Young Girl, Big Dreams

2009-12-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

I am extremely excited for today. Why? Because I am volunteering at the Children's Village to help the kids make Christmas ornaments. I started a Volunteer group that consists of people at my school. This is just one of the projects that we have planned. Others include the local toy drive, wrapping presents, working at the food bank, helping families in need, and anything else that we can do to brighten people's holidays. I believe that donating your time is something that really shows that you care, plus it makes you feel good.
Some organizations where time donations are needed include : The Red Cross , Habitat For Humanity , American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , and for more check out VolunteerMatch .
Think about donating your time this holiday season or just do something little for someone because, as you know, this is the season of giving. (:

2009-12-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

"Green isn't the new black. Going green shouldn't be a trend, it should be a lifestyle."

The 8th annual Green Festival took place this past weekend in San Francisco (one of five locations around the US). The nation’s premier sustainability event featured speakers, exhibits, music, food, and activities, all about being Eco-friendly.
I started my trip to the city at around 9:45am. I got ready, did my makeup, and donned my tie-dye. My father, brother, and I arrived at the Concourse Exhibition Center right at 11am. I got my volunteer name tag and green fest t-shirt and we started exploring the booths.
The first exhibit we looked at was the CleanSolar solar installation business. My dad is very interested in renewable energy and aspires to put soar panels on our house. We learned that CleanSolar installs and teaches you about solar panels in your home or business. They are located in San Jose, but travel throughout the Bay Area.
As we walked on, my brother noticed a pair of boxers with marijuana leaves on them. The man working at the booth told us that they were made from hemp. (Hemp = the name of the soft, durable fiber that is cultivated from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated only for industrial [non-drug] use) Here is a little bit about hemp, what it is, and how it is made into items, such as clothing. This very informative man, whose name I wish i knew, works for CrucialHemp. (Please excuse the position of the video, I couldn't rotate it.)

As we walked along we experienced a large variety of green booths. I learned about Vegan dog food at the V-Dog booth and how all natural dog food, like V-Dog, can make your dog live a longer, healthier life. My dogs loved the free samples I brought home! I sampled some delicious chocolate at the Chocolatl booth. Chocolatl is raw cacao super food synergy. Inspired by the Mayan and Aztec cultures, this raw cacao provides five times more antioxidants than regular dark chocolate and is extremely tasty to boot. Then, we were on the the Kombucha Botanica booth who produces healthy living tonic. This 100% organic "Elixir of Long Life" (as the ancient Chinese called it) has an endless list of health benefits and comes in five thirst quenching flavors. I couldn't even attempt to name all of the booths that we visited, there's simply too many, but I do have a slide show to show some more of them.

I ran into a man with a very interesting story to tell.

Learn more about George and his journey at www.enjoythewalk.org

From the organic clothes and food to the save the whales exhibit, Green Festival proudly lived up to it's name. I had an amazing time, was educated on so many different topics by great people who are working to make a difference, and got a bunch of free stuff. You can catch me next year at the San Francisco Green Fest 2010.

2009-12-09T20:30:00.001-08:00

How Being Thankful Can Lead to Even More to be Thankful For!

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that you’re supposed to slow down, be with family and friends, eat until you think that you will never be able to eat again, and of course, give thanks for all of your blessings. Although the other ones are nice, giving thanks is probably the most important part. Not only does it remind you how good you have it, but it also sends out a bunch of positive energy. By sending out all this great energy you get a great turkey day gift in return; positive energy sent back to you!
Have you ever heard of the law of attraction? You’ve probably seen people reading the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. There are many books, articles, and courses just like this and they all focus on one thing: positive energy. “Every intention sets energy into motion. Whether you are conscious of it or not,” says Gary Zukav, who made the New York Times Bestsellers List four times.
People have different principals and techniques when it comes to this positive energy, but it all boils down to one single rule – you get what you give. This basically means that what energy you put out (like the positive energy from being thankful) you will get in return (positive energy for you!).
This positive energy will come in the form of something positive happening to you! This is why being thankful is so important. Just by listing off some things that you are grateful for you receive positive energy and get another thing to add to the list! Now go ahead, make a list of things that you’re thankful for and watch all the positive things come your way. Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-12-09T20:28:00.001-08:00

