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Believe in the Power of Your Mind

Are you scared the world is going to end? Or are you rolling your eyes at how redonkulous all this hoopla is? If you have an idea in your head about what is or is not going to happen in the next few days, then you should watch these two videos. Your mind is the most powerful thing on the planet. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you actually knew how to use it to its full potential?! Anything is possible if you BELIEVE! =)

xo, V

p.s. Watch the Hidden Human History Movie first then the Mayan Explanation. The human history movie is super weird and goes really fast but watch the whole thing. I don’t believe in all of it of course but it do believe in a lot of what they talk about. And let’s be honest the world is pretty freaking weird, BUT it seems even more weird if don’t at least believe some of what is in this video!

p.p.s. Somebody please help me get this stupid song out of my head!!! It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine…

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Love & Makeup

Two things…

First, I wanted to share this super sweet, inspirational love story with you that Cat, my step-dad’s girlfriend, wrote. So happy they are getting married, (this month OMG!!!!) especially after reading this little story. Cat text me a few days ago, “Hey guess what?? In a few weeks you’ll officially be my daughter!!” which of course brought tears to my eyes because after losing my mom to cancer four years ago I never imagined having a mom again & I feel so lucky!  http://bit.ly/XfiSeULOVE

Second, I just teamed up with Cat & created an Endless Summer makeup collection that I’m really excited about! Pasting the link to it below so you can browse everything. This makeup is not like any other out there, I swear it makes your skin look so glowy and amazing, She should call it Crack Cosmetics because once you use it you can’t go back to anything else. I’m in love with all these products & they are great for holiday gifts too! http://www.catcosmetics.com/collections/endless-summer-by-vanessa


My very favorites are the Orgazzle Blush (How can you not want an amazing Orgazzle for only $15?!), Heal Thy Lips Gloss in Flirt, the Smolder Eye Smoky Stick, & the Two Hot Bronzer & Blush Duo.

And Cat also generously gave me code EndlessSummer20 which gives 20% off EVERYTHING in my collection now till Dec 10th so be sure to use it!!

Love you all! Happy Holidays!

Orgazzle Blush – I think the name pretty much says it all. I don’t know about you but I want to experience a good Orgazzle every day, especially for only $15!

Heal Thy Lips Gloss in Flirt – Not only is this the most moisturizing lip gloss I have ever used, it’s also my favorite color! I love the peach glow it gives my lips, and my boyfriend seems to really like how soft my lips are when I use it, along with the fact that it’s not too thick & gooey. So do your lips (and your man) a favor and don’t go another day without it!

Smolder Eye Smoky Stick – This product is so amazing I keep it with me at all times. It creates a smoky eye look in seconds, or you can use it to even out liquid liner, or as cream shadow or bronzer in a pinch. Every girl needs this smolder stick! It’s simply the best!

Two Hot Bronzer & Blush Duo – This compact that has a mirror and a perfect bronzer & blush combo. A must have for any girl on the go! The colors are sheer perfection together. LOVE this product!

Be sure to use code EndlessSummer20 to save 20% on my ENTIRE Endless Summer Collection!! xo

 

 

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Your Life Matters

Tomorrow my family will gather together in Montana to celebrate the life of a very special man, my grandpa, Larry Zabel. I was born on his birthday (Jan 19th), so that made me feel instantly connected to gramps, but as I grew up I realized that my deep love for him grew not from the fact that I was his granddaughter but from the way he lived his life. He really knew how to live, and to love, and how to have way too much fun, and how to be totally dorky and yet somehow super cool at the same time! And he, like my mom, always made me feel like I could do amazing things because he was doing amazing things and touching people every day with the way he lived his life.

If you’re like me and most people I know, you probably don’t know exactly what you are meant to be doing with your life. You might still be wondering what has God put me on this earth to do? But like my cousin Neal explains in his tribute to our Grandpa below, “Your life matters, your decisions matter, and the way you live affects the ones who come after you.” So just follow your heart, love bigger than the sky (as my mom use to say) and know God has a beautiful plan for your life. And always remember to Believe! Thank-you Grandpa for being such an amazing example of how someone can live their life to the fullest and use their life to touch others. You were and are the coolest Grandpa ever and I love and miss you so much!!

xo, V

Gramps & I celebrating our B-Days this year

My Fave photo of me and Grandpa (and Great Grandma =)

 

Tribute to Gramps
Written by Neal Preston,  Cross-posted from www.enforum.us
great grand kids

Genesis 25:8 
And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.

