To The Man Who Fell to Earth

One of my biggest idols in life. Felt all kinds of sad magic today. Driving home tonight hearing Space Oddity on the radio, I thought about being in school and feeling like such a misfit.  Whenever I’d feel sad, I would put on Ziggy Stardust, paint my face with mass amounts of makeup, then cry it all off and go to sleep. I would wake up covered in glitter, completely reborn. This therapeutic and  ritualistic pattern became the means in which I was able to authentically evolve into myself. He helped me understand the complexity of my being.  The art of transformation. The realization that I can evolve into so many different versions of myself, all while staying true to my soul. To understand me is to understand David Bowie’s artistry.

Thank you for unlocking the magic in my heart and teaching me how to find freedom in the realm of my own eccentricities.

The universe has gained the most powerful star. What a blessing to have existed at the same time as you. Forever feeling magical. xo

Changes

I have been in such a drought lately.

Now that I'm out in the "real world" my creativity is on the back burner and I'm stuck in this mundane cycle of normality.

And for anyone who knows me.

That is my biggest fear in life.

I miss being in school; dreaming about the world and the potential mark I would one day make upon it. I believed I could do anything. I believed in the strange soul that was blessed within my being. I believed that I had the power to change the world. I believed in it all, but then life unravels in unexpected ways.

I've learned that making your mark on the world is more difficult than I had imagined. So much of me wants to quit my unfullfilling day job and move to a new city. To take risks and make mistakes and experience new cultures and people.  I want to wake up each day and know that what I'm doing is making a difference in this world. I want to free the fire within me and inspire people. I want to do everything. And I want to be happy.

I am none of these things.

Part of me is so overwhelmed by the infinite choices the world offers, that I don't know where to begin. And part of me is afraid of it all.

But I've also learned that not everything's going to happen overnight. Life is a process, and we can't do everything all at once. Sometimes I forget that and experience major anxiety because my life is not set exactly how I want it.

Lately I've been neglecting myself. The glitter that once ran through my veins is diluted with the blood of my eternally broken heart. And the only way to find the sparkle again is to channel my inner 19 year old. The girl who, although had darkness deeply rooted within her, was not afraid to shine. To be herself.  To feel complete without the approval of others. I was whole. I was free. And I need that again or I won't be able to survive.

I can feel this period in my life being transitional, and I can't let that slip away. Sometimes the biggest sources of inspiration can be found in ourselves, so it's time I start listening to my soul and introduce myself to the ambition I once had.

I can't sit around and wait for my life to change. The only one who has that power is me, and I must use it wisely.

Goodnight!

xo g

Rose Tint My World

While I was getting dressed this morning, Applause started to fill the room through my speakers.

I've heard the song a a billion times, but this time I had a revelation.

With rollers in my hair, and half-way through my mascara application, I thought to myself...

MAYBE.

JUST MAYBE.

I only live.

For the Applause.

My inner attention whore was having a moment.

Because like Tinker Bell, I will die unless you clap for me and tell me you believe in me.

I will be your number 1 fairy.

But if you don't believe in fairies, the light in my soul will go out and I'll DIE.

I just need a little spark of magic to help get me through the day. Maybe I do things like cover my face in glitter, talk about unicorns, rainbows, and precious little dandelions because it's a way for me to cope with the fact that the real world really isn't as magical as I project it to be? Every day, I can feel the enchantment diminishing. And without the magic of my own little world, I am nothing.

Rose tints my world

Keeps me safe from my trouble and pain.

And if I want to live over the rainbow, I'll have to dance right through rain.

Because I have had the power all along, my dear.

And how fucking weak of me to ever doubt that.

No matter how much I try and seek validation from others, I am the only one who can truly validate the rainbow in my soul.

And maybe it doesn't even matter if anyone believes in fairies. As long as I believe in them, shouldn't that be enough? Shouldn't I be able to find my own strength and light my own soul, without Peter Pan?

I wish it were that easy. And maybe one day it will be.

I had that power once.

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away from here, I used to be Queen.

The authenticity of my soul was strong, and I ruled my own world so effortlessly.

Because I truly believed in myself. I believed in all the wonderful things, and I executed mass amounts of fabulousity every single day. I was a superstar. Because deep inside, I believed I had something special.

And then one day the cruel world gets into your head and you realize that maybe none of it's true.

