****

TAMPA. HOUSTON. DALLAS. LOUISIANA. LOS ANGELES. OKLAHOMA. AND MISSOURI... 

Is where I have been in the past week since FL...

Houston received 4 stars thanks to my perfect day spent at the Fine Arts Museum

After flying in from Tampa we had 2 days off, the only 2 days off back to back through out the whole tour, so arriving in hot Texas was an exciting moment!

We stayed at a nice hotel with interesting Texan decor such as blood red paisley wall paper to go with framed pictures of cows and asian inspired lamps...POSH...

Still the food was awesome in the restaurant downstairs where I ate every meal paired with some luscious wines throughout my 2 days there. Yes they even had my favorite... flour-less chocolate cake..MmMmm...

Food gave it 1 STAR*

Then there was a killer gym, stylish and nicely equipped.  I managed to get in there through my whole stay there. committed. Our rooms came with these amazing jet streamed Jacuzzi tubs, which I sunk in after every workout... so good I had to give Texas another STAR**...

Friday I went with some of the girls to see Vicky Christina Barcelona the new Woody Allen film.  It was EVERYTHING i could of hoped for from Woody Allen and my starring city, Barcelona.  To be visibly reminded of how amazing ESPANA is and the culture that exists within it, just fueled my fire even more... Not that I ever forget as it is in the forefront of my mind everyday, however to see Gaudis work as displayed through out the film, along with the spanish relaxed lifestyle filled with more quality events than meaningless ones, just inspired me to stay strong on my journey because sooner than later I will have my spanish villa :)  A positive and inspiring night in Texas...

The final 2 **STARS** come in on my beautiful Saturday afternoon... I caught the metro and headed over to the Museum of Fine Arts where there was an exhibit on the painters of Le Fontainebleau.  The French Impressionists are some of my FAVORITE artists and to see so many beautiful displays of there work in one BIG place kept me in total "AW" for hours...

It was simply me, my music (Cafe Del Mar, Gotan Project- Galore), and the ARTS.... Ahhhh....

5 hours later after devouring painting by painting from the French Impressionist, to the Post Impressionist, from the Renaissance to Baroque and so much more; I was almost in sensory overload.  With one hour left open, I went down to the amazing gift shop where I spent it all browsing through all the things I wanted- from children's books, the painting kits... then I remembered I was on a tour and extra luggage simply is a pain in the ...

When I finally got out I felt like I was walking on clouds... the air was warm and nice with a slight breeze that added to my musics rhythm that played in my ears... Caught the metro back, (LOVED how simple it was to do so by the way-only a buck to get from point A to point B) andI was back to my hotel in minutes.  

After a glass of Merlot and a change of  clothes I went downstairs to eat some food while looking at a book I did purchase, the encylopedia of ART (the 2nd was a book on WINE-yummy).  Matty met up with me later while I was eating to share some drinks and a flourless chocolate cake (HELLO OF COURSE I WOULD HAVE IT AGAIN! MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOOD FOOD WHEN ON THE ROAD!).  We ended up going back to this dive bar he found around the corner that was pretty RAD actually.  I drank water while he and the bartender took down a shot together.  This bar had an abstract kick to it with interesting decor and strange bathrooms... It was a mix between NYC's Beauty Bar and some Lower East Side meets Echo Park watering hole... like I said... pretty RAD...

That pretty much wrapped my last night in Texas- YEE HAW!!!

XOX R

<3 SALTY <3

Warm breeze, moist air, grey and stormy painted the skies over Miami on our day off yesterday...

our resort decor resembled a cruise ship out of the late 80's , fully equipped with pink wallpaper, hibiscus covered pink and green carpet, wicker furniture, and even pink shampoo and conditioner... which really sealed the deal for me because I remember using that as a kid... in the 80's... ;)

Still it was perfect because it was on the beach- YES the BEACH where my favorite element lives... the ocean... 

Thanks to Fay, whom was supposed to be a hurricane but gratefully remained only a tropical storm- we did not have picture perfect beach weather however when the ocean is 80 degrees and the air is warm WHO CARES JUST ENJOY IT WHILE YOU HAVE IT... and that is exactly what I did.

I took my time upon arriving to our resort.  I hit my 4 mile run (improving my pace by the day:) grabbed a salad and enjoyed it while watching SEX in THE CITY the movie for the first time- critics beware- I LOVED the movie! It made me laugh out loud numerous times, and at times even brought tears to the wells of my eyes... that qualifies as a GREAT flick in my book... and well worth the time spent watching it...

Around 7ish, the winds had calmed a bit and the sun had about another before she would set so it was time to get my suit on and get off land for a bit... 

