The Ella Project invites you to be active September 29, 2010

Don't they look happy!

I’m interrupting the ‘marriage chronicles’ today (you can catch up on parts 1 and 2) to keep you informed on some exciting opportunities you should be aware of. One of my readers Cathy was kind enough to email and let me know of two different programs happening for Latina women.

The first is an “unsung” hero’s program promoted by Scott Brands. Personally I love giving recognition to people who otherwise would go unnoticed. The “Premios Bien Hecho/ Done Right Awards” allows you to nominate those people who are “doing right” for Hispanic communities. Who knew the people I buy toilet paper from where love us Latinos so much? They love us and I love them. Perfect.

yes!

Check out the press release:

SCOTT BRAND CREATES “DONE RIGHT AWARDS”; CALLS ON HISPANICS TO NOMINATE PERSONS WHO HAVE “DONE RIGHT” BY THEIR COMMUNITY

At Least Five Winners Will Receive $2,000 and a $5,000 Donation to Non-Profit of Their Choice

NEENAH, WIS., Sept. 1, 2010 -The Scott brand is celebrating its Done Right philosophy by inviting consumers to nominate candidates for its first Done Right Awards. To be eligible, the nominees need to have performed extraordinary deeds of great value for the Hispanic community. Winners will receive $2,000 each, plus a $5,000 donation to a charity or non-profit of their choice.

“The purpose of these awards is to give back to the Hispanic community for their loyalty to the Scott brand by recognizing individuals who embody our core values of doing things right,” said Chris Allen, Scott brand manager. “Scott brand products are done right because they blend great performance and value. We’re looking for everyday people – unsung heroes, if you will – who have done right by going above and beyond the call of duty to help the Hispanic community.”

In that vein, the brand is calling on Latinos to submit one or more nominations between now and Oct. 15, 2010. A minimum of five nominees will be chosen by an independent panel of judges composed of community leaders, on or about Nov. 1, 2010.

Anyone can nominate a candidate. To nominate someone whose efforts deserve to be publicly known and recognized, consumers should visit www.marcascott.com. The nomination must include the name of the candidate for the award, a description in 100 words or less of the extraordinary deeds he or she has done for the Hispanic community, and their name, email address and telephone number. For more information, please call 1-888-444-9839.

About Scott

The Scott brand invented many of the product categories consumers today rely on throughout the world, including rolled toilet paper, paper towels for household and kitchen use, and paper napkins. In 2006, Scott brand crossed the billion-dollar U.S. sales mark following four consecutive years of significant growth in the consumer bath tissue and towel category. With this milestone, the Scott brand joins the top tier of consumer packaged goods brands with over $1 billion in U.S. sales. When combined with sales of Scott-branded products in Europe and in Kimberly-Clark Professional and K-C’s developing and emerging markets businesses, the brand’s worldwide sales exceed $2 billion, underscoring the Scott name as one of K-C’s power brands. The Scott brand stands alongside Huggies and Kleenex in the elite company of billion-dollar brands. For more information about Scott visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

About Madre y Mujer

Madre y Mujer is a Kimberly-Clark initiative whose mission is to provide practical, everyday solutions to Hispanic women in an effort to improve their quality of life and that of their families. As such, Madre y Mujer is based on lasting family values, including the hygiene and health of Latino families throughout the various stages of life. The solutions Madre y Mujer offers are supported by the excellent products that sponsor this initiative, and by the advice it is continuously providing to Hispanic women and families. The proven quality of Kimberly-Clark’s trusted products constitutes the best guarantee that families which use them are being well cared for. For more information about this unique program, visit www.madreymujer.com

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people – nearly a quarter of the world’s population – trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 138-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

The second program is a Yoplait’s Breast Cancer initiative. Do you remember Adamari Lopez? I’m sure some of you do and some of you don’t. She’s a Latina telenovela (soap) star. When I was growing up I would equally watch telenovelas and the WB11 (remember when the CW was the WB?) To me, watching Latina soap stars was the same as watching Sarah Michelle Gellar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Adamari is a breast cancer survivor and has teamed up with Yoplait to bring awareness to Latina women.

“I am delighted to join with Yoplait once again to help Latina women understand the importance of their breast health and encourage others to join the fight against this terrible disease,” Ms. Lopez said. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, and am living proof that early detection can save lives.”

From September through October you can send in pink lids from Yoplait products and Yoplait will donate. donate 10 cents, up to $1.6 million, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000. Since the program began, Yoplait has donated more than $25 million to the breast cancer cause through this method.

One of my best friend’s mom is a breast cancer survivor. It affects ALL of us as women. Get involved.

