Puerto Rico Rises

So I did a slightly crazy thing a few weeks ago. It was something on my mind and my heart for a while, but I was always slightly worried about what would people think of me saying this. I finally got over it and created a fund raiser for Puerto Rico.

Almost a year after Maria, Puerto Rico is still struggling. The debt crisis and the storm have forced many people to leave their homes. The main issue with damaged infrastructure, is you need money to repair it. Puerto Rico's debts being called to account leave it little to no money to put into repairing and rebuilding damaged roads, bridges, and buildings.

The island is full of amazing people with big hearts. If they can pull together to help each other recover after the storm, I think the whole country (maybe even the world) can join together to lift Puerto Rico from debt. Where the government won't help, we the people need to step up and take action.

I know the figures are astronomical, but lots of small actions by many can add up quickly. Think about donating that jar of spare change, a fiver, 10% of one paycheck; any amount can help alleviate what Puerto Rico owes. You can donate here and I will forward the funds on, or you can donate directly to the government. You must specify it as a debt payoff. I know it seems weird to attempt to payoff government's debt, but it is possible. Take a look at this article, it explains how it works.

Lastly, I suppose you want to know why I want to pay off Puerto Rican debts. I'm just a girl who visited the island and fell in love; with the culture, people, and island itself.

If you'd like to help too, you can donate here.

Paint the Town at Paint Bar

Hard at Work

I went with my sister last Friday to Paint Bar in Madison.  We got a Groupon to a "Freestyle" painting session.  The freestyle session are pick your canvas and paint whatever you want; unlike the classes where you get taught a specific painting.  Our Groupon also came with a pizza to split (we got the margarita pizza and it was delicious beyond words). 


Our yummy pizza

We ended up staying two hours working on our paintings.  I choose a sunset picture from my first trip to Puerto Rico as inspiration and my sister just free-styled a beautiful fall scene (she's an artist)!  We even made their facebook page! I had a ton of fun and was extremely surprised by how well I did.  I mean, my sister I knew was going to crush it; the last painting I did was in the 7th grade and it looked like crap.  I was honestly nervous when they put the canvas in front of me and handing me some paint and brushes. 


Finished Painting

 This is an event that I'd highly recommend to anyone.  It's just a fun, relaxing evening.  My sister and I got to work, enjoyed some tea and pizza, and walked away with gorgeous art work by us!  I really liked the free-style.  They have a wall of inspiration that has directions for how to complete each work, but it was fun picking something I wanted and painting it.  I picked one of my favorite pictures from Puerto Rico and it's magical sunsets. 

The Inspiration

My sister is probably getting very annoyed with me, because every day I look at my painting and go: "Dang, that painting is BEAUTIFUL!"  Lol.  I think the classes would be fun too and a different way to enjoy painting in a group setting.  We so often lose touch with our creative side; and too often creative people can become reclusive :) Good activity to bring the both together.



Fall Path by EW

Her painting reminds me of Europe.  I love fall and all the colors.  She did a fantastic job just painting from her mind.  I had a picture in front of me the whole time to reference.  I'm proud of us! 

I talked to the two ladies helping us.  I am thinking of doing Yoga and Event days like: yoga and painting, yoga and a mani/pedi spa day, yoga and glass blowing, yoga and hiking, yoga and rock wall climbing, etc.  They seemed really excited about it and gave me their bosses name; they said they loved the idea and they thought their boss would too!

Exponential Power

Wow.  It has been a crazy long time since I last blogged.  I didn't have Internet or a real computer in Puerto Rico.  Did you know, it doesn't allow you to write a blog from an iPhone? I've really missed this; I love writing. I think it is fitting that I start my blog back up with this days post.  These 3 areas of my life have changed drastically in the last several months.

All I can say is: Life is full of potential. It didn't feel that way a few months ago.  In fact, I felt quite the opposite a few months ago.  I was depressed and wanting to hide my head under a pillow any time I wasn't helping take care of my aunt with dementia.  I was jobless, nearly broke (still am), my marriage was on shaky ground, and I felt completely alone in the world.  I was pretty much back to where I was when I first started my journey towards health and wellness (in all areas of my life).  Crying in a ball on my bedroom floor: hopeless and lost. Thank God for God and my family and my husband.

Health: So I moved back in with my parents earlier this year to help take care of my aunt that has developed dementia.  She's young and she can't get aid until there is a firm diagnosis.  So no one in the family really had the time to take care of her like she needed.  I was able to step up and step in. In that time, I became highly sedentary.  I mostly sat around watching tv with her.  That, in addition to my mom's very good and very high fat/highly processed/highly sweet cooking, I put on 20 pounds in a short period of time.  I tried to get more active, but I was still feeling depressed about the my life.  Vicious cycle of feeling blue, eating junk food to feel better, and wanting to sleep all the time only led to my weight gain and feeling more blue.  In 21 days I was able to change that all around.  I started eating clean, portion correct sizes (us Mid-Westerners really like to load up a plate) and working out for just 30 minutes a day.  BAM! I lost about 7.5 pounds and a total of 8 inches.  1.75 inches from my waist.  So excited to keep doing this program and see where it takes me.  Hello elusive 135 I've always thought was impossible, I'm coming for you!

