Disneyland! Part 3 of my 30th Bday

The thought of turning 30 did freak me out at first. On second thought I still feel like a kid. So when my best friend Sara asked me where I wanted to celebrate this monumental birthday, I didn't hesitate to say Disneyland. Totally felt like one of those Super bowl commercials, "You've just turned 30, what are you going to do next? I'm going to Disneyland!" So that's exactly where I spent celebrating the day of my birth:

 I got decked out in my best Minnie ears and Mickey tee and even made Sara go in on the Disney wardrobe too. I think she got in to it halfway through our adventure because she made a Mickey purchase and had herself a wardrobe change. She had to represent the pirate Mickey!

 

One of the best parts of the day for me was when we were exiting the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, there was a little boy waiting to go on as we were docking ship. He kept telling people in his most enthusiastic voice "It's my birthday!" He was so proud and so excited and just loving life. It was a sweet highlight for me as well as a reminder to be thankful for this magical thing called life.

 

So I did what any other normal person would do, I hauled ass to the nearest shop and got myself a birthday button. I'm 30 bitches! I earned that button! I wore it proudly!

 

Thank you to my bestie for being there for me for more than half of my 30 years on this planet. We've been through so much together... Space mountain was our move to San Francisco, jumping into the unknown. Pirates, well we've experienced our share of those types in our days. The haunted mansion took me back to Regina Phalange and the famous 'you see it too' moment. , The teacups  (Bad idea with my Vertigo) was like every hangover I've been lucky enough to share with you. And the Merry-go-round reminds me that life has it's ups and downs but I'm fortunate enough to know that you'll always be right next to me for the ride.

 

 

XOXO

 

#Giveaway time!

Want to win $15 store credit to my fabulous shop StarrJoy16? Sure you do! Click on over to AmberNicoleblog.com for all of the details! And Hurry Hurry Hurry. There's no time like the present.

                                                                             XOXO

LA Float Center: Part 2 of my 30th Bday

Part two of my birthday celebration extravaganza features the amazingness that is the LA Float Center. My best friend Amanda bought us tickets and we were both float virgins. I'm not gonna lie, we were both a little nervous and had no idea what to expect. The site promises a "floating experience like never before" which was good because I can honestly say that I have never floated before. The floating is said to help improve relaxation, creativity, sleep, and stress, as well as help with pain relief. I'm a sucker for anything that forces me to relax. That being said I was ready to get my Zen on. 

Upon walking into the center I noticed the people to be super calm and pleasant. I took this as a good sign. I was ready to become part of the pod people. We watched a short video explaining the process. The gist: Each person gets ushered to their own room where you are to shower off. There is a floating pod in the center of the room. The pod is filled with 11" of skin temperature water and Epsom salt. The salt makes you float. No joke, like legit float. I had to struggle to sit in the thing. You can choose meditation type music, nature sounds, or no sounds as well as adjust the lighting in your pod. I picked a really cool magenta color. Once you customize your pod, you close your lid, and lay back and float for an hour.

That's right....an hour. I laid there and started laughing. I meditate and all but there is no way, I mean NO WAY that I can do this for an hour. I started wondering the most random things, do people pee in their pods? Is this what it's like if 'light as a board, stiff as a feather' really worked? Are these the same bath salts that made that one guy eat his mother's face? I imagined Amanda in the room next door playing in her pod. I could just picture her bouncing herself back and forth like a ping pong in the pod.... should I get my phone and text her and see what she's up to? No no, I wanted to relax. I wanted to meditate, I wanted to experience the pod. So I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fully relax.

About ten minutes in to the process is where I really started to enjoy myself. There's something about the temperature of the water that makes you feel like you're not in water. The salt makes you feel free. I literally felt as if I was floating on a cloud of nothingness. It was awesome.

Now I don't want to freak any of you out but for those of you who don't know, I read Tarot Cards. Honestly, my name is Starr Joy, would you expect anything less? Anyway, I can see the future and all.... and it's really awesome...for other people. This really benefits my friends but I've never been able to predict what would be coming up next for myself, otherwise I'd play the lotto. But I have been able to tap into visions for myself. Really intense visions. I'm so grateful for this gift. It's only happened a few times so imagine my surprise when I got a vision while meditating in my pod. I'd like to keep my vision private and for myself so I wont be sharing but I will say that it was intensely powerful and very very good. And with that my pod experience came to an end. I emerged from my pod like a little butterfly that had just gotten her wings and as I stood every bone in my body cracked. I was that relaxed.

I definitely want to go back. The experience calmed me and gave me clarity along with a big smile on my face. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. Thank you to my best friend Amanda for the fabulous pod experience. There's no one else I'd rather lose my pod virginity with. You and me, we're two peas in a pod sista! Now if I could only get that Modest Mouse song out of my head, "And we'll all float on, alright"...

