What goes around, comes around.

It can be hard to control negative urges sometimes, especially living in a city where superficial, fake, selfish, dishonest people flood the streets. It's hard to not get caught up in the bullshit, and it's painfully hard to fight the urge to drop down and stoop to lower levels of relating to people. I have done so countless times. But lately I have been asking myself the question.. "what's it worth?" Is it worth it to me to fight back? Play dirty? Lie to get ahead? Take what is not mine? I don't think so. In fact, I know it's not worth it. I've tried both ways and I must say reacting negatively to situations that upset me only make me feel worse. 

The universe is an amazing thing, you may not agree with me now, but in time you'll see that karma does exist. What goes around does come back around. And it is not for you or I to punish people for bad behavior, or even mirror other's bad behavior for that matter. It's such a better choice to take the high road and let things happen naturally. It's not always going to be easy to do. I think about prospective situations and I know it will be very difficult for me to instead of picking a fight and acting like a bitch to someone who is being rude to me, just simply smile and not engage. Actually it makes me anxious to imagine staying so calm in heated situations. But I know it's possible, and it will get easier the more I consciously do it.. practice makes perfect. And knowing I will be rewarded by the universe for such self control is what will keep me calm and focused.

By engaging in negativity, YOU are only hurting YOURSELF! No one can make you feel anything, or do anything.. you have control of your emotions, reactions and behavior. So take control.

With all these recent, (but not new) thoughts of karma I started making Karma Loop bracelets. They serve as a little (and cute!) reminder of the circle of karma...  in the heat of the moment maybe this little accessory will help me remember how I want to act and behave, and it may even help me make better choices.

The bracelets come with gold or silver karma loops, smooth or braided, with leather string. They come with red, maroon, black, navy or hunter green leather. (although I will probably add more colors soon) They range from $12-$18 depending on the type of karma loop and size.

Maybe my family and friends will be the only ones to enjoy them, or maybe they will start a movement. Regardless, my whole idea behind making these is to remind one another that our actions have consequences.. and it honestly takes less energy to be nice, than it does to be evil. It's easier to be nice and kind to each other! 

You get what you give... so give goodness, give love, give kindness. and that is just what you shall receive. 

XO S

I'm baaaaaaack

I cant believe it's been over A YEAR since I last blogged...

This past year was filled with a lot of fun, heartache, new beginnings, endings, and A LOT of challenges. I must admit there were countless times I thought I may not overcome all of the challenges I was faced with, but today I am stronger than I was a year ago, I am more passionate about my work, and I have been re-inspired to focus and make my dreams my reality. 

In realizing that the challenges never cease; you have to learn how to cope with them on a daily basis, how to grow from them and how to use your mistakes as lessons for the future. It's easier said than done, but it is possible.. 

With a clear mind, specific goals and a crazy amount of drive, I am looking forward towards the future and all of the good things that await me. I'm back on the blog schtick and I am ready to share my journey with the world again.

Stay focused, stay present and stay hopeful..

with darkness comes light, with painful ends come beautiful new beginnings and it matters not that you fall, but how gracefully you get up.

F A L L    U P 

Until next time.... XO S

Friendly Reminder

You are a bright light. 

Don't let others who don't matter try to dim you. 

You have so much to offer. Don't give away all of your good things to those who are undeserving. HAVE FUN! You deserve to be happy and enjoy your life! Work hard, and reap the rewards. Be honest to yourself and others. It is only fair to get what you put in, so treat people how you want to be treated. Keep your eyes open- it's good to love and accept others as they are, and it is also good to compromise and give chances but honor how you are feeling above all else. If at any point you are unhappy or sad in ANY situation then change it! You are not allowed to complain or sulk about what you don't have, what you don't like, or how you're feeling unless you are actively trying to change it! Don't forget that you are in control of your thoughts, reactions and feelings. No one can make you feel anything you don't willingly allow yourself to feel. While you protect yourself and your heart, don't forget to take chances. Take risks. BIG RISKS. Love. Learn. Grow. Challenge yourself. Push your limits. Find your capabilities. Identify your weaknesses, and strengthen them. THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. Plan for yourself. Take the reigns and run with all of the good things you have created for your life. You are smarter than you think you are, you know all of the answers to the questions you so often ponder. Time passes, and wounds heal, as you allow. Look inside of yourself and reflect, but not for too long as you may miss the brilliance of now. Don't let a day go by where you don't remind those you care for, that you love them. Laugh at yourself, own your mistakes, make dumb jokes, stop controlling everything. Let things happen as they should. Don't forget that with darkness, comes light. The lows will have their compliments of highs. They always do, so fear not if you are experiencing a low point. There is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel. There always is, but you have to be willing to look for it in the most unsuspecting places. It is the little things. Follow your dreams and stay true to what you believe in. There are no rules or limits to what you can achieve. Honor what you're feeling above all else, because it's not so and so, that dude or that girl that you have to live with day in and day out, it's you- your mind, your heart, your soul. Make sure that you are happy because it's your mind you have to fall asleep with at night.