Kevin Carr

    On the morning of March 20, 2008 the world lost a great human being and I lost a great friend. Kevin Michael Carr, along with two other boys that I know, were driving on their way to school that morning. They were messing around and speeding, and then ended up flying through the air, striking a tree and crashing. The driver was fine, my friend Chris who had been in the passenger seat was severely injured and rushed to the hospital, and Kevin passed away at the scene.
    At this time I was being home schooled, but all my friends were at the square or at the high school and the news spread fast. I, however did not find out until the afternoon. I had just come home from my second driving lesson for driving school and my home schoolteacher showed up at the house. She had a strange look on her face and I couldn’t tell why. I asked her what was wrong. I would have never imagined what she said next. She asked me if I had heard and obviously I hadn’t so I inquired what about. She told me that three boys from El Camino were in a car accident that morning and one had died. Right then I was scared knowing I had many friends at ElCo. She told me the name of the driver and the name of the passenger, but didn’t know if she had the name of the boy that died correct. She said that she thought it was Kevin and my heart dropped to my stomach. I was completely frozen. Then I started to panic… I tried to call my friends but nobody was answering their phones. I couldn’t believe no one had told me, and later I realized that they were probably all in shock just like I was. Finally, I reached my friend Natalie and asked frantically what had happened. Unfortunately she told me that Kevin was gone.
    After finding this out, I immediately asked where my best friend, Briana, was. Briana and Kevin were dating and today was their one-month anniversary. Natalie told me that she thought she was at our friend Peter’s house. As I was leaving for Peter’s, Briana’s mom pulled up to my house hysterically crying and trying to find her daughter. I told her where she was and we both drove there. When we arrived there some of our friends were sitting on the porch waiting for Peter to come home. All I could do was cry and hug Briana and my other friends.
    Once Peter got home he let us in the backyard since he didn’t have his house key and his doors were locked. One by one, all of Kevin’s good friends arrived. We decided to go around the circle and each say a memory about him. We cried, laughed, and remembered good times and bad that we had with our friend. We all prayed for him and for Chris’ health. Then we organized rides and people to buy flowers and candles so we could all go to the site of the accident, that evening.
    Everyone gathered and walked down to the site together with flowers, pictures, candles and much more in hand. We laid the items down where the tree had been and lit all the candles. For a while we stood on the median, until the police kindly asked us to get off. We then moved to the grassy hill next to the street. All of Kev-Mo’s friends gathered for a remembrance of the amazing kid that we knew and loved.
    There were so many people there. People I hadn’t talked to in months or had been fighting with gave me hugs and we comforted each other. This accident brought so many out of touch people together. I reconnected with some old friends as well as made new friends, we all made a new, strong bond with one another, and all of this was courtesy of my beloved best friend.
    It’s almost that time again. One year has gone by and I miss Kevin more and more everyday. All of his friends and family here that love him and anyone that was ever touched by his life will have those memories with them forever. We will always think of his huge, sometimes goofy smile, his incredible skating skills, his kind and sweet nature, and the pure love he had for his family and friends. Even though he is not physically here anymore, we all carry a piece of Kev-Mo in our hearts.

RIP Kevin Michael Carr-Grillo<3
3-25-91 – 3-20-08

2009-12-09T20:26:00.001-08:00

Graffiti: Destruction of property or artistic self-expression

You see it on mailboxes, park benches, walls, or any other free space that is available. It’s popular with the teenagers and young adults in the large cities and everywhere else for that matter. Some consider it art or self-expression. Others, however, declare it vandalism. What is this topic that so many people are concerned about? The answer is Graffiti.
The word graffiti comes from the Italian word graffiato, meaning scratched. Today, this scratching is defined as markings, like initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building, public restroom, or the like. It can be as simple as just one word or it can be in a large mural style. Dating back to the pre-historic eras, graffiti, according to the above definition, is an ancient art. However, using the denotation that graffiti is only true graffiti if written on private or public property without consent, it has been around since the 1960s. You can view this writing in any major city; even smaller ones have their fair share of tags around town.
So, why would someone risk getting in trouble just for writing on something in public? “… Damage over $400 worth is considered a felony, any less is a misdemeanor.” Says Cotati police officer, Andrew Lyssand. “It brings down the neighborhood, it’s unsightly and nobody likes It.” he adds. “Writers”, as they call themselves, have other beliefs. A senior in high school and regular writer says, “I write because of the adrenaline rush and I just love this form of art. It’s extremely appealing to me and it’s beautiful art.” He tells me that it started because of his obsession with sneakers. The sneaker culture opened him up to writing because it is “intertwined with urban culture, which includes graffiti, hip-hop, break dancing, etc”. A high school freshman feels that businesses pollute the world with advertisements and art. “No difference.” Some adults argue that all graffiti is gang-related. Officer Lyssand sternly assures us that it is not all about gangs. “I have no part in gang ‘graff’, that is what gives painters a bad name.” explains the same young graffiti artist.
Whether people like it or not teenagers and adults alike will continue on with this “simply one of a kind art”. But Lyssand warns writers, “If they want to write they can write on a note pad and practice their skill or get permission to write or do a mural on someone’s property, but without permission they risk getting arrested”. From ancient times to now and presumably far into the future, graffiti will be an art form of the youth. “As long as I write, I’m happy. I don’t care what the opposing side thinks.”