Relationships:  I had a really rocky time in Puerto Rico.  I honestly love the island.  And oh my, I love the food.  I may not name a kid after pasteles, but I sure as heck would name my first born Mofongo (that stuff is addicting).  I even met a ridiculous amount of interesting people.  However, I was no where near the same path as some of these other people.  Most of the people my age were into never letting the party stop (drunk or high, or both) or they wanted to lounge in front of a fan and a tv. I had just spent the better of the last 2 years of my life, trying to make a healthy and active life; not veg out in front of the tv all the time.  My husband was working almost all the time (about 12 hours a day, 6 days a week) and I felt like I never got to see him.  My dog became my best friend!  I literally had conversations with my dog.  I love that doggie with all my heart (now I have 3).  I'm also pretty sure they were a deterrent for crime. 

The town I lived in was less Americanized than the next town over.  The city is beautiful, but I always drew stares.  I didn't really mind, go ahead and stare, but being followed by people in cars or having people shout: "hey white girl, where you come from?" was a little scary.  Sometimes locals were shocked I'd walk alone anywhere.  That didn't make me feel too safe.  My husband and I are still working on some of the issues that came up from me practically turning into a version of "The Bell Jar." There were days, if our oven had had a gas hook up, my head probably would have been in there.  There were far too many endless days of sitting around in the house alone.  I know, I know.  You are probably thinking: "why didn't you get up and go somewhere or do something?"  I almost never had a car to go anywhere, money was tight, and I had almost no one to do things with me.  I could have gone alone, but there's only so far I can walk alone and my safety was also a concern.  I loved going to the beach, but it took about 45 minutes to walk there.  And again, not so fun when you are there all alone.   If I did find someone to hang out with, it was going out to eat and then watching a movie or movies.  My husband was also exhausted from working long days, so vegging out on his day off was his ideal.  Other times, I'd ask people to hang out and they'd never respond back.  I felt trapped and alone.  I was just plain miserable. So not only am I working on building up my relationship with others, I'm working on building up a loving relationship with myself.

Another relationship that has picked back up is my relationship with God.  I went through a very dark time, multiple times.  I keep trying to give over my doubts and worries to God.  I know that He is bigger and that He has a plan for my husband and I.  He's got plans better than I could ever dream up. I'm so grateful to have a Savior that loves me through thick and thin; even when I don't love myself.  And He wraps me up in His arms of Grace and leads me down the path of life.  He's always beside me.

Career:  There is one word that describes this area of my life perfectly and that would be: POTENTIAL.  I've started the amazing journey of being a LifeStyle and Wellness Coach with Beachbody.  I'm so excited to help others realize their fitness goals and achieve a healthy body that will take them through many years of loving and living life to the fullest. I've also been told some of my "art" would look great on fabrics or as a print.  I'm flabbergasted because I wouldn't ever really consider myself an artist. I'm also looking into potential in other areas.  I also applied for a job in a library.  I am hoping that I get called in to do an interview soon!

So while there is lots of work to still be put into all of these areas of my life, I see nothing but potential in my future!  And if you want any help or accountability in changing your life in these areas, let me know!  I'd love to help you along your journey.  We're all in this together.

Samatahiti

So I finally got around to making this video!  I love it!! :)  I hope you do to and want to plan your trip with Samatahiti tomorrow.  Seriously, I know you do!  This snow is killing us slowly!  My spirit yearns for warm Puerto Rican beaches!  I'll even take a sea urchin or jelly fish sting!  Ok...no I'm over it.  Just enjoy the video!

Be-you-tiful

Well - no cinnamon rolls tonight.  I could  not get comfortable last night. I went from hot to cold and back again.  I tossed and I turned.  The only position that felt comfortable was on my stomach and I get headaches from sleeping on my stomach.  It's a visious cycle. 

I for sure am not getting to those cinnamon rolls.  I can't wait for an opinion piece, so I'll skip to Wednesday's "Say What"-ever I want blog.  Today at work we got the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.  I hate that thing.  I especially hate when girls say they are looking at it for the swimsuits.  Really?!?  Some of the girls aren't even WEARING ONE!
 I admit that I am a person that has always struggled with body image.  Still do and probably will forever.  I don't think my mother has a good self-esteem and she wasn't able to teach her daughters how to love themselves.  I love this image I saw the other day on the Girl's on the Run facebook page.  It had Kate Winslet saying how she had never heard any of the women in her life say that they were proud of their bodies and how she makes sure to teach her daughter how to appreciate her body for what it is, not isn't. 