                                                                            XOXO

My 30th Birthday: Part 1

March 16th 2014 was the big 3-0 for me. I turned 30! Wowza. That's three decades people. In my twenties I used to say that I still felt like a 12 year old half of the time. Now that I'm in my sophisticated thirties, I can honestly say I feel like a 16 year old the other half of the time. They say that your twenties are about figuring out what you want in life and your thirties are about making it happen. Cheers to that. Here's how the celebrating went down:

Some friends and I went out to a local sports bar and had some drinks, some food, and some laughs. They decorated with balloons, star table pieces, and awesome signs that read "29ish" and "I'll be 30 when I want to be" to name a few.

A good time was had by all. Even when my friend Amanda attempted to smash cake in my face. (For the record she denies this but the proof is in the photos) Just kidding Amanda! I love you!

                                I will say this: One good thing about turning 30; I'm not turning 40.
             Thank you to my friends for coming out to celebrate the birth that is me. I love you all!

                                                                             XOXO

D.I.Y. How to make a miniature birdhouse

I recently hosted a Bridal Shower for my best friend. It turned out beautifully. Among the fabulous decorations to the 'Love is in Bloom' theme, were birdcages, flower pots, and miniature birdhouses to name a few. If you want to decorate your space and learn how to create your own miniature birdhouse, then you're in the right spot!

You'll need:
Wooden miniature birdhouse
Acrylic Paint (I used Americana in 'Baby Pink' and Folk Art in ' Titanium White')
One Large paintbrush
One Small paintbrush
Rhinestones
Hot Glue Gun
Lace Ribbon

Step1: Start with a miniature wooden birdhouse. They can be found at Joann fabric and crafts as well as at Michael's. Using your larger paintbrush, paint a coat of your primary color. (In my case it would be the baby pink). One coat should be enough but if you feel you need two coats, I wont judge. Use the smaller paintbrush to get all corners and underneath the birdhouse roof:

 

Step 2: After your base coat dries, again use your large paint brush to lightly brush long strokes of white across the roof, front and backside of the birdhouse. Keep in mind you do not want to sweep over the same area. It's meant to look a little imperfect or 'shabby chic':

 

Step 3: After paint has dried, time to plug in the got glue gun and get to gluing! You can place your rhinestones anywhere you'd like but I prefer the look of 3 rhinestones in a vertical line along the left side of the birdhouse 'door':

Step 4: Once hot glue dries, you can move on to your final step. Take lace ribbon and tie a bow around the base of the birdhouse. This creates a look of chicness that adds to your shabby. It's also pretty adorable. Ta-da! You have yourself a miniature birdhouse:

                            If you think the D.I.Y. way is for the birds (Haha pun totally intended) there
                         is always the option of purchasing from yours truly. Visit my shop: StarrJoy16
                                                                   and get yours today :)
                                                           
                                                                              XOXO

 

 

 

My trip to the DMV

Well, I've been putting this off for over ten years. I got a notice from the DMV that my license was about to expire and I had renewed the last two times via mail.... so it was time for me to march my little behind down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and retake my driver's license photo along with a vision test to prove that I am who I say I am and that I can see that I am who I say I am. First thought "Greeeeaaat".
I booked my appointment and woke up the day of... and dreaded going. Who wouldn't? I mean, it's the freaking DMV. Along with the Gyno office and the Los Angeles Courthouse, it's one of the places where Yeah, I'd just rather not. Let's not and say we did, shall we? No dice my friend...
I arrived at said DMV at 8:40am on Monday morning. I'm not a morning person, let alone a Monday morning person... regardless, I was a whole ten minutes early for my appointment and saw a huge line out of the door wrapped around the building. Luckily, I had an appointment. I felt like Charlie arriving at the Chocolate Factory because I had a golden ticket. I breezed past the line of waiting people with their little DMV notices in hand and felt like a true V.I.P.
Once making it inside, I asked "I'm blonde, I have an appointment, where shoud I be?" The man behind the counter said, "right here" and pointed me to the woman behind the window next to him. The woman was very happy to see me and even more delighted that I had filled out my form before my arrival. I guess this earned me brownie points because as she literally handed me the paperwork for my next report to the following window, my number was called..... score! It was like I had won the lottery!
I walked briskly to the designated window where I was greeted with the most pleasantly plump woman. She was so delightful that I happily handed over my $33 renewal fee, no qualms about it. (Nicely done DMV, Nicely done!).
Next it was on to take my photo. The Asian lady in front of me was ready for a full on fashion shoot.  That's right, she was all dolled up for her very own glamour shot. Don't even get me started on how much effort she put into applying her lipstick. Eek! I felt so ill prepared. Honestly, I feel fortunate enough that that had time to brush my hair. Fingers crossed I look half way decent and or awake in my picture. All I'm going to say is that I'm pretty sure I blinked, not sure it's a keeper.
I was in and out of there in a whopping 10 minutes. I couldn't believe that I was actually finished before my appointment time. Round of applause to the DMV.  My trip to the DMV was a positive one. I'd highly recommend it to any and all who are thinking of going. Just make sure that you make an appointment.
Looking back now the only thing I would have done differently is ask to see my picture. I have to wait until I receive my new license in the mail. Until then, let's look at some horrible driver's license photos and say a little prayer that mine doesn't come out this bad:

