A Lotus Grows In The Mud...

What a week it has been. I have had the pleasure of meeting with many reporters, signing off on images, being contacted by future clients, old friends and all the while, creating jewelry steeped in heart warming intention. I know many of you saw the cover of the Vancouver Sun. I am still in awe of the honour and deeply touched by the out pouring of love and well wishes by so many. I cannot articulate how much I appreciate the warm sentiments from loved ones and strangers alike. Thank you seems less than the gratitude I hope to convey. Yesterday morning I was invited to share a seat on the couch at Global T.V. with News Anchor Steve Darling. Where I had been warned that many anchors are dismissive and will not engage you unless the cameras are hot, Steve lived up to his name. He was so warm and welcoming. He was authentic and made me feel very comfortable. Mark Madryga was very animated also. On a side note, the week after I was married to 'The Silver Fox', I was walking around in Kits with my sweet friend 'Al' and she and I were walking up to Mark who was about to do a segment on the weather. Long and short of it, I walked up to him and told him that I am a newlywed and I wanted to show my new bling of a wedding ring to the world. He fit me into his segment and alas, I come the the long winded review of how I first encountered Mark M. Anyway, as I was saying, Mark was also engaging and Arran Henn the lovely traffic reporter was equally warm and hospitable. I dare to say that Global T.V has the most charming reporters I have dealt with so far. Knowing that I would be doing interviews, a few weeks ago I made my way to the Vancouver Island to do a little shopping at my number one, absolutely, hands down favorite clothing store. If you have not been there, you must go. If you live on the island, you already know what a haven it is, and for those of you who go into Nanaimo or need a one stop fashion go-to this is it! SARTORIAL- 295 Wallace Street. No, I am not getting kick backs. No, I am not related to the owner. No, I don't get discounts for referring people to her. What I do get, is the thrill to know that all of my beloveds are getting the same kick ass service I do when I go there. Here is what I do know about Sartorial. If I owned a shop, it would be this shop. It is the size of the amazing walk-in closet that Carrie Bradshaw has in her and 'Big's' new Upper Eastside apartment in the first SATC movie. It is large enough to host a party with you and your bff's but quaint enough that it feels exclusive and elegant. The wallpaper, the front door, the location, all of it feels like someone has created this little oasis and the only way to get in is to know somebody who knows somebody. I love it. Now the gal who owns it who you will usually find there... her name is Tashe. Not Tasha. Not Natasha. Tashe. Simple, strong, straight to the point and very fashionable. This girl suits her name and her store is a clear reflection of her business and buying sense. You see, Tashe, knows her inventory and she knows her body types. She can look out you with her peripheral vision alone and pull out the exact pieces that are going to compliment your curves for you, or rather, create the illusion of curves for those less fortunate 'skinny types'. We all have our crosses to bear... :) lol So, yes going to Sartorial you get free with entry, the expertise of a humble but talented personal stylist named Tashe. You get the most unique and beautiful collections of clothing to choose from. AND, get ready for it... her prices are not ridiculous. They are absolutely no more or less than the industry standard. Hence, I find taking a ferry to the island good value for a personal shopping experience. The other fun fact is that the lines she carries are also the brands that we see some of our favorite celebs wearing. If you friend her on Facebook you will get her fashion updates which are amazing. If you do sign up- write on the wall that you read about her on my blog. For that matter, follow my Buddha & The Raven Page and I will collect the names of those who mention this blog entry and I will put all the names into a hat and on March 15th I will pull a name and whoever that is will receive one of my Oscar Bound Lariats. Tell your friends. But you have to follow Sartorial & Buddha & The Raven and mention this blog on both walls. The piece I will be drawing for is valued at $120.00. You can only have your name entered once. Okay- so the point of telling you about Sartorial was to mention that everything I have worn in my interviews and in photos and on T.V. has been from Sartorial. Hand picked for me by Tashe. I have received so many compliments. One of the more exciting moments I had about my latest purchases was that one of the pieces that Tashe deemed was a must have on me, was this black little number that was cute and flattering but more important to me was that it was uber-comfortable. Crazy comfy. Anyway- I was watching Oprah the other day and sure enough one of her must haves for the spring was from Fluxus, which is the brand Tashe insisted I buy! Well, if Tashe and Oprah tell me it's a must have... then it is a must freakin' have! Hollah! lol Oprah, I heart Oprah. I learned a very valuable lesson from 'my sista from anutha mista' this past week. I was watching when she revealed that she and her family wanted to share some personal news, their way and on their terms. I took note and am about to do the same. I recently was interviewed by Justin Beddall. He is the Editor of the North Shore Outlook, and by far the most talented reporter I have come across yet. He is kind and polite. He has a warmth that makes you trust him, and he has integrity. I was interviewed by Justin earlier this week and the article comes out in tomorrows paper. Look for it! Anyway- in the process of our interview, I felt safe enough to disclose some personal details about where I have come from. Not super detailed, but super personal. Here is where his integrity outshines his warmth... he called me back yesterday and wanted to double check that I was still feeling good about sharing so much. I couldn't believe my ears. In a time where scandal and dirt sell papers, he wanted to know if I was still comfortable with opening myself up to becoming a bit more vulnerable. Hats off to this man. I just cannot speak highly enough to this gesture of humanism. Kudos. ( I did say to run with it) I just want to acknowledge what was said and how it came