Soul

I started off this post thinking I would compare all the new E-Reader devices out there….Sony Daily Edition, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad (as an E-Reader), and then I realized that I’ve never really used any of these readers.  ( So if any of the above would like to send me a FREE one, I’m available!)  My second realization was that when it comes down to it, I’m really not going to spend the $500 on a device that hasn’t quite been perfected yet.  I learned that lesson with my first generation iPod.  But I will spend a few dollars to add a reader app to my iPhone.  So here are the top apps to consider:

B&N eReader by Barnes and Noble for iPhone (FREE)

While this app gives you the opportunity to purchase books within the Barnes and Noble library and share these books with friends, the reviews come in that book prices are a bit high.

Kindle by Amazon.com for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch (FREE)

This is one of the most popular apps because of the ability to play with font size and color, access to the Amazon bookstore, turn pages, and add notes/highlights. Reviews come in saying there are problems in syncing to other reader devices and you only have book options, no magazines or newspapers.  Also it does not allow you to share books with friends.

eBooks by Kobo HD for iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, or Palm Pre (FREE)

It seems like our non-iPhone friends have been neglected in the eReader app world and that’s where Kobo steps in.   Not only is the app available for multiple platforms, after you download your book you are able to read it in other platforms as well, not just the device you downloaded it on.

There are parts of me that are very techie and can find myself browsing through the book selection on my iPhone while standing in line for a latte.  But the other side of me is championing for the survival of the good ole book.  Turning the pages, dog-earing memorable selections, and writing notes in a favorite book will never be forgotten on me.  Here is what I’m currently thumbing through:

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

I can’t precisely say that I’m reading through this book.  The truth is I keep this book in constant contact, often looking up pages, quotes, stories that I find truth in.  How many times have I read this book? About 592?  I always find the answer in Elizabeth Gilbert’s approach of having none of the answers.  I’ve found that this book is extremely dividing amongst people.  They either love it, or hate it.  If you don’t love it, you’re not ready for it.  When you’re ready, you will love it.

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands by Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Handler.  One night stands. Midgets. Vodka. Distasteful humor.  All I can say is that you will laugh your ass off and I warned you.

Food Matters by Mark Bittman

Mark Bittman is and has been the acclaimed writer of “The Minimalist” in The New York Times for the past 11 years.  In this book he focuses on how food plays a major role in our body’s health as well as the earth’s health.  As Mark states on his website,” Food Matters presents a series of easily adaptable strategies—along with meal plans and recipes—for eating sanely, judiciously, and consciously.”

xoxo, Vanesa

It was the “Carrie spots Big with Natasha for the first time in the Hamptons then runs to the beach to throw up” moment.  Except I was still the 20-something and there was no Natasha, just the spotting of the ghost of someone I once gave my heart to.  It happened so unexpectedly.  This was my side of town, not his.  This was one of my local restaurants, not his. But the sheer sighting of him made me want to run and hide.  I had done everything to hide the evidence of his existence and there he was two years later standing in front of me ordering a chopped salad.  I panicked and found myself stuttering to my girlfriend,Laura, “Put your sunglasses on!!” Once Laura figured out who and what was going on she began to mock me relentlessly.  She had never seen me lose my cool (especially regarding the opposite sex), nor had she ever seen me want so desperatly to go unnoticed.  After he whisked away, salad in hand, I spent the next few days wondering why I a)was so bothered and b)had absolutely no desire to approach him with all the overly audacious updates of my current fabulous life that had since outgrown him.  Isn’t that how the fantasy always plays out?  Ex is spotted and ambushed with all the wonderful details of the life he could never again be a part of?  I finally figured out it wasn’t him.  It was the girl that used to be with him.  The older me wanted to protect the younger me that once dated him.  I wanted to protect the girl that was with him and felt fat when she was skinny, the girl who felt stupid when she was smart, and the girl that felt unlovable when she was lovable.  He made her feel all of those things and she had come so far that I no longer wanted him to have the pleasure of getting the chance to meet all that she had become. And so they never met again and the princess lived happily ever after.

