Money, Money, MONEY!!!!
(Before I get started I’ve started a new blog page at tianastarmusic.wordpress.com if you also want to follow that! Thanks!)
It does seem like it’s all about money sometimes (or all the time). I KNOW that money can’t buy you love (as The Beatles so aptly sang), and that money is no replacement for anything that really matters and fills our hearts. However, we do need money for necessities like food, water, clothes, shelter, gas, cars, and so on and so forth. Let’s not even go there about things we don’t need!
In these times of economic hardship, it seems that money and saving money is on everyone’s minds. Some try to cut expenses out of necessity, and others to be wise and frugal. My family and I are no different. I’ve been learning to coupon (www.TheKrazyCouponLady.com) and cut out a lot of things like memberships, cable, and whatever else we can so that we can get by and pay our necessity bills.
I also know that being an American, and having enough food, water, clothing and a place to live, not even counting my bicycle, a car, a cell phone and my other non-essentials that I’m blessed to have, make me one of the richest people in the world.
I found this amazing and informative article on Yahoo! Finance by Laura Rowley titled “You Might Be Richer than You Think.” I was shocked to hear some of these findings she cited.
(http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/moneyhappy/204898)
Here are some excerpts from the article: 1. Are you planning a sumptuous dinner today? More than 1 billion people – nearly a sixth of the world’s population — are faced with chronic hunger. 2. Did you spend more than $2.50 on the ingredients for your Thanksgiving menu? More than three billion people — almost half the world’s population — live on less than $2.50 a day, according to the World Bank. 3. Can you turn on the faucet to fill the water glasses for dinner, and be confident that clean water comes out of the tap? According to the World Bank, 1.2 billion people lack access to a reliable water source that is reasonably protected from contamination. 4. Are the kids relishing a little time off from school? More than 70 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not enrolled in school in 2005, according to a United Nations Report. 5. Will someone in the family read a holiday poem or blessing before you dive into the feast? Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names, according to a UNICEF report.
After reading the above article, I hope it changed your perspective, as it changed mine. We focus so many times on what we don’t have, or even let the fear of losing it all ruin our lives. But life is so unsure anyway, we should be thankful to have another day of life and for all we do have.
(My sister Linnea volunteering at an Orphans’ home during her time as an Art Teacher in Tanzania, Africa)
Thank you for reading, and as always, please feel free to comment and perhaps share how blessed you are and any ideas on how we can help others, or even a story about how someone helped you when you needed it!
Video Release Party with ECPAT- INSPIRING!
So, I wanted to write about my Video Release Party before I forget too much. Today was one of those days where you are just in awe that you got to be a part of something so so special.
(After The Show with LtoR: Jasmine (Director of Video), Helen (Producer of Video), Carol Smolenski (Director of ECPATUSA), Eeefy (TV Host), Tiana Star)
The room was filled with people who not only love me and my music, but were there for something bigger. We all came out, perhaps for different reasons, but what we got was inspiration and hope.
The event started out with a lot of getting to know each other, as half the crowd was texting and letting me know they were running late because of the usual L.A. traffic. So, that was actually very nice as everyone was chatting and munching on goodies in the very uniquely decorated and painted Coffee Gallery Backstage.
I ran in and out saying hello to our guests and then talking/texting to people on the phone trying to wait as long as we could because the event was going to be short, and didn’t want people to miss out if possible!
While my family helped decorate and watch my 2 year old son, and fans were arriving, I had the pleasure of FINALLY meeting Carol Smolenski, director of ECPAT (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking). A woman I’ve been in phone and email contact for almost 2 years after writing my song “I AM MY OWN” inspired by their charity, and giving proceeds from the song to them.
Well, she walked in during my sound check and I recognized her immediately. She has such a glow and beauty about her that I yelled out her name and she just laughed! I got along with her so well. We got to chat for a few stolen minutes over a cup of coffee and dream up more things we could do together! She is such a CHAMPION for human life and saving children and young adults from unthinkable crimes!
(Some of my awesome friends that drove 40 miles to be there!)
Finally almost everyone was there and it was time for the show to begin. Thankfully using my new TC-Helicon VoiceLive Touch went well (it harmonizes with me and adds amazing effects- check it out online!) And the whole crowd was quiet and listening to me. I can’t tell you how good it feels for people to be feeling what you wrote and are feeling and getting it! It’s just one of my favorite feelings ever.
