My Favorite Actresses at The 2013 Academy Awards

Today's blog post is about some of my favorite actresses at the 2013 Academy Awards. Though  did not exactly love the all the dresses, I still thought they looked fabulous!!! Here's the list from bottom to top:

Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook (Winner, Best Leading Actress)

Jennifer Lawrence is such a talented young actress, I loved her ever since Bone and The Hunger Games. In Silver Linings Playbook she was excellent, amazing. Her character inspired me to DANCE and don't give a damn what anyone else says! :) But honesty, I think she only won the Award only by a hair.

Amy Adams,  The Master (Nominated, Best Supporting Actress)

Amy Adams captured me in the movie The Fighter and Doubt, she was excellent. We watched The Master on DVD and I fell as sleep, but I'm sure she was great in it!

Naomi Watts, The Impossible (Nominated, Best Supporting Actress)

Naomi Watts is another such great actress! I know The Impossible was based on the true story of a Spanish family (2004 Tsunami), but Naomi's character was the only one I cared about because her acting is superb! 

Helen Hunt, The Sessions (Nominated, Best Supporting Actress)

Helen Hunt is another great actress! She did a wonderful job in The Sessions as a caring sex therapist, I loved her character!

 
Though I didn't exactly loved the dresses of the following actresses (a couple of my favorites!) I did love, love their hair styles! I hadn't realized they were both pixie cuts until I posted their pictures on this blog. I must have a secret desire of this kind of hair cut :)

Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables (Winner, Best Supporting Actress)

Oh, Anne...She is so gorgeous, has beautiful blig, brown eyes and a stunning smile, great attitude, and is VEGAN! :) I discovered what a great actress she is since Rachel Getting Married (2008) one of my favorite movies!

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron has played so many different characters from The Devil's Advocate (1997) to Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) and I have loved them all! She is awesome and beautiful.

After reviewing some more pictures of the best dresses on the red carpet, I decided these were my top 2:

 Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck's wife (Director of Argo)

I would say Jennifer Garner is one of my favorite actresses, but the fact that she is Ben Affleck's (one of my top favorite  actors) wife, she will be put in that category. ;) No, but really, I don't think Jen has ever  played a character that I dislike, they've always been cute. The last good movie I saw her in was The Odd Life of Timothy Green. I love how down to earth she looks both in real life and in Hollywood.

Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty (Nominated, Best Leading Actress)

Jessica Chastain.... I love her. She is just so darn good every time I see her movies! I think I lover her even more because she's VEGAN! :) Well, besides that, she has chosen to appear in great movies like The Debt (2010), the amazing Tree of Life with Brad Pitt -- one of my favorite movies of all time -- and The Help (both in 2011). Her characters have always been classy and she's been perfect for them.  

It was in Zero Dark Thirty where where stood out to me the most. Maya, her character, was strong, intelligent, disciplined, dedicated, confident that she inspired me and made me want to be her, haha!! I loved her character that much.  I think Katheryn Bigelow (Director) couldn't have picked anyone better to play the role. 

I love the work of all these talented and beautiful women. Wow, I need to say, however, that I am well aware that these are all white women on my list. Oops. I just realized that I need to pay attention to actresses of color and add them to my list of favorites! I'm surprised at myself. I never paid attention to people of color in Hollywood and now I need a new list. (Woe, you really learn something yourself each day!)

Thanks for reading!


Love,

Bea

(UPDATED 3/1/2013: " The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that votes for the Oscars, is nearly 94% white and 77% male, according to a Los Angeles Times study published Sunday. Blacks are about 2% of the academy, and Latinos are less than 2 %."  ~  Colorlines.com's article: Who Picks the Oscars? White Men.")

