The names “I’m not beautiful like you” and “I’m beautiful like me” come from a song called (rightly so) “Beautiful” by JoyDrop.

When I was in those awkward early teen years, I was frustrated by my own appearance. I was tall, frizzy-haired and sprouted big boobs way before my friends.

Some time later (but also in my teen years), I realized my beauty - not the typical American girl-type, but beautiful nonetheless.

When I first heard the song, I knew it was written for girls like me.

These days, I’m married to my best friend and mama to two great kids - a 10 year-old girl Joy and her almost 2 year-old brother, Buddha.

I picked up crocheting in March and knitting in July (both 2008) and am quickly developing yarn-lust (I can’t get enough!).

I study astrology leisurely (What’s Your Sign?), enjoy reading and (obviously) writing.

I love Tom Waits and my favorite movies are Cold Mountain and Domino.

Years ago when I first started using the internet, my screen name (via AOL) was VlRgOMaGiK. Many years later, my nephew had troubles pronouncing my first name (Tascha) and called me tata. It stuck. Even my older brother (older by 6 years!) calls me that nowadays. And yes, I prefer it to be in all lower-case letters (I’m OCD like that). Everywhere I go on the web, I am either tata or tatasmagik. That said, social networking is fun - come find me on the web!