Pretendiendo – A Chilean Romantic Comedy Worth Watching

I happened to catch an interesting foreign film on HBO Signature today. Normally when I see that a movie is about to begin, I change the channel for fear that I will be locked in to watching TV for two hours with nothing to show for it. However, something in the opening sequence of the Chilean film Pretendiendo (In English, “Ugly Me”) had me hooked.

Though it would be classified as a romantic comedy, it was far from the predictable plots and superficial characters that we often see in American romantic comedies. The movie opens with savvy, career-driven Amanda chatting on the phone with her “amor” who is at that very moment in the middle of a rendezvous with her best friend. Amanda then becomes, in her words, “intense” and threatens the two of them with a shotgun.

Realizing her need for a change of scene and perspective, Amanda moves out of fast-paced Santiago and into the laid-back town of Valpraiso and gets a much-needed “make-over”.

While most of us think of a make-over as a way to improve our appearance, Amanda buys a fat-suit, dons a wig with a lackluster hairstyle, thickens her brows, paints blemishes on her skin, and even wears false crooked teeth. In full costume, she struts with confidence into an architectural firm and lands a job based on her excellent resume, not her figure for a change.

The reason for the change? To hide away from men’s wandering eyes and to protect herself from falling for another womanizer.

However, the plot thickens when she meets her macho, cocky coworker Marcello – the exact type of guy she is running from.  When Amanda finds out what Marcello’s ideal woman would be (based completely on physical attributes), Amanda reinvents herself once again and becomes the dolled-up, scantily clad Helena and pursues Marcello at a club.

The goal?  To make Marcello realize the pain of falling in love.  But, when Marcello confides in “ugly” Amanda about his misadventures with Helena, their relationship blossoms into a friendship neither of them ever would expected.

So, why is Pretendiedo a great film for the modern woman?  It deals with issues that are great feminist discussion topics such as:

• Platonic relationships between men and women, are they possible?
• Are men really only interested in looks?
• Can being attractive to men actually be more of a curse than a blessing?
• Can women be taken seriously in a male-dominated field?
• Are the definitions of “pretty” and “ugly” based on appearances alone?

What do you think?

CSMW is officially online!

After 2 long months of hard work, we’re finally ready to launch Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman Online Magazine! http://modernsuccessfulwoman.com

The December 2009 Issue is up and running featuring many wonderful articles about relationships, fashion, beauty, pageantry, giving back, career, and more!  Come read a new perspective on online dating, ways to give priceless gifts that don’t cost a dime, how pageantry has empowered many young women, and new ways to spice up your holiday traditions!

We look forward to seeing you there!

As always, your feedback is appreciated!

-Rachel

Home for the Holidays

Even though we are all recovering, I’m sure, from turkey-induced sleepiness, the Friday after Thanksgiving is far from uneventful.

For many, it means waking up at unthinkable hours to go brave the shopping world.  Every where you look there are doorbusters, liquidations and clearance sales.  A deal-hunter’s dream!

For others, today’s the day to go out to the rolling hills of the country to find that perfect tree.

Either way, there’s no denying that the world seems different when you wake up on this Friday morning and carols fill the air.  There was even a refreshing winter’s chill here in Chicago.

This is the day when it officially becomes “The Holidays” and , as we all know, “for the holidays you can’t beat home, sweet home!”

I love the way Home feels in the month of December when all the trimmings are out.  How exciting it is to peel the tissue paper off of all of your ornaments and decorations exclaiming, “Oh!  I remember this one!’  Surrounding yourself with all of these items filled with sentimental value and memories of years past warms the heart and home.

A house is a just a house (or apartment!) until you make it your home.  Put your personality into every piece of decor and watch your comfort level increase every time you think of your home and sanctuary, not just in December but all year long.

For sanctuary-building tips and inspiration, visit Material Girls Chicago and never be at a loss for creativity!

And, let’s always remember that the most important part of Home is the people inside.  Invite friends and family over to enjoy your “decked halls” and create memories that will last a lifetime!

 

-Rachel

Now Accepting Open Submissions!

Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman is now accepting open submissions for its first issue to be released in the beginning of December!

We are in need of articles about all of the following:
-Family, Friendship, and Relationships
-Travel
-Home and Garden
-Women in the Arts
-Reviews (book, movie, music)
-Business and Finance
-Giving Back (charity and volunteer work)
-Poetry
-Self-Esteem

Articles must be 500-700 words long (except for reviews which may be shorter) and must be submitted by Nov. 21st. All submissions will be reviewed by me, but not all can be included in the magazine. If your article is accepted, we will include your bio and link to your website or blog on our contributing writers page and your name will appear in the article’s byline. We regret that we are unable to pay writers at this time.

