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Empower Women Lists and Tips Women empowering women Womens wellness

10 Daily positive affirmations for a better mindset

As we are still early into this new year, changes are continuously happening around us and keeping a strong and positive mindset will make the different transitions that come with life that much more easier. The Mariposa Sisters believe in finding peace within yourself will not only help better your mind but it helps your body, your soul and ultimately it will help you focus on the positive aspects of your life. Creating a positive mindset will help you have a positive and peaceful life. 

 

 So let’s get into it, what are positive affirmations? 

 

Positive affirmations are words, phrases and statements that an individual says to themselves or others to encourage and motivate. In other words, Affirmations are what I like to call “confidence shots’ ‘ they are words that carry so much power because when you are self- affirming you are building your confidence by motivating, encouraging and reassuring yourself.

 

 Affirming yourself is a way to self build, heal, and love yourself. So, take these 10 affirmations and create a positive mind, body and heart. 

 

To start the day (fill in the space with a positive affirmation)

 

1. I embrace the power and beauty within me. 

 

2. I am confident of my ability to ______________

 

3. I am even better than I was yesterday. 

 

4. What I love about myself is_________________

 

5. Today I will allow myself to be who I am free of any judgement.

 

To end the day 

 

6. I am grateful for the many blessing I have in my life. 

 

7. With each day I am growing and learning.

 

8. I trust the path that I am on. 

 

9. I felt proud of myself today when I___________

 

10. I am beautiful, strong, powerful, courageous, I am ready for whatever is next for me.

 

Tips when self affirming

* When self-affirming you want the thing you say to actually resonate, so be sure to stay 100 percent honest with yourself and speak truthfully. 

 

* Make positive affirmations a part of  your daily routine. 

 

* Journaling or writing  your affirmations is a great way to get in the habit of saying affirmations as well as remembering the things you’ve said along the way.

 

* Avoid saying words with negative connotations. 

 

* Self-affirm EVERYWHERE, in the mirror, the shower, the car EVERYWHERE! Continuously remind yourself what you mean to you!

 

Author: Khala Clarke 

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Empower Women Entertainment Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Women empowering women

3 Binge worthy Netflix shows staring women

 How to Get Away with Murder

 

How to Get Away with Murder is a nail-biting thriller staring Oscar and Tony award winning actress Viola Davis as Annalise Keating; a criminal defense attorney and law professor at Middleton University in Philadelphia. 

 

In the series Analise picks five of her first year students to intern at her firm: Alfred Enoch as Wes Gibbins, Jack Falahee as Connor Walsh, Aja Naomi King as Michaela Pratt, Matt McGorry as Asher Millstone, and Karla Souza as Laurel Castillo. The five students work alongside Annalises’ long time employees Frank Delfino(Charlie Weber) and Bonnie Winterbottom (Liza Weil) to fight for justice as well as evade it. 

 

This show highlights women from many different backgrounds and ethnicities dominating a field that is notoriously run by men and is must-see for any film enthusiast!

 

 

 

Wentworth

 

Wentworth is a drama series about an Australian women’s prison that does a great job at highlighting the parallels of societal hierarchy within the prison system. 

 

At first the show focuses on a frail and frightened Bea Smith played by Danielle Cormack who later evolves into a powerful prison lord. We see Bea’s rapid rise to the top of the prison hierarchy as well as the dynamic development of the other characters throughout the series.The women of Wentworth prison are gritty, powerful and fierce.

 

 

Scandal 

  

Scandal is a heart-wrenching political thriller starring Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. The show is based in the White House and is centered around the life of Olivia Pope as she dedicates her life to protecting the secrets of the the most powerful people in America, including the president himself. How’s that for a current events’ irony?

 

Breaking boundaries, ‘Scandal’ highlights a single Black woman of power in the White House as well as setting the standard for the film industry in terms of diversification of its cast members. It also does a great job of attacking some common societal issues such as infidelity, feminism, race and shady government politics.

 

 

Author: Khala Clarke 

 

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Empower Women Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Women empowering women

5 Must-See Motivational Movies

If you’re in the need for some motivation at the start of the new year, then look no further. These five films explore some of the most powerful female character’s most defining moments. So grab some popcorn, relax and get ready to feel empowered.

