Invictus
William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the yearsFinds,
and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Are fitness shoes the new rip-off?

Reebok calls it the EasyTone; Skechers, the ShapeUp. These curved-sole shoes, transforming people into human rocking chairs, cost up to $130 and promise to keep you fit even while grocery shopping.
During 2009 sales grew 14-fold to $245 million, estimates market researcher NPD. One problem: "They mostly affect the foot and ankle," says Dr. Michael Ross, director of Rothman Institute's Sports Performance Lab, which counts the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers among its clients. "There is no evidence they will help you tone better or quicker than a regular shoe."

just wrong

Not okay by my standards!

Is this just wrong or what?

Her midrift is showing, everything is too tight and too small...

on finding a husband...

"Surely there must be some way to find a husband or, for that matter, merely an escort, without sacrificing one's privacy, self-respect, and interior decorating scheme."
Barbara Ehrenreich

Miracle in a jar...

If you have skin... you NEED Strivectin!

Although I don't usually spend lots of money on expensive creams, lotions and potions, I have to say that I had been dying to get this cream for the longest. Today, as my husband and I were looking for the perfect summer bicycle, my husband decided he was going to get me 'what I wanted' [meaning the cream]. Not only was I beyond surprised, I was excited because I knew if it wouldn't have been for him, I would have [probably] never bought it... I'm kinda cheap for these things, besides, who is going to guarantee me that the cream is actually going to work. Anyways, my sugardaddy bought the Strivectin cream for me. And while I kept reminding him of the 'ouchy' pricetag that comes with the brand name and the fact that I really didn't need it at the time, he whispered in my ear, "Babe, don't worry, I've got it". Is this sweet or what? I think it is.

I'm not going to lie, I am soooooo excited about having this cream! I have high expectations of it and I can't wait to start using it. According to the manufacturers, this is the Holy Grail of all creams and lotions designed for sculpting, lifting and tightening facial skin. It's meant to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crows' feet while accentuating the cheekbones and the jaw line. So, apparently this is the #&%!, and it is going to help me transform my entire facial contour [I don't know about that, but I am hopeful it's gonna make my skin look more youthful].

Well, today is going to be day one, let's see how this cream works... I'll keep you posted.

Law of attraction

Look for the gifts in everything, especially when you are facing what appears to be a negative situation. Everything that we attract causes us to grow, which means that ultimately everything is for our own good.
Adjusting to a new path and a new direction will require new qualities and strengths, and these
qualities are always exactly what we need to acquire in order to accomplish the great things ahead in our life.

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne
Creator of "The Secret"

May the joy be with you,
Eunice

The Uniform Project: One year in ONE dress!

She did it!
*** Check out more info on The Uniform Project on my blogs from Feb. 7th and Feb. 16th.

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

Operation Wetback all over again?

WTH? Is this Operation Wetback all over again or what? I am so frustrated right now over the new immigration law SB 1070! This law (or should I call it a joke?) proposes that if a cop has 'reasonable suspicion' (reasonable according to whom???) that someone is here illegally, this requires the officer to ask that person for proof of legal residency. Immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. Does this smell like BS or what? I think this proposal is as frightening as an empty bank account, this bill basically opens the doors to a form of 'legal', massive, racial profiling against all brown-skinned people, criminalizing compassion and taking us (THE people) back to a bad movie set in the 40's in the southern states of the country. The bill is probably going to bring out the worst out of people, breed violence and more. Not only do I think this is unconstitutional, it is also offensive and discriminatory. According to one of the lasts Colbert Reports, immigrants account for 29 millions of Arizona's economy... I would really like to see what's going to happen to Arizona's economy if, or when they leave!

