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Currently Reading

Sunday, November 5, 2017

I've really been struggling. I'm going through the hardest pain in my entire life. I'm finally facing past trauma and current trauma head on. It's ugly, it's raw, and it's fucking hard.

Along with therapy and group meetings, one of my sources of power and commitment to doing this hard work has come from reading. I've been devouring books daily. Reading, audio, pirated YouTube links, anything I can get my brain on.

I wanted to share my current reading list this month. I've finished all but two of these and I highly recommend them all!

From L-R

"The Language of Letting Go" Daily Affirmations for Codependents by Melody Beattie
"Ikigai" The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
"Codependency No More" by Melody Beattie
"Facing Love Addiction" by Pia Mellody
"Waking the Tiger" Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine and Ann Frederick
"You are a Badass at Making Money" by Jen Sincero
"You are a Badass" by Jen Sincero (Audiobook - so good!)
"A General Theory of Love" by Thomas Lewis
"Facing Codependence" by Pia Mellody
"Secrets of Attraction" The Universal Laws of Love, Sex, and Romance by Sandra Anne Taylor
"Quantum Success" by Sandra Anne Taylor (Don't let her terrible book covers and titles fool you, this shit is gold.
"The Cinderella Complex" Women's Hidden Fear of Independence by Collette Dowling
"Stoicism: A Stoic Approach to Modern Life" by Tom Miles (Audiobook)
"Using Stoicism to Overcome Anxiety and Depression" by Aaron Olsen (Audiobook)
"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson (Audiobook - brilliant!)
"Unfu*k Yourself" Get out of your head and into your life by Gary John Bishop

Yeah, Champagne! and Yay, Reading!
DG

Copeland's 1st Trip to Disneyland!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

We hopped on a plane and flew out to California last week. I've been waiting for this moment! The moment Copeland would be old enough for his first trip to the Magic Kingdom! We definitely had a magical time. Gammy and Grampoo outdid themselves and helped us have the most amazing time!

There was a tiny major meltdown during the Electric Light Parade. But, what threenager doesn't hit a wall after a crazy filled day of wonder at the happiest place on earth? Cannot wait to take him to Disneyworld soon!

Minnie Mouse Headband | Flannel H&M | Nike Sneakers Nordstrom



















F*CK 2016

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Today I suck less at... nothing because I'm exactly where I fucking need to be. 

Seriously, I need to let out one giant, steaming "F U" to 2016. This year has been one insane life-altering moment after another. I mean personally, yes. But, collectively this year has been wrought with some really messed up stuff. I know we are all going to drink pretty heavily when we ring in the New Year. We all need this year to be over! 

For me, the last few years have been pretty rough. Yes, there were so many incredible moments and I would not be here writing this without the love and support of my friends and family. I am beyond grateful for their kindness. My friends saved me through the hardest time in my life. Especially when everything finally came to a head at the beginning of 2016.

I didn't start this blog because I thought, "Wow, this will be fun!" I started this blog because I was trying desperately to prove to my husband that I was worthy of him. He consistently put me down for being a less than stellar homemaker. Yeah, I'm an artist, I'm messy, my mind races a mile a minute on creative ideas, I'm always on the go. I spent most of my life moving around, touring, traveling. I didn't spend a ton of time learning life lessons like cooking, cleaning, etc... But you know what, I really did want to learn those things! So, that's why I started "Mastering Mrs." I wanted to prove to him and I suppose myself that I could be a great homemaker too.

I spent countless hours learning new recipes, teaching myself how to cook, creating neat DIY projects for our amazing son, and really trying to document the life we were all building together. 

It seemed that no matter how hard I worked, nothing would change his mind in the end. He saw no value in me. The things that I am innately gifted at were of no use to him. I hadn't quite adulted well enough to keep my husband and so with that, he left. 

I'm not writing this to throw him under the bus. I won't speak ill of him because we have a son together and he did try in his own way to see the good in me. But it takes an incredible toll on your physical and mental health to hear day after day that you just aren't quite good enough. That who you are at your core isn't valuable. 

I stepped away from this blog after he left. I didn't have anything in me to write about and I didn't really see a reason. But this past week I opened up Chrome and started to comb through the multitude of posts that I had written and it hit me, I have value. He may never see it. But I finally do. 

I haven't felt any sense of worth in years because I was always coming up short in his eyes. But looking over these posts made me actually see in text, photos, ideas, execution, that I am valuable. 

I may not be a perfect homemaker. But I am worthy of love and I am worthy of respect. 

So, as 2016 closes and this crazy journey of unraveling a marriage comes to an end, I'm working on reclaiming the self-love I used to hold. I'm going to start blogging again. But this time, I won't be starting my posts with "Today I suck less at..." No, I don't need the daily reminder that I'm not good enough and that I need to suck less at life.

I'll simply start my posts. I'll continue to show up as I did from the beginning. Only this time, I'll show up full rather than an empty, nervous shell of a person. 