What an AMAZING sensation the beach offers and ESPECIALLY after being away from it for 2 months! The salt in the air and sand on my feet was the best thing I have felt in a long time... it felt like HOME... There was a bit of torture as well.  There was a killer sand bar breaking right on shore with guys out getting barreled and having fun... Then there was me in my bikini salivating on the beach with no surfboard... Oh well. At least I was able to see some good waves go down while I played in the water... always make for a better beach setting when there is surf to be had!

I am so fortunate to have that element in my front yard and I am grateful for it everyday. Leaving NYC to live in LA meant only one thing... I would have to be close to the water again. I would rather drive to work everyday then live close to it and have to drive to the ocean.  That would be moving backwards in my life and there is NO such thing as that with me... It has always been a tug-o-war between my love and devotion for island living and my metropolitan charisma and culture... I gave up on that game when I realized that I am not going to have to pick which one will rule my word... they both make me -ME- therefore I will always have to manage having both equally in my life. WITH PLEASURE.  Living beach front in LA does not offer the same views, weather, or waves I had living in Hawaii nor does it offer the same hip, convenient, fashion forward, and diverse setting as New York City. But. When I am home running along the beach before the sun sets each night, looking out to the ocean and listening to the happy laughter of people, I think to myself... "ahhhhhh.... "this feels SO good"... it proves that regardless of what Im missing, something is right exactly where Im at. 

So to close my time spent in FL, I woke early to get my run in and then back to the beach for an hour to feel that salt and sand on me one more time before we head back inland for another 3.5 weeks... it was a GOD SENT day off that charged my batteries and put a HUGE smile in my heart... at the end of the day///YOU CAN TAKE THE GIRL FROM THE ISLAND BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE THE ISLAND OUT THE GIRL...

XOX R

COMMITMENT...

COMMITMENT by definition: the act of binding yourself intellectually or emotionally to a course of action...

This is a word that scares a lot of people especially a Gemini... Over the years this word and I have had an open relationship but always remained true to each other.. There have been many instances where my interests have led me to leap from one career path to another, one city to another, and even one country to another... through every leap, and every change I have never been disloyal to the commitment I have to MYSELF and to my journey in life...

When I was younger I was a track star, a true athlete with dreams and the actual ability to make it to the Olympics. There were times when I hated my training because it seemed so boring, day after day of the same thing. Then there were times when I could see myself on the Olympic podium excepting my metal and that vision would push me into 1st place over majority of the finish lines that I crossed. Growing into my teen years and things changing in my home life lead me to a new devotion and in many ways my first love... surfing... Thats when my visions changed and new commitments came along in my life. Ultimately those changes have lead me to where I am at now and to be surrounded by the amazing people in my life...

Watching the Olympics always stirs up emotions in me... No, not just because I remember the visions I had as a child athlete, but more than anything because I have SO MUCH RESPECT for the amount of DISCIPLINE and COMMITMENT that those athletes have dedicated to there lives to be where they are in that moment.

In the world we live in today, commitment is something that is easily passed up, misunderstood, or simply ignored... What a shame...

I consider myself a very COMMITTED person. COMMITTED to myself, to my family, my partner, my friends, my health, my career, and the well being of my future... I empower myself through my dedication to these commitments I have in my life... These commitments keep me exactly where I need to be inside myself and in the outside world... Its through my dedication that I have totally TRUST in my fate... NO EXCUSES and TOTAL COMMITMENT this is a mantra that I live by. It keeps things in great perspective and as well progressive my towards achieving my goals...

When I watch those athletes except their GOLD medals, it reminds me of how total commitment and dedication can award you with the dreams you have envisioned in your life... It makes me proud for them, knowing that everyday of their lives so far has been all about that very moment that is now HAPPENING in REALITY...

My commitment to my olympic future may have changed but the commitment to myself to be an accomplished person and achieve the visions that I have in my life, have only grown stronger since my days as an athlete...

Everyday I stay dedicated to myself, to the people I love, and to the ideas I have for my future...In some ways I feel I have already stood on that podium excepting my medals, in other ways I have a lot more to do before I receive them... at the end of the day the commitment I have to my journey assures me that I there is GOLD at the end of my rainbow and for now I will stay dedicated to it and enjoy the colors that exist along the way...

