LOGOPHILE

Yep thats what i am... a total junkie for words... a lover of lyrics, a slave to verbs, nouns and adjectives... It's now officially 2009, the second day into it actually and already a beautiful start...Im writing... Im thinking, Im manifesting, Im seeking, Im committing, and Im pursuing with Jupiter the planet of luck, happiness, expansion, and good fortune all up in my sign this year and has not been since 1997 so you know this is a special visit- I welcome her with open arms and a big heart to LOVE her back all the way...

I can really feel the expansion that will come into play for me this year, its almost like a 6th sense... I can feel the inspiration that will surround me and pour out of me, I can feel the refinement that will shape my world as I desire,  I can feel the travel that will take place, the interesting people I will come across, the knowledge I will bring into myself, and the health I will be living... I can SEE myself on my journey and I can SEE the success through everyday of it... A toast to life, to the journey that lies ahead of me... I am excited to LIVE and that is already success in my book.

Short and sweet is how I'll start my new little pile of thoughts here... there is MUCH to be anticipated from my journal of life so I will stay TUNED and keep a rhythm to my lyrics through 2009...

X8X8X 

FALL IS HERE!!!

Fall officially came when my tour ended... that official date is exactly 2 weeks ago.  since my tour ended i have had 4 days off at home by the beach again... ahhhhh... surfed the very next day of my return and enjoyed my favorite sushi again :) i only had 2 days after returning to the beach before i had to head back to the city...yes... NYC! yay!! a nice short but perrrfect trip to work on a client for Regis and Kelly's show and then just enjoy my time back in the city with Janine, Karen, and Brendan!  Janine made me the most amazing dinner and we splurged on 3 bottles of wine together... FUN is an understatement... Currently Im in Nashville, TN, a new city that I have yet to embark on but one that looks like it will become a more frequent destination in my career.  So many things have taken place since my last stop on tour in Oklahoma City.  The break down: returning home, visit my girls in NYC,a successful ad shoot for MEK Denim, a sore throat, a stress fracture on my foot, going completely brunette and LOVING it :), and a touch down in Nashville where i will be hanging for the next 3 nights to paint on one of my special clients...  

Being on my tour this past summer was an amazing experience meeting so many amazing people and experiencing so many new cities.    I feel stronger than ever (minus the injured foot) as well as more focused than ever.  Love surrounds me and I surround LOVE with me.  Ok this was a lazy entry but there is a good movie on and I have to wake early tomorrow so for now... bon soiree... 

XOX R

LES ETUDIANTS DE VIE...

I loved my day off in New Haven Connecticut, the home of Yale University. 

Janine came in to stay with me-one of the great reasons I love her so much- she's not a lazy friend!

We enjoyed the insanely beautiful weather, the green trees, the beautiful architecture of the school, and each others company of course :)  

The neighborhood was very quant and encouraged me to relax and smile.  Sitting under a campus tree, students went on with there 2nd day back at school while the bells on the clock tower chimed songs.  The sun was happily shining over us partnered by a sweet breeze keeping the weather perfect... I found myself completely content...

After walking and enjoying the day, Janine and I returned to my cozy hotel room for some girl talk, red wine, and eyeliner before we met up with Matty for dinner.  We ate next door to our hotel at a tapas restaurant called "BARCELONA", a gift from the food gods to set an amazing tone to our night. 

We enjoyed some sexy food, gorgeous wine, and lots of laughs. THe vibes  stirred up our desire to continue into the night.  Being that it was a Friday night in New Haven college town how could one resist?  We didn't. In fact we gathered more troops and headed to a dueling piano bar on the corner.  Now the minute they wanted to charge $5 at the door, Janine and I looked at each other and said "NO".  With a little nudge from our friends, we forked over the first "entry fee" both Janine and I had paid in um.... years...

Walking into the place I was quick to notice the college fashion crowding the room.  Polo shirts or bland button downs on the guys and the standard "cute top" and denim on the ladies... clearly not presenting any sense of the word "hip", however I believe this helped to set the tone on what turned out to be a fantastically fun night.  Sometimes those random spots that you would NEVER be present at can present some fun surprises.   Before we departed this live, karaoke piano playing bar, I had a friend go up and perform a song, another friend perform "how to steal a shot from a drunk beer bellied college girl" on stage, while the rest of us stayed back hooting and singing along to all of the nonsense being played.  Awesome.  I truly felt like I was in school minus the over consumption of nasty liquor that plays a big role in those years.   The night ended peacefully and with solid memories of good times in Yale's home town.

I have a lot of respect for knowledge and am quite addicted to obtaining limitless amounts of it moving forward in my life. Maybe this is why I used to love to read the encyclopedia as a kid? School is one way of receiving it but not always the best way for everyone...

I did get high grades for most of my younger years in school and then suddenly became bored with the redundancy of how school operates so my attention drifted more to surfing, my move to Hawaii,my love for music, and being free... 

Years after high school I find myself more interested in learning than ever before in my life.  I did not run to college after I graduated high school, I ran to the islands and lived my dream... When that dream morphed into a new one, one of living in excitement surrounded by different people and opportunities, I packed my bags and made NYC my home for several years...  At this point in my life I feel I am in the best place to take some classes if I choose to, grasp the information out of the books that I read, make room for more interesting knowledge that makes me a more accomplished person.  Had I have been forced into trying to do that sooner I don't feel I would have truly reaped the benefits of it all, I would have simply wasted time and money... 

Being around one of the greatest university's reminded me that following my instincts was the best thing I could have done for my life.  Some people like to plant it in the minds of young kids that if they don't attend school they will be losers.  Quite the contrary... Being street smart and learning how to grow on your own terms of INDEPENDENCE does not equal being a loser in fact I feel it means that from an early age one might have some true insight on how to prioritize in life and carry the ambition to build success in their lives. Who really knows what the "right" way is?  I never cared about the answer to that and still don't, I prefer the sharpest way.  I just think you need to find a purpose and passion in life, explore it and have integrity behind all that you do...  

Inspiration can be found in places least expected and Knowledge comes from a journey not a venue :)

XOX R

****

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