Bella Vida by Letty

Inspiring Girls for a Positive Future

2012-03-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

International Women's Day: observed on March, it is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

Today is International Women's Day and I would like us all to think about how we as a culture and members of the global community, involve, educate, and inspire girls in a positive way. Here are my thoughts.

Show

A picture is worth a thousand words and girls need to see images of women achievers who look just like them. When women are kept out of history books it perpetuates the absurd idea that women must remain behind the scenes or hidden. It is crucial for girls to see the faces of strong and powerful women.

What happens when young girls see the faces of ground breaking pioneers?

It opens up the possibilities by changing the definition of achievement.
It creates a positive impact on the development of self-respect and self esteem.

Envision

Teach young girls and boys to question and envision beyond what they know. Being able to see themselves and be seen by others as a leader gives girls an elevated sense of purpose.

Dream Big

I didn't know how to dream big until I became an adult and my natural sense of curiosity led me to books and websites. Since then I am able to add more goals, more things I want to achieve and slowly but surely eliminate reasons why I can't.

List of Educational Resources

4,000 of Women in Science

American Women's History: A Research Guide Hispanic American Women

Biographies of Women Mathematicians

White House Releases First Comprehensive Federal Report on the Status of American Women in Almost 50 Years: Women in America: Indicators of Social and Economic Well-Being, a statistical portrait showing how women are faring in the United States today

Women and Social Movements in the United States 1600 - 2000

Women in World History Curriculum

Bonus:
A video from Stanford University's, Shelley Correll, explores how gender stereotypes influence career choices and why.

This post is part of the Third Annual Blog for International Women’s Day, a day where bloggers, writers, and humanitarian organizations are asked to write about the International Women’s Day theme on March 8 hosted by Gender Across Borders and CARE.

Link UP ~ Feminist Pinterest Challenge

2012-03-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy Pinterest and I'm sure many of you do as well. I came across this pin the other day which gave me the grand idea of creating a Pinterest challenge and link up.

I have created a Feminism Board on Pinterest and my challenge to you is to create a Feminist or Feminism board. Once you have created the board add your link (the url of the Pinterest board) so we can follow each other.

Ideas ~ What to Pin:

Things that are inspiring & empowering.

You know I love quotes. Empowering quotes make great pins

Here's a great cartoon to get you thinking about how society stereotypes and shames women.

I would love if we stopped doing this, especially from one woman to another.

Feminism is about every individual having the freedom to make the choices right for them.

Your turn to share. Please follow me on Pinterest then link directly to your Feminist Pinterest Board.

Taking Back the F Word = Feminism

2012-03-05T09:32:00.000-05:00

Feminism:1. a movement for social justice and human rights. 2. a movement to end sexist oppression as well as domination relations.

ALL of my blog posts begin words and their meanings. To communicate efficiently we need to be confident that we know what we are saying. Today's post is no different especially since the its true definition has been distorted. Above are the definitions you will find in the dictionary for the most misunderstood F word. Feminism is a movement for social justice and human rights. Sounds pretty simple and straight forward to me. Anyone including men can be a feminist if you believe in equality of humankind. Media and vocal opponents of women's empowerment have done a really great job of distorting it's true meaning:

FEMINISM not only aims to make women equal to men, but all people equal to each other in rights.

My personal definition of what feminism means for me:

Empowering women to have

and make their OWN choices

Until we achieve equality on every level women will continue to suffer and the consequences have effects that stretch out into the entire world. A few examples:

Women make up the overwhelming majority of people living in poverty.
Women do the overwhelming majority of unpaid work on which everyone’s lives depend.
Women's reproductive rights and agency are continually under siege.
Women of color are the most underrepresented and the worst to suffer.

Feminism is NOT promoting that one choice is better than another. This misconception happened during the second wave of feminism and media chose to focus on women of privilege who had the choice of staying home or going into the work force.

Bottom line: Women must have healthy options and the safety of making the choices that suit them in particular.

Third-wave feminism takes a global perspective by empowering women to actualize change, gain power and equality within their own cultures and their own communities and using their own voices.

Feminism IS about making sure women have the necessary resources to pursue any career; ie: education, childcare, healthcare and once they are in the workforce to make sure they receive equal pay, are able to advance, create and run their own businesses, etc.