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that votes for the Oscars, is nearly 94 percent white and 77 percent male, according to a Los Angeles Times study published Sunday. Blacks are about 2 percent of the academy, and Latinos are less than 2 percent. - See more at: http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/02/who_picks_the_oscars_94_of_academy_voters_are_white_77_male.html#sthash.KEr4sjKZ.dpuf

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that votes for the Oscars, is nearly 94 percent white and 77 percent male, according to a Los Angeles Times study published Sunday. Blacks are about 2 percent of the academy, and Latinos are less than 2 percent. - See more at: http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/02/who_picks_the_oscars_94_of_academy_voters_are_white_77_male.html#sthash.YQUaMOhF.dpuf

Who Picks the Oscars? White Men.

Who Picks the Oscars? White Men.

Who Picks the Oscars? White Men.

Makers Initiative: 13 Interviews of Women Who Inpire Me

Last month I found MAKERS: WOMEN WHO MAKE AMERICA website. Makers is a video initiative (PBS and AOL) that showcases compelling stories of women who have made pioneering contributions and shaped the way people live. 

Here are 13 of the interviews from the videos I enjoyed watching to the ones I loved the most! 

13. Marlen Esparza, Boxer

12. Hope Solo, Professional Athlete

11. Maritza Alarcon,Youth Empowerment Organizer

10. Ellen DeGeneres, Comedian

9. Rachel McLish, First Female Bodybuilding Champion

8. Madeleine Albright, First Female Secretary of State

7. Katie Couric, Network News Pioneer

6. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Crusader For Women

5. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO

4. OprahWinfrey, Media Mogul & Philanthropist

3. Sandra Cisneros, Pioneering Latina Writer

2. Amy Goodman, Journalist

1. Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder, United Farm Workers

I watched all of these interviews over a few weeks and I felt inspired each time! As I watched them I took notes about these amazing women. Now each time I need a little boost in motivation, I pop out my notebook and I read their quotes!

Love,

Bea

You've Heard this Before: Human Activity is Hurting Our Planet!

Spirit Sunday: 

Yesterday Bret and I saw Chasing Ice by Jeff Orlowski and it was beautiful. It was the journey James Balog, a scientist who set out on a journey to prove that climate change is happening right before our eyes through photographs. Balog and his team from the Extreme Ice Survey placed more than  20 state-of-the art cameras (in total) in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska and Montana to capture the melting of glacial over a period of 4 years or so. 

Most people know glaciers exist because of what I’ve seen on TV, books, etc., but we don't really think about them. This movie brought the glaciers to life right in front of our eyes. I had a very little idea of how meaningful they are, but this movie made me realize that I had NO idea of what they really are. By studying glaciers from the inside out, scientists learn about the air and temperature of thousands of years ago and compare it to today's changes in the planet. Chasing Ice made feel as if I were there – in the cold, extreme weather of the coldest and some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

It was heartbreaking to see ice mountains melting and disappearing over just a few months. I had tears in my eyes and I was in awe.... It's incredible to know this is actually happening as I type this and as you read this. It's serious. We are destroying our home.

 

At the end of the movie James Balog said, "What will I tell my daughters a few years from now when they ask me what I did to stop climate change?" That made me think.... In 40 years from now, when I have grandchildren, and they see the consequences of climate change, they will ask me: “Abuelita, what were you doing to prevent climate change? Didn’t know you were going to inherit us this world???”  

I asked Bret what his response to our grandchildren will be and he also realized something, “Wow, I feel that I’m doing nothing.” 

“I know it feels like we're not doing enough. But that’s not true baby-- we try. We do what we can.... But we can always do MORE," I said.

Living in the U.S. -- in L.A., it almost seems impossible to see our lives without a car, running water, comfort, electronics, etc. It's hard to see us making changes to our life and living with little. I think that if we try hard enough we are able to live with little. We can't be afraid to give stuff up and simple, modest lives.

I think that the way Bret and I eat has a greater impact on the planet far more than what we can recycle, re-use and buy less stuff. I told Bret that I feel that by eating plant-based foods is one of the main things we can do to slow down climate change. 

There are so many reasons I can think of for not eating animal products. It’s not just about our health, animal treatment, or worker's right of being in a safe and clean environment -- but about the impact the consumption of animal products has on the planet!

