From W Magazine to Chrissy Teigen to Asking Yourself Those Questions

I love W magazine.  My Aunt Yvonne would send us (Love Joy & Faith) the magazine when we were just 10 years old.  Well, I was 10.  It was our first exposure to high fashion beyond Vogue.  (We loved Vogue too by the way. ) I have been getting back into being me and that includes reading W magazine.  While reading W's article Natural Beauty Chrissy Teigen Loves Contouring I became inspired.  I wanted to know how I would answer these questions.  I wanted to know if I could answer these questions.  Would I like my answers to these questions? Then I wondered how Joy, who is almost my twin (we are the same age for nearly 4 months out of the year) would answer.  Then I asked myself, "How would my answers affect my life?" Would I need or rather want to get rid of somethings? Would I be a little more focused because I discovered/remembered part of myself? The questions are not what you would consider life changing but for me it was.  

Asking Joy the same questions also taught me a few things about myself as well as my sister.  I know Joy remembers me interviewing her but she was very ill at the time.  I was concerned wouldn't have the same impact for her.  Oddly enough I discovered this morning it did but I doubt she realizes it fully yet.  Joy, began to clear away all the bullshit in her head and think about what she wanted.  She has begun to focus on high fashion again and what makes life fun for her.  She said she wasn't going to try to adapt herself to others.  I know, you may think high fashion isn't important, but imagine if it were something else.  We all at some point people please.  We all forget what gets us going.  We all forget what we did that day we felt supper confident.  

My sister and I want to be our best spiritually, physically and emotionally.  This week for some reason Joy and I both are declaring what we want.  The Chrissy Teigen interview made me say hey let's answer this for ourselves.  We start with Joy's "interview" first.  I don't want our answers side by side.  Yes, it is okay to notice our difference but for me this is not about comparison.  For me, this is just an opportunity to share what works for us.  It is also an opportunity to remember we know what works for us; because the last few years it has been too easy to forget.

Joy Yascone

Your look in three words: 

Joy: bohemian. Cultured. Town-N-Country

Five-minute routine: 

Joy: tinted moisturizer, bronzer, lip gloss, blush peach, peachy nude lipstick, sea salt spray (hair), curl definer

Never leave the house without: 

Joy: Lip Gloss

Beauty from the inside out: 

Joy: Energy of love

Exercise regime:

Joy: Urban walks five to ten miles

Cleanse or not: 

Joy: Yes I cleanse, probiotic heavy (kevita, yogurt), berries, hot water and lemon juice (Inate response )

Beauty essentials:

Joy: lip gloss, lip liner, lipstick, deep conditioner 

Skincare secret: 

Joy: No smoking, No drugs

Hair remedy: Tracey Cunningham is my hair remedy.

Joy: Biolage deep conditioner

In-tub must-read: 

Joy: astrology charts

Spa-cation at: 

Joy: Kholer in Wisconsin 

Fragrance of choice: 

Joy: Mariel by H20 or anything that smells of the sea

Best advice from mom: 

Joy: be true to you

Best advice from the pros: 

Joy: not about what size you wear it is about how you wear it

Beauty icons: 

Joy: Alyssa Milano, Tandy Newton, Angelina Jolie, Marilyn Monroe, Kerry Washington

Love Yascone

Your look in three words: 

Love: Princess. Tomboy. Standout. 

Five-minute routine: 

Love: exfoliate lips, moisturize face (with SPF) if necessary, Bare Minerals Golden Tan powder adding more to the eyes, tinted Mineral Veil, Black mascara, liquid blush, lipstick and lip gloss

Never leave the house without: 

Love: lip gloss and breath mints

Beauty from the inside out: 

Love: Laughing at yourself

Exercise regime: 

Love: Club dancing (preference), Spinning (recently) 

Cleanse or not: 

Love: Yes, I look at what my body needs and determine what kind of cleanse from there.

