NEW BOOK FROM AMBER SILVERSTAR

Hello Everyone,

I am really happy to announce the launch for my new book: BRIGHT NATURE OF BEAUTY - pictures and poetry for your spirit. You are invited to check out this wonderful coffee table book full of gorgeous pictures of nature along with original and inspirational poetry. The beautiful photography is done by my creative husband, Steven Olson. The book is published by Lulu Studio in association with Silverstar Media Group, Los Angeles, California.

For over two years we traveled the Southern California coast line - from Santa Barbara to Oceanside, the valleys from Pasadena to Thousand Oaks, and the cities from Los Angeles to Palm Springs - just weekend drives to capture the wonder and the beauty of the nature of Southern California.

Then it took another year and several prototypes to create the look and combination of photography and pictures I felt portrays the vision I to showcase a book inspired by nature. I felt so blessed so many times when the perfect scene, the perfect butterfly, the perfect flower appeared just like magic, over and over again. We took over 3,000 pictures and the book contains more than 100 as the final selection grew out of love, trial and error, technical malfunctions, and finally a product we were happy to offer and to share.

BRIGHT NATURE OF BEAUTY is now available on amazon.com under the title or Amber Silverstar as author. The book is the first in the DESTINY BRIGHT LIFESTYLE SERIES which promotes the concept of "living a mystical life in a mainstream world." Companion products are also featured along with a calendar on http://www.lulu.com/ambersilverstar11 http://www.cafepress.com/brightnature http://www.zazzle.com/fierywordbeing.

A preview of the book is available on http://brightnatureofbeauty.com - take a look see and tell me what you think. I will be posting more pictures from the book along with the poetry in the near future with book signings and special events coming up. So far the reviews are beautiful, insightful, true and touching. I would love to know what your impressions are.

Love and light,
Amber Silverstar
1-310-978-6821

"SWEET" JULIE AND JULIA MOVIE

NORA EPHRON DOES A GREAT JOB WITH DOUBLE BIO PIC JULIE AND JULIA. MERYLL STREEP IS PERFECT AS JULIA CHILDS, FAMOUS FRENCH COOKING CHEF AND ICON FOR VIEWERS OF TV COOKING SHOWS.

AT FIRST I WASN'T SURE IF I LIKED HOW THE MOVIE KEPT SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE LIVES OF THE TWO MAIN PERSONALITIES OF JULIE & JULIA BUT FOR SOME MYSTERIOUS REASON THE TECHNIQUE ACTUALLY WORKS. IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE PRIMARY SUBJECT ASIDE FROM THE TWO STARS IS FOOD - PREPARING IT, EATING IT, WRITING ABOUT IT, AND MOST OF ALL LOVING EVERY MORSEL OF EPICUREAN DELIGHT ... AND THIS ISN'T JUST ANY FOOD BUT FRENCH FOOD. (I THINK IN SECRET WE ARE ALL FRANKOPHILES AND PREPARING AND EATING FRENCH FOOD "FEEDS" OUR DESIRES TO BE CLOSER TO ALL THINGS FRENCH) -

ANYWAY, I ENDED UP LOVING THE MOVIE. I ALSO BECAME TOTALLY INVOLVED IN THE EMOTIONS OF THE CONTEMPORARY PORTRAYAL OF JULIE AS PLAYED BY AMY ADAMS. BEING A WRITER MYSELF AND TAKING THAT JOURNEY WITH MY OWN HUSBAND OF LIVING "THE VIVA LOCA" IN BIG CITY LA AREA - I REALLY COULD IDENTIFY WITH BOTH WOMEN. JULIE AND JULIA USE DETERMINATION, SELF WILL, AND DISCIPLINE TO TAKE SOMETHING THEY LOVE - FOOD - AND CREATING A SUCCESSFUL DESTINY FROM SHARING THAT LOVE.

THE ENDING IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LET DOWN. I THOUGHT RATHER A SOUR BITE FOR A MOVIE THAT PLAYS SO SWEET IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. I WON'T TELL WHAT I MEAN IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE YET. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A PREVIEW OF THE MOVIE LOG ONTO JULIE & JULIA.COM - LOTS OF BLOG REVIEWS TOO ON BLOGCRITICS.COM.


LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK?
amber@ambersilverstar.com

MICHAEL JACKSON - LITTLE BOY GENIUS & GROWN MAN'S DEATH

Dear Readers,

Living in the Los Angeles - Hollywood area, yesterday will loom in my mind for a very long time. I had just finished a consultation for a client when I turned on the television to find out what people were saying about Farrah Fawcett and her tragic and untimely death.

