My Favorite Accessory, OTAZU

This unique bracelet has a hiding place in bright pink bag.  It sits on my dresser beckoning me every day.  It is very dear to my heart and that is why I don't wear it every day.  It is much to precious and delicate for that.  Made by hand this bracelet comes with directions.  "Please treat me with respect.  I am like a new born baby who needs love and care.  Remember what Aretha Franklin used to sing R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Find out what it means to me!"

 The bracelet also tells you  "I HOPE U HAVE AS MUCH FUN WEARING IT AS I HAD MAKING IT"  How's that to make you really want to take care of this work of art?  www.rodrigootazu.com

It's called the "All Saints Bracelet" by OTAZU.  I fell in love with it when I saw it at a lovely little downtown Ocala boutique.  I didn't buy it that day.  When I went back to make my purchase...it was gone.  Over the next few months I finally tracked one down, they are all similar in that they have the saints as the focal point.  I am very thankfully the owner of this beautiful one-of-a-kind bracelet.  You probably cannot tell from the pictures but all of the crystals and hanging touches are hand-tied with blue string.

Thank you Visible Monday #95 and Patti at notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com

Trifecta compound-modifiers

Your challenge this weekend is to give us 33 words about anything you want.  Your piece must include at least one hyphenated compound modifier.  Remember that the hyphen will join your two words together to create one, so you will have a bit more wiggle room with your word count and language.  You are free to use more than one hyphenated modifier in your post, but we ask that you be careful not to sacrifice readability in the process.



Shadow

It crept up beside her, mimicking her every movement exactly.  

She ran zig-zagging along the sidewalk, tried hopping on one foot, even skipping didn't help her sneak away from it.  

Her counterpart shadow.

My Life-long Friend

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: SHADOWS

It crept up beside her, mimicking her every movement exactly, as though they were one.

She ran zig-zagging along the sidewalk, tried hopping on one foot, even skipping didn't help her sneak away from it.  

"Make it go away, it won't stop following me,"  Ellie cried!

Giggling and tugging at the ends of Ellie's pig-tails I introduce her to her shadow.  

"Ellie, she will walk beside you on every sunny day of your life and you'll miss her companionship when the clouds roll in."

Louis & Me

Hello ladies, thank you to Not Dead Yet Style and Visible Monday.

My love and I are in the mountains of Virginia visiting with family.

Spring is in the air.

Small tightly wrapped buds ready to burst into green song.

The mountainside is alive with the promise of fresh, vibrant colors.

Walking along the trails, we come along a creek.

Sparkling sunlight bounces off the smoothly flowing water.

We spot a newt scrabbling along the water looking for a place to hide from us.

Fingers lightly skimming the water the coolness refreshing.

Packing for the trip I reached far back in my closet to remove my Louis Vuitton Large Noe bag from hibernation.  (I only use it when I go on vacation, not sure why but that's the way it is.)


Louis and I go way back.  I found this wonderful bag via ebay about 14 years ago and we have gone on many trips in that time.

With Louis hanging off my shoulder I feel confident and chic.

Louis will never fade away like most trends.  He is a go to kind of guy and is both timeless and classic.

No matter what I am wearing Louis compliments the outfit.

He is my favorite and I just love him.

An Invitation

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: ANGLES

An Invitation

Meet me at 11:00 p.m. at the Edgeview Inn

Bring your open mind and a clear conscience.

Leave your inhibitions behind and be ready to explore your secret fantasies and dreams

Senses on full alert, we'll connect our bodies and souls soaring to new levels of pleasure.

Tell no one!

Day of Silence Today April 19, 2013

Words

Razors cutting into my soul.

Brain spinning in a frenzy, attempting to grasp the consequences.

Heart plummeting with an ache so deep I have to stop myself from

crying out.

Stripped of my self worth.

This, my body's response to Your words...

Day of Silence

What does silence sound like? For many LGBT students, the sound of silence would be a welcome change to the endless name-calling and harassment they face every day.

On April 19, 2013, students around the world will take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT behavior. The Day of Silence is a student-led national event to end anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence to show their support and illustrate to their classmates, school administrators and school staff the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT. For more information, go to:www.dayofsilence.org. 

GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.

What you can do: 

- Taking the vow of silence and signing the pledge at: http://dayofsilence.org/PDFs/DOS_pledge.pdf.

- Encourage readers to get involved by linking to: http://dayofsilence.org/getinvolved/.

- Follow the conversation on Twitter at #dayofsilence

- Get involved on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/NationalDayofSilence.

- Share a student video about the day: ”Why Are We Silent?”- http://youtu.be/Ref-63Dn1Is and “Join the movement online”- http://youtu.be/I6ZtWUV9Ars

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network), the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students, has also partnered with the Ad Council to create a new tool that tracks anti-LGTB slurs on Facebook and Twitter in real time. Help us eliminate these slurs and bring attention to the issue by embedding the counter on your blog and sharing with your viewers! See it here: ThinkB4YouSpeak.com. 

