Layout allows comments now

Recently found out that my last awesome layout did not allow people to comment on my blogs.

So I was forced to change it back to a classic layout.

Not sure why it messed the comment box up, but I will try to figure it out asap because I really liked my last layout *tear*

Anyway, feel free to comment on my previous blogs now if you want.

Rainn Wilson Talks to Oprah

Recently I saw an interview that Oprah had with Rainn Wilson in her SOUL series.

And guess what? Rainn Wilson is a Bahai!

Rainn Wilson talks about his website SOULpancake.com (which is a GREAT website) as well as gives a beautiful explanation of the Bahai Faith.

I tried to explain the Bahai Faith to some of you because of the fasting I just did, but listening to Rainn Wilson, I realized that I do not do a good job of explaining my faith lol. Its hard to summarize a world religion in a couple of sentences. 

I learned a lot from Rainn Wilson myself.

So if you are still looking for the "truth" or just interested in SOULpancake.com or want to know a little more about the Bahai Faith watch the interview. It is REALLY good- I promise.

Search " Rainn Wilson talks about the Bahai Faith with Oprah Winfrey" in youtube.com

Nuestra Belleza Latina

How could I forget? The show I have watch religiously every Sunday from 8-10pm: Nuestra Belleza Latina

Nuestra Belleza Latina is a beauty pageant "reality TV" show hosted by Univision for Hispanic woman in America. The winner gets $200,000 worth of prizes plus contracts with different companies.

The reason why I got so addicted to this show (way before I entered a pageant myself) was because I actually auditioned for it- yup! I sure did.

The first time the show got started was three years ago. I went to the Chicago auditions.

I actually did a very good job until the end.

There were four different stages, and I made it to the last stage.

The first stage was to get inside the building- which I did since I got there extra early! A lot of girls ended up staying outside because they go there late.

The second stage was to get a bracelet from some of the recruiters (I guess that what they are). However, the girls were not told this- we just sat there and some came to us to have a conversation and if they liked us, we got a bracelet.

I received a bracelet and then they announced that the people with the bracelets must go to another room. (Later I found out that the other girls ended up having to do out-of-the-box stuff to prove they deserved the chance to continue).

In third stage was a personal interview/conversation with the recruiters. We had to impress them. I had brought my flute with me, so I played a song and then told a joke when asked to do so- the recruiter decided I was ready for the next stage.

The last stage was to go in front of the judges (which would be on TV if they chose my audition). One of the judges Osmel Sousa, is like the Simon of American Idol- brutally honest!

I must admit, I was scared- and my nerves definitely got to me.

When I walked in, I had my flute with me. One of the judges (forget his name) asked me what I could do so I said "play the flute, dance, sing..." and the jerk asks "why don't you dance and play the flute at the same time?" 

Since I was so scared and didn't know what to say- my dumb*** actually tried it (I can actually laugh about it now, but I felt stupid then). Let's not go into what I looked like when I tried dancing and playing the flute- obviously I gave them the idea that I was a naive young girl who would actually try to do stupid stuff. SO needless to say, I was told that I was "too young" and to come back next year.

At least they asked me to come back!

THANK GOODNESS- my audition was NOT on TV *phew* that was a huge relief!

So that year I watched the show to see "what-I-would-of-done" if I would of gotten the PASS to go to Miami. I wanted to go the next year, but I missed the auditions. Then this year I decided not to do it.

After competing for the Miss Oakland County Scholarship Pageant, and learning about the Miss America Program, I decided that I much rather compete in something that will allow me to grow as a person, help in my education, and be able to contribute to society.

Right now the third Nuestra Belleza Latina has started and Univision definitely finds ways to make each year more entertaining to watch!

Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo

I am currently watching the spanish soap called Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo or Dumb Women Don't Go To Heaven.

It is really the only show I watch. I like watching some episodes here and there from the Disney channel such as The Wizards of Waverly Place and Drake and Josh, but I really don't have the need to watch the show all the time.

It is sad that as a Media Communication major I do not watch a lot of TV- if I had the time I would. I do however, watch quite a bit throughout the summer, since it is the only time I have more time in my hands. 

I am truly addicted to the soap Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo. It is a really funny soap.

Right now two guys are fighting for the love of a woman named Candy. The first guy, Santiago, had a fiance when he met Candy and fell in love with her; and just when Candy returned his feelings Santiago found out that his fiance got pregnant- so like all soaps things got complicated that way.

The second guy, Patricio, used to be Candy's fiance and on their wedding day Candy found him kissing her sister (apparently her sister forced a kiss, but the truth is still unknown). So Candy left the church all upset, and went to live with her uncle who helped her notify everyone that she had died. Patricio ended up marrying Candy's sister. Right now everyone knows that Candy is alive with a child (who is Patricio's son). So now Patricio wants Candy back- and like a good soap now the viewers actually want Candy to return with him.

There, of course, is more to the story- but that would take forever to write. I personally like Santiago- maybe because I love the actor that plays him (Jaime Camil). 

He is the best actor that I have witnessed in my life.

So if you know Spanish or feel like checking out a Spanish soap- watch Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo in Univision at 7pm Mon-Fri.

From High School to Elementary

So, incase you didn't know I work at a high school.

