Tag: beauty

Brand New 

Published on by Tosha Michelle47 Comments

You who carry sunshine in
your hair, the sky in your hands,
and blueberry pie in your eyes

You who knows all the words
to every Chet Baker song.

Why don’t you come by my record shop?
I’ll teach you the percussive du wop

Come unearth my city plot.
Right my upside down heart
with the lilt of your melodic
voice.

Stain my soul with your graceful fingers.

Sing me your red velvet tune
with not one note of sorrow

Scrawl on my tongue
your heart song.
I’ll sing along.

Make music to a woman
not quite young, but not yet old.
My mind a score of hunger.
Patterns of passion across
my face.

Don’t be afraid to improvise
summer nights composed of
bodies and sway.
Wingtip and rosehip.
We’ll create our
own tune.

The tenor sax takes the lead.
It sounds like desire,
like it won’t ever stop.

Let’s crack the night with needle and groove.
Let the blues run off with D minor.
As two lovers infuses the dark with rhythm and spark.

-Tosha Michelle

Guest Blog Post by Stephanae McCoy.

Published on by Tosha Michelle15 Comments

 

 

I asked the lovely and inspirational Stephanae McCoy if she would be so gracious as to write a guest blog post She said yes almost immediately, because she’s lovely like that :). For those of you who don’t know this dynamic lady ” (Steph) McCoy is a successful businesswoman, style setter, blogger and abilities crusader who breaks the myth that “blind people can’t be fashionable.” As a blind woman who happens to love fashion and style, Ms. McCoy founded boldblindbeauty.com, a successful website that brings women together to share in the beauty of fashion and style, provides a community that encourages empowerment and camaraderie, and makes a connection between the sighted and non-sighted worlds eradicating misconceptions and long-held stereotypes about people with vision lost”. You can find out more here. Be sure to follow.She’s one of my heroes.

About Steph

And do check out the amazing things she’s doing through her on-line store Abigail Style.

From the site:

Breaking down barriers, and giving back are the most important messages of Abigail Style. Empowering blind women to love themselves through the promotion of self-confidence enables them to walk through life on their own terms.

Independent living is achieved through focusing on individual talents and abilities. By supporting Abigail Style’s mission of improving the world, you are also aiding the Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh (BVRS) as 10% of all profits are given to the Employment Services Division of the agency. BVRS, known for its outstanding programs, has served people from around the US.

Abigail Style

And now Stephanae’s inspiring piece.

“Shame was the reason I decided to describe myself as ‘blind’ versus ‘visually impaired’ because it was important for me to accept the word ‘blind’. Once I did this I was able to get a grip on my fear and move forward.”

I’m not sure why I felt shame when I lost my eyesight but I think it was closely tied to my personal biases and lack of understanding where blindness was concerned. In walking through the process of sight loss and facing my shame/fear head-on I was able to move forward.
Do you Face Everything And Run? Or Face Everything And Rise? Fear can motivate or repress and your response is a matter of choice.

Choosing To Rise:
The first step is doing an honest self-assessment. Like following a map, unless you know yourself, you will get lost.
The next step is to set short and long-term goals. Goals should always be written, periodically reviewed, revised and once they are met, new ones should be set.
The third and final step is to stay the course. When you get derailed, get back on track and keep pursuing your dreams. Do not let anyone, tell you that you cannot succeed.

When it gets down to it the choice is up to you. You decide how to navigate your path to success.

Angst in Verse

Published on by Tosha Michelle36 Comments

 

cropped-wp-1465485078962.jpgMy poetry knows how to
sing the blues.
It finds rhythm in lost loves,
an empty room, a whiskey shot.
It’s cadence of roving eyes
a wallet devoid of
cash. the desire to stay.
The need to go.
Misery flows from lyrics
that refuse to let it fold.

My poetry channels
Ella Fitzgerald and
dissonant chords of a broken
someone.

It thrives on restless things and memories
that come to life in a song

Moaning the words so fervently, the ink drips
to save me, even when I’m out of tune.
And I can only glimpse
where I’ve been, not where I’m going.
The want for new history
and a new song spurs the poet on.

-Tosha Michelle

 

And on a u related and happy note. I am in love with this song. It takes me to a serene place.

 

A Mind 

Published on by Tosha Michelle24 Comments

A mind should implode, unfold, and behold all beauty, all monstrosities, lions, joined with lambs, with whales, the ocean, living words, flowing emotions, before the forest dies. Before the notes become too high to scale. Before the sliver coin flips over Before we realizes we are all mice and the serpent awaits.

