He's Not Buying It!!!

Tonight I got into a discussion with a longtime friend, who happens to have become a family member through marriage, regarding the validity / invalidity and purpose of blogs. What drives one to write a blog? I can’t speak for others but for me, as I mentioned in my first blog, it’s an opportunity to explore myself creatively using a modern canvas. He said that I must be looking for validation of some sort; yet IF I were to receive a sign of validation, it would likely be from some uneducated joe-shmo from the backwoods proving to be unworthy anyway. His argument was that if I were not looking for some sort of validation then I would simply write in a journal but I choose to share my writings with some abyss of strangers, that can’t write in the first place, spewing words of inexperience on mundane subjects, with the hopes of achieving 15 mins. of fame or a chance to win a job as a columnist for the LA Times. I don’t agree. I honestly don’t feel that I’m seeking or need validation from anyone. It’s just a portal for me to express something I have repressed for so long, which again, is my creative spirit. In my “creative room” I have paints, pastels, chalks and beautiful white canvases ready to be fused into an expression of my thoughts. However, this is often hindered by my own belief that I am not a painter but more of a doodler, so I compromise within myself by calling these tiny pieces of art “doodles on canvas”. I’ve shared my doodles on various websites for the sole purposes of sharing. I don’t expect anything in return nor am I hoping for some sideways applause. It’s just a piece of me that I’ve chosen to unveil, to free, to escape the safety of my comfort zone. In doing this, I believe I grow. Historically, there have been many people that have thrown perfection to the wind and disregarded the criticism of those that don’t buy in to their creativity. James Whitcomb Riley, an uneducated man, became one of the most popular American writers and poets of the 19th century. His writings were imperfect but possessed the charm of a simpler life. Saraphine Louis was thought to be of unsound mind yet she was the creator of exceptional works of art which met with great success in 1927; yet a sad story followed that was interesting enough to be made into a recent movie, “Seraphine”. In 1976, Russell Simmons stood behind a new style of music called Rap that many thought would make a quick exit but instead has paved a path of creativity from some of the poorest corners of the world. Millions of people did not “buy in” to the ideas of these individuals, millions still don't but that didn’t stop their creative spirits.
Back to my blog; though it may not be perfect, it may not even have focus at this time but it is a place that I can explore and grow. Once I hit that button to publish, I feel that I’ve peeled a piece of “me” away and I’m one step closer to revealing something new and exciting. It’s up to you if you choose to share in the experience or not. It honestly makes no difference to me. Just the fact that I’m not hiding my thoughts away as I have in the past is enough for me. He’s not buying it!! That’s okay with me. I respect his opinion and value his educated advice but guess what… I won’t allow it to hinder my creative growth. He’s not buying it but I am and that’s what truly matters.

Life's Treasure Box - A Simple Sally story

A long time ago, when I was broken and recovering from a storm that had taken much of my life, my daughter and I were presented with a treasure box. It wasn’t something we had asked for, nor at first sight was it something we wanted. The box was dirty and heavily covered in scum with rotting borders. We did our best to reject this box but it was forced upon us anyway. So there it sat, as a reminder that our life wasn’t perfect. Then one day, like a miracle, a bright light shined from within the box. It was glaringly lucent like the glow of an angel. At first it didn’t seem real. It was striking and inescapable but yet it seemed a bit like a dream…it was untouchable. This was our first realization that this wasn’t just a box but possibly a treasure box, indeed.


What did this mean? Where would this lead us? We had no way of opening the box. It was not ours and at that time we had no control of its presence. What were we to do? There was some fear but daily our anticipation grew and the light grew stronger. Then, after months, like an act of God, the box opened and revealed its contents. It was amazing!!! This treasure was like none other. While gold, silver and diamonds create greed; this treasure was healing. This treasure produced love, hope and forgiveness. This was not a treasure to be given away, we did not own it; it was meant only to be shared. We relished its presence in our life. It was a blessing we were thankful for.