This next week we’ll be heading to Montana where my grandpa has lived for nearly 30 years. He passed away a few weeks ago and his memorial next week. I picked this verse today because it seemed to fit what is going on in our lives right now. No, grandpa’s name was not Abraham, it was Larry Zabel, a name I’ve been proud of my entire life. He was an Abraham of sorts. Grandpa was a trailblazer, a man of character and a modern day pioneer. My grandpa made a lasting impression in the western art world. He used his God given talents as well as any man I’ve known. He made the most of his abilities and saw them as a gift from above. My grandpa will be greatly missed, but I’m so thankful for what he left behind, beautiful pieces of his imagination, on painted canvases, that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

My encouragement to you is this. Like Abraham and grandpa Larry, you have a God given destiny to fulfill. Though sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture of the masters plan, you are still on it. Stay faithful to the Lord, don’t give up walking the right road, because in the end, at a ripe old age, when you breathe your last, you may have a grandson writing about you.

Your life matters, your decisions matter, and the way you live affects the ones who come after you.

Grandpa, here’s to box wine, moldy bread, jimmy rigging anything, buffalo for pets, the worlds best sketches, fishing in the streams, a shot of milk, shooting porcupines out of trees, huge rope swings, ginny hens and pea cocks. You were a lover of the land, adored by everyone who knew you. Thanks for showing us how to blaze a trail, you wore your gifting, and you wore it well.

Cheers to you gramps,

Your grandson, Neal Rastus

At his studio

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Lingerie Shops & Clubs in Airports!

Cross-posted from www.glitterandmud.com

The airport is by far not my favorite place and yet I spend hours every month waiting around in airports. Sometimes I get super lucky and get to take a private jet, or sometimes I get super unlucky and have to travel via motorhome with my family (LOL), but usually I am stuck hanging out at the airport by myself as I travel to most destinations alone (my boyfriend lives in London and I live in California). Not the ideal situation but it is fun to get to meet up at different places around to world to see each other.

Last weekend we went to Mykonos! It was my first time to Greece and I had a blast (check back for more on my Greece trip coming soon), but we were hurting on the way home after having a little too much fun as usual. We got to take a jet from Mykonos to Athens (Rad!!) but then we still had a few hours to kill at the airport before catching our flight to London, so I was very excited to find Victoria’s Secret in the airport! Honestly I can’t think of anything much better then a lingerie shop at the airport…. Except for maybe a 24/7 night club!

Yep, that’s right David Guetta and his wife opened a “F*** Me I’m Famous” all night lounge club at the Ibiza airport. Spain was already at the top of my bucket list so I am now jonesing to go,  and maybe for once I won’t worry about how long my lay over is or if I, oops, miss my flight home. Now if David would just open a lingerie shop in his club I can die (at the airport) happy!

Private Jet from Mykonos to Athens, a little better then the time I had to ride the Greyhound Bus from Montana to Cali
Luv, Luv, Luv my new lace panties!!!
The Ibiza Airport just got WAY cooler
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Adam the Grizzly Bear Gets a Bikini Ride

Cross-posted from www.glitterandmud.com

Yesterday I was beyond excited to have Adam, a 15-year-old Grizzly Bear from Animals of Montana, visit us on set at my grandpa’s ranch in McAllister, Montana. So far Adam is the biggest and most well paid actor on “Survive!” the new TV show my step-dad Todd Fisher is producing. Since having Adam guest appear on the show for the day wasn’t cheap I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and see if Adam liked Happy Endingz as much as I do. Turns out he does because he not only let me hug and kiss him, but he also let me ride him in my favorite recycled Gold Goddess Bikini!

This was also very special for my Grandpa, Western Artist Larry Zabel. He is sick with cancer so we were excited to help him scratch “take pic with Grizzly Bear & granddaughter in her bikini” off his Bucketlist! And like I said in my caption for this video, it wasn’t quite Star Wars, but I still think my aunt Carrie Fisher would be proud! Bear A$$ Bikini Ride (VIDEO): http://bit.ly/N9g2yu

I like my men old, hairy and feisty…
But they have to be kind too!
Even Grizzly Bears Love Happy Endingz! Recycled Gold Goddess Bikini Available at www.happyendingz.com
Special thanks to Adam and the trainers at AnimalsofMontana.com! You guys rock!

 

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Around the World in 30 Days: Part I (VEGAS)

Cross-posted from www.glitterandmud.com

Two days ago I left Malibu on what will be my 30+ day summer adventure. I started off the trip with a major #FAIL, realizing once I was already at LAX that I am a complete dork supreme and booked my ticket for Saturday Sept 1st instead of Saturday August 4th. I have no idea how I messed that up so bad but at least I now know why the ticket I bought just days before was only $59.

