Helping Homeless Veterans

The VA2K is an event that benefits homeless veterans. In lieu of a registration fee, participants are asked to bring items the vets are in great need of. I jammed out to music the whole way.  This was my theme song:

Looking serious (actually it was HOT & I was tired) at the finish line!

Play As Divine Work

Today while having a deep personal conversation with a friend & colleague a treasure was uncovered...

Girl Power!

I love that their are programs out their that encourage & boost the self esteem of women & young girls through physical activity.  Here are two awesome examples:

GirlTrek

Exercise for Commuters

Ever wonder where you can find an "extra" 20-30 minutes to exercise?  A fun and easy way might be to dance in your car.  Yep, move your body during your commute to work.  Haha....just think, you can put yourself in a great mood by shaking your groove thang!  Car dancing also helps time pass, lowers stress, decreases the probability of road rage and is FUN!  Don't worry if people are watching....you just might be the catalyst for starting someone's day with a smile. Heyyy, maybe they'll give car dancing a try!

Citrus Collard Greens w/ Raisins

Chef Bryant Terry brings the SOUL back to soulfood yet again! Check out this easy, affordable and wow-yum dish..

Connecting The Dots: Cancer...Food...Farms

I love how angles can come together to support one point. Today I was talking to an herb friend about how different herbs taken simultaneously can work together to support the body tremendously. Later I happened upon a TED TV talk about starving out cancer through food choices. In the talk, William Li, mentions compounding teas for a greater effect than using just one. He also talks about how food could be a much more viable option for those who cannot afford/ don't have access to medical-pharmaceutical treatments.


Then I got an e-mail from some friends who have been studying sustainable farming practices in Cuba. They are making a film and creating ways to educate people in Santa Cruz, CA on these farming practices. (watch video kicker on the right).---->

Here's to playing a game of dot-to-dot!

Blogger Blah Blah v.Facebook Briefs & Tweets

OK, I admit it...I am a chatty Karen.  ;)   In as much as I love facebook it hardly seems the place for a lotta going on and on about stuff.  Of course I can say a bit more there than I can when Tweeting.  In the end I have much more to share than feels appropriate for many of my faceboogie friends.  Soooo for those of you that love me inspite of or perhaps because of my verbaliciousness.....I am back on the blog scene.  YES!! 

So much has happened since I've blah-blogged.  But let's catch up from here ok. I am dancing in the loveliness that is health & wellness through intimate honesty and lots of laughter and play. 

Don't want to miss a beat?  Sign up as a follower or get my posts sent straight to your e-mail (the swanky options are down and to your right).  If facebook is more your thang, no worries compadres, I'll still be there.  Same goes for Twitter.  OK, this Urban Goddess has a date with some ZZzzs.  Before I head off, I'd like to leave you with this sweet song.  Night, night.

Falling in Self Love: Day 333 I Want Sex, Food & Money

This week I got willing to admit that in addition to wanting to give to the communities I love so dearly and be a good daughter, partner & person overall.....I really want a healthier-sexier body, lots more money doing what I love and more of the horizontal mambo....yup sex!  It's so easy sometimes for me (and maybe you?) to get caught in the coaching, prayers, support groups, meditations, affirmations for things that are altruistic, spiritual, unifying....  I think all of that is really important.  That's part of what INNER WORK is supposed to be about right?  But this month I found through my spiritual practice that my "inner" is PERFECT.  Haha! My ESSENCE is in fact in tact. Yes!  It (my inner) is arguably the most resilient part of me.  The SPIRIT of a person never really breaks.  I believe the body may get bumped, bruised or beat up but it is the springy, flowiness (our inner) that comes up standing time & time again.  So perhaps the industry should be called "outer work"?

Falling in Self Love: Day 303 Is GOD really EVERYWHERE?

...because I think I found GOD at the club.  When I was younger I used to attempt to dodge Sunday school by claiming that if GOD were everywhere surely he was in my bedroom and I could sleep in and pray to him after breakfast.  Needless to say, my mother was less than pleased.  Fastforward about 20 years....

