TANCALIGIRL'S WORLD

The Big Picture

2009-10-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

So I've been living here in Santa Barbara for almost 6 months...how fast the time goes! I really was blessed to have had the opportunity to run a salon all by my lonesome. It was perfect timing actually because I quickly adjusted to the responsibilities of it all, while still exploring and experiencing Santa Barbara's way of life. It was such a great experience, however, as with everything in life, seasons change and so do circumstances. The best thing one can do is embrace change because it's going to happen regardless, so might as well enjoy the ride, right!? Anyways, whenever I start feeling thoughts of fear creep up inside of me because I don't know what is next, I have to constantly remind myself that God has everything lined up already, even if I can't see it yet! We don't always understand God's methods, but He sees the big picture. All of the pieces have to fit together at the perfect time! When it's His timing, nothing can stop it. So once again, I'm trying to learn to trust His timing and let Him work out the plan for my life. Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your your ways my ways," declares the Lord." "As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God knows best! And then after I have this realization, a spark of adventure rises up in me. "the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1 I face two options, the "safe" road, which is warm and comfortable...risk less; or the "impulsive" road, where I step out in faith and make a change! Sure it's not safe...but what is??? God can move mountains and He's got my back. Therefore, I think I'm going to take on this new adventure and step up to the challenge. If all goes well, I will soon be working in my very own salon!

NEXT CHAPTER FINALLY

2009-05-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

I CAN NOW SAY THAT MY CHANGE HAS ARRIVED...BEAUTIFUL SANTA BARBARA CALIFORNIA IS NOW MY HOME! I FOUND MY JEWEL...A CUTE LIL BUNGALOW ABOUT 4 BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE BEACH AND FROM MY SALON. THERE IS A GREAT MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANT, 2 GREAT BARS, A CARWASH, GAS STATION, SEVEN-ELEVEN, LIQUOR STORE AND GROCERY STORE ON MY BLOCK! NEED I SAY MORE...KNOW YOU ARE JEALOUS! LOL! TOO BAD NOW EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO SHACK IT UP WITH ME. ALL I CAN SAY AT THIS POINT, IS THAT I AM BLESSED! GOD IS GOOD! I'M LOVING THIS CHAPTER SO FAR!

IT'S ALL STILL A MYSTERY TO ME

2009-04-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

SO IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE STILL ALOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE YET TO BE DISCOVERED. BUT, I AM SO EXCITED FOR CHANGE AND WANT TO EMBRACE NOT KNOWING EVERY DETAIL! THIS IS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE ANXIETY KEEPS CREEPING INTO MY MIND. I NEED TO REMEMBER THAT WORRYING GETS NOTHING ACCOMPLISHED. I KNOW WHERE I'M HEADING AND NOW I JUST NEED TO LET IT ALL FALL INTO PLACE! SANTA BARBARA IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW CHAPTER IN MY LIFE AND IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING!!! IF I CAN JUST LEARN TO SURRENDER CONTROL...ALL IS WELL! ALL OF THIS MYSTERY IS CHANGING ME.

A NEW CHAPTER

2009-02-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

So after a long time of waiting and praying, I finally have gotten some answers! I have been desperately wanting change, but, I knew that I just needed to be patient and wait for God's timing. This was no easy task and I have found it to be extremely frustrating because I usually always have some kind of goal or "plan" that I am working towards. But, I definitely knew not to act on anything impulsively, which made me rely on God that much more! Maybe that was the whole point? But, at any rate, it looks like God is finally turning the page for me and it's a new chapter...FINALLY!

My Epiphany!