SB1070: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

WHAT YOU CAN DO!!**

Join the campaign at Presente.org to boycott Arizona. http://presente.org/ref/ad/32/campaigns/shame

VIDEO: AZ Students arrested trying to stop racial profiling+hate bill in AZ http://tinyurl.com/2dmaxzv - PLS ACT: http://tinyurl.com/2vszlbh

ARTICLES

RACHEL MADDOW BLOG:http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/04/27/4210613-racist-roots-of-arizonas-immigration-law

COLBERT REPORT:http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/281867/april-21-2010/the-word---no-problemo

NY TIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/us/20immig.html?ref=us

HUFFINGTON POST: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/arizona-immigration-law-s_n_544864.html

CNN: http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/20/arizona-immigration-bill/

THE DAILY BEAST: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/arizonas-tough-new-immigration-law/draconian/

Do I look ILLEGAL to you?

Chuck D – Tear Down That Wall

The Beauty and the Beast in NYC

Well, well, well... what do we have in here?
Although I have always loved the story of "The Beauty and the Beast" from the Disney version to the numerous re-tellings, I never thought I was going to actually like a modern, cheesy version of this classic. This July 2010, a new version of the classic will come out based on the novel of Alex Flinn, "Beastly". This version tells the story from the Beast's point of view and it is set in modern-day NYC (New York, New York!)
After watching the trailers I was instantly hooked, YES, hooked! I don't consider myself a fan of any of the new-generation 'actors' from the Disney channel or Nickelodeon for what that matters. But there are a lot of good, well-known actors in this movie including: Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser M.D... YUP!), Peter Krause from Six-Feet Under, and Mary-Kate Olsen. I think deep inside I wanted to hate this movie because I thought it was going to be one of these lame, young adult movies that are coming out every summer (that's right Twilight!) but, darn it, after watching the trailer, I'm going to have to say that I will be watching it and that I am actually looking forward to watching it. So, here it goes, the infamous trailer. Enjoy it and leave your comments.
Do you think it will be worth watching?

@ Yahoo! Video

Mal bicho!

"Pobre del país donde lo malo controla, donde el civil se enamora de la corrupción. Pobre del país alienado por la droga, porque una mente que afloja, pierde la razón. Pobre del país que, con la violencia, crea que puede matar la idea de su liberación. Pobre del país que ve la justicia hecha añicos por la voluntad del rico o por el orden militar."
PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR!!!
Ruben Blades

La cancion que es valiente, es cancion para SIEMPRE!

Style according to Gore Vidal

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and NOT giving a damn."
Gore Vidal

Lucky life...

Life is complicated and so are humans, right? But I can't help but to think of all the wonderful things I have experienced in this life, beautiful places, interesting people, wonderful flavors, love, family and happiness... While counting my blessings I thought about one of my favorite quotes, and this one happens to be from Audrey Hepburn (Patron Saint of Fashion, thank you). I really hope you enjoy it as much as I always do.

"How should I sum up my life? I think I 've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I've always had- how shall I say it?- the prize at the end. My whole life shows that."
Audrey Hepburn

He who wants a place in the sun should expect blisters...

Aquel que quiera ocupar un lugar cerca del sol, debe esperar ampollas...

5k's are so in!

Woooooooooooooo hooooooooooooo! What a rush! Today I signed up for The Victim's Advocate 5k Walk/Race and unknowingly I completed my first 5k. Well, I had originally signed up for just the 1 mile walk/jog. I knew the 3 mile-runners and the 1 mile runners were going to split at a certain point during the race and I was paying attention to the arrows on the ground and to the helpers throughout the race but... I remember asking one of the ushers of the race for directions, I mean, after all, I only wanted to jog one mile and he (or was it a she???) pointed me to where I thought was the end of my race... yeah right! While running all I could think was "Darn, this definitely doesn't feel like a mile, it feels like the whole three miles" but I kept going at it, after all... I was doing it. Well, long story, short. I ended up jogging/walking the whole 5k (3.1 miles) and I am so proud of myself and of my fellow runners and girl friends Fe and Melody. With every heart-pumping breath and each sweaty step, I felt like the champion I know I am. I did it! We did it and we did it [as usual] in style!

