MIERCOLES MUDO: Parecen de Papel

Are You Sleeping With Your Smartphone?

Sleeping With Your Smartphone by Leslie A. Perlow
(Burlington, MA -- Barnes & Noble)

Look at what I stumbled on while perusing the new non-fiction at B&N this morning. LMAO over this one, partly because of how ridiculous the title sounds, but also because this shamefully applies to me. Just add some rizos to this wackadoodle and replace the Blackberry with the iPhone.

Apparently I'm not the only one ailing from cell phone separation anxiety. Here's my explanation: I reason that if the phone's on the nightstand, should there be an emergency in the middle of the night, you know the kind that involves a house fire, or no electricity, it's within arm's length.

Let's be real. The temptation is too hard to resist. Pinterest. Twitter. Work email. Personal email. Facebook. Da blog. You know what I'm talking about.

Me thinks it's time to set some boundaries. Sorry, Chulo, but it's time to move you across the room.

What do you say? Are you enraptured by your smartphone?

p.s. I have this habit of taking pictures of books and uploading them to Evernote for archiving. It's helpful for when I'm not in the mood to buy but want to archive (without adding to Goodreads). Call me eccentric. :-)

Listen and Sea

Listen and Sea

Salty kisses

Whispered breezes

Fields of dandelions

Come, they beckon

Sing our praises

Abandon your defiance

Close your eyes

Empty your mind

Surrender

Be enlightened

Go

Be free

Savor the sea

Open to nature's guidance

Being Comfortable With Vulnerable

"Maybe stories are just data with a soul." Brené Brown
Happy Wednesday! Wanted to share with you, today, this inspiring TEDX by research professor Brené Brown titled "The Power of Vulnerability," which was shared with me and a group of my bloguera amigas by Sofia Keck over at Living La Vida Blogging. I encourage you to pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa or coffee, grab something to write with and listen to what Brené Brown has to say about how authenticity, creativity, shame, vulnerability and self-acceptance are all interrelated.
There's nothing boring about her talk, in fact, she has a great sense of humor. I loved it. Her message resonated with me. "Tell the story of who you are with your whole heart," she says. Harder for me to grasp is the concept that being vulnerable is beautiful, because I've always equated vulnerability with pain, which I guess is her point. To grow, to be real, we have to hurt a little.
In case you're one of the 4 million+ viewers who've already seen it, watch it, again. It's that great. :-)
Does any of what she says speak to you?

iPhone Moments

Happy weekend! Hope everyone is enjoying a little down time before Mother's Day. Just for fun, wanted to share some random moments I captured with my iPhone this week, starting with this one...

We got "flocked" by our local Relay for Life Team last night. The clever note left on our front door read,

"A fundraiser is being conducted by Team Proulx to raise money for the Relay for Life. This flock of flamingos has gathered on your property to roost. In case you did not know this, flamingos are extremely territorial and unless they flock to another lawn, they could roost on your property for a very long time. Removal of these flamingos should only be done by our trained professionals since they are highly skilled. Please fill out the information below and we will come and remove this flock of pesky birds." 

Pond on my commute to and from work. Don't mind getting stuck in rush hour traffic.

TIP: Ladies, always take a picture of where you park in a parking structure. Especially if you're going to be heading back to your car alone and in the dark. I find it helpful at the airport.

This tortugita was crossing the street in front of our house. Don't believe what you hear about turtles being slow-pokes. Mr Turtle, here, was bustin' a move to get away from all the neighbor kids that descended on him.

Margarita glass dog biscuits? Yes, even dogs celebrate Cinco de Mayo. o_O

A sampling of stickers you can earn at DailyFeats for making progress on personal goals (check out the iPhone app). Met them @MassInno this week and fell in love with the concept #bebetter.

Neighbor's Magnolia bush

Chicken parm calzone 2Die4

First Year of Grad School, Officially Over!

Cambridge College, MA: School of Education, National Institute for Teaching Excellence
and School of Psychology and Counseling

Believe it, or not, tonight marks the end of my first year of graduate school. Can you say, "W-E-P-A!"? If only my last final weren't a freaking oral exam, in front of my peers, I'd be skipping down the street with a cup of coffee right now. :-)

To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how the heck I crammed so much into what I thought was a busy schedule, five classes: Intro to Counseling, Counseling in Schools, Professional Seminars I and II and Counseling Techniques, a research project, a 75-hour pre-practicum, two stressful jobs, and the MTEL (which I passed!) ... yeah, the thought, alone, gives me heart palpitations.

But I did it, and I would do it all over again, con gusto, because of how much I've grown.

Source: promised-love.tumblr.com via Ezzy on Pinterest

I tell you all this not to pat myself on the back, but to encourage YOU, if you're thinking about going back to finish school, or to pursue an advanced degree TO JUST DO IT. Don't over-think it. We can talk ourselves out of the best growth opportunities with just a little self-doubt and fear of the unknown.

