Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I love the food, yes, but what I love most of all is being with family for hours with nothing on the agenda other than carving pernil, enjoying each other’s company, watching football, remembering past good times, and sleeping. And while Thanksgiving has taken on a whole new meaning as a mother, it has also taken on another emotion as well.

ALWAYS THANKFUL

There isn’t a day—Thanksgiving or not—where I don’t look at my boy and marvel at how we have been brought together. We were so clearly meant to have this boy in our lives; we were so clearly meant to learn from him. And for the blessing of having him in my life, I am ever grateful and humbly thankful. That gratitude is so palpable, especially on Thanksgiving, that it is almost impossible for me to name another blessing when asked. This boy in my life? Well, that’s enough for me.

But I can’t just sit in that joy, in that gratitude, truth be told. Because while I reflect on what a gift my life has been given, I am ever aware of the circumstances that have made this gift possible, and so my gratitude is always a bit bittersweet. Several years ago, Happy and I were on a long walk when a well-meaning town resident that I only vaguely knew stopped us. "He’s such a lucky boy," she said.

I think I speak for every adoptive parent when I say that this is something we never want to hear and most especially never want our child to hear. "We think we’re the lucky ones," I said.

The truth is that being born in a country that is so disproportionately poor and resource-starved to parents who were so poor and resource-starved themselves that they could not raise their child actually feels, to me, like anything but luck. But our union together as a family shows me what faith is—faith in something greater than ourselves and faith in other people.  Think of a mother who has given birth to this beautiful boy who she, of course, loves with all of her heart.  Think of the challenge she must be facing in her life to make the decision she makes.  Think of the wisdom she has to know that love, sometimes, means not physically holding on—a wisdom I, the woman who holds on too long, could never have.  Think of the faith she has to know that the right family will be waiting for him.

“Happy” with mom and author rosiemolinary.

MORE THAN LUCK

"No, sir," I wanted to say to that man that day, "how our baby’s life has evolved is not borne of luck.  It came alive when a woman that I admire to my core made a decision based on faith, based on a knowing deep within her, based on a stark assessment of her life and the injustice of this world, based on what might look like hopelessness to some, but what I believe is really hopefulness."  I don’t know how to dramatically reconcile the poverty of this world; it is what I most wish I were able to do.  But it wasn’t luck that brought us together.  I know that for sure.  And though I can’t yet articulate all of it in the way that I wish: I know that our son coming into our lives, our coming into his life, is part of something bigger than all three of us.

On Novemer 24th, my family will bow its head around the table and give thanks—in Spanish—on the most American of holidays. And, yet, my heart and mind will not be in America. My heart and mind will be in Ethiopia, and I will be whispering to a woman that I have never met that I am humbled by and grateful for her faith in me and that I will do everything I can, everyday of my life, to honor it and her. After the blessing, I will look up and see my little boy smiling with his cousins, the living embodiment of my promise, and my eyes will flood with an intensity of emotion, a trail of thankfulness in honor of each of my boy’s mothers.

Editor’s Note: In honor of National Adoption Awareness Month, this is the fourth and final in a series of articles by rosiemolinary exploring her decision to adopt, her experiences with adoption, and tips for adoptive families.

Editor’s Note: We’re celebrating 30 Days of Beauty to help you get ready for all of those holiday parties. Prizes or discounts will be awarded randomly, so you won’t want to miss a day!

Nothing is more surprising or flattering than purple eye makeup done right. Regardless of skin tone, a clear purple or violet or periwinkle blue makes the whites of your eyes extra-white, and really pops your natural eye color.
It’s easy to be afraid, very afraid, of Going There. Most purples have way too much pink or red or gray in them, which can look really scary on, and send you hurtling back to your safe browns.

But now you don’t have to. I’ve found two Perfect Purples that’ll look gorgeous and anything but scary:

NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in St. Marks Place ($23) and Lancôme Color Design Lustrous Powder Eyeshadow in Miss Sweetheart D #303 ($18).

You don’t have to wear these together. In fact, I wouldn’t. Too much of the same thing can be a drag. I like contrast.

Let’s talk about the NARS liner first. Named for the groovy street in the East Village in Manhattan, St. Marks Place is a creamy but precise crayon liner that glides on smoothly, lasts 12 budge-proof hours without smearing or caking (which also makes it perfect for lining under your bottom lashes), and is a vibrant, but not extreme, true violet. It twists up for more, and has a built-in sharpener. Wear this on its own or with any eyeshadow except purple. It’s beautiful.

