Embrace the Mess

Half of me is filled with bursting words
Half of me is painfully shy. 
I crave solitude
Yet also crave people. 
I want to pour life and love into everything
Yet also nurture my self-care and go gently. 
I want to live within the rush of primal, intuitive decision
Yet also wish to sit and contemplate.

This is the messiness of life. We all carry multitudes. We are complicated creatures, and ultimately the balance of life comes from this understanding.

Be water—flowing, flexible, and soft. 
Subtly powerful and open. 
Wild and serene. 
Able to accept all changed, yet still led by steady tides.

CrazySexyYoga Day 12

“In meditation and in our daily lives there are three qualities that we can nurture, cultivate, and bring out. We already possess these, but they can be ripened: precision, gentleness, and the ability to let go.”


-Pema Chodron

Everything is a Miracle

“If you choose to see everything as a miracle, then where you are right now is perfect. There is nowhere to run to; there is nothing else to do except be in this moment and allow what is to be. From that place of radical acceptance, major change can happen. The first step in any transformational experience is acceptance and surrender to the present moment, the way that it is. From that place we have the awareness, humility and power to change what it.”
-Martin Kipp

#FindTheGirlsOnTheNegatives

Everyone love a good mystery and with a great hashtag to go along with it can shoot the internet ablaze. My very talented cousin Meagan Abell of Meagan Abell Photography has done just that with her search to find the photographer or subject of some breath taking vintage photographs through the hashtag #FindTheGirlsOnTheNegatives.

Found in a thrift store, two elegant and classic 1940/50’s women gaze off into the sunset. Part of the mesmerizing mystery of these women are that you never see their full face, only their backs or profiles.They seem to be literally entranced by the painted sky as they are drawn into the crashing waves of the ocean.  The colors look as though they are a watercolor painting on the sky, which Abell stated to JK Blackwell at “LooksLikeFilm” was what drew her to the negatives in the first place. Being a photographer herself there is no surprised she wanted to know more about this photo-mystery.

Abell has a talent of finding hidden treasures where most would overlook. She is a wonderfully successful wedding photographer based in Richmond, Virginia; yet, to really get a sense of her eye just one look at her personal profile will show nothing but pure creative talent. She has a niche for mystical entrancing photographs of abandoned houses or dressing her subjects in thrift store treasures. She takes you into a calm, into a dream with each shot.

She has an edge that is rarely seen in photographers in this day in age. Abell will even choose an old school film camera from the 40’s or 50’s over a new age digital one. Which could be a big reason why she was drawn to these negatives in the first place. Anyone can see the developed photographs, follow their story, and check out some of Abell’s own talent on Facebook at “Meagan Abell Photography”.

So far Abell has been able to discover that the photographs were taken in Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles. Old negatives like this can go from house to garage sale to flea markets to thrift stores traveling from one coast of America to the other. Her original post has gained around 500 likes so far, but the “FindTheGirlsInTheNegatives” hastag has grabbed the attention of numerous blogs and even BBC is interested. If you have any information about these photographs please contact Abell to help her solve this mystery.

Abell is the real deal when it comes to photography with the highest respect for fellow photographers. She might have started an internet frenzy with her #FindTheGirlsOnTheNegatives but she will continue to create a buzz for a long time with her own creativity.

5 Reasons Why You Should Live in Another Country for Over a Month

1.) Be whoever you want

No one knows you, where you come from, or the mistakes you have made. You can be anyone you want, reinvent yourself. You can be a yoga teacher from California, an art student from New York City, professional wiffle ball player, or cousins with Orlando Bloom. Though I would recommend not stretching the truth too far because with everyone’s life documented on social media someone will call you out. Be confident and have the skills to back yourself up and people will believe you. Back at home you might be the quiet wall flower no one seems to want to talk to, but elsewhere you can be the life of the party.

2.) Meet unique amazing people

The people you meet on your adventure are going to be people you never forget. They are going to be in your heart and memories for the rest of your life. Probably some of your most precious memories. There is a bond there that no one will understand. You will forever remember the time you and the girl you just met got lost trying to find the ice cream shop everyone has been talking about that was supposed to be just around the corner.  You and your roommate being kept up all night because the drunk couple in the room next door took multiple rounds to smashtown, or when you and that tall, tan, rippling stomach surf instructor kept your bedroom neighbors up all night. Every time you go back to those memories you can never cover the smile that sweeps across your face or the little giggle that hiccups through your lips.

