Decorate Yourself!

So, I've started making jewelry, and I absolutely LOVE IT!

So far I've made earrings, and an awesome necklace.

Take a look!

I'm in love with the dangling skull earrings! They're little beads that I found in so many vibrant colors! I'm also really drawn to things that are glittery and iridescent. 

If you'd like to see how I made these, let me know! So easy and rewarding when you can make your own jewelry. =) Or if you'd like to purchase, they are available at my Etsy store!

I'm sorry I've neglected you, blog. Starting this has helped me see more clearly what it is my goals and aspirations are and has really kick-started me into pursuing my dreams, so thank you. :)

Disintegrating into butterflies

disintegrate (dɪsˈɪntɪˌɡreɪt) vb
To become reduced to components, fragments, or particles.





The human imagination is an extraordinary thing. It is boundless in it's capabilities. I cannot sleep at night because of this, I know my mind has no limits and I take advantage of it to the fullest. Imagine we could somehow manage to have our most elaborate day dreams manifest themselves before our very eyes. What would you choose to have come to life? I think about this often myself, what would I choose? A strange sickly feeling begins to rise in my chest, would it truly make me happy to see all the imaginary things I conjure up in my head  become a reality?

I wake up cold, and open my eyes. A bed of small purple flowers provided my solace for the night. It's quiet, and while I lay there listening, the delicate fragrance of the flowers reaches my nose. It smells as if the scent had floated off each petal and made elegant pirouettes in the air while the gentle breeze moved it along. I finally convince myself to sit up, and when I do I am greeted by an abundance of trees all around me, their presence was endless, as far as I could see. I could hear the breeze, it seemed alive, gently breathing through the trees, softly caressing every appendage of the wooden beings. Besides the life that seemed to be thriving right at my feet, I was alone. At least it seemed so from the quiet, undisturbed appearance of my surroundings. I began to walk, aimlessly but not absentmindedly, taking in the radiance of all the green things in my sight. The sun was bright, but the trees provided shelter from its overwhelming radiance. I took a deep breathe, so crisp, so full of all the wonderful smells of life in it's purest forms!
If heaven is real, I hope it's something like that. The natural world, untouched, and rid of all the unfortunate byproducts of "survival of the fittest".

Some one suggested I write a story, I tried to reach into my memory for something good, but it's all rather boring or too dark for me to write about. Maybe one day soon I'll write about those things. I felt really compelled to share a snippet of my deepest desires. Solitude.

Is that weird? As a mom and wife, is it weird that I dream of solitude?
What do you dream about? And I don't mean, what kind of things your brain forces you to see while you sleep, or what things you happen to think about while you day dream. I mean, what do you really dream about, what sort of things do you play out using your imagination to satisfy your strongest desires? Share with me, I'd like to know. :) ♥♥

The good always outweighs the bad

There was a whole in a concrete wall so I stuffed some flowers in it.

     Aren't we constantly bombarded with bad news on the TV, radio, newspaper, magazines even? War is destroying cities, people are getting raped, murdered, robbed... etc. The list goes on. When you think about it, how does it make you feel? Unless you're a psychopath, probably not good. It leads a lot of us to ponder things like, "What kind of place do we live in? What sort of world is this!?" Yes, it's terrible when you always feel saddened and surprised even by what people do to other people. (Because ultimately that's what it comes down to, people hurting people, whether it's directly or indirectly, it's people.) Let me tell you what I've learned though, as an adult, being more aware of the world around me. The world has always been this way. It's not "more" bad, nope. It's the same as always, and it will be until the last of humanity is gone. "Bad" things are always gonna happen. It's like one of the laws of the Universe basically.

BUT!!!!!! Before you go and write me off as a terrible pessimistic person, let me tell you part 2 of what I've learned. That part was taught to me by a very special man who, in my humble opinion, belongs in our history books. That man's name, Mr. Fred Rogers! Here's the quote that changed me life:

via: buzzfeed.com

    I encourage you to memorize this quote because it comes in handy quite often when one is hopelessly searching for reasons to keep going in life. I know it happens, I can testify. I've had too many of those kind of nights. Honestly, sometimes all I could think about is how much of >this< there is on a daily basis. Those things cause us to feel despair, loneliness, shame, just a plethora of negative emotions. But here's the best part, (I'm so excited!!) the things I mentioned above, are the reason that everything <good> exists. You can't have light without the dark. It's how this all works. And you don't even have to travel far to find the good things. It's not a long grueling journey to find the good things in humanity. Just get up, go to your bathroom and if you have a mirror, then look in it. You. You are what's good and worthwhile in this world. You are the one with the power to bring light and happiness to those around you. Isn't that beautiful? I think so. Next time bad news has got you down, remember what Mr. Rogers told us.

