Some cool women...

A good read... 

Glass ceiling? What glass ceiling?

By NATALIA HAWK

"You probably don’t give a shit about astronauts. And to be honest – I can’t really blame you.

You’re probably too busy with your everyday life to worry about NASA and things like missions to Mars and what the International Space Station is planning.

Because when you have three children/uni assignments/work deadlines/sick parents/a grumpy partner to contend with, outer space understandably might take a backburner on the list of Things To Care About.

But you need to care about astronauts.

More specifically – you need to care about what NASA just did, because it’s pretty amazing..."

Large Amounts of "Un-Girly" Knowledge...

I think it's cool to know about sports and other "manly" things

I should note - this first part might seem like a rant because I just need to get it off my chest... but the rest is about taking small steps to equality in life... small but helpful (hopfully).

I was at a BBQ over the holiday weekend and I was part of a conversation about whether the NHL was better/more exciting than the NBA.  It was a fun debate - esp. since the Hawks just won the Stanley Cup - and Derrick Rose had to sit the whole season because of his ACL (both were points used in said debate).  Anyway, I jumped at the chance to give my 2 cents.  How did that turn out?  Lets just say they knew I was there and speaking, but that's about it.  One guy looked at me when I was talking about coaching in the NBA like I had 5 heads.  I'm sure, like most of us, I played basketball as long as you did pal... was your career over after you graduated high school?  OK, same here.  I watch a lot of sports (all kinds) and I think that should have been enough to help me qualify because I'm pretty sure that was everyone elses qualifying knowledge (I don't recall any of the people in the debate being Duncan Keith or Luol Deng).  So I figured, I watched every Hawks game preseason to the final game... along with almost all of the Bulls season... I'm good.   When I was brushed off a few times, only to hear my same point be made by some dude about 2 minutes later, naturally, I felt it was kind of bogus.  

Silver lining -->  After the debate was over everyone broke off into their own little conversations and one of my boyfriends friends pulled me aside and wanted to know my opinions about a few others things.  He told me that he agreed with a lot of what I was saying and that it was refreshing to have a gal pal with similar interests.  Now... was that so hard!?  I'm not used to that happening when I express myself about "non-girly" things and I was just so excited to be able to have someone (outside of my boyfriend/family) not be creeped out or feel intimidated by my love for sports and talking sports with friends.  

Should I have felt that happy about the continued convo?  I think so.  It's a step in the right direction.  One guy gets it, and isn't intimidated by a womans knowledge about sports... Does this matter in the big picture?  I don't know.  I'm only writing to say that I was thinking on how it shouldn't even matter at all, but I know it does.  A man should be super happy that his lady (or sister, or cousin, gal pal, so on...) has knowledge of things he enjoys (and visa-versa).  Sadly, a lot of them are more freaked out about it and even go as far as labeling women with this knowledge as "butch" or the like.  

Bigger picture - I'm still waiting for more female announcers at all ball games and just one all female "garage" show where they flip the coolest cars.  That may seem small, but it should help girls realize that they are more included,  it's "ok" to be sporty, and be smart about it.  If you know everything about the Kardashian's, why not know just as much about the White Sox!?  But really - it would be GREAT for women not be intimidated to lift the hood of their car - on the side of the road - and check to see what is going on w/out having to wait for a guy to pull up.  How about not having to wait around for her dad to fix her computer?  If we saw more examples of other women being sporty, tech savvy, etc... we might just take that next step towards publicly ruling the world.  :)  I will be that teeny tiny trail blazer that will at least force guys to hear me while talking sports - even if it's just because my 6 year old niece is listening to me be heard and treated as an equal.  That's all that really matters to me  :)  I want these little gals to be able to be into whatever activity they want and not be intimidated by their male counterparts.  That goes for building cars, sports, tech... to cooking and designing.  This convo. was just a small example of what it's all about.  You could replace sports with architecture, glass-blowing, or MMA fighting and I'd feel the same.  

So - here is a good article on feminism (read it today - sparked this post).  I think that this tiny stepping stone, but equality in expressing knowledge and equal representation in/about sports, cars, tech, science, strength, etc., can help empower women.  Let's destroy the Blue vs. Pink culture one conversation at a time!!  

'Why are people so reluctant to say they're feminists?'

Give a Little... Get A LOT

Helping others for a great cause...

Since December I have been working on recruiting and promoting for our next team to participate in the "March For Babies" on April, 27th.  We have been fundraising, informing others on the "March of Dimes", and having fun!!  We have been touched by so many peoples lives along the way... the stories and personal triumph (and heartbreak) will astonish you!!  

We first decided to walk in the "March for Babies" for my best friend Gina.  We have known each other since Pre-K and I was over the moon when I heard she was expecting.  When things took a crazy turn, and she ended up in the hospital after having her water break 2 months early, no one knew what to expect.  I remember getting a message from her that said she was in the hospital and that they were going to try and keep her there as long as possible.  I received that message on March 17, 2012... the next day, her son Colten was born.  He was in the NICU for 2 months and it was a very trying time for Gina, her husband Andrew, their families, and friends.  

Today, we are happy to report that Colten just celebrated his 1st birthday!!  March, 18th 2013 - Colten is one, happy, and healthy!!  :)  Yayy!!  

This year we decided to participate in the "March for Babies" again.  This time it's for our cousin Kathleen and our good friends Mindy & Neel.  Both were put on bed rest after showing signs of labor VERY early in the pregnancies.  Kathleen was on bed rest for over half of her pregnancy and was only able to leave her hospital bed for restroom breaks.  As of right now, our friend Mindy is still on bed rest and her little girl is still holding on strong.  (she is almost at 28 weeks).  

Happily, Kathleen's little girl Brooklyn, was born healthy and only a few days early.  We are praying for the same happy outcome for Mindy and her family!!  

There are so many others that have been effected by premature birth, babies being born with illness or disease, and major complications during their pregnancies.  The March of Dimes is working hard to combat all of these painful experiences and more.  Their "Campaign for Healthy Babies" across America can be strengthened by awesome people who give their time to help promote their cause and help raise money for the groundbreaking research they are conducting.  

We felt we needed to help fight the good fight (so to speak) and walk in the "March for Babies" each year.  Here is the link to our team page:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/Supremes

Please feel free to check it out and see what the walk is all about!! <3   

We can always use more teammates - whether you are walking with us side by side, or participating in one of the other walks around the country.  :)  If you cannot walk - there is always room for another cheerleader!!  :)  Also, if you are feeling charitable - follow the link - there is a super simple process for donations.  All of the proceeds go straight to the March of Dimes!!  Thanks for your support and for reading!!  :)

Here are some photos from our walk last year:

Here I am with my (now) boyfriend, Matt.  We made a sign to thank all of those who donated  to our walk!!  We carried the sign so they could walk with us " in Spirit."  

Here is our AWESOME 2012 "March for Babies" team.  "The Supremes"  :)  The little ones are holding pictures of Colten and everyone wore buttons that read "We are walking for Gina, Andrew, and Colten."

Here is my super awesome brother holding our "donor" sign for all to see!!  Thanks again to all who have donated in the past and those who have donated again this year!!  Yayy!!

The 2012 "March for Babies" had a pretty good turn out for our "smaller" town.  We walk in the Illinois "heartland" division.  :)  You can't see too well because of the hill, but there were so many teams out walking!!

The wind took the sign a bit in this photo, but it reads "THANK YOU FOR HELPING BABIES" - the March of Dimes
Well... you're very welcome!!  :)