So you lose all sense of yourself.

I used to be Queen.

But I just can't seem to find my crown. It's like I'm left stranded-- deep within the darkness of the forest, in a constant state of vulnerability.

And I just have no fucking clue where I am.

xx

Ground Control

I spend a lot of time attempting to analyze the way in which my mind operates. And I don't think I'll ever truly know.  Like the vast mystery that lies within the depths of outer space, my mind will always and forever be; a never ending tunnel of darkness that only becomes more complicated as you travel further through it.

Sometimes I wish I was simpler. That I found joy in the little things in life, and that I was content with the normality of simply being. But instead I create imaginary problems and imaginary enemies because I live in an imaginary world.

And then one day my friend told me that one of the only ways to truly know yourself is to have your heart broken by someone.

And I never really understood that.

But now I do.

Sometimes you don't fully understand that your heart is broken until you try to listen to it beat one day, only to realize that the life and energy that was once there is gone, and you're left with tiny shattered pieces that are too weak to attach themselves back together.

And then you're a chaotic mess, constantly trying to pick up the pieces before you just give up and accept the fact that the pain in your heart is only getting worse.

When I was growing up, I would wake up in the middle of the night and look into the night sky to gaze at the stars.  I memorized the arrangements, and there was one star in particular I would always look at. It was the brightest and most beautiful one, and as soon as darkness would fall, it was there waiting for me.  I would imagine that star was my true home. The only way I could make sense of my life is if I lived in the delusion that I came from a giant ball of glitter in space. Each star in the sky is a sun in someone else's galaxy, so maybe God just mixed me up with the real Earth girl and gave me life in the wrong cosmic atmosphere?

As I would gaze into the glistening universe, I would pray that maybe there would be someone out there in this world who was looking up at the same stars as I was. Someone who belonged to the same glittery galaxy as I did. Someone just as strange as me. Who's heart beat to the same weird little drum as mine. And that made me feel less alone. And less sad.

But I think the biggest tragedy of life is that these are not always the people you end up with.

They can be the sun and you can be the moon. The two most powerful forces of day and night.

But they can never be together.

Because that's not the way the universe intended them to be.

And that's ok.

Because as long as my heart

....Is as red as fiery Mars.

God will mercifully guide me on my way amongst the stars.

Amen.

Sparkle and Shine

I like your nails, they sparkle and shine 

via pinterest

Thank you my darling, you’re so very kind.

Wanna have some fun, a night out on the town?

Just let me pick flowers and wear pretty crowns. 

Of course we’ll do that, I just wanted to see…

…If we could swim to the bottom of the deep blue sea?

I hadn't thought of that, but I’d love nothing more!

We’ll swim ‘till we’re mermaids and our bodies are sore.

I like your ideas. I like them a lot. You’re just as exciting as red polka dots.

You look like a rainbow, so eccentric and free.

It's because this world revolves around me.

Maybe one day I’ll see you again. 

I hope so. We’re perfect—like Barbie and Ken.

Goodbye for now, don’t forget about the time..

...When we bonded over nails that sparkle and shine.

xo

Gina

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance

As I stood on the porch of the hotel, gazing off into the distant morning fog that was theatrically rolling over the Golden Gate Bridge, a beautiful forty something year old woman approached me and and bluntly asked "Are you a dancer?"

I wasn't quite sure what to say. I hesitated for a moment, but before I was able to answer she continued on.

"I am a dancer." She said. "I used to dance professionally in New York City. I lived the dream. And I can tell from the way you stand-- the way you carry yourself, that you too are a dancer."

"Thank you." I told her, humbled by the observation.  "I used to dance. But work and life have kept me busy over the past few years, so I'm not a dancer anymore."

Instead of carrying on and accepting the vague answer I had given, she looked me sternly in the eye and said "You are always a dancer. It's something that never leaves you."

Her words struck a chord in me that hadn't been played in a long time.  Dazed and confused; I looked back into her Louis Vuitton sunglasses, unsure what to say. But before I was able to formulate my thoughts into words, her family arrived--as well as a rush of other strangers. So we casually said our goodbyes and went on our separate ways.

What a random encounter. It amazed me how some strangers are so fearless in their approach and can spontaneously speak from their heart to someone they'll never see again.

