Beautiful Girl of the Week is a series of Beautiful Girls who are stand outs for what they contribute to the world through their beautiful actions!  We feature the Beautiful Girl of the Week on the Rewrite Beautiful blog as an attempt to inspire other girls and women to use their own gifts and talents to impact their communities. Our hope is that bringing positive attention to women’s actions will inspire them to embrace their own creative calling!

Jude is Beautiful!

Wellness has always brought Jude and I together! We first met at The Victorian, collaborating how to help women with eating disorders commit to lasting recovery. That was three years ago and soooooooooo much has happened since then! For one I left working as Support Staff at The Victorian and dedicated myself solely to writing and Rewrite Beautiful. Jude has pursued her own adventures as the CEO and Founder of Hawk + Lily, but I’ll let her tell you more about that amazing adventure!

Irvina: Jude thank you for speaking with me today! So tell me what is this non-profit, yoga, wellness project you are working on?

Jude: At the moment, I’m creating the Karma Yoga program for the Soul Center organization — our goal is to bring free yoga, meditation, and energy healing services to underserved populations. By pairing yoga teachers and holistic practitioners with a multitude of non-profit organizations, we’re already inspiring greater health in body, mind, and spirit for those in addiction recovery, at-risk youth, domestic abuse survivors, hospice clients, homeless populations, veterans, cancer patients, and more.

I believe that volunteering is one of those things in your life that you don’t know is missing until you start doing it. It’s a wonderful opportunity to remind ourselves of how blessed we are for all that we DO have (two hands that can hug a friend, ten toes that help us stand tall, a bed to sleep in, a roof over our heads, and a heart that beats strong), rather than all the things we *think* we don’t have.

Best of all, I’ve been lucky enough to experience — as both an instructor and as a student — how moving meditations such as yoga can make a genuine difference in improving one’s life. That’s why I’ve also created a company called Hawk+Lily to inspire everyone to rediscover the joy we were born with!

Hawk+Lily offers workshops rooted in nature that enhance one’s ability to live to our greatest potential by balancing inner and outer strength. The “hawk” represents inner strength and the wisdom within each and every one of us, while the “lily” symbolizes one’s natural beauty and grace. By bringing both elements together, we are more readily able to live abundantly wonderful lives and reach our fullest potential. Most importantly, Hawk+Lily encourages every individual to: “Love life. Thrive!”

Irvina: Wow! I’m kind of blown away right now. You know what a fan I am of connecting with non-profits! Hawk + Lily sounds incredible too! Well done my friend! Well done! So can you tell me what fueled your passion to start this?

Jude: Well, I am most passionate about encouraging every individual to BELIEVE that we can all be greater than we ever imagined possible. In every endeavor I choose to pursue, I believe in supporting each person’s unique journey to live to our fullest potential, and to remember to HAVE FUN in everything we do!

Whatever happens in life, I believe intention and perspective makes all the difference in the world and sometimes, we just need a helping hand to see it from a different point-of-view that fosters growth and love and healing.

Jude is Beautiful!

I hope that each and every individual discovers the opportunity, confidence, and strength to BE and LIVE in ways more amazing than ever believed possible. I believe that one of those ways is through the practice of yoga, meditation, and energy work. By going inward, we connect to that higher self within on an all levels — emotional, physical, and spiritual — to become our best selves and to inspire that light within others.

“Namaste” means “the Divine within me honors and salutes the Divine within you.” In eastern practices, the belief is that we are born divine. We don’t have to seek outside of ourselves for the answer to pure bliss and true wellness. We’re already whole! And, we have all the “right answers” within just waiting to unfold.

Irvina: Amen sister! One of my favorite things about yoga is the reminder to go at your own pace. Life is a journey and we get of course when we pay more attention to other peoples journeys instead of enjoying our own.

So Jude, you’re a busy girl, what do you do for fun?

Jude: EVERYTHING can be fun. But, what brings an instant smile to my face is being around the people I love (even those who are sometimes challenging) and being out in nature. That’s why I surf, rock climb, hike, yoga, and more recently, golf.

