Beauty with a Purpose...

Miss World Portugal 2011.

It is with great pleasure and pride that I will be competing in the Miss World Portugal competition to take place at the end of August of this year in Lisbon, Portugal.

Here's my story: In 2008 I entered into a local competition run by the portuguese newspaper (A Voz de Portugal) for the Miss Portugal of Montreal title. After months of practices, appearances at a variety of portuguese events and shopping for the perfect dress the event took place in November of 2008. Myself and 7 other ladies participated and after showing off our casual attire, answering a question in 2 languages and our evening gown a winner was chosen, me. I was shocked, happy and overwhelmed! Not only did I win the crown and title of Miss Portugal of Montreal 2008 but I was also named Miss Congeniality by my wonderful fellow competitors.
What a great and wonderful experience it was, I met new people and could now really claim the love of my heritage more than ever.

Now, this new opportunity has been brought to me, 3 years later and although I am scared, this is without a doubt the chance of a lifetime, there's no way I can let it pass me by! I have to at least try. This is a larger scale competition with 26 beautiful ladies from portuguese communities worldwide and larger responsibilities that come with the role, all of which I am willing to take part in. The bathing suit portion, the talent section and the scariest part the all important question! A question I'll have to answer in portuguese, a language where words often fail me and ideas are hard to express. However, this will not stop me, I shall persevere...

Ok, now a little description of the Miss World Portugal competition:


The title of Miss World Portugal creates many opportunities both professional and personal. Not only paving the way for the winner to express herself on diverse and important topics through interviews on TV programs, newspapers and websites but also culturally enriching the knowledge of other countries and regions of Portugal making them a model for future generations.
All this, providing them with the privilege and responsibility of representing Portugal in the MISS WORLD competition, today the largest beauty contest on the planet.

I won't bore you with all the rules and regulations however, there are many and I shall follow them all.
Some of them being:
1. The candidate must be single. Never married nor divorced and cannot have children or be pregnant.
2. The candidates must not be seen smoking, drinking or dating in public for the whole period of the competition.
3. The winner promises to not change weight or measurements from the night of the gala.
etc..
Basically, this is a much bigger, must stricter competition, but why step down from a challenge!!

I hope I have and can receive Montreal's support in this as I venture to Portugal.

Sponsors are needed!! Please contact me at tracyrodrigues@hotmail.com if you or anyone you know is interested.
Your help is sincerely and greatly appreciated. I can't do this alone.

Thank-You
Miss Portugal of Montreal, 2008.


I will continue to post updates on the struggles I'll be facing as train to be my ideal weight for the competition, learn a dance routine for the talent portion, find sponsors, and work with the portuguese community of Montreal to be the best competitor I can be for this August in Portugal!
-xox

A Picture is worth... Continued.

A picture of one of my favorite quotes:


A picture that makes me laugh:
(A glitch in Mario as I was playing...)


A picture of something you dislike:
(I couldn't pick only one so here you go... I'm sure many of you can relate!)




A picture of something you love:
Portugal -- Also coincides with my love of travel and discovering new places.



A picture of my favorite celebrity couple:
(Yet another tie...) J & B and The Smith's.

A Picture is worth....

On facebook I saw someone had started an album called:
The 30 day Photo Challenge.
However, to shorten it, I took my 15 favorites and created my own.
I'm doing this in 3 parts... so stay tuned!!
Enjoy!

1. A picture of something I wish I was better at...
2. A picture of me & the person I've been closest to the longest...
3. A picture of the cast from my favorite show...
4. A picture of my favorite memory...
5. A picture of a person I'd most love to trade places with for a day...

All I Want for the Holidays...

Ok, So Christmas is 23 days away!
... and its going to come and go quicker than we think!

In classic Christmas spirit, gifts are in order. Because isn't that what Christmas is all about? (*Note the sarcasm.)
HOWEVER, just for fun here's my ULTIMATE list for Santa. *Sigh, the good 'ol days*

My Favorite Electronics:





Accessories:



Jewelry:





Beauty:



Media:


AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:



Thank you and Happy Holidays to all!! XoX

The Best Kind of People...

