Just A Few Laughs

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bowling, Cara Reynolds, Happiness, hedgehog, inspiration, laughs, laughter, lesbian, Maria Emilia Borja, Mensa, Mushpa, Mushpa + Mensa, Mushpa Y Mensa, Pepper vs Tuck, queer, The American Hedgehog Bowling Association, The American Hedgehog Bowling Association - Pepper vs Tuck

Hedgehog bowling and not in a bad way… Please it’s us.

So cute.

-Mushpa

Killing Eve…I’ve Got Issues

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Amadeus, AMC, BBC, Cara Reynolds, Elena Felton, Eve, Eve Polastri, Fiona Shaw, gay, issues, Jodie Comer, Killing Eve, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, lesbian, Mushpa + Mensa, Oksana Astankova, queer, Sandra Oh, serial killer, villanelle

You got hands like oceans.

-Mushpa

P.S. – BBC thank you for Killing Eve.

Sooooo good.

Gay in 5 Minutes

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Chinese food, dating app, dog, Fortunate, fortune cookies, gay, lesbian, lesbian short film, Mushpa + Mensa, OML, One More Lesbian, queer, take out, Tristan True Giallani

You need a quick break?

Simple and sweet.

-Mushpa

Happy Six Years of Us

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6 years, anniversary, candy, Cara Reynolds, iron, Jah Cure, Maria Emilia Borja, Mushpa + Mensa, Never Find, our next house

That’s right.

– Mushpa

Mushpa’s Lesbian Chic Flick Preview Reviews

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Ah-ga-ssi, Aisling Walsh, Ana Maria Hermida, Andrés Aranburo, BBC Series, Beth Grant, Bradley Rust Gray, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Chan-wook Park, Cho Jin-woong, Elaine Cassidy, erotic psychological thriller, Fingersmith, gay, Ha Jung-woo, Heartland, homosexual, Jena Malone, Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri., La Luciérnaga, Laura Spencer, lesbian, lovesong, Manuel José Chaves, Maura Anderson, Olga Segura, PARK CHAN-WOOK, Riley Keough, Sally Hawkins, Sarah Waters, So Yong Kim, South Korean, Steve Agee |, The Firefly), The Handmaiden, Todd Waring, Velida Godfrey, Velinda Godfrey

I know you all have been waiting for my 2017 lesbian flick preview reviews to come out. Keep in mind they are not all from 2017, that is just when I reviewed said previews. It is 3AM on a Tuesday, raining, perfect.

I have not seen any of the actual movies yet as they are either not officially out or because I now live in an endearing little town in the South that does not have a place to watch said films. I should be the one to remedy this.

The first film is, La Luciérnaga (The Firefly) from 2013. A sister loses her brother and then falls in love with his widow.

Next is Ah-ga-ssi (The Handmaiden) a 2016 South Korean erotic psychological thriller. It’s based on one of my all time favorite BBC series, written by lesbian Sarah Waters, Fingersmith. Watch it first! This should be breathtaking.

Next is Lovesong. No regrets. 2016 release. May not be a full fledged lesbo flick, but you know…. :]

Last, but not least, Heartland – 2016. Death, The South, lesbians, and love, I can’t wait.

Movies are art. Art is life. Life is connecting.

Love to all,

Mushpa

Vegan Arepas con Curtido Fusion Recipe

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arepa recipe, arepas, cabbage, coleslaw, colombia, corn meal, curtido, Food, fusion, harina de maiz, latin american food, latin american recipes, Latinas cooking, Mushpa + Mensa, pupusas, recipe, traditional food, Vegan, vegan cheese, venezuela

Arepas, Pupusas, Gorditas. Different maize (or corn meal) patties made slightly different in many Latin American countries. Delicious either way you eat them. A food that is economical, and so versatile it can be stuffed with literally anything you could imagine, from eggs and avocados, to meats and of course, the classic, cheese…ohh quesito!