I went about my day, but I had mixed feelings when she left. I had thought about her words and I believed them. But at the same time, a layer of doubt was rolling into my head, just as the fog rolled over the bridge early that morning. Could I really consider myself a dancer, even after all the time that's gone by in which I haven't danced? A dancer is what I once was. The past is over.

Most people would just take it as a compliment and move on, but I was being dramatic (as usual). However, I am allowed to be. Because a life without aspects of theatrics is not one I'd ever want to live.

I thought about that encounter for the rest of the day. Although what she said made perfect sense, I had a difficult time allowing it to be true. How can "it never leave me" when its something I reluctantly left?

After shutting off my over-thinking piece of a brain, I destroyed the doubt, and finally allowed the words of this stranger to liberate me.

I realized that the phases and stages of our lives evolve us into the people we become. I may not dance anymore, but the almost 20 years I spent in dance class have shaped me into the weird little girl I am today. From the way I walk to the kitchen, to the way I walk down the street-- I always feel that rhythm in my soul, and it will always be there. Even if I don't realize it.

I don't have to dance professionally to be a dancer.

I don't have to write professionally to be a writer.

And don't have to be famous to have a spotlight. I'll just create my own.

It's not a false sense of reality, but an artistic way in which I view my life. And nothing can be more authentic.

The parts of ourselves that we once were-- the parts that we loved, but have drifted apart from, will never leave us. We are, and will forever be, all the great things we've ever been. From dancers to baseball players. Musicians to painters. Old talents never die.

A few months after the encounter with this woman, I found myself standing on the same porch admiring the city skyline, as I often did, when an older man approached me.

"You look like a dancer. You stand like one." He said. "I'm from New York, and go to a lot of various dance shows."

I was completely caught off guard. Confused. Was someone playing a joke on me? Is that lady back, and did she set this whole thing up to see how I'd respond? I awkwardly looked around, before I remembered that he was awaiting a response.

I pulled myself together, and simply replied:

"Yes, I am a dancer."

And in that moment, the rhythm in my heart was reset to the new beat of the universe.

That is all.

Xo

Gina

The Girl With The Gaga Tattoo

Everyone who knows me is aware of the fact that Lady Gaga owns my soul. She is my

savior. The prophet. The second coming of Christ. Upon arriving at the gates of heaven, I expect to be told that she is indeed a religious figure who was put on this Earth to save all the little monsters from the danmation of normalcy. To give us the strength to stay true to ourselves, and to remind each and every one of us that we're all God damn superstars, and we were Born This Way. And as our eternal mother began her prophecy here on Earth, the mitosis of the future began.

And thus began the beginning of a new race.

A race within the race of humanity.

A race that bears no prejudice.

No judgement.

But boundless freedom.

And with that, the world was changed. At least mine was.

Becoming a Lady Gaga fan was like finding a part of my soul that had been missing. I felt complete with her, as she gave me so much strength to stay true to myself and the courage to carve out my own space in the world rather than trying to fit into someone else's. She was always there for me-- making me feel less alone, and less afraid.

I remember being a lonely 19 year old alone in my dorm room. I didn’t have a lot of friends, was never cool enough to go to parties, and just had no sense of who I was. She helped me find my inner sense of self worth. Not just through her music, but the whole artistry of who she is. She changed my life, and taught me to find my freedom and fight for who I am. 

Seeing her live at the Monster Ball will forever be the highlight of my life. I was finally amongst my people at the greatest show on Earth. She would tell stories and give us words of inspiration during the show. After making a speech about freeing ourselves from all our insecurities, she shined her disco stick into the audience and said:

"I used to pray, and I used to dream that one day, one person would believe in me."

She continued on, putting her hand over her heart and said:

"So when you leave here tonight, know that at least one person believes in you."

And that was the moment of all moments.

Because we just need one person to believe in us. And even know she doesn't know who I am, that doesn't matter. Because it's not about me, per say. It's about the core of my being. My soul. And all the other souls who suffer internally. Who feel like they're not good enough.  No matter if it's Lady Gaga, or an old friend. Sometimes we need the validation that someone believes in us. Because life is just really hard.

I think of those words often, which is sometimes what helps get me through the day and through the darkness.

I struggle a lot internally. My soul is simultaneously the most beautiful and the darkest place I've ever been. My birthday was a few weeks ago, and during that time the internal struggle was really difficult. I went out with my friends, and tried so hard to make sure that everyone was having a good time, that I forgot about myself.