I'm taking my fucking life back and my goddamn blog too.

Mastering Mrs. Moi

My Glasses Collection Featuring: BONLOOK

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Today I suck less at accepting my flaws and embracing my true self.

I'm blind. Like legally, legit blind. Here is a picture to prove it. I also love Froot Loops.

Oh yeaaaah! Where all my blind girls at? Raise your hands! Or don't raise your hands if you were anything like me.

I've worn glasses since I was three years old. However, since age 9 I've worn one single contact lens in my right eye instead. Why don't I wear two? Well, I can't see out of my left eye so what is the point? I wore my contact daily just so I wouldn't be the "girl with the glasses." I wore my contact to feel pretty and confident. Funny thing is I can't see as well out of my contact. So the constant worry about how my eyes looked and how much I squinted to see things made me the total opposite of confident. I'd rush home, pop my contact out and put on my glasses. It seriously felt just like putting a comfy pair of sweats on after a long day in pantyhose. Why didn't I just wear my glasses and live in comfort all day?

Cut to present time and everyone and their Mother wears faux glasses to look cool! WHAT?! I remember being called a million names worse than "Four Eyes"because I wore glasses. Kids can be really freaking mean. I'm bummed that it took glasses coming into fashion for me to feel confident in myself enough to rock my own glasses. I've always felt more like myself when I wore them, but worried too much about what other people thought to wear them in public. Not anymore.

Big thanks to Hipster kids around the world for helping me feel comfortable in my own shell. And thank you to companies like BonLook, Ray-Ban, and Warby Parker for making amazing frames! The styles give me that extra push I needed to be able to have fun with wearing glasses again.

BonLook happens to partner with some of my favorite bloggers to create unique styles. I LOVE Keiko Lynn. Oddly enough, I happened to be on a cool Virgin America flight from JFK to LAX with her once. Banana Republic had a Mad Men inspired fashion show in the sky. They gave out goodie bags and awesome cocktails. It was pretty cool! She was on the flight as one of their bloggers. That's was my first introduction to Ms. Groves.

Anyway, when she was announcing her new BonLook line, I knew I would be obsessed with them. Of course she came out with a pair in my favorite color, Mint. I was sold.

BonLook just released a new line with blogger Katie of Skunkboy and they are sparkle magic! The light pink and light blue are beautiful soft neutrals that go with everything.
With my newly found confidence, I may have gone a little overboard with my glasses purchases. I need to work on that whole spending thing ;)

Take a peek and shop my current collection!
SkunkBoy for BonLook - Poesy Pink
(My OMG they have them in blue, face)
SkunkBoy for BonLook - Larissa Lake
Ray-Ban 5226 - Black
Ray-Ban 5226 - Brown
Moschino - Orange Tiger Stripe - Sold Out :(
Seraphin Crocus - Jungle/Cream
Keiko Lynn for BonLook - Miku Mint

There you have it! Do you wear glasses? What are your favorite companies to score unique looks? Were you afraid to be the girl or boy in glasses? Love to hear your thoughts!
Stay gorgeous!





Panama Honeymoon in Casco Viejo and Bocas del Toro!

Monday, October 6, 2014

I apologize in advance! This is a very photo heavy blog post. We just got back from an amazing week in Panama for our honeymoon. Couldn't have imagined a better time or place. Hope you enjoy the view through our eyes.

View of Panama City from Casco Viejo.
 An abundance of Street Art.
View from our balcony in Casco Viejo.
Hola, Gato!
Found an old piano while we were having coffee at Casa Sucre.
Panama in one word: Colorful. 
Favorite photo of the trip. Captures so much of Panama. 
Maersk containers heading through the Panama Canal. 
View on the way to Bocas del Toro. 
My baby in Bocas Town! 
He played some Dylan. I begged "No Bob Marley, por favor." 
Poolside at Popa Paradise Beach Resort.
At times we felt like we were on LOST. Obviously, I was a happy girl! 
The view from the beach at Popa Paradise. 
Island Living. 
Popa Paradise prepared a special romantic dinner in a hut on the beach. It was beyond memorable! Thanks Nico and Bernadino!
Coconut Me! 
We took a fun excursion to Green Acres Chocolate Farm. I had no idea we would trek an hour through the jungle for the chocolate! Totally worth it and we had an amazing guide! 

Cacao Pod--delicious!
If I never see another spider in my lifetime, I will die happy. 
If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain... visit Panama in October! 
Found myself in our hotel artwork. 
Best dinner of our trip was at Manolo Caracol! Highly recommend their fresh, local prefix dinner. 
Sleeps

Tantalo Hotel
Casa Sucre

Shops
Mamitas (Awesome Vintage!)
Wander around and you'll find some great back alley finds.

Feel free to comment or send me a message for more details about where we stayed or visited. If you are looking for a relaxing, cultural, off the beaten path type of honeymoon, consider Panama. We had a lovely time and we would do it again in a heartbeat!

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