2009-12-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

25 Life-Saving Tips Every Woman Should Know

Don’t know how to find the right bra size? Want to know how to stay happy at work without changing jobs? These 25 life-saving tips will help you out. With everything from changing a tire to breaking up with your guy, these tips that every woman should know, are truly life saving.

1. Applying blush
The right way of applying blush is an important lesson to know. You start by finding the right color for you. You can do this by lightly hitting or “spanking” your cheeks, which will show you the same color you’d be if you were flushed from exercise. This is the color that you want. Now to apply it, use a brush that you don’t use for anything else, look in the mirror and smile to see where the apples of your cheeks are, and start brushing in a stroke form on the apples of your cheeks. Yes! You’re looking fabulous already.

2. Self defense moves
The knowledge of self-defense could mean the difference between life and death. Every woman should know how to protect herself effectively against attackers, rapists, or anyone else trying to do you harm. All you have to do is S.I.N.G. If you’ve ever seen the film Miss Congeniality, you may know what I’m talking about. S.I.N.G. stands for Solar Plexus, Instep, Nose, and Groin. Targeting any of these sensitive spots on the body will help hurt and eventually distract your attacker, giving you time to run away. Another helpful move is gouging of the eyes. Also, a hard punch, or elbow to the throat or side of the neck will cause the criminal to faint or lose consciousness for at least a moment. Just remember your goal is to get away safely, do it any way possible.

3. Letting him down easy
We’ve all heard the line “it’s not you, it’s me,” before. I have some better tips on how to call off your relationship. First of all you need to get your point across clearly. Don’t beat around the bush, be honest (but nice) and say that it just isn’t working out for you. Do not lie or make up some crazy story, again, honesty is key. Always, always, always break up with your boyfriend in person. How would you feel after being dumped on the phone, or even worse through a text message? Above all, remember to be polite but precise about your feelings.

4. Dealing with cramps
It’s that time of the month again and what presents do we get besides bloating and crankiness? Woman’s worst enemy: cramps. Luckily, there’s a few ways that us girls can cope with this pain, besides taking Midol, that is. Some things to try are a heating pad or hot water bottle on your stomach to help relax the muscles, mild exercise; such as walking or riding a bike, avoiding caffeine and alcohol; which just aggravates symptoms, and drinking a great amount of water.

5. Accessories
The number one rule for accessories that every woman should know is that less is more. You can wear statement earrings or a statement necklace, but not both. Your accessories should compliment the outfit and the color scheme of the outfit. To add a pop of color to a neutral outfit, try a colorful bag, pair of shoes, or scarf. Just remember not to go overboard on accessories.

6. Changing your own tire
Okay ladies, we can do this! It’s actually a very simple process. First of all and probably most obvious; make sure that your parking break is on and that the car will not roll. After you’ve completed that, get out your jack and find out where to place it. To find out this information you can look in your owner’s manual or on some cars there’s a mark behind the front wheel wells or in front of the rear wheel wells as to where to put it. Now, raise the jack so it is supporting the car. Remove the hubcap and unscrew and remove the lug nuts doing one then the one opposite of it until all are removed. Now you can remove the flat tire. Put the new tire onto the wheel studs with the air valve facing out. After that you can replace the lug nuts in the same pattern that you took them off (make sure they’re tight!). Put the hubcap back on and lower the jack. You’re finished! See, wasn’t that easy?