I thought I heard an announcer on CNN say something about Michael Jackson's father and cardiac arrest. I naturally assumed the Jackson father had a heart attack. Then as I took time to listen more carefully - I realized the news was about Michael Jackson himself.

At that moment I knew he had died. I could hear the helicopters whirling in the sky traveling toward the area of Westwood and Bel Air. I watched countless police officers on television put up yellow tape all around the UCLA hospital. I switched to the local channels knowing they would know sooner than anyone what was going on. Then the confirmed announcement -Michael Jackson was dead. Then like people all over Los Angeles - I cried. Here, now dead at fifty, was this brilliant star. A life begun as a little boy genius now dead as a grown man ... damaged by a traumatic childhood - I do believe Michael Jackson never really recovered from the childhood scars and in the end was destroyed by his painful past.

At least this is how I see it. But I also see that stars are energy and energy can never really be destroyed - and neither can the incredible genius of Michael Jackson's music from boyhood to manhood. Even though the harmony he brought to the world was the same harmony he could never seem to bring into his own life.

In retrospect, I hope the message of Michael's death will be how important it is to treasure each moment of a child's life. How important it is to support and protect a child's creativity. How important it is at any age to intervene when choices to escape pain lead to the abuses of a lifestyle which can only end in the tragedy of confusion and death.

I might go over to Hollywood this weekend to photograph these moments in history as people go to the star on the sidewalk to touch a remembrance of the energy, the harmony, and the genius of Michael Jackson.

Surely the SERAPHIM, the angels of music, and Archangel Michael (his namesake) have taken him to heaven to meet his God, where at last he will have the clarity, balance, and love he always searched for. May he enjoy peace in the "other world" as he gave so much enjoyment to us in this world.

If you would like to share your thoughts and feelings, you can write to me at amber@ambersilvestar.com

With light and love,
Amber Silverstar

PRESIDENT IS RIGHT

Dear Friends,

As we get ready to celebrate the Memorial Day Holiday, it seems like a really good time to remember what the United States of America is all about ... the freedoms, the respect for life, the joy of choosing one's destiny. When I think of the USA, I do not think torture of another human being under any circumstances is a right that I or any other American can claim.

Growing up in the Mid West, I very clearly remember the study in history classes about World War II. I used to say to myself how proud I was to come from a country where people would never torture other people for any reason. Living in a democracy I thought meant respecting the humanity of all people regardless of who they were or what they had done.

When I got older I actually got involved in the prison movement, in the criminal justice system and in promoting humane treatment of all institutionalized persons. This included day care centers for children, nursing homes for the elderly, mental health facilities for the unfortunate, even abandoned children and adults with disabilities. Through organizations, research and personal investigations, I can tell you - people are tortured by others who think they are justified in using any means to get to the end results - they all claim it is for the best. Torture is never, never a justifiable means!

If you want to learn more about what goes on in our country - join Amnesty International, or visit your prisons, or find out how children are being treated in the foster care system of your state. Then you might understand how the former Vice-President Dick Chaney justifies torture and gets away with it. He has a lot of company. Justification does not make torture right.

President Obama really said everything right today in his speech about the evils of living in a democracy like the United States and at the same time allowing torture to exist as our way of "protecting our country." We cannot protect our selves from evil by being the very instrument of evil - any where - in our homes, in our institutions, in our prisons, in our schools, in our churches and justifying the use of torture, beatings, cruel and humiliating actions as a way of controlling other human beings.

Please whenever you have the chance - take the time to refuse to be a part of justifying torture for whatever reason. Let the only instruments we use when we are in charge of another human being - be the instrument of peace.

What do you think?

Write to amber@ambersilverstar.com

Celebrate your country this weekend. Happy Memorial Day.

Amber Silverstar

EARTH DAY IS LOVE DAY

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Earth Day, April 22, 2009 ... I will say in the last few years I have seen an amazing turn-around in the number of people, governments, corporations, organizations, art, business and just an abundance of awareness that this whole "save the planet" goal is more than just a passing fancy of "tree huggers."
Whom do we thank for this? - Green Peace, Birkenstocks, Whole Foods, Al Gore or Ed Bagley Jr. I am sure the answer is "Yes" and to many more.

However let us thank the earth itself - this planet keeps crying out to us to pay attention, to listen, to care. The waterways, oceans, rivers, lakes and streams cry out for clarity and respect. The natural realms of mountains, jungles, deserts, forests, beaches, - all places where we seek shelter to make our homes and build our cities - they cry for careful planning and sharing and appreciation. The animal and insect world and all our natural resources cry for and need balance, attention and vigilant caring.

