Girl Time with Studs

 



Super Sweet

Swiftly introducing you into my world of fashion sense, I have been on hold for quite some time in regards to purchasing any new items of clothing, shoes or (gasp!) handbags. The reason? Saving up for a new car. I've had the same purple 2-door (yes, purple, a.k.a. my favorite color), since my first year in college. My sweet car is on its last leg, er, wheel, and far past a tune-up or oil change. Hence the spending hiatus.

In the meantime while working my anything but ordinary, wonderful job as a marketing coordinator in the field of outdoor and lifestyle products, I also have the luxury of working as a freelance beauty and fashion editor for a nationwide health and fitness magazine. I'll just call it, "Max" for now. I have worked for Max for about 7 years now.

Started off as an intern, the magazine has since grown into a family household read that is great for all ages and generations providing healthy snack recipes, easy workout routines, and the occasional buzz from me regarding fashion and beauty must-have items. This all leads me into my first fashion post, and is sure to inspire more to come... enjoy. :)

Today's inspiration comes from my own outfit. Choosing a loud blouse may seem daunting at first, but it doesn't have to be. It's all about softening a strong fabric choice with structured pieces and elegant accessories. Whether you choose a talkative pair of shorts, jeans or blouse, offset the look with basics such as white or black to allow your style to look clean and still work-appropriate. Adorn ears and neck with gold jewelry that is understated with simple diamonds, rhinestones, opals or pearls. This will set an elegant tone without looking bulky or overwhelming. You want your look to sparkle, not scream out fire sirens. Stabilize the look by adding a reddish-pink hue to your pout and nails for a look that is classic and chic.

Girly and Feminine by ladylisalove featuring a gold heart shaped necklace

Angels exist

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." -Thessalonians 4:17-18

Today is a special day for me. Not because it's free-taco day at work, a holiday, or even a day off. No, none of those things bring the amount of emotion as today does for me, as today marks what would have been my Nephew Andrew's 6th birthday. What many do not know is that Andrew passed away 10 days after he was born. He was born two months early and with severe under developments in his heart and lungs. Although born pre-maturely, many children have the chance for survival, but when ailments develop within the mother's womb, the chances of living a long and fruitful life are not without problems, or are slim. Andrew was my first, and has since been, my only Nephew. I have no nieces at this time, so being an Auntie of Andrew is a high honor for me. My greatest achievement as well.

I can still remember the many miles I walked through the hospital halls at Loma Linda Hospital in Loma Linda, California. The NICU (Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit) became my permanent place of residence during the 10 days that Andrew was present with me. For those 10 days we lived together under one roof. I can remember the waiting room that housed the many relatives of mine that brought extra garments of clothing and pillows to sleep on the floors, curled up in chairs, or even slept in their cars, all waiting patiently for their next opportunity to visit with Andrew who slept day-in, and day-out in an incubator with medicine-tubes, feeding tubes, heart rate monitors, bandages and heat lamps all to help him produce healthy cells, feed his tummy and pump blood to his swollen body. Waiting was all we could do while our hearts beat anxiously for Andrew's survival each day.

"In the Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."-Romans 12:12

As I sat there staring at the ground; noticing each relative step in-and-out of the NICU where Andrew was being hosted, I sat stunned within my own fear. I was calm and chatter-free. I wanted to see Andrew but didn't want to go in with anxiety running through my blood. I knew Andrew needed me, because I needed him. It was my turn now. Everyone who had gone to visit him before was now going to grab lunch in the hospital cafeteria a few floors below where we were staying, and I just needed to see my nephew. I would eat later. Afterall, a grumbling stomach was no match for the love my heart was calling out for.

I suited up, scrubbed my hands and arms with antibacterial soap and entered into Andrew's room where he was patiently waiting for me. A light was beaming near him and a song of hymns was playing softly on a near-by CD player. His inked footprints were hung up at the foot of his bed, on the plexi glass that also surrounded him. Charms and prayer beads adorned where his feet were resting.