I also like to put on soul-movin’ tunes and dance to my heart’s delight in my apartment, listen to thought-provoking audiobooks and podcasts, and play with anything that involves creativity and color, like cooking!

Irvina: I like imagining you soul-movin in your kitchen! Ha! So, what is the craziest thing you have done?

Jude: O, there’s plenty of crazy things I’ve done — whether purposefully or purely by accident. Mostly, I think the craziest and best things I’ve ever done are to listen to — and follow — my heart. Even when hard, it’s always been right. And, in the end, I marvel at how wonderfully things turn out, so that I’ve never been happier!

Irvina: Dang that heart! It’s so hard to listen to, but it’s ALWAYS right! So Jude what do you contribute to the world that you’re most proud of?

Jude: I am proud that my words have brought me around the world www.imalwayswrite.com to experience an array of adventures that keep on coming! And, I’m lucky that to share those memories with friends and family every step of the way.

By combining my passion for writing with teaching yoga and offering Reiki energy, I have also been blessed to inspire incredible transformations with people everywhere I go around the world.

Irvina: I love your website! You’re such a talented writer! So tell me, which action of CREATIVITY, KINDNESS and STRENGTH do you think you most exhibit in your community and WHY?

Teaching yoga and offering Reiki healing services has been a beautifully kind and richly rewarding experience for both the practitioner and the recipient — it’s definitely been one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received and shared!

Through my guided meditations and yoga classes, I encourage every individual to discover the strength that comes not only in movement, but also in building inner awareness through genuine vulnerability. And, because every person is unique, the flow of creativity that is generated throughout one’s practice is amazing to behold.

Irvina: Huh, I never thought of my yoga practice as creative. I’ll have to remember that tonight! So, who is the most beautiful woman you know and why?

Jude: The most beautiful woman I know is the one who embraces everything she is and loves herself entirely — this could be you! There is no limit to the amount of greatness that you can inspire just by being exactly who you are. You can bring strength to the weak, deepen sweetness for those who’ve forgotten what it means to be kind, and bring brilliance to a room that did not know it was dark. The most beautiful woman I know is not someone without imperfections or who does not make mistakes; it is someone who transforms those “flaws” into a wonderfully flawless representation of exactly who she is and creates learning opportunities from the “oops” moments. She is, simply, an amazing woman warrior.

Irvina: I looooooooooooove that! If you combined all my “oops” moments you would have to consider me drop dead gooooogeous! Which I consider I am So my dear, what do you wish young women knew about beauty?

Jude: I wish that every person — woman or man — would know that beauty comes from being true to oneself, from being kind to others, from leading the way rather than simply following paths tried and true. I wish that every individual could recognize that the light within will only shine if given permission to be exactly as we are designed to be, brilliant right to the core. And most of all, that the way we are today is not the way we were yesterday, nor will is the way we’ll be tomorrow, so that in this moment, we are given an opportunity to make the best of what we’ve got and that it can be absolutely fun to do just that!

My friend replied, “She’s one of the world’s most adored performers.”

Bad ju-ju man, “I know, but she’s 50. Why can’t they get Katy Perry?”

My friend went on, “Mick Jagger is still performing and he’s in his 60’s.”

Bad ju-ju man realizes he’s not talking to a girl, he’s talking to a woman. He shuts-up and checks his Blackberry.

In regards to the Super Bowl the only thing I’m excited about are the same 3 same things I’m excited about every year: The chips, the guacamole and the margaritas. However, I will pull my chip out of its dip if I hear anyone trash talk Madonna or any other woman for that matter for her age.  If you feel the same way I have compiled the following,

Irvina’s 3 hand-dandy, sassy, yet still classy responses to someone who is trash talking Madonna on Superbowl Sunday!

#1. “So I guess this means when you turn 50 we can automatically consider you unemployable also.”

Say it with a bright eyed, toothy grin it causes for even more of a dramatic effect.

