SYDgiRl “A woman’s Life and Blog magazine” July 2012 (Re-Issue)

TABLE of CONTENT

15 Minutes of Fame

Tara Kianna

SYDgiRl Dance for Life Work Shop

SYD

The Journey DJ.G1

Lessons Learned Kari Woods

Lucky Seven Melissa Newell

Music Arlin Pacheco

Style Arlin Pacheco

FEEL.THINK.BELEIVE.BECOME

SYDweaR

Living Plan A Taiza Pickering

SYDweaR

Women and Men Uncle Ted

THE JOURNEY

Hello fellow SYDgiRl readers. I hope all is well with you guys this month. Today I would like to discuss

how it is that we are becoming us through our journey of accomplishments, and the ups and down that

come along with the journey.

Me? Well I'm trying to become me in this entertainment business, constantly trying to reach my goal as a

Turntablist/DJ. Whether it is being on the road, being on tour with major recording artists, being a live on-

the-air DJ/mixer, or possibly even a DJ for a TV reality show, I'm taking all extreme measures to make sure

that this gets accomplished. Now with every struggle for success, of course, has to come with hurdles.

Hurdles that I can honestly say I have sweated to overcome, from going to interviews, sending emails,

doing self research, to sitting out in front of a radio station waiting for that individual to hand him/her my

resume/demo. Yes, of course I had been brushed off (not the best feeling in the world), but that's when we

have to start working our magic and start using the power of "SPEECH". Yes folks, believe it or not, but I

have managed to land a job with a radio station out here in Los Angeles by selling myself through

conversation. We have to let the person know why we are there and why we are the best. Let them know

what it is that we can bring to the table, that we are here to contribute our time and effort to become an

important asset to them. So with that being said, are you feeling that you are having a hard time getting to

where you want to be? Now as for the ups, well let's just say that normally happens after the hurdles have

been overcome, please feel free to try any of my ideas. Maybe put on your thinking cap and start to think

outside the box with your own ideas. Remember that no one in this world will take care of you, go out of

their way for you or will know what’s best for you, better than yourself. I hope that everything works out

for everybody out there. Remember that the key is to stand out, be different and professional. Remember

that we only get 1 time to make that 1st impression last a lifetime. Until fingers and keyboard meet again

After all the messes and all the stepping stones, what is it all really for? Why do

we really need to go through all that crap?

Well how in the heck are we going to learn otherwise?

I am an honest believer that everything happens for a reason. So yeah, it has been

difficult. But I know that all the little things we go through in life are meant to happen. If

I hadn’t had that gorgeous little boy, I would have never gotten off the drugs and away

from those types of people. I learned a lot during that time in my life. I learned that

people on drugs are not real people. I learned who my real friends were. And most of all I

learned that I wanted to have more kids one day, with the man that I love, in a home

suitable for children. Because I believe if I had never had him, I would not want to have

children of my own, but I felt what it’s like; I know that love our mothers feel for us, and

I want it again.

From the fire? Well I learned never to put anything other than a pot or pan on the

stove! No I actually learned that no matter how low you feel, or how little we have, we

can always start over. All I had was a bag of old good will clothes, but I made do. I

started over from scratch. And you know what, that’s all we can do sometimes, one foot

in front of the other.

The trail marriage, I leaned not to hand out my trust to anyone. People must earn

it. I got my heart trampled on and I am not willing to just hand that out to anyone;

however, and this took me a very long time, I know now that when I do find that right

person, and he has earned my trust, and we respect each other. We will keep our own

hearts intact, but I now have room in there to send others all the light and love you can

imagine.

I think I learned the most from all the injuries. Because that’s when I finally

figured out that it was my thoughts and my vibrations pulling in all of these negative

situations. I learned to drive a little safer, always wear a seat belt, pads while

snowboarding, and well, just be safe! But it was that last break that made me finally

change my thinking.

Sure does suck that it took ALL of that, but it was worth it! All the silly jobs that

got me to where I am, all of the annoying bosses and the early mornings, staying up late

to finish a project, it was all worth it!

I am now working in a very successful Salon and Spa in Sunny California. I am

living in my own apartment, and just signed up for online classes to further my dreams in

owning a non-profit. A new car is on its way, as is my future that I planned and I created,

with a little help from beyond, (and SYD)…

Is it over? Am I finally “There”? NO! There will always be stepping stones here,

trials there, idiot bosses and flat tires, but at least now I know exactly when they’re

coming.

KARI WOODS

“Lucky Seven”…Steps to Losing Weight

Melissa Newell

We all are on the constant lookout for the magic pill…I will give that to you here, in

these seven steps that will change your life. You will feel healthier and get slimmer

quick by following these healthy eating guidelines. But, you need to do ALL of them—

not just two of them…make me that promise! It will be very simple. 1. Eat at Least 8 Grams for Fiber at Breakfast – Experts are now recommending that

women get 30 to 35 grams of fiber daily. Most women only get 10!!! Fiber is a

powerhouse in nutrition and should never go overlooked, and hitting this goal is a must.

