The Amistad Report: Sarah Rae Style

Welcome to another edition of The Amistad Report, where I interview one of my friends who is on a journey toward their dream. If you need a little refresher on what The Amistad Report is all about, feel free to refer back to the original Blog. 

Today's guest is very dear to me because I've known her my ENTIRE life. Her mother is my mother's best friend, and we were brought up very close; in the same hometown, church and I had the pleasure of going to nursery school with her! If that's not a sisterhood, I don't know what is. ha!

As long as I've known Sarah Rae, she has been a woman set apart and willing to dance to the beat of her own drum. As kids, I remember her not being afraid of anything. To me she was fearless! She would sing loudly and proudly in front of our class, make new friends with ease and she would always find us a new adventure to go on. As we got older, she was the fashionable one and trend setter.  I must admit that I've always looked up to her because to me, she was the definition of "cool." 

I can only say that she's still cool in my book. Rummaging through my Twitter and Instagram one day, I noticed that my good friend had branded her name and had made herself a logo for her new self endeavor: Sarah Rae Style.

My dear friend is on a journey to becoming a stylist! She is busting her behind taking classes in NYC, doing photo shoots, networking and indulging in her passion. Check out the interview below as we take a closer look into Sarah Rae's passion. 

When did you decide that you wanted to be a stylist? 




I decided that I really wanted to get into styling about two years ago. I've dabbled in a few different areas of fashion but didn't realize this was my first love until people started pointing out that I was pretty decent at it.





What are the current steps you are taking to make this dream a reality?




I've been taking classes at FIT in New York, assisting on photo shoots with other established stylists and working backstage at some major runway shows. Networking is a crucial part of this business; or really any business. Lots of emails and cold calls and I recently started my blog, sarahraestyle.com and a FB page (please like me!!).





Who has been a role model and person of significant influence in your life?




A role model in my life...hmm....this is so cliché, but my mama! What I say won't do her justice but she's just a great lady. Our family has been through a lot and everything always comes together because of her and what she's done. She's selfless, hard working, independent, an amazing wife and daughter, a wonderful employer, mother-in-law...everything. When I was younger, people would always tell me that I'm so lucky to have the mother that I did and I never really understood until I was out of my teens. I'm very blessed. She's a boss (Rick Ross voice); The bomb DOT com.





What are some challenges you face in pursuing your dream?



People have the idea that styling affords you this glamorous lifestyle; not so much. What you see on the Rachel Zoe project is a joke. A lot of time and work goes into every shoot or client you work with. You have to go on showroom appointments to borrow pieces and accessories if you aren't purchasing them yourself from department stores. Once everything is chosen, you have to pick it up and ship it to your location, unpack it, steam what’s necessary, tape soles of shoes and heels so they aren't returned damaged, choose what you want to shoot, dress the model/s, repack and return everything in the same way it was lent to you. It can get overwhelming. You really have to LOVE this in order to do it, otherwise you won't survive.





What has been the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome thus far?



There are lots of people out there trying to do the same thing as me; both better and worse. Getting over some insecurities and having confidence in my ability has probably been one of the biggest obstacles yet. It’s not easy, but you have to just focus on yourself and your own goals vs. worrying about what everyone else is doing. God first always, and things will happen. They’re asked - it doesn't matter. Your portfolio is your life and building it, as well as your network, is what leads to more work.





What is the outlook, quote, motto you live by?


This is a great question! I actually have a few; but I just said it...God first always and things will happen. I can't lie and sit here and say what people want to hear or read. Nothing has gotten me further than my belief system and my morals. People think it’s a hindrance or set back and speaking frankly, this industry isn't the holiest of holy for obvious reasons. I'm not pushy or in your face about anything and I'm extremely open minded but my heart is different than most and if you look closely you can see why.




What advice would you give to someone who would like to pursue a life of a stylist?



Test shoot and assist as much as you can...I know established stylists that still assist if they're asked - it doesn't matter. Your portfolio is your life and building it, as well as your network, is what leads to more work.





Where do you see yourself in 5 years?



In 5 years I hope to be doing editorial for some major magazines like Elle or W, in addition to working with private clients. I'd also like to be married, with my first mini-me on the way...fingers crossed!!





Who are some stylists, designers, etc. that inspire you and why?



My personal style is an androgynous/dainty mix, so I tend to lean towards designers and lines that either reflects this or that I can mess around with. I love Rag & Bone, Alice+Olivia, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, ALC, Dsquared², Acne, and Helmut Lang-I could list tons more though! For stylists, I don't follow a ton but my favorite right now is Annie Ladino. She's done editorial for Elle, worked directly with Joe Zee, wrote a book and she works with celebs like Brooklyn Decker and Julia Roberts.





What do you want to be remembered as?



I want to be thought of like my mother; an all around great and classy lady. It has nothing to do with my career because that’s not the lasting part of me...but my relationships, my family and friends...that's my center, the apples in my pie. If you don't have that, then your career means nothing. I guess I'd also want to be remembered as a fun, down to earth, and real person to work with. I never take myself too seriously, I'm honest and I think people appreciate that.



Who would be your dream person (celebrity or not) to style?



My dream person to style would be Lana Del Rey. She's an indie musician with a Nancy Sinatra feel. Her style is very old Hollywood/gangster. Her music is moving to me and I think that’s the measure of a true artist: if their music can put you in a place where you relate to it most, where you almost feel vulnerable. In a perfect world, we'd meet, she'd love me, we'd work together and be best friends forever. The end.

