Category Archives: Beauty

An Evening at the Arbor!

Good evening!

I am in the middle of a very lovely weekend, and instead of spending too much time telling you all about it so far, since I can tell you about my weekend in it’s entirety, with tomorrow’s post. I thought I would just share some pictures of this little shop that I visited today in downtown Salem. This place is called The Arbor.

When I walked in they were playing some of my favorite music that just makes you want to be all things Parisian!! After listening to the music for a few minutes, I finally realized why it sounded so familiar, it was the soundtrack to Somethings Gotta Give – I just love that movie!!

Anyway, this shop is a feast for the senses, and although I can’t share the scents, or sounds to you, I can share some of the beautifully imagery!

Enjoy!

I told you this place was FANTASTIC!!! If you are ever in the area, feel free to visit. You will be so glad you did!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 🙂

The New Me!

Good evening!

Ok, sometimes I even dazzle myself!! Tonight was the first night of my new belly dancing class, I have officially graduated on to the intermediate class! WHOO-HOO!! That, however, is not the amazing part.

Ok, let me back up a bit. Taking the beginning belly dancing class is the just that, the beginning. It is a bunch of the basic moves that will help you go on to further your belly dancing skills. Well, once you leave beginning basics, you have a decision to make, you either go on to do cabaret belly dancing, or tribal belly dancing.

My take on the difference is, that cabaret is a cross between basic belly dancing and show girls – it is glitz, glam, lots of bells and veils, but not a lot of anything else – skin is the operative word there!!! Another thing that stands out to me, about Cabaret is that it is also very choreographed, and everyone pretty much wears the same costumes.

Tribal belly dancing, on the other hand, is more like dancing as if you were raised in a gypsy caravan and you were all taught to dance by the same old respected woman in your community – it has a much more earthy/family feel to it, with lots of layered costumes, and it the moves are choreographed, but in a different kind of way. What I mean by that is that you learn handfuls of moves, and then while you are performing, there are different cues that the leader gives out to tell you what set of moves you are doing next. It is much more spontaneous in feeling, and in my opinion, waaay more fun.

Well, why did I tell you all of that? Well, since tonight was my first night of intermediate dance class, I had a decision to make. Cabaret or tribal? Caberet is from 6:30 to 7:30. Tribal is from 7:30 to 8:30. For those of you who know me, I am usually a to-bed-by-8:30 kinda gal! I need my sleep, and I get up at 5:30 every morning so that I can write my morning pages. Well, I knew that I wanted to do tribal, the style just seemed to make my insides sing!! but, I had decided on cabaret, because it was earlier.

So, I went to class this evening, exercise gear in hand, and I was there early and ready to go. I did my hour of cabaret, and man, when I am telling you that was hard, I mean – my abs, and thighs are going to be screaming for DAYS!!! 😉 It wasn’t particularly fun, because I was so lost more than half the time, but I am committed to doing this, and I know I will figure it out if I just stick with it!! The hardest part for me in this class, is that I just didn’t feel like I would be able to relate to anyone here. They are all really young girls, skinny, very fit, and waaaay more graceful than – that is for sure. Well, when we got close to the hour being up, in walks some of the ladies for the tribal class. and in that moment, I knew. I knew I had made a mistake. I WANT TO BE IN TRIBAL, my soul screamed!!

So, class ended, I walked up to the instructor, Jody, and asked her if I could change to tribal next week. She said, “well, this is what we can do…”

Now, at this point I was sure she was going to tell me ‘no’, but what she said next surprised me, and how I responded surprised me even more.

She continued on by saying, “…if you have time, why don’t you stay for tribal tonight, and see which class you like better. I don’t want you stuck in cabaret if you would prefer tribal.”

at which point, I said, “YES, I HAVE TIME!!!”

So, long story short, I belly danced for TWO HOURS tonight!! I can’t even believe it! The old Christina would NEVER have had the stamina!! Plus I swam hard for an hour yesterday, and I have another hour Zumba class tomorrow!! Now I am not in the best of shape, and I am not getting any younger, but right now I feel like I can conquer the world!!!

