Viva la Feminista

Well Thanksgiving is over and that means full steam ahead on the winter holiday season! For many of us that means managing our holiday card list. I keep my list in an excel spreadsheet. Although now that I type this out, I think I need to still update my 2015 list. Oops. Oh well. I missed a year. While holiday cards are tedious, they are one of the highlights of my year. I love sending cards to friends I see often and friends I only see via holiday cards. I even love reading holiday letters that come attached! But managing the writing, the addressing, and the picking out of cards while working & parenting can be a PITA. That's where Paperless Post can come in! In addition to the holidays , Paperless Post offers great cards for other occasions, such as baby shower invitations or housewarmings. Although snail mail cards are my fave, sometimes it can be too tedious or life throws you a curve where  you find yourself days from a holiday still needing to send out a pile of c...

CW: This book deals with the aftermath of a sexual assault from the survivor's point of view. I'm not going to beat around the bush, Asking for It by Louise O'Neill is intense. O'Neill artfully writes from inside the head of a rape survivor from days before the assault to a few years post. Emma O' Donovan, our protagonist, is not an outspoken feminist activist and for the most part, refuses to even think the word 'rape.' Her life is turned upside down, not just from the rape itself, but the aftermath is almost as tragic. Within feminist circles, we often bemoan the way the mainstream media covers rape cases, but Asking for It shows how feminist sites are eager for rape survivors to tell their side of the story as their own click bait. Emma is equally haunted by op-eds that state she is making it all up as well as the flood of requests from feminist sites and the trending supportive hashtags. #IBelieveBallinatoomGirl I don't want to be t...

Emily Linden is either the bravest woman or the dumbest. It is brave to think you could transcribe your middle school diary & be celebrated. She is dumb to think it wouldn't matter. Emily may also be a far better person than I ever will be. But first let's get to her book, Unslut: A Diary and A Memoir . Unslut is the diary & memoir of "Emily Linden.""Emily Linden" is a pen name as the real Emily did not want to put her name on the project, for obvious reasons, and then also changed the names of her friends from that moment of time.  In the sixth grade Emily went to a friend's house to hang with her boyfriend and another guy friend. One thing lead to another & kissing occurred. Then a little more. While no intercourse happened, there was sexual contact - third base. Yes because this is a middle school diary a lot of the sexual contact is referred to by its baseball equivalents. After letting her boyfriend go to third base he of course te...

It's the giving season! And do I have a doozy for you, my dear readers. Kim Gordon's memoir came out earlier this year and as you can see from the photo became a NY Times bestseller. It is now out in paperback and I received a copy for review. I'm about half way through the book and I LOVE IT. Since I am only half way through, this is only a mini-review, but I wanted to get this giveaway out during the holiday season. Plus I know you have been busy giving to others, so why not win something for yourself? MINI REVIEW Gordon starts us off at Sonic Youth's last concert and the end of her marriage. To say she is hurt is an understatement. Given that I have not read other things she has written, her sarcastic and pointed writing appears to be influenced by this hurt and betrayal. Gordon's writing is delicious. She gives no fucks and states her opinion on things bluntly. There are a few people she keeps nameless to protect them, so maybe there are a few fucks le...

Lately you can usually find me with a bag of color pencils or markers and a coloring book in my purse or work tote. I do not find the time to color every day, but I really should. When I am coloring, I am allowing my brain to take a break from the normal every day chaos and focus on staying in the lines, which color goes next and all that fun stuff. I was fortunate to be contacted by the publicists for Outside the Lines and Outside the Lines, Too , two grown-up coloring books curated by Souris Hong. And I do mean curated as the art you are coloring is from a diverse group of artists. Outside the Lines is a striking collection of illustrations from more than 100 creative masterminds, including animators, cartoonists, fine artists, graphic artists, illustrators, musicians, outsider artists, photographers, street artists, and video game artists. The other coloring books I have reviewed this year have been different types of mandalas. These two books are a different feel, ...