Please copy and paste all submissions into the body of an email and send to it me (Rachel) at csmweditor@gmail.com (please include “Open Submission” in the subject).

Thank you and we look forward to receiving your articles!

-Rachel

Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman is an online magazine presented by U.S. Beauties Productions

Already Stuck in a Winter Rut?

It’s getting to be that time of year again…gray skies, cold breezes, and chilly rain. Sometimes it’s even hard to get the motivation to step outside to grab the mail. And, it’s not even December yet.

Do you feel like you’re already stuck in winter rut? Even the excitement of the coming holidays failing to cheer you up? Missing the sun and greenery of summer even though it’s only been a few months?

As I look to the Chicago skyline and see the color of the buildings blending in with the sky and gaze out the bus window at browning leaves getting swept away by the chilly gusts of wind, I tend to feel this way as well.

So, how do we get out of the ugly routine of letting the winter weather control our mood. And, better yet, how can we cheer ourselves up enough so that we can do away with the concept of the winter rut altogether?

Well, I thought of a few fun ideas to help us get through the long and dark days…

1. Start a reading new book – preferably an exciting or happy book.  Maybe put away Cormac McCarthy’s The Road for the season and try something fun like Fool by Christopher Moore or the quick and silly Seinlanguage by Jerry Seinfeld.  Winter is always a good time to dust off those classics you’ve purchased and been meaning to read for several months or years.  How about dedicating the cold months to reading the works of Bronte sisters?  And, who needs chick-flicks when you have Jane Austen?

2. Learn a new skill or hobby – so you can spend time indoors without the TV on.  If you love working out but feel like the weather hinders your exercise routine, pick up a yoga or pilates DVD and learn a new style.  Low on cash for the holidays?  Now would be a good time to learn some new arts and crafts!  Everyone loves the personalization that comes with a home-made gift like a knitted scarf or a painted coffee mug.

3.  Take a walk outside – as awful as that may sound!  Remember, the hardest part is always that first step out into the cold.  Taking a walk can be relaxing and refreshing, even when the weather is cold.  Getting used to the temperature is easy once you’re out there and before you know it you’ll be calling it “brisk” instead of “freezing”.

This is only a short list of the many creative ways you can survive the dreary days of winter.  Let us know your suggestions, your comments are appreciated!

 

-Rachel

One Month Until Launch!

This week, I’m starting to count down the days until Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman officially launches!

It is an exciting but overwhelming time for me as I’m gathering articles, editing them, and making many decisions about the magazine’s appearance and style. I must say, however, that I’m enjoying reading the writing team’s submissions and I’m very excited for our final product!

I think we have a wide-range of articles that are sure to be entertaining and informative. We talk about personal safety, beauty and fashion trends, career goals, and family life. We discuss what inspires us, perplexes us and fascinates us. We’ve also included a poetry section to allow for the creative expression of our writers.

I feel very positive about all that is to come and I’ve already learned so much by reading what our writing team has produced. One of the most powerful realization I’ve had so far in doing this project is that women will tell their stories and discuss issues they feel passionate about when given the opportunity. I am thankful for the fact that Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman has given us this opportunity to make our voices heard.

And, of course, we’re always looking for suggestions on how to make our magazine a success and to best serve our audience! All comments are appreciated!

-Rachel

Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman is presented by U.S. Beauties Productions

Confidence is Always in Style!

Wow!  When I wrote my last post about Glamour’s new inclusion of plus-size models in their fashion shoots, I had no idea how popular the topic was!  It seems that today’s women were very much ready for a change in the way the magazine industry portrays women.

As I mentioned, this “revolution” began when readers of Glamour wildly expressed their excitement at seeing “the woman on page 194″ which, by the way, was only a 3×3 photo in a feature about women who feel comfortable about their body.   So, who is she?

The woman whose image started it all is Lizzie Miller, a 20 year-old plus-size model who is a lovely size 12-14.  12 being the average size for American women, it’s about time this size has gotten some recognition!

Miller has been a plus-size model with Wilhelmina Models since age 14 and believes that it should be normal to see images of full-figured or plus-size women in fashion and in pop-culture.  Having struggled with her own body image at a young age, Miller was excited about the positive response to her photo as it emphasizes, to a large audience, the importance of loving your own body for what it is.