If you would like to see more of Sarah Rae, please feel free to check out her Facebook Fan page (like her!), website and blog and support the movement of young dreamers pursuing greatness. As you can see, Sarah has the best man guiding her, a heart full of passion and a dream that's alive, so we are expecting great things! Cheers to you sister!

There has been a dreamer sighted on

Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.

Happy New Year

Hello Lovelies.

I am nine days late to wishing you a Happy New Year, but I'll do it anyway.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's been a while, I know. But thank goodness you all are so forgiving! :::bats eyes:: Well, most of you. I just have to admit, lately, I haven't been in the mood to write. *gasp* I know. I've been blogging since 2004 and journaling since childhood and here I am admitting this to you. Hey, it happens.

As for some things that went on with me the past two months, where do I start? I was a traveling girl for a while: went back to Connecticut for Thanksgiving, went to visit some friends in Atlanta and Nashville. Trust me, I felt jet lagged for a while and am still coming out of it. Driving alone for 12 hours can really get to ya.

But besides that, I'm looking forward to this new year and what God has planned for it. It's already started off, well, different.

Catch you later. Ciao!

A Call to Missions

I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately. I am trying to get back to the basics, to the root of who I am. So many things have happened that I feel like I've lost a grip of what my purpose in life is. Has that happened to anyone else or am I the only one? I feel like I've planted a million little seeds everywhere and yet see no fruit for my labor. I feel like I have invested in quantity and not quality and I feel like I haven't truly pursued the calling that God has placed on my heart to do, so I'm going to stop. Yup. Just stop. I'm going to stop doing. I'm going to be still and know and I'm just going to take it back to the basics of what God called me to do.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is based on the book of Hosea in the Bible where God calls the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute. God uses Hosea's relationship with his wife as an analogy to exemplify Israel's relationship with God at that time.  Israel had prostituted itself to other gods, idols, relationships and worldly things, and God was not pleased. He used Hosea's relationship with his unfaithful wife to bring awareness and awaken the people of Israel of their unfaithfulness to Him.

Francine Rivers was inspired by this Bible story, which  follows the same storyline; God calling a man to marry a prostitute to show her unconditional love. As the Bible story goes, despite Hosea's wife's unfaithfulness, God told Hosea to take her back every time. The same is true in the book Redeeming Love, Michael Hosea, as the protagonist is so strategically called, pursues Angel, marries her and brings her into his world. Angel, having a past full of hurt, always goes back to the comfort of old life and is unfaithful to her husband, who loves her despite her disposition. The book truly captures the theme of unconditional love and makes you wonder which character you can relate with the most. One can definitely identify with Angel's hurt and past and also Michael Hosea's strength and willingness to love.

This is my second time reading this book. In this healing season that I'm in, I have decided to reread it because of the beautiful message that is in it. Some seasons I feel like Michael Hosea, full of strength, with the ability to love unconditionally. Others, I feel more like Angel, hurt by my past, full of unfaithfulness and an untamed heart that reacts to fear.

No matter what season you are in life, I would definitely suggest this book. It will open your eyes to the truth that there is someone out there who loves you unconditionally, no matter what your hurts, fears and past hold against you. It's nothing true love can't cover...

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy iscruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Songs of Song 8:6

Team Styling

I'm not the biggest fashionista out there, but I truly do admire fashion as an artistic form and love to be trendy. One of my many dreams and aspirations when majoring in journalism and communications in college was to work in NYC for a big name fashion magazine like InStyle, Lucky or Glamour. Though I never even interned for one, I did get to work on the other side of the fence in a Fashion Public Relations firm that pitched grass root designer products to magazine editors. It was definitely an interesting experience in the city and I gained a lot of work experience and insight into a lot of different fashions.


I will say that in the summer of 2005, I fell in love with Bohemian fashion. I guess it is because deep down inside I want to look like a gypsy and I'm really a hippie. Don't tell anyone. 


So my sister, bestie, college roommate, friend since 1st grade and one day maid-of-honor suggested me as a "stylist" on her brother's new fashion site that he is recently starting. He needed someone to cover the Boho style, and since she knows me oh so well, she suggested me to write for it.


The site is TeamStyling.com, and what makes it unique from, say a fashion magazine, is that instead of telling you what to wear and what looks good, each "stylist"/blogger on the site is blogging about their own personal style and what they think works for them and why. We can also cover a celebrity style that we are fond of, or other people around us who we think look great.


Since I am surrounded by inspiration because my church family is so fashionable and awesome! And there are a TON of artsy people in Orlando who ride this free-spirit fashion wave, I feel I have enough material around me to cover great fashion right in my town. 


That said, if I ask you to pose for me, you know why! I want to make your style known, because it's awesome!


It's a compliment from me to you ;)


Ciao <3

My Fair... Bridal Shower

One of my favorite shows on TV is My Fair Wedding, where event planner and designer, David Tutera, spectacular-izes a lucky lady's wedding in the middle of her planning and ultimately designs the wedding BEYOND her dreams. I have a hidden desire deep down inside to do such things for people and be as fabulous as David Tutera! 


Recently, I had the chance to do just that for one of my dear friend's Bridal Shower. She was in the middle of planning her shower when I took over, so I took the theme she had already started and ran with it. 


I have a newfound respect for David Tutera. His job is NOT easy. Especially when you are on a budget and you have to stay true to the bride's vision, yet make it spectacular. The process is both emotionally and physically draining. 


The theme Yaritza wanted was an Asian, spa-like theme. Anyone who knows Yaya knows she loves Asian anything. Easy enough...right? Well, there were some challenges. One was the color scheme. The other was making it look classy yet beautiful, and of course, setting a romantic atmosphere. 