If you think women have already achieved equality please read my previous posts filled with Statistics You Should Know

Another important step in achieving equality is having women filling leadership roles not only in business but in government positions as well. It's time for you to step up and speak up. If not for you for the daughters and the young girls we once were with big dreams.

Resources:
Here are some ideas to get you started on your journey to EMPOWER yourself.

Here is a wonderful resource to get you thinking. It's a free ebook called: The Little Book of Big Debate Starters. A wonderful wonderful wonderful read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Never let the hand you hold, hold you down."

"History is herstory too."

"Women are not inherently passive or peaceful. We're not inherently anything but human." Robin Morgan

"A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men." Gloria Steinem

"No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body." Margaret Sanger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Synonyms: women's rights, feminist movement, sisterhood, womanism, women's lib, women's liberation, women's movement

Women's History Month 2012 ~ Statistics to Think About

2012-03-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Victoria Claflin Woodhull the first woman candidate for

President of the United States in 1872

from the Equal Rights Party supporting women's suffrage.

In honor of Women's History month every post in March will be related to women's issues. The photos in today's post are of women who have run for President of the United States of America. I encourage you to read about them. They will inspire you for sure.

Have you ever thought of running for your local government? You should.

Every March in the US we celebrate Women's History month. I feel it is very important to speak about these issues because most young women today take their opportunity to learn and work for granted during a time when we are not yet equal. You can not celebrate a victory before the battle is over. Our individual right to govern over own bodies and health is being debated by a political system run by a majority of old white males who are old fashioned and completely out of touch with women's needs today.

Facts to think about

According to the United States 2010 Census the number of females was 157 million while the number of males was 151.8 million.

According to the Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2010 46.2% of female citizens 18 and older reported voting in the 2010 congressional election, 45% of their male counterparts cast a ballot and 66.6% of female citizens reported being registered to vote.

The 2010 US Census also shows the median annual earnings of women 15 or older who worked year-round full time was $36,931, unchanged from 2009.

Shirley Chisholm in 1972 she became the first major-party black candidate for President of the United States for the Democratic party.

Women are still under-represented at all levels of government.

Women hold only 17% of the seats in Congress.
Only 22% of all statewide elective executive office positions are currently held by women.
State Legislatures are only 24% women.
Only 6 out of 50 states have a female governor.
The United States trails behind much of the world—ranking 90th in the number of women in our national legislature.
On average, male cabinet appointees outnumber women cabinet appointees in our states by a ratio of 2 to 1.
50% less women than men consider of running for office. Of those, 30% less actually run, with only a fraction seeking higher office.
Women constituted 54% of voters in the 2008 elections, but only 24% of state legislators.
Women of color represent only 4% of Congress and 23% of women Members of Congress.

Facts on women of color in elective office

Of the 89 women serving in the 112th US Congress, 24 or 27% are women of color.
From those, 13 are African American, 7 are Latina, 4 are Asian American and none in Native American.
Of the 68 women serving in statewide elective executive offices 10, or 14.7% are women of color.
Women of color constitute 4.7% of the 7,382 state legislators. (Source)

Lenora Branch Fulani the first African American to achieve ballot access in all fifty states receiving more votes for President in a U.S. general election than any other woman in history.

Gender stereotypes still play a huge role in the lack of progress woman have made thus far. Both male and female voters are much more judgmental about the appearance and style of a female candidate than of a male candidate. Although all candidates are judged on these attributes to some degree, women have a more difficult challenge in convincing voters to judge them on their merits rather than on their appearance. If a woman candidate is unmarried, both male and female voters perceive her as less likely to share their own family values. This needs to change and only you can make it happen.

How will you be celebrating Women's History month?

How are you helping to empower girls today?

Resources: Here is a wonderful list of resources where you can find more information, ideas, lesson plans, etc regarding Women's History month.

Read my post about Women's Equality Day

Read about the National Women's History Project 2012 honorees.

Read the Women's History Gazette

Check out the US government Women's History Month site

A Time Line of Women in Government

Read Women and the Economy 2010: 25 Years of Progress But Challenges Remain (August 2010 14 pages) prepared by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee

Federal Laws and Regulations of Interest to Working Women

My Art is on Exhibit in California

2012-03-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Show opening today! :)

I'm so honored and excited to have one of my pieces included in the The Boyle Heights Latina Independent Film Extravaganza (BHLIFE) Art Exhibit during women's history month.