But most of all on Earth Day the earth crys for humans like us to love one another, to love beauty, to love joy. Because when we are loving, beautiful and joyful then we are creative, respectful, caring, balanced, attentive, and sharing. We are the earth.

We can come together this one day and make a promise to make everyday a day we save the world, our earth, our planet with love. Just take one moment tomorrow and each day to send out into the world of earth ... a circle of reflections which will mirror the love in your own heart for a beautiful, peaceful, joyful, abundant and cherished EARTH.

What do think? What do you feel?

Write to me - amber@ambersilverstar.com

Thank you for sharing!
Amber


The above illustration is called Circle Reflections. This digital art design is by Amber Silverstar for Destiny Bright Designs available at http://www.cafepress.com/ambersilverstar - Copyright Amber Silverstar 2009.

GO FOR THE GREEN - AN IRISH DAY

Dear Readers,

Being part Irish myself - I have a strong affinity for celebrating the green on St.Patrick's day tomorrow. I say "This is a great time to go for the green." Being green conscious is actually good for the heart too. Green is the color for self-esteem, creating new ideas, calling up for the abundance of life, for feeling joyful. Surround yourself with the energy of green as you notice the "wearing of the green." Breath deeply the beauty of the emerald island. Embrace the power of green energy.

Think green tea, green trees, green emeralds, green foods, green orchids, green velvet, green glitter, little green men (elves), sink deeply into the green of Spring. This could be the best St.Patrick's day you ever had. Go for the green - an Irish day filled with golden luck and Leprechaun magic.

What do you think?

Have fun all you green-eyed Irish celebrants and share the adventure of laughter!

Amber Silverstar
amber@ambersilverstar.com

THE MAGIC RED ROSE

Dear Friends,

Happy Valentine's Day in the month of February.

I know many of you are deep in cold, snow and ice but here in Southern California the roses are always blooming. Just like magic! So I am sharing a rose with you in a new store front I created called, what else, THE MAGIC RED ROSE.

This beautiful image from nature is an original photograph by my husband, Steven Olson for our design company called DESTINY BRIGHT DESIGNS. We were so taken with this picture because besides it's beauty, it reminds us of the famous image and logo with the red tongue for the Rolling Stones Band. The image has not been manipulated in any way but still we captured this moment in "rose land" with a petal looking like a tongue with a large dew drop.

I think the dew drop on the rose is a message that we always have what we need including nourishment. That is if we can trust Great Spirit to be our supply and our support.

Anyway what we focus on expands and I suggest we focus on the abundance around us and fill our lives with love. This is the real magic. Then, before we know it, Spring comes again and with it the renewals of earth, water and sky.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Love and light,
Amber

Products with the Magic Red Rose image can be found on http://www.cafepress.com/magicredrose by Amber Silverstar for Destiny Bright Designs,

A DESTNY BRIGHT - BARACK OBAMA

Dear Friends,

As I watched the inauguration I wrote a poem about the event which I thought I would share with you. Let me know what you think.

A DESTINY BRIGHT - BARACK OBAMA

FROM THE POET WITH THE POLITICIAN
THE PRAYER GIVER, THE FREEDOM SINGERS
THE WATCHERS IN HOPEFUL HOMES
FROM CELEBRATORS AND CELEBRITY

FROM OPEN CROWDS UNDER SKIES OF BRILLIANCE
FROM WHEEL CHAIRS, HOSPITAL BEDS, OFFICES
CLASSROOMS, FACTORY FLOORS, STOREFRONTS
BY WAYS, ALLEYS, FREEWAYS, AND HILLTOPS

KNOW FOREVER, THE OLD AGE IN WASHINGTON
IN THE WORLD, ON THE LAND ... IT IS OVER
THIS IS THE NOW FROM THE LIPS OF AN EMERGING
ENERGETIC, ENIGMATIC, LEADER, BARACK H. OBAMA

THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THE STAR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE "I" OF COURAGE IN "IT IS THE BEGINNING"
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW "W"

THE "W" IN WE, IN WATCHFULNESS, IN WORKING TOGETHER
IN WILLINGNESS, IN WONDER, IN BEING WORTHY
OF ALL THE BLESSINGS OF A DEMOCRACY
A DEMOCRACY WITH FREEDOM AND FREE WILL

THIS THE DAY OF MEMORY, OF FIRST, OF HISTORY,
OF BEAUTY, OF LOVE OF COUNTRY, OF JOY
THIS IS THE DAY OF A DESTINY BRIGHT
FOR THE NOW PRESIDENT BARACK H. OBAMA.