Next the Lancôme eyeshadow. This one, like the coral shadow, I wrote about previously,
I’m completely in love with. The texture is silken and the pigment-packed color is buildable and sheer. It’s slightly iridescent but not too sparkly for daytime. I love the idea of doing a smoky eye with this. It’s a fun alternative to the grays and blacks we usually see. Wear this with a black or silver or gold eyeliner for maximum New Year’s holiday dazzle.

A foiled mugging in Chicago played itself out as inspiration for victims everywhere recently, when the alleged mugger attacked the wrong person—a trained Mixed Martial Arts or MMA expert.

A foiled mugging in Chicago played itself out as inspiration for victims everywhere recently, when the alleged mugger attacked the wrong person—a trained Mixed Martial Arts or MMA expert.

The alleged mugger might as well have attacked Batman himself. The outcome would have been exactly the same.

Beaten and humiliated, what happened on that Chicago street is proof positive that when a person is trained correctly, potential tragedy can result in triumph—and most important, survival.

In another scenario that could have ended terribly, and thankfully did not, 80-year old Josefa Lopez of Hialeah, Florida, scared off her 61-year-old daughter’s assailant by aggressively swinging her aluminum cane at him. Though the attacker shot at the enraged Lopez as she tugged at his shirt, he missed and fled the scene.

But not everyone is as fortunate as Lopez. Recently in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, a 64-year old woman was burned alive in the elevator of her own building, and a serial rapist has been attacking women in Park Slope, New York, for months—hideous crimes that beg the question: as women, how can we prepare ourselves to effectively fight back?

The unfortunate reality is that one never knows when danger will strike and being ready to face any hazardous situation, monumentally increases one’s chances of escape and survival.

Stay-at-home and work-from-home moms may be particularly susceptible. If a crazed cable guy or pervert plumber end up in your home when you’re alone, you better know how to channel your inner Uma-Thurman-in-Kill-Bill—and break heads if you must. And to do so, just like Uma’s character, you must train. Self defense training has double the benefits: You can learn how to handle a marauding thug and get into some (literally) kick-ass shape.

The key is to explore how various forms of martial arts can sculpt your body, while building confidence. Here are some suggestions to get you fired up:

• Kickboxing: This fast-paced approach focuses on punches, knees and kicks at all available openings, which is effective in distracting the attacker.
• Aikido: This fighting style is based on joint locks, which do not require much speed, and are great for immobilizing and incapacitating an attacker.
• Jiu Jitsu: This style incorporates elements of grappling, hard striking, eye gouging, chokeholds, biting, joint locks, and the awareness of the defender’s center of gravity, as opposed to the attacker’s.
• Krav Maga: Israel’s national martial art incorporates Western boxing punches, Karate kicks and knees, Greco-Roman wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ground fighting, Jiu Jitsu throws and grappling, and most critically, “bursting,” which is an adaptation from Wing Chun, the fight method of the infamous Bruce Lee.
• Keysi Fighting Method: This approach does not feature any kicks, and instead thrives on extreme close-quarter combat using every weapon the body can quickly wield in such a small space: fists, heads, knees, and especially the elbows.

Top 10 Self Defense Tips for Women: We checked in with Garrett Macrine, a former soldier and leader in Israel’s elite SWAT forces turned Miami fitness expert, who offered the following self-defense hit list:

