Wow! 2 years...

My goodness... I can't believe it's been almost 2 years since I've blogged. My, my, a lot has changed, grown and matured. Which, I guess can all mean the same thing.

I don't even know if anyone even reads this, but don't worry, it's not for you anyway. So read it or don't... With love. ;)

First off, since I last wrote I have had an additional baby girl, Charlie. Named after, both, my hubby's dad and my Pop's dad. She might as well have come out a boy because she, sure as hell, acts like one. Destroying EVERYTHING in her path, laughing at you when she knows she's doing something bad, dancing IN the dogs' water bowl... Yeah. She's a weirdo. The mess of a tornado follows her wherever she goes. But. She definitely is a momma's girl. The cuddliest thing. She FREAKS out whenever I leave a room. 

Also... She just turned 1 

Isn't she the "pinch"iest? 

Next, my eldest daughter is 3 and a half. "Three"nager FOR SURE. She has learned the concept of "don't tell me what to do" and "YOU eat!" Or, add any parental command there. She is for sure a strong, independent woman. She won't take no shit from no one. And doesn't. I'm still not sure if that is okay with me yet ;) She is growing so fast. I just want to place a boulder on her head to stop the growth. 

Drew and I both had started at new workplaces. No bad circumstances, just was ready to move forward. He's still a barber and I still a groomer. Cute, right? We both are still loving what we do. Still not burnt out. Still working hard to make ends meet. And desperately failing. Who isn't, nowadays? But we are happy. 

I guess we can say we aren't doing TOO bad, though. We just added another dog to the family clan. Another mouth to feed. Yes. Another. What can I say? Instead of heroin, I'm addicted to dogs. Big dogs... Very big. ;)

Look at this big lug!! Isn't she the most precious thing? She is. She is the most gentle giant ever. Except when she wants to say hi, then, not so graceful, lol. My love. My girl. This is Daisy. A family up north just couldn't handle her size, upkeep, and slobber. So, we took her in, and I've been in love ever since. 

We still have our original five furbabies, 3 cats, and 2 dogs. Oh, wait. You haven't even met Cali yet!

Daisy could eat her for lunch! Sometimes, I wish she would... Not really. But when she barks at little noises outside I think about it. Hey, survival of the fittest! I can't go against nature. ;P
Of course our precious Bear on the right. He is still annoying with the licking. But has gotten SO good with new people. He's wonderful. 

Our cats are still asshole cats. As all cats are. But we love them. As I said, can't go against nature. 

Dexter

Yumi and Ichigo

And last but not least! We added two little Guinea Pigs to the mix! Or Bunny Pigs, as Burke calls them. 

Auntie Noxie and Miss Vida

What a family. 

One final thing I want to update is my Spirituality. 

I have recently rediscovered the beauty and strength of Wicca. As a kid, I was always so inspired and intrigued by witchcraft, the elements, ritual, God and Goddess. Living in my home neighborhood it had always been taboo. "Devil worship" was the constant misconception, I always ran into. So I kept a secret eye open for more information and signs. 

Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Practical Magic. So I knew witchcraft was out there. Somewhere. When I got married, I finally had that Best Friend to confide all my beliefs and theories to. Without being looked down upon, thrown in a loony bin, converted or laughed at. He took me seriously. We did our research. And I have found SO MUCH validity in my thoughts and urges. My love for the moon, stars, woods, beach, sun, fire, herbs, brews, divination, afterlife and art all had been setting me up for this current path. 

I am now a student of The School of Witchery. An online school and support center for all pagans. They have specific classes for Tarot lovers, Herbalists, Astrologist, Beginners, History and so many more. Their Facebook group is incredible. I am so grateful to have found such a immense amount of support. Within the group and out. 

My friends and family have been amazing. Asking questions, instead of spouting judgement. Thank you. 

Burke has been asking questions, now. She sees me doing a ritual, or making a tea, asking God and Goddess for help. She loves the relief and calmness this lifestyle produces in her mom. I hadn't pushed anything. She just observed and asked. After a nap one day, she told Drew, "Dad, I love God and Goddess. They give me good dreams." That made my heart melt. What a wonderful little witch she will be one day. 