I can not WAIT for next weeks class (I need to find me a broom skirt!!)! and you have got to know, mamma is taking ibuprofen, grabbing the heating pad, and crawling into bed – because I am sooooo tired.

So tired, but soooo happy!!!

LIFE IS GOOD!!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

A Different Saturday!

Good evening!

I have had a different kind of Saturday, a day focused mainly on art, and creativity. I am watching a documentary on, artist, Alice Neel. She was a very intriguing woman. It sounds like she led a life that was surrounded in a kind of sadness. Her paintings are quite amazing, however. She was a portrait artist, painting portraits of people. Her pictures seem almost alive, with breathing, moving subjects. There is something very energetic about them. What an amazing talent Alice had. I am shocked that she never sold many of her paintings, if she sold any. Amazing woman.

I finished reading The Artist’s Way today. I am pretty proud of myself that stuck that out! I have also finished filling up my Morning Page’s journal! That, to me, is freakin’ amazing!!! I have learned so much about myself since I started this journey, more than 13 weeks ago. I learned that I am braver than I thought I was capable of being, and that I have given myself permission to step off of the sidelines of life and get into the flow of action! That has been very exciting, and if I were to walk away from this program with only that lesson learned, then that was ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT!! 😉

Tomorrow I start the next book, Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity. This book is also by Julia Cameron. I will continue to do my morning pages, and my weekly artist dates, but just from initial glance, this book will also make daily walks part of the creative process. I am excited to see what the next 12 weeks bring.

Anyway, I realize that this is a short post, but it is late, and I am really into this documentary, so I am bidding you adieu until tomorrow!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

 

Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity

A Gorgeous Day!

Good evening!

It has been an absolutely gorgeous day here in Oregon. It was a bit on the toasty side today, but I just got back from  nice long swim in our chilly pool, which was absolutely refreshing, and we have air conditioning in our little place, so I think I should be able to nod off to sleep quite nicely this evening. It also probably helps that I am beyond tired, from having so much fun with my sister, Jennifer, while she is still in town.

Her and her husband, Austin, are only in town in until tomorrow, at which time they will return home! I have tried, for years to talk them into moving here, but Salem is just too big for them, which is ironic because it is just too small for us!! 😉 Anyway, we have squeezed in some quality time after work this evening, going to their favorite place in Salem to eat, and that is at Mongolian Grill. They make it a point to eat there at least once during every visit, and this time was no different. 😉

I must interject here, I have been part of a support group called Chunky Dunkers. This is basically a get healthy & fit support group that I started with the help of my sisters, Alex, Jennifer, oh, and I can’t forget my sweetie, Jason. Well, Alex has lost almost 60 pounds, and Jennifer has lost almost 40. I am soooo ABSOLUTELY PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM (and a little jealous, if truth be told), and it has caused me to have a feeling of a renewed sense of,

“Ok girl, you have got to get your butt into gear and make this happen for yourself!!”

So, I have eaten extra fruits and veggies today, avoided all calorie-laden drinks, and tracked all of my food that I have eaten, walked the stairs at work, and even got an extra half an hour of vigorous swimming in this evening! Whew!!! Only one day down, and possibly hundreds more to go, which is ok, seeing that it took me literally 16 years to get to the size that I am. I have never really been overly self-conscious of the weight, but I am noticing that the older I am getting the more aches and pains in my joints I am getting, and I am just TOO YOUNG to feel this DAMN OLD!! 😉 So, instead of just pissing and moaning about it, I am going to step up to the plate and take some action – little, by little – baby steps!!

If any of you reading have any hints/tips/ideas/yummy recipe ideas, or even just some motivational support for me and my get fit actions, I would be more than happy to hear from you. Please leave me a message in the comment section above!

Thank you SOOOO MUCH, in advance!!

