Oui! Oui! The Gaultier Exhibit!

New York, I love you. A terrible day of weather, but I can always find inspiration somewhere to brighten my mood. A quick text to a pal and a jump on the subway and we have landed at the Brooklyn Museum to view the Gaultier exhibit in it's final days. A glass of Malbec and an espresso shot at Saul's (Charming!) and then to view! (Meaning to see, not meaning "The View" where women bark to see who can get their opinion across the loudest... I prefer Kathy Lee and Hoda...but that's also because they are hilarious booze hounds!)

  So, I wanted to share this gentleman's incredible perspective on beauty, perfection, differences that make us unique and how he expressed that in his vision. This man was behind Madonna's cone boobage and there were so many stunning visuals of how he juxtaposed the pretty, the ugly, the kooky all to make a very sexy and intriguing exhibit. I don't so burrough typically, as I am Manhattan Meggie, but this was worth it:


"I respect individualities, and I like particularities. I mix and match, collect, twist, and crossbreed codes. Past, present, here, elsewhere, masculine, feminine, remarkable, humdrum- it all coexists." - John Paul Gaultier

This and many of the models and moving faces that were projected onto the faces. It made them so personable. You saw the joie de vivre of John Paul through his work as opposed to the dark and ominous personal of the McQueen exhibit. 

 This one came alive and was singing opera music. Set with that backdrop of New York City streets and it just screamed tres chic. Especially with the pleasing palates of creams, champagnes, texture, and lace... I was in lady heaven. Don't you think this should be my front room?? Hollywood glam style: 

"Our body, the way we present ourselves- it's a form of communication. Our clothing, hair, and body decoration reflect our true identity."- JPG

"Perfection is relative and beauty is subjective. I wanted to make imperfection admirable. Sometimes a different energy and bearing or an unusual type of body catches my eye and makes me want to invent something..." -JPG

Now this is what I call a cap and gown. I would have shown up to my graduation if I got to look this charming. Full lady business. I'm obsessed. 

 These are only a few of my favorites from the exhibit, but it was worth sharing his message. We all have this ideal of who we want to be when we "grow up" and putting on a face to say that all is well and good, but the beauty is in the mess, sweet friends. It is the hard lessons that teach us the most and the universe gives you the exact lessons you need for change and growth. Though change and growth are never easy, we must keep placing one foot in from of the other and greet each day as a clean slate. Commit to yourself and your well being. Show up for yourself. You are worth it. If you don't, no one else will. 

xoxo
Her LadyMess

Lessons from Disney's Frozen

A couple of nights ago I was asked on a date to go an see "Frozen". Now, you know me, I LIVE for Disney. But this wasn't just a movie. It was a sing-a-long version. GULP. It may surprise you that most singers do not enjoy activities such a karaoke or sing a longs... or being asked impromptu to sing at Grandma Eleanor's birthday party... It puts us in a spotlight we didn't choose to be in and it feel uncomfortable. Not wanting to be a lame date, I went along with it. It was actually pretty darling. A five year old was belting out tunes with her father and a group of friends in their 30's had their arms up singing and giggling. Leave it to Disney to consistently trump itself in the magic they create in this world!

My date sang a long a bit and tried to get me too. That probably wasn't going to happen... but seeing the joy in the room made me enjoy it all the more.

Also, the lyrics resonated with my and where I am at in my life. Take a gander:

Don't let them in, don't let them see.

Be the good girl you always have to be.
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know.
Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go!
Can't hold it back any more.
Let it go, let it go!
Turn away and slam the door.
I don't care what they're going to say.
Let the storm rage on.

The cold never bothered me anyway.

It's funny how some distance,
makes everything seem small.
And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do,
to test the limits and break through.
No right, no wrong, no rules for me.
I'm free!

Let it go, let it go.
I am one with the wind and sky.
Let it go, let it go.
You'll never see me cry.
Here I'll stand, and here I'll stay.
Let the storm rage on.

   I haven't been able to control much about my surroundings and things happening in my life. We all have our issues to deal with and have to learn how to ride the inevitable wave. Life will take you up and down and toss you from side to side in the good, the bad, the unexpected, and you need to have a sense of self worth at your core. Not only that, but a self awareness to treat yourself well,. You can't expect other people to do it for you. That is why I keep my journal within reach, or have a book or podcast to get something positive in my ear. It is about knowing how to take care of you.

 You know what I liked most about "Frozen"? In the end, it wasn't about romantic love, it was about the bond of sisters. My five year old little friend even yelled out during "Love is an Open Door ":   He isn't even her true love!" Smart cookie... I have things to learn from that precious nugget!