Spreading Laughter

The well-dressed grown ups find the opening scene of the play in this movie (see trailer below)  ridiculous.  It is only when the CHILDREN in the 25 scattered seats begin to LAUGH that the adults laugh too.
 


Give yourself the gift of laughter and imaginary wonder....watch FINDING NEVERLAND.

C = Chefs, Cookies, Comical Crack-Ups & Monsters

I have been craving sweets lately so I decided to make cookies!  I made vegan coconut-oatmeal cookies and g/f peanut butter cookies.  Instead of granulated sugar I used local honey (where the recipe called for white sugar) and grade B maple syrup (where the recipe called for brown sugar). It's worth noting that I could have been slightly influenced as a little girl. That is to say, a little girl, with a mini record player and just ONE album.  Perhaps I hypnotized myself (lol) by playing this song over and over and over again....

Power Has No Age Limit!

Wow! What an inspiration!

Tim Brown on Creativity & Play

My favorite part is the reckless abandon that takes over the room during the finger rocket game.

For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

When I was a teenager I read Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who've Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.  I didn't get it AT ALL!  When I saw the trailer for Tyler Perry's adaptation, my interest was renewed.  I just saw it and I LOVE IT!  The way it was filmed with voices over voices felt very much like it was written yet as a film was easier for me to be with and get.   The cast is phenomenal!  I got soo much from this film I am so glad I didn't miss this experience completely.  My heart wants to say sooo much more and for now, I'll leave it at....Thank you GUS!

A great piece on TEDtv......

I am moved by this clip a friend sent to me today.  It made me think about how I perceive others and wonder how many ways there can be to know a person or place.  Enjoy! Thank you JF!

Falling in Self Love: Day 162 Friends

I am learning great lessons about relationship. I had an opportunity to see people I hadn't seen in a loong time and it was as if no time had passed. We danced, laughed and had a great time at a party celebrating a mutual friend.  It felt good to see them.  My relationship with my parents (my father in particular)continues to improve.  I used to think I could not multi-task...I am realizing that is a crock of....well let's stick with CROCK.  ;D  I am enjoying the art of managing career, relationships, wellness and more!

Falling in Self Love: Day 148 Peace, Love & Oranges

As I walked with my father this morning, our time spent moved from awkwardness to ease & laughter.  We strolled the backwoods of the community where he & my mom live (Florida).  The homes are beautiful, as are the trees with dangling moss.  The temperature felt perfect.  It's always nice to share good times with my father, especially since we have had many moments of difficulty.

We found oranges growing on  trees along our path.  The seemingly cutest ones were so outrageously tart they made my eyes feel like they would cross!  HaHa!  Then we came upon a tree with 4 large mature & richly colored fruit.  They were not easy to reach...took quite a bit of maneuvering and help from my dad.  In the end they were deliciously sweet, juicy...perfect.  In this moment I am realizing that our walk and these oranges are very much like my relationship with my father.  With that, I thank God for our time. In honor of daddy, here is one of HIS Unstoppable Songs: ("Forever Young" by Rod Stewart) 

US: Overtone "Colorblind"

US: AC/DC "Dirty Deads Done Cheap"

Generally AC/DC is not my style but I gotta say....I'm liking the feel of this song!  I see myself listening to it (to keep me motivated) on a grueling section of an AIDSride.  Yep, I'm feelin' it!

Falling in Self Love: Day 138 Dance Little Sister

"Give up the ghost that's haunting you now."  My brother had really bad asthma his entire life.  I never had it except for one other time (years ago). This morning I woke up coughing which turned into asthma attack #2.  After using an inhaler my bones hurt. When I finally fell back to sleep I had two nightmares about death.  OK God, I'm listening....

The first line of this song is so fitting!! My brother died 16 days after his 38th birthday. That is TODAY for me. The last few weeks have been quite interesting.  For the past 3 years I have been living in the shadow of his death, feeling like I had to do well because I was been spared (yet again) and given the gift of life.   Now, I want to LIVE for ME!  I want to dream wildly and act accordingly!



I just finished teaching my students and class was wonderful!  I LOVE my job!  I love that we are creating a positive ripple effect in the community!  I WANT TO DO MORE!  I feel inspired, impassioned READY for what's next!