Who we are...

what we wear is just one part of us. how we talk, what we talk about, what we watch, what we listen too, what we like, what we hate - basically all that extra stuff that gives us our swag...
'sui generis boutique'

My dear, sweet, Opal clutch by Mad Imports

Ciara featuring Ludacris - Ride

Earth Day's 40th Birthday!

There she is, Planet Earth.

Isn't she beautiful?

Tomorrow will be Earth Day, that day dedicated to celebrating and contemplating the beauty, health, and fragility of our dear planet. Over the years I have heard some people complaining about this day not having enough of an impact, about how Earth Day hasn't saved the planet's problems... well, it's not only about solving problems right here, right now; it's about taking little steps and educating the public so that we can make the difference [I know it sounds like a cliche].

What's so hard about taking a shorter shower, walking to places and picking up some trash? I know this alone won't save Mother Earth, but that's not the point.

Harrison on leading edge of teacher pay reform, experts say
CAROL MCGRAW
2010-01-09 10:49:56

Harrison School District 2 Superintendent Mike Miles compares his school district’s new way of paying teachers to the TV sci-fi program “Flash Forward,” where for a moment everyone sees their future with decidedly different reactions.
“We are seeing everyone’s worst fears and their best hopes,” says Miles.
Harrison last week became the first district in this region and one of a handful nationally to adopt a “pay for performance” system of compensating teachers based on how well their students do.
It turns upside down the traditional fixed-pay system based on a teacher’s education and years in the profession.
In the Harrison system, teachers will be evaluated annually on their skills and their pay will be commensurate with their performance and student achievement.
“This is a bold and exciting strategy,” says Marguerite Roza, a University of Washington professor and research associate with the Center for Reinventing Public Education.
Harrison is at the leading edge of much needed change in how teachers are perceived and compensated, she says.
President Obama and Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education have pushed for such innovation, noting that teacher evaluation and professional development is the most broken part of the profession. In the American Educator, Duncan compares the old way of doing things as “the factory model of education, where teachers are treated as interchangeable widgets who keep the educational assembly line moving.” He says, “more than 95 percent of teachers are rated good or superior even in schools that are chronically under performing. Worse yet, evaluations typically fail to take any account of a teacher’s impact on student learning.”
As enticement for change, the U.S. Department of Education has stepped up federal grants for innovative reform programs.
“The grants will help seed the climate for more change,” says Roza.
It’s an attractive carrot at a time when the dismal economy has wrecked havoc on state education budgets. In Colorado, the predicted shortfall is $370 million statewide for K-12.
The new program will cost Harrison, with 10,500 students and a $79 million budget, about $1 million a year in salary increases for 840 licensed staff members. While the district is applying for federal grants, the program is not contingent on getting them. And no program or classroom money will be used, officials say.
The district will cut $500,000 for a stipend plan for department chairpersons and $300,000 in teacher attendance incentives to pay for the program, along with adding $200,000 from the general fund, said Harrison board president Debra Hendrix, who with her four colleagues unanimously approved the plan.
Roza, and other national education experts, note that many districts nationwide are meeting the economic crisis by slashing teaching staffs and rolling back salaries. The Harrison plan, she said “is purposeful.”
In it, there are nine compensation levels with new teachers getting about $35,000 and master teachers $90,000. Those top level teachers must produce student achievement gains, community leadership, participate in lifelong learning, contribute widely to the profession and mentor colleagues.
Harrison has several things working for it as it makes the change. Districts between 10,000 and 20,000 students can get things done quicker than larger urban districts, Roza says. Likewise, “a strong trusted leader can make cutting edge change.”
Miles, a non-nonsense former Army Ranger, and the progressive school board has been widely lauded for efforts to turn around Harrison. It has put in place many innovative programs and is on the fourth year of a five year plan to raise student achievement in a district where most students are from low income families. While it lags state averages in assessments, there have been significant improvements.
Miles knows the change won’t be easy, but he is convinced it will make a difference in student achievement.
Teachers, too, are hoping for the best.
“It’s a work in progress,” says Felicia Kazmier, a teacher at Otero Elementary School. She says she embraces the pay for performance plan, especially because teachers had input. “Actually the district is not asking me to do anything I am not already doing in my classroom, except now they want to pay me for it.”
Marybeth Hamilton, an intervention specialist who heads the Harrison High School reading program, senses that the plan will “revolutionize our practice and award the integrity of teachers.” She especially likes that collaboration is built in, especially important to her area where reading and writing are promoted across the curriculum.
“Teachers still have many questions about how this will actually play out,” says Megan Sheppard, a teacher at Carmel Middle School, “We absolutely need to rethink our current accountability systems and reform how teachers are paid. But is the answer to pay teachers more or less based on how well students score on tests? The hope is, of course, that teachers will rise to the challenge and raise student achievement in ways that nurture the real needs of students.”