 

 

 

 

XOXO

 

 

 

How to Meditate

Meditation is a great practice to center yourself and clear all those thoughts bouncing around in your pretty little head. I try to do it on the daily. You don't need to set aside hours for this, just 3-10 minutes for beginners can work wonders. If you find yourself saying "Ain't nobody got time for that" then you probably need meditation along with a vacation more than you think. If you have a lot going on, are super stressed on the norm, or battle anxiety, it's not such a bad idea to incorporate some calm breathing into your routine. Try it for a week, invest 21 to 70 minutes and see the benefits. Here's how to do it:

*

Step 1: Find a quiet space:
Ideally this would be your bedroom or other place that calms you.

Step 2: Get Comfy:
You can sit in a relaxed position on the floor, cross-legged indian style or even lay down on your bed. Newbies beware, sometimes first timers fall asleep.

Step 3: Close your eyes and Focus on your breathing:
Inhale and exhale deeply. While breathing in and out, try to reduce the thoughts that are entering your head. It's VERY NORMAL to go from Breathe in...to... Duck Dynasty was funny last night... to I want to go camping... to my ex still has my camping gear... to that guy was such a prick...to oh wait.... Breathe out... to I want a donut.... and so on.
If you find yourself getting carried away in thought like Taylor Swift wandering around lost at a Metallica concert, try repeating a positive affirmation. Another idea is to focus on a certain word "Ohmm" is a popular term. Whatever works best to clear your mind of any and all thoughts and bring yourself to a place of relaxation.
After minutes have passed and it seems like a jolt as you open your eyes, then you have mastered your first successful meditation practice. You brought yourself to a deeper level of your mind and allowed yourself to relax. Congratulations. Just like with anything, the more you do it, the easier it will become. Namaste my friends.

            * Buddha inspired painting available for purchase at my online shop, StarrJoy16

Featured by the Sauce

My Black Fleur de lis Necklace by StarrJoy16 was featured on the blog AunieSauce. Aunie wrote up such a beautiful outfit post. She is such a delight! I'm so happy to have this awesome girl rocking my jewelry! She wears it well! See the full feature here.   XOXO

Expecting greatness

Expectation is a powerful thing. It is the belief or feeling that something will or is likely to happen.
If you believe in the power of manifestation and the power of willing things into action, then you believe in the power of yourself and what you are capable of. Every time I truly expect something to happen, good or bad, it does.

 

I encourage you to follow your dreams and expect them to happen for you. Remember "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford.

So do yourself a favor and expect greatness.

 

Oscar Who?

Did you watch the Oscars? I'm sure coverage will be everywhere but here are My top 5 favorite moments of the Oscars 2014:

1. J-Law trips and falls (for the second year in a row). I love that she reached for the woman in front of her and nearly took her down with her. I love even more that she laughed it off like the classy broad she is. Seriously, the girl can do no wrong!

 

 

2. Jared Leto. I'm so in love. I love a man that loves and appreciates his Mama. He's not too bad on the eyes either. Seriously, I just want to stare into his baby blues and run my fingers through his luscious locks. Just one question, is that Ombre natural? If so, I'm totally Jealous.

 

 

3. Ellen crashes twitter with the best selfie ever. She intended to break a record with the most retweets ever and she accomplished it. With over 900,000 retweets, she shattered the previous record of President Obama's 500,000 retweets of his victory from 2012. The star power in that one photo is epic. I also loved Meryl Streep's comment that she had "never tweeted before".  #Genius

4. Bette Midler singing "Wind Beneath my Wings" In memory of those that passed away this year. Beautifully done. Brings be back to my childhood watching "Beaches". Love love love.

5. Matthew McConaughey wins the Oscar for lead actor in "Dallas Buyers Club". His speech and mention of his family was beautiful. I especially love that he included a famous line from his first film "Dazed and Confused" Adorable. It was more than 'Alright Alright Alright' Matthew, It was perfection.

 

I'd like to thank the Academy for presenting me with these top 5 moments. I loved watching! Well done! And an Arsenio Hall 'Woo woo woo' fist pump to you all!

 

XOXO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

If you're like me and believe in Superstitions, then hop on board with the British superstition of starting the first moment of the first day of each month by uttering the words "Rabbit Rabbit".
It is believed that saying these words out loud first thing upon waking will bring you good luck for the whole month!
This beats toting around a lucky rabbit's foot any day! So all together now: Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit!

 

XOXO