BHLIFE is a celebration of Latinas, their voices and their visions. This exhibit is titled "The Sacred Feminine" and focuses on female empowerment. New Casa Theatre is in Los Angeles, California and the show runs for the entire month of March.

My contribution which is also up for sale is a signed framed photograph titled: Fire Dancer Dominating the Flame.

The subject of the photo is the flame. The dancer masterfully controls the flame creating this beautiful vision.

This wasn't a rehearsed photo shoot. I was in the audience and as you know from my previous works I love creating light graffiti photographs.

March is Women's History Month

Each of the artists in the exhibit was asked to make a statement regarding empowerment. Here is mine.

Empowerment only takes an ounce of courage to get past the fear which is never as bad as we create in our minds.

I have to remind myself of this everyday. Sometimes I can become paralyzed with fear but if I think of previous experiences where I may have felt apprehension only to have something positive come out of the experience really helps me. If this tidbit can help someone else I am super happy to share it.

How are you celebrating Women's History Month?

I will be celebrating by having all posts in March relating to women in history. I think it's a fun challenge to find information that is not included in school textbooks or mainstream media.

Dreams

2012-02-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Dreams: A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind

Altered light graffiti photograph

There are days like this
when I need to daydream.
There are times like these
my thoughts must run free.
Free to roam. Free to follow.
Make up mini stories
about you and me.
Begin again.
Change the ending.
Begin at the ending
like we are new
Breaking the seals
Brand new car smell
type of new
Excitement of discovering
unknown possibilities
just for you and me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” James Dean

“You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not?'” George Bernard Shaw

“Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.”

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Altered light graffiti photograph

Synonyms: bubble, castle in the air, chimera, daydream, delusion, fancy, fantasy, hallucination, head trip, idea, image, imagination, impression, incubus, mental picture, nightmare, pie in the sky, pipe dream, rainbow, reverie, specter, speculation, thought, trance, vagary, wraith

Perseverance

2012-02-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Perseverance: Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

"We are just one small adjustment away from making our lives work."

"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain."

“Try and fail, but don't fail to try.”

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” Benjamin Franklin

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” Napoleon Bonaparte

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” Marie Curie

Synonyms: backbone, constancy, continuance, cool, dedication, determination, doggedness, drive, endurance, grit, guts*, immovability, indefatigability, moxie*, persistence, pertinacity, pluck, prolonging, purposefulness, pursuance, resolution, sedulity, spunk, stamina, steadfastness, stick-to-itiveness, tenacity

Create

2012-02-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Create: 1. To cause to exist; bring into being. 2. To give rise to; produce: 3. To produce through artistic or imaginative effort

"By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired." Franz Kafka

What a wonderful quote from Kafka for some motivation. Believe in your dreams and pour energy into your desires to make them happen. Take charge of your life. Take control. Begin creating.

Don't get caught up in trivial distractions or waste your energy comparing yourself or judging others. That is not for you to do. Harness your energy, empower yourself and go create.

Begin today and everyday creating the legacy you will leave behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." George Bernard Shaw

"How wrong is it for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself?" Anaïs Nin

"No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit." Ansel Adams

"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader." Dolly Parton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Synonyms: actualize, author, beget, bring into being, bring into existence, bring to pass, build, cause to be, coin, compose, conceive, concoct, constitute, construct, contrive, design, devise, discover, dream up, effect, erect, establish, fabricate, fashion, father, forge, form, formulate, found, generate, give birth to, give life to, hatch, imagine, initiate, institute, invent, invest, make, occasion, organize, originate, parent, perform, plan, procreate, produce, rear, set up, shape, sire, spawn, start

Pinterest fun

2012-02-25T14:24:00.002-05:00

It's the weekend!! Time for some fun and relaxation. I plan to 'play' on Pinterest for awhile.

What have you been pinning?

Here are a few funny images I stumbled upon.

Follow me on Pinterest HERE.

