At the start of my fitness journey, I would periodically give myself a little treat to reward myself for the hard work I've accomplished. The treat?!? A thick juicy bacon cheeseburger from Jake's BBQ here in Brooklyn. Sooo good! They're on Seamless Web, my Brooklyn friends... check 'em out!
When I would indulge in my treat, it didn't feel unsatisfying, but it also didn't make me feel great either, when I'm honest about it. I didn't feel TREATED... I felt a bit... guilty for doing something I felt was counterproductive to all I'm trying to accomplish. And I've always been a person who believes that good things should be rewarded, and if you choose to reward yourself with a burger, or cupcake, or WHATEVER food you love... I say more power to you!!
I just came to the conclusion that for me... my idea of a treat wasn't a burger. Sorry, Jake's! LOL What really brought home the message of my "A-Ha!" moment was a pin I spotted on Pinterest (That site is a great motivational tool for me, feel free to check out my boards if you haven't already! There's a whole "Miss Moon Gets Healthy" section):
When I saw this, I immediately thought to myself, "This is what I needed to read!!!". I promptly thanked the Universe for the sign that I was making the right choices for my life, and I vowed to pick different treats for myself to reward my workouts.
And it's really worked out well for me! I'm slowing reprogramming myself to not equate unhealthy food with rewards. Because the way I see it... if junk food is a treat, what's healthy food?!? A punishment! And it really isn't (Except wheatgrass... I'm sorry, but Yecch! lol).
Not my most glamorous photo, but I was just back from a walk and THE Bag was in the mail, so I had to snap a photo!!! LMAO
What better message that you're on the right path then something you've wanted for OVER A YEAR (!!!!) suddenly becoming a possibility!?!?!? I found it for a STEAL on eBay! And thanks to my wonderful mother (who accepts weekly repayment plans), it's MINE!!! And the feeling I felt when I put that bag on my arm.... was satisfying!!!!
And I looked at my Get Healthy path in a new light. I was tenacious enough to keep checking eBay for over a year until I found THE Bag.... Imagine how far I will go if I put that much zeal into getting healthy and losing this weight?!? I think I do... so let's see how far I'll go between now and next year!
I haven't done a Top Five list in ages, so when I was walking last week I thought it would be fun to put together a list of songs that make me feel all romantical and stuff inside. With a single listen, I am transported back to being twelve, having no clue what love is about, but having a lot of dreamy ideas on the subject.
These are songs that (And I wish I was exaggerating)...I usually play on a loop for an hour or so, sighing deeply and swooning up a storm! Hence, I call them SWOON Tunes! LOL
The problem that occurred when I was thinking about the list was that it was really difficult to limit myself to only five songs!! So, in what's (I think) a first for Miss Moon's Musings... I am giving you a top TEN list instead!! These are in no particular order, by the way!
June - Van Hunt
Out of all the songs on my list, this one is the most recent. But please know that just because I've known this song for a shorter time than the others... I still swoon like mad!!! I wish I could accurately put into words what I love about this song. This is a weak attempt at it, I know, but I love the imagery in the lyrics and after first hearing it, I thought to myself that this is a song I would love to have dedicated to me by a fella.
This song is just.... beautiful to my ears! I don't know what it is... I listen to this song ONCE and that's a wrap for the next few hours... I'm listening to this song and singing along.... LOUDLY! That's my agenda!
Play Me - Neil Diamond
Yes, I said it. Neil... Mutha Effin'... Diamond. The Jewish Elvis himself!! I stan for this song big time, and frankly... I blame my Mama for it!!
When I was growing up, Mizz Lennid (My affectionate nickname for Mum) used to clean the house every Sunday and would play her records while doing her various tasks. I would help out and ultimately a lot of the songs she played have become some of my favorite "Cleaning Up" songs. Don't get me started on the Barbra Streisand/Barry Gibb duet "Guilty"....I cannot EVEN hear that song without smelling Mr. Clean!
