Dont force it.. Just let it come naturally.

I know it has been a very long time since I have posted anything. I hope that you didn't think I gave up. I spend more of my time writing my ideas down on paper, napkins and receipts then I do on my laptop. So please don't take it personal. Again, I have began taking yet another Creative Writing class. What I had thought was a more in depth look at 'words' themselves, ended up being another writers opinion of how I should release my inner diary. My instructor is a woman from Cape Town, South Africa, named Shani Raviv. She recently publish a book called, Being Ana: A memoir on Anorexia Nervosa.  Before I can be a critic, I need to read it first. I plan on doing that tonight so I may get a better impression of who is teaching me. But also, to see how her style of writing is. I am always very enthralled when I read a book by someone I actually met. It's almost as if I can hear them speaking the words as I read them. Shani recommended us to write enthusiastically this week. She explained about Stream of Consciousness. That everyday we woke up, "before you do anything, spend about 15-30 minutes to take a mental shit onto the paper." Take a mental shit?, I thought. "What I mean by that, is you are writing down everything you are thinking. And by doing this, you are getting rid of the critic in your head.'' Hmm... I can dig it. I do this quite often. I wish I would carry around a recorder with me. Or some duck tape, for sometimes I tend to think before I speak. My thoughts always get me in trouble.

Anyways, today I went to the post office and received a book called Do These Gloves Make My Ass Look Fat? from a very lovely lady I met in Key West a few weeks ago. Oh yes.. I have gone so long without posting anything and a lot has happened. Well, I was in Key West, FL on a ghost tour. I think it was my second day there and I was hammered. I kept wondering off from the tour but somewhere along the way, I met Christina who was also on the tour. English accent, a little taller than me, burnett, very beautiful and an enticing charming soul. I was very intoxicated and didn't get to know her all that well, but before i left The Keys, she asked me for my address. And there I was at the post office earlier, with her book in my hand. I read the first chapter as I was walking to catch the bus and I must say I would recommend it to many friends. It's as charming, witty and humorous as her personality. And like I had said before, as I was reading it, it was as if I could hear her speaking the words.

Well, with that said, I am incredibly inspired to write. I will share more of my thoughts in the next couple of days. I promise.   ;)

Oh.. and let me add, a book that was recommend by instructor I feel is good for those who are stuck and need to break free of writers block or that "critic in your head". Julia Cameron's A Writer's Life. Enjoy!!!


"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia."  ~E.L. Doctorow  

Birds flying high, you know how I feel....

Today I deactivated my Facebook for a couple weeks to focus on what really matters to me: My Life. I spend way too much time on there, and find it utterly useless. SO today I give a little stretch and look forward to the what the future has to offer.  Last night I had an interesting encounter with two gentleman, both with the name, Zache. Very charming men I might add, who had a lot to say about life. We talking about Law of Attraction, developing a higher sense of consciousness, Chakra, the Universe, other beings, the different world events that have been unfolding before our eyes the last couple years and what will come of us all. A bit heavy but very stimulating to speak to individuals on such an intellectual level. I enjoy talking about these type of topics. It's suspenseful, different, exciting and unknown territory. Who knows what's out there. Or why these catastrophic events have happened.  All I know is that every day I wake up, I educate myself to strengthening my knowledge just in case something happens. You never know what little things you picked up along the way might come i handy. On that note, I am going to leave you with a little video... Think about it. 

 What is your true purpose in life?

  

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” Charles R. Swindoll

Hello there!!! Yes, I've been gone for awhile but I am back. A lot has been going on in my life. My grandmother was in the hospital due to respiratory problems. I was finishing school. And added new improvements to my home. Now that I am a little grounded I am able to at least leave a little something on my blog for you to enjoy. But I do have a lot going on this next week. I am meeting with a new tutor for Spanish and starting new sessions with my personal trainer on Tuesday. Lunch with my friend JB at the Four Seasons restaurant, Art; an author reading called The Off Hour on Wednesday. And a lot of reading. 
I am currently reading:
The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, M. D.
              AND
The Memory Bible: An innovative strategy for keeping your brain young  by Gary Small, M. D.

Two amazing books to enhance my way of thinking or approaching things. So hopefully, I will have many interesting things to share with you.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Luvs, Hugs & Kisses!


Brei  <3

She put what in her mouth?!

Yes, it's true. We all put things in our mouth that we shouldn't. The wrong foods, the wrong diets, the wrong vitamins and sometimes the wrong sweets.  I love keeping my body healthy. What you put in, will eventually show on the outside. Here are a few suggestions to add to your daily routine.

WATER
H2o!!!!! Not only does it keep you hydrated but it keeps your body feeling nourished and your skin refreshed. 8 glasses of water a day is the recommended amount to keep you healthy and replenished. 