7. Finding the right bra size
Did you know that most women wear the wrong bra size? It’s very easy to find your right size. To start, wear a comfortable bra without padding. Take the measuring tape and measure around your chest right underneath your breasts. This measurement is your band size (if it’s an odd number then add 1”). Next, measure around your breasts at the fullest part. Take that number and subtract it from your band size. Every inch is a cup. For example, if the difference is 1” then you are an A cup, 2” is a B cup, 3” is a C cup, and 4” would be a D cup.

8. Bouncing back from a bad breakup
Getting dumped is never a good feeling. To get over him you need to start by not thinking about him. Don’t talk to him for now. Even if you would really like to, just don’t do it. Take anything that reminds you of him and put it away in a box in the closet. Out of sight, out of mind, they say. Now, you need to distract yourself. Go out and have fun. Do things that you’ve always wanted to try. Mix and mingle. Who knows, you might even meet a new guy. If after all this you’re still very upset about the break-up, then talk to a close friend and get everything off your chest, letting it out feels good and works wonders on emotions. Last, but not least, move on. Realize that if he doesn’t want to be with you the two of you may be not meant for each other. There’s plenty of fish in this sea we call the world. Get out there and find a guy who will treat you right!

9. Telling if he’s boyfriend material
Some women have a hard time spotting a loser. He may seem like a 10 at first, but then he slowly let’s the low-life creep out of him. First of all, is he gentlemanly? Being gentlemanly would include being polite to you, of course, and everyone else. If he’s nice to you but extremely rude to a waiter or server at a restaurant he may just be a mean guy and will show you that side of him eventually. What do you two chat about? A real gentleman is interested in you and your interests, not talking about himself the whole time. How about the check, does he expect you to pay? A courteous man would offer to pay, unless you already agreed to split the bill, making you pay is a definite sign of a loser. You can tell right off the bat if he’s a loser by the way he treats his mother or sister. Bad-mouthing them or being a jerk to them on the phone is probably your cue to leave. Dump that zero and find a hero.

10. Sunscreen is your best friend
Ah, the magical powers of sunscreen. Not only does it protect against skin cancer, but it also helps anti-aging. Applying sunscreen every single day is what will help you have the beautiful young skin you want, forever. Doctors recommend wearing sunscreen every day, even if it’s not so sunny out. Those nasty UV rays still get through, rain or shine.

11. Staying safe online
Today, in the age of Facebook and Twitter, it’s very easy to slip up and give away some precious information. Posting information, such as your address, where you are, or when you aren’t going to be home, can be remarkably dangerous. Posting your status on Myspace as “In Hawaii until Thursday!” is actually saying, “Come rob my house! I’m not home!” Be smart about what you say and what details you give on the web. Make your web page private and so only people you know can see what you post. If it’s not private always ask yourself, would I tell this to a complete stranger?

12. Staying happy at your job
If you’re at a job that used to seem great, but has long since lost it’s appeal and there’s no other job opportunities out there, then make the best of it. Try being more social. Forming relationships at work will make you look forward to seeing your co-workers and give you a better working environment. Speaking of environment, what’s your work space like? Make it cozier by adding a few of your own touches, like a photograph or a plant. Maybe the problem at your job is that you’re not being challenged enough. Ask your boss for more or different work to do, this may help stimulate your brain causing you to be more entertained. Also, allow yourself a little bit of free time. Check your email or IM a friend for 15 minutes a day in between working.

13. Fighting that hangover
So your drinking got a little out of hand last night. You don’t know much except you luckily ended up in your own bed. What you do know is now you have a pounding headache and feel extremely queasy. What do you do now? Start by calling in sick, nobody will question you if you say that you have the flu. Now, drink up. Alcohol makes you dehydrated so avoid caffeine, which will add to the dehydration, stick to large amounts of water and juice. Eat light foods (if you can eat at all), such as crackers. Go back to sleep then repeat.

14. Acing the interview for your dream job
It’s the job of your dreams and you’re nervous about the interview. Well, don’t worry, I have your back. Make sure you start your day off well; get a good nights sleep, eat a healthy, but filling, breakfast, and get up on time. Research about the company or business that you are trying to work for, the interviewer will be impressed that you did your homework. Stay confident. Confidence can make a huge difference; your future boss will be able to tell that you are confident in yourself and your abilities. Be professional, dress the part and always be polite. Most of all, be yourself.

15. Planing the perfect party
Throwing the perfect bash is hard work, but very worth it in the end. Plan early so you will be sure that you have enough time for all the preparations. Some things to think about include; what kind of party, the invitations, who to invite, where it will take place, where your guests will park, the hors d'oeuvres, the beverages, the seating, the atmosphere and lighting of the venue, coffee for later, and of course all of the little details. If all of this is overwhelming try having a friend help you out.