Save Lids To Save Lives

Check out the press release below:

ADAMARI LOPEZ AND YOPLAIT^® URGE LATINAS TO JOIN

THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Actress and Breast Cancer survivor LopezTo Encourage Early Detection, Inspire Support for Save Lids to Save Lives® and Announce Creation of El Fondo Yoplait Para La Mujer Hispana®

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Sept. 13, 2010 – For the third consecutive year, Yoplait has teamed up with Hispanic actress and breast cancer survivor Adamari López. Ms. Lopez has kicked off a seven-city media and retail tour of Hispanic communities, with hopes of inspiring Latinas to join in Yoplait’s Save Lids to Save Lives® initiative.

“I am delighted to join with Yoplait once again to help Latina women understand the importance of their breast health and encourage others to join the fight against this terrible disease,” Ms. Lopez said. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, and am living proof that early detection can save lives.”

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among Hispanic women, who also are more likely to be diagnosed in its later stages, when it is more difficult to treat.* And although Latinas have lower breast cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to non-Latina White women, they are less likely to have regular mammograms and follow-up for an abnormal mammogram.

Now in its 12th year, Save Lids to Save Lives® helps combat these statistics by raising crucial research money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Yoplait is its longest running food partner, and Save Lids to Save Lives® is recognized as one of the most successful cause marketing programs in the industry.  By raising the maximum donation of its Save Lids to Save Lives® program up to $1.6 million this year, Yoplait  is expanding its commitment to the fight against breast cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s promise to end breast cancer forever.

Participating in Save Lids to Save Lives® is easy – in September and October, all 6-ounce yogurt cups — Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, Light Thick & Creamy, Whips!, and select specially-marked packages of the Large Size Yoplait yogurts — will have special pink foil lids.  And for the first time, Yoplait Greek, Yoplait Delights and Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are also included. For every pink lid sent in between now and the end of the year, Yoplait will donate 10 cents, up to $1.6 million, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000. Since the program began, Yoplait has donated more than $25 million to the breast cancer cause through this method.

This year, Yoplait has also created the Fondo Yoplait para la Mujer Hispana®– $250,000 of the overall donation that will go to fund innovative ideas by Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Affiliates aimed at raising breast health awareness and prevention in their local Hispanic communities.

“The local Komen Affiliates know their communities best, which is why Yoplait wants them to put forth the plans for fighting breast cancer in Latina women,” says Catherine Cox Draper of Yoplait. “With their inspiration and ideas, Yoplait and Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be able to help to make a lasting impact in the fight against breast cancer for Latinas everywhere.”

Ms. Lopez will be visiting many of those very communities during her tour, which began last week in Miami and ends next month in San Antonio, Texas. It will also take her to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, where  she will take her message of hope to Latinas through media interviews and appearances at supermarkets.

“My personal brush with breast cancer changed my life and showed me that our health is our greatest gift,” Ms. Lopez said. “Despite the many obstacles faced by our community – both cultural and financial – we as Latinas must put our breast health first, understand our bodies and utilize the resources the community has to help us overcome this terrible disease. Susan G. Komen for the Cureis a valuable organization, and that is why I believe so strongly in this cause.”

For more information on how to participate, please go online to CadaTapaCuenta.com  or komen.org/espanol . You can also find your local Komen Affiliate on komen.org/espanol.

About Yoplait

To date, Yoplait and its parent company General Mills have donated more than $25 million to the breast cancer cause. In addition to the Save Lids to Save Lives campaign, Yoplait is a member of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®'s Million-Dollar Council and is the National Series Presenting Sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, the largest series of 5K run and fitness walks in the world. Visit www.Yoplait.com to get involved in the Save Lids to Save Lives program.

About General Mills

One of the world’s leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Yoplait, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2010 global net sales of US$16 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

The marriage chronicles (part 2) September 28, 2010

oy!

I finally find my credit card and check my phone for the website Allie texted me. I must have typed the web address five different times. Who knew martinis and shopping do not mix at 1230 in the morning? Ordinarily, this is not something I would do. You know buy something online for an important event from a website I’ve never shopped at before. But this was an emergency and I needed a dress. I find one that I love and order it. Did I mention that all the sizes are European? No? Well, let’s just keep in mind that I don’t know my European size and I’m in a martini induced euphoria.

Four days before the wedding and the dress still wasn’t in my hands. I was certain I ordered it air express. Did I? Yes, of course I did. Just to make sure I sent customer care a message.

me:

Hello,
I placed an order for a dress using express shipping to be delivered at the latest today XXXXXXXX. This dress is for a wedding I am attending this weekend. It is very important that I receive the dress today. The shipping information has not been updated since yesterday. Can someone please explain when this dress will be delivered and whether it will be in my hands at the latest tomorrow? Where is my dress!