It's a tough lesson to learn: The only barriers in life are the ones we build for ourselves.

Have you gone back to school, or are you thinking about it? If you're on the fence, what's holding you back?

The morning I drove 45 mins to take the MTEL. I've been a notoriously bad standardized test-taker all my life. I'm convinced that the reading and writing I've been doing the last few years were the best preparation. *relief*

"Cambridge College is a microcosm of America's future." Hugh Price, President NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

THROWBACK THURSDAY: "Home"

Mom (right) pictured with friend. 

This week I'm participating in a meme called THROWBACK THURSDAY started by my friend Tara at Me and the Mexican. I don't know if it's because I'm missing my Miami Amigas, or if it's because I've come down with a nasty cold, but I'm feeling a little melancholy today. So I've decided to go waaayyy back in time.

I start by sharing an old photograph taken of my mom in front of the house where my brother, sisters and I grew up in Santa Ana, CA. When I think back to when I was a little girl, I remember this white stucco, two bedroom, one bath duplex, whose hardwood floors my mom shellacked ever year, being the most beautiful house, ever. It had a towering oak tree that stretched into the sky, rose bushes, night jasmine and birds of paradise. Summer nights were the best because we'd sleep with the windows open to enjoy the sweet fragrance (along with the neighbor's 8-track tapes and roosters).

My happiest memories living there are of big family get-togethers, roller skating, playing pranks with my sisters and graduating high school. My saddest memories are of when the City came to cut down the tree because its massive roots had grown under the sidewalk, and of years later, when my mom, whose hair had turned grey, stood on the front steps waving good-bye when I left for the East Coast.

The Internet can be our best friend or worst enemy.

I recently went on Google Earth to see what my childhood home looked like and was saddened by what I found. Years had not been kind to it: The lawn had been replaced by concrete, there was no vegetation and the impersonal structure sat desolate, nearly swallowed by the vacant lot alongside it.

It couldn't be.

The beautiful thing about memories is that they're our own. I've cast aside the image of the strange house I saw online. What I see pictured, here, is what I'll always remember as "home."

MIERCOLES MUDO: #TargetLuxeLounge at #Hispz12

Butterflies in Miami

JW Marriot Marquis, Miami

By Ezzy G. Languzzi

They descended on Miami
Butterflies in a mist
Wings touching, souls dancing
Hearts open in earnest

From faraway places
Seen only in dreams
Wedded by language
Yet not all the same

colombianas

guatemaltecas

boricuas

cubanas

venezolanas

uruguayas

Y unas cuantas mexicanas

Women stunning
Unforgettable

Both in heart and mind
Giving and sharing
Not one unkind

Mothers, wives
Sisters, daughters
Journalists, fotógrafas
Fashionistas y artists

Butterflies embracing life
With vigor and laughter
Stars and sparkle in eyes
Aspiring to be better

After many tears and much banter
These butterflies
Returned home
Hermanas, amigas
Seeds of friendship sown

They captivated my mind
Set on fire my imagination
Mis hermanas
Mis amigas
Left me longing for more time
Mariposas bonitas
I didn't want to say, "Good-bye."

SPANISH FRIDAY: El Perrito Habla

Albert el perrito Labradoodle | Albert the Labradoodle Puppy
Aqui, tiene 11 semanas de edad. | He's 11 weeks old, here.

Hola! *levanta la pata*

Se que no han oído hablar mucho de mí últimamente. Creo que mi dueña se encuentra sin palabras a causa de todas mis averías. Me da un poco de vergüenza admitir todo lo que ha ocurrido a causa de mí curiosidad, pero ahora entiende esta familia que no se deben de descuidar cuando ando afuera de mi "cajón." Soy perrito y todavía no me puedo controlar.

Me da gusto reportar que el niño no ha tenido ningún problema con sus alergias, así que me quedo! Soy un perro extremamente feliz. Me dan muchas caricias y hasta me sacan afuera a las dos y tres de la mañana. Lo que me ha gustado mas? Los cinco baños que he tomado en el fregadero la ultima semana. Jijiji ... eso que soy un perro bien limpio.

Bueno, me tengo que ir. Me llaman los zapatos, calcetines y papel higiénico.

Hasta la próxima.

Albert

***

Hi! *lifts paw*

I know you haven't heard much about me lately. I believe my owner is speechless due to all the mischief I've caused. I'm a little embarrassed to admit all that has happened due to my curiosity, but this family finally understands that they can't lower their guard when I'm outside my crate. I'm a puppy and still can't control myself.

I'm happy to report that the little boy hasn't had any problems with his allergies, so that means I stay! Makes for an extremely happy dog. They feed me and give me lots of love, even taking me outside at 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. What do I like the most? The five baths I've taken in the kitchen sink the last week. Hahaha ... guess you could say I'm a very clean dog.

Gotta go, now. The shoes, socks and toilet paper are calling.

Until next time.