A few trips to the Dollar Store, Home Goods, Party City and Target, and I was able to get the items I needed to spectacular-ize Yaya's Wedding shower. 


Here are some pictures:

Yaya picked the bamboo theme, so we included it in the plates and centerpieces. I also thought it would be sweet to include the engagement photos all around the room on every table. Lastly, there were candles and tea lights everywhere, so as the sun went down, the setting became more romantic and candle lit. This picture does not do justice to the hanging, "lit" lanterns on the ceiling. Beautiful touch.

Here is the head table, where the lovely couple sat to eat their dinner in candlelight.  They were right in front for all to see. I love those candle holders, and yes! They are from the dollar store! Winning!

Here's a shot of the cake table. No Spanish party is complete without spanish cake. It's spongey and moist and FULL of sugar. The "LOVE" table accent was very Yaya, and one of my presents to her and completely went with the theme. I also love the picture, because Yaya is jumping up in the air, like she is having a great time. Note the picture frames...also from the dollar store!

I personally just love the way tiered cupcakes look. I've also been dying to try TGI cupcakes by Ivette Cruz, a woman at my church who just started her own cupcake business,  so I figured it was a great excuse to give them a try. The display of them looked amazing, and they tasted delicious. We had red velvet with cream cheese frosting and Dulce de Leche. Both were scrumptious, but the red velvet is my personal favorite. Home Goods has the best cupcake displays!

As the sun set, we adjusted the lighting in the room and the romantic atmosphere set in. I named this picture Romance, because it envelops everything I hoped the shower would be: classy, beautiful and romantic.

The past few weeks have been a full-on adrenaline rush, planning the shower, trying to make it perfect. I am thankful for all of the people who came together to make this day special for Yaritza and Christian, as they prepare for their wedding day and commit to each other. To see how happy Yaya was when she saw the hall and how appreciative she was made it all worth it in the end. That feeling of satisfaction when you bless someone is the Lord allowing us to taste and see His goodness by giving ourselves away for Him to use us. 

On that note, I challenge you to bless someone this week by using your talents (hidden or known) to bring someone joy. 

Hope you enjoyed! Feel free to comment. Ciao! <3

Mirad cuán bueno y cuán delicioso es, Habitar los hermanos juntos en armonía 

The Perfect Proposal

Every girl dreams of her very own "perfect" proposal. Each dream proposal is different, though, because not any one girl is the same. Some girls are more private and dream of a very intimate proposal, which includes only themself and their significant other. Another dreams of a huge production in the middle of Times Square in New York City; and most fall somewhere in between those extremes.

Whatever your dream proposal may be, you may or may not have experienced it the way you thought it, and many, like myself, are still waiting!

I came across this proposal video (below) and absolutely loved it! I have shared it on every social network I'm on, and I just had to post it here because I love it THAT much. What really makes this proposal so special is that this young man loved this woman so much so, that he wanted to tell her, and the world, in a creative way. I really admire people who allow complete strangers to be apart of their proposal. It's very daring.

I've only experienced a public engagement once in my life, and I cannot tell you how exciting it was to be apart of it; especially when it was a surprise, even to me! Watching a man take the initiative to make a public commitment to a women is so refreshing! The proposal I witnessed happened on Christmas Eve in front of our entire church congregation. No big deal. It was only the the second most packed day of the year, next to Easter. The entire church was in an uproar and I assure you that every woman in the room, married or not, was floating on cloud nine for the rest of the night.

That said, you may be able to tell what kind of dream propsal I lean toward. Sending hints and reminders to eligible bachelors. Gentlemen, take notes!

Ciao!

Playing Catch Up: Back to the basics...

It's been a while my friends. I know. I took a small sabbatical from my blog; not completely on purpose, but because A LOT happened this past month, causing my focus to be on other aspects of my life, but I'm back!

I want to go through a small run down on the things I've missed and just mash it all up in this blog post. Why not? It's a great way to catch you up, and it'll make me feel less guilty that I haven't been on in over 30 days. It's a win-win.

The end of August is a blur. What I do remember is that I began a detox called the Martha's Vineyard Diet, or 21 pounds in 21 days. It was pretty intense. I was on an all liquid diet for 21 days. I juiced, made soup, drank tea. I had no meat, no sugar, no processed food. Boy, was it a radical change in my diet and allowed my body heal from all the CRAP I've put it in since EVER. You should look into it. It really changed my body and I definitely feel healthier and have more energy. I didn't quite lose 21 pounds, more like eight, but that wasn't my focus. I wanted to detox my body for my health and get my body back on track. After going overseas and eating questionable food and drinking questionable water, I've always been afraid that maybe, just maybe, one of these days I may poop out a worm! Yeah I went there, but it's honest :) The detox I did included a parasite cleanse, which gives me some hope that I don't have the amoeba growing inside of me anymore. 

The end of August rang in good health, and good company, as my friend and brother, Francisco Santiago III, came to visit me from Kansas City. He is my fellow missionary friend who lived in Thailand for the past two years doing ministry overseas. It was really nice to be able to host him and spend time with him, as I had not seen him face-to-face in three years. We were able to catch up and watch movies and just chill. I was also able to get him to speak at two churches while he was here, one being my own, and another one in Kissimmee. 