AN AWESOME QUOTE FROM THEODORE ROOSEVELT:

"IT IS NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS: NOT THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT HOW STRONG THE MAN STUMBLES OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO IS ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA, WHOSE FACE IS MARRED BY DUST AND SWEAT AND BLOOD, WHO STRIVES VALIANTLY, WHO ERRS AND COMES UP SHORT AGAIN AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THERE IS NO EFFORT WITHOUT ERROR OR SHORTCOMING, BUT WHO KNOWS THE GREAT ENTHUSIASMS, THE GREAT DEVOTIONS, WHO SPENDS HIMSELF FOR A WORTHY CAUSE; WHO, AT BEST, KNOWS, IN THE END THE TRIUMPH OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHO, AT THE WORST, IF HE FAILS, AT LEAST HE FAILS WHILE DARING GREATLY, SO THAT HIS PLACE SHALL NEVER BE WITH THOSE COLD AND TIMID SOULS WHO KNEW NEITHER VICTORY NOR DEFEAT".......................1910 SPEACH AT THE SORBONNE IN PARIS................

XOX R

SIMPLE THINGS...

it was SO nice to arrive to a cozy room in Baltimore... after a satisfying conversation with my BALI HIGH boy, I turned on the Olympics and took full advantage of my super comfortable bed for 4 hours.  Woke to a sunny, breezy, beautiful day by the water- AHHHHHH...

I had a mission to accomplish, fixing my nails and finding some cute T-shirts. I made it all happen in 2 hours :) I love new clothes (of course) but I am NOT a fan of shopping... I like to go in with a purpose, make it happen and GET OUT.  I did exactly that yesterday and with enough time to go enjoy some sushi with Merrick while overlooking the harbor and its serenity... The sushi MUST of had some MSG in that fake crab (had I of known fake crab would be in my roll I would have nixed it!) because I got extremely drowsy afterwards which is a sign of MSG consumption... Still I would not give in to it, I had to take advantage of the weather and the water at my feet.  I went up to my room, turned the Olympics on again (motivation) and put on my running clothes.  

As soon as I got outside with my IPOD in my ears and the warm breeze on my shoulders I felt AMAZING... I ran around the harbor, found a series of stairs and tackeled them enough times to push my heart rate like I do when I workout with my brothers. I ran back to the hotel with power and finished with a smile inside... I needed that more than I can even explain... To be outdoors and be active is a very important element to keeping the peace in me... Nature is the mother of my universe and I have to share some quality time with her on a steady basis in my life.  She provides me with so much love and reminds me that the little things that can bother us in life mean nothing... there are bigger elements to our existence that deserve our attention and in return will give us so much back... I had so much good energy in me after my run and the wind down was extremely relaxing as well... 

After a nice shower I watched Mens synchronized diving, got dressed for dinner and then watched Michael Phelps make history winning another gold metal! Also got to watch Mens gymnastic putting on some insane performances! I love the summer Olympics and all of the dedication that is exists within each athlete... That will be a separate blog soon to come...

Matty and I enjoyed a yummy dinner at the restaurant in the hotel... this time no fake crab, just fresh organic greens, salmon cooked right, and nice bottle of merlot... good times... simple things that make me a happy girl...

Driving to Philly tonight, D.C the day after,  and then a day off in Kentucky!! WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT I WOULD END UP IN KENTUCKY!!! Surely NOT ME but no complaints made here... traveling is always good for the soul and you never know what kind of beauty you will find in the places you would never think to look... 

Time is flying, Im having fun, and in full appreciation for everything... days off recharge my batteries and simply because I keep it simple and meaningful, bringing energy back to me so I can recycle it properly to keep things fresh and electric... 

Its amazing how full filling life can be when your glass is half full...

XOX R

COLLECTIONS...

GOTTA GIVE IT UP FOR THE NEW O.P.I COLLECTION....

STUNNING COLORS, FEMININE AND CHIC...COULD WE EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM A COLLECTION INSPIRED BY THE FRENCH? BAD REPS OR NOT NOONE CAN TAKE AWAY THE IMPECCABLE BEAUTY THAT BREEDS IN FRANCE.... 

SPEAKING OF BEAUTY CHECK OUT A GREAT SITE THAT FILLS UP THOSE INTERESTED IN THE COLLECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN WALKING DOWN THE RUNWAY SO FAR THIS YEAR WWW.FASHIONWIREPRESS.COM  

PERSONAL FAVORITES : CHRISTIAN LACROIX'S FALL COUTURE COLLECTION  ALONG WITH VIVIAN WESTWOOD'S "ANGLOMANIA COLLECTION" STOLE MY HEART.. IVE ADMIRED V.W  HAVE SINCE HER PROGRESSIVE CAREER AFTER OWNING THE BOUTIQUE "SEX" WITH MALCOM McLAREN BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE SEX PISTOLS ...