I decided to make Arepas once we started reaching the back row products in our kitchen cabinet. Somehow, we always end up getting the most creative when we have less resources. But I cannot complain. Even when we are low on food in the cabinets we often feel like our life is full of richness. Cheesy, I know, but true. And Cheesy is always good… as the recipe below will show you.

These Arepas were a simple recipe. Basic. Paired with cabbage salad, usually accompanying Salvadorean Pupusas. Here is the recipe. Go make them. Delicious. I used corn meal called P.A.N. This is what my mother gave me, and it is what I have read, the most commonly used corn meal.

For the Arepas:

2 1/2 cups of water                                                                                                                                            2 cups of PAN – Harina de maiz (pre-cooked corn meal)                                                                   1 teaspoon of salt.                                                                                                                                             Oil                                                                                                                                                                         vegan cheese for stuffing

Pour water and salt into a container. Mix well. Start pouring the corn meal slowly, while mixing. Make sure you don’t get any lumps! When all is mixed, knead the dough until it is smooth, and let rest for a few minutes (3-5 minutes).

Oil your pan, or griddle  a little bit on medium to low heat. Place patties and fry them until they brown in one side, and then the next. About 5 minutes each side. The lower the heat, the better, as you want the water inside to dry out a bit. Ideally when you knock on one with a knife, it should sound hollow or like an echo. The lower the heat, the longer they will be on the pan.

Place them in an oven at 325 degrees and let them cook for about 10 more minutes.

Cut them open in half, and stuff with a small palm full of cheese. Veggies and Protein are also an option!

For the Curtido:

1/2 head cabbage, a carrot, and a yellow onion thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar/ maple syrup/ honey
1 teaspoon dried oregano, or Italian seasoning
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

You can use a bag of ready coleslaw as I did this time (excluded the onions). Mix all vegetables in a bowl. Mix all other ingredients in a separate bowl, and then pour over cabbage mix. You can let it rest for a few minutes, while you season the arepas, but 2 hours or evnn the day after rest will absorb the flavors the best.

Serve along side the arepas and ENJOY!

Buen provecho,

Mensa

The BEST Women’s March Speeches Breaking Down the Truth. Amen.

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action, activism, america ferrera, ashley judd, call congress, democracy, democracynow!, fired up, gloria steinem, human rights, inspiration, michael moore, Mushpa + Mensa, nasty woman, nina donovan, resistance, revolution, run for office, save america, stand united, trump, we the people, we will not step back, what can i do, women rights, Women's March

We are fired up!

This is such a special time in our American History, and I am proud to be alive in these times. The Women’s March on Washington is most likely going to go down in our history books as the start of another wave of feminism, and this time, WE WILL NOT STEP BACK.

Mushpa + Mensa were unable to hitch a ride to DC, and maybe all happened for a reason. We were meant to stay at our own city rally in Wilmington, NC. We stayed in our home town, made signs, and shouted, chanted, and participated in the Wilmington’s Sister Women’s March. What a phenomenal experience. Even more amazing was coming back home and seeing the pictures and videos of ALL THOSE WOMEN. Men and children also there supporting. Political figures, icons, celebrities, artists, and humans from all walks of life. All these little pink hats, all these powerful signs. So much to say, yet such unity in our voice. Despite the hiccups of  what it means to be part of this march (Can a pro-lifer still be a feminist? Is there space for white woman oppression?) the energy was ONE.

I am so proud of all of us. This light inside me grows. The strength in me grows, and so does the motivation. We are awake, and ready to go.

Despite not being in Washington physically, our collective energy filled every corner of the world, from Berlin, to Paris, from London to Costa Rica. This is not an American movement. This is WORLD WIDE.

The internet has united us, and I have witnessed some amazing and moving moments from the Women’s March. Here a few favorites. I hope you play them, enjoy them, and let them fill you with hope, motivation, and furious energy to fight this culture of hate, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and darkness that has crept up to a mainstream platform.

Without further ado, press play, and may the force be with you.