LOL
But I digress... Play Me is a song I recently rediscovered and it's been OVAH for me ever since. I can tell you quite sincerely... this song is sexy as hell!!! Y'all may be laughing at me for putting Neil on the list, but take a listen and tell me honestly that the temperature didn't raise a bit for you!!
A Song for You - Donny Hathway
I can almost hear the "Yessssss!!!" coming out of some of you upon seeing the title of this song! But this song is not only a classic, but this is another song that if a guy dedicated this to me... we'd probably make babies. Lots and lots of babies!!!! LOL
Elaborate Lives - Adam Pascal and Heather Headley (From "Aida")
I've talked a bit about this song on FaceBook, as well. I've always said that if (God Forbid!) I'm ever in a coma, please call Adam Pascal to my bedside to sing this song, and I will WAKE UP... and probably earn a nice little restraining order in the process!! He'd be like, "Audrey, I'm so glad I can help you wake up from this coma, but could you get your tongue out of my ear?!? I mean.... SECURITY!!!!" Remember that scene in the movie "B.A.P.S." when Halle Berry spots Leon?!? Yep.. kinda like that!! Not gonna lie! LMAO
I've become somewhat of a door-to-door peddler of how swoon-tastic (Yes, another word I just made up!) this song is. I played it once for my best friend and I told her that she is going to sigh dreamily... and she did!! Yes, Natasha.. you did! LOL
One Mo' Gin - D'Angelo
As much as I love D'Angelo's entire album Voodoo, if you looked at my iTunes play stats for the album... this song would be top ranking!!! LOL
There is not a single of my exes I would love to have a moment like this with, but it's still a great song to daydream about and of course, swoon!!!
Heaven Must Be Like This - Ohio Players
This song is not a stranger to Miss Moon's Musings... I've featured it before. But damn, this song is beautiful!!!! This is a song that could be the first dance song at a wedding, and the first song of the Honeymoon playlist!!! LOL
Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
This is hands down, one of my FAVORITE songs... Ever!!! When I think about it, it might be my FAVORITE! Number One!! In fact, out of all of this songs on this list, this is probably my very first swoon tune!!!
I love this song so much, that if I saw Paul Young on the street, I would probably kick him in the nuts for his awful ear-raping remake. Okay "ear-raping" was harsh, I admit. But that's how much I love the original! LOL
Your Eyes - Adam Pascal (From "Rent")
Okay, I'm super-embarrassed to be placing Adam on this list twice. Look at his picture, even he's going "Really, Audrey?!?". I'm harmless, I assure you! LOL
But you know that famous "Ovaries Exploding" gif, very popular on Tumblr? Well, yeah... this song does that to me!!! Seriously, though... Adam? Please stay very happily married!!! Because if I ever... EVER.. catch wind that you're single, I might be forced to make a fool of myself! I mean MORE than I just did by just typing that last sentence! LMAO
I call this song a HERITAGE swoon tune. Because my wonderful grandmother Vivian, swooned over this song, my Mother and Aunt swooned... and my sister and I swoon as well. We are three generations of swooners! LOL
I have a feeling that my children will be swooning along with me to this song one day!
And there you have it... my Top Ten Swoon Tunes!!! What songs top your list? I'd love to swoon along with you, so leave a comment!! :)
I love love LOVE nail polish!!!!! It's a wonderful and inexpensive (sometimes!) way to purchase a quick pick-me-up when you're unemployed and in DESPERATE need of some retail therapy!
A nail polish trend that I've been super excited about trying is ombré nails: a manicure that starts out one color and then slowly morphs into another. I've spent MINUTES upon MINUTES at the nail polish aisle of my local Duane Reade looking for shades that would look together to pull this off, but with no success! For the life of me, I just couldn't pick up a few shades to do the job.
That's why my soul screamed "Yes!!!!" when I spotted The New Black's Bank Holiday Weekend Ombre 5-Piece Nail Polish Set ($22.00, Sephora)... because they've done all the work for me!! This five-piece set of expertly curated colors in a range of tones is designed for you to rock on each nail.
