Just Elizabeth Ashe
Culture

Valerie June -Organic Moonshine Rockin Chick

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If you have not heard of Valarie June  than you  in a for treat. Being into old country music, and folk soul. Valarie June is one down to earth chick that is rocking the music scene and changing the game for sure.

Valerie June goal at point is to bring back into awareness the grassroots movement of traditional folk music. As she calls it the organic moonshine roots movement. I fell in love with the title of the movement as I can
remember fondly being a little girl listening to old country music songs and pure at heart folk ones at that.

 

valarie

However don't let her looks deceive you or even have you thinking huh? She sings that:)

That is what I thought the first time I heard her sing. I'm into country music but to hear a black woman singing country, folk moonshine music at that! Really intrigued me to learn more about her.

Valerie June with the voice of an angel that is smooth as silk, is for surely a star in her own right. As a self taught guitar player and oldest child of five children. Decided to pursue her music passion at the age of 19, she comes from a strict Christian family and pretty much raised her siblings so she is not stranger to hard work and discipline.

Check out Valerie and I when she came to my town and did a wonderful Job!

valerie june album

She has worked with the john forte who co-wrote the fugues album, and she even wrote the popular song No draws blues.  Valerie June is a mixture of Bob Marley, Sinead O'Connor and Dolly parton all in one.

Surely a gem that needs more recognition!

Well I posted a couple of songs of Valerie's in my play list below for you to listen to.

Enjoy!

Natural Living

Wanna Know Where I’ve Been

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You know what, I’ve have been sitting here this morning thinking about how long I have not posted anything to the blog. Well I have been thinking about it actually quite a bit this week, but we all know that sometimes life gets in the way of certain things and some things end up taking the back burner.

To say the least.

It’s not that I have not wanted to post anything it is just that I have been so busy, up to my neck in things I have had to get done. My family and I ended up moving changing towns to be closer to my son’s school and get back closer to family and friends. Where we were living at before was starting to get to boring to me and not being able to see my family was starting to bother me. So we decided to move and found a home in a great area, and the kids are happier and everything is working out as planned.

But we all know with moving comes a lot of things you have to do like un-pack and get everything situated around the house and with four small boys that can take forever and a day. When I moved before I had a lot more help and things got a done a lot faster. However it did not work out that way this time, and then to top it all off my son ended up breaking his arm the very first night we moved into the new home.

So as you can see I have been pretty busy.

Things are getting back to normal now after the move and the holidays, and I have a lot of material lined up for the site and podcast show.

So don’t you go anywhere!

Any how to change pace for a sec I have been reading a book call in The Defense of Food – ( An Eater Manifesto) by Michael Pollan, I know his last name sounds like it should be a part of bee company or something. But the entire book is absolutely amazing and one that all should read if they are truly interested in how to eat for true health and enjoyment. It covers everything from the history of food to big corporations today and how we have gotten away from real food and really why America is as fat as we are. And what you can do about it, to re-cover you own health but also to establish a better one for your family.

There is so much to this book, and I will have another post up soon with a full review on my thoughts on the book really sooooon……. So stay tuned for that one.

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a comment I would to hear your thoughts and what you have been up to.

I love Watching Movies on Amazon Prime!

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Watching movies is one of my favorite things to do and pass the time. Especially now that we have options like Netflix, hulu and the ability to watch movies on amazon prime.  This is by far one the coolest things that has come around since Cd's were made when I was a teenager. Being able to rent movies through amazon prime or even watch free movies on amazon is a big treat.

I'd rather watch movies at home than to go to the theater, unless its a really great, great film and than I would have to see it than. However, my regular day to day drama's that I love to watch in a nice comfy blanket on the couch. Is just streaming it through my Roku on my flat screen. I have Roku 3 or Roku 3rd generation in case you wanted to look it up.

Nothing can beat being able to see movies at home on the flat screen.

As Far a movies are concerned this year there are two that I really enjoyed this year, It is hard for me to recommend movies unless they are ones that really moved me and have touched me . The first one is Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts and the second is Fast Food Nation.

I had the chance to finally see Eat Pray Love the movie this week, and I have to say it is truly a very awe inspiring story. One that is to be seen time and time again. Julia plays her part perfectly and gives a fabulous performance coming from one that is huge fan of her work dating all the way back to mystic pizza. One of her first movies.

