Author: Impower You

Healing through art & therapy! I used to be depressed and codependent with very low self worth and many unhealthy habits. But several years ago I started the healing process and am sharing what I learned with gratitude and hope for each of us. Peace & hugs, Leah
Empowering Discussions

Found My Groove

Impower You

I was asked to write a guest post a few weeks ago.  It took me a while to figure out what to write about since the topic was open.  I started writing a few times, but just could not get into any of the topics I chose. Finally while reading about the human ego, inspiration hit and my fingers flew across the keys. I found my groove and the article came out great.  I hope you will enjoy it!

“Need a little inspiration? Are you searching for answers?  Look inside yourself already! Embrace your true self and learn about who YOU are. There you will find inspiration and answers to those burning questions.

Psychologists have a term called ‘ego development’ which explains that we mature and evolve over our lifespan as we become more self aware. I take this to mean that if we can accept ourselves than we can grow and be our own guide….”
🙂
Art

Art – Dreaming Portrait

Impower You

I took an old pillowcase(I like to recycle) and stretched it across a new wooden frame.  Then I decorated it with ink gel pens. I call it ‘Dreaming’.

Enjoy. 

See more of my art at Zazzle.com/oviedostyle

Book Reviews

A Round of Applause.

Impower You


  Thank you so much for supporting my project to give copies of my book, I Am More Than Just a Girl, to youth organizations and young women across the USA. We successfully raised $610.  A few donations are in the mail so the complete total will be just a little bit higher. This week I will meet with the local publisher to see just how many books we can bring to life.

I will continue to update you on the progression and share with you all the wonderful organizations and people who received the book. I have created a curriculum to go along with it so teachers and youth leaders can start discussions and create a lesson for empowering young women.

  YOU made this happen by donating, spreading the word and believing in the power of sharing knowledge with young women so they can make positive choices.  How about a big round of applause for the following financial supporters: $50 from Crystal D., $10 from Jennifer W., $50 from 1 Solution Focused Coaching, $50 from Grace A.,$10 from Kenneth W., $10 from Andra M., $10 from Russell A., $30 from Club Soda, $5 from Mariella Rocha Jewelry, $20 from Your Everything Services, $5 from Zahira Tiara S., $20 from Danna D., $10 from Jasmine G., $100 from Lynda P., $10 from Brenda M., $50 from Vicki D., $5 from Gorgeousocity,$160 from me, the author.

If you wanted to give a book, but were unable to donate during our fundraiser, please consider buying this book and donating it.  This would be a wonderful gift for a teacher or youth organization that could use it to create a positive impact in the lives of young women. Buy a copy at www.Bookemon.com

If you helped spread the word about this book or the fundraiser, leave a comment below with a link to your blog, website, or just add your name.  Not everyone can donate money, but anyone can empower a young women by sharing this book. You deserve a round of applause too.

🙂

Empowering Discussions

Thanks for the VERY Inspiring Blogger award.

Impower You

What a great week. I am wrapping up my fundraiser, had a visit from my nephew, spent a day at the beach, laughed a lot and was given the VERY Inspiring BLogger award by Paula’s Pontifications.

As a nominee I  will share seven (7) unknown things about myself with my readers.  Then award six (6) bloggers the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

1)I believe it is mean and weird to enslave an animal, even as a pet. 2)I love photos of hippies in the 70’s protesting war. 3)My pajama bottoms are striped. 4)I am currently reading the book,  ‘A Positive View of LGBTQ; Embracing Identity and Cultivating Well-Being’ by Ellen D.B. Riggle and Sharon S. Rostosky. 5)I generally walk 6 miles or more a day. 6)I’d love to build and use a freeze ray like in the movie ‘Despicable ME’. 7)I love graffiti.

Here are six of the most inspiring blogs I regularly read.

1) Finding My Worth, http://findingmyworth.wordpress.com/

2) Women Against Restricting Reproductive Rights, http://womenarrr.org/

3) Healing Heart, Life After Rape, http://krishannah.wordpress.com/

4) I Am Not Defined, http://iamnotdefined.wordpress.com/

5) Site for Creative Alternatives, http://1solutionfocusedcoaching.com/

6) Helping Women Helps the World, http://hwhtw.wordpress.com/

Book Reviews

Final Week to Give a Book

Impower You

YOU can empower young women.  Why is that important? Why should you care?    Because we all deserve to know that we are capable, beautiful and accepted.  When we empower just one young women she has a ripple effect on her community. She betters her community by becoming a productive citizen and not just another statistic collecting welfare. We can empower women to not be victims, to be financially independent and to be tolerant of others. Because young women grow up to be moms, employees, volunteers, neighbors and friends. Not every young woman has a positive role model to support them. This is where YOU come in. You can give a young women this book, I Am More Than Just a Girl and change the direction of their life.

