Music Therapy with Miss Moon

“ Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

" You protect your being when you love yourself better. That's the secret. "
~ Isabelle Adjani

" You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection."
~ Buddha

I used to be the kind of girl who HATED Valentine's Day when I was single. Back then, the day served as a  reminder of how painfully alone (I thought) I was... But as I got older, I realized that it could be a great opportunity to lavish myself with love, and what could be better than giving and getting love?

When you are your own personal Valentine... you know you'll be getting exactly what you want with no strings attached. And you know that the gift will be appreciated and valued with no regret or disappointment. For this year, some friends and I will be going to dinner and a movie. We've decided to make ourselves and each other our Valentines!

So this week's song choice for Music Therapy with Miss Moon is a very special Valentine's Day shout out to all of us. Dedicate this song to yourself and sing along if you know you are loved!!! I hope you all will enjoy "Video" by India.Arie.



Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know our creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the
india arie

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the
game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change
but,Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with
y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
'Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be the india arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicone I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be india arie

DO SOMETHING: Ask 1 800 Flowers to Offer Fair Trade Flowers

Valentine's Day, which accounts for 40% of fresh flower sales annually, is fast approaching.

If you're planning to order a bouquet from 1-800-Flowers -- the world's largest florist -- you should know where most of those flowers really come from.

At flower farms in Ecuador and Colombia -- the countries that export the most to the U.S. -- two-thirds of the workers are women. These women are routinely subjected to harassment and even rape from their male supervisors. They suffer eye infections and miscarriages from consistent contact with dangerous pesticides.

In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, they're routinely forced to work 80-hour weeks with no overtime pay. Attempts to form a union are met with opposition by police and armed forces.

Many retailers -- such as Whole Foods and Stop & Shop -- have taken the important first step of offering Fair Trade flowers to consumers who want no part of these abuses. Fair Trade certified farms must adhere to strict standards for workers' rights, which prevents the abuses described above.

1-800-Flowers is the largest florist in the world. Yet they offer no Fair Trade flowers at all.

I just signed the petition from Change.org, "Ask 1 800 Flowers to Offer Fair Trade Flowers That Aren't Picked By Exploited Workers" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

This is the week before Valentine's Day -- more people will purchase flowers during the next seven days than any other week this year. This is our best opportunity to demand a promise from 1-800-Flowers to join its competitors in offering Fair Trade flowers. So after you sign the petition, please share this info widely and post on Facebook -- do everything you can to pressure 1-800-Flowers to show a little respect for the women who toil in unbearable circumstances. The women without whom they'd have no flowers to sell.

Our goal is to reach 35,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/ask-1-800-flowers-to-offer-fair-trade-flowers-that-arent-picked-by-exploited-workers

:::drools::: Valentine's Day Gifts with a little Personality!!!

Flowers and candy are great. I mean, who doesn't like a good box of chocolates? Who doesn't love the smell of a bouquet of flowers? But, sometimes... it would mean a lot to give a Valentine's Day present that different... something not everyone will be getting from or giving to their loved ones. But what do you gift a woman who's been given everything?!?!? Luckily... I'm here to help!! I've assembled an assortment of gifts that will be sure to make the lady in your life (or make yourself smile.. because remember, Self-love can be celebrated on V-Day, too!).



First up is this BEAUTIFUL Perfume Holder ($60), from Uncommon Goods. Handmade by artist Eric Bailey (who uses a unique lampworking technique to create a groovy spiral pattern!), this eye-catching perfume bottle will be a unique home for your favorite scent. Handmade in Corvallis, Oregon of borosilicate glass, which is durable and does not break easily. Exclusive.




Next on the list is the "Beads of Love" Necklace ($28), from Global Girlfriend. Created by Denver, Colorado jewelry designer Amy Kahn, who hand-forges the "Love" charms, which are then painstakingly cast in sterling silver by artisans in Nepal. The colorful beading is hand-strung by a women's cooperative in Nepal, a country in which women have been weaving beads traditionally for centuries. Amy's design -- combined with the talent of Nepali artisans and jewelry craftspeople -- bring this unique piece a quiet beauty that speaks volumes.



What better way to spend Valentine's Day than to cuddle up on the sofa with a romantic movie? The Popcorn Gift Basket ($79.99) from Buy.com is the perfect gift for your favorite popcorn lover or movie buff. This basket comes with several varieties of gourmet popcorn and a modern stove top popcorn cooker! The best popcorn is kettle cooked and this nifty new kitchen tool helps you make the perfect popcorn every time. In addition to the kettle cooker, they'll find two types of amazing gourmet popcorn kernels, as well as two seasonings, a Grapeseed spritzer which can aid in the sticking of toppings or can give an undressed pot of corn a delicious flavor, a vintage popcorn bowl, and two popcorn forks. Throw in the DVD for Love Jones or Like Water for Chocolate... and you will be sure to have a memorable evening!!

