the legislative session. She was giving a tour. We go way back to school days. Check out her black etched tin. She’s an amazing artist who also owns her own yoga studio.♡
“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.”
•~~George Sand
Tonight we took my son and his friend to eat at Taco Bell, before hitting Whole Foods. While the two boys ate, a young lady who worked at Taco Bell sat near us in the corner. She was sitting quietly eating a burrito on her break.
Once the boys were done eating, we all got up to head out. When I turned around toward the door, I noticed another young woman behind me. She had come in from the rainy, dark night while my back was to her.
As I passed by, I looked at her life strewn across two tables. She had laid out a brush, lotion, a book, and several other things. What got me, was the packet of Ramen noodles because I was sure she had no home to go to. I thought… “does she even have a pot to cook those in?”
She was wet and looked tired from carrying a huge, old backpack. I’d say she was 100 pounds. She didn’t even notice me because she was stuffing herself with what I assumed was Halloween candy. Walking out to the car, I asked my son “did she even eat?” I didn’t know since my back was to her. He said “no… she didn’t.”
I turned right around and walked back in. When I approached her she looked worried… like I was going to tell her to leave. I asked her if she wanted food and she got a huge smile and said “yes! Please! Can I get a chalupa?” I laughed and said “of course, get whatever you want girl.” She got “a meal” too.
While the young girl who worked at Taco Bell rang it up, the other girl asked me what my name was. I told her and asked her hers. She thanked me and shook my hand with a smile. I told her “be careful out there girl. It is dangerous and it’s getting cold.”
I feel good about doing nice things for people, especially those in need. What made me feel even better is what happened after that. When the young girl working at Taco Bell gave me my card back, she said “can you give me a moment?” I said “sure,” but was thinking… “I thought she gave me my receipt?”
She disappeared then came back with a bag. I said “what’s this? I didn’t order anything else?” She had given me a free bag with dessert and told me “that was really sweet of you. This is for you.” I thought that was cute. I guess you never know who’s heart you’re touching with a good deed.
“Our inner beauty is
that Kingdom of Heaven
that lies within. It is
a fragrance and the
signature of our soul.”
••| Angie Karan
I love to catch up with my cousin Jessica. I saw her this evening and she is such a beautiful little spirit. I found out that she is going to Alaska next week on a special mission and so I wanted to wish her luck! This lady is always making a difference in the lives of women and children. I’m so proud of the woman she has become.
We were next door neighbors as children and loved spending all our time together, outside under the apple trees. Now… we are all grown up and only catch up from time to time. I was remembering a picture she sent me a while back and thought I’d share a then and now look at us.
You can also read about the day Jess invited me to The Gathering for Mother Earth in 2013, which was so amazing. Read: **The Spirit of Place.
••| Top: me, my cousin Jess (awwee) and my sister Laura (awwee)… Bottom: my cousin Jess, me and my sister Laura. |••
Thank you so much to all the people who remembered me on my birthday. Just your thoughts themselves were more than enough, but I recieved the most amazing gifts this year. I loved that my gifts were so thoughtful and really took my likes and my personality into account.
Thank you all so much for everything. I really appreciate each and every one of you. Here are some of my awesome gifts that you all knew I would love!
◇They knew I needed a new phone and they were sick of hearing me yell at my old phone! Yes… I know it could blow up. I’m switching it for a safe one soon. Lovvvvvving this Note7.◇
◇Roses from my other lil man.◇
◇Ooooo… mommy knows I’ve been loving the silver and she made the bracelet in high school! Of course I need a blender for my protein shakes!◇
◇Sista knows I needed a big one of these and that I love cats! I have it at my bedside.◇
◇Brotha and his bae know I love flowers.◇
◇Ahhhh… the homemade… there is really nothing like it. She has macular degeneration and still made me this, making this gift from my creative granny all the more special.◇
◇Yes! PROTEIN…. Gains◇
◇Finding this on my door after bad news. ♡ I love coffee!◇
◇Bmac knows that I adore magical things. The calendar is so inspirational and I love salt candles… magical.◇
◇Gail also knows I love magical things and mermaids! This necklace is lovely, handcrafted and looks so magical!◇
◇Carmen… her gift was presented so creatively. She also knows I love magical things like flying wish paper. This papercut card was awesome and the popcorn delish, but that mug tho♡. Wow!◇
◇Rach knows I’ve been digging on beets. Bad!! These chips rocked. She also knows I’ve been stressed, so she got me stuff to relax!◇
◇Yes! My gym bae Elaine… scored me this *sweet* backpack cuz we have a pact ’till death up in that bitch. She knows I love skulls and dark shit. I loved the shades and sweet treat too.◇
“You gotta fight for every breath and tell death to go to hell.” —-Ernesto “Che” Guevara
•~ Only iron can break us. Elaine and Felicia… GBFFs or better yet, GBFTTD (gym best friends to the death). Oh yeah… in our new kicks too! ~•
Sometimes you just have to decide that nothing… nothing… I mean absolutely nothing will stop you. With tears in our eyelined eyes, a little over a month ago, together, we made a real pact in the gym. We promised each other that no matter what happens to us, we will breathe iron. No arms, one leg, sickness, injuries, wheelchairs, crawling… we will be in there ’til death!
Last Saturday, my friend Elaine brought me a gift to the gym in a small black bag. She had a cute little smile on her face when she approached me. She bought us matching friendship bracelets with tiny skulls in honor of our pact and told me thank you for being so supportive. We aren’t going down without a fight! That’s a promise.
*♥💀♥*
It is so good to know genuine people who have such good hearts. If you throw thoughtfulness, beauty and fitness into that equation, that makes someone even more special. Thank you to Christina for thinking of me on Mother’s Day weekend. She is gorgeous, fit and super creative. Even though she wasn’t at the gym today, she knew I’d be there, so she sent me a gift with her husband.
Her husband is a personal trainer who delivered me a handcrafted, amazing gift today from one mother to another. It was a clear box housing a homemade sugar cookie beehive. I got buzzed!! Hahaaaa. I told her husband… “tell her these are unbelieveable and awesome. Thank you and that I’ll owe her a few pounds for this!!” He laughed. Good hearts are hard to come by.
•For all my thick women out there. Ain't it funny how we get criticized yet errrrrybody tryin' ta build a brick house? Ummmhummm. Digital composite by Felicia.•
Lover of REALNESS... smart people with large brains... strong people with human weakness... all things divine and magical... and anything that makes my heart beat, my mind race, my body hurt, or my soul ache.
My Voyage Through Time 
SPEAK ON IT