September started with a bang as I flew to Connecticut, back to my hometown, my place of birth, for my childhood best friend's wedding. Going back made me nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I've been avoiding going back home ever since I left, because I left with a lot of unclosed doors and loose strings. Life is complex as it is, but when you add emotions and history to the unexpected, it can make you hesitate from going forward and experiencing new things in a familiar place. It's so weird going back to a place that is familiar but different because that place is no longer how you remember it to be. The way you remember things is only but a memory, and you are currently forced to see how life, people, your friends, family, loved ones, have moved on without you; so it was unexpected to feel so much love back at home. It's not that I assume people hate me back in Connecticut, but it's awkward. So much history and loose ends will make you feel insecure about relationships I guess. I prayed for peace, and used the 21 day detox/fast to present this trip, among other things, to the Lord. I believe my prayers definitely stirred things around because I had an amazing time. I got to see a lot of the people that I love and who love me. I was able to connect together with people I have been friends with since the 1st grade, and loved on people who I grew up singing with in church, people I shared my dreams with. People who I cried with and ministered with. People who I called my friends, brothers and sisters at one point in my life.

It's funny that as we get older and part ways from relationships/people, individuals who we once considered family become acquaintances. We know nothing about them anymore when we once know EVERYTHING about them. At least that's how I felt it would be. I had this preconceived notion that everything would feel so different, because quite frankly, IT IS. Perhaps the Lord had some mercy on me, or perhaps the stars and planets were aligned at the right moment, or maybe I'm just blessed, but I didn't feel that way at all. I didn't feel alienated as I anticipated, nor did it feel that awkward. In fact, it felt very much like I had stepped into a time warp and I was in high school again.

 I received a lot of love, and it took me completely by surprise, and because of that I throughly enjoyed my time back home. What can I say? I like surprises. Overall, this trip brought a lot of much-needed healing to my heart. I experience the power of that verse that states that "love covers a multitude of sins. To share words with old friends and to be able to feel like they were (and are) still my friends made me feel as thought there is some stability in this ever-changing world. I felt like I was in a safe place, a place of refuge, that I could go back to at any time and find people I can count on. I miss having that in my life. I miss having people who know me, truly know me. I miss deep, intimate relationships in my life. I miss Koinonia-communion by intimate participation. So I guess my  trip revealed some voids in my life, and it made it that much more enjoyable that for a few days, my love tank was full.

As for the wedding, it was beautiful. What made it special was the bride allowed me to come to her house while she got ready, and I was able to help out anyway that I could. It meant a lot for me to be there helping the bridesmaids get ready and see my beautiful sister get all prettied up for her special day. Can I just say, I have not eaten that much in my entire life. There was food upon food, and after having liquids for what seemed like ever, my body was NOT ready for all that I put in it. Needless to say, I definitely had a tummy ache, but boy was it worth it! The food was delicious, and I got to work it off on the dance floor with some of my favorite people. What a perfect day! I also made a surprise pit stop somewhere, which was completely unexpected, but it seemed only right, as once again the planets were aligned to make it happen. No, it's definitely because I'm blessed!

I could not leave Connecticut without taking the train into New York City. I mean, I was only 45 minutes away! I absolutely love the city, and so, a good friend and I went in early and made a great day out of it. I was able to eat at Ellen's Stardust Diner, which I had been dying to do. It is a musical diner, and all of the waiters and waitresses are aspiring Broadway actors and singers. What's cool is that the Diner is in the Theater District, so they are in the perfect location to audition for plays. As for the experience, it was most definitely unique. As you eat your delicious food (did I mention I absolutely miss diners from up North?), you are being serenaded by the servers to old school and Broadway tunes. I definitely imagined myself working in such a place. Sometimes you find out about things at the wrong time in life! But it was just an honor to be able to go there and  experience it.

We took a stroll through Central Park, which I've never done in such depth before. There are definitely beautiful sites to see when meandering through the the scenic trails of the park's wooded areas. There is also a castle, which had a man playing an interesting looking violin instrument for money.  We made our way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is one of my favorite things to do. I love art and history, especially when you are looking at artifacts from all over the world. The missionary in me was most definitely pleased to walk through the Egyptian,  Indian, Asian, Ancient Greek exhibits, and there was even a little bit of Puerto Rican representation there too! Too cool. After that, we walked back the thirty blocks we had walked up, (sixty blocks in one day! whew) and went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants named Carmines. Delicious food! But it made my tummy hurt, needless to say, because I was still adjusting to the solid food. It was worth it!

After a wonderful trip, it was time to head back home. I made one last stop to my old church, Good Shepherd, where my love tank got REALLY full, and drove back to the airport to grab my flight.

I love traveling, especially alone. There is something about traveling alone that makes me happy. I get to people-watch and read good books, listen to music and it all-around relaxes me. I guess it also forces me to be in situations where I get to meet new people, and I love meeting new people. It gives me a reason to be intentional about saying "hi" to the people around me. I know it's weird, but I like it.

Since then….

I've been back in Florida, doing the usual, working! But as soon as I got back, I bought a ticket to go back to Connecticut for Thanksgiving. I'm going to visit my cousin Bianca, who is going to school in Manhattan and then paying another visit back to Connecticut. After telling Frankie how excited I was to go home for Thanksgiving, he brought it to my attention that a healing had taken place in me during my trip, because this is the first time in a long time I'm actually looking forward to going back home. Healing. It still exists.

I got a second job as an acting and modeling coach for children at a local dance studio in Kissimmee on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next 12 weeks. I could use the extra cash and I would be doing something I love. I love teaching and training children. There is something about instilling confidence in them and drawing out their natural, God-given talent that is not only rewarding, but genuinely fun. Kids love you when you invest in them, and the feeling of having their trust and love is an honor. I feel blessed to be able to put a fingerprint in the generation who is going to change our future world and who are making a difference today.