1. Avoid the Stairwell: Forget about losing calories. Safety is more important. Never take the stairwell when you are alone or at night. Criminals like stairwells because they are isolated and therefore easily controlled. Always use the elevator when you are alone.
2. Light up the Night: Install bright lights (high pressure sodium) throughout your home’s exterior, front and rear entrances and exits. Darkness is a criminal’s best friend.
3. Walk with Confidence: Keep a steady pace and walk with your head up, showing that you are alert and prepared to respond to any threat. Look like the tiger and not the lamb.
4. Face the Traffic: Always walk facing the flow of traffic so that you can always see who is approaching you. Never walk with your back to traffic because assailants can pull up behind you and surprise attack.
5. Get in your car and close the door: Many drivers have the bad habit of getting in their car, putting the key in the ignition and then closing the door. That is a prime opportunity for someone to approach the open door and attack. You are very vulnerable sitting in your vehicle with the seat belt on because your movements are restricted. You are basically trapped. Close the door and lock it, then put your key in the ignition. Also, remember to pull your keys out before you walk out to your car, carry a key sticking out from between your fingers, as it could serve as a weapon in the event of an attack.
6. Choose your parking space wisely: Always park in a well lighted space. Be careful parking next to large vans especially if the sliding door is next to your driver’s door. Pay special attention if a large van parked next to your car while you were away from it. Serial killers who abduct children and women will use large vans and park next to your car and wait for you to exit the store or shopping mall. The van door will not be closed all the way and you will be able to see the sliding door cracked just enough for the killer to see you. At the last minute, the kidnapper will throw back the door and grab you as you’re opening your car door with your back to the van.
7. You will fight like you practice: As you train, that is how you will fight. Train hard and often and when the time comes you will be ready.
8. Distance is your friend: The closer you are to the attacker the less skill he needs to attack you. Create space and try to get away. Distance is your best friend in almost every attack.
9. Tint your windows: Attackers like to see who is in the vehicle. Tints help to prevent potential attacks, as the criminal cannot see into the car, which is a problem for them. They need to know how many people are in the car.
10. Make your house identifiable: In an emergency every second counts. Make sure that your house number is clearly identifiable from the street. Go out and buy large numbers for your house address to make it easy to find by police and fire rescue. Place the house address numbers on the front of your house and also in the rear.

Our favorite she-warriors to inspire you…

Mara Rooney in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Uma Thurman in Kill Bill

Angelina Jolie in Laura Croft: Tomb-Raider

Linda Carter as Wonder Woman

Charlie’s Angels then and now

Sigourney Weaver in Alien

Mila Jovovich in The Fifth Element

All the Catwomen

Charlize Theron as Aeon Flux

Sarah Michelle Geller in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Michelle Rodriguez in Girl Fight

Traditions help us maintain our heritage, but they also bring us closer as families. You may already have New Year’s Eve traditions passed down from your parents, such as eating 12 grapes at midnight or watching the ball drop in Times Square. This year, create some new traditions as a family to look forward to each year. These traditions don’t have to include expensive parties and fireworks; they can simply serve as ways to spend quality time together as a family.

Food: Many of us who grew up in Latin America or Spain, are used to eating traditional foods, such as Pan Dulce, turrón and garrapiñadas, something not many Americans eat. But you can feed your cravings—and thanks to globalization—find these treats and numerous others in many local supermarkets or online at places such as Latinbag.com. Bringing back this tradition from when you, your parents or grandparents lived overseas can be a fun way to create a “new” tradition for the younger generation.

Home Video/Scrapbook Night: Celebrate the events from the past year by spending each New Year’s Eve bundled in front of the TV together watching home videos or by collecting the past year’s photos and putting them in a scrapbook together.

Time Capsule: Have each family member gather one or two items that reflect the past year, then put all of the items in a box. These items might include photos, drawings, the kids’ Christmas wish lists, tickets to a movie you saw or a journal. Seal the box, then open it on New Year’s Eve the following year to see how much has changed in the past year. Knowing that this is how they’ll be spending every December 31st, I bet your kids will start collecting things throughout the year to place in the box!

Game Night: Staying up until midnight is usually a struggle for tired moms and young kids, so pass the time on New Year’s Eve with a Monopoly marathon. Or let each family member choose one board or card game, then play the games back to back until midnight rolls around. There’s nothing like toasting the New Year right at midnight.

Obstacle Course: Have your kids help you create an obstacle course in the back yard (if you live in a warm climate) or a smaller one in the living room. It could be as simple as jumping over a stuffed animal, crawling through a cardboard box, tossing a ball or crumpled piece of paper into a bin or through a hoop and sprinting to the finish line. The family member with the best time gets to choose the movie the whole family will watch the next time you go to the theater.

The end of the year is like a hinge, something ends and something new begins. Adding some new traditions to your existing ones makes the process of ending a cycle and starting a new one that much more exciting.

When it comes to fashion, Latinas know how to make a statement. And in 2011, the statements by Latina moms were bold, beautiful, and sooo not boring. We searched back in our memory bank and selected our six favorite fashion moments of the year.