 

Hidden Figures

 

Hidden Figures tells the story of a group of black women who were the brains behind one of the biggest and best operations in history. The film follows three women – Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan and Kathrine Johnson- as they work their way up in NASA. The women worked to launch John Glenn into space and then bring him home safely. 

 

 

The Devil Wears Prada

 

After graduating, Andy find a job as an assistant to an editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine. But there is a twist. Said editor-in-chief might be the scariest lady alive. Watch the two powerful ladies battle it out in this fabulous film. Also, if you’re a fashion-lover, then you will, without a doubt, love it.

 

 

Wild

 

This film shows Cheryl Strayed’s physical and mental journey to finding hope again after she seems to lose everything. She sets out to hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail all alone and finds healing along the way.

 

 

The Help

 

This historical fiction film takes place in the 60s in Mississippi. Skeeter comes home after college on a mission to become a writer. She chooses to write a book about  African American maids’ and how they’ve spent their life working for white families. This obviously causes quite the ruckus in her small town, but it turns into a beautiful story.

 

 

The Hunger Games films

 

This dystopian film series follows Katniss Everdeen as she tries to change the way society works. She takes her sister’s place in what is known as The Hunger Games- where children from each district fight until the death in order for the Capitol to keep control over the districts. This all leads to an eventual overthrow of the society’s government that is basically lead by Katniss. She takes the cake for being one badass woman.

 

 

Authour: Ashli Ellerman

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Empower Women Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Women empowering women Womens wellness

4 ways to Embrace menstruation

Menstrual cycles, also known as periods or moon cycles, is the time of the month that most women dread. but what if I told you your monthly cycle is something that is so sacred it should be embraced. A woman’s menstrual cycle is a form of her feminine power and should be considered beautiful and extraordinary. With that being said here are four ways to embrace your menstrual cycle. 

 

1. Mindful thinking

 

When it’s ‘that time of the month’ for us we often become negative, unmotivated and moody; all of which may be deemed as natural but embracing your period and developing a positive mindset will go a long way. 

 

Think of it like this: during your period your body is shedding its linings and replenishing, So by  knowing this and setting a positive mindset with the intent of letting go, your body releases any built up stress, anxiety or negative energy. This helps with relaxation and keeping a steady mindset during your period. 

 

A great way to clear your mind and eliminate all the unsettling thoughts and feelings that may come up is to meditate. Meditating is a great way to level both the mind and the body.

 

 

2. Show yourself some extra love 

 

During your period it’s very important to show yourself an immense amount of love. We sometimes feel extra tired or lazy during our periods, so allow yourself to slow down and have some down time. Take a bath, sip a glass of wine or tea, binge-watch your favorite show if you feel inclined to and take that nap if you need one…Or  two.  

 

It’s also important to not let your cravings get the best of you. Eat clean and drink lots of water. If you get a sweet tooth, yes indulge but don’t go crazy. Eating fresh fruit is a great alternative for candy and other sweets.  

 

 

3. Go with the flow 

 

As women we can’t hide the fact that there are many challenges that come with menstruation. one of which is deciding what to wear. Although, you may want to go against your body and throw on that new white dress from Fashionova, however wearing dark colors, flowy dresses and breathable pants promotes comfort and will allow nature to take its course without any disruptions. With that being said go with the flow. Not everyday has to be a fashion show and remember there’s nothing wrong with looking and feeling comfortable. 

 

 

4. Go Green 

 

Use feminine products that promote a healthier living such as organic tampons and pads that are free of cotton, chlorine, synthetic pesticides, dyes & fragrances. Having cleaner products will not only benefit you but it will help the earth as well. 

 

 

Author: Khala Clarke 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Empower Women Lists and Tips Women empowering women Womens wellness

Feeling Overworked? Here’s How to Fix it.

Losing sleep? Gaining weight? Feeling tired all of the time? These are all symptoms of being overworked. This means that finding a balance between your career and wellness needs to become more of a priority for you in 2021. So get out of that work rut and focus on yourself a bit more with these tips.

 

 

1. Take time to relax.

 

This is an obvious one. You need to schedule in some time everyday to do something you enjoy. Read a book. Watch your favorite TV show. Bake some cookies. Find something that makes you happy outside of your job, and don’t feel guilty about it. Life isn’t just about work.

 

 

2. Move your body.

 

This doesn’t mean you need to sweat it out at the gym for an hour. Just simply go for a walk or watch a 20 minutes yoga tutorial on YouTube. Exercise is super important for calming the mind and keeping your body healthy.

 

 

 

3. Learn a new skill.

 

Challenging your mind every now and then is also a good way to get out of a rut at work. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to cook, or maybe you want to learn how to knit. It can be literally anything. Sometimes being overworked just means that you’ve been doing the same mundane thing for too long, so learning something new is a good way to reset your mind.

 

 

 

4. Meditate

 

This one might sound scary, but trust me, it’s not. Meditation is also a good way to reset your mind and spirit after you experience high levels of stress. If you’ve never done it before, you’re in luck. We have a blog all about beginning to meditate. Just take 10 minutes a day to disconnect, and you will see a world of a difference.

 

 

 

5. Go outside.

 

Spending time in the sun is scientifically proven to boost your mood, so doing so is never a bad idea. This can be as simple as drinking your morning coffee outside or going for a walk. Also, since we’re in the middle of a pandemic right now, and you’re probably still stuck working from home, you could bring your work outside.

 

 

Just remember. Taking care of yourself is just as important as your career. If your self-care is slacking, then it will reflect back on your work. All you have to do is follow some simple steps and you are sure to see a difference.

 

 

Author: Ashli Ellerman

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Empower Women Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Womens wellness

Tips and Tricks to Begin Meditating

Ladies, who doesn’t want to start off the new year on a high note? Learning how to meditate can benefit you in so many ways, but the task itself can feel daunting. Have no fear though, it’s not as hard as it might seem. These key meditation tips and tricks will make sure you’re your most zen self as we begin 2021. 

 

1.Download the Calm app.

 

If I could only offer you one piece of advice, then it would be this. The Calm app is a game changer when it comes to learning how to meditate. Calm offers you tons of different guided meditations led by experts so that you can feel like an expert. You can simply start with one of the beginner meditations on how to start meditating, and then when you feel comfortable you can begin other types of meditations based on the issues that arise throughout your day. There’s meditations catered to work-life, college students, anxiety, sleep and so much more.

 

2. Stick to it.

 

Though it might be hard at first, you have to keep pushing yourself. Letting go and freeing your mind definitely isn’t the most natural thing, so make sure you give yourself patience. Commit to just 10 minutes a day for at least a month. If you create a daily routine, then not only will you be more likely to keep doing it, but you’re also guaranteed to get better at it the more you practice.

 

3. Give yourself some slack.

 

Don’t worry too much about if you’re doing it wrong. It’s not like playing a sport or baking. There isn’t really a perfect way to do it. Your mind will wander because that’s just how our minds are programmed but as long as you try to focus your attention on the meditation then you really can’t mess it up. It’s all about practice.

 

4. Take a yoga class.

 

Yoga and meditation go hand in hand, so taking a yoga class is the perfect way to enhance your meditation practice. This calming form of exercise can really get you into the right headspace before beginning your meditation practice. You don’t even have to spend money on a class if you don’t want to. Sarah Beth is a yoga instructor on YouTube, and she offers all different types of yoga classes. “A moving meditation is being mindful and aware of movement without a goal or destination,” says Beth. “It’s not about hitting the posture or where you’re going next — just enjoying what’s happening in each present moment as it happens.”

 

 

Author: Ashli Ellerman

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Empower Women Lists and Tips

Celebrating the end 2020

As December comes to an end and January gets closer, 2020 was a wild ride. The new year will bring a much needed end to the craziness 2020 had in store for us. We hope you’re proud of yourself for making it through this year; that alone is a huge accomplishment! Here’s a short list of wonderful things you completed and hopefully get you to look forward to a new year.

 

1. You made it through a really tough semester

 

This is a major achievement! Taking online classes isn’t for everyone, and suddenly having all of your classes online is a major change. Students struggled with being present, actually learning, having the motivation to show up for class, and so much more. School didn’t feel like how it usually does and the days blended together significantly more. Through it all, you did it! You still were able to get through this stressful semester of school. It doesn’t even matter how well you did, because all that matters is you did it! 

 

2. You started new hobbies

 

Quarantine brought a lot of firsts, but hopefully one of those firsts was a new hobby! Thanks to Tik Tok things such as roller skating, baking, and bread making made a comeback! People also became their own baristas whipping up coffee drinks, starting with the trendy Dalgona coffee. Tie dye also made its way back into the light as people began to reinvent their wardrobes. Being a botanist and seeing plant collections grow was a very popular hobby that people got into as well. The point is that even with all the horrible things this year threw at everyone, you were able to make the best of it. And that is definitely something to be proud of!

 

3. You had more free time

 

This one may not seem like something to celebrate, but you absolutely should. When was the last time you had this much free time? With this free time, you might’ve taken time for you, worked on your mental health, worked on your physical health, learned something new, or done absolutely nothing. And there’s nothing wrong with that! How you want to spend your free time is completely up to you. We hope you’re proud of whatever you may have done in your free time!

 

We all know this year has been less than ideal, but we’ve made it through! We hope that you’ll keep your accomplishments in mind as we head into a new year.

 

 

Authour: Alaina Newman

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Entertainment Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks

10 Iconic Christmas Movies

Christmas is quickly approaching and we understand this holiday season might have been much more stressful than ever. Here’s a short list of lighthearted Christmas movies that’ll help melt away holiday tensions. With Christmas right around the corner, what better way to get even more into the spirit than by watching Christmas movies?

 

 

1. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey’s Grinch easily became iconic. His improvised humor is really what made the film stand apart from the 1966 original cartoon. This movie features a grouchy hermit with a hate for Christmas who formulates a plan to steal the holiday from the Whos.

 

 

2. Elf (2003)
Buddy the Elf discovers he’s a human who was raised by elves in the North Pole. Upon learning this, he travels to New York in search of his father. This film is full of laughter and inspires the audience to love their family a little harder. Definitely a classic!

 

 

3. Home Alone (1990)
In this iconic Christmas movie, Kevin is the youngest in his family and accidentally gets left behind when his family takes a trip to Paris. This 8-year-old finds himself in a situation where he has to defend his home from a pair of burglars.

 

 

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, finds himself worn out from the repetition of having a stellar Halloween every year. He stumbles upon a door that takes him to Christmastown and falls in love with the joy the holiday brought him. Jack later comes up with a plan to have the citizens of Halloweentown host Christmas. His attempt to have a spooky Christmas causes confusion and he realizes the importance of having a great Halloween each year.

 

 

5. The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen stars in this Christmas classic where he becomes Santa Claus and takes on his responsibilities after St. Nick takes a tumble off a roof. Scott Calvin accidentally causes Santa to fall off his roof. Afterwards, he is magically selected to not only finish delivering the gifts on Christmas Eve. Once Christmas is over, Scott tries to hide the truth from his family. This movie is such a family fun classic!

 

 

 

6. The Polar Express (2004)
In this classic tale, a young boy goes on a magical adventure to the North Pole. He and other children get the invite on Christmas Eve by being able to hear the bells. They all travel on the Polar Express with hopes of meeting Santa Claus himself.

 

 

 

7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
This iconic story about a misfit reindeer and his friends is the underdog tale we could all use. Rudolph and his friends set out on an adventure to find somewhere where they’ll be accepted. Throughout their journey, they learn that being different is what makes them special.

 

 

 

8. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
A true classic! In this movie, Charlie Brown finds himself upset with the commercialism and materialism of Christmas. He then takes it upon himself, with some help from the gang, to find the deeper and true meaning of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

9. A Christmas Carol (1951)
This legendary Christmas tale is one where an old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, hates the Christmas season with his entire being. Year after year, he curses the holiday and utters his famous “bah-humbug”. On the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by 3 ghosts who take him on a journey through Christmases past, present, and future.

 

 

 

10. Gremlins (1984)
Billy is given a mythical Chinese creature called “mogwai” named Gizmo. Strange things happen to these creatures, such as they multiply in water and shouldn’t be fed after midnight. Billy accidentally gets Gizmo wet and he produces a couple eggs. These eggs hatch but when they are fed after midnight, begin to wreak havoc on the town and everyone in it.

 

 

Sources:
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a50565/best-christmas-movies-of-all-time/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000096828/

 

Author: Alaina Newman

Categories
Entertainment Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Women empowering women women in power

5 Christmas songs Sung by dazzling women

Christmas is here and what would Christmas be without Christmas music. To keep you and your loved ones festive during these hard times here’s a list of 10 christmas songs sung by amazing women that will not only get you in the holiday spirit but get you off your feet!

 

 

1. Mariah Carey

 

“All I Want For Christmas Is You”

I don’t want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree

I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you…

 

 

 

 

2. Destiny’s Child

 

“Do You Hear What I Hear”

Do you hear what I hear
Do you hear what I hear

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite…

 

 

 

 

3. Carrie Underwood

 

“O Holy Night”

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth…

 

 

 

4.Diana Ross

 

“Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
Since we’ve no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

It doesn’t show signs of stoppin’
And I brought some corn for poppin’
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

 

 

5. Whitney Houston

 

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight, my Lord
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas right now

 

 

 

Author: Khala Clarke 

Categories
Empower Women Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Womens wellness

Making Time for Yourself

With the holidays right around the corner and the world being 9 months into the pandemic, it’s that much more important to take some time out for yourself. Taking yourself on a date is also a perfect way to break up your day and spice up your normal break time. I would love to share some of my favorite ways to spend some well deserved me-time.

 

Yoga

Yoga is an amazing way to exercise and relax. One of the things I love about yoga is it can be practiced anywhere and anytime. You don’t even need a mat, just a soft surface! Yoga is deeply personal and practices are completely customizable. A practice can be anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour; depending on your skill level and what your body needs. I like to use the Nike Training App to access yoga classes, but there’s also so many practices you can follow along on Youtube as well. My favorite is Yoga With Adriene, but some other channels are MadFit, Yoga With Kassandra and Boho Beautiful. 

 

Meditation

Taking a few minutes out of your day to meditate is a great way to reset yourself and just to take a pause. Like yoga, meditation is deeply personal. For me, meditation is a part of my daily routine. I like to meditate before I practice yoga to set my intentions for the practice and clear my mind of busy thoughts. I also meditate after yoga to ensure a smooth transition from yoga to whatever else I’m going to do the rest of the day. When I meditate, I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and place it out of my reach. I personally like to sit in silence with my eyes closed, focusing on my breathing and clearing my mind.You can meditate with background music such as ocean sounds or yoga music, or you can just sit or even lay in silence.

 

Journaling

Journaling is another great way to invest some time in yourself. It is very cathartic to just grab a pen and some paper and just let your thoughts go. Most of my journal entries don’t have much structure to them because they just follow the flow of my thoughts. It also feels like a form of meditation when you’re just reflecting on your thoughts and thinking about what to write. What you journal in doesn’t matter; whether it’s on a laptop, random pieces of paper, or in a journal. I started journaling my freshman year of college and it has been such a beneficial and positive activity for me.

 

Spending Time Outside

With stay-at-home orders and students taking online classes, it has gotten difficult to get outside and relax. Even in the midst of everything going on, I’ve made time for relaxation through roller skating, taking a walk, and even taking myself for a picnic date at the park. Skating has been super great for my mental health because it is both stimulating and challenging. Each time I go skating, I turn on a good playlist and take to the pavement. I challenge myself to learning new tricks and reward myself with feeling like I’m flying. Taking yourself on a picnic date at the park feels so special, and it’s so cute! Just pack up a blanket, something to eat, and whatever else you’d like to bring. I usually bring a book, my journal, or a coloring book and colored pencils, and my mask of course! Going for a walk in either your neighborhood or in the park can be stressful, so I usually go at times when there usually aren’t that many people. Just make sure to wear a mask and stay socially distant!

 

Given the current state of the world, remember to take yourself on a date because you deserve it! There are so many different ways to spend some time with yourself that will help you to reset and take a break from your phone. Below, LeArielle Simone shared a thread of ways to spend time for yourself based on the 5 Love Languages.

Story continues after post.

 

Don’t forget to take some time for yourself! What are your favorite ways to make time for yourself? Let us know in the box below!

 

Author: Alaina Newman