Thanks

Customer Care:

Many thanks for emailing us with your query.

It has been passed to one of the Customer Care Team and rest assured they will be looking to resolve the matter as soon as possible. As soon as we have a resolution for you, we’ll let you know.

Thanks for your patience and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Ok, not the response I was looking for. Another day goes by and I’m getting desperate. Another email.

me:

Hello,

Did anyone receive an update on where my order is? Will I receive it today? Help!

Customer Care:

Many thanks for emailing us with your query.

It has been passed to one of the Customer Care Team and rest assured they will be looking to resolve the matter as soon as possible. As soon as we have a resolution for you, we’ll let you know.

Thanks for your patience and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Now I’m having a panic attack and these people are making it worse. See, this is a sign from above. I can’t even get myself together to be a wedding guest. How could I possibly be married myself and have a family. This is something I should start discussing with my family.

Just as I’m about to write stern notes on the universe telling me it’s too early for marriage the Fed Ex man arrives. With my dress in hand. Perfect! I sign on to Gchat to let my girl know that the dress had arrived. “ try it on immediately” she says.

Maybe this is a new sign from the universe.

Dress in hand I close the door to my office and head for the staff bathroom. I rip the plastic cover and try on the dress.

It doesn’t fit.

I suck in my stomach then I do the wiggle into your dress dance. Nothing. Great. Back to my original train of thought. The universe is giving me a sign about weddings.

I still need a dress though. Time to call for an emergency shopping meeting with my ladies. It’s two days before the wedding. Time is running out.

(Final Part Tomorrow)

the marriage chronicles (part 1) September 27, 2010

eek!

Two years ago my roommates and I decided to take a trip down to Miami. It was a sort of tradition. We would send out emails to our other girlfriends inviting them to join us, they would turn us down and we’d go anyway. This time, instead of some fancy hotel I asked my cousin if we could stay with him for a week. His answer: “ oh yes of course! I have a spare room just for you guys.”

Perfect.

We packed our bags and traded cold New York City for the warm Florida temperature. My cousin picked us up from the airport and dropped us off at his beautiful apartment complex. He had a pool, gym and Jacuzzi. We were in love with all of it. Plus we got to spend a vacation free of charge.  Remember that saying “ if it’s too good to be true, it probably is?” Well if you didn’t believe it before believe it now. When we walked into our bedroom there was no bed in it. Just an empty square.

“ oh did I forget to mention that you’d need an air mattress?” he said.

Good thing I come from a Dominican family who has learned to roll with the punches. We bought the air mattress and decided to have the best vacation in the history of vacations. That is until the phone rang. My cousin picks it up and I perk up my ears to hear the one sided conversation (I’m not nosy… I prefer to call it curious).

“ si si everyone’s having a good time. Quien? Ella? Oh she’s fine here with her friends. What?? Hahahahahahaha wait wait can you ask me that again?” my cousin places the phone in front of him and puts it on speaker phone. I hear my aunt, who happens to be living with my mother ask in clear Spanish “ Can you keep an eye on Lari? She’s always bringing those girls with her everywhere and we think there’s something going on with them”

Yes. My family was starting to believe that I was a lesbian. Despite the fact that I have been bringing boyfriends home all my life. The problem was that I was reaching an age where Latina women should be married with children. My mid twenties. So if I wasn’t married or about to be married then certainly I must like women.

It’s not that I have something against marriage or a boyfriend. Just that two years ago marriage was the last thing on mind. Honestly it would still be today. Except that I am certain my mother made a deal with Mark Zuckerberg and facebook to make sure that everyday someone on my time line is engaged. I know it sounds crazy, but every time I log on someone with perfectly manicured nails is flashing her Beyonce “ single ladies” hand and showing off the ring he put on it.

Which brings us to last month. Now I have a boyfriend ( that destroyed the lesbian rumors in my family) and we have a waiting to attend. I made the mistake of letting my mother know because all she can talk to me about is how marriage makes you a woman.

It may be the pressure put on women, especially minority women, to be married by the time they are 25. Or it may be that I’m rebelling against marriage all together. But it’s 12 days before the wedding and I still don’t have a dress to wear.

I had just come home from having too many martinis with two girlfriends (mai and allie) and I am drunkenly about to buy a dress online. From England. I stumble to find my credit card and think to myself  “ this is an awesome idea. Allie said this website is fantastic. Drunk shopping is great!”

