Prepare to Launch!

It's been a great few weeks and there are some promising developments on the horizon.

Firstly, this blog...I found an incredible human being named Xenia who agreed to help me with the technical aspects of maintaining littlemissmojo.com.

I posted an ad on Craigslist- the only site I probably spend more time on than this one- and she came to my rescue.

Not only does she know her shit, she offered to help me on the house!!! Why? "That's how I roll," she said. Sounds like the coolest chick ever.

She's starting her own web development company and in all her spare time, she's helping me, a complete stranger, for FREE! These people really exist. Amazing.

SO, we are working on bringing all the magic to fruition so this blog can be all it's meant to be.

I'm aiming for July 13th for the big day. I'll keep you posted. I'll also ask you to share it with anyone and everyone you know.

Also on the horizon...some awesome job prospects. After coming close and losing out on a commercial writing position last week, it was really nice to bounce back with another potential offer.

I'll share more when it becomes a reality. Also made a new friend who showed interest in my commercial work, so we'll see where that take me.

All good things! Hoping the same is true for you. Have a great Wednesday!!!

xoxo

MOJO Monday!

A little inspiration for your Monday morning...

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

me on the beach in LA 

SUMMER STAPLES

In honor of the first day of summer, I'd like to share a few of my favorite budget-friendly things...

TARGET (I affectionately pronounce it Tar-jay): Best store ever! I recently purchased the majority of my summer wardrobe there and I have no shame whatsoever.

Got great stuff that looks expensive but isn't...including a sexy summer dress for $17 and a pair of hot suede heels that were clearanced for under $7! Score!!! 

The pros: Cute, trendy clothes and accessories, many lines now offered by top designers, at incredibly reasonable prices. I sound like an advertisement. You definitely have to sift through but it's beyond worth it.
The cons: It's like the price club...even if you go in for one or two things it's hard to walk out without a trunk full. You get what you pay for so don't expect it to last forever. Although, most of what I've gotten has lasted just as long as pricier purchases.

San Pellegrino Limonata & Aranciata: Best summer drink! Combine a little (or a lot) Grey Goose, Ketel or even Patron with either the lemon (limonata) or orange (aranciata) for a crazy good cocktail.

The pros: Easy, delicious, refreshing, sparkling, intoxicating.

The cons: Easy, delicious, refreshing, sparkling...intoxicating. They go down REALLY quickly so don't say I didn't warn you. 

Spray Tan: Ok, I've mentioned it a few times already and once again I have no shame. Yes, I use it and yes, I love it. If there was one thing I could change it would probably be my skin pigment. It is possible for me to tan (I use the word "tan" loosely), but I have to bake in the sun consistently for long periods of time.
The pros: For $10-$12, you can now spray it on yourself as opposed to paying $75 to have someone else do it at a salon. I use L'Oreal Sublime Bronze spray.

Some people prefer the cloth wipes but I think the spray is easier to apply evenly. It also doesn't rub off as easily as a spray from the salon. It lasts several days so just spray a few times a week and you're good to go. I also use the Jergens daily moisturizer in between. 

The cons: Even with recent improvements, it can still have a slightly orange undertone. I guess I prefer that to being pasty white. Hopefully the day will come when "bronze" actually means bronze.

Coconut water: My mother discovered this one and I love it.
The pros: It's the best drink for hydration and I love the taste. It's super healthy...fat-free, cholesterol-free, low-calorie and rich in anti-oxidants. Apparently Madonna owns Vita Coco. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me. I also hear it's great for hangovers. Might wanna keep some by your bedside.

The cons: It aint cheap. Costs about $2-$3 for a juice box. Bet Target sells it for less. I wouldn't pound a case of it though...it can also be a natural diuretic. Thankfully I haven't had that problem.


Essie Nail Polish: My friends and fam will laugh when they read this. For years I refused to wear anything colorful. I strictly stuck to muted taupes and darker browns and purples. I finally stepped out of the box and now wear the brightest colors I can find. It's fun for the summer.

The pros: Tons of great colors. The polish is easy to apply so I can actually do it myself when I can't get to the salon or wanna save some cash. The colors last longer than most brands.
The cons: None really. They're typically $8 a bottle but it's worth it if you actually use it. My color of the moment is long stem roses.

