Jackie Francois

This woman is an inspiration. Jackie Francois is a speaker and traveling Catholic enthusiasist. She is a singer as well. She is so inspiring and her talk with her boyfriend Bobby last night at Phil's BBQ for San Diego's Theology on Tap Series- topic: Love, Dating, and Relationships was one of the best talks I have ever been to! She was also a Sociology major, she loves to sing, and she is so funny, smart, beautiful, and faith-filled.

Check out her site, and her music!

http://www.jackiefrancois.com/blog/

She has so many valid points about the church's views in contrast to our society's views on love and how young women and men are innundated with the media's messages of love. Not only, are we taught to use each other and our bodies but how many times are we told that sex is bad? Sex is not bad. It is a beautiful act of love that is meant to be shared between a husband and wife. 

She even brought up scientific research on the chemicals that are released in a female's body 8 times stronger than in a man's body when sexual innercourse occurs. 

I do not bring this topic up to tell people they need to be chaste or change your views on sex, as mine have been altered, but I want to share this woman with all of you because she is exactly what I have become passionate about. Ever since I took Women and Men in the Workplace in college, I knew that I had a call to help young girls. In today's world, it becomes increasingly harder for young girls and women to really listen to their inner voice, to be proud of their bodies, to love themselves, to not be influenced by the saturating and persuasive media and images that surround us every single day. When we listen to Rihanna and Britney Spears, as I totally have and still will, how are we helping oursleves? The message we get from Rihanna's S&M lyrics, movies like Magic Mike, 50 shades of Grey, even 7th Heaven, Friends, Sex and the City, and soooo many magazines are to get a boyfriend, make love, and it is totally fine to get drunk, expose yourself, be free, and try new things. You will never know until you try right?

One in every four college-aged
women will be the victim of a rape or attempted rape.

And so many more women are victims of sexual assault. If 1 in 4 college aged women are victims of rape, and girls keep maturing and are exposed at a younger and younger age to the world- as they are! :-) Rape and sexual assault is only going to increase at a faster rate and to younger girls. We need to make a change. I am proud to say I was able to expose knowledge about these types of issues at Santa Clara University through Vagina Monoloues and "Every 2 Minutes" but we need to keep spreading the message of love, and what true love is.

I am not trying to say that all these songs and movies will lead to rape...I know that is a big jump but what I'm saying is : It is wonderful that women like Jackie and others are such a blessing in this world because young girls need to realize how WORTHY they are.

We all deserve true love and real love that stems from loving yourself and being patient with God. We do not need to go out and call guys, and text guys. If God wants you to find a man he will bring that man to you when the time is right. In the meantime, grow in yourself, in God, and work on your virtues. Find your passions, and motivations in life. Strive to experience real love, God will provide that. He may even bring a holy virtuous man into your life someday and call you to marriage when the time is right.

If you are interested in learning more about Jackie Francois check out her media outlets:

www.jackiefrancois.com

spiritandsong.com

twitter.com/jackiefrancois

Info on Sexual Assault and Rape:

http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/rape-sexual-violence/welcome.htm 

On a lighter note, she has an amazing sense of humor!!!

And she links some utube videos on her site mocking "words of Catholic girls"

There is hope and I want to help spread that hope and knowledge of real love and women's empowerment at the same time. Being a Catholic feminist to me is showing how you can support women's rights by also learning that we are worthy of true love and that does not stem from casual sex or flaunting our bodies and approaching our feelings casually and without regard for how that puts a lack of respect and use between us and a man.

OZ

OZ...

Spring 2013

Can't wait!

:-)

The Flux about Influx

I already listed Influx as one of my favorite cafes in Little Italy, San Diego on lovely India St. but I feel compelled to share more about this place. I absolutely love it. There is something to be said about "becoming a regular," your coffee shop people knowing you by name, and top quality food and beverages at good prices! The aura is always trendy and hipster, but never feels fake or unsettling. People work on their computers, sit outside, bring their dogs, and just enjoy the atmosphere or catch up with friends. We even go here for work meetings sometimes. Most people who work in little Italy flock to Influx for its quality. Some of my favorite items:

• Turkey 1
• Veggie Bagel
• Goat Cheese Salad
• Moroccan Mint Iced Tea (My favorittttteee!!!)
• London Fog
• Cappucinno
• Granola, fruit, and milk bowl

Starbucks is closer to our office but given the extra walk that usually feels good, and the quality of Influx, I understand why almost everyone in our office prefers it. I will say that Cafe Italia is wonderful and gives you more of the Italian feel, however, they are cash only which just does not work out well on most days. If you have not been to Influx, I highly recommend it.