In order of appearance, beginning with the most recent show-stopping moment…

Who: JLo
Where: The AMAs
When: November 20
Wore: A Silver Spangle Nude Body Suit
Lopez took the stage in a gorgeous leopard-print gown and moments into singing an emotional ballad, it seemed that the newly single singer was about to choke up as she did during a performance just a month before. But then she flashed a knowing smile and ripped off her dress to reveal a barely-there nude body suit and began to bump and grind, showing off her amazing body and impressive moves to a very appreciative audience. She was met with a standing ovation (no word, on whether her ex-husband Marc Anthony joined in) and later in the night received the Latin Music Artist Award. Some called her fashion choice a faux pas, while others praised it as fully awesome.
"Remember that always dressing in understated good taste is the same as playing dead." -Susan Catherine

Who: Demi Lovato
Where: December Cover of Latina Magazine
When: Hit newsstands on November 15
Wore: Mandalay dress
The 19-year-old singer/actress/role model rocked a killer black and silver Mandalay dress on the cover of Latina Magazine’s "Reasons I Love Being Latina" double issue. 2011 proved to be a year of rebirth for Lovato. In 2010, she checked into rehab for depression, eating disorders, and cutting. In 2011, she bravely shared her story and emerged as a strong, healthy role model for other young women across the globe. She also released her third studio album, Unbroken, which was met with widespread critical and commercial acclaim.
"Self-esteem isn’t everything; it’s just that there’s nothing without it." -Gloria Steinem

Who: Shakira
Where: The music video for her new single ‘Rabiosa’
When: June 7
Wore: A Black Bra and Panties
In her latest video, the Colombian pop-star is scantily clad and showing the world how to work a stripper pole. And never has a black bra and panties looked so good.
"Shake what your mama gave ya." -Ludacris

Who: Gloria Estefan
Where: Billboard Latin Music Awards
When: April 28
Wore: Black, floor length, lace-and-satin gown
She was the last to arrive on the red carpet, but arguably the most stunning. Estefan proved that good old-fashioned elegance always rules the night.
"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." -Sophia Loren

Who: Penelope Cruz
Where: The Oscars
When: February 27
Wore: L’Wren Scott Red Sequined Dress
Just six weeks after giving birth, Cruz strutted down the Oscars red carpet in a slim fitting, sequined red dress, prompting women around the world to marvel at her post-baby body and scream at each other "How the hell did she do that!?" (Or was this just at my Oscars party?) And then we all grabbed another handful of M&Ms and vowed to hit the treadmill the following day.
"The three most beautiful sights: a potato garden in bloom, a ship in sail, and a woman after the birth of her child." -Irish Proverb

Who: Eva Longoria
Where: The Golden Globes
When: January 16
Wore: Zac Posen Black Fishtail Dress
Just months off of her very public breakup with her unfaithful ex, Longoria stepped onto the Globe carpet wearing a black, body hugging ensemble and a confident smile and swagger. Some fashion critics snarked that she was dressed as a widow mourning her failed marriage; more accurately, she was dressed as a woman telling her ex-husband to eat his heart out.
"Looking good is the best revenge." -Ivana Trump

My Abuela has been gone a long time, but I think about her every day. She was smart, tough, courageous, capable—and unfailingly feminine and ladylike, too. This coming New Year, instead of the usual vague, easily broken resolutions I’m fond of making (like, "Get more stuff done" or "Be organized"), my loving memories of this remarkable woman are inspiring five resolutions I’m committed to seeing through.

Resolution # 1: Cook with Love
As a little girl, I was under the mistaken impression that spaghetti and meatballs were just as Puerto Rican as arroz con pollo. That was because my Abuela dished up both with equal acumen. The truth is, when she married her second husband, who was Sicilian, she learned to make Italian food for him, and she did it really, really well. She put the same love and thought into cooking for the whole family, whether it was veal parmigiana for her husband or crispy, homemade chicken nuggets for me. I’ve resolved to put the same care and feeling into cooking that my Abuela did. Instead of throwing together a fast, potentially mediocre meal, I’ll to talk to my partner Joe about foods he especially enjoys and would like to see on his plate; I’ll make meals our son, CC, can’t resist; and I’ll put a healthy, creative spin on my stepkids’ favorites. Healthy, seasonal ingredients don’t require a big budget—in fact, cooking with fresh, local produce makes a lot of economic sense, too. And it’s a beautiful (and delicious) way to express your love for your family.

