Addicted

I have a bad habit of starting books and never finishing them. I love going to Barnes and Noble, just being in the ambiance of other readers, checking out the new literature tables, and all the cool knick knacks they always have. I like the aesthetic appeal of stacked magazines-so much so that I move them around the room periodically: beside my bed, by the door etc. I have a collection of magazines I have skimmed through and True Blood comics still untouched and unread. Among the books that I have started and haven't finished are:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer (an Eclipse novella: a short novel about the life-and afterlife- of a character from the Twilight Saga).
My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler (a chapter by chapter memoir of her sexcapades).
The Science of Single by Rachel Machacek (the author's quest to put herself out there in the dating world and the crazy stories and and characters that ensue).
LEFT Neglected by Lisa Genova (although a good story-about a busy wife and mother who loses track of herself and her family values and a horrific accident puts everything into perspective- it started to abate for me at the 1/4 mark).
The Liar's Diary by Patry Francis (the only thing I remember about this book is that it is borrowed-oops!- and that I based my interest for this one on the alluring title and cover-oops?!).


I have been a little preoccupied with grad school and The Hunger Games but I am still only on Catching Fire (and not quite half way through yet); I'm looking forward to the summer when classes are over and the beach is calling my name to relax, soak up some sun and catch up on all this literature.

Nylon (favorite magazine), Country Living (great for craft and interior design ideas), True Blood comics from the HBO store.

True Blood is one of my favorite television shows and one of my favorite series that I have read. I stopped half way through book seven: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris. This is really a problem, think I need UBA (unfinished books anonymous)!!!

Live*Love*Laugh*Read
xoxo Chris

flower arrangement

About two weeks ago I posted paper flowers I made with a friend for a dinner party. While making them (and even  after they were made) I had no idea how I was going to incorporate them into the table decor/centerpiece. Originally I thought about having the runner down the center of the table but then when we decided to serve dinner buffet style it seemed frivolous.


This display literally came to fruition piece by piece: I pushed the runner (and the table) to the wall, laid out the paper flowers, four votive candles, and two little glasses with pink baby's breath. The table looked good, but unfinished; I used-what was going to be-serving glasses, since it went so well with the floral theme. I lined them up against the wall with a rose in each glass and balanced it all out with the wine bottle I used  to make white sangria and two green vases at each end with flowers.

In the end the look was complete with the balance of real and paper flowers and the colors were consistent throughout. Not only was the table a success but so was the night: paella, white sangria, ice cream cake and camaraderie.

Now what to do with the paper flowers?

Live*Love*Laugh*Color (your world)
xoxo Chris

Alpha

The word alpha means to start something; the beginning; genesis.
The word alpha pertains so much to bullying, you only need one person to start and others usually follow their lead or are passive witnesses.

The movies Bully (2001 version) and Alpha Dog (2006) really perturbed me.They were violent, graphic and emotionally disconcerting. Considering the release date of these films-11 and 6 years ago- I was even more impressionable then.

I really empathized with Anton Yelchin and Brad Renfro's characters in these biographical depictions of true horrific stories with bullying at its core.

These stories show that we have to keep in mind what our roles our as adults and what we can do to help and prevent thinking from spiraling downward for the bully and the victim.

Teach the child to stand up for themselves, most bullies will back down in the face of confidence and lack of fear.

If reacting confidently is hard to act or pretend, a lack of response is just as powerful. A bully will not persist for long if they don't get a reaction. They thrive off of an audience.

Running away will help in the moment but the bully will get pleasure from seeing the person run away and assume they are in fear of them and pick up where they left off the next day.

Journaling is an effective method for healing and will be useful to show a teacher or guidance counselor (or any adult) in the future. Most kids are embarrassed or afraid to speak up but there will come a day where they will have enough and that is when the reaction could be dangerous to themselves or those around them. Journaling, writing poems or thoughts is a cathartic way to vent.

Live*Love*Laugh*Encourage

xoxo! Chris 

not unfortunate souls

Ursula: The Little Mermaid

We are so desensitized from oppressing figures we have seem them as early as 1937-the original release date of Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. It's amusing and cathartic to see these themes reenacted differently through art and animation. I'm not trying to berate these films, because I myself identified with many of them on a subconscious level (especially Cinderella).

 Queen: Snow White

Scar: The Lion King

If you look carefully at these villains/bullies you will see they all have their own personal reasons for choosing the defenseless and passive victim: Snow White, Ariel, Mufasa, Aladdin etc.

Jafar: Aladdin

So what did The Queen, Ursula, Scar, and Jafar have in common?
They were jealous of their (unbeknownst to them) competitor.





*Snow White was the fairest of them all- little did the Queen know maybe she was insecure for being so fair. She was also friendly, charming and had a wonderful voice that even pleased the forest dwellers.

*Ariel had a beautiful voice and her youth! Unfortunately for her, she was just a pawn in Ursula's grand plan to dethrone her bigger threat King Triton. She was coerced and badgered into signing a contract to get what she really wanted. Ariel was too passive aggressive but Ursula knew how to get what she wanted.

*Mufasa...ah sibling rivalry at its best. Scar missed his golden opportunity and was so jealous of his brother's reign he was blinded by jealousy until it lead to homicide.

*Aladdin in love. Poor (literally), poverty stricken Aladdin just wanted to win the heart of the girl from the opposite side of the track, Princess Jasmine. So did Jafar but to also dethrone her dad, the Sultan, to become one himself. Ulterior motives!! And Aladdin was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the right time!

WHAT DID ALL THESE POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS HAVE IN COMMON?

Luck, optimism, determination and a fairy godmother! and dwarfs! and a genie! and fish friends! and a strong herd of lady lions!....YOU are the fairy godmother, the dwarf, the genie, the flounder or crab or the lioness for these youth who are constantly struggling to identify themselves and often too afraid to seek help. Pay attention to the signs. In the words of Lady Gaga's intelligent mama "insert yourself" into their lives.

BIBBIDI, BOBBIDI, BOO!

Live*Laugh*Love*Inspire hope
xoxo! Chris

Antagonize, Pester, Coerce, Torment (BULLY)

this photo embodies what the individual must feel like emotionally.

I've been dubious about what is inevitably going to be my theme of posts this week.
I would waiver the idea of changing the tone of the blog-which right now I feel is whimsical, cheery and at times entertaining (thanks Lexia!)-but the more I thought about it, and the foundation of the blog: to be about life, day to day events and things that affect and inspire us, the more I felt it appropriate to stray (for a week) from what has become the common thread.

Bullying is a subject that is close to my heart, and even though we may not work in schools or with children we need to know that it is very much prevalent today as it was ten years ago. What we have to know and understand about bullying is that often times no one will come forward that they are being bullied or know someone who is; we have to understand there is always a reason why the bully is bullying; therefore we have to help the bully as much as the victim.

Bullying leaves emotional scars on its victims and those are-for lack of better words-the lucky cases. Other cases lead to the victim harming themselves, becoming violent towards others and suicide. A kind word to just the right person can do more than you can imagine.

CHANGE.ORG is petitioning for this new and raw documentary film to receive a PG-13 rating so school-aged children can see a film that could potentially change their behavior and outlook on life and their peers. You can advocate and virtually sign this petition here.

I hope you will see this movie. I know it may be uncomfortable at times but that is the raw and realistic perspective I am looking forward to seeing.


Live*Love*Laugh*Change
xoxo! Chris