Here's to a Stress Free Me

I would love to be here. Suspended. Surrounded by wildlife and air. Stillness.

I spoke to my friend/sorority sister on the phone the other night. Her son is only a few months younger than my 16 month old daughter. We discussed just how stressed we really are trying to hold down the lifestyle we had pre-baby while still trying to be a good Mom. Working, Cleaning, Cooking, Bathing, Reading, Teaching, Scolding, and Maintaining a household. Working, Learning and advancing in our careers. Having a dating life or some sort of sextual intimate connection with a significate other. Then still trying to find a minute for a conversation with a friend or even a drink with an old buddy. Planning activites for the kids on the weekends... Well, you get the picture. "It feels like I'm so busy living my life, that I'm not enjoying my life." She says. As I began to offer UNSOLICITED advice as most humans do, I realized that I needed to grab a fork and eat my words. I am exactly the same way, OMG!

All this the stress must stop. Must S.T.O.P. I am on a personal mission to stop my stress one step at time and of course I will share my journey here.

As I do with anything, I look into the pitfalls prior to leaping. This shady looking website had this bit of advice to offer under the title: "Stress Relief Strategies" Subtext: "(Please print out this document and read it offline.)" Which kinda freaked me out in a dominatrix kinda way. I told you I was stressed.

Some Strategies to Avoid
• Attempting to make everything in life stress-free.
• Focusing on every event and constantly reminding yourself to relax.
• Regularly avoiding the feeling of emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, joy, fear, etc.).
• There are a number of other things which will not work in the long run when used by themselves only -- long vacations, execise, etc.

The type of strategy which tends to work is the combination of gradually and gently trying to change one's habits plus regular practices or situations which help put the body in a relaxed state. Both types of strategies are important in promoting stress reduction.

So that's a start. Here I go.

Cool Finds From The Web: Wearable Coloring Book

Don't know if your dress will match your shoes? Forget about it! (enter Guido accent here) and color it in. I love the creativity that this designer, Michiel Schuurman creates the canvas and you fill it in.

Fifty “Colour-In” dresses have been made in four different sizes, and each is sold for 250 Euros. (Converter on another site. lol) Concept and fashion design were done by Berber Soepboer and Michiel Schuurman.

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, An Artistic Marriage @ MOLAA

"I suffered two grave accidents in my life. One in which a streetcar knocked me down... The other accident is Diego." - Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are known world-wide for their contributions to the evolution of art. Both artists, although possessing completely different styles, became two of Mexico’s most famous people and in turn revolutionized the world of art. This dynamic pair was not only known for their talent and vision, but also for their stormy love affair that would last over thirty years. Theirs was a love inspired by mutual beliefs and passions. However, often throughout the course of their turbulent relationship, they were viewed as immature school children displaying bouts of jealousy and anger. Despite their problems, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera overcame the obstacles and their love proved enduring.

In celebration of Mexico’s Bicentennial the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) presents an all new Murals Under the Stars with Gregorio Luke. Beginning @ 6pm - Tickets are $30.00 - Each.

Mel Gibson Definitely Doesn't Know "What Women Want"

Be careful of what you say over the phone! Don't people know that there is such an invention as a recorder?

Mel Gibson was heard in a eight minute recording released RadarOnline.com that he hit the mother of his 8-month-old daughter Oksana Grigorieva.

Purportedly a phone argument between Gibson and Oksana, voice sounding distinctively like him, was heard telling his then girlfriend that she "deserved" to be hit after she chastised him for punching her in the face and breaking two of her teeth.

"What kind of a man is that?" she was heard saying. "Hitting a woman when she's holding a child in her hands? Breaking her teeth twice in the face! What kind of man is that?"

"Oh, you're all angry now!" Gibson allegedly responds. "You know what, you ... (expletive) deserved it!"

Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Gibson, declined comment on the tape. [of course]

The former couple have been locked in a bitter custody dispute in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old singer has accused Gibson of domestic violence, prompting sheriff's officials to launch an investigation. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said investigators will evaluate the recordings.

He said there was no timeframe for the inquiry to be concluded.

Last week, a recording posted by RadarOnline.com included comments it said came from Gibson telling Grigorieva that she was dressing too provocatively and that it would be her fault if she were raped. He used the N-word at one point.

Wow Mel. Wow. I actually loved "What Women Want" but you clearly think that includes a trip to the hospital. And it seems the only "Lethal Weapon" around here is you. *que drum symbols"

Justice being served...

Six more New Orleans police officers among them Officers Kenneth Bowen, Robert Gisevius, Anthony Villavaso and former officer Robert Faulcon have been indicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two people and the wounding of four others who were walking on the Danziger Bridge a few days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.

Also charged were two supervisors who were accused of helping cover up the incident and obstructing the investigation.

Victims were James Brissette, a 17-year-old city resident, and Ronald Madison, a 40-year-old man who suffered mental disabilities and was shot in the back. The officers opened fire on the group, who were on their way to get food and supplies from a supermarket, according to the indictment. Brissette was shot and killed while four other family members were wounded.

"Today marks an important step forward in administering justice, in healing community wounds, in improving public safety, and in restoring public trust in this city's police department," U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said at a news conference in New Orleans unveiling the charges.

"We will not tolerate wrongdoing by those who are sworn to protect the public," he said.

The four officers charged with the killings could face the death penalty or life in prison. Faulcon quit the department in 2005.

The two supervisors were Arthur Kaufman and Gerard Dugue. Kaufman could face up to 120 years in prison while Dugue, who is now retired, could face up to 70 years in prison.

WHAT?! Fruit Roll-ups Aren't Good For You?!

...But they are made of fruit aren't they?

General Mills Inc. was sued on Tuesday by a Payton McClure, who is described as a "life-long consumer" of General Mills products, [who isn't] for allegedly misleading consumers about the nutritional and health qualities of its Fruit Roll-Ups.

According to the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, General Mills does not properly disclose that its fruit products, including Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit by the Foot and Fruit Gushers, contain partially hydrogenated oil.

The complaint said use of the oil rendered "false and misleading" marketing over the last six years that General Mills fruit snacks were "nutritious" and "healthy to consume," and thus deserved premium prices. She seeks class-action status on behalf of purchasers of the fruit snacks, compensatory and punitive damages close to $5 Million, and other remedies.

"To our knowledge, this suit has not been served," said General Mills spokeswoman Kirstie Foster.

The case is McClure v. General Mills Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 10-05015.

A 14-Year old Discusses Racial Stereotypes and Cliques in Schools

 

My 14-Year-old “little” cousin Ms. Cheyanne Akmal was published in The Orange County Register. As if her being published weren’t enough she actually wrote an amazing and insightful article about racial stereotypes. From a perspective that most adults find challenging relating to she is able to channel emotions from a place of sheer candid thought. Here is a little of her article:


[I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I stared at the bar and prepared to jump. I took my first step as I started my approach. I took another step and another. I picked up speed and jumped. I cleared 4 feet 8 inches. I had won the Eighth Grade District Girls High Jump. This was something I really worked for, something I was proud of, something special, but one guy shattered that for me – the opposing team's coach.

Four words made me ashamed of who I was: "It's because she's black." Now these words really angered me. To him I didn't win because I had talent. I didn't win because I worked really hard at this or because I am a good athlete. I won because of the color of my skin, because of the way my hair curls back, because of a stereotype. ] Read More…

I am very proud of her and also very excited for her future writing career. I love when young people are thinking and opinionated.