Leadership

2012-02-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Leadership: a person who guides or directs a group

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”

Florida Everglades Sunset 2011

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams

“Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.” Jim Rohn

“Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.” Tom Landry

“Take care, don't fight, and remember: if you do not choose to lead, you will forever be led by others. Find what scares you, and do it. And you can make a difference, if you choose to do so.” J. Michael Straczynski

Synonyms: administration, authority, capacity, command, conduction, control, conveyance, direction, directorship, domination, foresight, hegemony, influence, initiative, management, pilotage, power, preeminence, primacy, skill, superintendency, superiority, supremacy, sway

Empowering Women

2012-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Quotes by strong women. Let their examples serve to inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."Marie Curie

via Letty on Pinterest

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin.

via Letty on Pinterest

"The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me." Ayn Rand

via Letty on Pinterest

“They sicken of the calm, who knew the storm.” Dorothy Parker

“Now I know the things I know, and I do the things I do; and if you do not like me so, to hell, my love, with you!” Dorothy Parker

1898 Puerto Rico in Photographs

2012-02-21T08:00:00.000-05:00


Utuado Mountainside 1898 Puerto Rico two men ride horses on dirt road

When I think of Puerto Rico
in my minds eye

I feel a dance ...

her sway

centered

in the protective embrace

of the deepest blue ocean

and salty sapphire sea

gentle caresses

bubbling white foam

rhythmic waves

adoringly

lapping at her edges

lush green mountains

rustling

wind caresses

upon every

peak, crest

and valley

island sounds

secret songs only parrots

and frogs know

memory

of love

forever home

Central mountainous zone 1898 Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico stuck in the persistent state of 1898. Unwilling to change.
A one hundred year old child.

Military Road Juana Diaz 1898 Puerto Rico Horse drawn carriage

Caguas, Puerto Rico 1898 village

Economically poor then and now.

San Juan Railroad 1898

Puerto Rico is 1898 encapsulated.

Puerto Rico refusing to change remains a common wealth, suppressed. A prize of the Spanish American war. An American possession needing protection since 1898. Protection from what exactly, I cannot explain. Culturally rich, with traces from every corner of the planet proudly waving two flags. Bearing children with double identities. Holding on tightly to illusions of self government. Forever scrambling in frustration caused by this duality.

Puerto Rico, there is no denying your richness, beauty and my love for you.

Images from Puerto Rico: its conditions and possibilities
By William Dinwiddie

Empower

2012-02-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Empower: To equip or supply with an ability; enable

Equality between men and women exists when both sexes are able to share equally in the distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence through work or through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and the opportunity to develop personal ambitions.

This little girl makes all decisions relating to her health and well being.

Today women must empower themselves so that tomorrow we may empower our children. We must open our eyes to the injustices of the world and correct them. I hear people all the time making comments about how they don't want to be political. If you think you have a choice you are only lying to yourself. Inaction allows small problems to get bigger and sooner or later they will land on your doorstep.

This little girl loves to write and is not afraid to voice her opinion.

Empowerment is taking complete control of your life: health, emotional and physical well being, ownership of property, economically/financially, politically, etc.

When you do not take action you become an enabler and the bottom line is, if you do not make your own choices there are politicians out there ready and waiting to make those decisions for you.

There are no reasons why you can not accomplish your passions. It's a matter of finding the resources to enable you to empower yourself.

Step 1 in empowering yourself: Education

There are many free resources online and at your local libraries which you can access. Librarians love when clients come to them for information. They are very well equipped to point you in the right direction and local resources you might never find out about.

Step 2: Join Groups

TV and media have done a great job of creating the false illusion that women are supposed to be perfect creatures with unlimited capabilities who can do everything on their own. False, we are human beings capable of great things who become even more powerful when we join forces.

Groups are a great collective of give and take. For many, they are a comfortable way of sharing information. The types of groups you join should be based on your specific interests. Some examples: career oriented, self improvement, cultural, political, entrepreneurial, etc.

Here are a variety of links to serve as an example of the diversity of women's groups available to you: The National Council of Women's Organizations, MomsRising, Ms. Foundation for Women, Association of Women in Science, National Women's Political Caucus, Las Comadres, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Puerto Rican Forum, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, Women of ALPFA, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, The Latina Center,

Final and most important step: Action

Write down those goals and devise a plan of attack. Go for it!

The best advice I can give you is to empower yourself and teach this generation of children to be leaders. Prepare them to fill leadership roles, there are many.