My sweet baby, his hospital tab tucked around his small ankle and wrist. he wore a diaper that was ever so tiny. His tummy was swollen and round, skin was dark and taunt from the stretching and over producing of blood his body was trying to make. His dark hair was shifted in different directions and he wore a thick pair of padded foam glasses over his eyes to help his comfort level. I gasped internally and let tears stream out. How could something so small fill up my entire world with love?

I reached over and stuck my finger into his palm, and that's when it happened. I was his forever. He squeezed my finger with all his might, and I knew his courage would teach me a lesson about faith.

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

Andrew was more than just my nephew, more than just my Angel, he was the presence of God in a small frame that hosted him. He was calm, very present and poured out this translucent love that saw no color, body type or sin. It didn't judge me, reticule me or banter. It didn't need to say anything for me to react with such emotion that swept through my entire body.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46:1-3

Andrew was my source of love, he showed me God even through his tiny body full of pain. Andrew was beautiful and perfect to me. He is my love, my strength and my weakness. He reminds me of what love is and where the source of love comes from. My sweetheart baby nephew. You are my favorite source of love and I am grateful to you for all that you have taught me about love, life and death, because without death, that means there was no life, and without life, there was no love, and without love, there is only darkness, and a world with only darkness produces no growth, no love, and no life.

I love you Andrew. Happy Birthday baby boy. Auntie Loves you, forever and always.

If you were a novelist...

It's a girl thing, it's a me thing, but it's a thing... I am SUPER emotional. I get sensitive (sensi) as I coined the term, in which it relates to showing any bit of over-reacting or drawn-out emotion that flusters a rather calm demeanor. The thing is with me, I'm never calm. What do you expect? I'm Italian and Mexican (to be stereotypically correct) and I have a constant fire in my belly that is always on the verge of sourcing flames through my blood that boils on-site whenever my passionate heart gets tested.

Anywhoooooooser... I was getting ready to drive into work this morning and I overheard a conversation on the radio about a coworker they never knew was a novelist and it sprung one of my many million thoughts into action... HEY! I thought to myself, why don't you write a book, Lisa!? A question that followed with a demeaning answer "because no one would read it?" The truth is however, someone would read it, but more importantly what would I write a book about? And why am I talking to myself?   Eh, I heard once that it makes you smarter because you actually think through your thoughts and answer your own questions which can help resolve a matter privately before submerging yourself into the public, or maybe I am semi-crazy and just need to own it.

Either way, the thing is, whether crazy or not, I am constantly in motion and thinking about ways to challenge myself. Although I'm not quite there yet, the idea of writing a book has always interested me. I thought of the many ideas for a story line...a topic...would it be fiction or more memoir style?

When I was younger I used to climb trees, (Did I tell you?) and wouldn't stop there. I would climb football posts at the local high school, "No Parking" poles near my home, and even rooftops. Who did I think I was anyways, Spider man? I climbed trees for no reason and for every occasion. I knew I could and the feeling I enjoyed  the most was sitting on the branch or post  many feet above the ground. I was able to see the world at a better view.

Allowing myself a panoramic view of the location I was in just seemed to make sense than limiting a young girl to one-on-one eye-level focus. I have always wanted bigger and greater, and still do. Pushing limits is what I know how to do and writing allows me to expand past the boundaries of limitation. It gives a freedom to exhale every thing I intake daily, who I've become and who I want to be, but more than that, it allows me to say what I want without interruption of anyone, even, myself.

So, if given the chance to write a book, what would I write about? Me.  There's no one in the world other than God that knows me from the inside out. I am with myself 24/7. I am there when I laugh and when I cry. When I feel defeated and when I triumph. I challenge myself, allow myself to evolve and challenge my own skills like no other person on earth, so why wouldn't I use myself as a muse for future stories?

Being you is a gift from God. There's no one else like you. Your trials and tribulations are you own and with great exaltation, you have the helping hand of your faith to help you test boundaries, a mirror to look yourself straight in the face, and a heart to love who you are and the allowance of tears to pour down your face when you finally allow that moment to come to you, because being yourself is your gift to the world and to be yourself, is your gift to you. Let your journey unfold and let your story be told through the novelist, you. I've already made it through a quarter of my life and I still haven't fully found out who I am, but I'm excited for the journey and will continue to write my life's story piece by piece. Hope you like it.