With that said, I am going to head off to bed for the evening!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

P.S. These pictures were taken in my mom, Linda’s, garden. Aren’t they just lovely? Thanks, Mom!! 😉

Back to the Art!

Good evening!

My youngest sister, Trina, has gone back home *SNIFF*, so life is returning back to normal around here, at least for a few days!!

I decided to come straight home this evening and get back to do some serious creating!!

You can’t be an artist if you don’t take the time to create!

One of the biggest mental blocks that I have been struggling with is that I have a tendency to really judge my creations rather harshly, which I would NEVER do if it were a friend of mine creating them. So, I have decided that I am going to create a piece and just put it out into the universe so that it doesn’t matter what I think of it, good or bad!! The point is to get the art expressed, to get it out there and move on, and in doing so, learn, try some more and get better!

I have been doing some art for the past week or so, and I have decided that today would be the day that I would share it with you – AKA, the Universe!!! 😉 If you would like to comment on any of them, that is fine, but please be kind, I am just learning, and experimenting!!

Like Coco Chanel once said, “I don’t care what you think about me, I hardly ever think about you!” AND although, NOT my sentiments exactly, I understand what she was trying to say! This is the thing that I have to remind myself about my inner critic. I don’t care what you say, it is not worth listening to anyway!

So back to the art:

Here is a sketch I did while I was sitting in the car with all of the windows down, listening to the ocean waves crashing on the beach! That was a GREAT moment!!

Here is the picture of what I was actually looking at!

Here is a mini collage, that helped get me unstuck creatively! It is only about 4 inches by 6 inches – THAT, I felt, I COULD commit to!! This took me less than 20 minutes, but I really like it!

This is one of two gel skins that I created a couple of days ago!!

Here is the other gel skin. My only problem now, is that I am not exactly sure how/where to use them!! I may have to create a collage just to feature these skins!! 😉

Here is an experiment on wood that I have been working on! It was gorgeous and then I thought I “messed it up”, but decided to keep moving forward with it anyway! I am really loving how the light plays through all of the blues, greens, silvers on this piece. This may have to become a background for an awesome word, or a fairy or such!! It just seems very dream-like to me.

Wanting to use EVERY opportunity as a possible creative one, I did this little doodle while I was doing my Artist’s Way homework (for week 8, as you can see), but also people watching! So these rough sketches are a mish-mash of all sorts of people I was seeing.

Here is a continuation on one of my very first pieces, and I think that I am very happy with it. It represents a well-used life to me. About all of the people who come and go in and out of your life, and leave impressions behind of themselves – both good and bad! Yes, I think that this one is FINALLY done!

And last but not least, this one is a collage that I have been working on, and finally finished! I think that this is a happy collage, one that reminds me somehow of the sky, wind, movement, and dancing!! I see dancing when I see this one!

Well, at least that is my take on it all! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, they say!! I will continue to create and use my bravery muscles to keep sharing, no matter how dreadful I think something might be – again, not the point is it!!!

I would encourage all of you to get out there, find what you are good at, put your bravery muscles to good work and get your creativity flowing!! I can’t wait to see what you make!!

Until then…

Have a FABULOUS evening!

Art Studio Makeover, Getting Close!

Good evening!

I am very happy to share with you some pics I took of my art studio/office! As you may know, I have been cray-busily cleaning, organizing, purging, and decorating this room!! I still have some work to do, but it is sooo close that I can feel it!! I am going to make fabric table skirts to hide all of the under table storage, and I am contemplating also curtaining the large bookcase in the corner, to soften the room a little more and to just hide some more of the storage!! Any thoughts?? Let me know in the comments section – I would love to here what you think!!

Anyway, I will stop teasing and show you some pics of where I am at today! (Click on any picture to show larger) 😉

See, there is still a HUGE amount of stuff in this room, but it is organized like NOBODY’S business!!! 😉 This room is going to do some SERIOUS multitasking, collage, painting, jewelry making, office, writing, library, and guest room!!! WHEW!!! No wonder it has taken me soooo long to get it this clean!!! 😉

I just hope that beautiful art studio equates to beautiful art work being created!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunkers: I can’t wait to see all of you tomorrow evening!! 😉

A Very Happy Friday!