We are always learning aren't we? Every moment is an opportunity to learn. It might be from a movie, it might be from a five year old... in New York, the constant dealing with people's energy can try and test you every single day. It is finding patience to let those lessons come in, resonate with you, and improve your perspective. 

Even though I didn't belt out the big number in front of my date, I still left the movie inspired. I want to "Let it Go!" As Idina Menzel so brilliantly belts, " Let it go! Let it go! That perfect girl is gone!" I don't think perfect should even be in the dictionary as it is not a real world. Perfection is an illusion. I'm not going to hide under an assumed facade. Scars and all are what make us interesting and unique. We each have our own journey and no one gets there an easier. Be kind to yourselves and to those around you. 

You know not what they may be going through.

xoxo

Her LadyMess

Wine Down Wednesday

Wine down Wednesday! Yesterday was national drink wine day! I'm sorry??? No one prepared me! Thank goodness I had plenty of birthday booze to choose from! My friends CLEARLY know I am a Jesus Juicer as I received three wine glasses and 6 bottles of wine total. I had plenty to choose from yesterday! I was given some favorites Cakebread (the magical Chardonnay which is cleaner than most California Chardonnays. You know me and my buttery creamy delicious Chardonnays. I have reviewed the Cakebread before on Her LadyMess as well as another delightful birthday juice I received, the Conundrum blend, oooooo and the Cupcake Red Velvet... So, I won't go back over them. I'll just give them a slow clap, standing ovation from right here in my NYC apartment :)
New bottles given to taste test:

 I have always been a big fan of this Oregon pinot gris. When I was in Portland doing the world premiere of Somewhere in Time we clearly made it to wine country and this vineyard was beautiful. I was thrilled that my pal was so thoughtful to want to try an Oregan Chardonnay with me! This Chardonnay, again not Cali butter style as it was unoaked. It was very smooth and delightfully fruity (Just like Mario Cantone without the side of sass!) Definite notes of lemon and lime coming through with another type of stone fruit... kiwi perhaps? Sounds random but it was refreshing enough that I considered it my hydration for the day :)
 I would get this as a gift for someone who is a Savvy B fan in a heart beat if you want to change their minds about Chardonnay!

Who has ever met a Malbec from Argentina they didn't like??? Always the perfect gift for a red wine enthusiast and a palate pleaser across the board. Typical Malbecs are flavored just as it is colored: plummy, dark cherry, berry flavored with just a hint of smoke and grit to make it a full bodied glass of deliciousness. I know it doesn't sound great when you are describing something going into your system in a similar family as dirt, but trust me.  Malbecs are stellar and cost effective. The Trapiche needed a bit of time to open up or a decanter might have helped. I found it led with the smoke and grit and the fruits were dry and opposed to luscious. It seemed that this particular brand was backward in how you want a Malbec to feel. 

Fun fact: A Cahor is a french version of a Malbec. Kind of sounds like a  red-headed french prostitute...). Awkward.

What would a party be without some bubbly? Or Pro-sexy as I like to call it. If you are going to make me drink champs, which I am not usually a big bubbles advocate (and I'm not talking about my boob-age... my family called me Bubbles during puberty and I never could let it go...TMI!) then let's make it prosecco. An Italian version of Champagne, delightfully inexpensive, and it delightful with a few frozen berries in it :) Not to mention pretty! Very pale in color and light on the palate. This would be great for a pinot grigio lover if they want to try something different. You know how I feel about the PG (pinot grigio...not pregnancy...give up the jesus juice for 9 months?? NOOOOOOOOO. I'm only KIND OF kidding...)

Cheers,
 xoxo
Her LadyMess

Nothing goes better with your morning coffee and a side of Pomeranian unless you count an excellent read! I love making a reading. The perfect balance of scripts, self help, fiction, non-fiction. I can never do a male protagonist ... sounds odd, I know. What can I say?  I like my lady business and I have attempted "man books" enough to know that it isn't for me.  

But here is what I will be reading over the next couple of months:

1) Rediscovering Catholicism:

I was raised catholic but have been a spiritual seeker my entire life. All in all, I think the big picture, it is about being a better human being. There is something greater out there than us. We all call it something different, but exist under the same ideal. I am interested to see if this book aligns with the principles in my next choice...

2) The Myth of Freedom

A book given to me by my friend and inspired soul Neil. He got me started on the meditation path back in college. We are making a book club out of it and touching base once a week. The book is centered around practicing mindfulness. We could all use a daily dose of that don't you think? 

