It's so easy to come up with excuses for why you can't do something. I'm too tired, I work too much, there's not enough time, I don't have any money, I just can't do that and the best one ever: the dog ate my homework. People, puh-leeze...... Do me a favor. Think of something you need to do and instead of making excuses of why you CAN'T, think of ONE....just one reason why you CAN.

You have to be willing to make sacrifices if you want a better life. I don't watch TV. (Except football!) People ask me all the time..."how can you NOT watch TV?" And they tell me about all these great shows. Because TV robs people of real life. I know people that spend 3-4 hours every night watching shows they "just can't miss." Those 3-4 hours I'm spending time with people I love interacting, talking, having dinner, writing, reading, working out or just thinking of ways to take over the world. Your life isn't getting any shorter. That's an average of 21-28 hours a week of wasted time and millions of wasted brain cells. If you want something different, you have to be willing to try something different. :)

Today's blog simply consists of a series of 2 word phrases that inspire me:

Love yourself

Be kind

Help others

Spread love

Keep smiling

Listen intently

Think positive

Be honest

Speak kindly

Laugh often

Do something

Eliminate clutter

Be intentional

Embrace excitement

Treat yourself

Take ownership

Experience happiness

Take trips

Give unconditionally

For as long as I can remember I've been a "big" girl. I've never known what it's like to shop in the "regular size" section in a store. I just had to hope that I could find renditions of the hot fashions I saw in magazines somewhere in my size. As depressing as it was at times, the bright side is that I became an excellent shopper. I would get ideas in my mind of what I wanted my style to be and I would look nonstop until I found exactly what I wanted. It's called determination and can be used in all aspects of our life. I would constantly complain that it wasn't fair I had to go through all that just to look good. But as i got older I realized it was about more than size. I have since lost weight but, when I turned 40 I decided to turn it up and not just lose weight....but get fit. I have recently hired a personal trainer and I must say, it's been an interesting adventure. There are days when my body does things it couldn't do just a few days before and I have my own little personal celebrations. The key here is 1. I made a decision and 2. I acted upon that decision. What decision will you make today and act upon that could possibly change your life?

What's more awesome than having friends that truly love you? Can't think of anything at the moment. I'm surrounded by some pretty terrific people! Most I wouldn't have had the opportunity to connect with if they hadn't started out as my clients. One in particular is Tony Burrus. Straight outta Cali......Tony is my dude! Our transition from client to friend was a slow one but when it happened; there was no turning back. Tony has become my go to person for bouncing off my crazy ideas. He's ALWAYS supportive and 10 times out of 10 he fuels my crazy ideas by helping me figure out ways to make them work even better. He's quiet and likes to keep to himself but when he talks to me all that goes out the window. lol He talks a mile a minute, listens attentively and always provides me with the right words at the right time. I know I can trust him and I'm glad to call him my friend. (He's probably reading this and blushing right now! lmbo) He's also an avid biker...SO, if you're into that sort of thing, check out his site: www.nocag.es (No, that's not a typo...he created that)

My latest crazy adventure on a list that grows and grows is that I have decided to start a band.....A Rock One. But there is one small problem. (A wonderful manager of Doubletree Hotel in Times Square told me once, "there are no problems, only solutions.") I cannot play any instruments and I cannot sing. Soooo, how in the world am I going to have a band you ask? All I know is that everything starts with a vision. So I created a vision in my mind and arranged to have a photo shoot with my favorite up and coming photographer, Mike Dickerson. I told him simply, "I want to shoot with a band." He arranged everything and within a matter of weeks....there I was posing in front of a real band. But, I wasn't just posing. I was imagining, dreaming, feeling what it felt like to be the lead singer of a successful band. Then, I did what I do best. I started running my mouth about my new band. Of course, I needed a name and members but that would all come in time. My bestie, Kelley Carboni-Woods who is a comedianne without trying actually ended up coming up with a name after we saw a not so promising performance from another aspiring singer. Immediately I loved the name.... I changed one word in it and my band was born. I ordered a website domain name, made a Facebook fanpage and created a Twitter account. One of our artist friends, Chadwick, stopped by for a visit and he actually came up with the album name and the title of the first two tracks. AND to add to the excitement, one of my Facebook friends whom I've never met in person (Tiffaney Moore Borgelin) randomly commented on one of my recent status update. (although I don't believe anything is "random"). When I went to reply to her.....I noticed something; she was a vocal coach. (I'm always having these kind of A-Ha moments!)

So I sent her a message to see if she could train someone that was "vocally challenged". lmbo!! She responded and in her response she said something that I shall carry throughout my future with my band and whatever other crazy ventures come my way. She said that one of the main requirements is "that you have a vision for your voice." And I thought, WOW.. in whatever it is that we do....we should not be running off at the mouth aimlessly but instead we should have a vision for our voice. Stay tuned for my voice. :)

I woke up at 2:45 this morning to a dream that my kitchen was on fire. Well, my grandma's kitchen in the house she used to live in and one of my friends, Inkera was there helping me put it out. When I woke up I realized it wasnt a kitchen at all but instead was in fact every muscle in my booty from working out with my personal trainer. As I searched for some Aleve and BenGay, I laughed at the fact that I have a personal trainer along with several other things in my life. If someone had come to me with a list of the things I have done and said you are going to do blasé blah, I woulda been like...."yeah, whatever". Here are some off the top of my head: That I would stop eating pork (20 years ago I would have fought you over a slice of ham), that I would be a hairstylist (I don't even recall doing my barbie doll's hair), that I would be divorced with no kids (I always wanted lots of kids), that I would have owned 2 businesses by the time I was 40 (still seems surreal)and that I would enjoy going to the gym. (OK, wait, I'm still working on that last one).. but considering I went from 1 minute on the elliptical to 45, I think I have a promising future. ;) It's definitely not about the destination but about the journey and this has been an interesting travel. There were times when I had NO idea where I was going but I learned to follow my instincts and God and that has in fact made all the difference. My friend Chris posted as his Facebook status today: If your life flashed before you, would you love it. I can honestly say "hell yeah." Every moment has been a stepping stone to the next adventure.

My writings often come to me at the strangest times.....tonight is no exception. Over the past few months I have not been abiding. I have let the messages slip through the cracks. But, tonight I could not let the words pass. As I took a long hot bath soaking in epsom salts and eucalyptus trying to recuperate from battling with a day of allergies and sinuses, the following words came to me. "In our society, one of our greatest struggles is that of transparency." We spend so much time hiding that we never are truly fully aware of who we really are. And in the cases that we are transparent, where does it get us. For me, I have encountered people who tell me my transparency is refreshing and that they admire my zest for life. But, they often stop there. Short of knowing what to say or do next. They put me in a box, on a shelf, as something to attain at a later date which often times saddens me because it makes me realize just how different I really am. Yes, of course, we should all strive to be different but when that "difference" makes you feel like an outcast, it's not a very fun place at all. When you are the one trying your best to save the world with optimism in a world full of pessimist, who is there to remind you? This is the time I play "Save the Hero" by Beyonce. In it the words ring so true. "Sometimes I wish someone would come here and just save me....save me from myself"