xoxo,

Vanesa

I really believe that the way a person treats animals says a lot about the type of person they are.  For many of us our pets have become extended family members.  I’ll admit it, if it came down to saving a human that was a stranger versus my dog, I’m jumping in and saving the dog.  I’ve never met a human that is so unconditionally loving and happy just to be with you (other than my parents but they don’t count because they’re obliged through their hopes of legacy preservation).  I got an email from my other animal-lovin’ friends about the USPS’ philanthropic campaign Stamps to the Rescue! featuring shelter animals as a way to promote adopting shelter pets.  The five cats and dogs featured on the stamps were all adopted from shelters.  This seriously makes my heart melllllllltttttt.  I can’t imagine what life would be like if my brother hadn’t rescued our family dog.  So head to the USPS site to order your stamps because other than your rent check, someone out there needs to get a hand written note from you along with a smile at the site of these little critters!

xoxo, Vanesa

Don’t judge me.  But yes, I watch American Idol.  In fact I LOVE IT.  I especially loved the showdown between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert.  Adam was everyone’s favorite and of course he got my full support (I can’t deny guyliner and musical theatrics…we’ll get to my love of Simon and Seacrest another time).  But now that Kris Allen has released his debut album I can really see how talented the guy is.  I’ve been jamming out to this song and every word he sings rings louder each time.  Take the time to read the lyrics and see how you can apply it to your life.

Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
We could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you
What would you wish you would’ve done

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbyes
Should be so careful who we live out our lives
So when we long for absolution
There’ll no one on the line

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh – like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live – like we’re dying

We never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash until it’s head on
All those people right when we’re dead wrong
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

Yeah… gotta start
Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got and we gotta start livin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

Like we’re dying oh – like we’re dying

We only got
86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or throw it all away
We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying
Live like we’re dying

xoxo,

Vanesa

The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company will be stopping by UCSB’s The Hub for a FREE improv show tomorrow night from 8-10pm.  You get can get more info on the event being thrown by AS Program Board here.  I’ve always admired comedians, especially improv performers, for their ability to think quickly on their feet but also to spread some fun in the world!  I heard the name of this group and instantly said, “Isn’t that a TV show?” Ahhhh yes, my memory serves me well.  The group had their own show on Comedy Central for three seasons from 1998-2000 based off of the popularity of their Chicago and New York theaters and improv workshops.  Even more inspiring is that one of the founding members of this comedy troupe is Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live – Parks & Recreation – Mean Girls – Baby Momma – fame, a lot of which include one of my other all-time faves, TINA FEY!!!!  Watch the below, and TRY to tell me that smart women can’t be funny:

So I started doing a little digging on Amy Poehler and found out that this woman is one Kick Ass Career Chick.  Along with her popular roles in tv shows and films, she is also part of a project called Smart Girls At The Party with her friends Meredith Walker, a producer,  and Amy Miles, host of PBS’ Lomax: Hound of Music.  Their show airs on ON Networks.com and is a way of inspiring pre-teen girls by showcasing the many talents of the average smart girl next door.  I was absolutely charmed by this show and hear this inner voice in me screaming, “MORE!!!!! MORE of this on TV!!!! MORE of this content for smart girls!!!”  Take a look and spread the word to any lovely young pre-teens you may know.  I think it is absolutely genius:

xoxo,

Vanesa

It’s the first day of April and Spring has finally arrived.  When I think of Spring I think of flowers, beauty, sunny days, cold nights, growth, fertility, and ahhhh yes, SPRING BREAK.  I hope everyone had a joyous break to recharge.  As you can see my last post was in February but I feel ready to finally start fertilizing this garden I call my blog.  I posted the above quote because in all my years of living I’ve FINALLY figured out that there is always spring after a long winter.  Amidst all my complaining and my frustrations, life WILL provide a light at the end of the tunnel.  I guess the important part is to find joy and happiness through the winter, through the spring, through the good, through the bad.  I will work on this…I MUST work on this.  Or else I’m going to end up buying Prozack on the black market and we all know I would rather spend that money on shoes.

I’ve always underestimated the value of the spring break recharge.  This year I finally did it, and I will never, ever, ever scoff at the idea of taking some time to sit by a pool and do absolutely nothing.  Spring took me to the gorgeous locale of Cabo San Lucas.  A two hour flight out of LAX and I felt like I was in a completely different world.  Here are a few of my highlights:

Is this Heaven??? No, my friends.  This is the pool at the Marquis Los Cabos:

Kangaroo Cocktail? Check. Hilarious book by Chelsea Handler? Check. Paradise ahead? Check.