:)

Your turn. Tell me, what are you doing today to empower yourself?

Are there any other organizations or groups you recommend?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.” Steve Maraboli

"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud." Coco Chanel

"You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down." Toni Morrison

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will." Charlotte Brontë

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus: A video of a brilliant Ted Talk by Sheryl Sandberg to give you even more to think about. She suggests why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice. I hope you are inspired and I can't wait to hear about it.

Synonyms: accredit, allow, capacitate, charge, commission, delegate, entitle, entrust, grant, invest, legitimize, license, okay, permit, privilege, qualify, sanction, vest, warrant, accord, accredit, admit, approve, authorize, be big, be game for, bear, brook, certify, commission, consent, empower , endorse, endure, favor, free up, give a blank check, give carte blanche, give leave, give permission, give the go-ahead, give the green light, go along with, grant permission, hear of, hold with, indulge, let, license, live with, oblige, okay, pass, pass on, put up with, recognize, release, sanction, sit still for, stand, suffer, support

What I Think I do Meme Part II

2012-02-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Meme: 1. An element of a culture or behavior that may be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp. imitation. 2. An image, video, etc. that is passed electronically from one Internet user to another.

The 'what I think I do' vs 'what others think I do' meme has taken off like wildfire. Most of them are clever and humorous. There are now so many floating around I'm sure you will find one or more you can relate to.

If you missed my first post you can read it HERE.

Do you have a favorite? Or are you over this meme already?

100 Pinterest Tips & Ideas for Artists Photographers Creatives

2012-02-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am a creative so falling in love with Pinterest was completely inevitable. The bookmarklet is so easy to use, it was love at first pin. How completely wonderful to be able to pin images and organize them onto categorized boards. Not only can Pinterest be used for fun but it's also a powerful tool. Here are some ideas for creatives.

You can find me on Pinterest HERE.

Professional

Resume Board

You can create a visual resume by pinning and highlighting companies you have worked for or with, projects you have worked on, websites you have created, articles you have written, articles you have been featured in, reviews of your products, etc.

Portfolio

Since I am an artist I have a 'Resume' board' as well as a 'Portfolio' board where I pin my paintings, photography and even poetry.

Online Catalog

If you have an online store or want to showcase your products they can be arranged neatly by category. To take full advantage of this opportunity you can even place product pricing over the photos.

Creatively

Progression Board

Great way to share the progress and evolution of a particular piece you are working on. You can even fine tune this to be an educational 'how to' board. This can also be shared with others if you are working on a collaborative project. And it can be a great way to keep a client updated.

Storyboard

An easy way to experiment and get a visual feel for a project you are working on.
A twist on the storyboard is bookmarking images for a blog post.

How to Boards

Demonstrate or teach a technique from beginning to end. There are many examples on my 'Recycled Books' Board.

Inspiration Result Boards

Pin the Photo that inspired you to create something then Pin the photo of your creative results.

Reference Library

Photography Tips
As a photographer I like to study the techniques of professionals I admire. You can create boards with photos of a particular artist, style, genre, concepts, etc.

More ideas for photography boards:
Professional Photographers, Fashion Photographers, Portraits, Fashion Photography, Shadows, Day/Night, Special Effects, Digital Manipulation, Study of Lighting, Black & White, Vintage Photos, Indoor/Outdoor Photography, Couples, Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Pets, Children, Babies, Teens Weather (Snow, Rain, Sunshine), Cars, Sports, Dance, Live Events, Poses, Brides, Costume, Fantasy, Family, Holidays, Texture, Macro, Time of the year (Summer, Spring, Fall, Winter), Homes, Architecture, Landmarks, Places, Statues, People on the Street, Spaces, Windows, Doors, Keys, Found Objects, Rooms, Kitchens, Gardens, Flowers, Animals, Hats, Shoes, Before & After, Then & Now, Food

Inspiration
Boards are an easy way to bookmark your favorite sites and articles that inspire creativity.

More ideas for inspiration boards:
Favorite Sites, Photography Tips, Photo Storage Sites, Photo Printing, Photo Editing Tips, Outdoor Photography, Places to go, Places to See, Fun, Funny, Colors, Colorful, Decor, Style

All of these ideas can be fine tuned to meet your specific artistic needs depending what kind of artist you are and the skills you practice.