Good evening!

I thought I would just take some time to write this evening! It has been a while since I have just written.

Things have been going pretty well for me. I feel like my life is moving towards a much more creative future! I am happier, healthier, stronger, more confident, and lately I have been feeling kinda sexy – I think it is all the belly dancing that is going on!

I have been day dreaming about my farm again! Decorating, baking, entertaining, creating, gardening, and hosting creative weekends for women. I was looking at pictured of gypsy caravans, and I thought how lovely would it be to have 4 or 5 caravans on the back of our property, parked in a circle, around a campfire pit. That would be a FABULOUS place to have get togethers, and sleepovers with friends and family – can you just picture it!?!?! I have always been a sucker for intimate, cubby-like spaces! Forts, tents, head hidden under the blankets while sneaking in a good read!! I just thought you might like to know.

I had lunch with the girls today, and they were all talking about how beautiful their gardens were, and how prolific all of thier plants were doing, and how everything was in full bloom!! I can’t wait!! I dream about being able to take long walks hand-in-hand with my sweetie, enjoying the sunset, or an early morning sunrise.

I want to have a reading tree and a climbing tree. For those of you that may not know, a reading tree is a tree large enough for a grown-up to climb and lounge amongst the branches comfortably so that one can read a good book, or just sit and watch the world of nature pass around them. Doesn’t that just sound divine?? I am so ready to find that tree!!

I am also thinking a lot about the idea of hosting girly glam creative weekends, where women can come from all over the Pacific Northwest and have a fun weekend, creating beautiful arty projects, taking lovely nature walks, making new friends, and having a chance to just take a break from the demands of daily life. Doesn’t that sound yummy??? We will have deliciously prepared meals and snacks, and turn down service with a chocolate on your pillow every night! Oh MAN!! Sign me up – I am SOOOO there!!!

Anyway, I am going to keep dreaming for the night!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

I Feel Pretty!!

Good evening!

I had such an excellent evening!! I always am soooo JAZZED after belly dancing class!! and guess what????

WE DANCE WITH VEILS TONIGHT!!!! 😉

That made me feel like a bug-a-jillion dollars!!!!!

Who knew that you could actually get toned and fit while twirling, and spinning, and flipping, and making butterfly shapes out of your veil!!!

SO

MUCH

FREAKIN’

FUN!!!!

Seriously, how could I NOT have discovered belly dancing before??? What else could I have been missing out on because I was a big ol’ chicken!?!?!?! Our instructor, Jody, did a full veil dance for us at the end of class, and it was soooo SENSUAL and MESMERIZING!!! You literally couldn’t take your eyes off of her!!

THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO!!!!

I aspire to dance like my dance instructor when I grow up!!!

Can you imagine??? I don’t care, if God didn’t want me to dance, he wouldn’t have put a song in my heart, dang-it!!! 😉

I LOVE dancing!! I know that I will be one of those women who will be doing it for THE REST OF HER LIFE!!!

As I go off to bed, and join my dancing dreams in la-la-land, twirling, and smiling like a FABULOUSLY crazy person…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunkers: 1 hour down, only 2 more to go!!! I am DETERMINED to keep my weekly commitment!!! 😉 Oh, and plus I have started to track my food again today!! I am very happy to report that I am on target!! WHOO! HOO!! Oh, and did I mention that I passed up a HUGE cookie platter at a work celebration today??? MAMMA IS FEELING GOOD!!! 😉

Finding Myself in the Mirror!

Good evening!

I have been doing a lot of life changing events lately, A LOT!! I have started a self-help artist way journey to rediscover my inner artist, I have been doing morning pages every day for 8 + weeks, I have and am purging all of the non-me items out of my life, and now I have made another change. Ok, this one might not exactly be a life changer, but it will simplify my morning routine. I have gotten 11 inches cut off of my hair!!!

