The World is Listening...

Vamos para o Brasil!

It's almost June and I'm studying my Portuguese.  Not because I'm vacationing there (at least not yet) but because the 2014 FIFA World Cup is coming!    Now besides the fact that I absolutely LOVE football/futbol, I can't think of another event other than the Summer Olympic Games that unites the world.  Interest in soccer is rising in the USA but globally, football as it is reigns supreme!  That couldn't have been more evident on my recent travels to England, France, and Spain.  Whether it was riding the tube and hearing a passionate debate on the state of a certain Premier League club, seeing fans decked out in Paris Saint-Germain kits (jerseys) or driving by RCD Espanyol's stadium, it is evident that football isn't just a sport.  Football is a way of life around the world...and I'm all about that life!

Now back to the title of this post.  Every year there is a soundtrack for the World Cup with one single song representing the event.  Whether it's "Wavin' Flag" (my favorite) or last year's infectious hit "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa / Eso Es Africa)" by Shakira and Freshlyground, these songs represent the vibe of the host city.  I was really excited to see (or rather hear) this year's song and when I heard it, well let's just say I was really disappointed.

The song is "We are One" by Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull.  Now, I actually like J-Lo's music and consider myself a fan (been riding since her On the 6 days). So I'm not a hater in the least!  I even like some of the collaborations by this pair ("On the Floor" and "Dance Again") but this one is just lame.  It sounds like just another generic pop song to be honest and in my opinion (as this whole post is) wastes the opportunity to incorporate Brazil's rich culture.  We are talking about Brasil, one of the most diverse and uniquely blended nations on Earth.  Where is the  cavaquinho or samba feel?  I'm not an expert of Brasilian music and I know there's more to the sound than what I listed but what?!  "Waka Waka" by Shakira really gave me culture.  Plus it would've been cool to see a collaboration with a Brasilian artist/musician.  Here are some artists I would've loved to have heard (with some of my favorite tracks):

Santana (This band brings the soul and the energy):

Kat Deluna (she brings the party!):

Tânia Mara (if you're looking for the VOICE, she's it):

 In fact, this could've been an interesting collaboration.  A lady can only dream...

Or if Jennifer Lopez had gone more the route of this sound:

or 

In the end, this doesn't really put a damper because it's not about music, it's about the GAME!  Stay tuned for more 2014 World Cup postings and get ready for the global event (June 12- July 13)!

Happy30: You Better Work!

What's up world!  Happy Wednesday!  It's the middle of the week and I'm feeling amped.  In the past few posts, I've lamented how I've been off my fitness and nutrition game.  However, the lamenting is over because I'm back!  Even if you go off course, don't let moments of bad habits turn into a lifetime.  Just get back on course! 

To aid me in this effort, I needed to add something new.  How about a new challenge?  One of the ladies I follow on Instagram, the beautiful and positively awesome Thara Natalie, recently completed a 24-day abs and core challenge.  It comprises crunches, leg raises, and planks, all of which I can handle.  I'm on day 3 and it's going well.  In fact, I've been so tempted to do more than the quantities but I want to try this plan as is.  #GetTonedwithThara!  Today my schedule finally allowed me to get back to my cardio classes, so today's blend was Zumba.  Though I've been doing Zumba regularly for quite some time, every instructor is different and brings a different flavor.  Some take it more international, some go heavier on the salsa, others on the reggaeton and I love it all!  This instructor (this was my first time in her class) Either the way, my hips were shaking and my body glistening and we heard several times "you better work!"  Indeed, I did!  "And I'm feeling good...so good!"

Choreo routine set to "Work" by Ciara

Speaking of work... doing solid choreography is one of my ultimate dreams.  I love dance so much! Ciara is one of the top female dancers in the game today (check her official music video here) and this group definitely WORKED!

That Castle Kind of Life

Transition- the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

Right now, I'm currently undergoing a period of transition.  This really is a year of growth and change.  I'm so ready for the new!  Believe me, change isn't always easy but if you never evolve, you always stay the same. And do you really want to look back 5 years from now and see the same version?  Changes can be tough because sometimes you have to let go of unhealthy habits/situations but in the end I definitely think it's worth it.  We all enter a phase in life where we seek clarity, purpose, and foundation in our lives, whether it's with goals, jobs, friendships, or love. 