Resolution #2: Create for Myself
My father is an artist, and I have an artistic side, too. People always told me growing up that it was in my genes, but they didn’t realize that the gene in question went back farther than my dad; Abuela was an accomplished artist in her own right. Her landscapes—lush forests, a forlorn beach dune on a rainy day—were modestly framed and hung throughout her house. She created for herself, for her family, and for the pure pleasure of it, which I often forget to do in my own life. It’s easy for a busy mom like me to check (and double-check) the bottom line of everything I produce: Does it have merit? Can it help contribute to our family? But interestingly enough, creating for simple pleasure aids in creating for profit by keeping those artistic juices flowing In 2012 I want to make time for a simple watercolor or one of my lopsided sock monkeys, just for the fun of it.

Caption: Abuela and me at age 9 in front of her magnolia tree, all dressed up for Easter. 1984

Resolution #3: Remember that I’m a Lady
Abuela was every inch a lady. Her makeup was subtle but always perfect; I never saw her in jeans or sweatpants; her elegant hands were made even more beautiful by her long, shapely, polished nails. The first time she saw me in what was to become a very long, drawn-out grunge phase—a black t-shirt over black leggings with beat-up sneakers—she asked delicately, "Is that what you call an outfit?" Well, I’ve gotten past the need to assert my personal style by looking like I just fell out of bed, but I often don’t find the time to tweeze my eyebrows or pull on an elegant pair of boots to set off my jeans and sweater. But when I do, I find that I’m more confident, more at ease with myself. So this year, I’m going to remember the eyebrow pencil, the nail file, and that I may be a mom, stepmom, partner, writer, sometime-artist—but I’m also a lady, just like Abuela.

Resolution #4: Keep a Beautiful Home
Just as Abuela took care with her appearance, she made sure her home was beautiful, too. She lived in a modest semi-attached home in Queens, but that house was pristine from top to bottom. Soft music always played; pretty soaps were laid out in a dish in the bathroom; the rooms were filled with the delicious fragrance of whatever she was cooking. And needless to say, clutter was an unwelcome entity in casa de Abuela. She certainly kept things that were of sentimental value, but with care and thoughtfulness—a glass bowl filled with matchbooks from her many travels, the bookshelf with her Hummel figurines, a side table stacked with my Abuelo’s beloved mystery novels. I’d like to set aside 20 minutes each day to make sure my own household is neat, clean, and uncluttered. Not only is it a happier place to be for the whole family, but I find I’ve a better sense of clarity and purpose when my surroundings are beautifully kempt.

Resolution #5: Family, First and Foremost
Abuela knew how to take time for herself to have fun, to cook up a fabulous dish, or to create something special. But she seemed to always have her family in mind, too. Throughout my childhood, almost every Sunday I would pile into the car with my mother and father and we’d spend the day with Abuela in Queens. In the summer, she would fill up a little inflatable pool for me in her backyard and run the garden hose into it. I still remember her boiling water in a teakettle and adding it to the pool to warm it up a little before I got in. Just as often, these precious Sundays involved my mother’s parents, too—Abuela, Puerto Rican and a devout Catholic, embraced my Jewish mom and her family; she could be found in attendance and dressed to the nines every year at my Grandma Lily’s seder eating up gefilte fish and matzah bread. This year, I want to make sure to have family days—and not just me, CC, and Joe with my mom and dad. I want to get everyone together: Joe’s brothers, his aunt, and my stepkids, of course—for some epic gatherings in the spirit of those Sundays in Queens.

It won’t necessarily be easy keeping these resolutions, but they’re certainly worth the effort. I’m determined, and confident that Abuela’s spirit—and the enduring examples she set for me—will see me through.

In every ritual, there is the costume that transforms reality into something bigger. Ours began with squeezing into our second-skin breeches first, followed by the requisite turtle neck or the tweed blazers that my mother had custom-made for us in Bogotá.
Then came the stepping into those tall, stiff equestrian boots, in which we would stomp around on our plush, mauve-colored carpeting, like Frankenstein & Son, leaving big and small footprints in our wake. Not wanting to be late to our Saturday morning horseback riding lessons, we’d do our best to scramble out through the front door of our Mother-Daughter style and whip in hand, the adrenaline racing through our veins.