     I personally like to brighten the world by smiling and saying hello to everyone who crosses my path, be it friends or complete strangers. You'd be surprised how good it feels for someone, anyone, to acknowledge your existence with something as simple as a smile. Have you ever come across anyone with the sourest face you've ever seen? They are the ones who need your smile the most.

     Try dedicating a day to small acts of random kindness and tell me how it goes, and how it made you feel! Be the good in the world.

Thanks for reading!

(This post was dedicated to Ms. Gennette, thank you for inspiring me on this beautiful day! ♥)

☼ My perfect day: Healthful Habits! ☼

  

I imagine myself waking up to a room filled with sunlight. Sunlight not so bright that it hurts your eyes, but bright enough to fill you with feelings of excitement for what the day is going to bring you. We've all had those mornings, right? I by no means am a morning person, but sometimes upon waking up and feeling the soft light of the sun through my window just gives me this kick of good feelings and immediately amps me up. Soaking up some sun first thing in the morning gives me such a unique feeling of satisfaction, there's absolutely nothing that compares.

Now, take some time and look at your body. Your skin, your joints, the way you blink your eyes, the way your chest rises and falls to the rhythm of your breathing. Isn't it amazing? I myself am flabbergasted as to how it all works. And how strong our bodies are! We can treat our bodies terribly, and yet there it is, fighting with all its strength to keep us alive. I'll admit that I have not always been so kind to my body. Something in my head finally clicked; I should show as much love and dedication to my body as it shows me. And that means keeping it healthy as can be. My favorite healthy habits do a great job with that. ☺

• When it comes to the things I put in my body, I try (for the most part) not to choose things that are simply "low cal" or "low fat". I try to go for the stuff that actually benefits my body health-wise, not so much stuffing it with empty calories. So, on those days when I have time, I like to brew up some hot water and make myself a cup of green tea. Green tea is wonderful! It might not taste so great without sugar or sweeteners but I don't care, the benefits are enough for me to be able to gulp it down without so much as a wince. Here's why I drink it:

• It is filled with antioxidants which can help fight against free radicals and keep diseases at bay.
• It can help improve your brain function!
• It may help to boost your metabolism and your body's fat burning ability.
• It can lower your risk for Alzheimer's and heart disease.
• It may lower your risk of infections and increase your dental health by killing bacteria and viruses.
• Drinking green tea promotes relaxation and may help reduce your stress. ☺
  I definitely recommend it as your go-to morning boost drink!
  (sources: sofemenine.co.uk & authoritynutrition.com)

•  If we're talking about my perfect day, then I can't NOT mention my absolute most favorite thing to do in the world: go on a hike. A day where I go on a hike is automatically a good day, no matter what happens before or after. I've only ever been to hiking trails in my city but it is number one on my bucket list to visit hiking trails all over the world. Call me crazy, but I just find it so peaceful to just keep going deeper and deeper into the trail, alone with my thoughts, or if I'm with a friend, we can chat and unwind. Either way, it's a perfect way for me to release the clutter in my mind. I don't know if you guys have seen the movie Frozen but one of the songs has a lyric that goes, "It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small.
  And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all." This is so true for me when it comes to hiking. Up on a hill overlooking the city, I feel so free, so limitless. My problems don't seem so impossible anymore. And it also doesn't hurt that I am a tree hugging hippie who loves nature. ☺ I hope I can convince you to go out on a hike today!

• It counts as a cardio workout. Do I really need to tell you about how cardio is good for you? Here's a link if you didn't know already. ☺
• It also counts as strength training! It strengthens your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, lower leg muscles, and your core(which in turn improves balance!). Holy crap.
• Being in nature helps improve your mood. We are natural beings after all.
• It's a fun way to help you maintain a healthy weight.
  Try it out if you haven't and let me know how it went!
  (source: webmd.com)
  
•  My favorite of them all: food! No burgers and fries (those are sometimes foods :D), I gotta have something healthy for lunch! Our world is filled with living, growing food of all shapes and sizes. I'm talking about fruits! And vegetables! Meat is good too, but I nothing compares to the vibrancy and versatility that is found in the plant kingdom. Here's a few of my absolute favorites:
•  Beets:  First of all, these things are so BRIGHT! They will stain your fingers and clothes into a brilliant burgundy, I love that. :D And like most vegetables, there's so many ways to prepare them. My favorite though is to have them raw in a healthy detoxifying smoothie. Even the leaves are good for you. I like to use them in sandwiches and salads in place of lettuce.
• Avocados: These are a great addition to almost any dish. They add such a rich creamy taste and I absolutely love to have it whenever I'm eating something spicy. >:) I love to sprinkle some avocado cubes over this mexican brown rice salad I sort of made up. (Recipe coming soon!)
• Mangoes: This fleshy fruit is my favorite of all the fruits. It's sweet, but not so sweet that your cheeks will implode. Eating just one will have you feeling pretty full. (Well, I speak for myself on that one hehe) And one can't argue with the vitamin C boost you get after chowing down on a few slices of this delicious fruit.
• Blueberries: Ah, this tiny berry has my young ones going nuts for "Moar, MOAR, MOARR!!!" And I gladly deliver because I love how healthy these lil guys are. It's like nature's version of Skittles, how could you say no!?
  