Please take a moment and watch this 3+ minute clip by Brendan Brazier.

As individuals, the way we chose to eat has the biggest environmental impact on the planet.  In addition to all the significant health benefits of having a plant-based diet, it reduces our carbon footprint more than driving our cars daily!

What we eat either increases or decrease the rate of global warming/climate change. Growing plants for human consumption uses far less energy and resources to produce, while contributing the least amount of greenhouse gases and deliver the most nutrients. 

What we eat probably has the greatest impact on the planet.  "...On a calorie-for-calorie basis, plant-based proteins require less fossil fuel energy, water, or arable land to produce than any animal protein" than growing food to raise and feed the animals people end up eating. Most of the food grown in the U.S. is for animal growth and we get far less nutrients by them an going straight to the source (plants).

Just choosing to eat more plants in your diet can make a huge difference, not just on your body, it's efficiency and wellness, but you will also reduce your impact on this planet. Simply put: eating a Plant-Based diet makes a huge difference.

You and your family, too, can contribute to the well-being of the planet. Take a step forward to improve your live and the life of others globally by just making small changes, initially. Once you make a eco-conscious change you will learn how to live with less and you will also eat less, believe it or not. We all have to start somewhere to make this a better place to live.

This week, try to eat one meal with no meat, or aim for a week free of dairy.  You can do it! :)

Love,

Bea 

 

Being Fit: The Balance of Life

Fun, Fit Friday: 

This week I've been feeling pretty tired and I don’t know what it is, but my body is trying to tell me something.

Tuesday 2/19: While working out back (muscles) I didn't feel so great. My workout buddy (Bret) pointed it out that I didn’t have good posture while I did the bent-over barbell rows. (He said I was bouncing and my back was almost flat. I guess I was either lifting too much (80 lbs.) or I was just weaker that day. The week before that I was lifting the same weight—but it was at a different gym, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.  

A few weeks ago I lost my workout gloves so now I wear a thick rubber band to protect my wedding band (it’s a rubber band from the broccoli bunches we buy, haha!). Not wearing gloves for a few weeks has given me calluses in the back of my middle fingers, which is not a big deal for me, but on this day they hurt so bad. I found the low pulley rows hard do; the calluses/ or the metal grip hurt my hands so much no matter how light I would go. I was supposed to do 3 sets of 10 and the last set (4^th) to failure, meaning that I needed to do as many reps possible until I lost correct form. 

After training back we were scheduled for 20minutes of cardio, but I really didn’t want to do it. I was tired, but didn't want to admit it to myself. I managed to get only 10 minutes in the elliptical machine…a very slow pace. “Wanna stop at 10 minutes?” I asked Bret who was 2 machines from me. “Sure, if you want.” I just was not feeling it. 

When we got in the car I reminded him we needed kale from the farmer’s market and since we were close Native Foods, we should go eat there. :p I wasn’t particularly hungry or craving eating out too much, but we both needed to eat right away (after working out vigourously) and I really didn’t see myself cooking dinner that night.

We shared the Ensaladada Azteca...

and the Bistro 'Stake' Sandwich with potato salad.

 

Wednesday 2/20: After I got back home from teaching my classes in South L.A. I was so lethargic. I sat by my balcony window to catch some sunlight and read, but soon I realized I had crawled in the sofa and sleep the afternoon away. Bret got home at 3pm when he woke me up. I couldn’t believe how tired I felt. That night before bed I was so hungry that the only thing I could find was a slice of Ezekiel 4:9 bread with some agave syrup and drank a cup of soy milk. (Thank goodness I on' have peanut butter in the house!!)

Thursday 2/21: It was arms and abs and I was lifting a little less than usual. What?! (I know it was an ego thing, that’s why I was so surprised.) Hmmm? Something’s going on here, maybe it's the new machines and/or equipment at the new LA Fitness in Culver City. We finished with some ab exercises with the stability ball hitting our lower abs hard!