Once I had strapped myself into the bucket seat of my mother’s new, post-divorce sports car, I kept myself occupied by manning the radio dial: stopping on songs by Juice Newton, Neil Diamond, Bonnie Tyler, the BeeGees, adding atmosphere to our dynamic-duo day. Back then, my eight-year-old self was already aware that all mothers weren’t like mine young, like, could be my big sister young, really, really attractive, adventurous, career woman, single, mine, and no one else’s. I’d sing all the words to the songs to entertain her on that hour-long car ride to the deep suburban countryside, making up lyrics to see if she was listening, while she concentrated on driving and not spilling any tea from a Styrofoam cup. We’d roll the windows down, mom in oversized sunglasses, the wind lifting feathered bangs off her thinker’s forehead, my ponytail whipping around aimlessly.
"We’re going RIDING!" she’d say.

"Uh, yeah. I know, mom."

GETTING BACK ON THE HORSE

Oh, the butterflies in my stomach. I tried to act cool, but I had watched my mother fall off her horse the Saturday before, and I would have given anything to be able to just ride shotgun next to her, than have to get back on the horse by myself. Up to that point, falling had never seemed a possibility. Watching her fly off and tumble to the ground, the look of worry on our trainer’s face, instilled a new sense of fear of falling in me. But Victoria being Victoria, and always victorious, had found a way to teach me a lesson. "We all fall, Adri. But we all have to get back on the horse."

This whole horse thing was entirely my fault, for I remember asking her once, in all seriousness, "Mom, what would you most like to own?" "A horse," she answered. "No, wait. Make that a farm with horses in my backyard," she corrected herself. Mother had spoken. So I began a horse collection; accumulated statutes made of plastic and glass, lined-up in size order on white Formica shelves. Then I acquired the entire Black Stallion books series, followed by The Encyclopedia of the Horse, for I had to know about their anatomy as well. I soon developed quick no-brainer answers to adult’s questions: Career aspirations? Jockey! Favorite movie? National Velvet! Number-one item on your Christmas list? The white horse stuffed animal from FAO Schwartz! Mom and I named him Greyling, and after Greyling had to spend the bulk of his life squashed between my legs—I’d ride him to the kitchen, to my chores in the backyard—his white fur eventually lived up to its name.

Mom decided it was time to give me some real riding lessons, English-style riding classes, not that slumpy, slouchy Western riding from those horse-and-pony shows. She hired Joe Simons, a retired jockey, and owner of a private horse farm to train us. The first time he saw me, he called me "Peanut" and paired me up with a gentle horse named Dreamboy. Mom was given a larger horse named Buttercup. These were the animals that we tried to tame and that tried to tame us. Sensing my nerves, mom took me over to Dreamboy for some alone time before my lesson. We brushed him, fed him carrots, admired his shiny brown coat and honey-colored mane. "Now you take care of my Adri, Dreamboy, you hear? She fancied herself a horse whisperer. But I rode terribly that day, completely petrified of falling like my mother had. "Come on, Peanut, who’s riding who?!" shouted Joe. My body crunched down in protective mode. "Sit up straight, come on now!"

NEVER LET THEM SEE YOUR FEAR

My God, it must have been scary for my mom to watch her only child, out there in the field on that big horse. But she never showed me her fear. She smiled big, cheering "Go, Adri!" instead. During the last 15 minutes of my lesson, I caught my stride, sat up with my back straight, reins short, stirrups high, knees bent, up down, up down, for the trot, and then managed to sit back and slide, slide for the canter. Feeling awkward, but going through the motions. I managed to get off in one piece, knees shaky, but proud that I’d done it.

Miraculously, over the course of those wonderful years of riding with my mom, I never fell, but I sure came close one day. And luckily, it wasn’t in front of my mother, who was back at the corral waiting for me with my grandmother. Horses get spooked at the slightest things; small animals, high-pitched sounds. I don’t remember what set him off, but while riding with my trainer through a wooded trail, Dreamboy suddenly took off full-speed ahead, yards in front of Joe and his horse. My instinct was to shorten the reins and lean in, hugging my frightened horse’s neck to cajole him and myself, holding on for my life. A huge mistake on my part; that’s what jockeys do to gain more speed. "No, don’t lean forward, lie down!" Joe shouted. Grab the reins and lie all the way down!" And with all my force I grabbed the reins and shot back onto the saddle, watching the sky and tree tops pass by above, slowing the horse down enough for Joe to catch up and cut Dreamboy off at the path.