In the first grade I was sent home with a note that said I needed to practice my coloring. Specifically I needed to learn how to stay within the lines. I remember spending hours at the kitchen table with a pile of crayons and coloring books. I paid attention to how the color attached itself to the paper if I went up and down, then side to side. I learned how to sweep the color in one direction as to not distract from the hash marks of coloring up/down then right/left. And being the good eldest daughter I am, I stuck to coloring inside the lines.   Coloring Dream Mandalas: 30 Hand-drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation by Wendy Piersall has been a bit of coloring therapy for me. Yes, I mean in the way that the press has jumped on board the grown-up coloring wagon. It does provide a great break from all the screen time and chaos of life. But it was while I was coloring the above page (left is half marker, half blank while right side shows the ride side colored with pencils) tha...

I've been coloring various pages from Coloring Flower Mandalas: 30 Hand-drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation by Wendy Piersall for a solid month now. And I gotta say, I don't think I've ever been so popular! Everyone wants to chime in on the grown-up coloring book trend. "Oh, I read about that!" "WOW! That's a great pattern." "What do you use?" To answer that last question, I've bought myself a fresh pack of color pencils. And I carry them practically everywhere I go. And here's what I've discovered... Instead of peeking at my phone while my mind thinks it needs something to do, I pull out my coloring. I have no idea how to explain the difference in my mind, but it is ore relaxing to kick back with a coloring pencil and a mandala. I have a few Xena coloring books (I horded in the 90s) and a Wonder Woman one. Because these are rare beings, I only color in them when necessary. I love the feeling of coloring. I always ha...

  Happy Halloween! As you can see it is time to start planning for the Chicago Toy & Game Fair . To kick things off here is a coupon for $2 off admission. The Fair runs from 10am - 6pm on Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday 10am - 5pm on November 23rd. AND....a free family pass! And yes, big families, NO LIMIT. GIVEAWAY RULES: 1) Comment on this blog and tell me your favorite game as a kid. 2) Additional entries (still must do #1) for tweeting, Facebooking, etc about this giveway. You can either tag me* or link to your social media mention in the comments. 3) That's it! Pretty simple, eh? This giveaway ends on Monday, November 3rd at 12 pm Chicago time. * My social media T: @veronicaeye F: vivalafeminista IG: veronicaeye

Oh yes...the recent Lifetime movie depiction of every GenX girl's favorite movie to sneak read is coming to DVD and you can get your very own copy. Did you miss the TV event of the Polar Vortex? Or maybe you watched it with glee and buttered popcorn and want to watch it again? Then you are in luck! Especially since there is a behind-the-scenes featurette. *excellent* My giveways are super easy. No hoops to jump through: DEADLINE: Friday, March 21st at 11 pm Chicago time (CDT) HOW TO ENTER: Just comment on this post and tell me when you first encountered the glory of the  Dollanganger family. If you want an extra entry, just tweet this contest out and tag me ( @veronicaeye ) or Facebook it and tag @vivalafeminista . RESTRICTIONS: Sorry, DVDs can only be sent to those in the USA or Canada. Also, no PO Boxes.  I'll number everyone's entry and use Random.org to pick a number. See! Easy peasy. Now enter now! ================== I numbered the comments 1 and 2 an...

That's right friends, I have one more weekend pass to giveaway for the Chicago Toy and Game Fair! We've attended the Toy Fair in the past and had a lot of fun. And we're excited to attend again this year. We'll be there Saturday and the schedule looks like so much fun! I'm hoping to run into  Debra Sterling, CEO and Founder of Goldieblox . OK...to the giveway... It is a free weekend family pass (unlimited children, large families win out!) to one lucky reader. RULES: 1) Comment on this post for an entry & leave your email address 2) Tweet out this post and make sure to include @veronicaeye so I know you did it 3) Share this post on any other social media outlet. Tag me if you can or leave a link in the comments. Just figure out how I know you did it. 4) Your limit is 4 entries per person. The only reason I'm including social media as a way to enter is I know some people just don't like to leave comments. 5) Make sure I have a way to ge...