The lady at the AA counter smiled at me with pity and said don’t worry sweety, it happens all the time and luckily we have another flight I can put you on tonight. So 3 hours, $200 extra to re-book my ticket, and 2 margaritas later I made it to Vegas. *Travel tip for blondes like me, always, always, always triple check the dates on your ticket before you book! And when you receive your confirmation email check again because you have 24 hours to re-book your plane ticket without change fees. It’s well worth the extra few minutes because paying change fees or having to buy a whole new ticket blows…

Speaking of “blowing” my step-mom Catherine Hickland took us to the most inappropriate hypnotist show last night. The only person on stage that did not suck or blow anything was the hypnotist Anthony Cools, who has by far the raunchiest sense of humor I have ever experienced! I laughed so hard my face hurt even though I was slightly embarrassed to be sitting next to my little brother watching people hump chairs and pretend to give each other… Nevermind. I hear Misha’s eight year old daughter screaming at me to “get appropriate,” so I won’t go into detail but you have to see this show when you are in Vegas. Anthony, who I had the pleasure of meeting before the show, is seriously fall out of your seat, die laughing funny and he just signed another 5 year contract to continue performing nightly at Paris Las Vegas. So if you want to laugh harder than you have ever laughed in your life don’t miss his amazing performance! More info at www.anthonycools.com

After the show I went with my brother James and our friend Jon to the House of Blues Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. The Foundation Room is a cool bar at very top of Mandalay Bay with an amazing view of the entire strip. My dad, singer Johnny Rivers, use to be a member so he took me first years ago. James had never been so I wanted to take him and show him the view which I have to say is still one of the best in Vegas!

So from Vegas I will be driving with my family (my step-dad Todd Fisher, dog Yippie, brother James and our friends Henry and Jon) in our motor home (joy to the dog hair all over everything I own world) to Montana and staying there for a few weeks. In Montana we will be hanging with my grandpa wo lives there, and working on a new TV show Todd is producing called “Survive!”. From there I’ll be heading to London again, and wherever else my weird life takes me. So be sure to check back here if you want to follow the world adventures of a super dorky, blonde, surfer chick from California. =) And I’ll also be documenting my journey with plenty of silly videos on G&M TV!

xo, V

James, Cat, me and John at Paris Las Vegas for Anthony Cools
View from the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay
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Lollipops, Butterflies & Rainbows

I am in Maui for the week with my friend’s family, helping with her two daughters & teaching everyone to surf. This morning I was lying in bed listening to the rain when I heard a quiet knocking on my bedroom door. Lilli, the youngest daughter, came in and handed me a photo of a duck she had drawn and informed me that it looked like a cloud she saw this morning. It was barely past 6am & the sun had just begun to peak through the rain clouds. I pointed to the open shades of my bedroom door which looks out over the pool, and out across the ocean to Molokai Island. The rain was beginning to subside and not one but two rainbows splashed color across the early morning sky. I explained to Lilli that rainbows are God’s promise to us that  the earth will never be flooded again & that there are better times ahead. Life can be very hard sometimes and we have all gone through our tremendous lows. It’s not always lollipops, butterflies and rainbows… But sometimes it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What You Say Has Power

Recently I realized that I’ve been saying certain things my whole life, not because I mean them, but because I’m scared to say what I really want. For instance I have always said I don’t know if I ever want to get married or have kids. Wow what a bunch of crap and how ridiculous that it has taken me 29 years to be able to admit that YES I do want to get married someday (when I meet the right man), and yes I do want to have at least one kid someday (God if you give me twins like you did to my Mom I am seriously going to kick your butt when I get to Heaven!!) and no I don’t have it all figured out and yes I get lonely too just like everyone else, but not settling in a relationship, or in anything else in life is worth the struggle, and worth the wait.

The last few days I have been lucky enough to spend time at my family’s ranch up in Creston, CA with my step-dad Todd Fisher & his amazing girlfriend Catherine Hickland. Cat is an actress, author, hypnotist and a relationship expert (she recovered from being married to David Hasselhoff so if anyone can tell you how to get over a bad relationship it’s her!). And right now I am recovering from my own break-up from someone I loved very much and could see myself being with forever, so instead of doing what I have been feeling like doing, which is curl up in a ball and die (LOL) I have been forcing myself to read Cat’s book, “The 30 Day Heartbreak Cure.”

I am not someone that likes the idea of reading self help books, so I have actually been reluctantly saying I would read this book ever since Cat started dating Todd over two years ago. She wrote it so I felt like I needed to at least skim its contents, but in the mist of my own failed relationship despair, that feeling of obligation turned into a desperate need to read the book that promises “you’ll be over him and back out there in 30 days.” And while I was beyond skeptical of this claim at first, now only 6 chapters in, I am adamant that everyone should read this book, heart broken or not.