I wanted to be able to make a hair donation to locks of love, which I am now able to do, but even more than that, I wanted a change. A physical, in your face – change. I have been told that I have been becoming a different person over the last 8 weeks, but I just don’t see it. I have been told that I seem happier, calmer, and more flexible, which I guess is all true, but being a visual person I wanted to SEE a CHANGE, so this was the way that I gave it to myself!!

I went into my hairstylist, Lauren, and told her what I wanted, she was more than happy to be accommodating, plus she was SUPER-SUPPORTIVE as I hemmed and hawed over whether or not I was going to take the “Big Cut”! I had told myself I wasn’t going to do it, but I had a sad, sinking feeling in my gut, and I knew it was time. NOW-OR-NEVER!! So I told her to just cut it off, and take off an additional inch just for good measure!!

So, I am very happy with my decision! WIth it straightened it falls to just below my shoulder, I know that when I let it go curly it is going to be much shorter, but I am going to wear it for a week before I pass my final judgement! BESIDES, it was for a good cause, it really, truly is a WIN-WIN!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!

Chunky Dunkers: I will meet you in the comments section!! 😉

A New Evening!!

Good evening!

For most of the day today, I have been frantic whirlwind of cleaning, organizing and purging!! My art studio/office is starting to look better, but it seems that as soon as I clean up one pile, two more show themselves!! Those sneaky little pests!!! 😉 I did not take any pictures this evening, however, I’m confident that I will be able to in a few days, and the room will be completely done!!! WHEW!!

In the process of cleaning, purging and organizing my office/art studio, I am learning to realize just how important a safe place to create is for me. This is ABSOLUTELY priceless!! I am excited to see where my imagination can take me, and I know that having a clean, organized, clutter free space that truly represents my personality is something that EVERY GIRL should have! Especially, if one is trying to tap into one’s inner artist! I can honestly tell you that I don’t know where I will end up in 1 year, 5 years, 10 or 20, but I CAN tell you, that it is GOING TO BE GOOD!!

I want to give a shout out to my husband, Jason!! There were many times today, and this whole weekend, where I have been completely overwhelmed and needed either some moral support, cheerleading, or just someone with a stronger will then I to physically remove some items from our place that just needed to get donated or recycled!! Jason has done that for me, as he has on many occasions!! I love you, Sweetie, and I could not have gotten nearly as far as I have without your help! YOU ARE MY ROCK! You make my life so much better, and I still thank God that you are in my life. I TRULY am one lucky girl, and I OWE YOU SOOOOO BIG TIME!!! Thank you, Jay!

As for this week! I am not sure exactly what to expect yet, but priority number one is to get this art studio/office finished!!! Mamma needs a place to create!!

Work will be busy, but really, when is it not?? I also need to make sure that I get a couple of weeks on the calendar for our vacation! We are planning on camping with my sister’s family at the end of the month, but even that time has not been approved just yet! So, I will have to do some negotiating with some of my co-workers on that!

I am wanting to take a Zumbe class! I was planning on starting that next week, but I was burning my candle at both ends, still am, and that is going to have to wait a little while longer!! 😉 That is part of the reason for uncluttering my home so that I have more time and energy for doing the things I want to do – like Zumba!!

Have I told you that I am still doing my Artist’s Way morning pages, and weekly artist’s date with myself. I am, and I am still loving it! I was surprised to see that I was on week 9 of that process!!  The old Christina really never did very well with following through on things like this. This new Christina can’t imagine never not doing it!! They have radically changed the way that I look at my life, which in turn has changed me!! For the better!! I am so much happier than I was in the past, and I have reconnected with my creator, and now have hope for a different future than the dismal one I was settling for!! now, if only this new Christina could just lose some weight, and figure out world peace, all would be DIVINE wouldn’t it??? LOL! 😉

Until I speak with all tomorrow…

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