Recently they asked me if I could help at a elementary and get more hours- and of course, my answer was YEA!

Truthfully, at the beginning when I applied for the job, I wanted to work at a elementary or middle school- because I absolutely LOVE kids. But I ended up at a high school; which actually ended up helping me achieve my goal of helping students get a diploma- so everything definitely happens for a reason!

My first day at the elementary was yesterday- I was so excited!

I get to tutor this 1st grade Hispanic student, and she is adorable.

The school needed someone who spoke her language because she is a little behind in the learning. One of the few benefits of being bilingual :)

This little girl is so smart- she was so happy that I spoke Spanish.

It is definitely a huge change to work with high school students and then with an elementary student. 

I love the change though.

St. Paddy's Day Party

I can't wait until my sororities St. Paddy's Party tomorrow night!

It is a fundraiser party- so there will be raffles going on with winning prizes such as gift cards and gift baskets.

The money we make will go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

It's going to be so much fun and or a great cause!!

Kind of late but Happy St. Patrick's Day!! :)

Spring Break

I wish my Spring break would of been more exciting.

Unfortunately there were only a few highlights.

I had my Miss Michigan orientation, which was very informative- yet fun. 

I got to meet all the local title holders- and they are all very sweet, smart, and beautiful girls!

I am really excited for June.

I played in the Casino for the first time ever.

I am completely against gambling- but it was in my to-do-list before I die.

My boyfriends mom likes to go to the Casino and earned enough points to get a free dinner at the restaurant- it ended up being a $160 dinner for just the three of us!!! Talk about a rip off!

But I must say, though the steak was tiny, it was delicious!

After eating, his mom wanted to play for a couple minutes- so I tagged a long.

I pulled out my 3 singles and played with that- that was my limit! (I'm broke).

At one point I turned those $3 to $14 which was pretty exciting to me haha- I would of left with the $14 except that my boyfriend and his mom weren't done playing. So eventually I got bored, decided to keep playing and lost it all :/

The good thing is that it strengthened my opinion that gambling is bad!

Besides that, all I did in my break was homework.

So overall, it was a boring break! :/

Great Deal!

I will probably blog quite a bit about the Miss Michigan pageant coming up since that has been on my mind ever since I won the Miss Lawrence Tech title- so sorry if this stuff bores you.

I have the Miss Michigan orientation this weekend and I didn't have shoes to go with the outfit I am planning on wearing. So I went to the mall yesterday and I am extremely excited about the great deal I got with the shoes I bought.

I went to Macy's and saw some cute Jessica Simpson shoes- originally $80. I saw that it was marked to $40. That was still expensive for me- but I liked the shoes a lot! Sooo I convinced myself I could afford them lol

I went to the cash register and guess what? They were only $20!! 

I didn't argue the prize of course. 

I still can't believe I got $20 shoes from Macy's.

SOUL

SOUL of (Society of University Leaders) is a soon-to-be organization at LTU that I recently joined. (I know- I just can't stop joining stuff! What can I say? I loved being involved).

I am extremely happy that students and staff at LTU have taken the time to come up with an organization like SOUL. From the two meetings I have attended this semester we have a Relay for Life team set up and we plan to participate in a 24 hour relay to fundraise for and fight cancer.

SOUL also has a LTU service day in which we want as many LTU students to participate. SOUL has partnered up with United Way to provide community service. 

The LTU service day is Saturday, April 4th. If you are interested in participating let me know!

There are other activities that are going on to fundraise for a good cause.

I recommend LTU students getting involved in SOUL.

Today at the meeting I won a prize too! An LTU shirt, coffee mug, and two pencils.

What a great initiative to get people to show up!

First Day of the Fast

Today, March 2nd, is the first day of the Fast in the Bahai Faith.

Bahai's between 15 and 70 years of age do not eat or drink for 19 days from sunrise to sunset and set aside time for prayer and meditation. People with illness, pregnancy, nursing mothers, extended travel, and arduous physical labor are exempt from fasting.

Therefore, I have to wake up very early to eat and not eat or drink until sunset.

The first days are always the hardest. I have been tired all day from the lack of sleep and am extremely hungry. It makes it so much harder when you are conscience that you are not allowed to eat. Normally I am so busy with school, meetings, and work that I barely eat somedays (unintentionally)- but now that I am conscience of the sacrifice I am making, I am even hungrier than usual- making the fast more challenging.

I will be fasting until March 20th- a total of 19 days. The Bahai calendar has 19 months, each with 19 days. 19X19 is 361 so the extra days are what we call "Ayyam-i-Ha"- which is similar to Christmas, except it is 4-5 days with the purpose of celebrating, being hospitable, helping charities, and gift giving. I just celebrated Ayyam-i-Ha.

After the fast (March 21st) we will be celebrating our new year "Naw-Rus." So February/March are significant months for the Bahais.

I did not make this blog to "preach" so if you want to know more go to:

http://www.bahai.org/

or

http://www.bahai.us/

The Bahai's believe in the independent investigation of truth- so we never preach. However it was hard for me to write about my fasting without giving some background. 

So don't be surprised if you see me in the Cafe Lawrence stuffing my face around 6:30pm every day.