© Copyright 2010 Freedom Communications. All Rights Reserved.

Everyone has a story... what's yours?

Six-word memoirs is an innovative effort from SMITH magazine to get people to write their own six-word memoirs about their lives.

Everyone has a story and SMITH mag wants to hear about it. Their invitation has only one requirement... Can you tell your story in (only) six words? Write your own memoir and submit it to be considered for Smith's next six-word memoir book.

Here I go with mine for today:

NOTHING BUT BLESSINGS COMING MY WAY!

Perception

Washington, DC Metro Station: On a cold January morning a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour. During that time 1,097 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

After 3 minutes: a middle-aged man noticed the musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried on.

4 minutes: The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the hat without stopping and continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and walked away.

10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The child stopped to look back at the violinist again, but the mother pulled hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head back all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money, but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded. No one knew this... The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Three days before he appeared at the Metro station, Bell had filled the house at Boston's Symphony Hall, where merely pretty-good seats went for $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and people's priorities. The questions raised: "In a common place environment, at an inconvenient hour, do we perceive the value of what is going on around us? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?"Do you have time to appreciate beauty?

If people do not take a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing?

The first time I read this story it really struck me the fact that I myself have missed so many opportunities in life to appreciate beauty in all its forms. It is with great sadness that I have to admit that I would have probably been another passerby who missed beauty. Having lived in NYC for more than six years, I considered many of the occasional street performers to be part of the cityscape. I rarely stopped my commute to listen to their performances and although I would donate a buck or two out of respect (or maybe because I felt bad for them); I never stopped to appreciate their talents, their music, the beauty of the performance.

Only on my weekend commutes if I had time, I would actually stop and enjoy the musicians wanna-bes. How sad!

May we each dedicate ourselves to seeing and appreciating the outstanding performances of our husbands, wives, family members, colleagues and students that play out all around us every day!

What is this life if... full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
-- from "Leisure," by W.H. Davies

Earth Hour 2010

In just 26 days, I will be uniting with hundreds of millions of people all over the world in the fight against pollution and climate change. Last year during Earth Hour 2009 one billion of us stood together showing our support by turning off our lights for one hour. We became a powerful voice for action on climate change.

Earth Hour is a grassroots movement fueled by passionate people like you and me. Today we need that passion to raise the volume of our message during Earth Hour 2010.

I am so glad to know that 19 U.S. states are officially participating in Earth Hour! Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin are on board.

We've come together to change the world. To do that we must get everyone involved.
Can you get FIVE or more of your friends to join today? You can go to https://www.myearthhour.org/home or you can send a message to your friends via any of the social networks you belong to and try to raise awareness on this issue.
That’s what I am doing right now!!!

Turn out. Take Action.

Earth Hour. March 27, 8:30-9:30 p.m., local time.
By joining together, we will send a message for Earth Hour 2010 that will be heard for generations to come.