#2. “Actually, Madonna isn’t 50, the old lady is 53! I guess it takes some time to accomplish:

• Being awarded 20 VMAs from a total of 68 nominations, more than any other artist ever
• Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as one of the best-known and most influential artists, producer of all time
• Three American Music Awards for Best Female Musician
• A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Winner of a Golden Globe for Best Actress
• The best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century
• The 2^nd  top-selling female artist of all time in the United States
• Publishing 64 million albums
• Selling more than 300 million records world wide

Oh, but enough about her. What have YOU accomplished?”

#3.) And if you don’t have the energy for either of those you can just say,

“Papa don’t preach! Your being a creep! I’ve made up mind and Madonna’s my baby!” 

Beautiful Girl of the Week is a series of Beautiful Girls who are stand outs for what they contribute to the world through their beautiful actions!  We feature the Beautiful Girl of the Week on the Rewrite Beautiful blog as an attempt to inspire other girls and women to use their own gifts and talents to impact their communities. Our hope is that bringing positive attention to women’s actions will inspire them to embrace their own creative calling!

Alli is Beautiful!

Alli is best known as a local socialite here in the OC. The first time I spotted her she was in a business meeting at Kean Coffee, but abruptly interrupted it to avalanche a friend she spotted with a hug. This friendly gal is the PR and Marketing Manager of 31 Bits a jewelry business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. 31Bits kindly donated jewelry to the Rewrite Beautiful  TELEIOS Art Show raffle last summer. I’m stoked to be putting my journalism degree to use by giving you an insider look at Alli’s life and her projects with this interview below. Enjoy!

Irvina: Hey! So what is a project you’re currently working on?

Alli: A couple of my closest girl friends and I started a business called 31Bits, in which we work with women in Uganda that design beautiful jewelry out of recycled paper. We started a couple years ago with 6 ladies, and now we employ over 110! It’s only by God’s grace that we’ve gotten this far, and we feel so privileged and honored to play a small part!

31 Bits is empowering women to overcome poverty!

Irvina: That’s so rad! How fun to work with your friends AND help women on the other side of the world! I’ve been hugely inspired by the BITS story myself! So what are you passionate about?

Alli: I’m passionate about people. If I could get paid to go on coffee dates and have long, deep conversations all day long I would! I love hearing about the ways that God is moving and stirring our community. I love hearing how our ladies in Uganda are joining together to dream and plan for their future. I love observing the girls I work with; how they love and care for each other. There is nothing cooler, or more exciting, than to see God at work in the people around me.

Irvina: Awesome another deep convo girl! Yes! Welcome to the club! So what do you do for fun?

Alli: I am addicted to baking. I’m constantly searching Foodgawker.com for the next killer cookie recipe. I also love to go to Disneyland and people watch (not creepy, I promise). And I love to shop. What girl doesn’t?!

Irvina: Yes! I’m right there with you with the baking! What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Alli: I white water rafted the Nile! Pretty stoked that I survived that one.

Irvina: No way! White Water rafting is on my Bucket List! I can’t wait to do that! So, what do you contribute to the world that you’re most proud of?

Alli: 31 Bits! This organization is my heart! Check out the “Designers” page and read up on some of the women we get to work with. I am SO blessed by these ladies!

Irvina: Oh girl, I’ve already checked it out! I love it! I also love that you’re job allows you to empower other women to find their own gifts and talents. I hope other companies follow in your lead! Kind of like me! Ha! So which action of CREATIVITY, KINDNESS and STRENGTH do you think you most exhibit in your community and WHY?

www.31Bits.com

Alli: CREATIVITY. I’m convinced I work with the most talented and creative people on this planet! Our photographer, our graphic designer, our jewelry designer, our stylist. I could go on and on. These people are so visionary and passionate about what they do. Every new look we come out with, whether it’s a special edition Wedding Collection, or our Summer line, keeps getting better.

Irvina: I think it’s so crazy how when we work to help others we are helped 10 fold over!  That’s been my experience with Rewrite Beautiful and it sounds the same with 31 Bits. So who is the most beautiful woman you know and why?