Let me focus on the love side of things for a minute.  I've been watching one of my favorite YouTube vloggers, Naptural85, and I love the relationship she and her husband have.  They're both young (I'm pretty sure I'm around the same age as them) and have a beautiful daughter but what I love about their dynamic the most is that it's rooted in love.  Yes, this is turning into a relationship post.  I guess it's been on my mind lately!  Friendship has to be the core of any relationship but love and trust (transparency) are the other critical parts as well.  In anything we do, there's gotta be a foundation.  Sand castles are fun but are temporary and get knocked down so easily whereas a castle made of bricks will withstand the stormy weather and is lasting. Everyone is down to help you play with sand, only a select few want to lay down bricks with you.  Remember! The word commitment is scary to some but to me it just means having loyalty and focus and going from there.  Commitment shouldn't mean lockdown!  It's not prison, it should be something you actually want :-)  Looking back, I can see where I was in situations that were bricks and sand or even just straight up sand.  However, the wisdom that I've gained only encourages me that I will build the castle that I'm dreaming of.  All of that comes in time and, as is a theme in many of these posts, you just have to be ready.  You can't be pressured into it and in retrospect I've felt pressure and  possibly even applied the pressure in the past.  Where is this post going? LOL. I'm bringing it back! 



Speaking of castles, here I am in Carcassonne, France.  The castle I'm in front of dates back to Medieval times!

The point of today's post is that life is all about transition and timing.   Everything in its right place and time. I look back on many parts of life and see where perhaps things were just not meant to be even despite my best efforts and deepest dedication.  And that's OK.  Sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's gone and sometimes you don't know how you'll grow until you move on!  Let it go.  It's all about embracing the journey and living with love, integrity, and honesty.  When there are no questions about your intentions, the answers are always clear.  That applies to all areas of our lives.  Stay positive!

Evolve by Mya- I love this song!

Tunes Tuesday: Teedra Moses- Complex Simplicity

It's been awhile since I've written a music-related post.  Certainly not due to a lack of good tunes!  While I am STILL loving "Happy" by Pharrell, I won't keep posting it.  You're welcome :-)  I have so many songs on my mind and had the chance to reminisce on some '90s goodness while I was on travel last month.  However, the 2000's had some good music and so I decided to flash back 10 years to the year 2004.  Remember that year?  That was a good year in music, especially in the R&B/Pop (or rhythmic pop) genre.  It was the year of Usher's Confessions and Alicia Keys'  Diary of Alicia Keys album among others.  Seriously?!  "Yeah" by Usher was 10 years ago?!  In the midst of all that, one artist who went under the radar (travesty!) was Ms. Teedra Moses aka the Young Lioness and she crafted one of the smoothest Contemporary R&B albums I've heard called Complex Simplicity. Here are some of my favorite tracks from that album:

"You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" featuring JadaKiss



"You won't find a better woman...or a bigger fool." Oh Teedra! This song is the TRUTH!  If only I could record this.  LOL.  I think everyone has been there at some point, especially the ladies. One person feels under appreciated yet hangs on hoping that the person they care for will come to their senses and change.   Hoping that you're that great woman he appreciates or realizing you're the biggest fool for not moving on.  Even if you're not even listening to the lyrics that deeply, it's just got that good flow.  Listen!

"For a Lifetime"

"Even in the hard times
Even when it's going down
You're gonna find someone's riding with you
You don't have to be alone
You just gotta hold on
You're gonna find true love.."

This song!!! This is my go-to getting over a broken heart song.  Sometimes when a relationship ends, it's easy to feel down and out as though you'll never be loved.  But the key to remember is that it's not our life's love story that has ended, rather just one chapter.  Just because one person may not have appreciated you doesn't mean no one else will.  Think about it, how many people are on earth?  Billions!  Maybe more but I'm not a statistician. It means there are more opportunities to find love.  Just never give up.  Don't take it from me, though.  Teedra sings it best!

Like these songs?  Check out Teedra's 2004 classic Complex Simplicity and follow her on her social media sites:
Twitter: @TeedraMoses
Facebook: Teedra Moses

A few more:

"Last Day"

 

"Caught Up"

 

"Complex Simplicity"

Happy30: Superfood Soup!