How are you using Pinterest?

Quotes in Spanish ~ Frases en Espanol

2012-02-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Quotes: To repeat, cite or refer Synonyms: citation, citing, cutting, excerpt, extract, passage, quote, recitation, reference, saying, selection

I'm fully bilingual but haven't posted much in Spanish even though it is a big influence in my life. For example, that's were I get my love of quotes. In Puerto Rico I grew up hearing all kinds of dichos and refranes from grandparents, uncles, friends ... everyone. My family is Puertorican but I know other countries also have their funny sayings and proverbs.

Here are some examples of really popular ones.

En boca cerrada no entran moscas.

No flies can enter a closed mouth.

El camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente.

A sleeping shrimp will get carried away by the current.

Then there were colmos = funny ironies (no one should wonder why I'm so sarcastic ;)

¿Cuál es el colmo de un oso panda?
Que le tomen fotos a color, y que salgan en blanco y negro.

¿Cuál es el colmo de un ciego?
Que se llame Casimiro Buenavista.

And here are some quotes for bilingual quote lovers.

Source: Uploaded by user via Letty on Pinterest

My Pinterest Board with Spanish phrases, quotes & proverbs.

Do you have any bilingual Pinterest Boards?

Synonyms: citation, citing, cutting, excerpt, extract, passage, quote, recitation, reference, saying, selection

Perspectives ~ What We Think We Do Meme

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Perspective: The ability to perceive things

One of the latest funny memes going around is a play on perspective and how our life experiences impact our point of view. It's funny to see the difference between what our families think we do, what our friends think we do, what we think we do or wish we did and what we actually do.
Here are some of my favs:

Synonyms: angle, aspect, attitude, broad view, context, frame of reference, headset, landscape, mindset, objectivity, overview, panorama, proportion, prospect, relation, relative importance, relativity, scene, size of it, viewpoint, vista, way of looking

Happy St. Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate Valentine's Day, a day to appreciate our special friends and family.

Origins of the Holiday:
There are a few famous martyrs that went by the name of Valentine.

One of the most popular was a Roman priest during the reign of Claudius II whose story appears in the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493). Valentine was arrested and imprisoned for aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. His crime was marrying Christian couples when Claudius banned marriage because he thought married men made bad soldiers. For these crimes Valentine was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stones but when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded.

While there are still stoning and be-headings going on around the world 600 years later at least the holiday has grown sweeter. The majority of Americans exchange cards and chocolates as a way of showing affection to one another creating a billion dollar industry.

I'm not knocking the holiday, I do celebrate with small trinkets and candies for my closest peeps and family. My favorite aspect of the holiday is the romance. I am a story lover and some of my favorite are romcoms. I watch them all. So let's get to the good stuff.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Nuremberg Chronicle is an illustrated history of the world from creation to its publication in 1493. It follows the story of human history as related in the Bible while also including digressions on natural catastrophes, royal genealogies and the histories of a number of important Western cities. Hartman Schedel, a Nuremberg physician and humanist scholar, compiled the work. It was illustrated and engraved by leading artists of the day, Michael Wohlgemut and Wilhelm Pleydenwurff, and published by Anton Koberger, the largest printer and publisher in Germany at the time. It is also referred by Latin scholars as Liber Chronicarum (Book of Chronicles), English speakers refer to it as the Nuremberg Chronicle after the city in which it was published and German speakers refer to it as Die Schedelsche Weltchronik (Schedel's World History) in honor of its author.

Thanks to the internet we can view the entire book online. This is so cool. Check out this page with an ilustration of Paris.

Love

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Love: A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

My Valentine Day wish for you is that you are able to share the love inside you freely.

"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." Dr. Seuss

via Letty on Pinterest

"Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own." Robert A. Heinlein

via Letty on Pinterest

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." William Shakespeare

via Letty on Pinterest

"We love the things we love for what they are." Robert Frost

via Letty on Pinterest

"Where there is love there is life." Mahatma Gandhi

Source: google.com via Letty on Pinterest

"One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." Paulo Coelho

Source: funkyentertainer.blogspot.com via Letty on Pinterest

"Love doesn't just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new." Ursula K. Le Guin

Source: google.com via Letty on Pinterest

All images are from my where is the ᒧ❥ᐳш Pinterest Board.