Taken from a speedboat as we set out to go whale watching.

My attempt to eating healthy.  Hopefully this fruit canceled out all the quesadillas:

Now I have two months to work off all of that “rest and relaxation” until summer arrives!

xoxo,

Vanesa

Valentine Card-City of Love ($4.50) from irenesuchocki on Etsy.com

With Valentine’s Day coming around the corner my heart is all a flutter with thoughts of carefree, exhilarating, soul-bearing love. Yeah, I know Valentine’s Day is just a random holiday sponsored by the greeting card industry to get us all riled up.  I just feel like we spend so many days worrying about all the petty nothingness that drives us crazy that it is nice to have a day to share the love with all the people you care so deeply for.  And I can’t deny that I just love the richness of red and pink roses, chocolates shaped like hearts, and any excuse to buy a new bottle of perfume and strut the leopard stilettos that have been sitting in the closet all year long.  Every Valentine’s Day I find myself falling in love all over again with the famed poet Pablo Neruda and his sultry words.  I could read his poetry over and over again.  And what could be better than his gorgeous gift of word wrapped in a beautiful card from one of the talented artists on Etsy.com…..

Tu risa

Quítame el pan, si quieres,
quítame el aire, pero
no me quites tu risa.

No me quites la rosa,
la lanza que desgranas,
el agua que de pronto
estalla en tu alegría,
la repentina ola
de plata que te nace.

Mi lucha es dura y vuelvo
con los ojos cansados
a veces de haber visto
la tierra que no cambia,
pero al entrar tu risa
sube al cielo buscándome
y abre para mí todas
las puertas de la vida.

Amor mío, en la hora
más oscura desgrana
tu risa, y si de pronto
ves que mi sangre mancha
las piedras de la calle,
ríe, por que tu risa
será para mis manos
como una espada fresca.

Junto al mar en otoño,
tu risa debe alzar
su cascada de espuma,
y en primavera, amor,
quiero tu risa como
la flor que yo esperaba,
la flor azul, la rosa
de mi patria sonora.

Ríete de la noche,
del día, de la luna,
ríete de las calles
torcidas de la isla,
ríete de este torpe
muchacho que te quiere,
pero cuando yo abro
los ojos y los cierro,
cuando mis pasos van,
cuando vuelven mis pasos,
niégame el pan, el aire,
la luz, la primavera,
pero tu risa nunca
por que me moriría.

Your Laughter

Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but
do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,
the lance flower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.

My love, in the darkest
hour your laughter
opens, and if suddenly
you see my blood staining
the stones of the street,
laugh, because your laughter
will be for my hands
like a fresh sword.

Next to the sea in the autumn,
your laughter must raise
its foamy cascade,
and in the spring, love,
I want your laughter like
the flower I was waiting for,
the blue flower, the rose
of my echoing country.

Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
boy who loves you,
but when I open
my eyes and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air,
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.

Kiss Me Valentine Card ($4.00) from corelladesign on Etsy.com

La Reina

The Queen

I have named you queen
There are taller ones than you, taller.
There are purer ones than you, purer.
There are lovelier ones than you, lovelier.

But you are the queen.

When you go through the streets
no one recognizes you.
No one sees your crystal crown, no one looks
at the carpet of red gold
that you tread as you pass,
the nonexistent carpet

And when you appear
all the river sound
in my body, bells
shake the sky,
and a hymn fills the world.

Only you and I,
only you and I, my love,
listen to it.

Pack of 6 Two Wheeled Valentine’s Delivery Cards ($9.00) from thecraftpantry on etsy.com

El Viento en La Isla

El viento es un caballo:
óyelo cómo corre
por el mar, por el cielo.

Quiere llevarme: escucha
cómo recorre el mundo
para llevarme lejos.

Escóndeme en tus brazos
por esta noche sola,
mientras la lluvia rompe
contra el mar y la tierra
su boca innumerable.

Escucha como el viento
me llama galopando
para llevarme lejos.

Con tu frente en mi frente,
con tu boca en mi boca,
atados nuestros cuerpos
al amor que nos quema,
deja que el viento pase
sin que pueda llevarme.