The best kind of people.
All my life, I've known the best kind of people.
The kind that no matter what, they didn't change or forget where they came from.
People that give and give wanting NOTHING in return.
They've worked their ENTIRE life, growing up in times when toys were merely rocks and shoes were so worn out they could probably do their own comedy routine.
Trekking to work involved a climb to another town, long hours and supporting their family members at an age when all we did was watch TV and play video games.
So is our generation spoiled?
I think, most are. And this includes myself.
BUT, the lucky ones have these people in their lives to remind them where and how things started.
Their stories may at times be annoying and repetitive but TRUST ME you'll appreciate it one day if you don't already.
I love my grandparents...
& I couldn't be happier that I've had the honor to be graced by their presence and other influential individuals like them.




<3
Dedicated to Avo Joaquim, Avo Idalina, Avo Manuela & RIP Avo Antero. XoXoX

The Inspirational Elie Wiesel

Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel KBE (English pronunciation: /ˈɛli vɨˈzɛl/; born September 30, 1928) is a Romanian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.



I had started reading the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel at the beginning of the school year but got side tracked with the hustle and bustle of the semester. However, when I found out this exceptional man was coming to speak at Concordia University during peace week I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

A man know as the 'messenger of mankind', Elie Wiesel's words stuck with me that night at Concordia...

"The world clearly isn't ready to learn. U can tell by all the tragedies caused by man."

"I don't like living in a world where my hope is someone else's despair."

"I believe in man in spite of man."

Question from a student: How did u keep ur sanity?
"From my first orphanage I plunged into study. I have a passion for learning, still today. I love being a teacher."

Elie Wiesel is a remarkable 82 year old man with a sense of humor, passion for life, learning and sharing lessons in hopes of preventing future generations from making the same mistakes. He mentioned how he once in Germany in front of all the parliament members asked why no one had ever apologized to the Jewish people for the holocaust and distress caused. A week later, the German president made a public apology. Just one amazing thing Mr. Wiesel has done for the Jewish community and people at large.

I Thank You Elie Wiesel for coming to Concordia University, Montreal and for blessing us with your incredible story and kind words. A man truly meant to spread the word across the world.

What Smart Women Know (PART 1)

A Smart Woman never, ever, forgets that she is a whole person in her own right, with or without a man in her life.


SMART WOMEN KNOW:

-Experience is what you get... when you don't get what you want.
-It's ALWAYS a mistake to be so turned on by a man's style that you ignore his substance.
-It will take more than a few moments of magic to transform a ladies' man into your man.
-Dramatic, agonizing, tortured, convoluted, irreconcilable, horrific and obsessive are words that belong on the jacket of a novel that you carry to the beach; a smart woman doesn't want to have these objectives used to describe her own life.
-An obsession can, and WILL, waste years of a woman's life.
-If a 'married' man is genuinely interested, he'll be just as interested after he leaves his girlfriend/wife... which is the only time you should ever consider dating him.
-It's an old saying, but it's true: If a man is able to deceive his wife, chances are he'll be able to deceive you too.
-A sense of self means knowing what you have to offer and not offering it too quickly.
-LOW SELF-ESTEEM can often lead even the most extraordinary women into destructive relationships.
-If your always involved with Mr. Wrong, you may never get the opportunity to meet Mr. Right.
-Mr. Right isn't always Mr. Obvious.
-Any man who falls in love quickly can fall out of love just as quickly.
-No matter how wonderful you are, there are some men out there who can make you, and any other woman, crazy -- these are not men you should worry about losing.
-Any man who doesn't know "what he wants" doesn't deserve what he has.
-If a man is wildly romantic in the beginning of the relationship, chances are he is wildly unrealistic and totally undependable.
-Continue to love someone who is hurting you and, eventually you will no longer love yourself.
-There is a limit to how much pain and confusion any man is worth. (If it hurts, it probably isn't good for you.)
-If the wrong man keeps finding you, then you are giving off the wrong signals.
-A man's fatal flaws should be a turn-off, not a turn-on.
-The man you can never reach often has something to hide... like a girlfriend -- or a wife.


SMART WOMEN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN:

-Love and Obsession
-Having a great passion and living a good life
-Intimacy and Seduction
-Playing hard to get, and being hard to get.


