Thinking about buying the We Are Women book, but eh, not so sure? Today only, you can get 29% off with the code LEAPYEAR. And, as always, all proceeds go to benefit the Campaign to End Fistula.

A post about dating, with a mention of my menstrual cycle.

Over the last month, I have decided to be more social, and surprisingly, I have stayed true to that goal. That's right. Forcing myself out of the house. Being around other people. Doing stuff. You know, like all the normal 20-something's out there are doing. Socializing. And I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit, which is a huge plus.

Which brings me to a CliffNotes version of my recent rather odd dating ventures (or lack thereof):

Part 1: The handsome but deceivingly youthful 41-year-old man who asked for my phone number. Tall-dark-and-handsome, but just a smidge too old for me. And when I say "smidge," I mean a firm decade too old.

Part 2: Then came my declaration to control my own destiny! Spend time with who I want to spend time with! To not limit myself to a man who could technically be my father (in a teen-pregnancy sort of situation). Why wait for someone to make a move when I could just initiate that friendship myself?

Part 3: Just for fun, (and in a thrill of feminist-style whimsy), I ask an acquaintance if he'd like to join me for in-n-out burgers the next night, to which he awkwardly and unenthusiastically agrees to. Turns out he has his eye on one specific girl, but doesn't want to seriously date anyone (?), mumbles some other stuff, then I promptly cancel the date. He may be looking for marriage, but I am definitely not. Therefore, our friendship was just slaughtered before it even started. Bummer.

Part 4: I wake up the next morning feeling low. The "can't get out of bed" kind of low. Just blah. Then I re-call the night before and I feel a slight blow to my confidence.

Part 5: I started my period! Legitimate explanation for the morning lows!

Part 6: That night, I get asked out on a date by a cute guy. Confidence back up!

That's where I'm at right now. I wish I could have had that illustrated, like a children's book. It may have made it more thrilling for the reader.

P.S. The 41-year-old man who looks like he's only 30 (most likely due to his tall-dark-and-handsome foreigner genes)? Rumor has it that he's looking for a young wife to give him bunches of kiddies (most likely due to his tall-dark-and-handsome foreigner customs). Deal breaker. No, thank you.

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Only a couple more days to tell us what you want more of by participating in the poll on the sidebar!

Thanks for your help!

What will you give?

What can I do when I am not financially able 

to donate to a good cause?

That thought crossed my mind a billion times when I came across the website Running with Lisa, dedicated to a beautiful, radiant mother-of-four who is currently battling a brain tumor. They were able to remove half of the tumor through surgery (sucking dry their once-reliable savings account), but now face the coming weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Four days of a prescribed medication cost over $1000! I can't even imagine. That, plus four kids, running a home while her husband goes to work, and praying for the treatments to show results... Goodness. What a woman! And still, she glows.

There are countless families in similar situations, needing so much, and having so little. And in return, there are countless individuals like me who want to give everything to the cause, but realistically can't do that.

Maybe for the next couple weeks, I will to run at least a little bit, everyday, for Lisa. Maybe I will be a little more conscious in my life, a little more grateful, for Lisa. Maybe I will smile at a stranger, hug a friend, or write a love note, for Lisa.

And maybe I'll be able to set aside a few dollars for the cause, as well.

What are you willing to give for a good cause?

*For more ideas of how to serve others, check out This Mama Makes Stuff, particularly her section on giving. A lot of the ideas involve her kids as well. Family involvement? Even better.

Update: Information is now posted for the 5k Fun Run for Lisa, which will take place on April 21, 2012 at 9am in Midway, Utah. The prices are very reasonable, and of course, go toward a wonderful cause. There is also a pancake breakfast (free for runners, $5 for others), and they're also looking for volunteers to help with the race. This is a great opportunity to serve.

If you are in the area (Utah to be precise) head on over to Velour on Monday, February 27th for a showing of Miss Representation, a documentary looking at how powerful the influence of media is when it comes to how we view ourselves and other women.

More information here.

Miss Representation 3 minute Trailer 8/24 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

don't fuss dear

"It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so don't fuss, dear; get on with it."

- Audrey Hepburn

Women in Music- Part One | "Girl Indie" is not a genre

I'd like to introduce you to one of my closest friends, Kendall. We have known each other since our middle school choir days, and continue making music together in our individual music ventures. Here are her thoughts on being a female in the music industry. -Allison

That's a picture of my band, "Cartoon Bar Fight." Upon first glance, you'll note that there is only one lady in this group--and that's me.

I have been songwriting, singing and playing in Cartoon Bar Fight for over four years. I initially started the group in Fall of 2007, during my first semester at San Jose State University, and was quickly joined by Dirk (the lovely fellow on the far right, who also happens to be my boyfriend), the only other remaining original member.

We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and play indie rock music influenced by bands like Eisley, Radiohead, Feist, Brand New, Bon Iver, Neutral Milk Hotel and Arcade Fire.

I have certainly been spoiled to find such intelligent, respectful, creative and extremely talented band mates, and I love them all like family. With them, I don't feel there is much of a divide because of gender. I don't feel lonely, or like the "odd one out" or anything like that, and this is because we share common goals, interests and skill levels. Though I would love to have another woman in the band for vocal harmonies and duets (I adore the way female voices sound in harmony), we haven't found her yet.

Over the years, I've given a fair amount of thought to how gender plays out within our band, as well as in the lower levels of the music business. Getting in to the music industry is tricky for anyone, but it can get even more frustrating for women who are trying to make their way, due to subtle sexism perpetuated by band mates, family members, booking agents, sound engineers, folks in the audience, and even from ourselves. Allow me to count some of the ways:

(Post continues after the jump)--

In Progress

by Sarah Sheley

Learning

by Elida

never just a mom

Just Moms by Ash Leishman

I have a friend who makes documentaries. (Doesn't that sound cool? I believe that just by knowing her my coolness factor increases several notches.) She has traveled the world working on them.