And lastly, the reason why I hadn't been on for so long was partially because I didn't have a laptop; but I fixed that! After much consideration, I bought a Mac, which I think is more of an investment! I'm very happy with my choice.

That's all for now! Ciao!

Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers is about a young woman in college who had the perfect life; she was raised in a Christian home, at Christian University, engaged to a handsome man aspiring to be a pastor, until one day her life completely changed. She was walking back to her dorm room late at night from work and she was raped and unfortunately gets pregnant. Her new scenario leaves her with a multitude of decisions to make and repercussions; such as  being asked to leave her Christian college to a break-up and family discontentment.

Dynah finds herself contemplating what she is going to do with her unborn child; is she going to keep it or abort it? Individuals in her life, who are mainly all Christian, range in their advise as to whether she should keep it or not. Surprisingly, many suggest that she should abort the illegitimate child, but something inside of her keeps pulling her otherwise. We also find out some hidden family secrets from past generations as the story unravels and begin to see Dynah's family dynamic.

This book truly opens your eyes to the idea of choice. What should motivate our choices? Should we compromise what we feel is right even if our circumstances that put us there were wrong? Should we learn to explore other options?

Rivers challenges the Christian community by presenting characters in the book that are associated as pro-life, but when put in the situation buckle and find comfort in compromise. It truly makes you question what kind of decision you yourself would make if you were Dynah.

No matter which side of the argument you stand, I recommend this book because it challenges both sides while allowing you to introspect and question your personal beliefs.

Abortion: The intention of the clinic

There are various topics people argue about on a day-to-day basis; abortion being among those at the top of the list. What makes abortion so controversial is the ethical, moral and religious arguments, which usually side with pro-life, that counter the freedom of choice and woman's rights to reproductive health services, usually known as the pro-choice side. Even our nation's leaders are divided in their thought when it comes to supporting, legalizing and funding abortion. It is one of those topics where most people pick a side and stand firmly in their opinion.

To the pro-lifers, abortion involves the life (and death) of another human being who does not have a voice. Associate Justice Byron R. White's dissent on the Supreme Court decision on Roe v.Wade, said, "The Court values the convenience of the pregnant mother more than the continued existence and development of the life or potential life that she carries." To the pro-choicers, the illegalization of abortion infringes on the rights of women. According to the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, abortion is a fundamental right under the United States Constitution. This brings up another divided argument, "When does 'life' actually begin?" The answer to this question is also argued between moral and/or religious beliefs and scientific definitions. This then becomes a sub-topic and argument, which complicates the initial topic the more.

Our country prides itself in "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," and our liberties go a long way. We can speak freely, express ourselves freely and some of these freedoms spill over into what seems like moral "gray areas." Does it make it right just because we have the right to do it? We all stand on one side or the other.

Today I want to speak about the motivation behind abortion rather than speaking on whether it is directly right or wrong. I want to discuss clinical motives that drive abortion, such as the fact that certain abortion clinics run as a business and therefore take steps to create more unwanted pregnancies in their communities to increase their sales.

Please view the trailer below from the documentary film Blood Money.



No matter which side you stand on, pro-life or pro-choice, it can be agreed that providing illegitimate contraception and information to create an unwanted pregnancy with the sole intention to make money is wrong. In fact, can't this be considered fraud? The issue at hand now is not just whether abortion is right or wrong, but now we must consider the motivation behind abortion clinics. Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care provider that conducts the most abortions in the country per year and is federally funded, which means tax payers' money is used to fund it. If these accusations are true, then there should be a lot more tax payers upset that their money, especially in a recession and at a time when our government is in debt, is funding illegal activity.

Since the above trailer is a documentary, which are biased in nature, I will proceed to post a video of individuals who went undercover in a Planned Parenthood posing as a prostitute and pimp. Listen to the type of advice this employee is giving. Keep in mind, that your tax dollars paid for this individual to be employed at this clinic and gave this advice:



There are numerous videos available online like this one. Notice the plethora of illegal circumstances that this manager conveniently overlooked during this conversation. Why? It is unclear as to why this individual is willing to overlook prostitution and human trafficking of illegal immigrants. With testimonials given in the Blood Money documentary, the most propelling answer would be to make money. The woman herself admitted that there were some other workers in the clinic that abide more to the rules and laws, so why didn't she? What was she gaining?

At this point, government money is funding a huge portion of Planned Parenthood. Recently, Kansas almost became the first state to stop federal money from funding Planned Parenthood, until a district judge blocked the implementation. Also, according to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, legal restrictions on abortions have multiplied this year. Still, many funds are set aside to fund abortion clinics. Fine, but if that is going to be the case, then there needs to be more accountability in place to access and manage the intentions and illegal counseling that is taking place such as in the video above. It also means that the education and materials provided, including contraceptives and condoms, need to be the most effective.

There have been reports and articles that claim the condoms given out by Planned Parenthood are the most ineffective: Article I, Ariticle II.  The first article is from 2005, the second from 2010, and as Article II states, five years later, Planned Parenthood condoms are still known to be the "inferior brand." Let's hope their rubbers have a little bit more elasticity to them now, because if not, it is another gateway for the world to assume they are an insensitive, money-pushing business posing as a service to uphold a woman's reproductive rights. That would be a huge lie.

There are extreme measures that have taken place within abortion clinics that are wrong. Ill intentions and illegal procedures taking place within a government funded facility cannot be validated by the mere fact that abortion in and of itself is legal. Just because alcohol is legal does validate a driver under the influence of alcohol. We can abuse our liberties and rights, and that is wrong.