An excerpt from an email from Melissa Angert

I couldn't have said it any better than this and Melissa lists all the available resources to get involved.  Please let your families and friends know about this very deserving cause.  NO ONE should have to live in fear because of the choices he or she has made.  With your help to get the word out maybe someone, somewhere who feels ostracized will realize that there are individuals in the world that understand and care.  That there are resources available to them.  That there is HOPE...

Please spread the word!!!

Trifextra: Week 63

This weekend we're asking for exactly 33 of your own words inspired by the following quote from the book you could win in the WBN giveaway. Good luck!

“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” ― Paulo Coelho, Alchemist

New beginnings.

Attainable quests.

Bursting out of your cocoon, expecting challenges, aware of the obstacles...

however, welcoming and chasing the unknown to create a new chapter.

Hoping, with bated breath for fresh air.

Five Sentence Fiction

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: EDGE 

As she walks through the rooms, invisible doors swing shut locking in each memory.  Her fingertips lightly brush away the dangling cobwebs while each tendril gently attempts to tug her back.  A kaleidoscope of thoughts and pictures twist and turn beckoning her with their mirrors of color.  She stops,

only for a moment, to savor the smells lingering and tantalizing her to stay.  

Her footprints hurry up to catch her, determined not to be left behind, alone...

Weight of the World...Kim Kardashian

I can't help but wonder why the World is captivated by Kim Kardashian and her weight gain.  Folks everywhere are filled with glee that she is pregnant and gaining weight.  Pictures delight us of her ever growing thighs and derriere.  Could women of the world be happier?  How utterly wrong of us!!!

If you've ever had children you know that you will gain weight (most women anyway).  Pregnancy churns up some very invasive and active hormones.  I, myself gained 45 pounds with my first pregnancy and 50 pounds with my second pregnancy.  I was lucky enough to lose ALL my pregnancy weight, some of us aren't so lucky.  I have to thank GOD that I wasn't a celebrity.  Oh, how the hounds would have loved to snap photos of me scarfing down McDonald's french fries and meatball grinders during pregnancy #1.  With pregnancy #2 the photos of me eating bag after bag of chips and french bread would have caused a frenzy.

Some would say that's the price you pay for fame.  And I do agree.  What I have a problem digesting is that women are fascinated and cheering on by Kim's weight gain because it makes them feel better.  "If Kim is getting fatter, she'll soon look like me!"  In many women's minds this gives them a sense of security.

Women need to realize that we are NOT THE SAME!!! as Kim Kardashian or any other celebrities.  We are Moms, (single, divorced, fat, skinny, white, black, etc...) who are average, normal women trying to make the best of our simple worlds.

It astounds me that we could lap up so much pleasure from someone else's pain.  Yes, Kim is gaining weight, however, I still say she's beautiful and her man LOVES her!!!

Motorcycle Passenger Novice

 Much to my horror my love decided today was the day I should earn my motorcycle passenger wings.  I have nothing against motorcycles as long as I don't have to ride one.  This was all about to change, after all I did buy a leather jacket and boots just for the occasion.  I just thought I would have more time to get it right in my head.  Nope, today is the day.

Me: "I don't have a helmet."

My love:  "You can wear mine."

Me:  "What will you wear?"

My love:  "My bandanna."

Me: "But..."

My love:  "Come here let me adjust the helmet for you."

This is the helmet I wore for my first ride.  At this point an even bigger problem is beginning to rear it's ugly head.  What the heck am I going to do with my hair?  I'm going to have helmet hair.  The Progressive Insurance commercial comes to mind, you know the one.  Winging it, I leave my hair down, put the helmet on and hope for the best.

Now that's tackled back to the the issue of the ride.  I can't let my love down, he has been looking forward to taking me for a ride for awhile.  Truth be told, I'm delighted that he is hoping that I love to ride as much as he does. That he wants to share his passion for riding with me.  It makes me feel important to him.  It makes me feel loved.  This is why I am conquering my fear and going for a ride.


Getting on a motorcycle is not as easy as you would think.  After a few false starts I finally get on the bike.  It is a cruiser and has a second seat with a backrest, just for me.  My love tells me to just sit back and relax.  Ha, I am holding onto him for dear life and he is just "walking" the bike through the gate.  He squeezes my leg and we're off.

After a few minutes I am beginning to understand the "freedom" of the ride.  I loosen my grip on my love, lean back and enjoy the ride.  The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day, and I am a passenger on a motorcycle.  And I find I actually like it.  The wind at times can be harsh, fluctuating from warm to cool it is constant.  The changing winds float over our skin and feel like a determined caress.  The scenery seems different sitting on the back of a bike.  There is nothing between us and it.  My senses are on full alert. I feel ALIVE!

We ride for 50 miles in total.  That's over 1 hour.  I am quite impressed with myself.  Taking off the helmet I am prepared for the worst.  In reality my hair is a bit tangled but otherwise just fine.  I am elated.  I head inside to shop for my very own helmet.  It should be delivered in the next week, just in time for our next ride.

Five Sentence Fiction

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: WORDS

Razors cutting into my soul.
Brain spinning in a frenzy, attempting to grasp the consequences.
Heart plummeting with an ache so deep I have to stop myself from crying out.
Stripped of my self worth.
This, my  body's response to Your words...