I wish we had more role models like Kate Winslet who say: I don't have "perfect" boobs.  I can completely understand because I don't either.  I look more like "balogna Barb" in Pitch Perfect to be honest.  I'm a little sad this girl was mocked for her different body.  It is extremely awkward with her going braless, but I give this girl kodos because she will probably be forever known as the girl with bologna tits.  I know, I know - overshare!  Heck, if this blog post makes one girl feel a little less like: "omg, I'm a freak because I'm the only one with a body like this!" -I did what I had hoped to do.

We wonder why girls in our country deal with such low self-esteem.  It is because we see girls with Kate Upton's not typical body praised so openly and we realize that we can't compare to these beautiful women.  Our boyfriends, male bosses, brothers, and male friends look at these girls and I'm sure are a little disappointed when they don't get those massive jugs, perfect cleavage, and amazing asses in real life.  I have to learn to let go of hating these women for their amazing bodies.  I need to change my image of me and my beauty.  It is a lot to overcome when you've had your mother tell you: "You don't look that great, let's be honest.  I wouldn't want you going around with rose colored glasses." 
I need to "breath in love and breath out jealousy; breath in peace and breath out insecurity."  - Renee knew exactly what I needed to hear at that moment.  Yoga with her and my other teachers have made me appreciate my body for all the wonderful things it can do, not just fitting into the body norms of the moment.  I shouldn't have to feel that I would be considered beautiful if only I'd been born around the time of the Renaissance.  Heck, if I'd been a few decades earlier, I'd probably have been considered too skinny!  Marilyn Monroe wasn't Kate Upton sized.  She had great undergarments and killer curves to her not size zero body.


PS: Yes, that is Marilyn's wide booty. 
 

So here is to the Tina Feys and Kate Winslets who are wickedly gorgeous telling us that not everyone is going to have the "perfect" body and that is ok. Ok, better than just ok; it's great to have a body that you are proud of! Tina's observations also make it so obvious how ridiculous beauty standards are; really, we are trying to meet those standards just with our body shapes!  That's not even counting having to dress it nicely in all the latest fashions and apply perfect makeup that is perfectly framed by spectaculate hair.  So maybe this still is a Testy Tuesday and all of us women just have to look in the mirror and say: "I am beautiful" along with all the amazing things your body does for you.  Say it until it sinks in and we can deal with the Kate Uptons of the world and their perfect bodies on display because our bodies do so much more than create a shelf of perfect breasts or a pair of tight cheeks!

I can say I'm grateful for a body that still moves. I can run, walk, skip.  It just powered through an amazing session of yoga that left my legs a little jiggly by the end.  Despite the slight cold I have, I'm healthy.  I have teeth that are healthy and well cared for - which is a perfect accesory for the smile I typically have plastered across my face. My feet keep me well founded when I'm doing yoga and running or trying something like surfing! I am beautiful because I am me and there is only one like me out there. 
*Now seems like a good time to put on Beautiful by Xtina and sing it for all it's worth!*

An exciting side note: My review of Samatahiti finally got posted on TripAdvisor.  Check it out and don't laugh at my grammatical error.  Remember I was typing that thing up with one finger out of action.  Come on, who doesn't want to surf and do yoga in such an amazing place with such amazing people?!?

World Doom and Bob

 

So the news lately has been a cheerful reflection of world doom: North Korea plotting our destruction, our economy may never recover with 100% increases in inflation for the next several years, Donald Driver is retiring, and yet another snow storm to make things sucky.  I'm beginning to think those doomsday preppers might be on to something.  Heck, I'll just move to Puerto Rico and chill on the beach with my pooches.  Really, I am too tired to really care at this moment (except for the loss of Donald - I could probably ditch my brother saying Donald's McDonalds every time we pass one, but he will be missed on the frozen tundra).  If I can survive one day at a time, I'll know "every little thing" will be alright.  By the way, Happy Birthday Bob Marley.  Honestly, I don't know why I spent so long avoiding your music.  Maybe more and more news agencies should listen to Bob once a week.  I'm pretty sure the news would be a little happier (without the inclusion of weed).  Oh, interesting side note on weed: adolescents who smoke weed are more likely to have strokes (says a report from New Zealand).  There was a rather scary CNN article where a girl had such a bad round of mini-strokes she was living on life support.  Miracle of miracles, she stayed alive and began to recover after her parents decided to take her off life support; however, her life completely sucks compared to the happy life she was living before smoking the weed.  Note, I don't support the use of any drug, I just find it interesting that this report comes out shortly after a few states have legalized the recreational use of weed for adults.