2009-01-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

SO I DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION THIS YEAR SINCE I NEVER FULFILLED LAST YEARS...I STILL HAVE YET TO GET MY PASSPORT! I DID PICK UP THE FORMS FOR IT LAST YEAR, BUT I STILL HAVE YET TO FILL THEM OUT! ANYWAYS, AS THE CLOCK STROKE 12:00 ON NEW YEARS, I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO TAKE EACH DAY OF 2009, ONE DAY AT A TIME. I REALLY WANT TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT AND THIS IS EXTREMELY HARD FOR ME TO DO BECAUSE I HAVE WAY TOO GOOD OF A MEMORY TO NOT CONSTANTLY BE REFLECTING ON THE PAST AND IT IS SUPER DIFFICULT FOR ME TO NOT THINK ABOUT MY FUTURE BECAUSE I AM ALWAYS SETTING GOALS. WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE TRULY BEEN MAKING A HUGE ATTEMPT TO JUST LIVE IN THE PRESENT! SO, MY RECENT EPIPHANY IS THIS, I JUST REALIZED YESTERDAY THAT THE HARDEST TIME OF THE DAY FOR ME TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT, IS WHEN I TRY TO SLEEP. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME FALLING ASLEEP AND THE TIMES THAT I DON'T I END UP WAKING UP A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER WITH MY MIND FLOODED WITH THOUGHTS! I HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. IT REALLY SUCKS TO BE 8 YEARS OLD AND HAVE YOUR MIND ON OVERLOAD. ANYWAYS, I HAVE ACCEPTED THAT I AM A "LIGHT" SLEEPER WHO HAS A MIND THAT NEVER FULLY SHUTS OFF. BUT, YESTERDAY AS I LAYED IN BED I REALIZED THAT ALL OF THIS THINKING THAT I DO, IN ALL ACTUALITY, IS ANXIETY! IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO ME BEFORE. SO, I WENT TO WORK AND TALKED TO MY COWORKER AND A CLIENT OF MINE ABOUT IT AND THEY BOTH GAVE ME SOME GREAT INSIGHT. ONE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO START STRETCHING BEFORE I GO TO BED AND THEN START TO FOCUS IN ON MY BREATHING AS I WIND DOWN AND ONCE I MAKE THIS A HABIT, IT WILL BE EASIER TO SLOW MY MIND DOWN. MY CLIENT GAVE ME AN INTERESTING TWIST OF PERSPECTIVE ON MY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS BECAUSE SHE SAID THAT IT IS BETTER TO CARE ABOUT SOMETHING INTENSELY THAN TO NOT CARE AT ALL; THOSE WHO DON'T CARE AT ALL HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR AND RARELY ACCOMPLISH MUCH. I JUST NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CARE IN A HEALTHIER WAY AND TO LIVE DAY BY DAY...WHY WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, RIGHT!?

THE SUN HAS SET!

2008-12-30T21:51:00.001-08:00

So as this year comes to a close, I watch the sun set...literally and metaphorically! As I drove in my car(which is all too often) I watched the beautiful sunset that God painted across the horizon and as my relationship with Luke(the sunshine in my life) fades away, I realize how beautiful love truly is. God is constantly reminding me that although the sun may fade away, tomorrow brings a brand new sunrise! I am ever grateful for this reality. I am reminded time and time again, that we will never know what tomorrow may bring and with this truth that I hold on to, I anticipate an exhilirating 2009! Only God knows what is next!

CLARITY

2008-12-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

So as I sit here and contemplate about our country's recession, I quickly turn my focus on to what really matters in life. Even though the tv is blaring about the crashing stock market and the newspapers have headlines of despair; I'm constantly reminding myself to not have fear. I can confidently have a life full of hope and peace of mind because God has all of this under His control! Don't get me wrong, when you look around and see sadness and destruction, it can be a harsh reality. So, that is when I must find all of the faith that I can muster and look up! I completely have to trust that God will make it all work out in the end. This picture of this amazing rock formation helps me gain clarity...God can make something beautiful even out of rock. He will always make a way and it just makes perfect sense. I will always marvel at his incredible beauty! Times are tough, but God is tougher!

BEING AN "EXTRA!"

2008-11-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

So as you know, I work at a salon in West Hollywood, called, Rudys Barbershop. It happens to be in a really great location on Melrose Avenue. That being said, alot of people like the vibe of the shop! Anyways, Burger King decided that they would like to use our salon as a location site for one of their commercials. The casting director asked me and one of my coworkers to be, "extras." I reluctantly agreed. However, once I was informed how much I would be getting paid, I became alot more flexible!lol!

So, after a long day of pretty much sitting around and eating, and a little bit of being ordered around by the director. I came to realize what the life of an "extra" consists of. I must say, it made me feel pretty unproductive and ancy! But, the best way to look at this experience is, it was probably one of the easiest ways that I've ever made money in a day and being able to hang out with 4 of my favorite coworkers all day long and eat limitless amounts of food, all in all, was a pretty good day! But, this experience of being an "extra," makes me appreciate my career a whole lot more!

THE SUNSHINE IN MY LIFE!

2008-10-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

So little did I know what my "Labor Day Girls Trip" was going to bring into my life! I had a blast with all the girls that weekend, but, Catalina became a whole new experience when i met this boy. It was the last night on the island and Muma, Tamara and I walked over to Marlins to retrieve Muma's glasses from this really nice guy, Chris, that we had met the night before. Anyways, long story short...Luke and I met that night and have been talking ever since. And if you can believe this, he talks even more than I do! We both have an undeniable love for the beach and live to be outdoors. I really enjoy his zest for life and his honesty is incredibly refreshing. I can't believe that i'm dating someone younger than me and God continues to teach me to never say never because you just never know!!!

Freakin Hilarious!

2008-09-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

JUST FOR FUN!