3.) Live disconnected

One of the best parts about living in another country is the disconnection. You cannot bring all the luxury technology we as humans seem unable to live without with you. Having to leave your cell service behind is almost like stepping back in time before cell phones, laptops, and GPS. If you meet someone you simple hope your paths will cross again and especially hope to remember their name. If you make plans to meet up with someone you better be on time at the right place or all is lost. If you don’t know how to get somewhere better learn how to read a fold up map and fast. The best part is that you actually talk to other human beings and have deep meaningful intellectual conversations. You truly appreciate the world around you instead of your nose pressed to your phone screen or eyes glued to the TV screen.

4.) Appreciate home

Traveling and living in a completely different place and culture makes you appreciate what you have back home. I am not saying you get home sick I mean you realize the grass on the other side isn’t always fresh cut green. From my travels I have come to realize my great appreciation for employee rights and laws at home in America. I cannot count the number of times I thought what my employer did overseas would never fly in America. I now also greatly appreciate the wonders of basic sink faucet. Everyone has done the classy move coming home after an exhausting night out and sticking their head directly in the sink to take some cold tap water to the face (and hopefully some make it in the mouth). However, in many other countries drinking the tap water can give you diarrhea making water a constant concern as well as trips to the store.

5.) Learn about yourself

Going to live in another country with a completely unknown culture really puts you out of your comfort zone. Then you truly learn about yourself. You learn what you are capable of. You learn your strengths and you learn how far you can push yourself. You learn how to navigate around a place where you don’t speak the language and actually reach your destination. When you go outside your comfort zone and go on a crazy adventures you experience some of your life’s greatest highs and lowest lows. Always the highs overpower the lows. You discover that you can stay positive and push through the hard times no matter how long or low they might be. It might feel as if there are two yacht anchors holding you down under water but just keep swimming it will pass. Soon enough you will have a smile on your face again.

Fire Log Pose

Agnistambhasana 
•
This pose opens our emotional state of mind. It stretches the hips and ground.

•Seated on the sit-bones evenly, if hips are tight you may need to place a prop under the knee that is lifted off the ground. 
•Props under the top knee. 
•Knees are bent stacking the knee with the opposite foot and visa versa. 
•Sit upright or folded forward. 
•Right hip to right knee parallel to the side of the mag when right leg is on top.

Soon Will Come The Day Everyone Will Know The Name Andra Day

https://youtu.be/5Sv2zyTQ3VQ

Just this past Monday night I was floating in a lagoon of pure music at School Night at the Bardot in Hollywood. You know the feeling you get when you release all holds, relax all muscles, clear your mind, and just float letting the water take you where it may. That is the only way I can accurately describe Andra Day’s voice.

If you have not heard of her you will soon. Born California native she is bringing back old Hollywood in ways most of us can only dream of. She is a combination of Billie Holiday, Amy Winehouse, and Lauryn Hill with her cool soulful voice whether it’s jazz, rock, doo wap, or soul. Her sassy red lips, cat eye eyeliner, and scarfed hair she is truly a beautiful girl to accompany her jar dropping vocals.

Andra Day was born Andra Batie in San Diego, California where she performed in nightclubs until who else but Stevie Wonder discovered her. She soon signed with the production company Buskin and eventually caught the attention of Warner Brothers Records.

She gained popularity on, what else, YouTube with her cover of Notorious B.I.G. and Marvin Gaye’s “Big Poppa”. She absolutely kills the cover, but also she covered Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” which people should check out as well.

This year she made a storm at the BET Awards as well as playing at ESSENCE festival. Day also did a cover of “Mississippi Goddamn” which is up on Google Play free exclusive download of Nina Revisited. Day was featured in Rolling Stone’s “10 New Artist You Need To Know: July 2015”. She even grabbed the attention of the infamous Spike Lee who directed her music video for her single “Forever Mine”.

With her vast rang and eloquent control of her voice she will grab your attention too. If you have not checked Andra Day out yet I strongly advise you too.

Day’s new album “Cheers to the Fall” will be dropping August 28. You can go to iTunes now to pre-order now and receive five songs instantly. If you don’t you can be sure to hear her on some highly publicized commercials in the next few months as well as on soundtracks. Watch out the 40s and 50s are coming back with full force.

Source:

Andra Day Official Site http://andraday.com/CheersToTheFall

Rolling Stone, “10 New Artist You Need To Know: July 2015” http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-july-2015-20150713/andra-day-20150710

Essence, Red-Lipped Maven: Andra Day Talks Beauty http://www.essence.com/2015/07/02/red-lipped-maven-andra-day-talks-beauty

UPROXX music, Nina Simone Remembered: Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Mayer Hawthorne, and More Reflect on the Icon http://uproxx.com/music/2015/07/nina-simone-remembered/