Broche de Oro

I feel I have spent too long at a desk today.  Ugh - I wish didn't have to come back to Wisconsin.  This cold, rainy weather makes me want to crawl back into my bed and dream of Puerto Rico.  New mission in life: Live part of the year in Scotland and part in Puerto Rico.  I was told/warned that I was going to love it so much I wouldn't want to leave.  If I had a place to stay, I think I would have really been tempted to stay. Not the first time I've done something completely crazy.

Really, who wants to leave this?!?

I had so much fun paddle boarding and surfing and snorkeling and doing yoga and not starring at a computer screen all day.  Not to mention I found Puerto Rican equivalents to Max from DWTS and Zach Effron.  The sun was amazing, I had adorable puppies to keep me company, and some pretty awesome new experiences.  I surfed on my birthday!  I told my teacher, Robert Ferrer, who is the best by the way, "I never expected to do this, ever, in my life.  I saw it in a movie when I was little and thought it would be really fun and now I'm here, doing it!" I also danced with completely strange men.  I had one guy tell me to move my ass.  I was slightly offended, but not too much. He quit dancing with me because I pretty much decided not to move anymore after that comment. A) I can move my butt and damn well B) I shake it when I want to, not when some dude is telling me to "move it" C) I had just gotten in that morning at 2:30 and it was late at night when I really wanted my bed instead of a dance partner.  Jose, the next guy I danced with didn't seem to mind.  I did hit him with my hat brim, accidentally.  Hahaha, I had to turn my hat around backwards to keep dancing without incident.   I can't help it, I find grinding just awkward.  What is even the past tense of that: He ground on me/he grinded on me/he was grinding on me.  Ok, the last one sounds the best.  Turns out, everyone actually from town thinks that this guy and his friend Ryan are really undercover cops.  That would probably explain why Jose first introduced himself as Josh.  Lord only knows.   I got up and rode several waves all the way!  Woot.  I also got burnt to a crispity crisp.  Good thing we had done the mountain biking the day before because all that chafing would have killed me!  I was already dying - I'm more of a ride bike for errands around town, not a ride bike far distances for fun.  15 miles is more than I ever want to do again.  Ok, I may try it again.  Just with less heat, more water, and a little more build up to that great of a distance.  My chain also popped off on the corner where the iguana lives.  If I had known that giant thing was near by, I'd have run with the bike away.  I have to say I am proud for doing things I never would have before - I totally "yolo-ed" a few times.  That rope swing was scarier than looking down and seeing a jellyfish between my legs.  Yes, that one did sting me.  Thank God it was just a tiny brush against my knee.  It could have been worse!

Surfer Eye-Candy

I did watch a movie while in Puerto Rico!  It was called Broche de Oro (Wave of Gold).  It was a really cute movie.  I teared up at a few places.  I even understood parts of it.  I definitely didn't get all of it, but I did get a good chunk of it.  The movie is about a young boy/man who breaks his grandfather and his grandfather's two friends out of their strict Catholic retirement home for a day.  It accidentally turns into a 2 day excursion when the tires on their car get slashed.  Bonds are made stronger between generations and love is discovered in all sorts of places!  A very entertaining way to spend a night in Puerto Rico.  The surfer eye-candy wasn't all that bad either.  It is a feel good comedy of sorts.  I very much enjoyed the movie. 

 

Drive

I watched Drive last night - thus, no blog.  Ryan Gosling, can you get any better?!?  I do have to say, my favorite character of his has to be his rather minor character role in Remember the Titans.  His part in that movie is priceless.  He's so funny.  I like Lars too.  That character is amazing.  Sometimes, I wish I could pull the same thing with my family.  Too bad there only seem to be female dolls.  Maybe I should suggest that to a company.  I whole untapped market.  (ewe, that just got dirty in my head).  There is a reason, beyond his good looks, that makes Ryan Gosling Movie Marathons fun.  I don't think I can ever watch Half Nelson again, but most of his other movies are really good!  I was a little freaked out last night when he staked a man with a curtain rod and also stomped a guy to death (like, no skull left stomped him to death).  I think I really liked how the music and the slow motion of the scenes blended so well to give you this other worldly feel.  It was very interesting the way his character would just smile at the girl, Irene.  It made it seem more real - those awkward moments where you don't quite know what to say, but you don't want to leave, so you just smile stupidly. 



Anyways, I got told by my boss today that if I fall on my face while attempting to surf in Puerto Rico during a Pro Surfing competition, I can be rescued and fall madly in love.  I was like, do you not want me to come back from Puerto Rico?   I could probably start studying yoga under Renee and work at her resort.  I'd be all over that.  I don't know if I'd go well with a surfer dude though.  Hmm, Prince William surfs and I've loved him since I was 12, so maybe I do like surfer dudes.  And I could be his "little surfer girl."  (ugh, I think I just gagged).  I can't believe next Saturday I am going to be in Puerto Rico doing so many amazing things.  I can't wait!!  I'm excited.