My name is Mayra (pronounced m-eye-rah). I Am Who I Am: Artist, writer, book-enthusiast, photo-shooter, dreamer,
ponderer, "beautiful-at-any-size" advocate, music box collector, butterfly lover, tea lover, bilingual, shoe & purse fanatic (woot! woot!). I am originally from
the tropical Carribean Island of Cuba, grew-up in the sunny beaches of Miami, FL,
currently in Kansas. I enjoy sketching, painting, antique shopping, dancing, laughing and I love to write, read, cook and take photos!
I am also a proud Mom of three beautiful daughters who collectively I like to call my Three Precious Treasures! They are my greatest reward and my true love.
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| My 3 Precious Treasures: From left to right..Mz "Oh hell nah!"; Mz "Okay whatev" & Mz "U know thatz right!" LOL! |
I bug'em sometimes (heeheehee). They're actually beautiful, loving, kind-hearted, compassionate, hard-working, independent, strong-willed women & young lady. I couldn't ask for any better daughters. I am so very proud!
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| My Terms of endearment: L to R: Priutibibi (eldest), Mamushki (middle) and Tetatechuechue (the baby)..oh oh Ima hear it! |
So there you have it...
I'm also a proud "abuelita" (grandma) of 3. Now Grandma sounds nice & all, but I rather be known as G-Mom! I actually came up with a Logo design for a "tank top" (of course).
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G-Mom with G-Kidz (2012)
Miami, FL |
And by the way, this photo was taken by my eldest daughter whom I'm proud to say is the magic behind SeLaRom photography as well as the owner. Very talented! check out her page!
Now back to me, I am passionate about feeling beautiful at-any-size and promoting positive body image starting with honoring the soul; also about self-reflecting, self-worth, self-love, self- acceptance and speaking your truth. My greatest passion is to serve. I volunteer with NODA, which stands for No One Dies Alone, a hospital based program where I serve as a campanion, better known as a healing presence. We serve any ill-patient whom has no family or anyone else and heartbreakingly within 72hrs will otherwise die alone! My heart just couldn't know this happens and do nothing.
A "healing presence is the condition of being consciously and campassionately in the present moment with another or others, believing in and affirmin their potential for wholeness, wherever they are in life". Reading poems, playing soft soothing music & comforting by simply & gently holding their hands, are just a few of the ways we can serve these patients. They know there is someone there to see them go when they are ready & choose to make the transition according to individual and personal beliefs. What an empowering and rewarding experience!
Furthering that note, I happily live by myself, in a nice size warm and cozy apartment in Olathe, Kansas. Technically, my middle daughter is staying with me temporarily for the moment while she decides on her next endeavor. Considering the other two live out of state, I am enjoying her company. I'd have to say my home decor style is modern cottage with my own personal flair added to it! I like cozy!
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| This is an entrance view of the living room. |
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| If I had to choose a lamp that describes ME, this lamp would have to be it! |
And of course, every lady needs her place to show off her personal skills & talent! I proudly display my artwork in their own special corner showcase on the wall of the living room.
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| Proudly Displaying My Art |
I would describe my fashion style as modern but classy. I follow no trend, never plan what to wear until the moment of dressing, and I go by my mood. That's one of the ways I honor my soul: I dress how I feel. You'll hear and see more regarding my style in other areas of my blog. So cue the drumroll now please...dun duh duh dunnnnn..This is ME!
...NOT!! So NOT me!!! Actually, this is how my daughters feel I should dress. As a matter of fact, one of them picked out this outfit for me and it's not so bad at all...it's just NOT me! The point is
I believe that the act of dressing up to the expectations of others rather than for yourself, is not keeping true to who you are. It's been my experience that doing so will have a negative impact on how you feel about yourself in the long run, because little by little the more you give up of yourself, the more you lose of yourself. The best way I can explain is by providing a visualization of my emotions on the subject (yea I am so a visual person) so anyway here I am again and...
<= this is how I feel when they try to dress me. >:( And when I'm being labeled whether by age and/or body image on how I should dress or how I should be, by whom ever it is...society, friends, family, Joe, Curly or Moe, fulano o mengano, I feel invaded, disrespected, and bullied! No one should be subjected to this kind of treatment, it's an injustice & inhumane! I know how it feels!
But I don't have to stand for this, YOU don't have to stand for this! It doesn't have to be this way. I say Enuff!! I AM WHO I AM, and of me I will make the most that I can! I'm not giving up this goal I will reach but I'm NOT going to let it make my life incomplete! I took my power back AND...
drum roll once again pleeeeeeaaaassse.....
Taaahh Dahhhhh!!! Now, this is ME....
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| I learned to love ME!! |
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I'm beautiful, vibrant, funky, colorful, unique, I love my cubananishi curves and love my high heels. I say I can do anything in the right pair of shoes. My style represents my confidence.
I rock out my curves and my short-cut red hair. I'm girly yet sexyy (yep with an xtra y). I'm flirtatious & sensitive yet strong-willed and I always speak my mind with my heart.
I'm NOT afraid to be silly. I'm colorful and unique. I love to laugh! I love to hear music and dance! I meditate and have learned that only I can hold myself back. So I embrace my own beat and follow the rhythm of my own flow! All bcuz I can! I LOVE myself and I truly and simplyy am...
I AM WHO I AM!
And so can YOU!
Toodles!
SimplyyMayra
Our Deepest Fear
<= this is how I feel when they try to dress me. >:( And when I'm being labeled whether by age and/or body image on how I should dress or how I should be, by whom ever it is...society, friends, family, Joe, Curly or Moe, fulano o mengano, I feel invaded, disrespected, and bullied! No one should be subjected to this kind of treatment, it's an injustice & inhumane! I know how it feels!