Anyhow whether its Eat Pray Love the book or the movie, this is sure to be a great chick flick to see. When I had the chance to watch it I was a little skeptical a first. Because When I saw the promotion for it on Oprah and how she went to India and other places to explore her spirituality, I did not want to watch it because honestly I'm not into praying to little statues.

Buts that's just my opinion.

So when I finally sat down and watched the preview again it peaked my interest again, and I decided to buy it and watch it, and boy am I glad I did. Eat pray love is full of love, warmth, and friendship and everything that humanity is about. If you are one that is looking for a little inspiration or know someone who is stuck in a rut and needs some pick me up, than eat pray love the movie is one you should buy. This is surely now to be a all time movie classic in my home reminding you to live life, stay in the present and enjoy the blessings that are bestowed upon you.  All I can say is you will have to see the movie to truly appreciate what I am talking about.

The second one is Food Inc. based on Book I read years ago called Fast food nation which brings to light out of the darkness the shocking truth about about the food industry. If you are on the bench and just now starting out learning how to change your eating habits for your family and make them better. Than this is sure to get the fire inside you boiling up and having you really thinking about what you are putting into your mouth.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli–the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults Food, Inc. reveals surprising — and often shocking truths — about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation as a result of it.

I Plan on in the near future touching on more of the food industry topic and why should take more of a look into what you are eating and why eating a more natural, local farm based could be a better alternative for your health. Until than you might want to look at this post on how food can impact your mood.

 

Whether its Watching movies on amazon, or renting movies through amazon prime I know for sure it's one thing I love to do. And don't forget when you have a amazon prime membership.

You will also be able to watch free movies on amazon too!

Once you watch them let me know what you think about them:)

 

 

 

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Beauty

Shadeism – Dealing with Shade Issues across the World.

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If you had not had the chance yet to see the short documentary of Shadeism , than you are in for something good. Through the eyes and words of 5 young women and 1 little girl shadeism discusses the underlying shade issues that plague young women and society in a whole across the whole world.  I was shocked even to myself to find that it affected as many countries as much as it has, just the same as the United States.

Shadesim is one true eye opening documentary to the effects that colonialism has had on the world, and the fact that if you are not of a lighter complexion than that can somehow hinder you, and have you not liking your self as much.

I am of a dark complexion, and my whole family is of very much lighter skin tone except for my older brother and I. And I have been hearing my whole life, that I was the darkest one and it affected me to a certain extent, but not as much because at the same time I was told that I was beautiful and the blacker the beerier the sweeter the juice.

However, than at the same times I would hear things from a grandmother that grew up,  in the times of segregation and from her point of view, the darker you were mainly of men she somehow thought less of them.

So as you can see I am had a unbalanced way of hearing things from a child on.  But that did not stop me from loving myself or not really truly appreciating who I am and was than.

Shadeism is something, that all should hear because it affects all and not just women, but men as well that are of darker complexions.  I am so thankful now that the country is starting to see that black is beautiful  and always has been. Here in the U.S.  and also across the world.

I love the fact that the movie shows and says that we should choose not to blend in to the norm, but set our own normality by starting the discussion and asking questions. So that we can see that everyone has either had some experience with it, or has seen it happen some where or another.

Shadeism is the sort of stuff that I love, and love to share because it shows the  negative in a situation and addresses the positive that we are beautiful and lovely at that.

The moment that you see that and really see and truly see it, than you are set free from the ignorance that has been entrenched in the minds of many, subconsciously. You are able than to truly love your self  and know that you are loved.

P.S. What are your thoughts ~ How do you feel abut the issue of Shadesim ? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Todays Steal of A Deal – Kleen Spa

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For now on I will be posting great deals that I find around the web that you will be able to take advantage of. Many of the products will be cool natural things, Eco friendly things, makeup, and all sorts of neat looking things that you could use. For your home and personal use.

Today's Steal of a Deal comes from KleenSpa a Natural Bath and Body Company that sells everything from bath salts, candles, lotions and the list goes on.

The offer is only available for a limited amount of time so you have to act fast. Well that is today's deal, and I will be posting more as I find them.

Enjoy!


 		Klean Spa

Today's Save: $18 for $40 worth of scented skincare, candles, and perfumes from KleanSpa.com

Expires 11:59 PM – Nov 21, 2010