Witches are not to be afraid of. Witches are real. Witches practice only love, light, earth, fire, water and air. 

I am a healer. I am a Seer. Advisor. Protector. Creator. Lover. Mother.

I am a witch. 

Blessed be.

Stay Colorful.

Brandyne White

4th Trimester Bodies Project

I've been meaning to write about my 4th Trimester Bodies experience for a while... Just have had so much going on, as well. I had my 4TB photoshoot on April 17th, 2015. 

This project is meant to empower mothers and and embrace the changes in your body after having children. Encouraging mothers to love their body and their inner self... 

Also, it is a project that is working hard toward uncensoring motherhood. In other words, breaking society of it's bad habit of creating this mindset that breastfeeding, birth, pregnancy, etc., should be hidden or something to be ashamed of. 

I decided to participate in this project because I had VERY low self esteem before I met Drew... I, honest to God, believed that my only worth to a man was sexual. A piece of meat. There was many times, I would make up stories to try and scare Drew away. There are still, to this day, things that Drew will bring up in conversation that I said I did, and I am flabbergasted at what the hell he is talking about... Just another story I lied about to get him to run away, like all the rest of them. But he didn't. He stayed put. 

I never wanted kids... I felt like I was doing the child an injustice, having me as a mother... It wasn't until I realized Drew wasn't going anywhere that I knew I was meant to be a mom... 

Drew and I tried for 6 months, until we finally got pregnant. It was one of the best moments of my life... Right under her birth, of course :D.  

It was beautiful pregnancy. She was 41 weeks, and they induced me that Monday at 7am. I wasn't feeling any contractions, whatsoever. Even with the Pitocin, she stayed put. It wasn't until 4pm, that they broke my water. That moved her along quite a bit. I immediately felt contractions. After 15 minutes, I needed that epidural. I started pushing about 4:40pm She was in this world after 20 minutes of pushing. She arrived with a little bit of Jaundice. But I was able to take her home when I got to go home :). 

Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has skyrocketted my patience. And I have never loved anything like I do my daughter. And my husband was the Savior that got me there. He is my hero. 

I got there, and they immediately put me in make up and hair. I then went to the studio and did my interview. Where Ashlee Wells Jackson (The Founder) asked me my history on motherhood and pregnancy, breastfeeding and self love. She was very understanding and kind.

I then went upstairs to grab Burke, dressed her down, and started making her laugh for the camera... Which was close to impossible, it being her nap time at that point :D. But! We got the shots! It was the quickest photoshoot, I've ever witnessed, ;P. 

Ashlee and I went through the photos, picked out my favorites, that was that! 

With every session, she writes a bio, with the favorite photo. Here's mine:

"The beautiful Brandyne White with her daughter Burke (22 months). Brandyne says that when she was younger she was quite self destructive and self abusive. She didn’t want to have children because she was worried about subjecting them to herself. She met her current partner and within her relationship with him felt loved and validated for the first time. She saw a little boy playing one day and realized that she wanted to become a mother. Brandyne and her partner tried to conceive for about 6 months before she conceived and she says the second she found out she was pregnant she became a mother. She stopped drinking and smoking immediately and went on to have a very healthy pregnancy. She was induced at 41 weeks with Pitocin and after several hours they decided to go ahead and break her water. Burke arrived about 15 minutes later. She was quite jaundiced and Brandyne was worried that she wouldn’t be able to come home with her but her levels dropped just enough that she was able to be released with her. Because of her jaundice, Burke had supplemental formula with breastmilk from birth and Brandyne continued to nurse and supplement until she was about 4 months old when she chose to wean her entirely and switch to full formula. Brandyne feels that all to often “mother” is used as if it is a bad word or something to be ashamed of instead of celebrated and wants to be an active part of changing that. "

It was an amazing experience and I wouldn't change it for the world. 

Stay Colorful.

Brandyne White

Purple Psyche

I Adore You...

Adore Delano... I'm going to sound like such a fangirl in this post. But that is OKAY! Because she is the cutest thing ever! As I mentioned before, Drew and I waited 3 hours in her line at DragCon, to meet her, just for them to tell us she was done for the day. 

But luckily, she was going to be in  SLC the next weekend! So, my two AMAZING besties, James and Ricky, decided to buy me tickets to see her. 