LBD: Not little black dress, LONG black dress.
Got mine last year for $20 (forgot where...probably Target!) and all but lived in it on my Europe trip.
Pros: Great for day or night. Super comfortable. Wear with flats, heels, a jacket, over a bathingsuit, etc., etc.
Cons: None.

Happy happy summer! 

Photo Friday!

It's a bit gloomy out there today in NYC, so I figured it was a good time to share some colorful pics from my European travel excursion last year.

My first stop was Barcelona, a city I'd dreamed of visiting for years. One of my favorite discoveries was La Boqueria, an incredible market in the heart of the city.

It's a magical place where photographers stroll the aisles with cameras fit for stalking. Only they're not snapping celebrities, they're snapping fruit.

So much fun to walk around, snap pics and eat!

Food destinations are my favorite. LOVE sampling new things! Such a memorable part of the travel experience.

Everything was so beautifully presented. I wanted to try and buy EVERYTHING!!!

But I was on a backpacker's budget, so I took pictures instead. The shop owners loved that.

I did try some chocolate, one of those fresh juice drinks and some fruit. On the last day I had the sweetest dates I've ever tasted in my life. They practically melted in my mouth. Still dreaming of them!!!

How insane are these lollipops? Like something out of Willy Wonka.

  Can't even tell you what was in those jars. Did not sample that.

There was literally a stand for every food group. 

So purdy!

Hope you enjoyed my pics. For more fun photos, click here.

Have a yummy, colorful weekend!

xoxo

It's a miracle!

I SOLD THE CAR! You know, the one that didn't reverse. YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!

Finally some sunshine after the shit-storm that plagued me on the road recently.

A mechanic from Long Island saw my ad on Craigslist and made his way out to Staten Island this weekend with cash in hand.

His philosophy: When I see cars with transmission problems I'm on 'em like white on rice.

His negotiating style: So, you're pretty firm on the price huh?...Ok.

I couldn't have asked for a better transaction. I loved that he knew exactly what he was getting.

I didn't have to try and sell him or pretend I knew anything about cars. And it was completely guilt free.

I can't believe I got the full asking price!

I'd been practically laughed at when it came to the price. I was told I'd NEVER get what I was asking. Even I wasn't expecting to get it.

Two people offered me less than half of what I sold it for. My sister thought I should junk it.

Instead I invested in a great interior/exterior detail. It looked so shiny and new.

All there was left to do was pray. Low and behold miracles really do happen.

I had to work really hard to contain myself during the transaction. Played it very cool.

But as soon as they were out the door I jumped up and down like a giddy school girl. Such a relief.

Next up...an apartment! A job would be good too.

decisions, decisions: Part II

Imagine standing at a fork in the road. Imagine the road splits 10 ways and you’re equally drawn, equally passionate toward them all. Now choose.

I've had a hard time deciding what I want. Actually, the issue is more that I want a bit of everything. 

Film, photography, design, writing and everything in between. Within each area of interest lie countless options...and I've considered them all!

Indecision can be crippling. It's something I've fought to overcome for years. 

I think it's just part of who I am and something I need to embrace.

There are worse things in life than being indecisive and far worse problems to have than being interested in (and good at) many different things.  

I love that about myself. What I don't love is the dysfunctional way I’ve allowed it to manifest in my life. 

I’ve gotten really good at testing the waters with many things without jumping in 100%. It sucks.

It’s not to say I don’t give it my all. It’s the opposite. I work really hard, really passionately…and then I move on to something else.

Hmm, ADD? Yes.
(Call me crazy, but I happen to be a believer.)

The good news is I get to experience all the things I love. The bad news is I haven't exactly made a career out of any of them.

I work on so many different things that many projects remain works in progress.

My dream as a teenager was to do it all and have like 6 different careers. Be careful what you wish for.

If I was still 16 or living during the Renaissance, I wouldn’t exactly have a problem. In this day and age it’s incredibly frustrating.

I've always been artistic and creative but I didn't always have the outlets to explore or express it.

That's what this time has been for me. And I'm getting there little by little.

There is the reality of having to make a living and the desire to feel accomplished and have my life more accurately represent my talent and skills.

The one thing I've always been committed to was making my living doing something I enjoy, or at the very least, something that doesn't feel like I'm dying a slow death.