up. Basically, Justin asked me if I was proud of this latest accomplishment involving the Oscars. He asked if I had dreamed this dream since childhood and what had I wanted to be when I grew up. I told Justin that I never had those dreams as a child. My dreams were about surviving and about moving far, far away from my then home life, and all those within. Without getting into sordid details and creating drama where the drama has long been over, what I will say is that no I didn't enjoy the carefree childhood my children and their friends do today. I still catch myself stunned when they are playing with imaginary unicorns and having tea parties where I, me, a mommy am invited AND graciously accept and together we eat crumpets and design jewelry together! Rather, my childhood ended before it really began. My happiest childhood memories are the ones that my husband and I have given to our children. Do I have a mom & dad that support me and love me, who I get to share these success... Yes! They are my husband's parents who have loved me unconditionally in a whole, and beautiful way since the day they met me. Do I bring any grandparents to the table for my own children? No. I have not had a relationship with my bio/mother since I was 19 yrs old. I left home at 14 when I knew that I was emotionally, physically, spiritually, totally safer on my own than staying where I was. I gave it five years for her to do right by me, and that day never came and as a result the early years in my life were a struggle. I went to school with kids that knew a strong foundation at home. None of them could figure out what was different about me, not until the day I finally came to school with bruises on me that were actually visible and not hidden by my clothing. Save your pity. Really, it is misplaced with me. Please... To know me is to know that working two jobs, finishing school and having to muster all of the strength and courage I could at 14 yrs old was what got me to this place now. I am loved. I am strong. I have what few of you might have... I have 'Princess', 'Big City', 'Bean', 'The Writer', 'The Marnster' Lil' g', 'Rox' ' & a few other treasures. I have these sisters who I love, and I love to hate in a good way. The point is... sounds like a family huh? We can throw down some good one liners at one another but when real life is happening- we show up. A baby, a funeral, a dream lost, a dream realized... we are on each other's door steps. Food in hand, to- do lists, husbands in tow with jobs to do, we take over each other's lives so that the one in need can just 'be'. We lift each other up, kick each other off pedestals we haven't earned and we verbally ass kick anyone who dares to do any of the above - only family has those kind of rights. We share our families with one another, so that despite our own lack of blood relatives, our family trees are sprawling and diverse and no one, and I mean no one puts the FUN in dysfunctional like we do. I do have a few siblings. I am fiercely protective of their privacy. The one thing I will say about them is that they are all around ten yrs older than me and were long gone, kicked out of the house by the time I was 8. Their stories are their own. Not one of them happier than my own. Now that I have said that, let me say this. My husband, my children, my extended/self selected family are the most beautiful creatures a girl could hand pick... and funnily enough, I did hand pick them! LOL ahhh, the silver lining of the unhappier bits. It is only in the past 48 months that I have reconnected with a few of my aunts and uncles. It has been a journey in courage and understanding, and a realization that the love I have in my own home is the only love my heart will ever need. Everything else is a bonus. I have no expectations in life, except that my home remains a safe, loving haven that is enriched by respect and unconditional love. My husband and I are best friends... I know, I know, gag... but it is sooo true. Our children are an obvious manifestation of that bond we have and they are the most grounded, secure little spirits. I say with certainty that I paid my dues for this beautiful life I live, I paid those dues early, and for the love of my children and their continued bliss, I would repay those dues over and over again if that is the cost of breaking the cycle that I escaped. All my peeps are constantly laughing at me because of my connection with Oprah. But we are connected I am telling you. She left home at 15 from an abusive childhood and home. I did the same at 14. No one thought she would make it. Likewise. She created her own family: Gayle, Bob, Jay, John, Jen, Stedman, Me too, Princess, Big City, The Writer etc... The Silver Fox. We both are living our passions and spreading light and love into the world with the platforms we have... Oprah builds schools for girls in Africa, I bless and meditate over beads for women in Canada... see we are practically twins. LOL ;) The one last thought of the day for you to ponder, which I heard a year or so ago, that I ABSOLUTELY love and wish I could say to ten different people everyday is a quote by my other main man... Dr. Phil. Who doesn't love this guy? I use his "... and how's that working for yah?" all the time. Anyway the one that I love that resonates with me that I think should be printed on our national currency is this one: " after the age of 36, you can't blame your parents anymore!" How many adults do you know that are still hung up on their childhood. Snap out of it. Life's a choice. Choose, would yah!? LOL Seriously... we all know those people. I always say that there is ONE difference between a victim and a survivor... the way you tell your story. And on that note, quit telling the same old story that happened 25, 35, 45 years ago. You are a grown up, start taking responsibility for yourself... really.Really! Now that we have that clear. LOL Anyway- that is enough honesty for one night. I had a root canal yesterday so speaking is a challange... if my bff's were around they would be high fiving one another chanting ' finally we can get a little peace around here'! Love at it's finest. And finally, yes, a lotus grows from the crude mud and still it is a beautiful creation worthy of love and light. Sometimes muddy starts still have beautiful endings. So on behalf of Oprah and I and our new found sister... :) thank you and good night. I would like to dedicate this blog post to 'Mic'. "Sorry Mic." LOL Love, Light & Laughter to you all, t.