Chapter 5 of the book begins with the sentence “One day, more than a couple decades ago, I finally summoned the courage to leave my marriage to David Hasselhoff.” I found this extremely ironic as this morning before I read that chapter I found nothing other than a wedding photo of Cat and David sitting out on the desk in our office! But way beyond giving me a good laugh this chapter reminded me of the importance of what we say. During breakups or difficult times we all have the tendency to talk down to ourselves – “If I was prettier, smarter, sexier, thinner, then he’d really love me or I’d have that job I want or that life I want.” This is total BS and yet we, especially us women, do it to ourselves all the time. The problem is we really believe what we tell ourselves and then we manifest those things. What we say has power. What we say becomes our own reality that we create.

So today I have promised myself to stop any negative talk I might have had going on in my head & work on manifesting the beautiful life I want. In chapter 6 Cat explains “There really is extraordinary power in our thoughts, words, and minds. We really do attract what we put out there, and we really do make choices and construct our lives based on what we say, believe, and reinforce about ourselves.” So positive manifesting is key in every aspect of our lives, including relationships. “We create the directions and events in our lives based on what we say, believe, fear and picture, or manifest for ourselves. We create every high, every low, every smile, every laugh, every tear. And yes, we most certainly create every heartbreak.”

Manifesting simply means forming a mental image. And when we form positive mental images in our mind every day of the things we want then we are able to work towards those things and not settle for less then what we truly want and deserve. If Cat would have settled and stayed in her unhappy marriage to David she would have never met my step-dad and found the man who has become everything she ever wanted and more. And if Todd would have given up hope after we lost my mom to cancer then he wouldn’t have been able to open his heart up to Cat when she came into his life. Their amazing relationship is proof that you can have everything you’ve ever dreamed of. But you have to learn to say what you want and mean what you say, because what we say to ourselves and to others has power. And everything happens for a reason. Every person God brings into your life has a purpose and there are no failures if you learn from your experiences. And always, always remember to Believe.

 

Cat & David ~ 1984

 

 

 

 

Cat & Todd ~ 2011 =)
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Birthday Love

I have to say even though I keep joking about being so old now (I turned 29 on Jan 19th), I actually feel better than I ever have and am even more excited about the years to come. I use to think that was something people said to make themselves feel better about “getting old” (LOL!), but now I’m realizing it’s actually true… A few nights ago me & two of my girlfriends, who I live with, climbed up on the roof of our house with blankets and a bottle of Rose’, and just sat together watching the sun set. Our house is downtown, on the east side of Santa Barbara, and from our roof you can see the Riviera, & all it’s beautiful homes adorning the hillside behind us, and in front, the whole city, harbor & ocean expanding out to the Channel Islands that frame the horizon. To say we are lucky is a gross understatement; We are beyond blessed to get to experience this beauty every day.
As my girlfriends & I sat there watching the sun set, painting bright orange & yellow across the sky, I realized this is it; It doesn’t get better than this. I get to share the best part of my life with two people I love. I wish this for everyone because this is what life is truly made of… And that’s honestly the best part about getting “old,” you begin to realize it really is the little things in life that matter most, and being able to appreciate them is what true happiness is all about.

 

Santa Barbara Sunset

 

LOVE! this B-Day sketch of me in a Pink Happy Endingz® Bikini by JamesMalia.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It’s All About (Unconditional) Love

My cousin Neal sends out weekly inspirational emails about faith, community and devotion. I really look forward to these emails, because like most people I don’t spend enough time reading my Bible or praying, or even just thinking about others, and not about myself and what I want/need/am trying to do in my everyday life.  Last weeks email was titled “Love Builds” and he spoke in depth about the following verse…

1 Corinthians 8:1&2
Knowledge puffs up (makes arrogant), but love builds up (edifies). The man who thinks he knows, doesn’t quite know as he ought to know.

In his email Neal pointed out that we live in a knowledge driven society, which is good, but we sadly do not put enough emphasis on the importance of love… “Knowledge is good, but love is essential. If you think you know it all, but don’t truly love, then you’ve missed the most important thing you should have learned, love is the beginning and end of all things. Get smart, but don’t think you’re smart, because the second you do, you slip from smart to stupid. Get love, and lot’s of it, because love is the greatest thing of all. It builds you up, your neighbor up and the world up.”

I want to add that we need to try harder to practice unconditional love. But what does that mean? To me it means loving people in spite of themselves. I don’t mean let people walk all over you or take you for-granted or treat you like crap, actually I mean do the opposite. True, unconditional love gives you the ability to call people on their $hit, and ask the “hard questions” (as my step-dad says), even if you know you aren’t going to like the answers, because if you don’t ask, who will?

And unconditional love allows you to love someone in spite of their ability to love you back. It allows your love to be based solely on your own ability to love someone for who they are, regardless of how they feel about you. And that, to me, is a beautiful thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To sign up for Neal’s email list please visit www.enforum.us

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