Unfortunately, we were unaware of another storm developing. It came fast but when it hit the ground, it lingered resulting in irreparable damage. It stole our light; our treasure was gone. The box remained yet more tattered than before. Only now we seemed to have a choice. We seemed to have some control of its presence. Though my daughter and I survived the storm, growing even stronger from our pain, we realized again that the box was a reminder that our life wasn’t perfect. To some people its dirt and old rotting borders may have seemed too offensive. Some may have tried to cover it or destroy it but we chose to embrace our treasure box.

To this day, we carry our box where ever we go. It’s not out of obligation, nor is it a cross to bear. It’s out of LOVE. HOPE. FORGIVENESS. Though we can not see the contents that was once shared with us, the memories of our treasure remain and the LOVE, HOPE and FORGIVENESS it produced can never be taken away. They are here forever and will be here on that miraculous day that the treasure is revealed to us again.

Do you have a treasure box?

Tara's Passion

For those of you that read my first blog and followed the links, you’ll know that my daughter Tara is a singer/songwriter, currently performing in Singapore at The Arena. This has been an amazing experience for her, one of development and restraint. She’s met some amazing people, gained some fans and she’s definitely grown as an artist and a person. I will be traveling to see her soon, I’m just days away from my departure so the excitement is in high gear now.

Tara’s passion:
Tara started singing at a very early age. Influenced by her father, she spent quality time daily in front of the full wall mirror with microphone in hand, singing and dancing. She’d occasionally throw on a silver wig for star quality but the intensity of her performance was always her focus. When her dad wasn’t around, I provided a different kind of fun. Our time together was spent on Barbies and fashion shows. Tara and I would spend hours building Barbie’s house to set the perfect scene for Barbie and her friends to dress up. In addition to Barbie fashion, we’d often gather the neighborhood kids for a dress up day and fashion show, dressing all the girls in flowing gowns complete with gloves and the boys in uniforms of all kinds. It was fun for everyone but Tara always had her own ideas when it came to style. One white sock with one black sock paired with contrasting mismatched tennies or belting an oversized t-shirt to make a dress; but very important were the accessories, which is still true today!!! With the exception of her tom-boy years (and there were a few) Tara was a fashion diva even as a young girl.

From junior high school to post high school there was the saxophone, volleyball and basketball, then graduation from cosmetology school in Oregon. But let’s fast forward to her return to California nearing adulthood. There was an attempt at a clothing line partnership that resulted in a Christmas rush in sales and placement on ANTM two consecutive years, a few music opportunities, one that took her to North Carolina with performances at Madison Square Garden and a NYC nightspot. But always the multiple 9-5’s that she despised, powering her desire to live her passion, which is music. Though projects were started, nobody seemed to have the same drive, in the same direction that Tara was going. It was discouraging and she was often frustrated with the lack of commitment shown. But she kept plugging away, trying to carve out her own path with her own ideas.

Tara began to read a lot of books along the way. The Purpose Driven Life, The Secret, Think & Grow Rich. Books that prompt you to believe in yourself, encourage you to map out your life and to use your inner power to attract the things you want in life. With all this backed with a solid faith, Tara was ready to tackle her dreams. And so it was. Another year was ending and Tara claimed that the following year she would travel outside of the United States. By this time she was using all of her free time productively in the studio or writing music but she needed even more time. A layoff at work freed up that additional time she needed. The new year came and before she knew it, an opportunity to perform in Singapore was being discussed. It was a whirlwind, and before I could wrap my mind around it, my only daughter was on a plane!

Now I’m packing my bags preparing to experience the reality of my daughter’s dream. I can’t wait to see her on that stage doing what she loves. It’s a blessing to know what your passion is and even more so when you have the courage to live it! I hope you’re living yours, if not, find it and go after it! That’s what I’m doing. 

War unveils a new woman and she’s “His Girl Friday”

I’m a bit tired tonight so I thought I would just slip into the past with an old movie. In the 1920’s and the 1940’s, war demanded that women take on a new role. With the absence of so many men from the homes, women were required to go to work and take over many of the chores that were previously handled by the men in their lives. I’m guessing this was done with some hesitation but in the end a new woman was unveiled. A stronger more confident, sassy lassy arose. The meek and quiet were old hat and the silver screen soon brought to light the reality of a tougher yet still sexy woman. Here in the 1940’s classic “His Girl Friday”, Rosalind Russell, playing opposite Cary Grant, gives a great example of this new species. She’s no push-over but she is all woman! Check out the fashion, it’s beautiful. Masculine pleats and square shoulders laid on an hour glass figure. You may not see it in this movie but this is the time when women also dared to shorten those hem lines and lengthen the legs with platforms. It was boldly feminine. These classic looks were my favorites when I was a teen and they’re still my favorites today. I should’ve been born about a half century earlier. Oh well… I’ll just click, watch and disappear into another era. I hope you enjoy!

