Artist Madrid, Naturally

2014 is less then 24 hours away. I leave for Argentina in about a week. So, I can't help but think: "What have I done this year?" This year has been filled with so many accomplishments. I was able to prove the self-doubting side of me wrong on a daily basis. I set long-term goals and then followed through by reaching short-term goals. I'm healthier, I lost weight, my Mandarin Chinese has improved tremendously, I was able to get back to participating full-time in my Bible ministry... And I am going to Argentina for a few weeks to teach Chinese people about the Bible. That prospect is both thrilling and nerve-wrecking but this is what all the preparation has been for. That is why I decided to finally be more conscience about what I eat and more active. That is why I have been learning Chinese for years. It is now or never. But I guess what's even more scary then traveling to another continent is what happens afterward. When I get back home, what will my new goals be...

These are the songs that kept me moving during the changing of the seasons (brrr!): Acapella- Karmin Applause- Lady Gaga Elastic Heart- Sia ft. The Weeknd & Diplo The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)- Ylvis Ghost- Katy Perry Go Down Singing- Michelle Chamuel Mirror- Ellie Goulding Ordinary Love- U2 Roar- Katy Perry Who We Are- Imagine Dragons

I just wanted to randomly share that last week I realized my hair is long enough to be worn in a single ponytail and I've been rocking one ever since lol.

Looking back at my twenty-something years of existence, I realize I’ve spent a large amount of my life being afraid. And the majority of the time, I’ve let these fears disable me. “What if everyone hates me? What if I’m not strong enough? What if I get hurt? What if I fail?" Sometimes I imagine what my life would be like if I was just a little more fearless. Where would I be if I was a little bolder? It’s fascinating some of the dreams I’ve come up with. Then I resolve that I am going to change, that I’ll take more chances. But all my newfound boldness slips away just as swiftly as it came. I remember that I am me: the girl who is afraid of everything, who dreads change and who frets over every possible outcome. That’s me and I feel I can never be fearless.  But now, I’m starting to see things a little differently. Maybe I’ll never get over my fears completely but I can defy them. With each step I can prove to my doubting-self, that I am strong enough (even if sometimes it’s only ...

乐Lola Most of you already know that I named my hair LeLola but I just wanted to take a second to explain the name. Le (乐) comes from the Chinese* word XǐLè (喜乐 pronounced: SheLuh), meaning Joy. Lola is derived from the Spanish name Dolores, meaning Sorrows. So, LeLola literally means "Joys and Sorrows", which explains my hair perfectly : ) *I have been studying Mandarin Chinese for five years. +This information came from  MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary  and  BabyNames.com .

First, let me say that I have been having so much fun with my Hairaversary that I have decided to extend it by a week or two ; ) Wow! I have been natural for two whole years. When straightened, my hair length is past my shoulders (it hasn’t been that long since when I first started getting relaxers).  Now, LeLola actually falls down (when I do a twist or flat twist –out) instead of the gravity-defying look I rocked for a year. I love that I my hair is always changing and the available styles keep growing.  Yes, there are times when I would rather clean the house then wash and style my hair lol. I admit I am not as obsessed with my hair as I used to be but that is perfectly fine. Wasn’t that my purpose all along?...To find balance in my life? I still love my hair and I am so happy that 2 ½ years ago I decided to go natural again. I have learned so much about what makes hair healthy. All before I felt like my hair was just an inconvenience. Now, I know my hair is one of m...