Two Things

My Vanity

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry for my absence, I know that I've been away from the blog for a hot minute. Work has been super hectic these days, and to compound matters, I have been under the weather with the flu for about a week, believe me when I say the weekend can't come fast enough for me. How's everything with you guys? I hope that you are thriving. Whilst I do not wear ten pounds of makeup everyday, I am a huge fan of make up, and since the MAC store here in St. Lucia recently closed its doors (the closure hit me pretty hard) I have been pondering about where I shall now buy my make-up, I am guessing it will have to be online. So for today's post I am basically sharing a photo of come of my favourite pieces, as I mourn the closure of the Mac Store.

In other news, a few weeks ago, I travelled to the island of Trinidad (where I am originally from) and paid a visit to the Lopinot Complex, which used to be a cocoa plantation in the olden days.

Pictured in front of "The Great House" 

#GirlBoss Review

Hey Lovely People,

After seeing the words #GirlBoss emblazoned across social media since May 2014, I finally got my own copy of Sophia Amoruso's book, and I was so happy that I was able to  read it at last, if you would like to obtain a copy, the book can be purchased here.

For those of who who may not be familiar with Ms. Amoruso, by way of introduction, she is the founder and CEO of the online retail clothing store called NastyGal. She initially launched NastyGal at the age of 22 (in 2006) as an eBay vintage store, and grew the business to the current incarnation as an online retailer of new and vintage clothing and accessories. She grew her business into a $150 million company without borrowing funds- or receiving a large injection of cash from her parents. I kid you not. I was inspired and motivated to learn that she basically became aware that you could sell vintage clothing on eBay after receiving myspace requests from existing vintage eBay sellers, and decided she could do that too. It helped her greatly that she has an appreciation of fashion and styling, and some knowledge of photography-  she was also passionate and invested in creating a good product and doing an excellent job. She didn't have a lot of money to start the store, and has stated in her book that the first thing she sold online was stolen (yes, she admits she used to steal stuff, she also stated she wasn't proud she had done so, and had realized she needed to stop and change course), she bought vintage items at low prices, fixed them up nicely, placed the items on models- or rather styled models in the items- and sold them at a significantly higher price (imagine paying $10 for an item and selling it on eBay for $1000- once the customer is pleased, sounds like good business to me). She states in the book that she kept working hard at what she was doing, and saving her money, and growing her business to the current model.

As I read her story, and learnt that she never attended college, dropped out of community college, shoplifted, changed low paying jobs multiple times, and had poor credit, I started to believe that anyone build the life they want for themselves once they are driven to do so.

Here are a few excerpts from #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso that resonated with me:

• "You will never regret trying to fulfill your dream"
• "Money looks better in the bank than on your feet"
• "Sell things for more than you pay for them, and save more than you spend."
• "We control our thoughts and our thoughts control our lives"
• "The energy you'll expend focusing on someone else's life is better spent working on your own. Just be your own role model."

Once you have the desire to do something, the idea to create something, and the ability to work hard to achieve it- you can achieve it, so I urge you to take that chance today to make your dreams come true, start asking yourself what you can create, so go to your dreams.

XO,

Malika

Desiderata

Happy Monday Loveys. 

How was your weekend? Whilst the recently concluded weekend passed me by in a whizz of activity and I would have been most appreciative to have received an extra day (ideally today) I am nonetheless thankful for it. I spent my Sunday afternoon attending a poverty lunch at Coubaril held by the R.C. Church, and I was thrilled to see just how well attended it was. The meal of soup and a roll, though simple, was delicious, and I was glad to know that I had supported a worthy cause, as the funds raised from the lunch would go toward a home for the elderly.

In 2008 I was introduced to the Desiderata poem, and having recently re-acquainted myself with it, I thought I would share it with you loveys today, in hopes that it may inspire you.

Dreams are meant to be dreamt, and life is meant to be lived. Dream big loveys, and above all, as the Desiderata poem says, "strive to be happy".