But a few days later when I woke up on the actual day of my birth, I decided that I wasn't going to be afraid anymore. And that I should always carry the strength to fight for exactly who I am. Gaga has been so brave for me, so now it was my turn to be brave for her.

Because I was Born This Way. And that's something I take so much pride in.

When it comes to our birth, it is perceived that this infamous moment in life is not temporal, it is eternal. And on my birthday, I traveled to the city of my birth and got Born This Way tattooed on my body. The understanding of that phrase has changed my life. And now it's forever engraved on my skin as a reminder that I am beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes.

I don't ever want any of you to sacrifice who you are for anyone or anything else. Because you're absolutely perfect just the way you are, and I believe in you all.

So now that this story is over, know that at least one person believes in you. Because sometimes that's all it takes.

Xo

Fresh

We Could Be Heroes

I don't think I'm fully alive until the clock strikes midnight.

But first, I'm going to go to the ball in a pumpkin and have little mice friends who's purpose in life is to love and help me through all my troubles.

I'm becoming Cinderella, you know.

I want the authority to behead those who disobey me, and to help the deserving ones.
To have roses thrown at my feet, and to have people bow in my presence. I'll have to endure the dark side of royalty, but that's ok. If it must be anyone, it should be me because I know I could handle the travesty. My constant need for attention and the theatricality of my soul are perfect in ensuring that the public get a perfectly flawed and dark princess--and an even darker queen, should I reign on.

But since I was not born into royalty, marrying into it is the only chance I have. Unless of course I am the real life Mia Thermopolis, and my parents have just been hesitant in telling me that I am the heir to the thrown of a fictional land. Yes, I have decided that is the truth, so I'm going to just wait around for Julie Andrews to appear as my savior.

But until then, I just need someone to come rescue me because I don't want to be locked in this cold, routine, peasant like life forever.

Ah, yes. Being saved from normal life would be wonderful.

But you see, my fellow peasants, deep down in my soul that's not what I want. The desire to be saved is a lie. A feeling of lust that my heart mistakenly assumes to be true. Beause the truth about life is that we have to save ourselves. To build our own castles. To turn our own rags into riches. And to break free from the way of life we were taught to accept.

Because we all deserve so much more. And we deserve to be the heroes of our stories.

As the great and powerful Lady Gaga one reminded me at the Monster Ball, many moons ago; "Even if the whole world turns their back on you, you'll always have yourself." I think of this often. That no matter how many times I'm ignored or forgotten, at least I have myself. No one owes us anything in life. Of course we have each other, but the only certainty we have in life is the relationship we have with ourselves. And as individuals, we have the power to launch our hearts into the lives we desire. 

The thing about life is that I want it all. But I think in the end, all I want is to be free.

To be free of my insecurities, free of the things that are holding me back, and free of anything that has ever made me feel like I'm not good enough or pretty enough, or that I don't belong, or don't fit in.

I want complete freedom.

But freedom is not an act, it's a frame of mind. It's finding that inner peace in your soul which filters out all the noise, and all the negativity, and all the sorrow.

One day I'll be free. And it won't be when I marry a Prince, or take control of my own kingdom. But rather when I can find the courage in my heart to let go of everything and live peacefully amongst all the things I've ever wanted to break free from.

I hope you all can find the courage and strength in your hearts to be free. Because you're worth it more than you know.

With love,

The Peasant Queen

I Have Loved The Stars Too Fondly To Be Fearful Of The Night

When I die, I hope to have absolutely nothing left in me. I'll stand at the gates and tell God that I have given the world all that I possibly could. That every talent, every thought, every word, and every bit of my soul was fully executed on this planet. I want to die exhausted from the glory of life, rather than fade out from a boring and unfulfilling state of existence.

However, I think sometimes I want so much out of life that I forget to appreciate the simple things. Taking some time to stop and smell the roses, in part, is what it means to give this world my soul. How can I give everything I have if I don't pay attention to what the world is giving me?

We need the roses. We need the rain. We need everything the world is giving us, because our planet is a stage. All the flowers , trees, oceans, and lakes set the scenes to enhance our lives.

The people are the supporting cast,  my life is the plot. And I am the director.

But I am also the superstar.

It is like that for each and every one of us, yet we don't often pay attention to our stories, or realize our superstar potential.