-Mensa

“We too must stand united….if we fall into the trap of separating ourselves by our causes and our labels, then we will weaken our fight, and we will lose. But if we commit to what aligns us, if we stand together steadfast and determined, then we stand a chance at saving the soul of our country.” -America Ferrera

“I’m not nasty like the combo of Trump and Pence being served up to me in my voting booth. I’m nasty like the battles my grandmothers fought to get me into that voting booth…We are here to be respected. We are here to be nasty!” -Nina Donovan interpreted by Ashley Judd

“We are the people. We have people power, and we will use it…This is the upside of the downside. This is an outpouring of energy and true democracy like I have never seen in my very long life. It is wide in age, it is deep in diversity, and remember: the constitution does not begin with “I the president”, it begins with “We the People.” So do not try to divide us…” -Gloria Steinem

The 4 things we need to do according to Michael Moore:

1. Call Congress every single day (1 rep in the house, 2 senators) 202-225-3121

2.  JOIN A GROUP!

3. Form your own rapid response team: people that you will call, when we need to move fast. 10 people

4.Form regions of resistance. Blue states and cities. The country will follow your lead!

5. YOU have to RUN for OFFICE!

Last Minute Women’s March Sign Ideas

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activism, art, Audre Lorde, Awesome Event, be brave, Cara Reynolds, Carrie Fisher, Ecuadorian, environment, Feminism, gay, God, Government, green, Happiness, Health Care, inspiration, Latina, lesbian, love, Love is Love, March, march signs, Maria Emilia Borja, NC, North Carolina, political, politics, Princess Leigh, Protest, protest march signs, protest signs, queer, recycled, resistance, revoltion signs, revolution, Sign Ideas, Star Wars, The South, Voltaire, wilmington, Woman Owned Business, Women's March, Women's March Sign Ideas, WomenAlice Walker

If you are anything like us, we can get real close to the time of whatever-it-may-be and then get what needs to be done, last minute style, done. Don’t get us wrong, we do it well under pressure. The Women’s March tomorrow is no different. We are going to wake up around 7AM to get our signs done to get out to our local Wilmington, NC Women’s March. I did some image research and quote digging and came up with 10 good sign suggestions off the World Wide Web.

1. We go high.
2. Your silence will not protect you.
3. Nasty Woman
4. “Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities, Can Make You Commit Atrocities” Voltaire
5. Hate Kills
6. “I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.” Audre Lorde
7. Woman’s place is in the resistance. (in reference to Carrie Fisher…Princess Leigh….Star Wars. You get it.)
8. I am stronger than fear.
9. Truth matters.
10. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”  Alice Walker

Get your recycled pieces of boxes, cardboard, old sheets and get to creating. We will collectively be with every human at every women’s march tomorrow. We love you.

Love trumps hate. Be brave.

Cara and Maria Emilia

Himalayan Pink Salt Lamps Save The World

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asthma symptoms, boost blood flow, calm allergy, dirt, dust, earth magic, electromagnetic radiation, gamma rays, generators, Himalayan pink salt, Himalayan pink salt lamp, hygroscopic, improve sleep, in which electric, increase levels of serotonin in the brain, lamp, magnetic fields, microscopic mold, mildew, Natural Healing, negative ion, negative ion generators, pet dander particles, pollen, positive ions, radio waves, visible light, x-rays

I saw Himalayan pink salt lamps around, but I never paid much attention to them. I just thought they were very 80’s looking and therefore I had no interest.

Then Mensa let me know the other day she would love to have one. She said that they were amazing and a cure for something possibly and maybe even everything! That sounded pretty amazing to me, so I put aesthetics on the back burner, and decided to do some research on these magical lamps. Here is what I have learned so far.

The first is science. There is science involved. I am not going to break down said science except to say, the Himalayan salt lamps are negative ion generators. Negative ions are oxygen atoms charged with an extra electron. They are created in nature by the effects of water, air, sunlight and the Earth’s inherent radiation.