My mother remembers Joe and me coming back to the corral, white as ghosts. "Peanut held on like a champion." My mother never let on how fearful she’d become that something like that could happen again. We took off our helmets, sweaty from the noon sun, smelling like a couple of horses ourselves and all climbed into her car and headed home with a feeling of survival swelling in our hearts. "Next week will be better, you’ll see," she said. My grandmother offering me a loving leg squeeze. And it was better: Joe said I was ready to learn how to jump. But once I learned how to jump, mom signed me up for Saturday morning ballet classes, tennis matches, soccer games, for that was all her adventurous heart could take.

As the year winds down, the social functions wind up and you have a list a mile long of parties and charity functions to attend, entertain family and friends and whatever else the merry day may bring. During this end of year madness, our routine run or Zumba class often falls to the very bottom of the list. Who has a half hour to set aside for a workout. Forget about the hour-long pilates session or that 90-minute yoga class Please.

Why not just ride out this the year, allow yourself to indulge, and start fresh in the new year? After all, isn’t that why New Years resolutions were created? I know how that conversation goes. I’ve had it with myself countless times. But not this year.

This year I decided to ignore the excuses my mind so easily comes up with; instead I’ve been challenging my body to mini- bootcamp-like workouts whenever and wherever possible. I have created an express-routine for each part of the body. No workout equipment required!

Abs: Power Planks
Lie face down with your forearms and palms on the floor or a mat. Raise up to your toes and hold your body in a firm plank, making sure that your bum doesn’t lift higher or lower than the rest of your body. Hold for 60 seconds. Rest for 30. Repeat 3 times.

Triceps, Chest, and Shoulders: Dips
Sit on a kitchen chair and place your hands at your sides, holding on to the front edge of the chair. Lift up on your hands and bring your hips forward off the chair. Bend your elbows to 90 degrees and lower your hips. Push back up and repeat.

Outer Thighs: Side Leg Lifts
Lie on your side with one hand under your head and one hand in front of you for balance. Lift your top leg up and down as high and as slowly as possible. Repeat 50 times (or until you burn out), then flip on your other side and do the same number. Keep flipping from side to side for five minutes.

Inner Thighs: Ballet Plies
Stand sideways or perpendicular to the kitchen counter or hold onto the back of a chair. With your feet in first position (heels together toes pointed out to the corners) dip low and raise back up to standing. Continue for five minutes, taking short breaks when necessary. Make sure to keep your back straight and your hips tucked underneath you.

Legs and Bum: Lunges
Stand in a split stance with one leg 2-3 feet in front of the other. Keep your torso straight and lift up on your back toe. Bend your knees and lower until your back knee is a few inches from the floor (the back knee should point towards the floor and the front thigh should be parallel to the floor). Lift back up slowly to maintain balance. Repeat 30 times before switching sides. Continue until fatigued.

Shoulders and Back: Military or Modified Pushups
Place your hands and toes on the floor, placing your hands below your shoulders. Be sure to keep your arms and back straight. Lower yourself to the floor until your elbows reach 90 degrees. Exhale and raise back up. Repeat. To modify, place your knees on the floor, keep your back straight and lower your elbows to 90 degrees. As you build strength you can work your way up to the military pushup.

All of these routines should take five minutes and can be done while you’re on the phone or waiting for the stove timer to go off. If you manage to fit them all in at some point throughout the day, you have done a respectable half-hour workout. If you manage to fit them all in twice, well then you deserve a second helping of whatever you wish, my friend. Sweat a little, indulge a little. It’s that time of year.

Think back to all of your failed New Year’s resolutions of years past: They probably involved some level of self-improvement. How many of them did you keep? The sad fact is, most New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within a few months, or even a few weeks. People start out with high motivation and great intentions, but the excitement soon fades. Besides, willpower can take only take you so far if your heart isn’t into it. And for some women, this resolution-abandonment could caused by the growing need to make others a priority rather than ourselves. So why not go ahead and resolve to help others this year? Here are some resolutions that actually serve others, but at the same time can give you a deep personal satisfaction:

Mentor a young person. Mentoring is a valuable way of guiding a child into adulthood. You have many personal and professional skills that are worth sharing. By mentoring an older child, you can pass on some of this knowledge and be a positive Latina role model to someone who might not have many role models to look up to. There are many local, state, and national organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, that are dedicated to pairing children and teens with mentors. Usually, there is a shortage of minority mentors. So if you can commit to spend at least six months with a child, you’ll surely make a meaningful impact.