I hope I haven't healthy-talked you into oblivion! If my daily life consisted of all the things I mentioned above, I'd be a way more balanced person, physically and mentally. (I'd be a lot thinner too!) It's vital to our happiness that we engage in things that bring us joy and health because life is too short to spend it thinking about and doing things that bring you stress and negativity. Find things that keep you happy and healthy. Kick all the excuses to the curb! Something I'm going to be working on from now on.

If you made it this far, I just want to say, WOW! Thanks for reading! ☺♥ Let me know what you thought, and let me ask you this:
What does your perfect day consist of? 
I'd really like to know!



(picture sources from top to bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4)

Milla Jovovich inspires me! ♥

Her beauty will haunt me for the rest of my life.

After watching The Fifth Element, I became infatuated with this woman. I needed more. More Milla! I spent several hours on YouTube just watching her talk, it was hypnotizing. She just exudes cool. And her eyes, my god, her eyes!

Okay, enough worship. Here's some quick facts about her:

• She was born in Keiv, Ukraine on December 17, 1975
• She landed her first magazine cover at the age of 11
• Her first major movie role was filmed when she was 15 
• She is best known for her starring role as Alice in the Resident Evil franchise
• She is married to the director of Resident Evil, Mr. Paul W.S. Anderson, and they have a daughter named Ever Gabo Anderson
• She also sings! Her debut album The Divine Comedy came out in 1994 and has since come out with two more albums.

Check her out! She's an amazing actress, or better yet artist. She's very in tune with the art part of the industry which is why I love her.

Welcome, it's nice to have you!

My first blog post! I suppose I should start off by addressing a few key points:

• Who I am and what you can expect
  I am a 22 (almost 23!) year old mom of two girls living in Southern California. I am starting this blog as a way to share and express my love and passion for things that I love and am passionate about. What are those things? Well, here's a vague short list: fashion, art, icons, diy activities, scientific discoveries, and all things uplifting and positive. However, just like many of you, my interests are constantly changing. I am forever seeking, forever encountering new "things" that spark a flame inside me and consume me until there is nothing left to be consumed. (Does that sound cheesy?) Well, then the next thing crosses my path ready to ignite! And you will surely be the first to know all about it. I want to make this a weekly thing, but as I mentioned before I'm a mom and being so is very time consuming. Which brings me to my next point..
  

  

  
  

   
• Why am I doing this? I already mentioned that this is a way for me to express my passion, but why do I feel like I need to? Well, I can pin this to the fact that being a mom takes up all of my time. Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom, it's a great responsibility that I take seriously and in turn it makes me feel like I'm not a waste of volume and space. But none of this time is used for me to release any creative energy and in turn it leaves my creative side feeling stifled and neglected. I really don't think that my kids care about how much I am obsessed with Milla Jovovich and they're definitely too young to be able to discuss the best ways to style a t-shirt. No, that's where you, my lovely audience comes in. This blog is my outlet for all things creative, inspirational, emotional, noteworthy and any other wonderful thing you can think of. This is a journey I want to embark on but I don't want to go it alone...
   
• Let's talk!
  Last, but not least, I want to invite you to come along on this journey with me. Talk to me, tell me what's got you on fire today. I really want to hear what you fellow humans have to say , what inspires you? What absolutely enrages you? I want to know everything! I strongly encourage you to leave comments, I even welcome any constructive criticism you have to offer. (Note: All negative comments will be removed! I promote positive communication, nothing negative allowed whatsoever, go take your negative comment and do this with it.) (Also, I'm a bit crass so if you're not down with that, sorry!) Anyway, please join in on the conversation! You can even write me personally about anything you like, I am here for all of you, not just to write incessantly about myself. I've provided my email in the sidebar so feel free to write! I would love to feature you guys in my posts and be connected to as many of you as possible. ☺ Let's explore the world and all it has to offer... together! ♥

Thanks for reading! You'll be seeing a lot of me in the days to come since I'm only starting out, I want to have as much content as possible so as not to bore you, hehe.

Until next time, yours truly,
Mayra Isabel. ♥☺