We are at the wonderful amount of $560 towards publishing hundreds of books (I Am More Than Just a Girl) that will be given to young women and youth organizations across the USA. THANK YOU!  So many of you wonderful readers have been supporting my campaign and taking the time to encourage others to support it as well.  I could not reach this many people on my own.  Because of YOU many young women will have a chance to get more from life.  After this fundraiser is completed I will give you updates about the book, who has a copy and what young women who read it are saying.  I want you to see that you did not just support a fundraiser, but real people who will benefit from your gift of this book. The last day of this fundraiser is Monday, April 2nd.  I can hardly believe it has been a whole month!  WOW!

There is still time to donate and share this book with your family and friends. Remember that even $5 can make a difference.  If you don’t have five dollars, how about investing one dollar and asking four of your friends to invest one dollar as well? This is a great way to work together and make a difference with people you respect and love.

Visit http://morethanagirl.webs.com/bookexcerpts.htm and click on the yellow ‘Give’ button. You can then pay with a credit card or PayPal.

MEET THE SPONSORS:  $10 from Jennifer W., $50 from 1 Solution Focused Coaching, $50 from Grace A.,$10 from Kenneth W., $10 from Andra M., $10 from Russell A., $30 from Club Soda, $5 from Mariella Rocha Jewelry, $20 fromYour Everything Services, $5 from Zahira Tiara S., $20 from Danna D., $10 from Jasmine G., $100 from Lynda P., $10 from Brenda M., $50 from Vicki D., $5 from Gorgeousocity, $160 from me, the author.

Pass this blog post on. Reblog it. Share it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Linked In and in an email.

🙂

Art

ART WEDNESDAY

Impower You

 

 

 

See more art on Facebook.com/OviedoStyle  OR  Zazzle.com/OviedoStyle

Empowering Discussions, Self Defense

Guns Suck

Impower You

Yea yea yeah, there are plenty of great arguments FOR guns. People use them to protect, they can save lives, blah blah blah. If there is one thing we can learn from the untimely death of Trayvon Martin it is how much guns suck. Don’t even leave a comment telling me how you think guns are great. It wont be published. Usually I like to hear different points of views, but not today.  You can have whatever opinion you want. That is your right, just keep it to yourself this one time. I am not going to sit here and tell you that you have no right to own a gun. You have a right to believe what you want. I just want you all to know how much I think GUNS SUCK!

For every kid that was hit by a stray bullet as they walked down the street, for every war that claims lives both innocent and guilty, for every friend that stuck a gun to his head and ended his life, for every wife or partner killed,  for every wasted life there is pain. Guns are a PERMANENT solution. You can take back words. You can apologize for yelling. You can heal from a bruise. BUT when a fatal gunshot takes a life, there is no chance, no forgiveness, no hope because guns kill without mercy.

What if  George didn’t have a gun?  Could they have still come to blows? Yes.  Could one of them ended up in the hospital? Yes. Could Trayvon still be alive? YES!

Aside from the disgusting tragedy of how we treat people based on their skin color, the worst part is knowing that the moment he squeezed that trigger lives were destroyed, families wept and a community was ripped apart across the lines of right and wrong. he probably felt like a big man with that gun. It gave him a false sense of control over the situation. It made him think he was invincible and nobody would mess with him. He probably thought I will show this kid who is boss. Only he knows for sure, but these are thoughts people tend to have when they are in possession of a weapon.

Nothing will bring Trayvon back.  It could be 16 years later as one of his friends types a tragedy similar to this on their blog that it all comes back. Their own sad memory of a violent loss from the past will come slamming back into their hearts breaking their resolve, releasing pain so that heavy they can barely see through their tears to continue typing at all. So yes I stick with my unwavering belief that guns suck.

I pray, hope and imagine a world where guns, bombs, landmines and war do not exist. I see a world where arguments, fights and problems are solved without weapons.  What one thing would YOU get rid of from OUR world? What do YOU think sucks?

Empowering Discussions

Good Health and Empowerment Go Hand In Hand

Impower You

Today we have the pleasure of a guest post by Scully at Large.  I asked him to write an update about his new life routine and how being healthy has improved his state of mind. Let’s all remember that exercise and nutrition are an important part of empowering ourselves. When we are overweight, out of shape and eating foods that are body can’t handle we are not in full control.  We feel sick, have allergic reactions and are not as strong as we can be. This post is a reminder that it takes work to stay healthy, but if you stick with a routine you will succeed. Enjoy.

Approximately six months ago I made some positive changes in my life. These changes was recommended to me by a nutritionist. I know six months isn’t really a long, long period of time, but I would like to let you know how I’m doing, and what I’ve been doing.

At this stage in my life. After six months of practicing the recommendations of my family friend the nutritionist, I am in a great place. I didn’t think that I would be in this place, at this point and time, six months ago. Right now I’m in the best mental and physical shape of my life! I am attributing my high self-esteem, my mental and physical health, to my unwavering dedication to my fitness routine, my good eating habits, and my steadfast practice of getting a good night’s rest, every night!