Amber Silverstar
http://www.ambersilverstar.com

The t-shirt design is by Amber Silverstar and can be ordered
on http://www.zazzle.com/fierywordbeing

A NEW YEAR 2009 WITH THEMES AND WISHES

Dear Readers,

As I listen to the remarks by various news makers, they all sound so dire - including the new president elect, Barack Obama. But as I listen, I also wish the New Year 2009 would start with more positive themes about how much we are doing and how much we can do.

It seems as though the Bush Administration was always about terrible warnings to justify expenditures for war, reasons for prisoner torture, explanations for intrusions into the protection of privacy rights, and excuses for mis-handling the tragedies of Katrina, bank failures, stock market corruption, job loses and housing foreclosures.

This is not a "pretty picture" I know. But now does Barack Obama have to do the same thing - start his administration with huge economic warnings hanging over our heads? Where does he think all of us have been the last year? I am tired of people trying to justify asking for support based upon doomsday scenarios. Are we a country of people so negative that we cannot be moved to themes of action and innovation without leaders standing over us with the proverbial Armageddon bully club?

I wish, I hope, I pray that soon the president elect who promised CHANGE, YES WE CAN, AND HOPE FOR A BETTER AMERICA will start sounding like a different tomorrow instead of the same old scripts from yesterday.

What do you think?

Let me know your comments about your own New Year impressions for yourself, your country, your president ... write to amber@ambersilverstar.com.

Amber Silverstar
http:www.ambersilverstar.com

AFFIRMATIONS FOR AFTER THE ELECTIONS

Dear Friends,

With the election over - what next? It may be time to use what is commonly known as "The Affirmation." Why? Whenever there are tremendous changes going on requiring lots of decisions to be made, a good place to start is by reviewing what basically is the overall vision. Once the vision is chosen then affirming that vision into the new reality becomes an important step. Think of an affirmation as a positive statement of purpose which firms up or energizes the vision.

The recent democratic vision for the election offered creating change in the White House for a better America by electing Barack Obama. The affirmation for that vision was "Yes we can." The affirmation became a reality and Obama got elected. Now, what change exactly do we envision for the new presidency to lead us into a new era and what affirmation do we need to support the change?

I saw Oprah the day after the election wearing a T-shirt which said, "Hope Won" - great affirmation but what exactly is that hope? And what do we want the winning to mean? Good questions? I know from personal experiences over and over again that affirmations work! But I also know it is very important to have a clear understanding of what it is exactly that I am trying to affirm.

Since the election I have started to ask myself what is the vision for my own future and for the future of the country and even the world? I decided to make that vision a balanced, healthy, and prosperous life and to give this vision a foundation of the power of love ... "Love is now victorious for all people in this situation. We are all victorious in building a world of balance, health, prosperity and love. Yes, we are a healthy,loving,and prosperous people of the world."

I invite you to try the above affirmations with me by affirming the victory of the power of love for yourself, for the presidency, for the country, the banks, the stock market, the health care profession, the Senate, House of Congress, the military, the United Nations ... well you get the idea I am sure.

If you have any affirmations for a specific vision you would like to share please let me know what you think?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Love and light,
Amber Silverstar

The Political Playoff

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow I am going to vote in an election that has been a grueling contest of who will do the most, who will spend the most, and who will promise the most in a presidential fight for the White House. Never before have I changed my mind so many times and never before have the political issues changed so often in such a short time.

This presidential race started out supposedly about the war in Iraq. Then it changed to be about domestic issues from immigration, health insurance, to homeland security, to education. From there it jumped to fuel, energy and the global warming crises as the cost of fuel skyrocketed out of sight. Then if this wasn't enough, the housing crises, stock market crash, and bank failures put the financial welfare of the country up front as the major political arena for the final rounds of the election playoffs.

Through it all, I saw some candidates behave rather badly, some acted stupefied and others offered solutions which as president they simply could not have had the power to carry out. I still think Hillary Clinton overall responded to the constantly changing issues with the best overall plans and programs. But, she did not get chosen as the Democratic nominee.

For me, Barack Obama has a tendency to hesitate and then be vague; always trying to cover his trail! McCain's "maverick" actions and attitude have no place in running a major world government even though it might be "street wise."

I do think in the end, Obama has a brilliant mind and he will surround himself with other intelligent, experienced and winning people. This way he can make demanding decisions in a timely manner and with specific solutions.

So, I am hoping and expecting the best. Obama winning seems to be destined. We will soon know. Happy voting!

What do you think?

Love and light,
Amber Silverstar
amber@ambersilverstar.com
Above image is a digital art design by Amber Silverstar called VICTORY ANGEL. This image is available on apparel,greetings, art,decor,and gifts. All proceeds go to The Angel Food Project in Los Angeles ... htpp://www.cafepress.com/ambersilverstar