30 Day Raw Detox Challenge!

First off, Happy New Year!

January is a great time for change... a great time to put things into perspective and to make a plan for the coming months.  For the last 6-8 months I have been getting really into changing my eating habits and focusing on getting healthy... But of course with a crazy busy schedule, getting sick for 2 weeks and the holidays, I had a hard time sticking to those good habits; and of course over the holidays I indulged as I know a lot (if not most) of you did. I have to say I am definitely feeling it!  What you eat is directly connected with how you feel, mentally and physically, as well as how you look. 

Recently a friend of mine turned me on to Natalia Rose, a Manhattan based raw food nutritionist and cook book extraordinaire. She has a couple books out - all are great I've heard. There is one book in particular that I really enjoyed: 

Detox 4 Women. After flipping through my friends copy I went right home and bought it on my kindle and read it in less than 2 hours. It is a great 'handbook' to guide you through a 30 day raw food detox. She includes great facts and information about foods and food myths as well as delicious recipes to help aide you in your detox plan. It's just as it sounds- r a w. That means no processed foods, low sugar, little to no alcohol and lots of fresh veggies and water! Sounds kind of restricting but the way she has designed her plan, it's actually quite simple. There are tons of recipes in there for great healthy alternatives to your favorite naughty foods :) I have never been real big into meat but I stopped eating meat completely 3 months ago, I also don't eat a lot of sugar or processed foods to begin with so I am expecting that I should do alright..At first thought I grew panicked as 30 days sounds like a long time, but it's all in the will power and I'm just focusing on how good I know I will feel after I'm done!!

Here is a quick list of her things to enjoy and things to stay away from while on the detox:

Emphasize        

All raw vegetable juices

All raw vegetables

Cooked non and low starch veggies (spinach, carrots, beets, parsnips)

Lemon Juice

De-emphasize

Avocados

Raw goat cheese

High starch veggies (sweet potatoes, acorn squash, butter nut squash)

Cage free organic eggs

Dark chocolate 

AVOID

Grains

Fruit

Nuts and seeds

Poultry and meats

Beans

White flour 

Processed and packaged foods

Soy products

Alcohol (Wine occasionally is okay)

*EXCEPTIONS

Millet

Quinoa

Buckwheat

Berries

Granny smith apples

Grapefruit

Here is a great shopping list she includes in her book. It's a great check list of things to grab.. I was able to find about 50% of the items at Trader Joes.. The rest I had to grab at Whole Foods. Don't be shocked at some of the prices.. eating raw is expensive!! *My way of looking at it is my body is one of my greatest investments, it carries me through my life and it's the only one I've got so putting good stuff in it should be a priority!!

Greens for salad: romaine lettuce, baby lettuces, spinach etc.

Greens for juicing: kale, romaine, collard, spinach, dandelion, bok choy, water cress

Veggies for munching: carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, beets

Veggies for cooking: broccoli, zucchini, summer squash, asparagus, brussell sprouts, beets etc.

Raw goat cheese

Organic butter

Fresh wild fish

Goat’s milk chocolate ice cream (Brand: Laloos)

Starchy veggies: sweet potatoes and yams, pumpkins, acorn squash

Avocado

Lemons

Dark Chocolate (Look for 68% or higher cocoa)

Stevia (Brand: NuNuturals)

Herbal Teas (Brands: Yogi Tea, Traditional Medicine, Tazo)

Marinara sauce (Brands: Seeds of change, Muir Glen and Paesana)

Raw soy sauce or tamari (Brand Nama Shoyu)

Sea veggies: kelp, arame, kombu, hiziki

Dijon mustard

Millet

Herbs and seasonings

Soba buckwheat noodles

For the rest of the info you'll have to buy the book!! If any of you are interested in doing it with me, I start Day 1 tomorrow... But you can start any time. For the last week I have been juicing every morning and eating mainly raw to gear up for the next 30 days. Every morning for the next 30 days I will be waking up to Natalia's "Green Lemonade" which is a mixture of kale, romaine, celery, lemon, ginger, apple and any other veggies you want to throw in your juicer.. it's actually delicious and has helped me stop depending on coffee in the morning :)

Alright, gym time for me then early bed time so I can have lots of energy to conquer my cravings tomorrow :)

xo S

Progression

pro·gres·sion 

[pruh-gresh-uhn] noun

the act of progressing; forward or onward movement.

For those of you who know me, you know I hike a lot.. I enjoy being outside and exercising and it's a perfect combination of both. Yesterday I went on a hike but it meant something different than it usually does to me. I experienced a heightened level of awareness and each step meant something more than just a step in completing the hike, it was a symbol of progression. In my life and career I have faced many challenges and I'm sure I will encounter more, that is just a part of this life. But it is important to stay focused internally so that we can grow through the challenges, rather than just go through them.