Deja que el viento corra
coronado de espuma,
que me llame y me busque
galopando en la sombra,
mientras yo, sumergido
bajo tus grandes ojos,
por esta noche sola
descansaré, amor mío.

Wind on the Island

The wind is a horse:
hear how he runs
through the sea, through the sky.

He wants to take me: listen
how he roves the world
to take me far away.

Hide me in your arms
just for this night,
while the rain breaks
against sea and earth
its innumerable mouth.

Listen how the wind
calls to me galloping
to take me far away.

With your brow on my brow,
with your mouth on my mouth,
our bodies tied
to the love that consumes us,
let the wind pass
and not take me away.

Let the wind rush
crowned with foam,
let it call to me and seek me
galloping in the shadow,
while I, sunk
beneath your big eyes,
just for this night
shall rest, my love.

My Heart is Yours Valentine Card ($3.00) by thelittlechickadee on etsy.com

Love is in the Air -Valentine Card ($4.50) from irenesuchocki on etsy.com

xoxo, Vanesa

“I approach this position like I approach my life,” the first lady went on. “I try to be as authentically me as I can be, because it’s easier to maintain it. So what people have seen over the course of the year is really Michelle. And I find a level of comfort in that role.”

-Michelle Obama being interviewed by Matt Lauer on this morning’s Today Show

Read an article on the entire interview here on msnbc.com

xoxo, Vanesa

On Friday night the “Hope For Haiti Now” Telethon raised a record breaking $58 million.  Like the millions of others that tuned in, seeing the images of Haiti brought me to tears.  I loved seeing all of the performances by so many talented artists and hearing stars like Julia Roberts connect with callers on a real, emotional level.  I made my donation online because I knew that if I got patched through to Reese Witherspoon it would take every ounce of me not to ask what really happened between her and Jake.   Besides the haunting images that were shown I could not get Christina Aguiler’s performance out of my mind this weekend.  I have re-played her performance on YouTube over and over and continue to rave about it to anyone who will listen.  Her voice and passion sent chills down my spine and I am moved every time.  Here it is for all of you to enjoy.  If you didn’t get a chance to donate on Friday you can still do so on the Hope For Haiti Now Website.

Sending all of you peace and love….

xoxo, Vanesa

I know I’m one day late to the party on writing this post but I didn’t want to skip it all together.  One year (and one day) ago Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States…and I was there.  As a native southern Californian I have never experienced cold like that in my life.  And as a self-admitting high-maintenance complainer I never pictured myself walking in a bustling crowd of millions to stand in that cold for hours and then spend that night crashing in the guest room of a DC couple I had never met before.  But I did.  And I did it all to witness history.  I did it to feel a part of my countrymen that for eight years I felt so divided from.  I did it to one day tell my children that I saw this with my own eyes.  I did it to hold my head high to the racial slurs that had been thrown at me as a kid.  I did it to close one door and open another.  Looking at the pictures I’ve posted I remember all of the joy and excitement I felt while discovering the streets of DC.  I remember looking forward to universal healthcare, equal marriage rights and government money being used to reinvigorate education and employment.  One year later I am still holding on to the hope for these things.  Someone on TV the other night mentioned how bad things were before and how positions of power in the past had gotten us to this point.  They mentioned that people are now waking up to the administration that gave them CPR and saying “You have bad breath.”  I’m not a political expert.  All I know is what I feel in my heart.  And the hopes, ideals, ambitions and feelings I felt during my time in DC one year ago are the ones I will hold onto no matter who is president.

**Please note these photos belong to CampusConfidant.  Please email me through our CONTACT US page if you would like to use them.

xoxo, Vanesa

“…Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day – this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

After writing about the Soles 4 Souls and Sports Chalet shoe donations for Haiti, I got to thinking about the philanthropic shoe company, TOMS Shoes.  TOMS is a shoe company that works off their mantra of One for One.  You buy one pair of shoes and they’ll give one pair to a child in need.  Started by Blake Mycoskie (you may recognize the famous curley-haired Chief Shoe Giver from his popular AT&T commercial) the line can be found in fashionista stomping grounds such as Neiman Marcus and Begdorf Goodman.  I myself have a pair of their Silver Glitters Classics.

