Creating Coral Reefs

I came across this project randomly while flipping through tumblr. It's a creation by the British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, part of a reef conservation project off the coast of Mexico. The installation is made up of 350 statues cast from real people in a pH neutralized material designed to grow coral, in essence starting a new coral reef from scratch. The goal is to create an underwater tourist attraction that draws snorkelers away from the real reefs near Cancun that are  stressed by constant human contact.

In the meantime, it looks like a pretty cool place to visit!

Mumford and Sons: Winter Winds

All I can say is that I am so unbelievably excited to see them perform at Bonnaroo.

Bonnaroo 2011

I'm going! I bought my ticket, and I could not be more excited. I went in 2009, and it was pretty much the best trip ever. I gushed about how much I loved it here. You can check out the full lineup here. The artists I won't be leaving without seeing?

• Mumford and Sons
• Amos Lee
• Girl Talk
• The Strokes
• Lil Wayne
• Karen Elson
• Steven Stills and Neil Young
• Eminem

I cannot wait!

Protect Women's Reproductive Freedoms

One of the things that I value most about being a woman in a free and democratic nation is the ability to do what I please with my own body. It sounds cheesy, I know. And my friends and I always joke around about that line they teach you in Health class, “It’s my body, I’ll do what I want.” Maybe we changed it around a little in retrospect, but the message is the same. I have control over my body, and I can decide if I want to have sex, have a baby, prevent having a baby. Then after that, I have the resources to obtain health care for whatever choice I make.

It seems simple, but the reality is that women around the world don’t have these freedoms. In the United States, if someone attacks a woman and forces her to commit sexual acts, that person can be prosecuted. If a woman becomes pregnant and decides she can’t have the baby, she has legal access to abortion. Here, if a woman finds herself being abused by her partner, she can leave the marriage and seek help at a medical facility or crisis center. If she contracts a sexually transmitted diseases, there are places to seek treatment. These things set us apart from much of the world.

Planned Parenthood is one place where women (and men) of any age or socioeconomic status can access this type of care. If young women are afraid that their parents will find out they’re sexually active, they can go to Planned Parenthood to receive care. If women don’t have the money to afford birth control, or don’t have insurance, they can go to Planned Parenthood to receive health services for free, or on a sliding scale basis depending on the scenario. This public health institution has made prenatal and reproductive health a reality for many women who previously could not afford it. I support their mission 100%, and donate when I can.

Over the past week, the House of Representatives has approved approved a series of budget cuts that would include totally defunding Planned Parenthood. The cuts eliminate all Title X funds for the institution. In past years, the health center used $317 million of funds like these to support the range of care they offer. Without this money, the center is likely unable to survive.

Federal funding has always been banned from financially assisting abortion. These cuts would eradicate vital health services including free pelvic and breast exams, family planning (read: birth control), infertility counseling, and HIV tests. In short, this bill is pushing the right to take care of your own body out of reach for thousands of women across the United States. It is a public health crisis.

Why do they think they can get away with this? Well, it’s simple. Many people (read: pro-life conservatives) equate Planned Parenthood with promoting abortion (read: evil), and abetting the sexual activity of youths (read: greater evil) and those who may not be monetarily privileged. Never mind that the center does exactly the opposite by giving access to contraceptives and educational materials. Let’s just focus on one main thing here. People aren’t going to stop having sex. Bam. I said it. Sorry to the Catholic Church, and abstinence supporters. We might as well make it safe, right?

So what can you do to stop this attack on the care of women, men and teens who rely on Planned Parenthood? Sign their open letter to the members of Congress who voted to bar federal funding here . Find an event where you can stand up for Planned Parenthood in your local area here. Donate to help Planned Parenthood stay open here. Or find out how your representative voted and share your thoughts here.

Yogi Tea

I'm not much of a tea drinker. I tend to associate it with being sick. I only ever drank it with lemon and honey when I had a terrible sore throat and my mom brought me a mug while I lay on the couch. I've tried to find teas I like with limited success. Chamomile flower tea is quite tasty (for tea). Harney Hot Cinnamon Sunset black tea blend of orange, cloves, and cinnamon is a delightful exception that I enjoy when I can find it. English Breakfast tea with milk is good, but I think mostly because it reminds me of a mild form of coffee. No flavor has really wowed me enough to take the place of the main hot beverage in my life (read: coffee or espresso). Quite frankly, it's mostly because despite the different taste, and all the wonderful healing properties of tea, well, it just doesn't have enough caffeine to make it worth me drinking it.

Then I sampled Yogi Super Antioxidant Green Tea. Someone gifted me a box of it, and one day when the office machine was out of all the good flavors of coffee, I decided why not? I'll give it a try. It's better than nothing.

It has lemongrass, licorice root, alfalfa leaf, jasmine leaf, dandelion root, grapeseed extract and irish moss powder. Typically when I drink Green Tea, I add honey or at least a squeeze of lemon to make it's otherwise bland taste drinkable. When iced, I like some papaya juice to sweeten it up. But, I was at work here, and had no special flavorings to add. I'd have to be satisfied with the little quite on the tea bag tag. Weirdly enough, the flavor kind of reminds me of fruity pebbles. And I like it! I actually finished the bags I had, and bought a new box because I can have a taste of my childhood with the bonus of restoring youthful energy (not sure if that's true) and rejuvenating. It at least fights off a little afternoon drowsiness when coffee can't be found. Check out their varieties here, and maybe you'll discover your inner tea lover (or liker) too.

Need

Stripes have been a must have clothing item for a while now. I have my standard black and white horizontal stripe tank that I frequently toss on under a blazer for a comfy/cool work outfit. But for the weekends? Well, I haven't been able to find a striped top I love yet. They were either too fat or too skinny, the tops were too fitted or too short. Until today. This one is juuuuust right.  The perfect length, perefct comfort level all around.

It's the Quicksilver Sea Stripe Henley Top in global red. I just might have to stop by the store on my way home and pick one up. What trend have you been searching for, and unable to find the perfect fit?

Punchy Pouts

After a lovely long weekend of relaxing (and slacking on blogging--sorry guys!), to ease back into the work week, I spent a little time perusing the interwebz. I found all of these delightful adorable and artistic make up tricks. You know what they remind me of? Being bored in class, and drawing little people on your hands with your friends for entertainment. Happy 4 day week!

 Panda Lips

 Hippo Lips

 A multitude of cute animal lips

Angry Cheetah Lips