A few months ago she came over and spent the day with the child and me. She followed us around on our walk and watched us read together all the while she asked me questions about being a mom. It was still so new and raw that my thoughts kept going back to how hard it is. But every time I watch this movie I remember how much I love being Millie's mum. It doesn't mean it's not hard anymore but I am more in love with that little girl now and am so happy that she is mine. And you know what? It is easy to see how much Millie has grown and changed physically since this was shot. But what really stands out to me is how much I have changed. For the better. And it is all thanks to Millie.

So thank you, Ashley, for letting me be a part of your project and giving me tangible evidence that I really have grown and that I truly love being a mom.

Ash Leishman is busy revamping her professional life so for now you can see more of here work here. And she did our family pictures here.

The Wife

by Kelsey (more here)

I love when people stand up for what they believe and feel to be right, even when it means hard choices.

(source)

Family

by Pam

new

Do you ever feel a little... crowded? Sometimes by people but more by situations and, well, comparisons? And you just need to take a step outside and breath? Or shut everyone out and breath?

I have been breathing a lot lately. Well, after feeling like I couldn't breath anymore, I took a step back and tried to stop all the negativity that was bogging me down. There were too many "to do's," too many amazing women who could have a nice house and a happy baby and even maybe some dinner, while I can only manage one at a time.

I was being stomped on by my inadequacies.

And shouldn't it be the other way around? I should be stomping on and crushing all the things that make me feel small.

We even went out of town for a long weekend. I thought I would come back refreshed and ready to get those bathrooms clean and write a little. But I went right back to feeling deflated. And since I at least like to end posts on a positive note, I didn't write at all because I had nothing very positive to say.

I feel better now. I stayed away from the world wide web, took a couple walks by myself, finally let everything bothering me out via my husband, and spent some good time with my little family. I took care of some responsibilities (it feels good to be needed), started running again (it's been too long), and got some good spiritual reminders that it is ok that motherhood is hard (it is still worth it).

Speaking of motherhood being hard but worth it, I watched this video:

"THE STORY OF A SHIPWRECKED RAMBLER" a documentary about a girl crossing Iceland on her own from Klara Harden on Vimeo.

And I cried. When she says: "... will ask myself why the hell am I doing this? Well I hope that I will still realize that it is worth it. It is always worth it."

And isn't it true. The things we do are hard. I feel happier when I am doing something hard. Challenging myself. But sometimes I ask myself if it is really worth it? But it always is. And if it isn't, then maybe I need to take a step back and figure out what I should be doing that would be worth it.

(I wrote a little something about how I was feeling the last few weeks but I have not decided whether I should share. Maybe you have felt the way I was feeling so maybe it is worth it to put it out there.)

The Creator

by Charity (also here and here)

There is now a quicker way to get to the We Are Women Project blog:
http://wearewomenproject.com

And, as always, we would love you to snag the button below to put on your own website/blog... especially with the We Are Women revamp coming up in the next few weeks.

Ooh! Have I said too much? ;)

<a href="http://wearewomenproject.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspoat.com/_igndnfwzWbs/TR7PfEoYDsI/AAAAAAAACOA/pCHy8Hkp2fc/S210/wearewoman-button.png" alt="" height="100" width="168"/></a>

"God has set within you a femininity that is powerful and tender, fierce and alluring. No doubt it has been misunderstood. Surely it has been assaulted. But it is there, your true heart, and it is worth recovering. You are captivating." - Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge

Interview with Lia Collings

Over a year ago, a good friend of mine told me of a project her sister had been working hard on. Similar to Allison, she was also putting together a book of essays written by women for women. (You can see a quote from one of the essays here.)These essays told tales of women who put promising careers and some of their goals and aspirations on hold to be able to be home to raise their children. I read the essays before I had Miss Millie and was in awe of these talented, intelligent women who had changed their lives to do what they felt they must. I admired their strength and their courage.

I emailed Lia, whose brain child this book was, and got to know her a little better through those emails along with another interview she did. We talked about doing an interview here but life kept getting in the way.

Now I am happy to tell you that we have finally done it. As I read over her answers I feel her strength of character and her determination. I have been so inspired by her and I hope you are too.

So without further ado, meet Lia Collings, creator of Choosing Motherhood.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

We are a happy little family of three little girls, aged 7, 5, and 3, with another baby on the way currently living in Berlin while my husband finishes his dissertation. I think the most unique thing about our family is that Justin and I have made a conscious effort since the early days of our marriage to make our family culturally independent of the world. By that I mean we’ve never owned a television set, we’ve gone to the movie theater I think twice in our entire eight years of marriage—one of those was to Puss and Boots with the whole family about a week ago—and we hardly ever read novels or plays that were published after the first half of the 20^th century. In general we accept “recreation” but not “entertainment”. It makes us pretty different as a family than a lot of other families, I think.

(Interview continues after the jump)

Introducing: Reachel's Love Your Body Challenge

Beginning tomorrow, the stunning Reachel Bagley of Cardigan Empire (and of the We Are Women book) will be leading the Love Your Body 10 Day Challenge. I don't know about you, but I will surely be checking her blog daily to see what treats she has in store for us.

being girl:

brantley gutierrez

"I had no choice but to own up to the fact that I was a girl and stop feeling like that was a professional liability. I'm so glad I did... It's totally allowed to be 100% girl and 100% pro." 

- Emily Haines