How You Can Help:

Here are a few simple steps you can take to help reduce your impact on the environment:
· Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones.
· Recycle paper and plastic, instead of using the trash.
· Read news online, instead of buying paper copies.
· Grow vegetables during the summer.
· Bicycle or walk to work or to run errands instead of driving.
· Take the bus or train, instead of driving long distances.
· Unplug appliances when they are not in use.
· Lower the thermostat to cut back on heating during the winter.
· Insulate and eliminate drafts to get the most out of your heating and cooling.
· Plant a tree to help filter your air and to provide shade.

Reasons why I love Mafalda...

"Please, STOP the World, I want to get off"
1. Mafalda is just as quirky as I am...
2. She cares deeply about humanity and world peace. And if she were still alive, she would probably care a lot about the environment and recycling...
3. She loves the Beatles and their revolutionary, thought-provoking lyrics...
4. She has equally quirky (interesting) friends...
5. She is brutally honest, but still, HONEST!...
6. She thinks human rights are exactly that, YOUR RIGHTS!...
7. She has always been part of my global conscience, ever since its beginnings...


Nahima (my little sister) and Mafalda

Mafalda and The Beatles

how could colorado springs rock?

So, I was given this blank postcard at my job and the instructions were to write/draw or collage my thoughts on how to make Colorado Springs an awesome and amazing place to live. [Anonymity is ok] Then I have to drop the postcard in the mail and 'kiss it goodbye' because once dropped, you have no legal claim to it.
The organizers of this movement even paid the postage.
The purpose of the “How could Colorado Springs rock?” postcard campaign is to elevate the voices of the community, share great ideas, and inspire people to act. The postcards are intended to be catalysts for creativity, dialogue, passion, and leadership. Submit a postcard that describes your ideas on how to build a vibrant city center, one that elicits pride and passion. (Info taken from the website)
So, here I am extending this invitation to all of you (yes, YOU, whoever you are!) Share your thoughts if you ROCK, how could Colorado Springs ROCK? You can even check out other postcards at www.icoloradosprings.org

Send any comments [or postacards] to:
icoloradosprings
P.O. Box 38808
Colorado Springs, CO
80937

The Uniform Project Trailer from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

10 Things that are getting BETTER!

1. Public awareness of diabetes- Diabetes is one of the most common diseases and much effort has been devoted to educating the public. Finally, people are starting to understand the complications of this disease. I know I understand it better and for that reason I decided to make small changes in my life to avoid diabetes altogether.

2. Sunscreen- What used to be this super heavy cream now is almost imperceptible. My Mom is really happy about this!

3. Recycling and "living green"- I remember when my co-worker started recycling at my job and I thought it was just going to be too complicated to actually do it. Then I started recycling at home and my husband didn't quite like it... now the whole family is doing it. A family effort with a global impact!!!

4. Protein drinks- Some of the new protein drinks on the market are so delicious, they bear no resemblance to the OH-so-chalky-concoctions of the past and they even come in Starbucks-esque flavors like Mocha Capuccino.

5. Lia Sophia Jewelry- I've always loved the high quality of the jewelry from Lia Sophia, but lately, they have been releasing some top-of-the-line jewelry pieces that make me feel like I'm wearing the stuff the rich and famous wear on the red carpet.

6. Plus-sized clothes- Back in the not-so-good-old-days, plus-sized clothing was just wack and old lady like. Nowadays, most of the companies selling these type of clothes got the memo that we (chubby ladies) like to dress sexy and comfortable without looking like we're 80 years old. Thank you!

On a more personal note:
7. Quality time with my hubby- As we get older, we understand what is really important in life. Spending time with my husband, talking about our past, present and future and thinking about our individual, as well as our shared goals is just getting better with time.

8. Friendship- To better explain it I am just going to use a quote:
"When it comes to matters of the heart, people get better with age. As you grow and become truly happy with who you are, you can then be happy with those around you."
Rachel Roy, fashion designer

9. Dark chocolate and Sex

10. Blogs

Eunice galore!!!