A FEW GREAT WORDS ON LACROIX'S FALL COUTURE COLLECTION: "AN INVITATION TO LACROIX'S COUTURE SHOW IS A TICKET TO WITNESS A UNIQUE EXCURSION INTO MIND BENDING COLOR, MULTIPLE HISTORICAL MERGERS, AND ELABORATE DETAIL PILED ON ELABORATE DETAIL." ... DELICIOUS EXECUTION OF WORDS...

XOX R

8.8.8

Today reprsents many important things...

First is my brother Darius's B-day- I love and

miss you! Happy Birthday!!!

Next is Ricardo's B-day, who is turning people out on the dance floor right at his private party in NYC- Happy B-day!!!

Then comes my numerology # (birth force#) which happens to be the number 8... it has always been my favorite # even b4 I knew it was my birth force number... It is the # that represents INFINITY and VICTORY ( i can work with that!)... The top portion of the eight represents my Spiritual side, the bottom my Materialistic... I work best in life when striking a balance between both... these days Im proud to say I do a good job of living in the middle of my 8...

Good fortune comes in 3's and today the universe dealt us a beautiful 8.8.8- its even visually stimulating to me- todays date has always played a roll in my signature when expressing deep love for someone... infinite love... 

Numbers have vibrations and vibrations are energy... I was born on the day of ENERGETIC TRANSMISSION... my energy today was very much to myself, in fact I worked with my IPOD in my ears all day and because of it my setting was different... I felt like I was in my own atelier, painting on canvases, creating beautiful work... it was a different touch and very satisfying...

For many years now it has been a symbolic goal of mine to own an 8nf8n8ty pool one day... to sit in that pool and over look some beautiful setting with the feeling of total accomplishment...I'm not sure where that will be or when, but ultimately I feel its good to have goals that push you to strive... it might seem materialistic but I'm a firm believer that you have to have a little luxury in life after all the work it takes to live... I plan on doing exactly that and already have a great taste for it...

So on this day of 8nf8n8te love and good fortune, I remind of myself of the infinite love I have for my family, boyfriend, and friends... Its also a reminder of my goals in life both spiritual and materialistic, I've powered up the focus in my journey to reach my accomplishments... X marks the spot... ;) 

Happy 888 day

XOX R

J'ADORE LA PLUIE...

it could not have been more perfect today...

a rainy, thundering, lighting storm romances the sky here in Connecticut on my day off... 

still in my PJ's after a nice late, late breakfast...ok i'll call it lunch... 

researching the net for things that make me smarter :), stopping to think, practiced my yoga, and all to the sounds of Cafe Del Mar...

Days like today are so important to me, the sun does not always have to shine outside so long as I can keep it shining in my heart... I appreciate weather like today because it surfaces reflection, and encourages inspiration inside of me...

I miss my boyfriend who is sleeping under the Balinese moon right now...exactly 12 hours away... but still always right next to me... he is the best reward i could ever have at the finish line of this tour... 

i have been getting an itch lately... a creative itch... the kind where i need to sit in a book store for hours and lose myself in it as i LOVE to do... its an amazing feeling because it confirms my devotion to fashion and the culture of the arts that go with it... i must shoot fashion soon... 

Grey skies bring forth so many great memories in my life, so many precious moods I have swayed in and out of... most might associate grey with sadness but being a devoted Morrissey lover for 19 years, I am used to people misunderstanding what depressing truly is...

Have you ever noticed how the green in trees and grass burst so vividly with a grey sky as the backdrop?  I have...  

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to call a day off for your self and your loved one to enjoy together by doing nothing but the simple things in life, like laying in bed and watching movies while it rains outside?  I have... 

Can you go back and recall moments of inspiration and creativity on days of grey skies and rain?  Some of my best ever stemmed from those days... 

Have you ever heard the saying "life is not always black and white but in fact the grey in between"?... Well I visit that grey everyday for that grey is the emotional, non logical side to life... with full respect to logic of course (hello I am a gemini, cerebral as can be) but i find that the grey is the balance to 1+1 forever equalling 2... sometimes we need to look deeper than logic to dive into a state of conscious awareness, a place I have been blessed to find at a very young age...a place that keeps me centered and on a continuing road to eternal balance... TRUE SUCCESS in LIFE...

Its a powerful thing to be alone, to stop all voices around you and listen to the silence that whispers like wind... Today brings me back to my life in Paris...I listened to the whispering wind so much there all while having Le Tour Eiffel and city lights shine for me... So many quite walks to myself with the arts of the city as my scenery... Europe is a different way of EXISTING... I think they have the essential elements to living a fulfilling life wired.  Family, friends, good food, good drink, culture, education, career, holidays to enjoy with the people they love... I could not put that equation any better myself.  Fortunately I have discovered this special equation and calculate it into my life in America...