Is there any wonder why I picked Wave?!? Come on... y'all should know by now I've cuckoo for blue!! LOL I had to snatch this up, so be sure to be on the look out for a maniCURATIVE post on this in the near future!!!
I haven't be writing a lot of D-I-Y Nappturaliciously posts about my own hair (product reviews, length checks, etc.) in a while, I know.
Only part of this is because I'm unemployed. Having a limited budget definitely has put a damper on my spending, I'll admit, but that's not really the main reason why I haven't. The truth of the matter is, I was feeling very... uninspired about my hair. I was still loving being natural and was certainly not itching for some creamy crack. I just was in a rut, and budgeting for natural hair goodies wasn't really all that exciting to me. I am very happy to report that all of that has changed.
What changed it?!? Four Words: Miss Moon Gets Healthy. Yes! All of the work I've been doing in eating healthy and exercising and drinking nothing but water has really manifested itself in my hair. And for the past few weeks, I've been looking into the mirror and LOVING how my hair has looked!! So much so, that I officially gave my curls a very new (and improved!) nickname!!!
For years, I've nicknamed my hair "Freeda", or more specifically, "FRIZZ-eeda", because well... the Frizz really got on my nerves! But no more, darling 'do. That name no longer suits you at all!! Before I reintroduce my hair to all of you, permit me to indulge in a little back story.
The year was 1988. I was 11 years old and in the car with my Dad, who asked me what I wanted to do that afternoon. I said that I wanted to see a movie. My Dad has never (in my lifetime, at least) been the "Go to the movies" type of cat. I can count and name the number of movies I've seen with my Dad on two fingers! LOL
But, in a fortunate turn of events, he agreed and we went to the Green Acres mall to go see what would be playing that day. Yes, that is what people did before Moviefone! #TeamOldFogey
I don't remember the other movies that were playing at the time, but out of all that was available, I remember that "Satisfaction" was the one movie poster that I thought was the most interesting. Plus Justine Bateman was in it, and I had a huge girl-crush on her back then!
And I was right. That movie kicks ass to this day!! And I walked away from watching it a) Vowing to form an all-girl rock band one day! and b) With a brand new CURL crush: Trini Alvarado!!!
This movie was all about Mooch for me! She was the character I could most relate to, being a young girl from East Flatbush Brooklyn.
She was the kick ass girl who stole a van from a gang banger (with the unfortunate name Bunny Slotz) to get the band to the audition!!! She played the drums like the devil, and (spoiler alert) she was revealed to be a very shy girl and by bringing her vulnerability to the surface on occasion... she got the cute sensitive guy at the end of the movie!! And to top it all off, she had GORGEOUS hair!!!
Which leads me back to 2012, when 34 year old Audrey was admiring her hair in the mirror.
I looked at myself and said, "Girl, you are looking very "Mooch" today!!"
And I gasped and said, "That's it!!!!"... So it is with great honor, that I reintroduce you all to my hair...
Meet Ms. Mooch!!!! And I am also very pleased to let you know that Ms. Mooch and I will be revealing our updated regimen in the upcoming weeks, in addition of having A LOT of new products to try and review for you good people! Ms. Mooch is a good influence on Miss Moon, don't you think?!?!?! LOL
What's your nickname for your hair, if you have one? Also, what products would you like to see me try on Miss Mooch and review? Leave a comment and tell "us" all about it!!! ;)
My name is Audrey. I have been called many, many things. My Pirate Sistahs dubbed me Pirate Yemaya Chalice Moon, Mother of the Secret Realm (or Yemmy for short), which I remixed P-Diddy style into Miss Moon the Brooklyn Geechee. This blog is basically all about me and my life. I call it the rantings, ramblings and revelations of your average Brooklyn Geechee.
I have a lot of interests, and I admittedly get a bit dorky about them. So this blog will be about music, movies, politics, tv, getting healthy, and as Lisa Jones dubbed her book Bulletproof Diva (a must read!)... tales of race, sex, and hair.
I hope you like it. And if not, I welcome constructive criticism.
My only rule is be nice or leave.
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