Synonyms: adulation, affection, allegiance, amity, amorousness, amour, appreciation, ardency, ardor, attachment, case*, cherishing, crush, delight, devotedness, devotion, emotion, enchantment, enjoyment, fervor, fidelity, flame, fondness, friendship, hankering, idolatry, inclination, infatuation, involvement, like, lust, mad for, partiality, passion, piety, rapture, regard, relish, respect, sentiment, soft spot, taste, tenderness, weakness, worship, yearning, zeal

TOday is my Birthday!!!!

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Birthday: The annual anniversary of the day on which a person was born

So far my year has been wonderful. Here is my 2012 horoscope prediction by the one and only Walter Mercado.

ACUARIO
20 de enero – 18 de febreroNeptuno te abandonará el 3 de febrero y deja tu mansión del amor y del dinero libre para amar y ser feliz. Problemas económicos a nivel global y local no te afectarán. Tú vales mucho y te pagarán como tú mereces. Espera lo más inesperado en el amor. Tres eclipses impactan tu sector quinto del amor y romance: Eclipse solar el 20 de mayo, eclipses lunares el 4 de junio y el 28 de noviembre. Acuario es el signo más intelectual y artístico y este año brillará aun más. Prepárate de antemano para lo que pueda suceder. Sigue siendo único, individualista y diferente ya que tu originalidad aumentará mucho más. Progresas en tu trabajo haciendo una labor de excelencia. Alguien muy especial de Capricornio flechó o flechará próximamente tu corazón. No te precipites y cógelo todo con profunda calma. Saturno, en tu sector cumbre profesional te hará rendir una excelente labor profesional, nadie podrá influir en ti. Decidirás tu vida siguiendo los dictados de tu propio corazón. Estarás mejor encaminado y Neptuno te traerá ganancias y amores en una forma misteriosa y extraña. Todo viaje te traerá suerte y éxitos profesionales.2012, año de ganancias y amores.

Famous February Birthdays

Feb.1 Clark Gable
Feb.2 Shakira, Daddy Yankee, James Joyce & Ayn Rand
Feb.3 Norman Rockwell, Gertrude Stein
Feb.4 Oscar De La Hoya, Alice Cooper, George A. Romero, Charles Lindbergh , Rosa Parks
Feb.5 Cristiano Ronaldo, William Burroughs
Feb.6 Axl Rose, Ronald Reagan, Babe Ruth
Feb.7 Chris Rock, Charles Dickens, Miguel Ferrer, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Feb.8 Vince Neil, Jules Verne, John Grisham & James Dean
Feb.9 Alejandra Guzman, Carole King, Carmen Miranda, Alice Walker
Feb.10 Don Omar, Boris Pasternak
Feb.11 Taylor Lautner, Kelly Roland, Sergio Mendes, Leslie Nielsen, Eva Gabor, Sidney Sheldon, Thomas Edison
Feb.12 Judy Blume, Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln
Feb.13 Peter Gabriel
Feb.14 Michael Bloomberg, Frederick Douglass
Feb.15 Brandon Boyd, Matt Groening, Chris Farley, Susan B. Anthony, Galileo Galilei
Feb.17 Vicente Fernández, Michael Jordan
Feb.18 Paco Rabanne
Feb.19 Benicio del Toro
Feb.20 Sidney Poitier, Ansel Adams
Feb.21 Nina Simone, Roberto Gomez Bolaños, Anaïs Nin
Feb.22 George Washington, Frederic Chopin
Feb.23 W.E.B. DuBois, George Frederic Handel
Feb.24 Edward James Olmos
Feb.25 Pierre Auguste Renoir
Feb.26 Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Victor Hugo
Feb.27 Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Feb.28 Mario Andretti
Feb.29 Tony Robbins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

“It takes a long time to grow young.” Pablo Picasso

“A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age.” Robert Frost

“Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternatives.” Maurice Chevalier

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Synonyms: celebrate, keep, signalize, do honor to, commemorate, solemnize, hallow, mark with a red letter., pledge, drink to, toast, hob and nob., inaugurate, install, chair., rejoice; kill the fatted calf, hold jubilee, roast an ox.