Itching to go to...Greece

Listening to... Bossa Nova

Driving... a Jeep Cherokee Laredo

Shopping fix... the perfect purse/bag/clutch and Lia Sophia Jewelry

Signature scent... Magic Dreams

Necessary extravagance... pedicures and facials

MUST-haves... Cetaphil Facial Cleanser, Avon Deodorant, Floss, Caress Almond Soap

Fear Factor... rats and an empty bank account

Currently craving... a Nutella crepe from France

Latest Splurge... Lia Sophia Jewelry

If I weren't a teacher I would probably be... an artist (dancer, performer, painter, etc) a fashion clothes designer, an interior designer or a carpenter...

Dreaming of... a European vacation with my hubby, family and friends

Ok, now it's your turn to answer these questions!

Make music of what you can...

AGAINST HESITATION

If you stare at it long enough the mountain becomes unclimbable.
Tally it up. How much time have you spent waiting for the soup to cool?
Icicles hang from January gutters only as long as they can.
Fingers pause above piano keys for the chord that will not form.
Slam them down I say. Make music of what you can.
Some people stop at the wrong corner and waste a dozen years hoping for directions.
I can’t be them.
Tell every girl I’ve ever known I’m coming to break her door down,
that my teeth will clench the simple flower I only knew not to give . . .
Ah, how long did I stand beneath the eaves believing the storm would stop?
It never did.
And there is lightning in me still.

Charles Rafferty

The Uniform Project

In my life, I've heard a lot of talk about 'chicas' making a big fuss over wearing pieces of clothes more than once. As if we all had bottomless wallets and an endless wardrobe space, right???!

I chanced upon this really cool site, it's called THE UNIFORM PROJECT.
Starting May 2009, The owner of the site pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Sustainable fashion means being able to wear one essential clothing piece in various stylish ways.

Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day she will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of things, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with a creative license... so this is it: One dress, 365 Days.
Here's a preview of how she styles the really cute dress..

I adore the creative eye of this girl and how she makes the dress look so un-boring everyday.
"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."
Gore Vidal

This is what compassion looks like...

The Aging Brain

Ok, so I am an educator and I teach ESL to adults ranging from 17 years old all the way to the 80 somethings. More often than I would want to, I ask myself the same question: Can an old brain learn, and then remember what it learned? Should this brain be (at all) in a school setting?

And so, it is with this question in mind that I started researching the topic and stumbled upon this phenomenal and interesting article on "How to Train the Aging Brain". This article written by Barbara Strauch explains how the aging brain can be trained not only to learn but to retain more of what it learns. The author debates that middle-aged brains, although less focused, compensate in some part by greater and faster reasoning. They actually become more capable of understanding the big picture, of recognizing the main idea and can continue to develop if done the right way. How do we do that? by finding ways to keep our neurons connected and active. By "scrambling our cognitive eggs and challenging our perceptions of the world".

According to the author, our brains are "plastic", meaning that under the right circumstances the brain can produce 'new' cells and can even get more cells to connect with others.

I am embarrassed to say that even after reading this, I continue to ask myself whether my older students are ever going to learn all those new concepts, grammar points and vocabulary words that I have in store for them. I am hopeful that they will.

I promise myself / Me prometo a mi misma

Hola amigas (hermanas/os)!
Aqui les comparto un pensamiento que saque del libro "El Secreto" de Rhonda Byrne. El pensamiento original es en ingles y me tome el atrevimiento de traducirlo al espanol para poder compartirlo con ustedes.
Que lo disfruten!

Hello Friends (brothers/sisters)!
Here I am sharing with you a motivational thought that I came across while reading the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne.
Enjoy!
Both Spanish and English versions are included!