We have all the power in the world to control our lives, and we're all born with an inner superstar that needs to be set free. And the saddest part about life is that some of us never realize how amazing we truly are, and don't discover our superstardom until it's too late.

I just want to give God everything I have.

It all becomes more meaningful when I realize that my life is a performance, only there's no intermission. No rehearsal.

And I want to be a star, before it's my time to become one somewhere in the depths of the universe, and under the light of a moon I haven't met yet .

I love you all.

Xo

Free As My Hair

I’ve always wanted to go blonde.  All my life I’ve
dreamt of having long and luscious blonde locks

like Barbie, Sleeping Beauty, and Courtney Love (in that order). Lady Gaga preached to us about how we are as free as our hair, reminding us that our hair can be our liberation. There is no physical pain when it’s cut, and yet sometimes a dramatic haircut can be the equivalent of slicing out our heart. The connection to our hair can run deep, and it wasn’t until a few months ago in which I truly learned about that effervescent connection one has with their hair.  

I spontaneously made a hair appointment with my stylist, Jessie,  without any real idea as to what I wanted. I woke up that morning still unsure about what I was going to do; I just knew I wanted a change. I could feel it in my soul. I had been feeling this chaotic force within me. A force that unwaveringly controlled my every act of Vanity. Only I didn’t know what it was until I sat in the styling chair and began to explain what I wanted.

I wanted the dramatics. All blonde everywhere.  Give me that Gwen Stefani realness and make it so that I’m only one cigarette away from looking like a trashy piece of high class trash on planet sass. I was born with a constant need for theatrics; the more dramatic, eclectic, and sassy, the better. Although long black hair is what weird little girls are made of, my soul needed a change. My time pretending to be Cher was over (I know she went through a blonde phase, but that does not count!), and it was time to evolve into another version of my self. 

4 hours and countless rinses later and I finally got to see the masterpiece my lovely and talented stylist had worked so hard to achieve.

I was in absolute shock.

It’s everything I’ve ever imagined, but oh my God.

It was blonde.

As she blow dried my hair, the blonde got lighter and my heart beat got faster. She styled it perfectly, gave me some tips and product recommendations, and I was on my merry little way. I got in the car and looked in the rear view mirror, and that's when it hit me.

I was a different person.  And it terrified me. I was going to go grocery shopping before I drove home, but I was so afraid to show myself to the world, as I didn’t even recognize the person staring back at me.  As I drove out of the parking garage and on to the street, the adrenaline rushed all throughout my new blonde soul. I guess I wasn’t mentally prepared for the change, and oh was it a change.

In that moment, I realized that the hair on my head is as equally important as, say, my left arm. It’s function may not have the significance, but without it, I would have a difficult time functioning. My hair is a part of my soul. It’s the innovation and execution of how I envision myself, and the execution of one's being is something that we should never overlook.

I'm pretty sure going blonde is the exact equivalent of dying as Snow White and then being reincarnated as Tinkerbell. That sassy little fairy will die unless you clap for her, which is exactly what this hair color has done to me. At first I thought I was getting more attention from being blonde. But I've realized that I'm just demanding it a lot more, as confidence comes with being a fairy.

My prayer for all of you is to find your liberation through your style. Whether it's through your hair color, the clothes you wear, the tattoos on your body, or the shade of lipstick that best connects to the color of your soul. Freedom is found through self creation. We just have to be brave, and find the strength to live out our vision.

Thank you for listening.

Xo

G

Stornetta Lands

image via Press Democrat

In case you are unfamiliar with what has happened to my childhood home, read this: President Obama establishes Point Arena Stornetta Unit of California Coastal National Monument

Now that we are all on the same page, let me tell you a story.

I grew up on what is now the Stornetta Public Lands. This land is where I used to sing, dance, put on photo shoots with my barbie dolls, and dream about the world and all the wonder it held. Sometimes I wished I lived somewhere where I wouldn’t feel so alone; In a lively city where my neighbors were people, not cows. But the solitude of my youth allowed the magic of my imagination to eternally flourish, and for that I am forever grateful.

I know most of you see this land as a place of exquisite beauty in the physical sense, and I see that as well. But I mainly see my childhood. I see all the dreams, and hopes, and memories I had as a kid. When my family sold the land to the state in 2004, we moved the day after my 14th birthday. Even though I had longed for an upbringing in a big city, I was heartbroken to leave. The land was a platform that fed my creativity. It energized me, and forced me to dream as big as it was beautiful. Leaving just didn’t seem right.