Watch it now: "His Girl Friday"

Be Kind, I'm just experimenting

In my extended version About Me, I explained that I am going to be using this blog to explore myself and the things that I like. So here are a few things that I like: the beach (Newport Beach specifically because it's home for me), watching chics do male dominated sports, taking pictures, and creating something new. Now I have to say that I'm not a great photographer, actually, I'm plain awful! It takes me forever to get ready to shoot, so by the time I focus in... my desired focal point is history. But just because you suck at something doesn't mean you should stop trying. So this year for my birthday I bought myself a Nikon Coolpix. I love this camera! It has a feature that allows you to take multiple pictures with one touch so I have a better chance of catching a good shot. It has a 7x optical zoom so I can take a wide shot and zero in on my target at edit time. It also came with a memory card that holds well over 500 pictures so I can just shoot away without worrying about wasting film. It takes video too but I rarely use that feature. I carry my little Coolpix with me where ever I go and if I see something of interest, I click away! I can't say that it has made me a better photographer but it's definitely a lot of fun!

In regards to Newport Beach, I love to head to the beach when ever I have the opportunity. It could be for an early morning cup of java while watching the surfers, or an afternoon round-trip walk on the boardwalk from Newport to Balboa, or a late night stroll on the pier to check out the fishermen's luck. Another reason to go to Newport is Rockin Baja Lobster which is one of my favorite places to splurge for a bucket of the best grilled pollo, asada, shrimp and lobster you've ever tasted. The tortillas, rice and beans are heavenly too. I never leave that place without a full belly and a doggie bag. With all these reasons to visit the beach, it's obvious that my new little Coolpix will be loaded with visions of fun in the sun. So tonight I decided to play around with one of my many, many shots.

I just recently started experimenting with my daughter's Adobe Photoshop so again, I have no clue as to what I'm doing but what the heck! We'll just try this and try that and see what we come up with. So be nice! I know you experienced (and maybe even you inexperienced) graphic artists and photographers will be able to tell me everything that I did wrong but honestly, I don't care. It's just an opportunity for me to express myself, to create something, and to have fun well I'm doing it. So here it is. "Three Chillin Chicas" waiting on their wave.

I took this picture from the pier so I cropped a lot from around it. I was so excited to catch this picture of the three girls. They look so cool and confident on their boards. This picture however, was a bit flat because there wasn't any movement to the water so I had another picture of the three girls with this wave. The problem with that picture is one of the girls actually faced the camera and I like the anonymity of this picture best. So I combined the two. I wanted to give it some edge so I posterized it, distorted the view a bit and added some light. The best part is, it expresses a piece of me and that's the point so I hope you enjoy! And remember, just because you think you're not good at something, don't let that stop you. Jump in and have fun anyway!

Art for the Soul: A place of inspiration

One of the many reasons I love Orange County is that it is the home of my favorite store, Art for the Soul. Owner, Valinda Martin, has a keen eye for the inspirational and her stores are proof of that. She has two locations in Orange County; one in Laguna Beach and the other, which is my personal favorite, on Balboa Island. I've attached a link so you can take a looksie but their website does not capture the true essence of the actual store. I can't imagine anyone being able to walk past this kaleidoscope of creativity without a glance. Every piece of art, furniture, jewelry, etc. is so uniquely and lovingly designed that you can feel the creator’s passion permeate your soul. Each piece in colors that seem to breathe life, while covered in words that motivate, cheer, and prompt you to dream. I only wish my pocketbook was fat enough to indulge myself with even 1 of my favorite pieces. But it costs nothing to visit this pool of inspiration. I always leave with a new idea and the feeling that life is wonderful!

Celebrate your Birthday at Disneyland for FREE in 2009!!!