EXERCISE
Work out each day. Weather it's taking a brisk walk to class or nearest park, taking your dog out, yoga or even doing what everyone else does and going to the gym. Gyms can be a bit... dirty. So if you don't have a membership or are just not into it, try these: 

• Working out at home
• Yoga or Pilates
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• Hiking
• Bicycling
• A dance class or going out with friends to dance

These workouts at home are great too: Tips for a flat stomach and Get into the Groove.
For great DVDs, try these: Rockin Models, Pussycat Dolls Workout, & Carmen Electra Striptease. 
For books I would recommend: The Water Secret, Modern Girls Guide, & Skinny Bitch (yes, this book is good.)
There are plenty of things you can do throughout your day to give your body the extra jolt.

 HEALTHY DIET
Maintaining a healthy diet is very important when trying to stay fit. Sure, you can workout every single day and eat crap, still thinking that because you are working out that it has more pull over your eating habits. YOUR WRONG. Eventually, that will catch up with you. Your body needs the right nutrients. I eat about 5-6 small meals a day. Snacks included. This not only is healthier but I am able to eat the things I love in increments and not feel bloated.
Snacks I love to eat:

• Raw fruits (banana, apples, grapes, pineapple, blueberries)and veggies (carrots, cucumbers, celery, avocado, tomatoe, radish, brocolli)
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Dried fruit
• Yogurt
• Granola

 Here are some websites I love to get healthy recipes from:   

• Girl Guru: http://guru-girls.com/search/label/Recipes
• Real Beauty: http://www.realbeauty.com/health/diet/
• Ju Bella: http://jubella.com/get-your-creative-dose/cooking-recipes 

 Well, That is all that I have for now. I will be posting more on specific areas or the body, recipes and exercises. Hope this helps a little. XOXOOXOOOXO



 “The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.”

~ Marilyn Monroe

The Days of Wine and Roses

Love.

      What is it? Where is it?

          Love. An intense feeling of deep affection.

                 Love. Love me, love my dog: If you love someone, you must accept everything about them, even their faults or weaknesses. Love is unconditional. Love is wonderful. Full of light. Feelings of butterflies tickling you all over. That warm fuzzy feeling when he brushes the hair from your face. Ahhh that intense electricity pulsing through your every pore. Rose petals and candle lit dinners. Personally, I don't care for roses. I prefer Lilies. But this is not about me. This is about LOVE! Okay, maybe it is a little about me. To be honest, when I was younger, I thought about meeting the one. It would be one of those days where we "accidentally" met. You know the story, I'm sure you've seen movies just like this scenario; My cat gets out somehow and climbs a tree. We will name this cat... Mr. Squiggles, just because he is so squiggly and cute. SO I am outside, looking for my cat, apparently not paying attention to where I am walking and in the processes I bump into this handsome stranger. Then I go about explaining how I'm sorry and was just looking for my cat..... And then it happens, our eyes meet......  BOOM!!!!! Lightening has stuck and cupids little arrow shoots me right in the buttocks. Love at first sight. Mmmm.. How joyful and serene. Then of course a "Meeeeooooow" comes out of no where. Oh no!!! And my poor kitty kat is stuck up in the tree, what shall I do?? Of course this handsome stranger, taking off his shirt so he doesn't dirty it and giving me some eye candy to enjoy while saving my cat comes to the rescue and we live happily ever after. The end.

         Ummm... *cough* Excuse me...But I don't think that's quite feasible. No. That would never happen. But I thought when I was younger, that one freaking day, my life would open up to become a fairy tale. It's not all wine and roses. Today, people are self absorbed, pretentious, and lacking in communication skills. BUT... there are some great people out there. If you love yourself then chances are you will find (or they will find you and save your cat), that amazing love that lingers in the air.

But back to the topic of love. What is love to you?

I have gone around asking this question to random people that I know to see what their thoughts of the matter were. They probably thought I was crazy. But whatever. Here are some of their replies:

"It always hurts, because love is an emotional thing. You can't rationalize it." ~Dina, 24.    
"Love is when you feel good about yourself when you are with that person." ~Jesse, 55.
"One of the reasons for living." ~ Krista, 28.
"Love is the compass necklace my boyfriend got me for Valentine's Day." ~Kaitlin, my sister, 21.
"Simple answer, Selflessness." ~Ray, 30.
"A strong positive emotion of regards and affection." ~Kudus, 23.
"You." ~ Garth, my best friend, 36.

Hmmmm... Sounds like a lot of people have some interesting ideas of what love is. Or isn't. Maybe it's like Mazzy Stars Fade Into You ? There is no wrong answer. There are so many different types of love. Love you have for your friends, family, partner, co workers, pets, and the love you have for yourself.

Someone ask me, if two people fell out of love, did I believe they could regain it again? My answer: I think that people may be able to light that fire again. Depending on the severity of the fall out. So in all honesty, I would have to hear both sides of the story before giving my advice and opinions.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 

Paramahansa Yogananda: "To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."  ♥

Social Butterfly, Indeed.