Me prometo a mi misma

Ser tan fuerte que nada pueda perturbar mi paz mental...
Hablarle de salud, felicidad y prosperidad a todo el que conozca...
Decir y hacerles sentir a mis amigos lo mucho que valen...
Ver el lado positivo de las cosas y hacer que mi optimismo se vuelva realidad...
Pensar, trabajar y esperar solo lo mejor...
Ser igual de entusiasta con el exito de los demas como lo soy con el mio...
Olvidar los errores del pasado y poner mas ahinco en los grandes logros del futuro...
Llevar una expresion alegre en todo momento y brindarle una sonrisa a toda criatura viviente que conozca en mi camino...
Invertir tanto tiempo en mejorarme a mi misma que no me quede tiempo para criticar a otros...
Ser demasiado madura para preocuparme, demasiado noble para enojarme, demasiado fuerte para sentir miedo y demasiado feliz para permitir la presencia de problemas...
Pensar bien de mi misma y proclamarselo al mundo, no con palabras sino con acciones...
Vivir en la fe de que el mundo esta a mi favor, siempre y cuando yo sea honesta conmigo misma...
Christian D. Larson
(Modificado por El Secreto)



I promise myself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb my peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person I meet.
To make all my friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as I am about my own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature I meet.
To give so much time to improving myself that I have no time to criticize others.
To be too large to worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of myself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me.
Christian D. Larson
(Modified by The Secret)

This is the real deal, the good stuff, can you handle it? Can you commit to at least one of these ideas? Can you try to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind? It's hard and it requires a certain kind of attitude towards life...
I'm trying, I'm trying to be different and by doing that, make a difference. Like Jack London said: "Life is to be lived, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I will use my time."
Be blessed!

Couch to 5K

Well, this is me again! Today I thought I was going to die after my run. In the beginning of January I decided 'enough was enough', I don't want to be obese, I don't want to have to buy my clothes plus-sized, I don't want to send a premature invitation to AARP and I most definitely DON'T want to become a diabetic. So, after thinking about it for a long time (and the extra push from my very supportive group of friends and family) I decided I was going to actually do something about it... YES, I am the CHIEF ARCHITECT of my life!!! One of my great friends talked me into a running program called Couch to 5k, this program has been designed to get just about anyone from the couch (yes, us couch potatoes) to running 3 miles or 30 minutes in just 9 weeks. Its secret is that it's a gentle introduction to getting the body moving, starting off alternating between walking and running small distances, and slowly building up until after 8 weeks, you're ready to run 5 kilometers or 30 minutes non stop.
I have never been a runner and everybody knows I don't enjoy running as much as other types of exercise but what I do like is the idea of doing something out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. So far I have been doing pretty well, today was tough, but I did it and I am so proud of that maybe-insignificant accomplishment. I guess I have to work more on my mind set... I already know I can do it but for some reason my mind tries to tell me I can't. Well, let's see where this journey takes me, so far I am glad to say I have lost 4 lbs. and I am pa pa ra pa pahhhhh LOVING IT, like the Mc Donald's commercial. That's all for now, folks!

New Year and Resolutions

With January now in the rearview mirror, I am more than excited to start writing for the first time (at least in a blog).
As I begin the New Year 2010, I think about what I hope to accomplish and do better this year.
1. I want to challenge myself. If there is one thing that invigorates me and makes me happier, it’s stretching myself to do things I once thought were beyond my limits and capabilities. Like running with the Couch to 5K Program, for me this means going to the gym after work and being committed to my long-term goals. This year I plan to turn all my energy into building a better, slimmer, healthier version of the Amazing Nicy(Superstar)!!!
2. Which brings me to the second to-do on my list. Help others, be generous, and give back. Not necessarily cash (Who has that?) but of myself. I plan on dedicating more time to family and friends, do the things I like and enjoy, volunteer my time to causes I believe in and dedicate more time to my relationship with Edwin.
3. That brings me to my favorite new topic: passion, and the meaningful life we can lead by following it. The trick is finding THE ONE thing you enjoy and doing it. For me it's the empowering feeling I get when I am strong and active and helping other people learn English as a Second Language.

How to find passion?
Think. What makes you happy? Do more of it...and then figure out how to make that a more prominent part of your life. Follow your passions and share them. That in itself is generous. Spread your enthusiasm and energy and others will be inspired to find theirs.
Let's challenge ourselves to be our best...personally, and together.