After my 6 song set, including ending with I AM MY OWN of course, it was time for the real honor to begin- Carol Smolenski took the stage. She told us her story of how she got started in Children’s rights and how we’ve not come nearly as far as I’d have imagined. She says there’s more hope now than there’s been- but out of all our airlines and all our hotels that they’re asking to be held accountable for Child Trafficking going on- only 2 businesses in ALL of the US have signed their petition! We couldn’t believe our ears! Internationally over 1,000 businesses have signed the pledge to train their employees what to look for, and not to blink at seeing young girls (and boys) in suspicious situations being let into hotel rooms (or airplanes). And yet here in our own country- only 2 have signed this!
With that said, though, Carol went on to explain how we all can help. She told us when we board airplanes and when we stay in hotels- that we could ask what they’re doing to protect children being exploited- and she even gave us all postcards we could fill out to hand in or mail out in case that made us more comfortable (here’s the link to take action: http://ecpatusa.org/take-action/promote-the-code/ )
She was so upbeat and eloquent in her speech that she made us all believe the TRUTH- that we can ALL STAND UP AND HELP END THIS! That we CAN’T be good people who JUST SHUT OUR EYES! We have to take a stand for this to end. I totally believe that!
At the end of her speech, several people asked her questions and she continued to give thorough, and informed answers that once again inspired us all to take action once we left. SIDE NOTE: I WILL be having petition and postcard mailing parties for my friends, fans, and family. COMING SOON!
After we all clapped and clapped for Carol- we didn’t know what else to do- what else can you do but pray for and hug this amazing women doing so much with such awesome people trying to make a difference- not just talking about it- but DOING IT!
Well, after all that, it was time to introduce the Music Video. I had the crew that was in attendance from the making of the video: Jasmine (director), Helen (producer) and Tiffany (actress in video), come to the stage to introduce them- so everyone would see these beautiful women and how much they’ve helped!
The video was shown and it was over in a second (it seemed) Everyone clapped and clapped and the room was silent during the film. It was an interesting thing to be watching myself on screen with everyone else- but in a way natural- because mostly it was about bringing awareness to this issue that NEEDS to be talked about.
Afterwards, everyone was going up to Carol privately and asking her what they could do, and asking questions that needed answers. It was so amazing. Everyonewanted pictures and to stick around. I’ve never had so many people stick around so long. I think we all were drawing on this loving and positive experience and arming ourselves with this passion to move forward to remember to keep it moving!
Then as the last of us were about to get into our cars, an ice cream truck pulled up and I shouted “STOP THAT TRUCK” because my little 2 and a 1/2 year old sweetie pie son had never had ice cream from an ice cream truck (and I wanted one too). Well then- everyone all got ice creams too, young and old- and we took more photos! It was awesome! (I got a Ninja Turtle pop) :)
(My son West getting his first ice-cream from an ice cream truck!)
So, as you can see, it was just one of those amazing days. For anyone that is reading this that attended- thank you so much for being there and I’m so honored to have been in everyone’s presence, as each soul is equal and important and it took a lot to get all the way out to Altadena for every person there, and I’m so grateful.
I hope that those reading who aren’t aware of Human Trafficking will please take the time to get aware. Remember to buy my song I AM MY OWN as proceeds go to ECPAT and we’re trying to spread the word- through donations and money, ECPAT pays for victims healthcare that isn’t covered by medicare, and a billion other things to help these poor victims and to get them FREE!
To Close, I remember when I was a little kid and I read about Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad. I remember saying “I would’ve done that, I would’ve helped those slaves” and thinking “Even if I died, I would’ve helped”.
I ask you- Will you help these slaves? These children with no voice, no home, no help, no FREEDOM? Will you help! I WILL! Remember the voice of Edmund Burke
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”
WE MUST DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!
If you don’t know where to start- start at ECPATUSA.ORG and see how you can take charge. Email me- booking@tianastar.com with any questions as I’m arranging events soon to all work together. And BUY MY SONG “I Am My Own” for only .99 cents on iTunes as the proceeds go to ECPAT who know what to do with that money to help others!
Thank you for reading, and I hope you’re as inspired as we are!
Tour Diary Day One Sept. 21st, 2010
Ok, So as promised I’m writing my day one of my tour diary. Mainly today was a lot of driving. We got up around 5 a.m. and kissed my hubby goodbye and then got my mom and son up to finish packing the car. And when I say packing, boy do I mean PACKING. Because that’s the only way everything was going to fit!