The next few are choices based on a lady book and movie club I am in. Props to Jenna for saying even if you don't read the book (which I won't if it is a man club novel...barf nation), it doesn't matter, you can still join the ladies at the movie. You should do it with your ladies too! Here is the list of fantastic books being turned into movies this year: http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/books-to-read-before-they-hit-theaters-this-year 

3) Divergent

I like that my friend, Blair, picked this. She was strong in saying she had no interest in "A Winter's Tale". Post Valentine's Day, I get it. Instead, she chose a novel that is a warrior of the heart novel! I am anxious to see how it compares to Hunger Games. I'm GAME. (See what I did there...hehe)

4)  Gone Girl

I've been hearing about this since it came out! Now that is will be a movie, it was the perfect incentive to finally read it. Since I am not a kindle fan (WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO TURN PAGES?!?!?), I am lugging around the hard cover copy.

5) A Long Way Down

Oh goody a kill yourself delight. Once reading the description, I decided to put this towards the "tale" end of my list. Looks good... but I am going to need a bit more sunshine before delving into this sucker.

6) South Pacific Script

The next is a script of a show that I will be doing in the spring. I always like to read the script ahead of time and get started on lyric work as I am a "cotton headed ninny muggins (That's right. I'll reference "Elf") and I need all the practice I can get... and maybe some ginkgo biloba tea. Ew sick. I just said tea. I take it back! Coffee, yes. Tea? Boo. Vino? WAHOO! I digress...

7) Paradise Rewritten

This is research work for "South Pacific". The cool part about being an actor is that every show is a new beginning and a chance to learn new things, new cultures, new time eras. I love to make a study out of it. Makes me feel like a school girl again :)  

So, make your lists, people! Assign them to yourself. I am implementing reading at night before I get to bed so my anxiety brain starts training itself to fall asleep! Also, I love supporting used book stores and sellers from Amazon.com when I buy a copy of a book. Not only do they contain a story as a book, they also have a history of being read a shared. Love that <3 <3 <3

xoxo

Her LadyMess

She's back in action, Lady love!

 I feel like I am coming back into myself. I went into hiding for awhile and now I am ready to emerge in full force again... As a BLONDE! I rocked the red for awhile, but let's be honest: Blondes do have more fun! What do you think?

 I was feeling the weight of the world there for awhile. Life comes at you and you don't always know how to combat it. People also don't think it is acceptable to talk about Depression, but it is real and you have to know how to combat it. I watched the light go out of my eyes for months and didn't know how to get myself back together. Then, as I was about to turn 30, something shifted and I was ready for CHANGE. Sometimes a simple change of hair color will turn a new leaf! Small changes are good too. I promised myself for my birthday I would HYDRATE. For Pete's sake (No, he was not a recent okStupid Date) I never drank water! Wanting to be kind to my skin and new hair, I have made the commitment of 8 glasses a day like a good girl.
 Other changes? A beauty routine day and night that I am excited about. My best friend Blair got me Birchbox for Christmas and I must say I am addicted. I love trying new products and seeing a change! I was never a sample queen before but this is the BEST GIFT EVER. Seriously, get into it. Even for those that are hard to please! Also for Christmas, I got the Clairsonic Facial brush and it is exfoliation to the max! I have no more dry winter skin! Only a brighter complexion that I can feel proud of. (God bless the ladies in my life!) I believe my mom said : "Well, you and your father have very prominent pores."  Thank you??? (QUESTION MARK??) She keeps it real, that gal.

I have been trying to find my way back to that girl who was driven and had dreams that no one could say no to. I have lived in New York, accomplished goals that I had set for myself back in high school... and now what ? I want to be FEARLESS. We all say that and then rarely do anything about it. So, since my 30th birthday, my gift to myself is OWNING IT, I am proud of who I am and what I have to offer this world.

This journal has been through a lot. So have I. They are always so telling of the time period I have been witness to. But no more witness. It is time to be the leading character in my life and own my story. Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I collaged and wrote pages and pages. I have been so stifled emotionally that I could barely get half a page out in the past few months. It felt good to purge!

It was time for me to come around again. Pages from my collaging: 

It is the year of the journey. The "Healing Card" that I pulled that week was "RELEASE". I thought I had done that enough this week, but listening to the universe, I accepted the card. I have had emotional release, physical release (as I got my buns to the gym for class all week!), and verbal with my journal pages. This was the motto that forced me into action: 

Balance or bust, my friends. We have no other choice!

So thank you 30 for kicking me into gear instead of being a wallowing sad sack. Life is what we make of it. It takes perspective, goal making, and forward motion. Don't get stagnant. "The only thing consistent in life is CHANGE." So get on board with that mentality and make your changes positive to your life style. YOU CAN DO IT. 

Make a wish, my friends! To nailing this decade: 

XOXO,

 Her LadyMess