Negatively charged ions are most prevalent in natural places and particularly the ocean or after a thunderstorm. We live next to the ocean, just think if we walked on the beach everyday, well it would cure Mensa’s allergies for one, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Second, word on the street is, it’s great to counteract electromagnetic radiation (a kind of radiation including visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, and X-rays, in which electric and magnetic fields vary simultaneously) and also prevents the build-up of static electricity! Which for one, means all the electromagnetic radiation attacking you from your tv, to your computer, to your phone, to your tablet, to every other electronic in your house, this coral colored salt rock lamp can combat. I’m going to need to pick up a few of these lamps it seems, to turn those positive ions from electronic equipment into negative ions. :] Also, remember don’t sleep with your phones, tablets, laptops in your room if you want a true chance to rejuvenated your overwhelmed temple. It’s unnecessary static.

Third, is health. These natural lamps supposedly boost blood flow, improve sleep, increase levels of serotonin in the brain, and calm allergy or asthma symptoms. What??? Here’s how this circle of life works, salt is hygroscopic (more science), which basically means these salt lamps absorb “dirty” water molecules from the air till saturated, then the salt literally traps dirt, pollen, microscopic mold, mildew, dust, pet dander and smoke particles which is within the water vapor. Once these airborne contaminants have been locked in the salt, clean water is re-released into the environment due to the heat from the lamp and thus it has a purifying effect on the air. Lastly, the salt is revitalized through drying of the lamp and then the process begins again.

Oh, and just for the record there are no Himalayan salt mines, all the salt for these lamps are from Pakistan or Poland. More trivia, they say table salt is rejected by your body, sea salt has some benefits, but that the Himalayan salts may help with digestion and lower blood pressure. It may be placebo, but if it works, just do it I say.

There are many other claims and studies you are free to research on your own. Science out of Berkley says negative ions help make your trachea bigger to breath better. What? I said it. ;] The sunset light the lamps emit may trigger something in your brain that helps you sleep better and so, so, so many other things. What if they are all true? All that for under $30 and it will make Mensa happy, I’m in.

I’ll give post reviews in another entry.

-Mushpa

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The Day After the 2016 Elections

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2016 Election, Cara Reynolds, diseased government, Donald Trump, enlightenment, evolution, Hillary Clinton, hopefull, Laurent Wolf, libertarian, Maria Emilia Borja, Mushpa Y Mensa, Nationalist, No me jodas, revolution, The Young Turks, tyt, wolf-pac.com

We got a lot of messages this morning from friends and family, some telling us about their plans to move to Canada, others worried about what maniacal plans of revolution we may be coming up with, and some excited about said plans. The rest are in utter shock. Thankfully the government is not just run by one man. We must remember that we as a people are more powerful than the few, if we work together. The key words being work and together.

Here is what my basic response has been while a bit shell-shocked.

“This is what this country needed. This is the time where we decide to wake up and take our country back from corporations and nut jobs. This is our time to fight. To make sure he doesn’t take away things or pass things we don’t want. I will no longer be complacent. I would have most likely been while Hillary sold us out to Wall Street. This is a blessing in disguise. He could and might, on day 1, take away my healthcare, just because… You realized this country just elected a man who said he wanted to make America great again, meaning make it the white man’s America again, and disenfranchised white men and women, Donald Trump wouldn’t even let ride in an elevator with him, voted for him. We just elected a man that has sexually assaulted women numerous times and that basically tells people it is ok to do that to women. Actually, you can even become president. I am ashamed of my fellow countrymen that voted for Donald Trump or did not vote or voted for libertarians. This man will forever be in our history books like Hitler to the Germans is if WE allow this. He is a horrible racist, sexist, faithless, mentally unstable, sad man and our president. This is our battle cry to wake up and make change. We must start with ridding ourselves of the rigged electoral system and educating ourselves on our political system. Hillary won the popular vote and Donald still is our president!!!! Check out wolf-PAC.com and The Young Turks online. -c ”

I will not run. I am excited for the changes to come. I am excited for us to see the greater good of people that will come to light because of this darkness. I am ready for more of us to become enlightened and with that greater health for all and this world. We need to heal, but to heal we must first fight the sickness and this diseased government.

No me jodas, because now I’m awake. Stay tuned for more on this front.

– Cara aka Mushpa