CATALINA

2008-09-03T08:26:00.001-07:00

SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE OUR INFAMOUS "LABOR DAY GIRLS WEEKEND," ON CATALINA ISLAND THIS YEAR! THIS YEAR OUR GROUP OF GIRLS CONSISTED OF 9 OF US: MUMA, ME, ABBEY, TAMARA, TINE, ROSA, KATIE, JACKIE AND VICKY! WE ALL LEFT ON THE CATALINA EXPRESS FERRY OUT OF LONG BEACH ON SATURDAY MORNING AND THAT IS WHEN VACATION BEGAN. WE CHECKED INTO OUR LITTLE COTTAGE BY THE SEA AND THEN WENT FOR LUNCH. SINCE OUR GROUP IS SO BIG ARE SERVICE IS TYPICALLY SLOW AND POOR! HOWEVER, WE ARE USUALLY IN GREAT SPIRITS AND HAVE TONS TO TALK ABOUT, SO WE AREN'T TOO AFFECTED. AFTER WE PUT SOME FOOD IN OUR BELLIES WE DECIDED TO GO HANG OUT ON THE BEACH. IT WAS A GORGEOUS DAY AND IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN SOME OTHER COUNTRY...WHAT A MAGICAL FEELING IT WAS. THAT NIGHT AFTER SOME OF US GOT READY(ME NOT INCLUDED) WE WENT TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT FOR DINNER AND THEN HIT THIS QUIRKY KARAOKE BAR. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND SOME OF THE GIRLS WERE REALLY SPENT SO THEY WENT BACK TO OUR PLACE TO SLEEP AND MUMA, TAMARA, ABBEY, ROSA AND I, WENT TO THE LOCAL DIVE BAR CALLED "MARLINS." WE DANCED AND MET LOTS OF SO CAL PEOPLE. AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, ROSA, SOMEHOW GOT THE LOCAL DONUT SHOP TO OPEN FOR US. NEEDLESS TO SAY, OLD FASHIONED GLAZED DONUTS ARE ALWAYS GOOD NO MATTER THE HOUR! LOL! SO THE NEXT DAY WE WOKE UP AND WENT AND GOT SOME COFFEE AND THEN WENT ON OUR ADVENTURES...THIS INCLUDED EATING, KYAKING, SNORKELING, LAYING OUT, PLAYING GAMES AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE! IT WAS A GREAT DAY AND WE WENT FULL FORCE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING MOST OF THE GIRLS WERE GETTING ON THE 10 O' CLOCK FERRY SO IT WAS A WHIRLWIND OF A GREY MORNING. ROSA AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO STAYED. THE SUN BROKE THROUGH AND WE WENT OUT AND GOT BREAKFAST. AFTER WE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR HER LOST FERRY TICKET. WE THEN WENT AND RENTED BEACH CRUISERS AND RODE AROUND THE ISLAND, IT WAS SO PEACEFUL. WE STILL HAD A LITTLE TIME LEFT SO WE SAT OUT ON THE BEACH AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP ON THE FERRY AND IN NO TIME ARRIVED BACK IN LONG BEACH! EVERY "LABOR DAY GIRLS WEEKEND," IS UNIQUE IN IT'S OWN WAY. FORTUNATELY, THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER! LOVE YOU GIRLS! CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!!!

THE BEACH

2008-08-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

SOUL SHAKEDOWN
So anyone who knows me, knows how obsessed i am with the beach! I have come to realize that few in this world truly have the same depth of love that I have for this beautiful creation. Most people seem to have some kind of favor for the beach, but, i experience such a deep connection there... it is truly euphoric! Seriously, it's beauty and vastness leaves me with endless feelings of serene peace and overwhelming awe.(These feelings normally vanish as soon as i get on to the freeway!!!) I know that others have similar experiences when they are in their element, whether that be standing on top of a mountain or fishing on a lake. But, for me, the ocean can bring such clarity and thankfulness simultaneously, that I have to admit that I am so addicted! The sunshine gives me light in my darkest days and the warm sand comforts each of my toes. The birds of the air remind me that I will always have provision and the crashing waves calm my restless mind. The coolness of the water revives my spirit and makes me feel alive; while the salt heals my every wound. The ocean gives me spiritual healing and solitude and i am forever grateful. Each beach is unique and mysterious and that is what i cherish the most about them. But what makes my passion grow, is that i always leave the ocean resilient, and that is the one thing that nothing else in this crazy world can do for me! God paints different paintings in the sky everyday and the sun rays shimmer on the water like millions of tiny diamonds sparkling. Kids laughter is in the air and smiles stretch along the coastline. It's already been said, but, the beach is my "happy place!" Now i just need to find me a surfer!