Required reading...

This is something I stumbled upon recently and have again fallen in love. It's the poem, Phenomenal Woman, by the Great Maya Angelou. It's a great one to go back and reread. I've declared it my anthem!

PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

from And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
copyright © 1978 by Maya Angelou.

To our power,
RR

Saw this and LOVED it..

to blazing ahead. fearlessly.
RR

I couldn't have said it better myself...

*Thank you, CRAVE NYC


xoxo,
RR

Creating

Ladies,
This is a reminder to CREATE something today! I have been knee-deep in creating some new and improved workshops and I can't get over how ALIVE it's made me feel. So often we go through our lives forgetting to nourish our creative souls, overlooking the very thing that feeds every other aspect of our lives.

We have a spark in us. Let's make sure to nurse it, celebrate it, and make it shine!

Lettin' my colors burn,
RR.

SO good.

*Thank you FB for this picture

I absolutely love this! Think about it ladies, what's cool now isn't going to be cool tomorrow, and what was cool yesterday is "so over" today. It's fleeting. Awesome, on the other hand, might take a little work, but it's here to stay, my friends.

For Awesome A,
RR

Eat dessert first...(or quote of the day!)

This is my first back to school quote. It's about courage because like I've said to many of you ladies, I believe it takes more courage to be a teenager that really any other time in your life.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
Eleanor Roosevelt, activist and amazing human.

Boldly,
RR

Amy's Flavor

"I am peanut butter flavored ice cream. Does that exist? If it does, that's what I am. I am sturdy and strong and am a good rock to lean on. I feel like if you choose to have me as a friend, you have a friend who will be there to "fill you up", make you feel better about yourself. I'm supportive and happy, and (not that I'm bragging) a really good friend".

Amy--I want you to be MY friend! This is awesome! Who wouldn't benefit from a friend like you? Being dependable is one of the qualities in friends I hold most dear. You, my friend, are a breath of fresh air. Thank goodness for you.

Let's all be inspired by Amy and really try to be sturdy friends for each other. Lend a hand, or a shoulder...

xo,
RR

Love Love Love

xoxo,
RR

Eat dessert first...(or quote of the day!)

‎"Have only one rule. Be your wild, courageous, brilliant self every single day. No matter what."

-Leigh Standley @ Curly Girl Design, http://curlygirldesign.com/

*Check out Leigh's work. It's fantastic! It will make you smile and tear up and feel things and celebrate. She's pretty amazing.

xoxo,
RR

Word.

Believe it.

Via a dear friend's FB page. Thank you for being you.

Keeping the faith,
RR

Bring It.

Who run the world? Girls

Who run the world? Girls

Who run the world? Girls

Who are we
What we brought
The world
Who are we
What we brought
The world
Who are we
What do we brought
We run the world

Who are we
What we brought
We run the world

Who run the world? Girls

Lyrics via "Run The World", Beyonce
Pics via The Girl Effect www.girleffect.org. To see more, check out this VIDEO.

Eat dessert first...(or quote of the day!)

"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got."

—Janis Joplin, (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. At the height of her career she was known as The Queen of Rock and Roll as well as The Queen of Psychedelic Soul.

I couldn't love this quote more. You're all you have and you're more than enough.

Boldly,
RR

You're so silly....

I am currently wearing a big fat crown as I clean the floors and scrub my bathroom.

Life is short. Be silly. Have fun. Let loose.

Leading a life less ordinary,
RR


(pic via Marthastewart.com)

Repost: Luscious Lauren's Flavor!

It's so good, it needed to be posted again!

This post is so important to me. Lauren is one of the most courageous, driven, beautiful, and staggeringly funny women I've ever met. Her flavor was a year in the making, and readers, it was worth the wait. Lauren, thank you for being you. My life is richer/better/simply more awesome for you in it.

"Guess what? I finally decided...
Although I of course would like to come up with something more original and clever,after much obsessive thought, coffee it is...
I'm an acquired taste, you get me or you don't. I'm not too much to handle but I can come across quite strong, and as of lately, I'd like to think I am. I will sit back quietly minding my own, or give you a robust opinion, if you ask for it. I can be terribly bitter, I'm better in moderation, but I will always be there to accompany you through an ucomfortable time, try to warm your heart and give you ALL I have to offer.
Yay!!"

Let this inspire us to fearlessly love and embrace who we are.

Thank you dear friend,
RR

Eat dessert first...(or quote of the day!)

Hello gorgeous people! Not often do I quote men, but this is a GREAT one. Mr. Beckwith is fantastic. If you don't know about him, learn. He's truly a channel of goodness.

"An authentic ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE allows you to remain in the eternal Now because it is the awareness that all needs are met in the center of pure being-ness, which exists in the now mode of life....Remember, you are not here to acquire, but to fulfill the desire of your soul which is accomplished by actualizing your gifts that allow you to continue to become more and more of the essential YOU."

Life is good!

Peace and Blessings,
Michael Bernard Beckwith