Live 105 presents Not So Silent Night 2015

Live 105 presents

Not So Silent Night 2015

This year, Live 105.3 alternative radio station presented their annual Not So Silent Night concert. This consisted of four days, three venues, rockstars on stage and a ton of happy fans! I'm so blessed to be apart of such a fun group of people to help put this event on for the Bay Area to enjoy. I love that Live 105 can bring such a huge variety of artists to the stage! 

***Disclaimer: This blog post is depicted on my experiences alone and does not depict the values or standards of anyone working for CBS radio.***

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ya filthy animals

I absolutely love my crazy Christmas' with my family. We've always celebrated Christmas Eve with a bunch of Salvadorean tamales, desserts, ham, turkey and a lot of love. We attend 4:30pm mass, open a bunch of gifts, drink a bit, eat a lot and enjoy each others company. I absolutely love spending time with this crazy bunch. We see each other pretty often but I really love it.  

_____________________________________________________________________

Christmas Eve outfit: 

Black lace romper: Forever 21 // Necklace: Grandma's // Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell // Belt: H&M

Christmas Day outfit: 

Flannel shirt: H&M // Lace skirt: Nordstrom // Necklace: Grandma's // Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell // Belt: boutique

Love raised me, Lipstick saved me

 Love raised me, Lipstick saved me

Shirt: H&M // Skirt: Boutique // Tights: Nordstrom // Booties: Target // Necklace: My grandmother's

Photography by Stacey Chatfield 

Believe in Love

Believe in Love

Skirt: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's // Sweater: Old Navy // Chambray: Forever 21 // Necklace: Francesca's // Tights: Nordstrom // Booties: Boutique

Photography by Stacey Chatfield

Dressember

In order to change the world, you must give back to others and learn to love, that will restore hope in humanity. 

The Mission

Dressember is a collaborative movement leveraging fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women. 

Dressember uses fashion to advocate for women who've been exploited for their femininity. As women take on the creative challenge of wearing a dress for the 31 days of December, they are advocating for the inherent dignity of all women. 

Dressember exists to inspire and empower a global community of like-minded women who are locking arms to face one of the greatest injustices of our time. 

The heart of Dressember is freedom -- that every woman has the right to live a vibrant and autonomous life. 

The History 

What began in 2009 as a quirky style challenge with a clever name spread like wildfire. Dressember is a month of wearing dresses, but it is so much more. At its core, Dressember is an embracing of the inherent freedom and femininity of all women. 

In 2013, Dressember took on new meaning: opposing the worldwide trafficking and exploitation of women. In its first year as a fundraising campaign, Dressemeber aligned with International Justice Mission, a human rights organization that works to rescue victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression. Those who participate in Dressember are supporting the abolition of modern day slavery. In its first year of fundraising, Dressember had 1,233 registered participants in 32 countries across 6 continents who collectively raised over $165,000. 100% of the funds raised in 2013 went directly to International Justice Mission. 

In 2014, the thousands of woman that participate in Dressember will again be advocates for the work of International Justice Mission. 

My Part in this Puzzle

I'm so sick of watching the news each and every night, feeling terrible about what's happening in the world. Not only do I feel sick to my stomach from watching women and children fight for their lives, but like most people, once the news is over, the story is out of sight and out of mind. Many people forget that there are others in the world who don't have the luxury of just 'turning off the TV' in order to turn their heads to the injustices happening in our world. Just because I am only one voice does not mean I will sit back and let this continue on. I might be one person, but with the help of my family, friends and other like-minded people, we can definitely make a difference. I am asking everyone I know to please step up and help in the fight. If you would like to join the challenge or just donate a few dollars to the cause, the mission of this movement is powerful. 

Donate to my page

or

Join my team 

Resources:

https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/events/dressember-2014/e37240 

http://www.dressemberfoundation.org 

Feeling thankful

"The meal isn't over when I'm full, the meal is over when I hate myself."- Louis C.K.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Like most large families, we celebrated a few thanksgivings and that means filling up on a few plates of turkey (YIKES!) Of course I didn't end up taking many pictures of the yummy food. But trust me, it was delicious! My mom and I made a few appetizers made with gorgonzola, prosciutto, arugula and pears. Check out the recipes and family pictures below. Hope you all had an amazing thanksgiving! What kind of thanksgiving traditions do you and your family celebrate? 

Pear & Prosciutto Bruschetta 

Ingredients:

Sourdough bread loaf

Gorgonzola cheese

A pear

Prosciutto

Arugula

Balsamic glaze

Cut the sourdough bread loaf into small slices and put them on a cookie sheet. Brush a little bit of olive oil on the bread and put them in the oven for 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Put pieces of the gorgonzola cheese in a small bowl and place it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Grab a spoon and smear the cheese on the slices of bread. Place a piece of the prosciutto on top. Cut the pear into small pieces and place each slice on the bread. 

Place a few pieces of arugula on top to garnish and finish by dressing the appetizer with balsamic glaze. 

Eat & enjoy!!

Pears with Gorgonzola & Prosciutto bites

Ingredients:

A pear

Prosciutto

Gorgonzola cheese

Arugula

Slice the pear and layer the arugula and cheese on the slice. Wrap each slice with a piece of prosciutto. Display slices on a fun plate for guests. 

Eat & Enjoy!!!

10 tips to becoming happier, according to the Pope

You have one life to live, being happy is your choice

According to this article, the Pope has given advice to living a happier life. As we grow older, our lives become more complicated. It shouldn't be that way, but we get so caught up in our own lives, we forget to go back to the basics. I believe we are here on earth to love others and be loved. It seems like such a simple concept that many of us cannot seem to grasp. Enjoy the little moments in life because there is no destination, but the journey itself that we must cherish. I must sound like a book of cliches, but I loved this article when I was reading it and I wanted to share it with you guys! 

The Pope’s 10 Tips for a Happier Life

1. “Live and let live.” Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, “Move forward and let others do the same.”

2. “Be giving of yourself to others.” People need to be open and generous toward others, he said, because “if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”

3. “Proceed calmly” in life. The pope, who used to teach high school literature, used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist — gaucho Don Segundo Sombra — looks back on how he lived his life.

4. A healthy sense of leisure. The Pope said “consumerism has brought us anxiety”, and told parents to set aside time to play with their children and turn of the TV when they sit down to eat.

5. Sundays should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because “Sunday is for family,” he said.

6. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people.“We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs” and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.

7. Respect and take care of nature. Environmental degradation “is one of the biggest challenges we have,” he said. “I think a question that we’re not asking ourselves is: ‘Isn’t humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?’”

8. Stop being negative. “Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, ‘I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,’” the Pope said. “Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.”

9. Don’t proselytise; respect others’ beliefs. “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: ‘I am talking with you in order to persuade you,’ No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytising,” the Pope said.

10. Work for peace. “We are living in a time of many wars,” he said, and “the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive” and dynamic.

Courtesy of the Catholic News Service.

Original Link

High Voltage

High Voltage 

For some people, fall weather means gearing up for snow with your pair of Hunter boots, knee high socks, parka jackets and layers beyond layers. For the sorry bunch in California, we complain with a bit of fog. If your fall weather is just a long held out summer, here's an idea about how to layer without bundling up like a snow storm is brewing. 

Dress: H&M // Leather jacket: Nordstrom BP // Plaid shirt: American Eagle // Earrings: My grandmother's // Shoes: Guess from Macy's // Bracelets: Forever 21, Alex & Ani // Rings: My own

Photography by Nicole Stephens