Ugh. What was I thinking??

(Continued Tomorrow)

Work? or play? that is the question. September 26, 2010

I've missed you guys

Someone famous once said, “work hard and play harder.”

Granted the first time I heard this I was in college. Working hard consisted of making sure I slaved over the course manual and picked classes far apart enough that I could squeeze a nap in between. The playing? Well most of us made sure we did our fair share of that as well. Just check facebook and see how many of your friends untagged themselves from pictures while applying for jobs (I wont judge you if you are that friend.).

Now, that saying has more meaning today than it did when I was 18.

I woke up a few weeks ago and realized that every day was starting to look the same. Work. School. Homework.  A little more work, a little more school, a little more homework. Don’t get me wrong. I do spend quality time with everyone I love. My girlfriends and I have monthly sex and the city style dates. But, I was waking up and feeling like it’s groundhog’s day.

Daily Déjà vu. A feeling of what else is there?

And then it came to me. I was on a cruise (more on that on another post) last week and woke up every day feeling relaxed. Not wondering what else is out there. Enjoying every moment. It doesn’t take a vacation to make a conscious decision to enjoy every moment. It’s hard to enjoy the little things in our every day life. The problem is, that when we don’t we risk not reaching our full potential and finding our passion.

Mine is sitting down and writing about all the things that interest me. Yours can be therapeutic shopping or baking cookies or running a marathon. Take a moment to take a deep breath and enjoy where you are at this very moment. You won’t have this moment again.

That being said I am back to updating the site weekly. I’ve missed you guys!  So much has been going on that I want to share.

What’s going on with you? Do you make sure to work hard and play hard? Is your passion theraputic shopping? If so.. shoot me an email.. I’d like to know how you feel about buying me gifts ;o)

Finding a Balance September 1, 2010

Don't They Look Happy?

Every time she would go to the bathroom someone had to stand guard at the door. Every. Time. It was exhausting. I knew the right thing was not to spy on her but to try and get her help. Except, we didn’t know how to approach it or how to talk about it.

My solution was to make sure that everyone knew that they didn’t have to spy on me. This meant making sure I went for seconds and always eating everything on my plate. Good thing I really like to eat. But this was making it much less enjoyable and more like a job. It’s been years and I still get the urge to eat everything on my plate after I’m full. See, everyone always keeps an eye for the person with the problem but no one really focuses on what happens to those around them. It’s a lot of pressure. But more importantly, since when do Latina’s get eating disorders?

The answer to that is a lot more often than we think. We just don’t talk about it and when we do our families don’t know what to do. Why? Because we have become accustomed to believe that we’re supposed to have curvy bodies. This is what’s sexy and accepted culturally. The problem is that we live in America and have to balance our culture with images of the American ideal.  According to this eating disorders for Latinas have a lot to do with fitting in. “As Latina women attempt to conform to mainstream culture, their values may change to include an emphasis on thinness, which can place them at a higher risk for bingeing, purging, and overly restrictive dieting.” We’re also less likely to seek professional help for emotional problems. If we don’t get professional help to those with the problems then we’re also not getting help for those around them.

A few months back Rocsi, the Honduran host of 106 and park, was emotional on camera speaking about her past struggle with anorexia. “The only reason why I came out. Alot of minority women go through this. I used to think that it was a “white” syndrome. I thought only white people were anorexic or bulimic and I didn’t think that anyone like me or that looked like me would go through this” Rocsi said emotionally.  This is the mentality we have to change. This is not a “white” issue. This is an every woman issue.

Regardless of race we need to be more open about the issues that affect us. We also need to create more girl-positive images. Instead of magazine covers and commercials about losing weight there should be more emphasis on how we feel about and in our bodies. This not only includes the search to be skinny. This also includes over eating and learning to be active and eating better. One of my favorite quotes comes from Anna Wintour, editor of vogue:

“I had just been on a trip to Minnesota where I can only kindly describe most of the people that I saw as little houses, and I just felt like there’s such an epidemic of obesity in the United States. And for some reason everyone focuses on anorexia … We need to spend money, time, and education on teaching people to eat, exercise, and take care of themselves in a healthier way.”

I believe it’s about finding a balance. We need to learn to love ourselves and not be afraid to ask for help regardless of culture.

If you want to read more on minorities and eating disorders (not just Latinas, but black women and asian etc) go Here , Here and Here.

To see Rocsi’s 106 and park speech you can check out this:

Necole Bitchie

Finally, if you need help you can go:

Here (towards the middle of the page there is a link for women of color)