I exercise five days a week. My exercise routine is dominated by weight training. One day I will exercise with weights only. The next day I will go bike riding or I will go jogging. I practice eating right everyday, by making sure that I’m getting proper nutrition.

This is what my exercise routine is like:

On Mondays I do weight training for approximately two, and one half hours.

On Tuesdays I ride my bike for approximately one, and one half hour.

On Wednesdays I do weight training for approximately two, and one half hours.

Thursdays are my jogging day. I will jog for approximately one hour. Sometimes I’ll put in a little more time.

Fridays it’s back to working-out with weights for approximately two, and one half hours.

In regards to my eating habits;  I try my best at all times to make sure that some of the foods that I eat are loaded with carbohydrates. I don’t eat any meat. Eating a lot of fish is a big part of my diet. I juice all the vegetables and most of the fruits that I consume. Raw vegetables are very potent. If you’re having any problems sleeping, don’t juice your vegetables, it will only make your sleeping problems a lot worse! I drink a lot of protein shakes and I also drink a lot of water.

Those are the things that I’ve been doing for the last six months. And it has gotten me into the best shape of my life! Exercising regularly, and eating right is very addictive. I don’t know if anything that’s addictive, is a good thing to do. But I love doing it! And I’ll recommend exercising regularly, eating right, (proper nutrition) and getting a good night’s rest to everyone!

… Continue to follow Scully’s blog at http://scullynne.blogspot.com/

Empowering Discussions

Random Posts to Share

Impower You

Here are some posts I enjoyed the past few days.

Yes We Can Do Nonviolent Protest…: http://lifestyle30.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/media-think-yes-we-can-do-non-violent-protest-images-and-articles-from-around-the-web-trayvonmartin-million-hoodie-march/

Mr. Thomoas Edison Speaks: http://gorgeousocity.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/mr-thomas-edison-speaks/

A Great Mental Freedom: http://subhanzein.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/a-great-mental-freedom/

The Dog Ate My Homework and other BS: http://auroramorealist.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/blame-2/

For an Ageless Glow Do Yoga: http://paularenee.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/for-an-ageless-glow-do-yoga/

Pro Choice Tshirt on Zazzle: http://womenarrr.org/2012/03/24/pro-choice-t-shirt-on-zazzle-com/

10 Italian Feminists You Should Know: http://lachristagreco.com/2012/03/23/10-italian-feminists-you-should-know/

 

 

Book Reviews

Week Four Fundraiser Update

Impower You

We are in week four of the fundraiser to publish I Am More Than Just a Girl.  We have raised $365 towards our goal of $1,800. Thank YOU for continuing to spread the word and donate.  Let’s see what we can do in week four. It’s almost the end of March and my time for fundraising is almost over. I must get these books out to the organizations that were promised one, so if you can donate this is the week!

So…… where are the funds coming in from?

As you can see above, even a $5 donation can make a difference. Ask four of your friends to each give $1 and together you can join us. Your support is greatly appreciated and will have a powerful ripple effect of empowering young women. Below is a picture of the book cover that you can share along with the fundraiser information.
 
NOW is the time to donate just $5 via PayPal or with a credit card at: www.MoreThanAGirl.webs.com If every single person who knows about this campaign donates just $5 then I can publish 300 books. You can also send a check. Send me an email request for my address to investing in women @ gmail.com
Send this text below as an email and ask your friends to also send this email.
Want to help publish this great book, I Am More Than Just a Girl ?  It provides resources, information, advice and creative exercises to empower women with the knowledge to make their own informed decisions. 
I won’t go into depressing statistics of how often young women are abused, assaulted and oppressed. You don’t need me to remind you that until recently women had very little rights as equals and in some countries are still considered objects that can be owned.  Society encourages us to be outwardly successful, to make lots of money and then we will be happy. We are not often encouraged tofind inner success in the forms of knowledge, happiness and emotional health.

The author, Leah Oviedo, wants to give a free copy of her book to organizations that work with youth in the USA. With your support we can make this happen.  150 books will be given (for free) to youth organizations.  50 books will be given (for free) to young women that are unable to join such organizations. The remaining 100 will be sold and the profit used to buy more books. Later this year Leah would like to have the book translated into other languages so more young women can have access to the book. Currently, young women and parents can read the book online for free,http://morethanagirl.webs.com
An important part of life is to help others feel empowered. We need a total of $1,800 to accomplish our goal. Shout it out on your Facebook pages, donate $5 online or send a check (email: investing in women@ gmail .com for the address). Visit, http://morethanagirl.webs.com to see what perks you will receive for helping publish this important book. If you will join, our goal is to raise the full amount by the end of March.
Read the book for free and pass it on!  Share it with parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, older sisters and brothers, teachers, community leaders, youth organizations and young women. Now is the time to take action! We can no longer wait for someone else to empower the next generation of women. As the saying goes, YOU must be the change you want in this world.
Pass this on to 10 other people and together we can make the world a brighter place.