High Fiber meals trigger a release of cholecystokinin, one hormone responsible for

sending the “I’m full” signal to the brain, which is a key component in reducing overall

calories and thus aiding in weight loss. I have found that getting a large dose at

breakfast time helps you hit this goal much easier. But don’t fall into the trap that fruits

and veggies will get you there; you need fiber-rich grains too. One serving of high-fiber

breakfast cereal like Fiber One can have 13 to 14 grams of fiber – that is as much as four

whole apples or six cups of broccoli. A couple examples include: egg and cheese on a

whole wheat tortilla, or non-fat Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit and a high-fiber

cereal.

2. Think Twice about Toppings and Add-ons – The simpler you eat, the better. Extras,

even healthy ones, can add up; say, goat cheese or avocado on a sandwich can add

major calories. Just two spoonfuls of sunflower seeds or pine nuts on a salad can add

90-200 calories (as many calories in two Hershey miniatures or two scoops of light

vanilla ice cream)! Other extras that can up to shocking calories: dried fruits, crispy

noodles, croutons, tortilla chips, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, marinated mushrooms

or eggplant, and nuts.

3. Have a 150-Calorie Morning and Afternoon Snack – Smart snacking keeps you from

chowing down on tons of calories while you prepare your next meal or you have no will

power to say no to the fresh boxes of donuts that were just delivered to your office. You

can skip the morning snack if you are not hungry, but the afternoon snack is a must. The

time span between lunch and dinner is too far apart, making your blood sugar plummet

and creating the emotion that any food will do. Now, also realize most snack bars or

fast-food snack wraps can add up to over 300 calories. Choose a snack that contains

both fiber and protein and only 150 calories, such as four tablespoons of walnuts and

cranberries, or an apple and a piece of string cheese.

4. Pick at Least Three Go-To Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners and Snacks – Knowledge is

power, especially in this instance. Say you have five minutes to grab lunch and aren’t

sure what good options are out there, so you choose two slices of pizza. Not that pizza is

all bad, but there are healthier options out there. If you have quick, you-know-they’re-

healthy meals to pack or pick up at a nearby restaurant, you are setting yourself up to

succeed. Likewise, if you come home from a long day at the office with no plan in mind

or ingredients for that plan…you plan to fail in a drive-thru that night. Planning is power

and gives you the feeling of being in control and makes it easier to consistently eat

healthy.

5. Make Veggies the Base of Your Lunch and Dinner – When building a meal for lunch or

dinner, think of your plate as a pyramid. Veggies make of the base of the pyramid,

followed by lean protein, and topped off with healthy carbs. Most of us have the

pyramid upside down. It’s time to change that. The reason behind this method is

because carbs usually contain more calories and are not the body’s main necessity.

Veggies do our body good as well as lean protein. So when building your plate, start

with salad greens, steamed or fresh, or roasted or stir-fried veggies; add four ounces of

protein like tofu, fish, chicken or pork; and then have a controlled portion of whole-

grain starches like one slice of multigrain bread, a whole wheat pita, a tortilla, a third of

a cup of brown rice, or a half cup of whole wheat pasta. By filling your plate with veggies

first, it allows you to eat significantly more food, even though you’ll down as many as

432 fewer calories a day than if you ate a typical diet. Sounds easy, right?!

6. Have an After-Dinner Treat Every Day – We all deserve a treat for all of our hard work.

So indulge, but choose wisely, keeping your treat under 120 calories. Satisfying that

little sweet craving is simple; just remember that a little can go a long way. Try an ounce

of dark chocolate, a glass of wine, or a half a cup of frozen yogurt.

7. Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep Every Night – Dozens of studies show that people who

don’t get enough sleep tend to weigh more than those who do. When we are tired and

sluggish, we grab for high-calorie, sugary treats to help perk us up. A lack of sleep also

disrupts the balance of lepton and ghrelin, two hormones that help balance appetite. If

you are serious about changing your body, you need to be serious about prioritizing

your sleep schedule.

Now, if you are feeling lucky…start making changes that will impact your life for the

better!

Enjoy this fabulous recipe:

Chicken and Black Bean Burritos ¾ pound chicken breast tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces ½ cup chopped onion 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder ½ teaspoon ground cumin 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8n teaspoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoon canola oil ½ lower-sodium canned black beans, rinsed and drained 1 garlic clove, minced 2 (10-inch) flour tortillas 1 ounce pre-shredded Monterey jack cheese

Cooking spray ½ cup Pico de Gallo ¼ cup reduced-fat sour cream Chopped avocado (optional)

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl; toss well. 2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat; add oil, swirl to coat. Add chicken

mixture; cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done. Add beans and garlic; cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Divide chicken mixture among tortillas. Top each burrito with 2 tablespoons cheese. Roll up jelly-roll fashion. Cut in half and top with Pico de Gallo and sour cream. Makes 4 servings

SERVING SIZE: (1 burrito half, 2 tablespoons Pico de Gallo and 1 tablespoon sour cream) CALORIES 287; FAT 8.8g; FIBER 2.9g.