Moments

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Moment: A particular period of importance, influence, or significance in a series of events or developments.

"Be happy for this moment. For this moment is your LIFE."

Florida Sunset 1.2012

“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”

Florida Sunset 1.2012

"And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time." Libba Bray

Florida Sunset 1.2012

"Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour." Walt Whitman

“I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream.” Vincent van Gogh

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." Anaïs Nin

Synonyms: bit, breathing, crack, date, flash, hour, instant, jiff, jiffy, juncture, minute, no time, nothing flat, occasion, point, point in time, sec, second, shake, split second, stage, three winks, tick, time, trice, twinkle, twinkling, while, wink

Sharing with: Happiness Is…

Winning

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Winning: an attainment that is successful

Homestead Miami Speedway

"I ask not for any crown

But that which all may win;

Nor try to conquer any world

Except the one within."

— Louisa May Alcott

“Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything.” Vince Lombardi

Homestead Miami Speedway

"Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price." Vince Lombardi

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." Vince Lombardi

Homestead Miami Speedway

Synonyms: achieve, be first, be victorious, beat, carry the day, come in first, conquer, edge, finish in front, finish off, gain, gain victory, overcome, overwhelm, prevail, run circles around, shut out, sink*, take the prize, triumph, upset, walk away with, walk off with

Sharing with: Communal Global, Weekly Kodachrome, Tuesday Takes

The Difference between Looking & Seeing

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

Observation:detailed examination of phenomena prior to analysis, diagnosis, or interpretation

“To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” Marilyn Vos Savant

Florida Everglades 12.2011

When we pause to observe the details of the layers beneath the surface we enrich our lives.

“Thinking is more interesting than knowing, but less interesting than looking.” Goethe

"The contemplation of things as they are, without substitution or imposture, without error or confusion, is in itself a nobler thing than a whole harvest of invention."

- Francis Bacon

"If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk." Robert Baden-Powell

“Do stuff. be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. stay eager.” Susan Sontag

Synonyms: ascertainment, check, cognition, cognizance, conclusion, consideration, detection, estimation, examination, experience, heedfulness, information, inspection, investigation, knowledge, mark, measurement, mind, monitoring, note, notice, noticing, once-over, overlook, perception, probe, recognizing, regard, remark, research, review, search, study, supervision, surveillance, view, watching

Homestead Miami Speedway

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

All photos in this post were taken by me at the Homestead Miami Speedway.

“If everything's under control, you're going too slow.” Mario Andretti

“If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.” Mario Andretti

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” Mario Andretti

Feminist Quotes from Strong Latinas

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

The world is full of strong brilliant women who have had to overcome. Their stories are not found in history books so I'm sharing them here. They inspire me especially since there is so much we still have to overcome. I find strength in their accomplishments. Today I'm asking you to dream bigger and try smarter. The world needs your voices.

I leave you with: Quotes from Strong Latinas

Source: lisettefloresnieves.blogspot.com via Letty on Pinterest

"Don't let the hand you hold hold you down.” Julia de Burgos, El Mar Y Tu

Source: hardsalsa.com via Letty on Pinterest

"When opportunity presents itself grab it. Hold on tight and don’t let go." Celia Cruz, singer

Source: portalmujeresmexicanas.com via Letty on Pinterest

"I cannot complain about men. I have had tons of them and they have treated me fabulously well. But sometimes I had to hurt them to keep them from subjugating me." Maria Felix, Mexican actress

Source: curvyisthenewblack.tumblr.com via Letty on Pinterest

"I think Hispanic women are beautiful with their curves. I'm not sure who feels that way in Hollywood. I was never told to lose 50 pounds. If they think that they just don't bother with you. You just don't get the role and you never know why. That's still better than physically harming yourself and becoming unhealthy just to star in a movie." America Ferrera, actress

Source: michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com via Letty on Pinterest

“I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with.” Evita Perón

“I know that, like every woman of the people, I have more strength than I appear to have.” Evita Perón

Source: google.com via Letty on Pinterest

"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." Justice Sonia Sotomayor = My favorite Wise Latina!

Source: iamfamous1.tripod.com via Letty on Pinterest

“I always believed that women have rights and that there are some women that are intelligent enough to claim those rights. There are some others that are stupid enough not to.” Shakira