With the Stornetta Public Lands becoming a national monument, my young heart that broke all those years ago can now find closure. To me, this signing by President Obama is not only sealing in the deal of timeless land preservation, it’s sealing in the dreams of my childhood, and for anyone who has ever felt alone in the world, where dreams are the only thing that can ignite the magic we all have within us.

Small pieces of my soul are sprinkled like glitter all over those thousands of acres, and they will forever continue to glisten.

This is the land that raised me, and I hope it inspires all of you in the same way it has inspired me. Keep it beautiful. 

x

Gina

My Heart Could Beat With Bricks And Strings

I have decided to return to the blog world, and with my return comes Lady Gaga talk. 

I shall save my complete adoration of Gaga for another blog post. All you need to know is that I worship this woman with every breath she takes, step she places, and planet she invades. She has helped me in every way possible find the inner strength in myself and I know for sure I wouldn’t be nearly as confident in myself if it wasn't for her. I will worship her for ALWAYS, and that is fact.

Her new album ATRPOP came out last month, and I really love the direction of her creativity. The ARTPOP era is definitely different from her previous work, yet there’s still that effervescent Gaga flare we know and love. I don’t think it’s fair to continually compare her to her past work, but it’s amazing to see her growth. In every sense of the word, she’s an artist. It’s wide open for interpretation, but ARTPOP is a representation of her life. As she stated in the music video for Marry The Night, many moons ago;

“When I look back on my life, it’s not that I don’t want to see things exactly as they happened, it’s just that I prefer to remember them in an artistic way.”

Artists see the world differently than those with confined imaginations and low levels of creativity.  The world is only two dimensional if you choose to see it that way. And with ARTPOP, the world, art, and life could mean ANYTHING.

Now, enjoy some of my favorite pictures from Gaga's ARTPOP era.

Find your freedom in your weirdness

There are two raves always hardcore raging in my mind. One is at Barbie's dream house, the other in the Addams family castle. 

It has become routine for me to describe myself using odd, yet fitting analogies, as I am a dark and gloomy rainbow.

Exorcism Barbie.

A Lisa Frank sticker on the back of a murder’s tombstone. 

My contradictory strangeness is really not strange though. I've spent my young life diving deep into my dark and glittered soul. I’m constantly burrowing into the depths of my soul, as well as filling the crevices with new and interesting parts of my being that I’ll explore in the future.

We all have parts of us that cannot be seen, felt, or understood until we tap into ourselves and accept whatever our souls hold. I may seem unusual at times, but that’s only because I spend a lot of time discovering myself in solitude, which brings up everything life has given me thus far.

It takes a long time to fully accept yourself and what your soul is made of. But you won’t be able to unless you travel through your inner workings and find both your deepest darkness and your brightest light. 

We’re all “weird”. Every single one of us has unique qualities, interests, and habits that should be embraced and if someone has a problem with the original and beautiful person you were born to be, they’re not worthy of you. Get rid of every single person in your life that doesn't allow you to fully be yourself, open your soul, and find your freedom.

xo

via tumblr

via pinterest

via pinterest

Liebster Award

The very lovely Maria D from Route:13 left me a comment saying that she had nominated me for a Liebster Award. Having no idea what that was, I checked out her previous blog post on the subject, did some googling, and found out what exactly this so-called award meant.

First off, "Liebster" is a German word which means sweetest, beloved, lovely, kind, cute, welcome etc. (you get the drift). The award has been around for a few years and is given to new bloggers with a following of 200 or less. It's a great way to acknowledge and get to know each other, and I'm always up for spreading spread the word about other blogs. 

I'm happy to be included in this viral blogging award and I hope you guys enjoy finding out more about my lavender minded self!

xo

 The rules are: 

1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you plus create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.

3. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate and link them in your post.

4. Go to their page and tell them.

5. Remember, no tag backs!

11 Facts About Me

1) I have ranidaphobia

2) I grew up on a farm

3) I want a massive tattoo of either a mermaid or a fairy on my thigh

4) I often think about the fact that if one of my pre-historic ancestors were killed by a dinosaur, I wouldn't be here. And that makes me appreciate life so much more.