It's Monday!  A brand new work week.  Only 4 more days until Friday!  Just kidding.  Ever notice how we're all in such a rush to get to a certain day?  Time moves quickly enough on it's own that I'm not rushing anything!  It was another nice spring day, weather wise, and I had a smooth day at work and commute to and fro.  Today's special happy moment came courtesy of food.  Back in January, I made a superfood soup that included all lots of healthy goodness such as kale, butternut squash, and kidney beans among other things.  It was filling and also so tasty.  As I mentioned yesterday, I've been a bit off my nutrition game but this helped bring me back.  Feeling energized and well!  Ready to take on the rest of the week.  Take care!

Happy30: Weekend round up- Taste of summer

Another weekend is winding down and this one was pretty low-key and relaxing.  Our region experienced beautiful weather and provided a taste of summer.  I was able to go out today without a jacket and in short sleeves.  While I normally would think "slow down, summer!", I am just so over all cold weather that the warm blast felt good.  Plus there were nice breezes that kept the temperatures in check.

This weekend included some time in nature, family conversations, vision board planning, and healthy grocery shopping.  While that may not sound like much, it was perhaps just what I needed.  Here's why:

Sometimes it's really nice to just go outside and just take in the fresh air and soak in the sun.  Especially before all the pollen hits!  I enjoyed a bit of fitness, reading, listening to music, and writing.  I'm so full of creative energy right now that I can't wait to turn some of these daydreams into realities.  Beyond just my own aspirations, more than ever, I just feel ready for more positive experiences.  I know that I possess the qualities to be a great friend, partner, and mother and I look forward to all of that and just finding my way.  Just as the sun shines and the wind blows, so shall I flourish and grow.  Just being outside in the stillness and activity of it all did (and does) wonders for my spirit.  Highly encourage you all to just take some time for yourself and breathe and truly free your mind.

I will admit that I've been slightly off my fitness/healthy game recently.  While I managed to eat fairly well during my recent trip abroad (I realize I still haven't blogged about that yet- it's coming) and even on my initial return, I've fallen a bit off track of the diligent eating plan and fitness schedule I was on prior to the trip.  Well no more!  Spring and summer are the best times to be active, have fun times, and reconnect/meet new people and I want to be at my optimal.  That doesn't mean just looking good in all my spring/summer fashions but also maintaining that confidence that goes from the inside.  Always remember, everyone backtracks a little but don't let a few mistakes ruin all your progress.  You can recover and rebound if you just renew your focus and do it.  A healthy lifestyle is a journey with ups and downs not a temporal thing so recognize your mistakes, learn, devise a plan and just do it.  Good luck!  We got this!

Wishing you all a wonderful and positive new week.  Much love!

 

Speaking of nature, check out one of my favorite Disney soundtrack songs ... "Colors of the Wind" performed by the beautiful Vanessa Williams! Can't believe this song is almost 20 years old.  Wow!

Back Up Plans, Not Friends

In life, we are taught to plan.  We're also taught to have a back up plan in case the original or ideal plan doesn't work out.  Some people apply that approach to people.  I disagree with this.  Unlike a travel itinerary or a work plan, people are special creatures with feelings and emotions.  When it comes to people, it's just not right or kind to treat people like they're just filler and disposable if your plan A doesn't goes as planned.

I'm coming to realize that there are some people in my own life who regard me as a back up plan.  I'm only contacted when there's a free moment in between their other planned gigs.  They only seem to want to hang out when other friends are busy or if they need someone to hang out or talk  with until their other friends become available.  Never any original invitations and quick to cancel if their preferred plans come through.  I will be honest that it's really hurtful. Like almost makes me want to cry hurtful.  However, it encompasses lessons that are vital to growth and wisdom in life.  First, it's not you, it's them. Remember that. People who in essence use other people are just not kind individuals.  Second, once their true colors are revealed and you realize this, you have to decide what to do about it.  I firmly believe in the quote "What you allow is what will continue."  We don't have to be victims or throw pity parties.  We also don't have to seek revenge.  The best way to stand up for yourself is to actually stand up for yourself.  Show people that you will NOT be a back up plan.  If they can't find time or desire to make or keep plans with you, then they don't deserve your time or energy either. People who genuinely care about you will find time and ways to show it. We're all busy and the commitment can mean different things but it's the commitment to maintaining the friendship that matters.   The other thing you have to do is forgive.  It's easy to be angry or sad but you've got to release it because anger only hurts you not them.  Keep in mind every situation is different but these are general principles that can be applied.

So back to me, today I conclude my day not with sadness but with clear perspective and forgiveness.  I exhale negative energy from my life and inhale sincerity, positivity and love back in.