D-I-Y Nappturaliciously: Celebrate V-Day with 14 Days of Curly Love

:::singing a la Frank Zappa::: Give Me.... Your Curly Love! LOL



Valentine's day is to show love and gratitude for the love brought into your life. I don't know about you... but considering the time I spend listening to my hair and giving it what it wants to nurture and thrive, I consider my hair a very important part of my life, as well! And it has definitely shown me love and infinite patience over the years.... so why not hook my hair up with a little something-something, too? The Lovely People over at NaturallyCurly.com, the leading social network for people with curly, kinky and wavy hair, seems to think the same way I do. Why... do you ask?



They're giving away more than $10,000 worth of prizes, plus a Curly Love Grand Prize — a $1,000 American Express gift card to spoil yourself!!!

Starting today, February 1, 2011, the site will feature daily giveaways of various hair products and styling tools from brands we know and love like Hair Rules, It’s a 10, Blended Beauty, Kinky-Curly, Miss Jessie’s, Paul Mitchell, Carol’s Daughter, Ouidad, Curly Hair Solutions, Twisted Sista, Amourai Organique, DermStore, AG Cosmetics and Folica. (Today, you have a chance to win goodies from Hair Rules!!)

In addition to the fabulous giveaways, each entrant will qualify for a chance to win the Curly Love Grand Prize, a $1000 American Express gift card to use on spa treatments, products or anything their heart desires. (Any guess what THIS Brooklyn Geechee would buy? I'll give you a hint...it sounds like roach hag! LOL)

“Love is in the air this month so we at NaturallyCurly.com want our readers to love their curls and enjoy our awesome giveaways, ” says Michelle Breyer, president and co-founder of NaturallyCurly.com.

I couldn't agree with you more, Michelle!! So mosey on over to http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlylove to win the opportunity to give yourself and your beautiful hair a Valentine's Day to remember!!!!

Be Blessed: Be Your Own Valentine

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." -- Buddha

This quote really struck at me in a very profound way when I first read it several years ago. I was nursing the wounds of a rather bad break up and felt like I was doomed to spend my days alone and unloved and that was a fate far worse than death to me (I was in my early 20s...).

And I decided to take a hiatus from dating and work on myself. And I explored my spirituality, and devoured the works of Shakti Gawain, Iyanla Vanzant, and Marianne Williamson. I definitely considered that period in myself a spiritual hibernation, as I spent a lot of time working on myself and pretty much kept myself cloistered away.

I think the pinnacle for me was when I took myself out on a date for the first time. I went to the movies ("Hedwig & The Angry Inch") and went out to dinner. Alone. And it wasn't as crazy and awkward as I thought it would be. In that period of my life I learned that being alone does not mean lonely.

Now that I am in a relationship, I have learned that the work on yourself doesn't end because you have someone. I still make a point to do things for myself.. it's become a ritual for me. And I will continue to evolve and grow until I'm dead... because it's nourishing for me, and if it's good for me, it's bound to be good for my relationship.

This week, I will keep in mind this powerful affirmation by Louise Hay, and I hope that you will too. Happy Valentine's Day, Everybody!!!

I Love Myself Affirmation
Louise Hay


Deep at the centre of my being,
there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.
It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness,
my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions
and returns to me mutliplied.
The more love I use and give, the more I have to give.
The supply is endless.
The use of love makes me feel good,
it is an expression of my inner joy.

I love myself;
therefore, I take loving care of my body.
I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages,
I lovingly groom it and dress it, and my body lovingly
responds to me with vibrant health and energy.

I love myself; therefore provide for myself
a comfortable home, one that fills
all my needs and is a pleasure to be in.
I fill the rooms with the vibration of love
so that all who enter, myself included,
will feel this love and be nourished by it.

I love myself; therefore I work at a job I truly enjoy
doing, one that uses my creative talents and abilities,
working with and for people I love and who love me,
and earning a good income.

I love myself; therefore, I behave and think in a loving
way to all people for I know that that which I give out
returns to me multiplied.
I only attract loving people in my world,
for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself; therefore I forgive and totally release
the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself; therefore I live totally in the now,
experiencing each moment as good and knowing that
my future is bright and joyous and secure,
for I am a beloved child of the Universe
and the Universe lovingly takes care of me
now and forever more.

And so it is.

by Louise Hay, from "You Can Heal Your Life"