Did you know that you can receive free entry to Disneyland or Disney World on your birthday? It's true but it's only for 2009. I know! I missed it too! But my mother did not. To get your free entry you have to go online to the Disney site and sign up. Then you just bring your id on your actual birthday and you're gifted with a FREE day at the happiest place on earth. In addition, they allow you to upgrade your ticket if you'd like by just paying the difference. So my gift to my mom was an upgrade to an annual pass. Her free entry made it especially easy for me because Disneyland has a special offer for Southern California residents that allows you to apply the cost of the 1-park ticket as a down payment for your annual pass and make monthly payments for the remainder of the cost. So in this case, I paid nothing down because her free ticket was applied as the down payment and the monthly installments for the annual pass that we picked is an easy $10 per month with no interest! In tough times like these, you can't beat a deal like that. To make the day special and to let everyone know you're there to celebrate your birthday, they give you a Birthday pin to wear and I was impressed with all the Disney employees that stopped to wish my mother a happy birthday with a high five or handshake. Even more touching were all the children that noticed her pin and wished her a happy birthday too. She was treated like a queen throughout the day. My aunt and I had a blast watching my mom soak up the sun and fun, as we did as well. We all know that any day at Disneyland is a good day but celebrating your birthday there in 2009... well that's awesome!

Let's start with an extended version of About ME

First, let me start by saying that my name isn’t Simple nor is it Sally. "Simple Sally" is just a nickname that has grown on me. As a child, all of my uncles were very loving. However, on my mother's side of the family, they love to show their affection by poking fun. I was a huggable, carefree child, often in a world of my own. “Oblivious” is the word my mother often used to describe me. On occasion, I would be shaken from my state of oblivion by one of my uncles (uncle Jimmy is the one I remember saying it most), as he would playfully ask me, “are you going simple on us?” It always made me giggle and as I aged it was a thought that delighted me. So it stuck, and here I am today, your Simple Sally.

I’m just a simple Orange County girl, born and raised in Costa Mesa, California. I've moved around a bit but always find my way back here. I can't say I'm too interesting but not a bore either. I like simple things in a complex way. Colors excite me; Water soothes me. Listening to music is a definite source of travel taking me to far off places or into the depths of my soul.

My family is large with extensions reaching across the country and beyond to Mexico and Guatemala, oh… and Texas for all those that believe Texas is its own country. I’m proud of my roots, thankful for every generation and off spring that has carved a vein for our family blood to travel in new directions. Every member is a part of me and regardless of the time or distance that may come between us, I love them all dearly. My one and only child, Tara, is my pride and joy. Anyone that has met me has not escaped without hearing at least a few words to describe this vibrantly bold and animated piece of my heart. Ever since she was the age of two, she has been someone I’ve learned from, been inspired by, and has brought the stability to our ever changing lives.

Carmela is my dog. She is a pudgy 10 lb. Chihuahua / Jack Russell mix. This would lead most to believe she is extremely hyper. However, with the exception of new introductions, she is rather mellow. She loves it when she’s allowed to lick faces without limit and like many females, she loves to hear her own voice. Other than that, she’s quite a lazy dog that will fetch a toy but rarely return it for another toss. She rules the house and creates a burrow in the strangest places so she has a collection of mini-quilts to make her simple life easier. She loves to watch television with the family but my computer time always sends her off to a cuddly corner. I’m guessing she’d much rather see the computer destroyed and would do it herself if she wasn’t afraid of her own shadow. Not even the tips of Carmela’s paw will find its way into dark corners or tight places. For this I am thankful.

I’m nearing 50 in a few years and though I’ve passionately worked at many jobs, I’ve never found my true passion. I’m rather good at helping others to find theirs but finding my own has been a challenge. In recent years I’ve learned that I’m quite creative, like to write, and with all the time I spend on this computer, I realized that blogging might be a great hobby for me. So this brings us to the here and now… but what to blog about???

I have no idea! So this will be an adventure for me and any of you that wish to join me. It will be an exploration of who I am and who I will become as I learn more about my wants, my needs, what I like, what I don’t like, things I hide behind or rationalize; all the little threads that make up “me”. So please join me if you wish, I’d be happy to share the experience.