So, we did it and there was one brief second when we were packed in my car like sardines that I thought about calling and cancelling and the thought “Who said this was a good idea?” went through my head. Mainly, it was also the lack of sleep and the stress of a big trip with my mother and a 2 year old!
So off we went! Down the street to Coffee Bean! Like we were going to start this trip without our favorite coffee! Yum yum! And then…off we really went….
Next stop…Flagstaff, AZ!!! Well, we stopped a few times along the way for food, and some walk time, but finally made it to Flagstaff at 4 p.m. Mom and I crashed and took turns watching West while we napped. Then we took an awesome trip walking across the street to Wal Mart! Woo hoo. As if we needed anything else…
Smelling the fresh air here in Flagstaff is enough to make me want to move from my beautiful sunny CA stat! But I won’t, yet at least! :) We took a nice long walk around and just breathed in the pine tree air.
Tomorrow morning, first stop (after coffee) GRAND CANYON!!! I’ll probably write a more detailed and funny tour diary after- like a fun wrap up- but I’m so exhausted right now this is all I can do.
CSULB, Poetry, Goldfish, and Messy House
So, I’m writing this at 12:35 a.m. March 26th. I played a last minute show tonight at Cal State Long Beach’s Poet’s Lounge. It’s always such an interesting crowd and experience. The music (me and my cellist Irina tonight) start the show with a few songs and then they have featured poets as well as open mic poets. I find most of the poems to be extremely innapropriate- but some are pretty amazing. I also find myself very inspired because it gets my brain thinking in a different creative way. It really inspires me to write better lyrics and different perspectives. I really like it.
I was also pleasantly surprised because two of my dear friends came to surprise me and support us- even though it was really last minute and on a huge college campus- they walked like a mile to find us. Seriously, getting to this place, especially your first time feels like when Buddy the Elf from “Elf” tells his story about getting to NYC. It’s like “I walked through seven parking lots, and then realized I had walked the wrong way, but then a kind student steered me in the right direction past the fountains…” etc…etc… :)
So, all in all I had a really nice night. My cellist and friend, Irina is just AMAZING. If you’re around- you should really come out to see us play, I’m SOOO blessed with every band member- each one is also an artist themselves- so I’m so honored to have them!
I came home, then, and my baby and hubby are sleeping- but I can never go to sleep right away, no matter how exhausted. It’s like it always takes a couple hours to wind down and be ready to sleep. I also find I need to process every performance and that takes time.
I was sitting on the couch eating goldfish (thanks to my son for getting me into goldfish as an adult!) watching “Community” and just couldn’t take my dirty house any longer. So, I at least tidied up the kitchen, dining and living room. I could write a lot more about how the house is always messy with a baby around- it’s not even that he messes up that much (although he definitely does like things ‘out of place’) :) but it’s more, you’re so TIRED to really clean how you’d normally clean. Can I get an Amen from all you mommas and poppas…
Ok, well I’m going to start rambling (like I haven’t already) Hope you sleep well! I hope I sleep well!
MONEY, Sandra Bullock and St. Patty’s Day
I sit here on this hot, wednesday afternoon on St. Patrick’s Day stressed about Money. What is new! Well, I really try not to stress about it, but control and do what I can do, and pray about the rest. I’m constantly having to read the verse in Matthew 6 “Don’t worry about tomorrow..”but somedays when you get slammed with bills and just don’t know how you’re going to pay for things, the stress definitely comes creeping in.
So, I’m trying to write it out and hopefully my stress can help you feel better about your life, if you happen to be in the same boat. The truth is, I know that we have it so much better than people around the world, and I’ve never gone hungry and I have so many blessings, I can’t begin to count them. So, that’s that, I will say another prayer and be thankful for all I do have trusting that God will take care of the rest.
You may wonder, why Sandra Bullock? No particular reason except I’m still doing my little test of putting things people are searching in my blogs to try and see if it actually does put me higher in search engines. And, I do really like Sandra Bullock. She also lives like a mile from me and I saw her for the first time on the street about a month ago. I totally did the creepy thing of turning around and staring. Walked right past her- like a foot from me. And yes, she’s just as beautiful in person.
Well, hope you’re wearing green and having a fabulous day. I will say, I did eat a frozen banana dipped in chocolate and covered in Heath Bar (first one of those EVER) and it was fabulous. I highly recommend :) Just to leave on a positive note. :) 