Today in the News

Seven months ago Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' tragic near-death experience was swarming national headlines as a gunman shot her in the head at a local constituent event in Tuscan, Arizona. Today's headlines spoke of the incredible journey to recovery Giffords has taken these past months as she walked in to the House chamber for the first time to cast her vote on one of the most controversial pieces of legislation this year.



(Original blog I wrote: Giffords Blog)

The House passed the debt ceiling legislation today, which increased the legal limit on the amount of money the federal government can borrow to pay its bills by two trillion dollars. According to an article by the Washington Post, the legal limit on borrowing by the federal government was $14.3 trillion, however the nation's debt was creeping toward this figure and would soon be unable to pay all of its debts with this limit. The increase creates room, and money, for the federal government to pay for, for example, pension funds, Social Security and Medicare. Failure to pay our debts could have effected the global economy.

Representative Gifford's presence during today's historical vote should serve to stress the importance of voting, especially since we are entering election season. If she can show up to vote under her circumstances, what is our excuse on election day? It is clear what is priority for Rep. Giffords. Despite what is being said about her progress and ability to serve in her position, her attendance today proved to us all what is truly important to her: America. No matter what party you are affiliated with, everyone can appreciate the sacrifice she has already made to do her job. How inspiring.

"We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places."

Foreign Film Review

Foreign films bring the richness of a distant culture into the intimacy of our home. Language, traditions, religion and music are some characteristics that make up a culture, and which distinguish one culture from another. The beauty of foreign films is our ability to experience another culture that is different from our own, while watching characters, plots and stories that we can relate to.

Culture shock is a lot less shocking while watching a foreign film because the movie serves as a window into a culture. Having lived overseas, I particularly enjoy watching movies set in India because I have experienced and enjoyed the culture intimately as to which the movies bring me back to places I myself have been. These films are also educational and full of historical events, which is always a plus.

Lately I have been watching more foreign films and have added a bunch to my Netflix queue. I will be running the Foreign Film Review series on my blog to highlight the movies that stand out.

Today's featured foreign film is: Guzaarish.

Guzaarish is about an Indian illusionist who becomes paralyzed during one of his magic show acts. After 14 years, he decides that he would like to end his life by euthanasia, which is illegal in India. He  expresses this to his friend, who is a lawyer, and she goes on to represent him in court to see if it would be possible for him to be permitted special permission to end his life by euthanasia.

Meanwhile, the illusionist named Ethan, is the host of his own radio show and has served to be a positive role model and hero in his community because of his ability to overcome his troubled state. You can imagine the negativity which follows him after the news is released that he is seeking to end his life.

The story goes on to explain how the illusionist became paralyzed and introduces other characters who take different sides of his decision: pro-life vs pro-choice. He is accompanied daily by his beautiful nurse who loves him and wishes he wouldn't speak of ending his life. A young illusionist comes to seek his teaching and becomes an interesting addition to the character list.

Ultimately, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It made me laugh and it made me cry, but above all else, it made me really think and dig deep down to question myself as to what I would do if I were in Ethan's shoes. This was a beautiful story about hope vs despair; grudges vs forgiveness; life vs death.

"Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love deeply. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile."-Ethan Mascarenhas

Celebration Health Assessment

As the Sales Coordinator at Celebration Health Assessment (CHA), I am in charge of scheduling executives of companies on our clinic calendar for their annual physical. In addition, I am the content manager (and creator) for all of our social networking as well as our blog. Lastly, I have developed an awareness campaign on our hospital campus, Celebration Health, which takes places every Wednesday in front of our Fitness Centre to create awareness of the services provided by our Fitness Centre, Day Spa and CHA.

Think of going to 10 doctor's appointments in one day; it's convenient right?  Depending on which package you choose or which company package you are qualified for, one can see a dermatologist, pharmacist and dietician all in one day. To do what our clinic does in eight hours would take 26 plus hours to do on your own.

Most of the clients that come through CHA are executives of companies in which we establish contracts. Some of our clients include Disney, Darden, Tupperware and McDonalds. Anyone can come through a CHA, however, since our assessment is focused on preventive care, most of our services are not covered by insurance. Individuals who would like to come through our assessment on their own would have to pay out-of-pocket.

To find out more about Celebration Health Assessment, please check out our blog: Celebrate Health. You can find our Facebook page and Twitter account connected as well as information on our awareness campaign.

New Season

Tomorrow will mark one week in my new full-time position as Sales Coordinator for Celebration Health Assessment (CHA) at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.

Actually, I've been at Celebration Health Assessment since last October, when I was pulled in as an independent contractor to help the marketing department, which at the time, only consisted of one person. I had volunteered for Celebration Health Assessment back in 2009, when I worked at the Gift Shop and my resume was passed along to the recruiter, who called me in for an interview, and two weeks later I was hired.

There are so many points I can highlight in this blog about this job opportunity, from the amazing testimony of getting the job to the networking I've made to the opportunities that are to come. I am completely thankful for the opportunity to work for such a great organization, but am mainly thankful for a full-time job with benefits. I have not had a full-time job since 2007, when I worked for Congressman Christopher Shays office. I have to admit that for someone with my zeal, work ethic and drive, it was difficult to be in what seemed like "dead-end" jobs.

Little did I realize that my job at the Gift Shop was a small stepping stone (more like a boulder that seemed like a pebble) to get me to where I am today. One of my frequent clients at the Gift Shop is married to the doctor who oversees the clinic I work for. I had no idea. She is very involved in the interior design of our clinic and comes to visit frequently, so when she saw that I worked at CHA, she was so happy to see me. She was actually one of the only people to donate to my AMTC fund back in 2009 when I was raising money for it.

