  Greetings. These are no filtered, no photoshop pictures taken after a performance I did over the summer. It was wonderful to be dancing again! I haven't danced at an outdoor festival during the daytime since I first started belly dancing (2008)--boy that was something special!
 I don't know about you, but summertime is hard on us goths. We wear black all year round, so of course we are sweltering in the heat. I've never ever been a sun baby. I define that as the people who LIVE for the sunshine and actually have SAD (seasonal affective disorder) during the winter months. There are people who actually follow the sun and live in different places during different seasons so they NEVER have to deal with the clouds and the cold. Yeah. Sun babies. I grew up in SoCal so needless to say...the struggle is real. I absolutely love the beach...but I love it for the water, not for the sun! Moving to NorCal was a good move for me because fog. Obviously. But still...it does get quite hot here in the summer months. Trying to stay in a gratitude mindset but the hot weather is really bumming me out!
To counter my grumpy mood I have been taking private dance lessons and also working on my choreography a lot. I am really enjoying Datura classes online. I am so pleased and proud of my belly dance sisters and mentors who created such a wonderful educational tool.  AHHHH!! Look at this Cutie McCutie Pie! OMG he is so cute I want to jump in the water, swim out to him and kiss his wet snout. Harbor seals are the BEST!
I've lived in the Bay Area for twenty years, but I have never actually lived ON the bay. Our building is right on the water and we see this guy and his friends almost every day. It is pure magic every time I see them. So. flippin'. Cute. 
I am in a state of constant shock and wonder. I cannot believe it...we moved to SAUSALITO!! Man oh man have the last six months of life been WEIRD AF. We had to move to a completely different STATE only to realize that we belong in the Bay Area and then we found this gem of an apartment in freakin' Sausalito. WOW. I am beyond exhausted with all the moving that's been going on. Exhausted and grateful for this new journey that lies ahead. I just bought this hoody that you see in the picture (I know! It's not black. Boo.) to support the local market that is right down the street from my place. The San Francisco Bay is right outside my front door. Yesterday I saw an otter frolicking in the water. PURE HEAVEN. Working on new choreography for the first time in months. This moment is good.
 Hello from the deep dark forest of Northern California! I am enjoying the springtime vibes and hope you are too. Please enjoy some new pictures in my fabulous faux assuit created by Melodia Designs. Her clothes are truly an inspiration! I've created an entirely separate page dedicated exclusively to pictures of peeps in assuit. I include myself of course, but there are other pics of famous beauties from vintage Hollywood and a few dancing queens. I will be adding more to this page over time. The pictures of Jamila Salimpour are particularly inspiring for me because when I saw them for the first time I realized I could be a tribal belly dancer AND WEAR BLACK. When I started dancing I was nervous about the belly dance aesthetic. I was in love with the dancing but the costumes did not speak to me, and I knew I did not want to wear lots of bright colors on the stage. After seeing Jamila (she took my breath away) I knew I would be alright. She gave me the courage to take the plunge and start weekly lessons. I"m so grateful!
Darkly Sparkly  This picture is a visual representation of my goals for the new year. I I never make resolutions because I feel they are silly, but my goal is to remain on my minimalist journey. So far, so good. I have identified as a minimalist since the early 2000's when I got rid of my book collection which was over 3,000 volumes. That was my first step and it was incredibly liberating. Over the years, I have slowly decluttered and reshaped my perspective on consumerism and capitalism and various other lofty ideas. In the last few years, minimalism has been a hot topic online and is now a trend! There are tons of videos on Youtube, multiple talks on TED.com and many insightful and inspiring websites. I am especially inspired by the minimalist youtubers (is that a word? oh well, it is now). Minimalism spills over into every corner and facet of my life. For instance, I started out with the goal of more space in my living room to dance, and now I make healthier food choices because of minimalism! When I go out to restaurants I allow myself to have whatever I want, but at home I simply do not buy meat anymore. All my meals at home are vegetarian. This is a huge step for me and I feel so much better in body, mind, and spirit. I am greatly inspired by Jenny Mustard, a vegan minimalist who makes beautiful and creative videos. I watch her almost every morning with my one, precious cup of coffee. Sometimes I watch certain videos over and over again, just to keep the minimalist lifestyle fresh in my mind. Minimalism is a personal, daily practice that can be accessible to anyone who desires a healthy, intentional lifestyle. I encourage you to research and experiment with this wonderful way of living.  |
 Blackhoody Blog
This is the place where I track future performances and announce updates in the Blackhoodygrrl world. There is also plenty of eye candy and general musings. 
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