Putting Some Pep In My Step

I woke up on this crisp, fall Wednesday in October and made up my mind that I would have a good day. Attitude is definitely a state of mind and I realize that I choose how and what mood/'tude I'll take the moment I wake up.

And ya know what?

It really was as simple as that. My mood hasn't dampened (despite still being sick with a sinus cold), my spirits are high (sitting outside in the park during lunch helped) and my feet haven't hurt once today despite having worn heels. I realized my good mood enhancers were so simple I had to share. Wanna hear about 'em?

Here they go:

1. Putting on dark red lipstick-it makes me feel instantly dressed up

2. Wearing a dress - it is hands down the most no brainer solution to the question: what do I wear today?

3. Rocking high heels - anything that makes your legs look better is a plus

4. Sipping perfectly brewed cafecito with the right amount of creamer - even better when someone else makes it for you

5. Shutting out the world via my ipod in favor of classic dancehall - 'nuff said.

6. Hot showers - bad for your skin but an awesome way to wake up

7. Feeling sun shine on my face-it's got vitamins and is good for ya too

8. Crossing items off my work 'to do' list-because it means they won't be there to do the next day!

9. Art - words, pictures, sounds, doesn't matter. Any art will do.

10. Realizing that the work day has FLOWN by and it's almost time to go home! =)

Domestic Violence: The Same Sad Song

Violence against women is nothing new. I know at least 10 people who have been victims of domestic violence; six women, four men; two older, three younger, five the same age as me.

So I wasn't surprised to learn that nearly one in four women are beaten or raped by a partner during their adult life. But I was surprised to learn that during this month of domestic violence awareness, a New York state Senator, Hiram Monserrate, was acquitted of slashing his girlfriend in the face. She gets emotional and physical scars and he gets to keep his Senate seat.

Last December, Monserrate allegedly hit his girlfriend in the face with a drinking glass, roughing her up after and prolonging medical attention by driving her to a hospital 30 minutes further from his home when a local hospital was just five minutes away. Nearly a year later, the same woman retracted her accusation and Monserrate gets off with a felony conviction.

This begs the questions: What standards/moral values are public officials held to? Should they be stricter? Should behavior in your personal life hold any weight on your position?

If we're going to crucify others for how they have sex, where they choose to do it and with who (which in reality is no one's business) why aren't we more outraged when incidents like this are brought to light? And I say brought to light because many domestic violence incidents are not even reported or made public.

It also leads to the thought....what societal norms are in play where a woman will recant her story? How entrenched in the situation is she? How long has it gone on? And is this a "norm" for her?

Disturbed doesn't convey how astounded or shocked I am by the acquittal. This further perpetuates the idea that men can treat women however they choose and not be held responsible for their actions. Thanks Judge William Erlbaum. Batterers just got another point on the scoreboard.

Latino AIDS Day

Did you know...

*Latinos are 15% of the U.S. population but account for 18% of all new HIV infections

*Latinos born in Puerto Rico are at the greatest risk of contracting HIV through IV drug use and high risk heterosexual sexual behavior

*Latino men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS than white men

*Latina women are 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS than white women

*In 2006 HIV/AIDS was the In 2006, HIV/AIDS was the 4th leading cause of death among Latinos, 35–44 years old


For those whose lives have been lost: Light a candle, say a prayer, let them know their lives were not in vain.

For those fighting this illness: Remind them their lives are still valued and their illness does not define them.

For those whose lives have been touched, because in reality, all of us have been: don't consider yourself immune, respect the hard-learned lessons of those who have come before. Practice safe(r) sex, get tested, communicate with your partners. Your lives are in each other's hands.

*Photo provided by Elena from Flickr
**Facts provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read more here.

Pears, Pears Everywhere!

Pears aren't sexy. And for the first half of my life, that's what I was. Shaped like that is. I had thick thighs, wide hips and an ample bum that were and remain simultaneously, my 'Wow Factor' and bane of my existence.

I battled my body for years because it didn't fit: into clothes, into my imagined ideal (whatever that was), into my life. When I danced ballet my big butt was a pain in one; it never tucked in the way it was supposed to, my back's natural arch made it stick out more. I favored long sweaters and loose pants over fitted tops and tight jeans because I cringed at the unwanted attention my booty brought me. Once I hit 17 (and college) I stopped caring and started the long process of embracing my body and living in my skin.

So I gasped when Glamour, my favorite women's magazine, did the most daring thing ever. They printed this article and ran the picture above in their October '09 issue. There are pears everywhere! I'm thrilled to bits that women with tits, ass and hips--and those without--are finalyl allowed to be themselves and not reimagined.

Thanks Glamour! For being Sassy. Fierce. Daring. Finally.