A good friend of mine said to me in NYC, yes LA has been good to you but even when living in NYC, you were always a bit of a California Girl... I had to fine tune that thought of his and explain to him... "I am not California, NYC or anything one place on that note... I am a cocktail of the world, places I have lived and visited, and even places I have yet to discover yet but soon will"...  How can a girl born in California, who spent years living in Hawaii and New York city, went to school in Paris, comes from a persian mother, has a Norwegian boyfriend, is  musically obsessed with foreign tracks and words she cannot understand but only feel to, and will soon own a home in Spain, be from any one place? He was in full agreement, after all he is one of my dearest friends and is a native Hungarian...

I am truly a citizen of the world with some select favorite places that I feel close to in spirit. Europe does master a strong equation to living good, however, being American we are born with the embedded idea and the actual ability that with the desire, the right determination and proper efforts we can turn a grain of sand into a beach.  I admit to being a fan of that concept and strive to make my beach every day of my life... with that said I never fail to stop and appreciate grey skies and rain... the small things in life that make life beautiful...

Im going to go Enjoy the Silence...

xox r

THERE IS A LIGHT AND IT NEVER GOES OUT...

AUGUST 5TH. 

IN MY BUS HALF ASLEEP AFTER A LATE NIGHT DINNER (2AM STYLE) WITH TOMMY, JANINE AND DIANE ENJOYING A SMOKED SALMON, GOAT CHEESE, FINE HERB OMELETTE, PROPER (SKINNY) FRITES PAIRED WITH DIJON MUSTARD, AND A LOVELY GLASS OF SYRAH TO TOAST OUR FRIENDSHIPS TOO...

IN ALL THE YEARS THAT I LIVED IN NEW YORK, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PINCH IN MY HEART UPON LEAVNG, AND A SMILE IN MY HEART UPON RETURNING... NO I WAS NOT BORN IN NEW YORK CITY, BUT I KNOW THAT I WAS BORN TO LIVE HERE AND THATS WHY I EVENTUALLY DID... 

I FELT IT IN MY HEART FROM THE FIRST DAY I SET FOOT ON THE DIRTY SIDEWALKS THAT I BELONGED HERE AND ONE MONTH LATER FROM THAT THOUGHT I MADE HER MY HOME... NOW YEARS LATER, WITH THE CITY STREETS IN BEDDED IN MY MIND LIKE A TATOO IN THE BRAIN, FRIENDS WHO ARE TRULY LIKE FAMILY, AND THE CHARISMA OF THE CITY INFUSED IN MY OWN CHARACTER... ITS SAFE TO SAY THAT NEW YORK CITY AND I ARE IN LOVE AND ALWAYS WILL BE... NO MATTER HOW FAR I WANDER FROM HER, I WILL ALWAYS COME BACK TO HER WITH A SMILE IN MY HEART... I BID HER FAREWELL FOR A BIT AND CONTINUE ON MY JOURNEY...

NEXT STOP IS ALBANY AND A DAY OFF IN CONNECTICUT TOMORROW... LOOKING FORWARD TO A DAY OF REST, YOGA, CAFE DEL MAR, WRITING, READING, AND BEING GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING...

ALWAYS...

XOX R

.5

YES...HALF WAY THROUGH THIS TOUR AND TOMORROW DEPARTING MY MISTRESS...NEW YORK CITY...

I AM SAD TO GO BUT YET GRATEFUL THAT IF ANYWHERE ON THIS TOUR WE WOULD PARK OURSELVES FOR A WHOLE WEEK, IT WOULD BE NYC AND NOT SOME PLACE LIKE OHIO... CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW DEVASTATING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN??? GLAD I DONT HAVE TOO ;)

DEPARTING NYC SURFACES SO MANY EMOTIONS... IT REMINDS ME OF SO MANY AMAZING EXPERIENCES I HAVE LIVED, OF HOW MANY CHALLENGES I HAVE CONQUERED, OF MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS I HAVE GAINED, OF THE MUSIC THAT WILL NEVER STOP PLAYING IN MY HEART...

I WONDER HOW AUGUST WILL ROLL... WILL IT ZOOM RIGHT PAST ME?  OR WILL IT INCH ITS WAY TO THE FINISH LINE?  THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO KNOW AND THAT IS TO LIVE THROUGH IT... 

LIVE THROUGH IT AND LOVE IT THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH...

XOX R