Alli: I’m going to be so cliché and say my mom. Her strong faith and service for the people around her constantly challenges and inspires me. She’s the most selfless person I know. She’s also gorgeous. And she makes some bomb Greek food!

Irvina: Haha! I don’t think that’s cliché at all! So if you could sum it up, what do you think makes a woman beautiful?

Alli: I think that there is nothing more attractive than someone that is following their dreams, loving others and enjoying the life God gave them.

Will you be my mommy? - Clifford

I have come to grips with the fact that I’m a brown nosing do-gooder, which actually isn’t how I started out. Just ask the School Bus driver in the 7th Grade who wrote me up for opening the Emergency Exit on the bus and letting all the kids out. Thankfully, I’ve made a turn for the better and met some other do-gooders along the way! Take my friend Krista, another BEAUTIFUL girl who donates her time to animal shelters. Krista is acting as a “Doggy Social Worker” right now and trying to find Clifford a home! Read this heartbreaking story and if you’re interested in taking him home to be your own please message Krista Palmer.
From Krista:
Clifford was brought to OC Shelter after being hit by a car. He was 15 lbs. And a year old. The vet said he clearly escaped from his owners “or a dog fighting ring”. He was starved and beaten pretty bad. California bully crew paid for the medical expenses, and i am currently his foster mom. He has put on quite a bit of weight since I’ve gotten him. The vet says he won’t ever make it over 40lbs. He is VERY PETITE. Clifford is incredibly submissive, you have to be firm but gentle. He loves to kiss you. If you lose your temper he runs away and hides…. It takes a while but he comes back around. Hes ok with other dogs but he is VERY scared. Once he trusts you he’s your best friend. It only takes an hour or two. He knows all the basic commands including paw which means shake. He is completely potty trained! I want someone to love this dog as much as he is going to love them! He is incredibly smart and has a positive energy surrounding him. He LOVES WALKS! he’s amazing on a leash. After a walk he wants to take a nap or cuddle. I’d be willing to do a trial if someone is unsure. I want him to be loved and taken care of. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I’LL GIVE YOU CONTACT INFO FOR THE FOSTER PARENT

The Hollywood Beauty Event - March 4th + 5th!

When I first started Rewrite Beautiful friends naturally lumped my project with the other campaigns and non-profits  that stood for “Girl Power”. However, I found myself annoyed slightly irked when people sent me articles about Jr. High School’s holding “No Make-Up Day” or “No looking in the mirror for a month campaign!” or “Let’s be proud of our belly’s and show them off!” I applaud the efforts of other groups who want to empower women to “accept” their bodies the way they are, however it is my belief that this approach is actually sending the wrong message to girls and women. Let me explain, I believe that women would be stronger if they were encouraged to DISCOVER what makes THEM unique and different. If we help them to focus on DISCOVERING their gifts and talents, I think that they would be much less prone to hating their bodies, because their worth would not be in their bra size or the color of their hair. Think about it, how much can a girl hate herself while she’s thinking:

“Dang, I just made a bunch of people laugh! I’m funny!”

“I just created that art! I’m talented!”

“I just volunteered my time to that non-profit! I feel good!”

“I just made a meal for my friends! I’m a good cook!”

These thoughts are so positive, that there isn’t even any room to focus on hating her body. If anything these little discoveries of creativity and kindness just might take this girl down another path to discover what she truly wants to offer the world. That’s what we do at Rewrite Beautiful, we offer a NEW way of thinking about ourselves.

So do you understand why when we say “Down with make-up!” and “Burn our bra’s!” we are focusing on the problem, not the solution?  I’m under the understanding that the entertainment, cosmetic and diet pill industry is HUGE and quite honestly I have spent quite enough years in a love, hate relationship with them. What I have found is no matter what angle you come at it, fighting is exhausting and I’m not stepping into that pit again. Cause, dude I like my life and don’t want to spend it fighting with Fortune 500′s and giving off  negative ju-ju to all of the people in the 500 mile radius of my house. Instead, I’d like to continue purchasing their very nice mascara that brings out my green eyes and attend their very chic LA Parties and spread the Rewrite Beautiful message! Enter: The Hollywood Beauty Event!