As we know, the absence of a realistic portrayal of women in the media has had detrimental effects on women in this society, particularly young women who battle with self-esteem issues, eating disorders, etc.  I hope that Lizzie Miller, and other women like her, will begin to have more of a presence in the media so that our opinion of what’s “attractive” and “beautiful” won’t be so limited.  What positive role-models these women could be for the young women of this country!

Miller, herself, admits to feeling ashamed of her body after looking through magazines filled with women with body-types she knew she’d never have.  It was when women Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce came on the scene, confident in their curvy figures, that Miller began to feel confident in herself too.

So, whether you’re a size 2 or a size 14, it’s not what you wear, but how you wear it that makes the difference.  Lizze Miller and Glamour have shown us that confidence is always in style!

 

-Rachel

 

Glamour: Women of All Sizes are Gorgeous

Have you seen this? New on CNN’s website today was an interview with Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour who included photographs of plus-size models in the current issue (November 09).

After including a plus-size model in the September 2009 issue, letters and emails poured in from enthusiastic readers who expressed their joy upon having seen a “normal” looking woman in a fashion magazine. The model, with her tummy showing, was far different from the very tall and thin models usually seen in fashion spreads and advertisements.

Even though the majority of fashion magazines, largely read by women, won’t print images of plus-size models, Glamour recognizes that this is what readers want to see. Leive acknowledges that women of all types are interested in beauty and fashion and one need not be a size 2 to be gorgeous.

It was this feedback from women that inspired Leive to include the plus-size photo shoot in the November issue which features seven women who are 3 – 5 sizes larger than the women normally featured in fashion shoots. However, this will not just be a one-time thing. Leive says she wants to continue to feature plus-size models in fashion and beauty stories. What a breakthrough for the world of women’s magazines!

To read more about it on Glamour’s website (and to see the famous photo) go here.

Or, watch the CNN video.

What do you think? Your comments are appreciated.

Magazine Updates

Submissions are pouring in for the first issue of Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman which will be released on December 6th.  We have articles about faith, inspiration, health, safety, beauty, career, motherhood and more and we are excited to show our work to the world!

There is still time to get involved with our project of creating a new online magazine that will entertain, inform, and empower women from all walks of life!

If you’re interested in joining our writing or marketing team please contact me at csmweditor@gmail.com !  Write about the topics that matter most to your and get your voice heard!

Add us to your blogroll and we’ll add you back!  Comment and tell us what you’d like to see in a women’s magazine, we appreciate the feedback of our readers!

-Rachel

Pepper Spray Q & A

An important thing we emphasize at Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman is a woman’s personal safety.  Of course we’ve all been told never to walk outside alone after dark, but how often do you break this rules in your day to day life?  Sometimes we need to run to the store at night.  Other times we may be working the late shift.  Even though necessary circumstances may bring you into a situation where you may be vulnerable, there are still many safety measures you can take to protect yourself.

I think many women may ask themselves, “Should I carry pepper spray?” though they may ultimately deem it uneccessary or simply don’t get the facts about pepper spray.  For this reason, I have come up with a list of what I think to be FAQs when it comes to pepper spray:

Q: Is pepper spray legal in all 50 states?

A: Yes, pepper spray is legal in all 50 states though many states have different regulations on the size and formula of the spray. 

Q: What is pepper spray made out of?

A: Pepper spray is made from capsaicin which is a natural chemical found in chili peppers.
Q: What happens when you spray an attacker with pepper spray?

A: The capsaicin will irritate the eyes causing pain and tearing of the eyes.  It can even cause momentary blindness. 

Q: What is the proper way to use pepper spray?

A: Only use pepper spray when absolutely necessary, when you feel threatened by an attacker.  When you spray it, spray it in a horizontal pattern across the eyes.  Back up from your attacker, as pepper spray can shoot from a significant distance.  Be careful to shield your own eyes if spraying into the wind. 

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Anywhere between 6 and 20 dollars.  There are many different models available.

Of course pepper spray, though a valuable tool, cannot replace the use of common sense.  Obey the safety rules you’ve been told all your life about walking alone at night and always be aware of your surroundings.  It is very beneficial to take a self defense class which can provide you with numerous techniques to use during the many different situations in which a woman could be vulnerable to an attacker.

Celebrating the Success of the Modern Woman will contain many informative articles about personal safety.  Be sure to check it out after its launch on December 6th!

-Rachel