::Sweet Life - The Sweetheart Health Challenge::

So, a few posts back, I mentioned that I'm supporting my mama in her Weight Watchers journey. The other week she was doing a mini-workout and I came up w/ a bright idea.

I'd like to incite a Sweetheart Health Challenge amongst my fellow Tweethearts. So often, our health concerns and overall wellness falls under the radar because we don't have the support or drive to go head first and strive for fitness and better health habits.

What The Sweetheart Health Challenge would be is an 8 week program where every participant will set a unique goal for thenself whether it be losing weight, toning up, eating better, etc. Whatever works best for you!

Then, every other week in the Chicago area, we'll meet up for various tweet-fitness activities. From zumba, yoga, spinning, dance, whatever! We'll get together, have fun getting fit together and experience different forms of fitness.

Weekly, we will Twitter-chat about our goals for the week, challenges we faced, and overall support one another as fellow Twitter health peeps.

At the end of the 8 weeks, we'll have a Tweet-Up celebration thinga-majig. It's all in fun and getting to a healthier you. I know there are are a lot of things I need to work on and prep for bathing suit season. I'm sure I'm not alone ;-D

If you'd like to join me in The Sweetheart Health Challenge, please e-mail me at Charrise@CharriseRenee.com or holler at me on Twitter!

Hurry and sign-up, we start March 1st!

Much love,
@CharriseRenee
#AmericasTweetheart

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::Sweet Cinema - "Mooz-Lum" Film Insight::

The #BeautifulCrusade continues and its very evident that the coming of age story is not just something I'm dealing with alone...

Yesterday, I had the awesome opportunity to interview Qasim Basir, writer and director of the new, independent film, Mooz-lum. I also was privileged to attend the pre-screening as well.

Mooz-lum is the story of a young, Muslim, African-American male, Tariq (played by the fresh Evan Ross) who struggles with identity and journey of self-discovery as a freshman in college. He has some inner battles with religious ties and understanding the new world that college life offers. The movie gives some hard hitting depictions of faith, hope, tolerance, understanding, self-awareness and forgiveness,

The story is actually an autobiographical memoir, if you will, of Qasim Basir's life. It parallels in a sense that he is a Muslim African-American male. This is his story.

Sitting down with him, I got a chance to get a feel for his own journey and his passion for creating a platform for difficult conversations to begin. He says that in America, there are distorted representations of Muslim Americans. There are also skewed views of how the Muslim woman is portrayed. This film definitely gives an in depth look at both roles as well as the Muslim family as a whole.

I saw myself in the film. It really was a mirror of the #BeautifulCrusade and what it means to know who you really are and be true to your purpose and beliefs. We all at times struggle with identity and who we are meant to be in this world. Qasim Basir has genuinely created a voice for those who can't speak of their personal journey.

I encourage everyone to go out and watch Mooz-lum this weekend. It is a limited, independent release through AMC and it's growth depends on how many go out and see it this weekend. This is definitely a story that needs to be told to the masses so get out and support passion and purpose. For those here in Chicago, it can be seen at the AMC River East, 322 East Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611.

Here's a listing of all other cities that it will be opening in initially:
Los Angeles - AMC 30 Block
San Francisco - AMC Leows Metreon 16
Detroit - AMC Star Fairlane 21
Philly - AMC Franklin Mills Mall
DC - AMC Hoffman Center
Dallas - AMC Grapevine Mills 30
Houston - AMC Studio 30
NY - AMC Empire 25
ATL - AMC North Dekalb Mall 16


If you  don't see your city listed, you can Demand It! in your town ;-D

Also, take some time out to visit the website and Facebook page





Much love,
#AmericasTweetheart
@CharriseRenee

::Sweet Self-Esteem - Embracing My Sexy::

I'm young, I'm single, and dammit I'm sexy! ;-D

Mind you, I've come a LONG way accepting all of this. In the past few months, I have been coping with the idea of being unattached. Granted, I've been single for quite some time now, but recently I've had to understand that this is probably a good place for me... Until the right one shows himself, of course.

Growing up, I've always been the odd one out. Kind of awkward. I'm the tall, short-girl. I've been too skinny. Never had 'Good' or long hair. Regular brown eyes. Overly ambitious and inquisitive. Too-big, toothy smile. Four-eyed, tooth-pick legged brat (Gosh elementary school kids are evil! lol). Flat butt, no chest... The list goes on and on...

All these things about myself are what other people deemed negative. And in turn, made me feel the same. You know how the saying goes that "if several people are saying the same thing about you then it must be true"? I believed that saying early on, based on my school aged peers.

It wasn't until coming into adulthood that I began to realize and believe that it's not what THEY say that makes you who you are. It's what YOU say and believe about yourself. This #BeautifulCrusade has offered a lot of positive insight about myself. I am truly learning who I am as a young woman and how I best operate within my purpose.

I understand that society has varying definitions of what Sexy is. Long hair, voluptuous physical features, exotic eyes, etc... None of this I have. But, I will not be defined by societal standards and generalizations.

My sexy is beautiful. My sexy is intelligent. Motivated. Ambitious. Awkward. Gorgeous. Free-spirited. My sexy is whatever I say it is. And because of that, everyone else has no choice but to acknowledge and respect it.

I am divinely created the way I am for a distinct reason. Whatever that reason is is bigger and greater than I can ever fathom or wrap my head around. how dare I question its beauty and deny who I am? Crazy, right? The haberdashery of it all! lol

So many young women struggle with confidence and self-esteem issues because of not being "up to par" with society standards. This is clearly an epidemic among the masses, inciting an identity crisis of epic proportion. (Mattel should sue! hmmph!)

I'm writing this post to show that against what THEY say generally, everyone is uniquely and beautifully created. Each with an individually purpose. And guess what...?

THAT'S Sexy!

Embrace your sexy... It's kinda fun ;-)

Much love,
@CharriseRenee
#AmericasTweetheart