My “make love and not war” propaganda has  led me to an alignment with LAGlow. A team of Celebrity Stylists, Hair + Make-Up artists. Rewrite Beautiful will be joining LAGlow at The Hollywood Beauty Event on April 15th and 16th 2012. This is a two day event that will be training Hollywood’s top beauty professionals about the years upcoming trends, styles and how to perfect their craft from other beauty industry leaders. Rewrite Beautiful will be contributing at the red carpet after party. We will be allowing the 900 stylists to hear our message that beauty is an ACTION of Creativity, Kindness + Strength and providing an art project for them to do at the party to remember what makes each one of them beautiful! *They’ll also get our sweet Rewrite Beautiful Bracelet’s in their Gift Bag’s!

I’m stoked Rewrite Beautiful is going to be apart of The Hollywood Beauty Event! If you’re a Stylist, Hair + Make-Up artists then please consider attending the event and stop by the Rewrite Beautiful table to tell us what makes YOU beautiful! See you there sugar!

Liz Mojica, Irvina Kanarek and Christine Tran at Mary's Shelter

Helllllllllo beautiful!  The following is an article about my visit to Mary’s Shelter.  I wrote this for my column TRUE BEAUTY in Lifestyle + Charity Magazine. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you need to get on it homie! Grab a peppermint mocha and enjoy! 

I was recently asked to speak about eating disorders and body image at Mary’s Shelter, a shelter for homeless and pregnant teenage girls in Southern California. Many of the residents there were struggling with eating disorders. Can you imagine how excited these hormonal, pregnant teens were to hear that a pretty, nice, cheerful woman they have never met was coming in to talk to them about their freaky behaviors around food? Yeaaaaaaah…. Exactly, ”Welcome to The Lions Den Irvina!”  Just to give you a little background, I’ve worked in an eating disorder rehab with the homeless and with teenagers –And I have come to the conclusion that there is ONE significant thing all of these people  have in common…what do you think it is? Are you ready? Are you guessing? It is, they are HUMAN! Yes, ‘THEY’ are exactly like YOU and I. ‘THEY’ have feelings and are actually quite ashamed, scared and frightened of what lies ahead of their lives. Hmmm…maybe kind of like you and I?  Considering I had this morsel of knowledge about these girls I’ve never met, I thought back and considered, in the past …

* To see the rest of this article please visit the following link: 

http://www.lifestyleandcharity.com/2011/12/owning-it-true-beauty-style/

Give to Rewrite Beautiful + Get Money! Sounds like a Win/Win to me!

No DONATION is too small or too big! If you don’t already know how awesome an organization Rewrite Beautiful is check out our year end summary and plan for 2012 that we sent to our supporters. Thanks you for supporting Rewrite Beautiful and making better mothers, sisters, daughters,  friends, girlfriends and aunts who know our worth is in not in our bodies, but in the way we treat others and ourselves! Happy giving!

To make a DONATION that will change a life please visit this link:

 http://rewritebeautiful.org/donate

Robyn is beYOUtiful!

Happy Friday beautiful folks! Thanks for stopping by the blog! I know everyone is super busy with family coming into town and makin’ three different kinds of tamales – save the chicken ones for me mom!

As for me, it is my blogging pleasure to bring you the beautiful Mrs.Robyn as our Beautiful Girl of the Week! Check this hot-soon-to-be-sugar mama out! Robyn joined Rewrite Beautiful about a year ago when her friend Lindsey (my LGF) told her about our project to change how girls see beauty in themselves through art. Since then Robyn has been a huge supporter! Sharing her recovery story at our art workshops to help other women….Getting her parents to sponsor our TELEIOS Art Show ….and joining us on the Trinity Broadcasting Network to spread eating disorder awareness. Not, only is Robyn a Rewrite Beautiful supporter she’s also a talented actress and personal trainer. Robyn has actually incorporated the idea of appreciating our bodies and loving them the way they were created into the Personal Training routines she teaches her clients. Rad huh? Robyn is a friendly, creative, kind and strong woman that we are proud to know and have apart of our team! So don’t steal her from us! Jst kidding …actually I’m serious…back away from our hot mama! Thanks for all your support Robyn! Rewrite Beautiful had an awesome 2011 because YOU were apart of our team! Big hugs and love!