Living Life A/B+Positive

Taiza Pickering

It is impossible to be around Sydney for any length of time without hearing about living

Plan A vs. Plan B. Most of us live life without much of a plan, instead resorting to some

default-mode of unfulfilled or half-fulfilled desires. We do this without much thought,

accepting this default-mode as “that’s how it’s done.” This is what Sydney refers to as

Plan B. This is what I learned from Sydney at our first lunch on picturesque patio of

Ruth’s Diner (we both had teriyaki chicken, which was amazing). What then is Plan A? I

found myself contemplating this question for much of the next week. I came to a few

conclusions, and I would like to share them below.

First, in my way of thinking, there are two types of people. There are those that DO live

Plan A, including Barak Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carrey, Donald Trump, and

countless others, many that come to mind are celebrities. And then there are the rest of

us, living Plan B, trudging along in life as best we can, admiring (and heartlessly

criticizing) those Plan A people. Only the few chosen great can transverse the trials of life

to become Plan A people; the rest of us are destined only for mediocrity. There is a thick

line, intangible yet present, between “us” and “them”. We rarely talk about it, but I think

this thought is almost universal, in some form or other, in our modern society; many of us

settle for it. Then, if we are lucky, we meet someone like Sydney that will inspire us. She

will either inspire us to aspire higher or inspire our agitation—a reaction based in fear.

For me, she has inspired both.

Second, I had to ask, am I living Plan A or Plan B? Of course, I proudly want to declare

that I live Plan A! But, that is a delusional fabrication, something I would like to declare

in order not to deal with reality. Oh, how the human brain likes denial. So here it is. I

admit it! Yes, it’s true: I am a Plan-B-defaulter. But what does this mean? And what

exactly is Plan A anyway? This brings me to my third contemplation, which was a series

of personal questions. So I have distinguished that I am a Plan-B-defaulter. What do I do

with this information? Is it too late? Can I still be a Plan-A-creator? Do I want to be a

Plan-A-creator? What the heck is Plan A, anyway, really? Well, this last question became

the first question I wanted an answer to. The easy answer is that Plan A is achieving

wealth, fame, bliss, love, perfect balance, amazing relationships, maybe even reaching

nirvana. This easy answer, my friends, is a myth. If Plan A becomes the equivalent to

some type of ideal or achieved perfection, it is impossible, unattainable, and very boring.

Besides, it makes sense that well-liked famous millionaires can still be Plan-B-defaulters.

This does not necessarily answer “What is Plan A?” But it does present a small handle on

the situation by distinguishing what Plan A is not. Using the same definition-by-negation

approach, I decided to look at my life. What, in my life, is most clearly straight and

simple Plan B? My career! Why? Because—it has been achieved through total and

complete default. I literally fell into my job, and it is a good job. But, it is still Plan B. Do

I want a Plan A career? Of course! Really? Well, humph, do I? I am not sure. Here is the

thing. Like I mentioned, my job is a good job. I work in the financial industry. My job

affords me a comfortable lifestyle, time to travel (which is my favorite hobby), food on

my table, and money squirreled away for retirement. In short, my job offers me

everything a job should supply. And I should be content, could be content, but, I am not

content. My default job is not my dream job for the simple reason that it does not give me

that strong feeling of satisfaction.

In the mythology of mediocrity, I should contently settle for the abundance the universe

has bestowed on me. Following my own individual desires, however, I am far from

content. And what I want is not necessarily what, competitively, would look “better”—

more responsibility, more money, more acclaim. What I want might look like simply

working retail where I can interact with people face-to-face, brightening their day with a

simple smile and a hello. It is simple, but not so simple, because it requires me to

disregard a “should” and do what I want. It throws me completely out of my comfort

zone. It makes me uncomfortable and a little defensive.

So, after my quandary, I have some realizations, prompting yet another darn question. Do

I put these reflections into action to move from Plan B to Plan A? Not usually. This is

where my introspection became very interesting, to me at least. If you asked me whether

I am positive or negative, I would definitely immediately exclaim, with a great deal of

positivity, that I am POSITIVE. You remember that denial thing? The delusional

fabrication? Yeah, there it is again. I act positive. I sound positive. I can put on one of the

best positive shows you have ever seen. But underneath it, really, there is a cynical

negativity that says, “No, that is not right. That’s not how it’s done. If you do it that way,

you are a fool.” And somewhere along the way, I have learned to believe any positive

hopes I have play second fiddle to the cynicism, which is “truth”. It’s NOT truth. The

negativity only has precedence because that is what I have always assigned

it…unintentionally, by default. So here is my FIRST step towards Plan A folks. I choose

to create a frame of mind in which my positivity plays first fiddle. The cynicism is

getting booted to the backseat, because I know that part will always be with me, but it

does not have to star in the show.

So there it is. My first step to convert from a Plan-B-defaulter to a Plan-A-creator. Even

as I write that, my gut turns at the word “convert,” making my inside cynic say all kinds

of negative things. Yes, I hear them. But I chose to disregard them. I like the Plan A

option. It is all about believing in the positive.

My next contemplation has to do with a possible third type, the Plan-C-zombie…