Beauty essentials:

Love: Facial Moisturizer, Lip Gloss

Skincare secret: 

Love: Sweat (no really, my face is healthier and looks better after a good sweat)

Hair remedy: 

Love: Kinky-Curly 

In-tub must-read: 

Love: I meditate/plan my life. I never read in the tub.

Spa-cation at:  

Love: Kholer

Fragrance of choice: 

Love: Chanel Chance

Best advice from mom: 

Love: buy more than one if it is your favorite 

Best advice from the pros: 

Love: do not line my bottom eyelid 

Beauty icons: 

Love: Ava Gardner, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Lopez, Lisa Bonet, Vanessa Williams, Pam Grier

Ask yourself these questions.  If any of it doesn't match up with what is really going on with you maybe you need to change things around.  Make your words, heart and actions matchup.

Saying Yes to the USA and No to the Inauguration

The Obamas at State Dinner with Canada's 1st Family

The day is here.  We go from a country that was moving towards full equality, social acceptance, and education/healthcare for all, to...well...no longer being that.  January 20, 2017 is a day of elation for a few and a day of horror for the rest of the world but Putin.  I am deciding not to let fear, sadness and uncertainty to dominate my weekend.  I am also deciding not to let the new President and his cabinet of unqualified one percenters take over my weekend and neither should you!!! Even if you are going to a protest keep your eyes on the prize.  Protest for the moral conscious of America and for the rights of American Citizens! Send your energy in the right direction.  In other words starve the jerks! Starve them of energy, attention and ratings.  Feed America, your family, and yourself goodwill and understanding.

So how do we starve them? Well, a lot of us have formed our own ways to protest.  First you have to look at the number one thing the new president cares about ratings and attention.  So, unfortunately certain TV stations are going to be starved too. We are leaving all our TVs on but not on any station that focuses on the transition of power.  If we tweet we won't mention the new presidents name.  If we need to check the news, google the news.  If you can't resist watching the Inauguration watch it on Univision or Telemundo or NHK.  In other words if you want to protest but can't resist watching, watch on a foreign language channel. To make this easier for you, I made a list.

Starve List:

1. Do Not Watch Friday: CNN, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, FOX, FOX News, CBS, Headline News, CNBC or any other station that might have the Inauguration or news of it.
2. Do Not Watch for the Whole Weekend: CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, Headline News, and CNBC
3. Do Not mention of the new 1st family on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or any other Social Media site.

The Starve List is pretty easy.  The Feed List is a little more intense, lol.  I mean how do we spend our weekend?  How do we avoid looking at the biggest train wreck in American history? Well, why not post a bunch of Youtube videos about how you see the world or what you hope for in the future.  Entertain your family and friends.  (Oh, shit some of my postings have the new prez's name in it.  Oh well no new posting (this weekend) will have his name but I will be reposting some of my old stuff.)  As for me, I am going to be shamelessly promoting myself and my family.  Oh and posting thanks to Obama and other people who make our world great.  Let me just write the list.

Feed List:

1. Turn on all the TV's to channels not covering the transition of power.
    Example: Food Network, Cartoon Network, SyFy Channel
2. Tweet Thanks to people, leaders, and family members who improve your life.
3. Call your local politicians and let them know how you feel.
4. Call the congress members who support equal rights for all and thank them.
5. If you have something of yours to promote this is the weekend to do it.  If your family member is promoting themselves this weekend use the time to support them.  Send energy where it is needed.
6. Go out to eat at a place that serve Mexican food, Chinese food, Indian food, Korean food, Soul Food and any other ethnic group/nationality's cuisine.  Let's celebrate our differences.
7. Post about the rights you love and the rights you will keep!
8. Most of all take an hour for yourself each day this weekend.  You are worth more than our new prez knows.  You are an American citizen. "You are smart.  You are beautiful and You are important." -This is not the exact quote from The Help but you get my point.