Me and Robyn at one of our workshops

Before I dive into the dramatic thoughts that went along with the change in moons on my 29^th birthday  I think we need to establish a few things. For one, I’m going to take the liberty to assume that if you are the Rewrite Beautiful blog reading type you are fully aware of the rumored plague that is called: female aging. From what I gather aging is accompanied by a few fears:

1.)    Everyone is looking– The fear that everyone is looking at you and saying, “Oh, she’s that nice, pretty woman who was brilliant, but she never really accomplished anything significant.”

2.)    Clothing – The fear that at any minute the 21 year old fairies from Forever 21will come knocking at your door and repossess all of your clothing. In exchange you will be left with nice wool cardigans, penny loafers and mom jeans.

3.)    Sex – The fear that the opposite sex does not find you suitably attractive enough to have sex with. Leaving you horny and alone to fend for yourself pulling out your own gray hairs on Saturday nights.

4.)    Babies – That your reproductive organs will start to curdle like spoiled milk and you will not be able to bake a nice healthy baby that resembles you and your non-existent lover in your womb.

I have heard all of these fears from women and some of them I have thought up all by myself (I’m such a big girl!) The funny thing about all of these fears though is whether you are 25 years old, 29 years old or 63 years old, every single one of us at one time or another will come across these fears. I think it’s up to us on how we react with to them. It may sound clique, but I think fears are kind of like the rain. We see rain outside and we have a couple of choices, we can either walk out of the house in our pajamas and get drenched or we can put a jacket on and grab an umbrella and stay dry. Like the rain, fears are inevitable, but we have the ability to shelter ourselves from their downpour. Let me paint you a picture….

So I’m having my 29 year old freak out. It’s a combination of sweating and feeling like I’m gonna cry, faint, throw up all at the same time. All the fears about everyone looking, the Forever 21 fairies, the desert void of sex and the babies I will never hold is running like a hamster wheel in my head.  I remember a question a friend asked me a few weeks back, “What is your greatest fear.” I answered, “Not having my own family.” I realize prior to crying that I am 29 years old, coming to the end of prime child bearing years and without a primate to knock boots with . Then I hear the voice of my pessimistic father who calls me at 4 am just to say, “You do know that if you don’t have children before the age of 30 you’re more likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer…just wanted to make sure you were aware of that.” So to add to my list of fears, I’m pretty sure I’m dying as well. In the words of Irishgobeen : FML!

In the midst of the freak out I realize something kind of interesting, my alleged biggest fear has already come true. The truth is that I don’t have a family of my own right now and as much as that pains me to feel (and type)  the fact of the matter is that my life isn’t all that bad. I have friends, family, passions and creativity that greatly inspires me. Though, my life is predominantly been void of romantic partnerships or children I have been able to enjoy the life of an unattached, free, not a care in the world,  single woman who has not had to clean up anyone else’s poop on a regular basis for the past 29 years.  Sure there are things we all long for, but do we really need to drench ourselves in the rain and hyperventilate in the process? Or might it be a better choice to appreciate the place were in at the moment?  I’ve done lots of  wasting moments and I think it’s not only exhausting, but depressing. Instead I plan to take advantage of my 29^th year on earth. I’m going to be writing more, working on publishing some of my work, continue working on Rewrite Beautiful projects, learning more about art therapy and possibly going to Grad School. I’m a busy gal focussing on projects that fulfill my soul and help coach the souls of others. Maybe helping yourself, others and taking an inventory of the things we have to be grateful for is the trick to getting rid of those monsters in the closet aka Forever 21 fairies? What do YOU think?