I am an avid reader of Deepak Chopra, who is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality and mind-body medicine, and in his book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success he talks about a silence exercise that he believes is vital to a healthy, calm and successful life. The silence exercise is a period of time, however much you think you can commit to, where you are silent; not engaging in any type of conversations, for ex: no reading, no T.V., cell phone usage, computer, talking with people you encounter or even talking to yourself.

 I set a goal of doing a total of 5 hours this week, and was able to devote 2.5 hours yesterday to the exercise.. It may not seem like a long time but it was very difficult! We are so connected through computers and cellphones, and especially in my line of work, the phone and computer are vital! The first 30 minutes of the exercise I had to deal with my brain thinking thinking thinking and by the end of the 2.5 hours my ego was blind, my mind was clear and I was able to refocus on my goals and was able to decide what I really want out of this life, specifically. 

Deepak Chopra suggests a few things to do while in the exercise and one of them is taking a walk outside, so I took that to the next level and went out for a long hike; I did it just before sunset and I think that made it all the more inspirational, with the amazing views and colorful skyline. I did the most challenging hike at Runyon Canyon yesterday, it's called the Heroes Trail or some call it The Three Sisters Hike, with the highest elevation at 1,320 feet. It was hard, but in a good way. Each peak I climbed taught me that at first glance, a challenge can seem too big or too difficult, but by focusing on each step, making it precise and well thought out, I can make it to the top. Oddly enough there are 3 peaks, each higher than the last, so after each hill I conquered there was an even steeper more difficult one to tackle.. much like life.

Take each step in your day to day life and on your track to your goals one step at a time. It's like laying a brick wall, the thought of building a huge brick wall may seem like too much to do, but if you focus on laying each brick perfectly, in time, the wall will be built. 

My challenge to you is to try out the silence exercise and see how you feel after.. If done correctly, with an open mind, I truly believe you too will find a sense of calmness and find reinstated inspiration to tackle your greatest challenges, whatever they may be.

xo S

A Little More Self Appreciation

The other day I was reading Glamour with the same expectations I always have when reading Glamour; I expect it to be about fashion and beauty, do's and don'ts, blah blah blah.. nothing too important. That was all true until I came to an article near the back that made me stop and think...

This story really moved me. For one, her strength and courage are to be admired. But the other lesson I got from this was one I could put to use today. The majority of us are constantly pointing out our flaws (whether to someone else or to ourselves), we're thinking about our insecurities, upset that our hair isn't longer or healthier, or why we have brown eyes instead of blue, and we're too skinny, or too fat or whatever it may be. All of these things are insignificant!! We don't spend enough time enjoying what we DO HAVE! We spend more time hating on ourselves than actually appreciating ourselves. What if you woke up and what you have is gone, or rather, not the same? We always want what we don't have, but wouldn't life be more fun and maybe even easier if we started wanting what we do have? We get so caught up in the superficial bullshit we forget that everyday we have is a gift. Not to say that a tragic accident or a physical injury that alters the way you look is somehow bad but I don't think you should wait until something happens to appreciate who you are, inside and out. Instead of looking in the mirror and looking at the things you want to change, how about you look in the mirror and find things you love about yourself, enjoy them and push the negative thoughts out of your mind. Everything you have now could be taken away at any moment, and you don't want to wake up wishing you had what you already have right now.

A little more self appreciation is in order.

xo S

My Trip To MOCA: Art In The Streets

Today I went to the Graffiti and Street Art exhibit at MOCA and it was AMAZING! Unfortunately I got there so late in the day that the 45 min left before they closed did not leave me nearly enough time to enjoy it and take my time.. so tip #1 is to make sure you give yourself at least an hour and a half or more!

Below are some pictures of the art that really stood out to me as I zipped through.. of course there was a TON more and I'm sure I will see things on my next trip that I may have missed today.. 

Enjoy :)

     

^ KEITH HARING 

^Yes, I too thought those mannequin dudes were real. No dice. 

                             

^They had tons of little rooms set up throughout the building like this one. I particularly liked this one as the walls, floor to ceiling were covered in graffiti doodles.

^Looked like a city inside with all the signs and art!

^ AMAZING EXHIBIT OF ED TEMPLETON 

Huge wall covered in photos, they even had a screening room with a short film that looked really cool that I'm going to make sure I watch next time I'm there.

^ One of my favorites of the day, titled "People Say What They Want"  By Os Gemeos

^ "LOST" By Eric Brunetti 

A collection of lost animal posters

^ I'M NOT LOST, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM

By Buzz Blur

^ Haaaaaay Banksy. So sick.

Okay, so that was just a few of my pictures.. for the full effect I still recommend you GO! You won't regret it :)

x S