During summer I rarely wear socks, but once the weather gets colder I LOVE socks! If you see me during the colder months of the year, I'll be rocking socks with patterns: argyle, stripes...I even have a pair of Wonder Woman and Bears knee-hi socks. But the one thing that I have searched for is the perfect rain boot sock. I have some great cozy socks for super cold days, but they only go up past my ankle. They are good for hanging out at home and my snow boots. But I love wearing my mid thigh high rain boots on rainy days and especially slushy winter days. And the flaw are socks. My knee-high socks aren't thick enough to keep me warm and my warm socks are too short and end up crunched up at my toes. WORST! Then I was sent a pair of Heat Holders... I wore them twice last week. The first time on rainy cool Halloween. They went great with my pirate wench costume. And then on Sunday when all I was looking for was warmth as I watched my daughter play her last soccer game of t...

Yup, it's that time of the year again... TOY FAIR TIME! That's me meeting Darth Vader at the 2011 Toy Fair. We've attended the Toy Fair in the past and had a lot of fun. And we're excited to attend again this year. And yes, I'm excited to say that I am offering a free weekend family pass (unlimited children, large families win out!) to one lucky reader. RULES: 1) Comment on this post for an entry & leave your email address 2) Tweet out this post and make sure to include @veronicaeye so I know you did it 3) Share this post on any other social media outlet. Tag me if you can or leave a link in the comments. Just figure out how I know you did it. 4) Your limit is 4 entries per person. The only reason I'm including social media as a way to enter is I know some people just don't like to leave comments. 5) Make sure I have a way to get a hold of you! Email, twitter handle, etc. 6) Deadline is Sunday, November 3rd at 12 pm Chicago time If you...

Happy Mother's Day to everyone who has mothered in any way. And to celebrate, thanks to My Yoga online , I'm giving away a year-long membership to their website. Feel like you don't have time to go to a yoga class? And DVDs are just not for you? Why not try this online yoga site? Videos are available not just on your computer, but also tablets, TVs and mobile devices. There's more than just yoga too! There are also pilates and wellness videos available. So here's the deal: To enter just leave a comment and leave your email address or tweet this giveaway (@veronicaeye so I know you did this!). It's that simple. One entry per person. Deadline is 5 pm Central Time May 17, 2013. Disclaimer: I am also getting a year-long membership in exchange for working with My Yoga online on this giveway.

There's something about working on your PhD that really makes you into a person who appreciates self-help and inspirational books. In the Garden of Thoughts is the latest book by Dodinsky and it fulfills both self-help and inspirational. Yes, it also is cheesy, but ya know, some days the world makes cheesy necessary! This gift book would be excellent for students who are graduating this spring. Or someone who just needs a pick me up. I know I am keeping it handy as I try to get through these final weeks of the semester. To mark the release of this book, I'm giving away a Dodinsky poster & bookmark. RULES: Simple! Just comment and leave your email. Please leave your email so I can get in touch with you. Sorry, USA and Canadian addresses only. Deadline:  April 12, 2013, Midnight Central Time. After the deadline, I'll use Random.org to select a random winner. In the Garden of Thoughts will be in bookstores April 16th. You can also buy a copy through Pow...

Thanks to Ella the Kid for helping me with this review of the latest Wimpy Kid book! This review is based on a book report she wrote for class, but I added to it. Mama-daughter collaboration! Summary: The plot revolves around Gregory, aka the Wimpy Kid, looking for a date for the big Valentine's Day dance. Meantime, his dad's brother, Uncle Gary, moves in after losing all his money after buying a zillion shirts that are misspelled. Uncle Gary is full of dating advice...bad dating advice. After Gregory is turned down by every girl in school, he asks Abigail, after her date cancels, to join him on a group date with Rowley, his BFF. Gregory's mom is also freaking out because it's time for baby brother, Manny, to head to kindergarten! Alas, Manny prefers to play with his invisible friends and not flesh and blood kids. Will Uncle Gary ever move off Rodrick's favorite sofa? Will Manny make a real friend? What does the Valentine's Day dance hold for BFFs Gregor...

