"Unattainable Beauty"

http//www.newsweek.com/id/231629?GT1=43002

I just read an article in newsweek about retouching photos in popular magazines. It was a little shocking to see how our society is creating a standard of perfection and even the celebrities who are already beautiful or athletic are not even good enough. It's really disappointing to me that our focus as a society has become so scewed. I recently read a book called me to we and in it there was a quote from Mother Theresa about her visit it to North America she said she had never seen such an abundance of material wealth, but she had also never seen such a poverty of the spirit, of loneliness, and being unwanted. Goodness gets you thinking doesn't it, I mean really if you think about it people around the world are dying from starvation or malnutrition and people in the United States have diseases that are a result of having too much, and then our desire is too look like we are starving. What is going on with this world, I mean don't get me wrong I have struggled with perfecting my self image before especially when I was a student at PLNU, and in the article it even says that young girls today spend more money and time on beauty than any other generation in history. We have so much at our finger tips yet we want more and we become slaves to our desires and obsessions. Self image has become so important to us that it consumes us and makes us lose sight of what we have been blessed with already. I think I feel so strongly about this because I have seen in real life how this can affect a person's life the pressure to be perfect and it's a serious issue that we tend to shove under the rug. Am I alone in my frustrations girls let me know what you think

Apparently Beyonce's natural skin color is too dark for Loreal.The waist on this Ralph Lauren Model was so disturbing that the company actually apologized for the advertisement sadly a little while after the model in this photo Filipa Hamilton was quietly fired for being overwieght she was 5'10" wieghing 120lbs.

SAN DIEGO!!!! fun things to do #1

San diego has been blessed with beautiful weather, and its fun to be able to get outside and do something fun. I decided to keep you posted on fun things to do around the city. So here is fun thing to do #1

The San Diego Ferry that goes from downtown to Coronado. It's like $3.50 per ride, I recommend going for a bike ride starting around liberty station area then going down North Harbor drive which is the road alongside the harbor, there is a nice little bike path next to the water. From there you can catch the ferry were all the boats dock and take it to Coronado for some sightseeing around the island. There is tons to do in Coronado and its all flat so you can just enjoy some scenic cruising. This is a great saturday or sunday thing to do!

The Sandcastle.........

The townhouse I live in right now is called the Sandcastle mostly because we live on Sandcastle lane, but it’s a lot of fun calling home the sandcastle. It is a lovely 3 bedroom house that I share with 4 other girls , Nicole Villanueva, Aly Lewis Drew Kreager, and Cristiana Salucci. I have to say honestly it’s the best place I’ve lived so far. The girls I live with are all so nice, all of us like to have fun so we often spend time doing crazy stuff at home. A few of our best nights include: office episode wedding party, speed scrabble night, family dinners, christmas tradition night, new years eve party, and playing in the rain in our wetsuits. I love living with these girls and am so thankful they are in my life right now sharing our beloved Sandcastle.

Ladybug Ladybug Fly Fly Away

I’ve been reading up on some fun little legends about ladybugs. Are you ever curious about those bright spotted little beetles? Well did you know that the name Ladybug comes from the Virgin Mary! Legends say in Europe during the Middle Ages, swarms of insects were destroying the crops. The farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help. Soon after Ladybugs came, devouring the plant-destroying pests and saving the crops! The farmers called these beautiful insects “The Beetles of Our Lady” and – overtime – they eventually became popularly known as “Ladybugs”.

Some other fun Ladybug legends include:

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  Nearly ALL cultures believe that a Ladybug is lucky. Killing one is said to bring sadness and misfortune.
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  People in Switzerland told their young children that they were brought to them, as babies, by Ladybugs. (…..and we thought Storks did that!)
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  In Belgium people believed that if a Ladybug crawled across a young girl’s hand, she would be married within a year.
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  In Brussels, the black spots on the back of a Ladybug indicate to the person holding it how many children he/she will have.
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  In some Asian cultures, It is believed that the Ladybug understands human language, and has been blessed by God, Himself.
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  In Norway, if a man and woman spot a Ladybug at the same time, there will be a romance between them.
  
  

The Children's Library, what were your favortite children's books growing up.

So I have been saving and collecting children's books for years. My collection is rather large now and sitting in boxes under my bed, waiting for the day when I have children to share them with. I love them because there are some books with the most beautiful artwork in the illustration. The stories are fun and imaginative. The following are a few favorites. Goodnight moon a favorite bedtime story, children love this story because of the ryhthms of the rhyming, it creates a soothing sound and tone which children need at a young age.
This is a fun story about a little bat finding its place in the world. Good story and information on the differences between bats and birds.
One of my all time favorites the illustrations in this book are soo beautiful and the expressions in the characters faces when they finally find the owls are so great. Love it.


Written in 1962 this adorable little boy character who is having so much fun exploring the snow is the first african american to appear in a children's book.

And finally last but not least the Clown of God a touching christmas story about an orphan who wants to serve with his talents. Tomie de Paola is a great children's book author he brings in folk tales from many different countries and recreates them for children to enjoy.

Let me know if you have any recomendations on what your favorite books are so I can add them to my library.

Happy Australia Day

Did you know that today is Australia Day. Australia Day is a celebration that commemorates the landing of the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. So to celebrate Australia Day I am posting some common Australian phrases.

Surf Tucker - This describes the food you eat after you go surfing-
Ankle Biter- This is what Australians call a small child
Dinki Di - Something good from Australia
Grog - Alcohol
Lollies - Candies
Matilda - Sleeping bag or role
Fair dinkum - Someone or something genuine
Fairy Floss - Cotton candy
Icy pole - Popsicle
Nong - Idiot, "you nong!
Rellies - Relatives
My shout - I'll pay this time
Singlet - Undershirt or tank top
Stickybeak - Nosy person
Snag - Sausage
Shonky - A questionable deal
Swag - Canvas bag for your belongings
Woop Woop - A long way from civilisation
Yobbo - Redneck

Incredible Sand Art

"Ok so i found this video of this amazing talented girl drawing a story in the sand. I dont know what it means because its entirely in Ukrainian but it looks like its a story about the war. I'm going to have my friend Yelena translate it for me when I get a chance so check back for the translation soon.

Enjoy!