New Year's Day Just Me Clowning

Command 2017 Because Resolutions Are No Longer Good Enough

After living through the year that SHOULD BE STRUCK from history, I will not depend on wishes, resolutions or "Good Thoughts" to get me what I want.  I mean resolutions are supposed to be "a firm decision to do or not do something" by definition! If you dare to look back at that GOD AWFUL YEAR that shall not be named you will realize it will take more than a resolution to get through the next four years.  That hateful year has set us all back.  I mean we are going to need more than a resolution to make this better.  It is not that I won't make wishes, set goals and have resolutions but I need something more than those things to improve my life and my family's life!  The results of last year's actions presumably will set us all back this year and the three years to come.  I am determined not to let that happen.  In fact, the whole country can go completely insane, but I am determined to make sure we thrive.  We can't afford any weak links not this year.

There are some "Must Do's" for the "4":

1. Will make more than we spend.
2. Will laugh more than we fight.
3. Will learn our bodies strengths (enhance) and weaknesses (improve).
4. Will expand our talents.
5. Will expand our knowledge.
6. Perfect health is a must.
7. Spiritual health is a must.
8. Building alliances is a must.
9. We must reach our physical goals because our very lives (not just quality of life) may depend on it.
10. Most of all we must learn the REAL VALUE of everything.  Remember the value of money fluctuates.

I know to many of  you I am speaking too generally but my grandmother taught me to speak in code and for my family this is specific enough.  By the time the Kentucky Derby rolls around everyone should be able to see if we are on track or not.  Phase I of 2017 is to wipe out every weakness I have.  Phase II of 2017 is for people to see that I really do live my life as art.  Phase III for My Royal Family 4 is to make sure our large family (aunts, uncles, cousins) are all strong links.  We are only as strong as our weakest.  Phase IV BEST CHRISTMAS EVER and assessing what needs to happen next.

Right now I am not worried about the body goals for two of the members of My Royal Family 4.  I am working out 5x a week these days.  One sister is in a ballroom dancing competition so she will be fine too.  Oddly it is the skinniest of the sisters and of course our mom who may need help getting it into gear.  They are both very serious but their focus is being pulled toward money.  I hate to say it but health, body image and money are going to be linked this year more than ever.  There is one thing I know about us, if one does well the others will catch up.  I guess this year I will be Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.   I will be in front guiding the sleigh during the snowstorm although they may not notice until we reach the end of Phase I, lol.  Phase I the focus is clearing away all the "stuff" and finding the doors we never even knew existed.  I want to smile while reaching all my goals.  I want to cast "doubt", "what if" (the bad ones) and "fear" aside for good. Phase I, is the most important because if only Phase I is completed I am still having a very good year.

That brings us to the command part of 2017! We will not lose anymore ground 2017 that is a command! Do you understand me? Tell 2017 what you expect of it.  Command it to behave the way you need it to and don't look back at that awful, star killing year we just had.

2017 my commands are as follows:

My body will be as I choose not as my negative emotions choose.  I will be healthier, hotter, and more physically powerful than my best self.  This extends to all members of my family as well.

I will enjoy myself, my life and all of my rights.  This is not negotiable!

2017 You will literally remove all racist and hateful people from my personal path.

My time will be spent making money and living life as art.

My family will be more protected than Fort Knox.

Only those who add light, fun, wisdom, opportunity, and true friendship can be brought into any of my family's circle.

Mend all of my family's misunderstandings, hurts and disagreements so we may help and enhance each other's lives and futures.

Anyone not in my family who has sought to harm anyone in my family or to wrongfully take from anyone in my family will be removed and bound from harming any of us again and 2017 must restore by 1000x what has been taken.  

I will work easy because life is easy when you work without fear.  I must change my mindset because hard work only gets you so far.  Creative work, now that gets you beyond your wildest dreams.  Most of all 2017 I will clown around because life needs a laugh or two.

Now more than ever it is important to have fun.

  

One New Year's Resolution Completed Thanks to CycleBar