It's the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and just like last year, I'm giving away a free weekend pass!! We went last year and while we could only stay a short time, we had a ton of fun. This year we'll definitely be staying for a longer period of time. ChiTAG happens the weekend of November 17 & 18 and will be held at Navy Pier. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids, but free admission for teachers, librarians, members of the military, Boy/Girl Scouts in uniform, children under 3 years of age. On Sunday, grandparents accompanied by kids admitted free of charge. The kid playing a HUGE Perplexus So how do you get my free weekend pass? Just comment. I'll draw a random winner on Tuesday. It's that simple. No need to tweet or send me cupcakes. The games at ChiTAG and not just for the kids. I'm sure some adult-sized kids would have a great time. So hurry and comment! Deadline is Tuesday at noon!!

The 8th Annual Summer, Sex & Spirits hosted by the Planned Parenthood NYC Activist Council, will be on Tuesday, June 26 at Hudson Terrace: Featuring Performances by Lady Circus This Ambitious Orchestra Naughty balloon artistry by Mistress B  Music by DJ Tanner & DJ Louis XIX Open bar all night Visit the event page to see a list of fabulous silent auction & raffle prizes! VLF is happy to be giving away another general admission ticket to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment by Sunday, June 24th at 9 PM EST and I'll select a random winner. You can earn an extra entry by liking Viva la Feminista at Facebook (just leave another comment to alert me of this fact). Those who entered before are automatically entered in this giveaway. Easy, huh? So hurry up and comment! All proceeds go to benefit PPNYC's healthcare services, education programs, and legislative work. Please contact activists@ppnyc.org with all event related questions. Date: Tue...

Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Magic of Shakespeare  by Bruce Adolphe featuring performers from The Chicago Chamber Musicians and CST in Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater January 21 and 22, 2012 at 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. Viva la Feminista is happy to offer one lucky reader  four (4) tickets to next weekend's Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves: The Magic of Shakespeare . Theatrical magic and musical masters blend to draw young audiences into the performing arts in an hour-long family concert. Chicago Shakespeare actors and The Chicago Chamber Musicians bring together theater and classical music to create an interactive concert, giving children the opportunity to discover, up-close, the excitement of live performance. At 11:00 a.m. on both days, performers are available for autographs and pictures in the lobby, while young musicians demonstrate and answer questions about the featured instruments. Approximate Running Time: 1 hour Recommended...

There is a point in one's life when you grow up and realize that your sports heroes are just as human as you are, some are mean, some are as awesome as you hope and some you wish you had never rooted for. During the first few chapters of Wonder Girl: The Magnificent Sporting Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias , I started to think it was wrong to ever idolize The Babe. Don Van Natta does an excellent job at painting a picture of the young girl, who was nicknamed Babe, as spoiled and an awful brag. Tales of bullying classmates to play by her rules and having the muscle to back up the threats, Babe was unstoppable. She was also quite the racist by taking glee in beating up on black boys and girls in her quest to prove how tough she was. When I mentioned her brashness to the ChiFem book club members, one of them said, "But if she were a guy, would it seem so bad?" Well, yeah...it still would be. Babe was like the Neon Deion of her generation. The LeBron of today. So cocky ...

My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff is a cute book about first periods. It's not scholarly but nor is it a "Hey, you got your period? AWESOME!" book either. It's nicely in the middle. I'm fairly certain that I would have killed for this book as I was awaiting the arrival of my period many, many, MANY moons ago. I know I sent away for one of those books that you could request from a tampon box. But the information was still just as technical as my medical encyclopedia. I wasn't one of those lucky gals who got to flip thru her mom's worn copy of Our Bodies Ourselves either.  While my daughter will get to flip thru at least two copies of OBOS, have easy access to feminist health providers and well, I'm her mom, I'm so keeping this book on the bookshelf in the living room. I've already told the kid that within the next year, all the books in the living room will be free for the taking. No questions asked, grab one, re...