 

Joyful Moments of August

                                                           Dinner with Jenn and Myra

Seeing my mom and Aunt Susie with Grammy, my 91 year old fireball for Susie's bday

Brantley Gilbert with Christi and Annelise

Starting off the night with my friends

Being gleeful and giddy with my mama on her bday

Amazing buffet at Club 33 at Disneyland brunch!

Cars exhibit at CA Adventures!!

Lynn in her element

Mary Poppins in the Disney parade!!

Arielle climbing around in Indiana Jones line

Arielle Laura pic

Seeing this in Starbucks :-)

My office space looking pretty

Hibachi chicken at Benihana's and cute 2 year old kids

Talking to this woman almost everyday ;-)

If by Rudyard Kipling

I love this poem. I found it in high school, and just the other day I was at a friend's apartment for dinner and saw it in his house. I think I will have to print this one out again! It's such a good poem :-)

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;
If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Florence and the Machine

Say my name and every color illuminates

We are Shining

And We will never be afraid again

This song empowers me. Florence and the Machine’s tone, determination, color, and dramatics inspire me.

I am a huge fan because of the presentation when she performs, her voice, and how real her words are.

“Leave my Body” is another song I could really relate to today. When you escape from a relationship you know was not good for you, and you part ways, there may be moments of peace like I felt on Sunday at the retreat but then there will be moments of anger especially if they had an addiction that you know was affecting their body and mind. I got so angry yesterday thinking about how naïve I was. It didn’t seem to affect our relationship when we were together since he kept it so separate and respected me and his openness but it still is so disappointing. You can’t change a person. You can just pray for them, let go, and move on. Letting go is hard especially when you care about them and you are a person like me, who likes to inspire people but I'm done. I've wasted enough energy. There are other people in my life I am supposed to inspire and care for. I need to let go and walk away. I have in my actions and we haven’t seen each other, but I need to emotionally.

This is why I also want to share “Heartlines” by Florence and the Machine. It’s about following your heart and sticking with something.

“You have to get hurt. That’s how you learn. The strongest people out there, the ones who laugh the hardest with a genuine smile; those are the people who have fought the toughest battles. Because they’ve decided that they’re not going to let anything hold them down.”



Just another pizza place in Little Italy, SD? Na-pizza

It’s the Pizza – Pizza al Taglio

Pizza al taglio is experiencing a revival as more and more culinary artists are reverting back to the roots of pizza making philosophy. There are several aspects that are at the core of the centuries-old art of Italian pizza making. Attentively chosen ingredients, long-leavening dough, exquisite craft and skill, unique preparation and baking of the dough. The flavor and texture of this style of pizza is unmatched. In Italy, this kind of pizza is called “pizza al taglio” (pizza by the cut), which first became famous in Rome before spreading throughout Italy.

The large rectangular pieces have almost become synonymous with high-quality Italian street food. Italian natives enjoy pizza al taglio as a snack while walking along the marvelous streets of their grand cities, or as a comforting meal among friends. We have gone to great lengths to bring you an authentic Italian pizza that contains the same attention to detail as the pizza al taglio from home.

Check Out Their Site!

I'm fortunate enough to work a few blocks from Little Italy so even though I bring my lunch most days to save money, it is quite the treat when I splurge on lunch!! Ryan and I went to Na-Pizza for the second time this afternoon. My first experience was wonderful with a retangular slice of pepperoni and an exquisite side salad! Today, I had their Pollo Salad that has chicken, quinoa, and tomatoes in it with a savory dressing! Soooo yummy :-)

Laura's Favorites:

For Pizza

1) Na-piazza

2) Fillippi's

3) Da Vanti Enoteca (Flat breads)

4) Landini's

Restaurants

1) La Villa

2) Davanti Enoteca

3) Buon Appetito

4) Bencotto

5) Burger Lounge

Cafes

1) Cafe Italia

2) Influx

3) Pappalecco

4) Cafe Zucchero

People Watching/ Real Italians

1) Pete's Quality Meat

2) Pappelecco

3) Cafe Italia

4) Vince's Barber Shop ;-)