miss representation

go to this site, see the film, spread the word, inform yourself, teach others, stand up for women's rights. i've always had issues with the portrayal of women in the media. so glad to see a mass movement emerging that can hopefully shift the oppressive & damaging societal norms that exist in our culture.

http://missrepresentation.org/

i heart

my heart is with these mountains..... i love the blue ridge! there is something just so special about this area. maybe it's different when you're from here, i dunno. but i really miss it when i'm gone. look at how beautiful!!

30 day challenge

new diet/ workout craze? financial makeover? nope, but i could (& honestly should, do both of those)..... but this 30 day challenge is just about finding something new (or in my case a goal to stick to) to do for the next 30 days. the video from TED speaker Matt Cutts (click his name for the link) inspired me to do this for the month of august. so my "new thing"..... well, it's kinda easy & something i do throughout the day anyway, but not as much as i'd like & not always with full attention & intention..... i will do something nice each day, ALONG with only saying positive things. that one will be hard. i complain more than i should (that's putting it nicely). & i don't always show my gratitude & appreciation. & i let the little things (like rude cashiers, bad drivers, etc) get to me .... to the point where i'm trashing the air with my own negative comments. so this month i will try to only say positive things. i will probably slip up & i know my thoughts won't all be sunshine & puppies, but my intention will be there. so that's my 30 day challenge. & i'll update how it's going on here. are you up for one too? what would you do for 30 days?

kids singing

love this video.... PS22 sings lisztomania by phoenix. so sad that the arts are being cut out of schools.

my 4 of the moment

so i've had excited, hopeful feelings floating around these 4 interests recently.....

1. getting certified to teach pilates or yoga
looking into different certification programs..... there is a certification program in hawaii that i'm looking into which leads me to think about......

2. travel, preferably space a
wanting to know more about space a & start taking advantage of living way over on this side of the world
i even have a friend who is traveling throughout asia from now until the summer & we've been talking about the possibility of meeting in bali (still totally unsure how i'm gonna make a trip to bali affordable), but my mind is bubbling with travel possibilities.....
which doesn't quite lead into my next topic, but maybe because of location i'm feeling an urge to learn more about......

3. feng shui
reading up on feng shui & energy, & i might be crazy but i already feel a better "flow" just by trying a couple new things.....
and so researching these topics have lead to more interest in......

4. jewelry and gemstones
i found out we were moving to guam & when people asked me what i was gonna do over there i'd answer jokingly that i was gonna "start making jewelry". not sure why i'd say that, never really interested in making jewelry, never even really wore jewelry much (except rubies, heeheee).......... but during my trip to virginia before we left, my mom & i went to a jewelry making store & i got stuff to begin this new hobby. well, i love it & have been feeling really creative & excited about developing this hobby
my dad has always had an interest in geology & as a kid he would take me on trips to teach me about rocks, give me rocks & gems as presents, etc. & i am coming back to the thought about how certain rocks and gemstones carry meaning & can impact our being

so some of this sounds kinda hookie & i grew up with 2 hippie parents & have always leaned that'a way, but through the years i've grown more responsible (who says hippies aren't?), but also slightly more conservative (not politically really) but just never thought i'd be married to the military...... funny.

so, still dancing in my living room (if you count 4 arabesques, 8 relevés & a couple tendus from 1st position as dancing), but feeling excited about broadening my life. i knew i wanted to take advantage of this move in this way, not by quitting dance, but by being open to other new things......

must be all the feng shui allowing this positive chi to flow.....

back to hot flat florida

i had such an awesome time in virginia, i usually always do. i really love the mountains & how green & lush everything is there. i got off the plane this morning in florida in my va gear- jeans, boots, long sleeves, hoodie & about had a heat stroke. & then almost fell asleep driving a straight flat line home from the airport. florida is boring. unless you're on the beach.

i got in alot of quaint, hilly, foresty, historic virginia-ness this weekend. which is always appreciated.

the weekend with the dancers was awesome! we had a blast! such a great group.... hard working, funny, smart.... i'm so pleased with all that we accomplished in such a short time. the piece turned out perfectly!

lexington is beautiful, i stayed at this awesome inn.... family run, fantastic restaurant & walking distance to everything. the campus is beautiful & i even walked down to vmi- virginia military institute. i miss having friendly walking areas..... hard to find around here.

here are some pics & a link to the dance......

http://www.youtube.com/user/frostargrow

VMI

Washington & Lee University

Lexington, VA

the inn where i stayed

driving back in VA

à droit, à gauche.....

i wish that people could see past politics, past skin color, past ideologies & expectations.... well at least be open to others than their own. it is good to feel confident in your beliefs & to feel connected to others & to associate in whatever way you please, but because something new or different or uncomfortable is around, don't shut off & remove yourself, or your children, ESPECIALLY your children. they need to learn & experience for themselves, yes they should be guided & protected, but they also to need to be free to develop their own identities & understand the world from their individual perspective.

this is so touchy, because i hear the debates in my head & i have my beliefs..... but i certainly am not the one to talk politics with. call on my husband, or my friends on the far right or my friends on the far left.... but besides sides, really doesn't it come down to being able to listen, learn & share? ultimately, that's where it starts.

i might be being a bit vague, so i'll just come out with it.....

parents, don't you want your kids to be responsible, hard working, proud Americans? teachers, don't we all strive to push our students to succeed, to be accountable, to fulfill their talents, dreams & possibilities? i just don't understand why people are so scared of letting their children hear our President's speech that aims to inspire & uplift our children. i really don't get it. i heard his speech, i didn't hear any political agenda. just a plea to us all to support education in America. a promise, that we all we be accountable..... students, teachers, parents, government..... we all need to push ourselves through difficult times. no excuses. we have so much potential & so many opportunities in America that we can & will fulfill. & it amazes me how people claim to be so American & so supportive of our country & then they will turn around & prohibit children from hearing the President's address. that's a bit shameful, we certainly all have different perspectives & beliefs, but when people come across & say that the President's speech is brainwashing & political ideology.... when, IF, they would just listen they probably would be surprised to hear similar thoughts coming from our Commander in Chief. you don't have to agree, but shouldn't you live up to your American duty to at least be present?

just in case you missed it or if you want to read it again....

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/