Tighten Up_ The Black Keys is the song for this post. Why, you ask? Maybe if you listen to the lyrics after you read this you will understand. Enjoy.

These last couple days have been pretty amazing. I was able to hang out with people I hadn't seen in a long time and rekindle a friendship that was lost long ago. I wouldn't consider myself a flirt. More like someone who is just very charming by nature. And someone who has many friends with a majority that happen to be men. I feel that in life I must live it to the fullest, not take anything personal and never regret my actions. I always think things through. And although, some of the things I do may be frowned upon in society, at least I can say I didn't live a boring life where I looked back and wondered "what if". Or thought, "Would my life be different if I had just said yes and been more optimistic?" No, I will never look back and say that. At 25, (almost), I feel I have lived quite a life that I could eventually write a book about. Needless to say, you may not be in agreement with some of MY decisions, but at least you have something entertaining to read. Where do I start? Hmmm...Well, it all started when my mother and father got divorced. I was 3 months old and do not recall this event. But I am pretty sure after my father left and my mother started dating other men (many men), was when I started to become a "flirt". My mother has always had this certain charm about her that can be irresistible.  Beautiful, young and raising two little girls by herself (who happen to be 11 months apart) is definitely not easy. When it comes to men in there 20's and 30's, they don't want a 20 something year old woman who has two kids. Especially, two little girls who just want their parents to be together. Now you can kind of get why she jumped from man to man. Being a single parent can be complicated.  Many years later, the two little girls grew up and as adults became very different. One who was very busy with her life and not wanting much to do with men. And the other (me), has many friends and loves to be social. I consider myself to be a free spirit. Now can you see where this "flirtiness"  gets misunderstood. As I get older I feel as if I can be as blunt as I want and not give a shit what others think of me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that. I do not have control over any ones life or what they do, so I can not judge. I hope that you can keep that in mind while you read this. Being judgmental is not attractive. Nor is it healthy. Let me live my life, it is mine. Remember? So the point of this is that regardless of what you do in life, or where you came from.... as long as you are not hurting anyone or yourself, live your life the way you want. You are the author of your book. Ask yourself "What is the next chapter in my life? What do I want to do next?" The possibilities are endless. It's a big world out there, with many things to do. Go explore a little. And be yourself.


"Smile... it's the second best thing to do with your lips." - Anonymous

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page....

GOOD MORNING TRAVELERS YOUNG AND OLD!!!!! Today, I am going to let you in on a couple tips on how to be a great travel companion. We can all admit that at times, it can be hectic and overbearing. Or if you are optimistic, it becomes an adventure. To start with, you need to know a few things that are very important.

1. Where are you going?
2. When are you going, for how long and from what times?
3. Where are you staying, hence, where is your adventure taking you on your trip?

Once you figure out these key questions you need to book your ticket and print it out. If you don't have a printer handy you can always get your ticket from where ever you are traveling out of.

Now comes the packing. Once you figure out where it is you are going and for how long, you need to pack the right stuff. Think about the weather. What activities you are going to be participating in and places you'll be dining out at. It's not brain science to figure these things out. If you are a fashionable or even a simple person, you can figure out what you want to bring. You will need a few items that I believe are IMPORTANT. 

1. Brush brush brush. Need to keep your pearly whites clean. Do not forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, and whitening strips.
2. Keeping your skin freshly renewed and clear is a must. Facial Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer. I use anything by Neutrogena. 
3. Traveling can dry out your skin, try Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating  Mask. They are amazing and constantly keep me looking beautiful.
4. *sniffle sniffle* Always bring Kleenex and Claritin just in case those allergies start acting up.
5. Mace. I am a single women and sometimes my ninja moves can't save me if I get myself in a scuffle. Pass the pepper, please!
6. TEA TIME. Yes, bring herbal tea with you for any occasion. I like Yogi and have been told that Yorkshire is quite pleasant.
7. Evian Facial Spray. It moisturizes, refreshes and tones. Amaaaaazing!! Comes in travel sizes so you can throw it in your purse. 

Pack light, but don't forget the essentials.
Getting to where you are going is important. I recommend being there around these times for successful departure:

• Going to the airport: 1-2 hours early
• Catching a train: 20-45 minutes early
• Catching a bus: 30 minutes early.

Last but not least, always make sure you have a smile on your face. YOU ARE GOING SOMEWHERE!!! How exciting! Well, that is pretty much it. I will writing more post about certain trips I take this year. Things to look forward to:

• Valentine's Day
• My 25th Birthday
• Hawaii
• Snowboarding
• Cooking
• What I am learning in my Spanish classes
• Finding an Inner Balance
• Beauty 101 and how to stay in shape at 25
• Finding the Perfect Guy
• Letting go of bad habits and how to turn them into positive habits

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain