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Empower Women Women empowering women

New Year, New YOU

Graphic by Khala Clarke

It’s that time of the year again, as we look back and reflect on goals we’ve set for 2020.  You might have accomplished some but not all and that’s ok. As you reflect, approach your unmet goals and ask yourself whether or not you’d like to take it into the new year. If it feels too challenging, consider breaking it down into a smaller actionable goal.  Also, don’t forget to be kind to yourself, 2020 was not an easy year! In a time where the world is more chaotic, taking the time to write out your goals can make you more clear in your direction and ease stress. It could be anything from exercising more, starting up a business, to learning a new language. 

 

You might think it is too early to be planning but it’s never too early. Start by making a list of all the different things you have been wanting to try. After the list is made narrow it down to a few goals that interest you the most that way you won’t be overwhelmed. For each goal that you have written down a specific explanation of what you need to do for them. Buy a planner and set aside certain days/times when you are available to work on those goals of yours. Do your best to spend maybe one to two days of the week for about an hour or more just to work on those goals of yours. And lastly, give yourself a budget. Starting something new might require you to buy a couple of things but let’s try to not overspend unless it is really necessary. Remember that anything is possible if you put in enough time and effort.

 

 We are here to remind you, that you are capable of whatever you set your mind to and we believe in you.

 

Author: Daisy Elizalde

Categories
Entertainment Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks

10 Iconic Christmas Movies

Graphic courtesy of Canva

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

Photo Courtesy of Canva

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

Graphic by Alaina Newman

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 

Categories
Empower Women Women empowering women women in power

Get to Know Us!

Graphic by Alaina Newman

Hey there! Allow us to introduce ourselves, we’re Mariposa Sisters! Whether you’ve been keeping up with the posts on our social media, or this is the first time you’re meeting us, welcome! We understand there’s been some questions about who we are and what we do. We thought it would be fun if we listed some facts about us. We hope that this helps to answer your questions!

 

Who is Mariposa Sisters?

We are an online community of women who aim to uplift and empower one another. Our goal is to provide a safe space for women to come together and share their stories. We are a team of women, with interests in health and wellness, who want to bring awareness to and encourage conversations about topics that deeply affect women everywhere. 

 

What do we do?

Our mission is to empower women’s wellness internationally through film and visual storytelling. We do this by travelling around the world and having transformative conversations with women. We start by experiencing their day-to-day routines and environments to help us see life through their lens. To help foster the growing relationship, we engage in conversations about the complexities of being a woman in their respective communities. We also try to understand the roles each of these women play within their communities. Ways we give women an opportunity to release is through mind-body exercises, meditation and breathwork, nutritional education, and self defense. Our goal is to build a relationship with the women in various communities and create a safe space for them to share their stories with us. Once they do, we share those stories through film with the world in hopes of inspiring women all around the globe.

 

Is there a film out already?

There isn’t a film out quite yet! Making a film takes a village, and is a very long process. In September this year, we went down to Puerto Penasco, Sorona, Mexico to record and experience the lives and stories of the women in those local communities. Unfortunately, domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape are very common in Puerto Penasco. There isn’t much being done to help the victims. In the film, we hope to highlight the strength of these women who shared their stories with us. In addition, we’re bringing awareness not only to the lack of aid, but to the situation in its entirety. This film emphasizes the tremendous healing power in owning your story. We do have an update about the film! While we finished filming back in September, we finished all of the rough edits on the film and even had a small screening! We still have a little ways to go until the film is completely ready. Right now, we are having all the final edits done. This means adding things like animation, music, sound effects, and fillers. We’re working hard to bring this movie to you all in 2021. In the meantime, our goal is to create an online community that explores and welcomes all conversation celebrating and supporting women. So keep an eye out for our updates about the film!

 

What have we been up to?

While the film is being made, we have been really active on social media. We’ve been writing blogs, raising awareness for events such as Hispanic Heritage Month, sharing resources, promoting women owned businesses, and much more! We also brought on a bunch of new interns at the end of September! We are working on releasing a newsletter so that readers will have all our news in one spot. 

 

We hope this helps you get to know us and answer your questions! If you have any other questions or comments, fly on over to our website (https://mariposasisters.com/) and send us an email. We look forward to connecting with you!

 

Author: Alaina Newman

Categories
Lists and Tips Womens wellness

Staying safe during the Holidays!

Graphic by Khala Clarke

 

This year has been a rocky one for all of us due to COVID-19 and now that the holidays are getting closer we want to do everything we can to slow down the spread! Here are some tips on how to stay safe during the holidays!

 

  1. Wash your hands frequently/use hand sanitizer:

 

Make sure you are washing your hands frequently especially when you are about to have a meal. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds! Also carrying around hand sanitizer comes in handy as well.

  1. Properly wear your mask when out and about!:

 

It is very important to properly wear your mask. Your mask should always be covering both your mouth and nose as seen on the illustration to the left!

  1. Stay 6 feet apart/maintain your distance: 

 

Try not to host large gatherings in your home. But if you do plan on hosting something remember to stay at least 6 feet apart and wear your mask! If a family member or a friend is sick, please advise them to stay home. 

   

  1. Clean/disinfect items that you frequently touch: 

 

Take some time out of your day to disinfect a couple of items that you frequently touch.

For example  phones, laptops, keyboards, remotes, doorknobs, etc….

 

 

 

If you or a loved one believes that your symptoms are related to covid-19 please go get tested as soon as possible! Even if you think it’s just the regular flu going around since it is flu season It’s better to get tested just in case. There are a couple of places that are offering free testing make sure to look into that if needed. Happy Holidays!

 

 

Author: Daisy Elizalde 

Categories
Empower Women Entertainment Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks

Song Recommendations: Body Positivity/Self-love

Photo courtesy of Canva

The music industry can be a harsh place for women. They deal with so much criticism from the moment they step foot into the world of fame. Here are 4 female artists that advocate for body positivity/self-love in their songs.Just take a look at the lyrics seen below!

 

1. Lizzo: “Scuse me”

Lyrics: “Scuse me while I feel myself

Look up in the mirror oh I’m having visions

Feeling like a million, ooh, I can get it”

 

 

2. Meghan Trainor: “Me Too”

Lyrics: “I thank god everyday

That I woke up feelin’ this way

And I can’t help lovin’ myself, nuh-uh

If I was you i’d wanna be me too”

 

 

3. Beyonce: “Pretty Hurts”

Lyrics: “Pretty hurts

We shine the light on whatever’s worse

Perfection is a disease of a nation”

 

 

4. Alessia Cara: “Scars to Your Beautiful”

Lyrics: “You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are

And you don’t need to change a thing, the world could change its heart

No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful”

 

Author: Daisy Elizalde

 

Categories
Beauty Empower Women Lists and Tips Mariposa Sisters picks Womens wellness

5 Health & Beauty Businesses Owned by Black Women

Graphic by Khala Clarke. Photo courtesy of Canva

Shontay Lundy, Founder & Creator, Black Girl Sunscreen

Shontay Lundy began with the dream of Black women having a sunscreen brand that caters to the needs of melanated skin. Sunscreen has a reputation for leaving a white cast on darker skin tones and therefore its use has been neglected by Black people. Knowing this, Lundy hit the Miami scene in 2016 with the launch of Black Girl Sunscreen. Launching her sunscreen brand was risky – she was going up against the longstanding belief that Black people don’t need to wear sunscreen. Much to her surprise, there were many other Black women looking for sunscreen. Black Girl Sunscreen now has a full time spot in Target’s sunscreen section and is the company’s only independently Black-owned brand. 

 

 

 

Bea Dixon, CEO & Founder, Honey Pot Co.

What kickstarted the Honey Pot Co.’s creation was Dixon’s struggle to get reliefs from bacterial vaginosis. She had a dream one night, where an ancestor came to her and gave her the gift of healing herself. The Honey Pot Co. is a natural  feminine care line. Their products range from tampons and pads to panty sprays, lubricants, and more. All of these products are made by women, for women. Honey Pot Co.’s products are made without chemicals, toxins, fragrances, and anything synthetic. They are sold online and in major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Urban Outfitters, and more.

 

 

Trinity Mouzan, Founder, Golde

In 2017, Golde was co-founded in Brooklyn, NY with a mission of bringing good vibes to the wellness industry. Golde is an independently owned company that makes superfood-boosted health and beauty essentials. Their products range from tumeric blends to face masks. 

 

 

 

 

 

Melissa Butler, CEO & Founder, The Lip Bar 

In 2012, Butler started The Lip Bar to challenge beauty standards. She didn’t want to conform to the way society was telling women how they should look. Butler began to experiment with making lipsticks in her kitchen. She sought out to make a brand that won’t compromise user health and aimed to change the ways people think about beauty products. After failing to strike a deal with one of the sharks on Shark Tank, Butler landed a spot on Target’s shelves. The Lip Bar is now in over 450 Target stores around the country and the brand even has its own storefront in Detroit, MI. The Lip Bar is a vegan and cruelty-free brand that encourages users to challenge beauty standards, and reminds people that they are definitely enough!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharon Chuter, CEO & Founder, Uoma Beauty 

Born in Nigeria, Sharon Chuter has tackled the lack of color ranges in makeup brands and has been very hands-on with creating a brand that features a wide range in order to cater to all shades. She uses her African heritage in combination with her radiant spirit to deliver a product that is inclusive and well loved by its users. Uoma Beauty is characterized by instant payoff, loves all skin types, and delivers maximum pleasure to all the senses. 

 

 

Author: Alaina Newman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Black Girl Sunscreen

https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/about/

https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-shontay-lundy-founder-of-black-girl-sunscreen-2020-9

Honey Pot Co.

https://thehoneypot.co/pages/about 

Golde

https://golde.co/pages/meet-our-founder 

The Lip Bar

https://thelipbar.com/pages/our-story

Uoma Beauty

https://uomabeauty.com/pages/about-uoma?gclid=CjwKCAiA7939BRBMEiwA-hX5J3SY05rMGjRB8WGRMjGxdpKaOQS4u9CI0rLFsgTnRkHJhP0Rfps_uBoCo0QQAvD_BwE 

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

Song Recommendations: Let’s feel empowered together!

Photo courtesy of Canva

Looking for some new song recommendations? Or just want to listen to something upbeat while doing those daily activities? Well look no more Mariposa Sisters has your back! Here are 7 female artists with songs that will leave you feeling empowered for the rest of the day! Just take a look at the lyrics seen below. You should consider giving all 7 songs a listen and you just might end up adding these to your playlist.

 

Katy perry 

Fingerprints :

 

Wanna break the stereotype 

Fist in the air

I’m not going down without a fight

It’s my life

And I’m not sitting on the sidelines

 

Beyonce

Run the world :

 

You can’t hold me

(you can’t hold me)

I work my 9 to 5

Better cut my check

This goes out to all

The women gettin’ it

In, get on your grind

 

Billie Eilish

You should see me in a crown :

 

You should see me in a crown

I’m gonna run this nothin town

Watch me make ‘em bow

One by one by one

 

No doubt 

Just a Girl :

 

Oh, I’m just a girl, take

a good look at me

Just your typical prototype 

Oh, I’ve had it up to here

Oh, am I making myself clear?

 

Twice 

Breakthrough (this is the English translation) :

 

Heading for an ideal future

I’m prepared to overcome any obstacles

Time is infinite but you can never turn it back

This story of “me” only happens once

No matter what people say 

Shake it off, I’m going my way

Say say, don’t give up!

Say say, don’t give up!

Till the day I can be proud of myself

 

Doja Cat

Boss Bi*** :

 

Big up yourself cause you know they won’t

I chew, chew, chew, cause they hope I choke

I’m a bi***, I’m a boss

I’m a bi***, I’m a boss

Ima shine like gloss

 

Lesley Gore

You don’t own me :

 

Im free and i love to be free

To live my life the way i want

To say and do whatever i please

And don’t tell me what to do

 

 

Author: Daisy Elizalde

Categories
Empower Women Lists and Tips Womens wellness

How to De-Stress During These Stressful Times

This past week has been a stressful one for everyone. Sometimes we don’t know how to handle large amounts of stress that comes upon  us. We might try avoiding what is making us feel so stressed out but that only leads to headaches that won’t go away. Here are three ways to get rid of those stress headaches!

 

 

1. Take a break from watching the news. You might be getting stressed over everything that is going on. So try not to use your electronics for long periods. Setup certain times to do something else other than just being on social media all the time. Talk to your friends and family, take a nap, or watch a show/listen to music that you find relaxing. Do something to get your mind off of whatever is stressing you out.

 

 

2. Sometimes we might not have anyone around to talk with or will feel a little embarrassed to talk about certain topics. Instead, write down your thoughts. Get a notebook or even on your cell phone you can use the notes app already installed and write your thoughts down on certain things. Having your mind filled with many different thoughts at once causes stress and even headaches so writing these thoughts down helps so much. It is a way of getting your thoughts out of your head.

 

 

3. Get yourself outside! Go do some exercise and get that blood pumping. Feel the fresh air by going for a quick walk or run. What’s important is that your body is moving around. Make sure that you are exercising at least a couple of times a week that way you won’t feel so stressed out as much and it is also a way to help you maintain good health. So it will be a win-win situation.

 

 

Author: Daisy Elizalde