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
© Max Ehrmann 1927

Our Magic Moment

A few years ago I adopted the habit of beginning my day by expressing gratitude for what I had been given in my life, and saying daily affirmations. I found that by doing this, I was able to maintain a positive outlook  and develop a deep and abiding sense of gratitude that remains with me up until today.

One of my favourite authors, Paulo Coelho wrote a beautiful passage in his book Manuscript Found in Accra  about us having a magic moment in which we are able to change the things that are making us unhappy. I share it with you today:

Every day, God gives us the sun – and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy.
Every day, we try to pretend that we haven’t perceived the moment, that it doesn’t exist – that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow.
But if people really pay attention in their everyday lives, they will discover that magic moment.
It may arrive in the instant when we are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and one things that all seems the same to us.
But that moment exists – a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.
Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest.
Our magic moment help us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments – but all of this is transitory it leaves no permanent mark.
And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken.

I hope that you found the passage inspirational and moving, if it inspired you, then please share the post with one friend over Facebook so that they too may be inspired.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

XX,
Malika

How is Your Heart? Open

Good morning and Happy Friday.

Yesterday I found myself thinking about love, and the transformative power it has in our lives. Have you ever noticed how amazing and "high" we feel when we are in love- deeply in love-with someone. We spend almost every hour thinking about them, we count down the moments until we can be in their presence again, and most of all our soul sings because of them. The love between two people is amazing, isn't it? We live for love, and at times, we feel we will die without it (which incidentally is perhaps why break ups are hard- I guess they're called break ups because they leave us broken).

Today though, I am asking you one question: how is your heart: Is it open to love?

If no, then, why not?  You don't have to answer to me, but you owe it to yourself to look inward, and figure out why, so that you can begin the process involved in changing this.

The love between two people; romantic love, eros love, that "you are everything I never knew I always wanted" Jerry Maguire kinda love- is Great, but it is only one type of love. There are many other types of love for us to be open to and allow into our lives; this is love in its awesome and wholesome entirety- this is the love that is truly transformative.  

This is the love that I want to be open to.

Love for God. Love for myself. Love for my neighbour. Love for my enemy. Love for you. Love for every person I come into contact with, not because I know them, not because I want to know them, not because they are beautiful, or successful, or super smart (and all the other qualities or attributes we believe people should possess in order to be 'deserving' of our love)- but love for them simply because they are my fellow human beings.

Healing flows from a heart that's open to love.
Forgiveness flows from a heart that's open to love.
And an abundance of happiness and contentment flows into a heart that has been opened to love.

Think About It. For Just One Hot Minute.

I love you.

Even though I do not know you, I love you. How can that be? You haven't done anything to earn my love or make you feel deserving of it. That's easy. You don't have to earn my love, I love you because I love you. You are deserving of every kind of love simply because YOU ARE.

This is my daily inspiration for today. In closing, I leave you with my love, and the words of the poet Rumi, who wrote:

It is love that brings happiness to people
It is love that gives joy to happiness
My mother didn't give birth to me, that love did
A hundred blessings and praises to that love

Have an awesome day, and thanks for stopping by.

Love,
Malika

P.S. If you enjoyed today's daily inspiration, please share it over Facebook, twitter or google so that someone else can be inspired (the sharing buttons are in black and white below this post). Thanks bunches *hugs*

fromstluciawithlove.blogspot.com

Daily Inspiration

Without a doubt, I am perhaps one of the most competitive persons you will ever meet if you and I ever play a board game, or a game of tennis. I am pretty much similar to Monica from Friends in this sole regard; I assure you, however, that we are nothing alike when it comes to being obsessive compulsive about cleaning. 

However, board games and tennis aside, when it comes to life, I am never competing with anyone else as I believe competing with others in life can either make us vain if we view ourselves as better, or resentful or jealous, if we view ourselves as lesser.

Focusing on yourself, and the achievement of  your own success or happiness, independent of others, is one of  the most freeing things you could ever do for yourself.

Daily Affirmation: I am beautiful, brilliant, and capable beyond measure, everything is unfolding in my life as it should.