I just need to be a mogul like Beyonce or Justin Timberlake…assemble a team of people to help produce my creative visions...fashion, music, film, television, etc., etc.

Yup, that sounds good.

Dreams keep us alive. They keep us hungry. 

I have so many dreams...probably too many for one person in one lifetime. 

Choosing which dreams to follow shouldn't be the hard part. For me it has been. Brutally hard. 

But allowing the decision itself to get in the way of the pursuit (or the enjoyment of the pursuit) would be my biggest regret in life.

I continue to search my soul for answers, but at this point I'm not sure I'll ever get one that's clear. 

Maybe that's the point. There is no answer…I just have to choose.

I don't think I'll ever be able to shut off all the light bulbs going off inside my head. What I'm learning to do is channel them more effectively. 

The most important thing for me to remember in making a decision is not to seek out a right or wrong, because there is none.

Making any choice will lead to something new and any forward movement is good.

Life is a ride and if I keep imposing these constraints on myself, I won't be free to enjoy anything I do. 

So, let the chips fall where they may.

I don't know what the future holds, but for now, I choose to enjoy the freedom of choice.

Well, I'll try. 

Decisions, decisions...PART I

DECISIONS, decisions...PART I

So, clearly I've taken a bit of an unexpected break from posting. 

I planned to give myself Memorial Day and it's amazing how quickly my commitment unraveled from there. 

I guess I've been a bit unclear about taking this to the next level. 

I'm simultaneously trying to find work and a new apartment, so it's been challenging to divvy up my time and mental energy.

But the real thing that's been holding me back is how I feel about sharing and the direction I want the blog to go.

Obviously it's all in my hands and I can handle it however I want. 

The same is true of my life as a whole. It's all in my hands and I can handle it however I want. 

There's nothing more empowering...or more frightening for me. 

There's a huge parallel there.

The way I felt about choosing to move forward with this is the way I've felt about choosing a career path...uncertain, overwhelmed and at times, paralyzed. 

I've come very close to talking myself out of this whole process.

What comes up, naturally, is fear. Fear of judgment, fear of failure, fear of success, insecurity, uncertainty, blah blah blah. 

It's the same old thing that's stopped me from forging forward at so many times in my life. I'm so tired of it and I truly want to get over it. 

Most of me HATES the idea of sharing my shit. It's uncomfortable, to say the least. 

When was the last time you were excited to be vulnerable? But no one's holding a gun to my head to do it.

I'm choosing to put myself out there with both the hope AND the fear of gaining an audience. It's been so hard to rationalize that contradiction.

I've never been an attention seeker and it kinda comes with the territory here. So why now? 

I can't tell you how many times I asked myself over the last week...why am I doing this? 

I am shaking my head as I write. I don’t know.

I know I want to be heard in some way. But it's about connecting for me as opposed to being in a spotlight.  

I want to inspire others. I want to create a platform for things beyond my own life...things that will encourage positive change on both ends. 

There it is.

That’s why I’m doing this.

This was practically a therapy session. Feel like I just gave birth. 

The truth is I was a little bummed out last week and as I started questioning, it stopped feeling right. 

I made up all these reasons why I shouldn't move forward. Unfortunately, that’s been a familiar story in my life.

This process touches on all of my major demons and that's why I chose to do it. Doing it despite all that is what I hope will provide some clarity and open new doors.

At the very least, it'll hopefully make me braver and stronger...and maybe it'll put my fear of commitment to rest once and for all.

I know I have no idea where this is going, but I want to find out. 

I do think it's important to set an intention and have a clear vision.

But I also believe it's okay to just take that leap of faith and go with it.

I need to be patient and accept that it will grow and evolve over time as opposed to being perfectly boxed, neatly wrapped and tied with a big red ribbon right out of the gate.

I'll continue to work on my intention with each post and remind myself that much of life's magic happens without a game plan....or despite one.

There may be risk involved but I'm choosing to play the game instead of sitting it out. Whatever happens, that's the best decision I could make.

So to those of you lovely, loyal people who have been following to this point, I truly apologize for being MIA.

I can't promise it wont ever happen again, even though my intention to move forward is clear.

But if and when it does, I promise to...you know, keep ya posted!

Have a great weekend and thanks for your support!

xoxo