5) No one understands how genuinely devastated I am over that fact that I'm not the Queen of some random country.

6) I LOVE Lady Gaga

7) I'm part human / part cat / part mermaid

8) I want my future wedding to be on Halloween so that everyone feels it's socially acceptable to dress unusual.

9) I'm Italian-American

10) I wish I had a British accent

11) All of my creativity comes out at night

11 Questions 

1) What does your blog mean to you?

Writing is my main outlet of expression, and blogging is the best way for me to channel my inner voice. My blog is a look inside my mind. It's a reminded in that no matter what, I'll always be a writer. Even if I'm not doing it "professionally", it'll always be a part of me.

2)  What is your blog about?

When I first started this blog last Spring, it was for my media writing class. We all had to create a blog, choose a theme, and update every week. I was very strict with the fashion theme, but now I consider it more of a lifestyle blog/documentation of my life, thoughts, and interests. Of course I still stick with fashion, but it’s extended to include other things as well.

3) What are your blogging plans for 2013?

My main plan is to update more. After the class ended and I didn't *have* to update each week, it was difficult for me to find motivation. One of my goals is also to gain a larger audience of readers. Engaging with other bloggers is key, and something in which I need to make a major priority whenever I’m online.

4) If you could travel to one place right now, which would it be?

I'd go to Sicily and walk the land of my ancestors.

5) Do you prefer reading or watching movies?

Hmm... Depends on my mood. I definitely watch movies more than I read. But nothing stimulates the imagination more than a good book. 

6) Do you practice any sports?

I took all kinds of dance classes when I was in school. But now I try and jog for at least 20 minutes every day. Does that count?

7) What is your favorite quote?

“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light. I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night”-- from the poem "The old astronomer to his pupil" by Sarah Williams 

8) What is your favorite season and why?

I enjoy autumn. Nothing compares to the magic of Halloween weather.

9) What is your favorite book? 
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

10) What inspires you?

The Pacific Ocean, outer space, thrift stores, San Francisco, Lady Gaga, my cat, Audrey Kitching (forever my fav blogger), the peculiar dreams I have at night, and much, much more.

11) An advice to any blogger out there?

It’s the biggest cliché, but the most important thing is to Be Yourself. If you go about blogging with the intention of doing it how everyone else is, you’ll lose your originality. Let other blogs inspire you, but don't by view them as the standard for how blogging should be done. For example, I tend to write much longer posts than many of the other bloggers I follow, but writing's my thing and I'm not going to change for the purpose of blending in. Find your niche and run with it. Make your own rules (or lack of) and blog about what makes your heart sing.

11 Questions for the bloggers I've nominated

1) Why did you start blogging?

2) How would you describe your blog?

3) What are you goals for your blog?

4) Where do you see yourself and your blog in 5 years?

5) Favorite song?

6) Favorite movie?

7) How would you describe your style?

8) What is your dream job?

9) Favorite quote?

10) Favorite city and why?

 11) Advice for new bloggers?

Bloggers I've nominated

Look Ugly In A Photograph 

Kathastrophee 

Worry About It Laterr 

SPRFRK 

Rain Check For Timbuktu 

Haute Menot 

Prim Style 

Modern Maria Clara  

Hello Kiss Goodbye 

Tartally 

Rim's Daily 

New Year in Neverland

2012 was an interesting year for me. I graduated college, interned in San Francisco, and got rid of all the toxic people in my life.  I learned a lot about myself, and at the same time, realized I have a lot to learn. I kept myself busy up until the end, and now for the first time in my life, I have nothing set for the new year. School has consumed my whole life up until this point and I've always thought that freedom from school is what I've always wanted. However, I'm still struggling to find my freedom in the real world, as I'm desperately clinging to the juvenile question of "What do you want to be when you grow up."

But the truth is, I don't think I'll ever grow up. Of course I'll have more responsibilities to deal with and I'm certain I'll handle them maturely, but I won't grow up. Growing up is like letting one's youth go and I don't think I'll ever be ready to leave my youth. If there's anything I've come to learn about myself, it's that I struggle to find happiness. I need to savor the happiness in my life and not sacrifice it for anything. Letting go of my youth and trading it for a suit wearing, office working, corporate illusion of an adult would break my soul, no matter how much  success may come with that. 