(Feel free to visit some of my posts in 2009 to discover some great entries inspired by the Gift Shop)

Case and point is that although I was not in my dream job at the Gift Shop, I tried to make the best of it. Don't get me wrong, I had my "there's got to be more to life than this" days, but for the most part, I enjoyed that job and it showed. I made great connections with individuals in the hospital.  I believe that I began building my reputation at Florida Hospital back when I worked at the Gift Shop, and because I was faithful in the little, I was blessed with a greater opportunity. I am sure my supervisor's wife had only good things to say about me and my work. Never did I think the small Gift Shop job would have amounted to anything, but it did! It goes to show you that every phase in life is important.

That said, I would like to encourage anyone who feels like they are in a stagnate season. Do not allow your feelings of discontentment discourage you from making the best of where you are today. You never know who is watching you, you never know if who you meet will come back to haunt/bless you; you just never know! So with that attitude of humility and eagerness to learn, be open to the possibilities and be a good steward of what you are given today. It can only then be multiplied.

"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference."

Young Star Alert

After sitting at the Zenworks Productions video booth for a couple of hours, volunteering my time for AMTC's summer SHINE event at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando, I was bound to meet some talented and gifted individuals ready to take the stage and shine! My anticipation did not, however, prepare me for the unexpected (yet pleasant) surprise of a three-foot-tall little boy standing before me asking, "Do you want my autograph?" With his mushroom haircut and missing bottom tooth to help melt the rest of my heart, any person with a soul would have answered as I, "Absolutely!"

As I read the letters written on his miniature steno notebook, I realized that his name was Victor. How nice. As I explained to him that my name was the female version of his own, he looked at me in disbelief and said, "No it's not." He quickly added, "How do you spell that?," and proceeded to write my name under his own.

I could not believe how captivating this child was, so I did what any normal journalist would, I pulled out my camera-phone and began recording, to share this talented little boy's personality with my followers. Boy, is Victor surely entertaining! He asked me all of the right questions, just like a true journalist himself, and I heard that his dance performance was outstanding. We have so much in common.

Take a glimpse at the video I took of him below. I truly believe that Victor will get a bunch of callbacks from agents at the end of this week, and his mom will have to make some big decisions about moving to NY or LA, because this kid is a star! It amazes me how talents and gifts are engrained within us as little children. When I saw this child, I knew that every bit of his personality was who he really was. It wasn't as if he was trying to be someone he isn't. That's the beauty about children. What you see is what you get; innocence.

Be on the lookout for young Victor. I am sure he will be a shining star sooner than later. In my opinion, he already is one.

#LATISM

Does this hashtag mean anything to you? It didn't mean much to me either, and after seeing it multiple times in my TweetDeck, I just had to find out what it meant. A quick Google search helped me find that #LATISM means "Latinos in Social Media." It figures, now that I am following a plethora of Hispanic Journalists, thanks to the NAHJ convention, that I would be seeing this trend in my newsfeed.

Latinos in Social Media is the largest organization of Hispanic professionals engaged in social media. Instead of reinventing the wheel, here is what this organization is about word-for-word from their website:


About LATISM


A pioneering social media organization, Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) has been hailed as the most influential online movement in the new multicultural Web, representing the growing $1.3 trillion US Hispanic market.


LATISM, the largest organization for Latino and Latina professionals engaged in social media, is a 501(c) 4 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing the social, civic and economic status of the Latino community.


LATISM also serves corporate brands, NGOs and government entities, with a broad range of services including research, event sponsorships, and leadership training. One of the most popular hashtags on Twitter, the #LATISM hashtag captures over 10 million impressions on a daily basis.


OUR MISSION:


At the heart of Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) is a commitment to integral action for and by Latinos. We believe in community action and our mission is the manifestation of that commitment.


LATISM seeks to equip our members with the tools they need to transform their communities by integrating community and networking resources that enable our members to make choices, take part in actions and decisions that affect their lives, and become agents for change.

• To represent, influence and engage the voice of Latino(a)s in all social media platforms.
• To educate and provide learning opportunities to those involved with LATISMTo foster leadership among its members
• To actively seek and create social media related jobs in order to ensure that Hispanic social media professionals play a proactive role in this new workforce
• To provide a common platform of support and networking
• To help promote and grow members’ businesses, helping social media professional members to acquire better positions and improve their businesses by finding and channeling business, funding, networking and/or speaking opportunities
• To cultivate talent at every stage in the pipe-line: ensuring that people are able to get into the pipe-line & learn the basics, mentoring and working with those mid-pipeline and promoting emerging talent & experts
• To encourage new members to blog and master their own social media space

#LATISM is another example of an organization, like NAHJ, that equips and empowers Latinos with helpful tools to increase success in the workplace as professionals or entrepreneurs. It is also serving to unify the Hispanic community and serves as a means of networking with individuals. Due to the fact that our world is becoming more digital (it's inevitable right?), it is commendable that the community is rising to the occasion in the midst of change and regrouping to build an empowering organization that will help influence the success of not only Hispanics, but all people of color.

As we are moving toward a more digital world, and as I myself am becoming more digital, I can only be increasingly open to becoming apart of organizations like this one, that are seeking to enhance the Hispanic community and will therefore enhance opportunities for everyone.

Key words that stand out to me in the mission statement: educate, foster, provide, help, promote, cultivate. Can you hear the positivity? Positivity within a Latino community? Now that's news.

#LATISM

Young Star Alert

Gabbie Rae is an AMTC grad who got signed with Ian Burke and Stone Stafford, two music producers and agents from Atlanta, and is currently working on her project Neverland.