16. Falling asleep without counting sheep
There are those nights when you just cannot fall asleep. Well I’ll tell you what you can do to help with this problem, sheep free. Keeping a regular sleep schedule helps you to fall asleep right on time every night. Not eating or exercising right before bed can be beneficial also; both of which keep you awake longer. Some people say reading a book helps them doze off. If you have a lot on your mind and can’t seem to sleep, try writing down your thoughts. Knowing that you won’t forget in the morning can put you at ease and let you catch some Z’s.

17. Flirting
Some women just don’t have “game” when it comes to flirting with men. You have to let a guy know that you’re into him if you ever want him to make a move. To do this, be calm and laid back, nobody likes someone who tries too hard. Break the touch barrier by lightly touching his arm when you laugh at his joke or picking some lint off of his shirt. Compliments really work wonderfully. Make sure they are sincere ones, though. Make eye contact and hold it for longer than you normally would, he’ll know something’s up.
Talk about his interests, try to get to know him, he’ll know that you are interested.

18. Managing time
Time management is definitely a life-saving skill to know. Planning ahead is the most important thing that you could do. Second most important, would have to be prioritizing. Decide what you need to do in which order, what has to be done by when and what can you hold off on? Set goals for yourself, this will help you stay on task because you’ll want to accomplish them. Organizing your environment and keeping a planner will also help you manage your time.

19. CPR
Be a hero, know your CPR. To start, check the person for breathing, by tilting their head back. If there is no breathing then you start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Plug their nose and cover their mouth with yours and breath 2 breaths into them, each breath being about 1 second long. Now look for responsiveness; breathing, coughing, or moving should occur, if not, start chest compressions. Place your hands in the middle of the person’s nipples and pump your hands up and down 1 ½ inches to 2 inches with each pump being less than 1 second. Do this 30 times. If still not responsive, repeat both steps until help arrives.

20. Putting on a condom on your partner
A very important lesson: putting on a condom. It can save you from sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy. First of all obtain a condom; from the store, a doctor’s office, or a clinic, like Planned Parenthood (they’ll give you a ton for free!). Now to put it on your partner, just place the condom on the head of the penis, holding the tip of the condom with your fingers, and roll it up all the way. Voila! You’re on your way to safe sex.

21. Complimenting someone
Not only do compliments make the person you’re giving them to happy, but they make you happy too. Compliments are like giving a gift for no reason, which always a great experience. To compliment someone be sure to stay sincere. Be specific with your compliment, a certain piece of jewelry that you like is better than an all over compliment, it will show that you actually noticed them. To make a compliment really strong add why you like it, for example, I like that shirt, the color really brings out your eyes.

22. Preventing heart disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of woman in the United States. Luckily there are many ways to prevent it. Tobacco and stress contribute massively to heart disease so try your best to stay smoke-free and de-stressed. Having a good diet will help too, you are more likely to have heart disease if you have high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or are obese. And, of course being active is a great help to prevent many diseases including heart disease.

23. Detecting if someone is lying
Knowing when someone is lying is extremely helpful. Look at their body language, it can tell you a lot. Are they making eye contact? If not, that’s a bad sign. Liars unconsciously try to take up less space and their gestures are usually toward themselves. Are their hands touching their face, throat, or mouth? Do their actions and gestures match their emotions and expressions (such as frowning when saying something happy, or saying that they love a gift but smiling after saying it, like it was planned)? If no to those two questions, then you’ve got a liar on your hands.

24. Self breast exam
Spotting breast cancer early on can save your life. You always do a self-breast exam lying down. When checking your right breast, place your right palm under your head and use the left hand to check. Use the pads of your three middle fingers and go in a circle motion overlapping to check for bumps. You’ll need to use different types of pressure; light for the tissue closest to the skin, a mild pressure for deeper, and firm pressure to feel the tissue closet to the chest and ribs. To make sure you check the whole breast, go in a line down the breast then a line right next to that line and so on. Repeat on right side. Call your doctor immediately if you find anything.

25. Washing your face every night before going to sleep
The best advice my mom ever gave me was wash your face every single night before going to sleep. Leaving the days makeup and oil on your face will clog pores causing breakouts and nobody wants that. Always remember to wash up!