A SMART WOMAN KNOWS SHE'S NOT BEING SMART WHEN:

-She thinks that having a bad relationship is better than being alone.
-She needs a man to validate her sense of worthiness.
-She can't find joy in beaches, music, sunsets, movies, shopping, cooking -- anything -- unless there is a man to share it.
-She forgets that having a relationship can create as many problems as it solves.


A SMART WOMAN HAS THE GOOD SENSE TO APPRECIATE A MAN WHO:

*Is grounded in reality, not fantasy.
-Allows a relationship to grow slowly.
-Doesn't make promises until he knows he will keep them.
-Knows what love is, knows what long-term commitment is, and doesn't take either of them lightly.
-Isn't always checking up on you.
-Pays his bills on time.
-Wants to meet your whole family, not just your good-looking sister.
-Feels good about himself.
-Feels good about where he is in life.
-Shows up when he says he'll show up.
-Is steady and reliable.
-Has a real place to live.
-Doesn't make you feel as though if you don't grab him that second, he will be gone.


HOW TO TELL THE GOOD GUYS FROM THE BAD GUYS:

-A "Good Guy" has a realistic lifestyle.
A real home, real work, real bills, real pets, real family & a real way of dealing with all of them.
-A "Good Guy" has realistic goals.
He want to maximize his potential and be the best he can be.
-A "Good Guy" is attracted to a woman who reflects his values and interests.
He doesn't spend his life trying to prove that oil and water can mix.
-A "Good Guy" wants an equal partner he can share things with.
He doesn't want a relationship where one partner is overly dependent or completely dominating.
-A "Good Guy" doesn't try to manipulate or use a woman.
This man is not going to sweep you off your feet so he can steal your shoes.
-A "Good Guy" is supportive without being controlling.
He wants his partner to feel happy and fulfilled and wants to help her achieve her goals.
-A "Good Guy" knows how to listen to a woman speak.
This man is not an egomaniac.
-A "Good Guy" is fair and knows how to share responsibilities.
This man knows how to do laundry, make the beds, and cook dinner, and he insists upon doing his share.
-A "Good Guy" is honest.
This man tries to deal with everything truthfully including his feelings, his fears, and his needs.
-A "Good Guy" doesn't have unreasonable boundaries.
He doesn't set limits as to how far he will go in the relationship or how close he will allow you to get.
-A "Good Guy" is capable of commitment.
His lifestyle reflects his ability to form permanent attachments.
-A "Good Guy" is well intentioned.
This man ALWAYS what is best for both of you.


A SMART WOMAN SHOULD NEVER BE SO BLINDED BY LUST THAT SHE FAILS TO PAY ATTENTION TO:

-his attitude towards women in general
-his attitude towards money
-his attitude towards his family
-his attitude towards his and your career
-his ability to play fair
-his ability to laugh
-his ability to not take himself too seriously
-his ability to take himself seriously enough
-his addictions (smoking, drinking, drugs etc..)
-his religious beliefs
-his values
-his politics
-his neuroses
-his potential aversions (your pets, your tastes, your religion, anchovies etc.. )
-his history with women
*ON THAT NOTE: Dating is something you do to find out whether or not you want to get involved with a man.. so take your time.


IT'S TIME TO END A RELATIONSHIP WHEN:

-He makes you feel bad more often than he makes you feel good.
-Your fear of losing him is making you disregard all your realistic needs.
-HIS BEHAVIOR IS CHIPPING AWAY AT YOUR SELF-ESTEEM.
-YOU TELL HIM HOW SAD OR UPSET YOU FEEL, BUT HE MAKES NO ATTEMPT TO CHANGE WHAT HE IS DOING.
-He stops trying to please you.
-YOU HAVE A BETTER TIME REMEMBERING YOUR PAST THAN YOU DO LIVING IN THE PRESENT.
-His behavior is making you realistically jealous.


* What Smart Women Know by Steven Carter and Julia Sokol. (1990) *
"Smart women know ... No woman is born smart. Smart women also know ... There are two ways to get smart -- The hard way and the easy way."
(Take my word for it.)