-Tosha Michelle 

Selective or Picky?

Published on by Tosha Michelle22 Comments

In a totally different vein than my usual posts, let’s talk about the ideal partner.

Here’s my laundry list. I think I may be too picky. 😜

1. Tall. Height is my one superficial quirk. He can be bald and chunky just not short. Hypocritical, since I’m only 5’2
2. He must be loyal, intelligent, kind but not meek. Sense of humor is a must. I need someone who can make me laugh
3. Slightly nerdy but artsy
4. Must like my two daughters and my rock dtar cat.
5. Passionate about life and me.
6. Must love to travel and go out but also happy to just stay ar home and cuddle on the couch
7. Socially conscious. Awake and aware.
8. Liberal minded and urban
9. Affectionate and loving
10. Lastly, he must treat me like a princess 😜

Sunshine Blogger Award

Published on by Tosha Michelle22 Comments

Thanks to Alex for the nomination. if you get a chance check out his blog and follow. He’s like the male version of me only British and much cooler

Awards/Notifications – Sunshine Blogger Award


Rules

Post the award on your blog.
Thank the person who nominated you.
Answer the 11 questions they set you.
Pick another 11 bloggers.
Give them 11

1. Which literary character would you most like to be?

Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables. It was one of my favorite books growing up. I really identified with the talkative, imaginative girl she was. i’m also a huge romantic and prone to mischief and bouts of insecurity

2. Which TV character do you find most inspiring?

Olivia Benson from Law and Order  SVU The character is tenacious, brave, principled and strong

3. If you could choose one specific drink to make healthy which would you choose?

chocolate mint milkshake

4. Which actor/actress did you think would become more famous but faded away?

Neve Campbell. She seemed to really be going places

5. What was the first album you bought/downloaded? When did you last listen to it?

Whitney Houston. It was a birthday gift. It was her first album. I remember listening to it religiously as a kid.  I haven’t listened to it in ages, but I should. Her voice was beyond amazing. It was truly devastating when she died

6. Which famous mystery do you wish you could know the answer to?

I’d like to know who the zodiac killer is

7. Have you ever had a film ruined by a bad cinema experience?

Not that I can recall

8. Which family member are you most like and why?

My mother. We are both beautifully complex. I also like to think I have her sense of humor and style. She’s always been ultra hip

9. What’s the most disappointed you’ve been with a film adaption from a book?

I really didn’t think the 50 shades movie truly captured the brilliance of the book. I’m kidding. Seriously, I didn’t like either adaptation of Wuthering Heights

10.Which famous person do you wish could live next door to you?

Jon Stewart. However, he would probably get a restraining order against me.  I’d be trying to hang out with him all the time 

11. What would your dream profession be?

Broadway star

My nominees
Eric
Casey
Niles
Tony, aka in love with Jersey
Charlie
Jane
Terry
Randy
Amanda
Jackie
Eachel

My questions

1. why did you start blogging?
2. what authors inspire you?
3. if you were a mixed drink, what would you be?
4. how would you describe yourself in three words?
5. if you or Alice in Wonderland, would you stay there or come back and tell the story?
6. are you more like fire or ice?
7. what’s your favorite quote?
8. milk chocolate or dark?
9. what’s your idea of a perfect day?
10. if you could live in any other country, where would you choose?
11. what’s your favorite movie? Why?

Breathe 

Published on by Tosha Michelle20 Comments

For my German friend. She loves all things Taylor. She’s also into spanking apparently, but that’s for a different blog😜

Have a lovely weekend. I hope it’s one to write about xx

we know it’s never simple, never easy.
Never a clean break, no one here to save me.
You’re the only thing I know like the back of my hand,

And I can’t breathe without you
But I have to.
Breathe without you
But I have to.

All To Well

Published on by Tosha Michelle12 Comments

On occasion if I asked
sweetly enough he
would sing to me in
a scale uniquely his own
Baritone and microtonal
And in those moments
I felt i had a part of him
that was solely my own
How he must have loved
being loved
But those cadences held
only fondness for me.
Now I’m trying to relearn
the intervals, to travel
without him among
the thirds and fifths
slowly as they diminish
but what I really want
is to hear those low
notes again.

-Tosha Michelle

Musical Sunday 

Published on by Tosha Michelle23 Comments

That’s a thing righr.  In a popish mood. No judgment please 😜

 Wide Awake
Katy Perry

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn’t dive in
Wouldn’t bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete
Falling from cloud nine
Crashing from the high
I’m letting go tonight