Honestly, I was not down with cardio again. I told Bret I was really hungry and that we should just go home and eat. Bret doesn’t particularly need cardio because he already has lower body fat and should concentrate more on building muscle—he just enjoys doing cardio to get his heart pumping extra harder. :)

We had potato tacos, potato salad, beans, veggies and salad for dinner. I intended to go with Bret to LMU to do some school work at the library, but I fell I just needed to stray home and do it. At 9pm I was starving! So I made myself a green protein smoothie. By 9:30pm I was in bed. 

Man, all this morning, Friday I felt pretty tired too. Is it really physiological or psychological??? My daily cups (2) of yerba mate and green tea didn't give me the little extra boost I always in the A.M. And I thought I might be a little dehydrated so I downed 3 cups of water 30 minutes after breakfast. 

It was not as easy to focus my mind on my school work, but I did manage to review the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) MyPlate, food groups and portion sizes for my nutrition class next week. Personally, I don’t follow the USDA guidelines. I know about the dairy, meat and poultry industries, as well as the conflict of interest between them and the USDA. You know that I am plant-based, vegan, veganist (someone who studies veganism), or whatever you wanna call me and I have a different philosophy on what my plate should look like (Power Plate), what the food groups we really are, and about being mindful when we eat, not focusing on numbers, grams or half or 2/3 cups….

Right: The Power Plate. Simple. No dairy, no meat-- based only on plants and whole food that allows the human body to thrive. Left: USDA MyPlate. Complicated, yet vague. Includes dairy and meat-- which have been proven again and again to cause disease, illness, weight gain and a plethora of emotional roller coasters.

For a hearty lunch (but not so big) today I had organic whole wheat pasta and lots of organic veggies sitting by our balcony window to catch some sun. I enjoyed each bite because I'm working on being more mindful when I eat. :) I thought my sugar level would definitely go up, get my happy vitamin D (from sunshine and the mushrooms I ate) and I’d get my energy back. But I think it zapped it more. Suddenly, I found myself crawling to the sofa again to read this time. Soon enough I realized I was beginning o dream about trying to open a red door (I can remember thinking, "I'm sleeping already, it feels SOOO good!" 

I ended up taking an hour nap! Now that I just woke up up I feel more energized, and I'm ready to continue my day. Soon Bret will be home and we'll go workout together. 

“There is nothing wrong,” I keep on telling my mind and tell myself it’s in just in my head. But what I realized is that my body is trying to tell me something very important. Either I need 1) more sleep; 2) more nutritious, plant food (calories); 3) more water (gotta stay extra hydrated), or 4) just more rest during the day (naps). I am working out harder than before, reason why my body needs the things I mentioned. But wait, I have done this LiveFit Trainer program once before, how more challenging can the 2^nd time be? (Well, I am lifting heavier with shorter rest periods.)

After my nap, I now feel I can handle training legs today (Day 51), but my next scheduled rest day is until Wednesday! I will probably tell Bret I need a rest day tomorrow because I need it. I am not worried about Bret  thinking that I am being lazy an not giving it my all; he is just so understanding and supportive.  

Still though, I WANT to work out tomorrow! When you are addicted—good addicted—to working out, you don’t want to stop. Blame it on the endorphins (feel good chemicals that exercise produces in our bodies)!! So it’s hard for me to listen to my body and say “take a day off!” :/

Although this week was tough on my body, I managed to get through it. You know you know happiness when you've experienced sadness...and so forth. So I value even more the days when I am super-energized and ready to go at any moment because I also have days when I feel down, tired and hungry. What I need to do is: sleep, rest/ manage-stress, eat super-plant foods, exercise like I already do, and stay hydrated. And of course give love and be open to receiving love.

Balance life <3

Love,

Bea

P.S. I wrote this blog in 3 sittings. If you want to know more about the differences in The Power Plate and the MyPlate, please leave comment and I will post a blog about it soon! :)