I got all dressed up and prettyfied to meet her... Put on my Adore shirt, and took a shot for good luck... (more like liquid courage).

James and Ricky, of course, went in drag. Drew and I went as our gay ally selves. :P

We hung out and got ready for her to come out. The first performer was Mae Daye. A traditional Lipsynch Queen. Then Flame Fatale's kind of disturbing rendition of "Almost Lover" live. 

Finally... She was here. She had the cutest personality. You could see it in her expression, that she was just so grateful for every single fan out in that crowd, cheering for her. Almost, as if, she didn't believe us :). She was so modest and humble. 

It was an AMAZING show! I haven't been to a show in so long! I was so happy that she was my first in years :). At the end, the owner of the club came out and gave her a gift. It was a t shirt that said S.L.UT (Salt Lake UT) :D. She teared up and said she just feels so blessed. 

But! It was time to get up close and personal with her! We got in line and were one of the first up there. She walked up the stairs to get to her station, and saw my shirt, I said, "I love you, Adore!" and she replied, "And I love you, and your shirt;P"; She grabbed my hand and held onto it... I about fainted. She's got really soft skin for a man, by the way :). 

We got up to her and immediately, she commented on how much she loved Drew's beard ;). Which, he did not stop talking about it, the whole drive home ;). I was so nervous. Drew just went right up to her and man hugged her :D, I took two baby steps, breathing really hard, when she grabbed my arm and said, "Oh, you're so sweet! Don't be nervous!" We told her how much we love her and how cute she is. We mentioned how we waited so long for her at DragCon. She said that they were kind of grumpy there. And a bit disorganized... Yeah, my thoughts exactly :). She signed all and everything I got from DragCon. Except for my shirt :(, I was just so caught up in the moment and forgot!:) She smelt really good, too. 

It was incredible! I will never be able to thank James and Ricky enough :D:D:D:D 

Stay Colorful.

Brandyne White

Purple Psyche

Vacation #2, 2015

Yes. I said Vacation #2... Just 2 weeks after we came back from Disneyland, DragCon was afoot!!! And we couldn't miss out on that! 

Rupaul's Drag Race is a Television Drag Queen Competition, searching for the next Drag Queen Superstar ;) My cup of tea ;) 

Not only are my Mother, my siblings, my Grandma, my daughter, and I, completely OBSESSED with the show; I got my dear husband hooked! He can't get enough. Yep, he's a keeper ;) . 

So, I rounded up this lovely bunch, and we headed out! 

Our first day, we roamed around LA and Hollywood. I had never been before. 

"Party!"

The first day of DragCon was Incredible! We met so many great DragQueens! They were all so sweet! I did spend WAY too much money there, though ;) Tsk Tsk. 

 Ivy Winters

 Raja Gemini

 Latrice Royale

 Willam Belli

 Manila Luzon

Ross Mathews

Willam Belli

Peaches Christ

After day 1, we were off to dinner and a bar or two. Then back to the hotel. I got an awesome Adore Delano tank top, and a autographs from all the Queens I met. I also purchased that flower head piece :) 

Day 2, we picked up some Greek food at Santa Monica Pier. And just got too excited to stay, so we headed out to the Convention Center. 

Adore Delano is both Drew and my favorite Drag Queen... On day 2 she was scheduled to appear. Drew and I were in her line for autographs and pictures for 3 whole hours.... Just to get up to the front and them tell us she's done. Of course, this isn't her fault... Still... I was absolutely heart broken... The one Queen I WENT to DragCon for... But! I have the most amazing friends, and turns out, Adore was coming to Salt Lake City that very next weekend. So my dear James and his fiance, Ricky, bought me tickets to see her then... I was able to enjoy the rest of the trip :D

Afterword, we headed out. Hitting the Santa Monica Pier one more time...

It was such an awesome trip with friends. Can't wait to go again, next year... But, hopefully, they get a little more organized next year. ALSO, RuPaul wasn't in drag... Why are you hosting a DragCon, not in drag?? That was a little annoying, too... But it was great all in all!!! Highly recommended. And go with money! Haha. 

Stay Colorful. 

Brandyne White

Purple Psyche