God only know what's in store for me this year. 2012 left me with a better sense of knowing who I am and what I want out of life. I may not know exactly what I want to be doing in terms of a career, but I'm not afraid anymore. I understand the value of happiness, and won't settle for anything less than what I deserve. 

My wish for 2013 is simply to for myself, friends, and family to be happy, however that may come about.

After all this "I don't think I'll ever grow up talk", I think it's time for me to go watch Peter Pan and bask in the glory of my self proclaimed eternal youth and I suggest you all do the same.

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And while I'm on it, some of my resolutions for 2013 are:

1) Find a job I enjoy

2) Get more organized

3) Go on more scandalous adventures

4) Wear more accessories (gotta relate it back to fashion)

5) Execute my creativity in innovative ways/disover new things rather than simply being stuck circling around the same interests

6) Take more risks

7) And of course, update this blog more

What are your new years resolutions?

Magic of Makeup

Fashion and makeup go hand and hand. You  need to correlate your face to your clothes, your lips to your eye makeup, and so on a so fourth. Will a bold red lip go well with your outfit? How about neon blue eyeliner? And is there really such thing as too much glitter on the eyelids?! I think not.

Like fashion, makeup is one of my favorite drugs. Painting my face in the morning is therapeutic; tranquility at its finest. I think of myself as a blank canvas and everyday I'm able to transform into a piece of art. Call me superficial if you like, but nothing could be more real than the process of glamorous transformation. With makeup and fashion, I am a projection of who I am on the inside. The authenticity of my being comes fourth, and through the tools of glamour, I exist in the realm I was made for. I am liberated by the different versions of myself I'm able to create and my evolution in life can be seen through the artistry of my ever-changing appearance.

It makes me angry when people say girls who wear makeup are "fake". It's one of the most beautiful forms of expression and if playing around with makeup makes me fake, so be it. I don't want to be real anyway. I'd rather be imaginary and live in a world of magic where it rains glittery eyeshadows. I want to create my life rather than letting every aspect of it simply happen, and the world of glamour gives me the power and motivation to focus my enigmatic creativity.

From minimal makeup to full on drag queen faces, embrace the art of makeup. Sometimes at the end of the day I sit alone in my room and paint my face to the extreme. I layer on heavy eyeliner, grab some lipstick, darken my eyebrows, and then wash it all off. It's when I feel most glamorous, most beautiful, and most in tune with the universe.

If makeup's not your thing, find what makes your creative juices flow and let it devour you.

Minimal makeup. Before

After.  Gina 2.0

Find your freedom in art, and have a lovely weekend.

xo

Gina

Sick Mermaid

The Little Mermaid. image via pinterest

All Hell broke loose in my body the day after the Giants victory parade (standing on Market Street for an extended period of time... I should’ve seen this coming), and now I’m finding it hard to remember what not being sick is like. 

I coughed exactly 7,000 times yesterday. I didn’t even know it was possible, but the intensity of each cough requires the use of my stomach muscles, and now I am sore all over.

On the bright side, I’m finally able to talk again. After all the coughing, my voice was gone. Literally gone. I started to think about my future and what it would be like if I could never talk again. I found comfort in the idea that I’d never be able to say something stupid and wouldn't have to participate in lifeless small talk. But I’d greatly miss meaningful conversations. Talking to people and knowing there’s depth in their words rather than just words to fill the air. I’d miss that a lot.

As my voiceless life flashed before my eyes, I thought about The Little Mermaid and how I was one step closer to emulating her lifestyle on land. Ariel is only able to win Prince Eric's love through body language, as Ursula agreed to turn her into a human in exchange for her beautiful voice. My voiceless self could relate to Ariel's frustrating time as a mute human, and before my voice came back, I was starting to think I needed to make friends with a reggae singing crab and find a prince or else my poor unfortunate soul would belong to an evil Sea Witch. 

Perhaps in the future I’ll make a post in which I tell you about my deep rooted love for mermaids. But until then, just know that I am more mermaid than I am human. 

Now, time to down some more cough medicine. I have a wild night ahead of me equipped with shots of NyQuil, cough drops, and a humidifier that doesn't seem to be helping very much. 

xo

P.S. How cool is this room!? If it were mine, I would never leave.

Mermaid Room. image via pinterest

And this phone! I need it. Forever 5 years old

Mermaid phone. image via tumblr