The first time I heard Gabbie Rae I was speechless; such a little girl with huge pipes and even bigger personality! Take a look at this video below as she covers the song, "Rolling in the Deep," by Adele. (Don't we all love this song!?) She blows me away!





I expect to see Gabbie Rae go very far. When she's a big star, remember you heard it here first!

****Correction (Made on 7/18/11) After speaking with Gabbie Rae, I've got some updated information. Although Stone and Burke orginally discovered her at AMTC, she is now signed with Big Boi and Purple Ribbon Kidz. Neverland was her first project, but she is currently working on a new recording project called "I Wanna be Famous," and her new single Turn It Up will be released on iTunes later this month. She is also running an anti-bullying campaign called "Don't Look Down," which can be found on her YouTube channel.****

Casey Anthony Verdict

The verdict of the Casey Anthony trial has left the nation (and can I say the world?) surprised, as many expected her to be found guilty of at least one of the first three counts against her. She was found innocent of first degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child, but found guilty of providing false evidence to a law enforcement officer on four misdemeanor counts.

While many express their anger toward today's verdict, it is an excellent learning experience for everyone as to how our judicial system works. "Innocent until proven guilty" and "guilty without a reasonable doubt" aren't just terms to be used in a classroom or courtroom for someone else's trial. They are terms that could affect us all should we one day be on the stand ourselves, pleading our own case. They are terms that are very applicable in the Casey Anthony case. 

What makes the verdict so difficult for many, is that the prosecution did show that Casey was a liar, her story was inconsistent, she was negligent, and unfeeling. With such a dirty profile, it's difficult to accept how she could be innocent. An innocent individual would not have to lie, constantly change their story, wait a month to report their missing child, get their parents to lie under oath, etc. Unfortunately, this was not enough evidence to convict her for such serious counts against her. Perhaps the real problem here was the fact that the conviction was high and there was not enough evidence to prove it. No DNA or fingerprints on a body that took months to discover. Perhaps if one of the counts included, "child negligence" rather than aggravated "child abuse," it would have made a difference. Legal terms are so exact, that the evidence needs to be just as exact in order to find someone guilty of them, and the jury did not have enough evidence to find Casey guilty of the first three counts.

I personally find it difficult to believe, where we are in today's forensics, that there was no strong DNA evidence, or even a legit cause of death from the autopsy that could provide evidence against the killer (whoever it may be). That would mean the killer did a great job of hiding their tracks, and it is hard for me to believe anyone is THAT good. There is ALWAYS a trace, and I dare to question whether this has anything to do with laziness or oversight; although it did take about five months to trace the body. We can dig up bones and fossils from thousands of years ago and determine exponential amount of information from them, but it is difficult to determine information from five-month-old bones? It's questionable. 

The world will never know what truly happened to Caylee Anthony, but we do know that her killer remains blameless and free until more information can be uncovered from her death, someone confesses or provides new evidence. Things aren't always the way they seem. 

Illegal Immigrant vs. Undocumented

A buzz in my tweet deck and the blogosphere caught my attention recently when a former journalist, former senior contributing editor for The Huffington Post, came out to the world about his status as an illegal immigrant. Jose Antonio Vargas thought he was a legal permanent resident of the U.S. until he went to get his license at a DMV and was told that his green card was fake. Vargas was sent to live with his grandparents in California by his mother from the Phillippines. His grandfather purchased his green card and other fake documentation, but Vargas was unaware that his documentation was illegitimate until his encounter at the DMV, attempting to apply for his drivers permit.

With recent debates over the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, Vargas becomes a perfect example of someone who would be granted legal permanent residency under the conditions of the pending bipartisan legislation. The DREAM Act would allow illegal immigrants who are minors the ability to obtain legal residency if they meet certain conditions such as graduating from college or serving in the military.

Vargas' story caused a social media buzz that prompted a tangent of immigration discussions from securing national boarders to supporting the DREAM Act. One particular discussion that caught my eye was about the content and word-choice in which news organizations used to describe an illegal immigrant.

One of my followers tweeted: "Pretty sure it's their style, but note @WashingtonPost's use of "illegal immigrant" in tweet/response to @JoseInWriting's story." I found this interesting and posted a question on my Facebook and Twitter, asking if individuals thought there was a difference in using illegal immigrant and undocumented immigrant.

I received a response back from an Associated Press reporter who said according to the AP Stylebook, illegal is preferred: "@vikkitori85 For reference, Stylebook says illegal immigrant instead of undocumented worker, illegal alien, illegals or illegal," and adds, "I understand the argument, but the term undocumented is not always correct or precise.

On Facebook, a friend writes: "We talk about this in some of my criminal justice classes, my prof. hates the word illegal immigrant. He calls them undocumented immigrant and I agree."


After researching on my own, it seems that the debate is a matter of opinion, and there are two sides, black and white, with no room for a gray area on either side. According to an NPR story titled, "Which is Acceptable: 'Undocumented' vs. 'Illegal' immigrant?," the first time "undocumented immigrant" was used in a Supreme Court case by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the term caught a following. This story also said that the pro "undocumented" side thinks that "no human being is illegal." The pro "illegal" side argues that "undocumented" term can be misleading, as there are many illegal immigrants out there that have documentation, such is the case with Vargas.

For the time being, it seems that both terms are being used in news organizations around the U.S. under the discretion of editors and journalists depending on which side of the line they fall. It is true, however, that the AP Stylebook prefers illegal immigrant, not illegal alien or undocumented worker. Ultimately, I think it comes down to this question: "What is more important, being ethical (or socially sensitive) or being precise?"