TOMS Shoes Silver Glitters Classics ($54):

They’re extremely comfortable but offer a good amount of support.  Surprisingly they go with a lot of different outfits and I have never worn them and NOT received a compliment.  I went shopping through their site and here are a few more of my favorites.

TOMS Shoes Amigo Fleece Lined Classics ($54) aka warm foot yumminess for cold days!

TOMS Shoes Red Canvas Classics ($44) These will definitely be my next pair!

TOMS Shoes Tyler Ramsey Hand Painted ($68)

xoxo, Vanesa

I am still truly devastated by the images that continue to come in from Haiti.  They are in such desperate need for aid and fortunately it seems that the international community is stepping in with relief efforts.  Moments like these force us to take a step back and realize the things that truly matter in life.  In an instant everything can change and we should never take this life for granted.  But with our terrible economy I wonder how much are people really able to help in the relief?  It’s great to hear of celebrities like Brad and Angelina throwing down $1million to relief efforts but frankly I, and most people, don’t have that to give.  But we do what we can, right?  Here are a few small ways that can create a big help:

Ways to donate to Haiti:

• Check to see if your employer has a charity matching program.  Many businesses will match your donation if you provide a receipt of your contribution.
• TEXT your Donations: Text “HAITI” to “90999″ to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.  Or you can text “YELE” to 501501 for a $5 donation to Wyclef Jean’s Yéle Haiti charity.  The donation will be charged to your cell phone bill.
• Soles 4 Souls and Sports Chalet: Donate a pair of extra shoes from your closet to your local Sports Chalet store.

The earthquake in Haiti is a reminder just how fragile our world is, and seeing the devastation that has affected so many, we have partnered once again with Soles4Souls to lend a helping hand. Starting today, all 55 of our stores will be accepting gently worn men’s, women’s and kids shoes until Sunday, January 31. All the shoes collected will be sent directly to Soles4Souls for distribution to the Haitian people. Perhaps you can organize a local shoe drive in your community and bring them in… during our last shoe drive… one young man actually went door-to-door in his neighborhood asking for gently worn shoes. Many of us live with the threat of an earthquake every day, it’s only a natural response to want to do something to help… please stop by and drop off one, two, or even three pair of shoes that can help someone in need today. Thank you so much. Learn More about Soles4Souls » Sport Chalet Store Locations » Craig Levra       President & CEO, Sport Chalet

Picture from ehow.com

As you may know I’m on a serious kick to get in shape.  I’m working on my overall health by eating organic and grass-fed meats but let’s face it- I also want to get skinny!  I have my best friend’s wedding in August motivating me through this whole process.  All of my friends through college would raaaaave about the magic cardio goodness of spinning classes but I’ve always been too afraid!  Afraid of what you may wonder?  It’s just a bike, an instructor, and overwhelming techno music that brings back horrible memories of all the boyfriends you had while working your first job at Abercrombie&Fitch.  But for me it was FEAR.  Fear that I didn’t have the stamina, fear that I would faint from exhaustion, fear of not knowing what to do.  Well I am proud to say that this morning I faced my fear!  Not only did I face it, I think I kicked its ass I feel on fire now and that anything I put in front of me I can conquer.  I hope this yummy feeling is radiating through your computer screen so you can have the courage to face your fears.  And if you need the help of a posse to back you up, here’s a few good words from some folks that are far wiser than me….

Quotes on Fear:

Eleanor Roosevelt:

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.

Rosa Parks:

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

Anonymous

Fear is the prison of the heart.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, First inaugural address

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart

If you are dealing with fears and insecurities from old head programs, have compassion for yourself. Just love your insecurities, fears and resentments. Release and forgive them as they come up. Judging, beating or repressing insecurities just gives them power. Then you have a pattern that never gets resolved. Recognize that your real security is built from your relationship with your own heart.

xoxo, Vanesa

Picture from dailymail.co.uk

I am devastated for the people of Haiti. While most of my posts are aimed at holding on to your money, all of us would be nothing without the last saying of the Campus Confidant mantra, PEACE and LOVE.  I wish peace and love to the people of Haiti as well as strength, support and relief.  I also hope you will extend a donation to one of the following organizations to help relief efforts:

American Red Cross

Yele Haiti

UNICEF

Doctors without Boarders

Mercy Corps