Take a class with your child. What a great way to lead by example and show your child that education doesn’t end with high school or college; rather a lifelong worthwhile pursuit. Sign up to take a class with your child at the local community college or community center. Whether it’s a class that teaches pottery or a new language, the lesson is equally powerful. And the time you spend together? Priceless.

Volunteer locally. If volunteering conjures images of clearing tables at a soup kitchen, you haven’t looked at all of the opportunities that are out there, often right in your backyard. You can offer a few hours of your personal time each week to help tutor students at your local school, plant a community garden, or visit with a terminally ill patient. Particularly during these troubled economic times, many organizations are in dire need of unpaid help. VolunteerMatch can help you find opportunities within your community according to your area of interest.

Teach your kids healthy eating habits. Instead of making a diet for you to lose 20 pounds, why not make the resolution for your whole family to eat healthier? According to the Center for Disease Control, the obesity epidemic disproportionately affects Hispanic children. The good news is, you can prevent obesity in your children by purchasing and preparing healthier foods at home. Not only will this help ensure healthy kids, it will increase your consumption of these healthier options as well. You can adapt your favorite Latin recipes to have less fat and carbs, while still enjoying the authentic flavors.

Raise money for your favorite charitable cause. Is there a cause out there that you wish you could donate hundreds or even thousands of dollars to? Many charitable organizations, such as the Susan B. Komen foundation or March of Dimes, have annual walkathons or 5K road race in your area. You can raise money for any charity by telling friends and family that you intend to dedicate to the cause. Check your local rec centers or fitness clubs that may hold local fundraisers, such as Zumbathons. Sites like Charity Navigator, can guide you on your fundraising efforts or finding a charity to choose.

So why not make the New Year a charitable one? Weight usually gains back and money usually gets lost, but with these resolutions, you have a better chance of keeping them by helping others. And let satisfaction be your reward.

Apocalypse now? Scramble to stock up on water and canned food? Buy a gun? Live life today as if there were no tomorrow?
Many people believe that the answer to these questions may save their lives from doom. Are they correct? Or just as mad as the many 2012 theorists that seem to spring up daily?

As the actual countdown begins, most experts are telling us to remain calm. Should we believe them? Or begin construction on our fallout shelter?

It turns out that the December 21, 2012 date as the end the world theory is not going to be anything like what the Internet doomsday-sayers are warning us about, or that Hollywood depicts, with images of our world on fire and humanity scrambling for safety, futilely turning on each other with violence and mass discord.

The truth is much more rational than that. At least according to Sven Gronemeyer, a German expert in Mayan culture, who says his decoding of a Mayan tablet with a reference to a 2012 date denotes “a transition to a new era and not a possible end of the world as others have read it.”

According to NASA’s website, the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012 started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is on a collision course toward Earth.

The timing of this apocalyptic Sumerian fable was inevitably linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar, at the winter solstice in 2012—hence the double ancient cultural whammy doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

But what to make of the actual END of the Mayan calendar of December 2012? Just as the calendar you have tacked on to your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count, period. And just as your calendar begins again on January 1—another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar as well. No end there, just a major new beginning.

Does this means that we can kiss death and destruction goodbye, and prepare ourselves for spiritual rebirth? Mamiverse asked our own astrologer extraordinaire, Andrea Valeria, to explain what 2012 means and how we must look to the coming new year, as it is dictated to each of us according to our astrological sign.

Mamiverse: You live part of the year in Cuernavaca, Mexico, near a powerful pyramid. What’s your take on this prophecy?

Andrea Valeria: Our transition into 2012 signifies a shift in new energy. What we think we know will be no more. The newness that approaches will bring light to those willing to transition into a major new era of thought and consciousness, and the deepest darkness to those unable to accept mankind’s next step.

What can we expect from 2012? How does Astrology play into this?

The answer is really about Time. Time flows in different ways. Each of us carries an internal timepiece within. Your personal astrological sign dictates the cosmo-biology in which your life is measured; your sign being like the hands on a watch—without your sign, you’d be lost as to when your Time comes, and what to do with it when it does. This timepiece also measures the mathematical positioning of the stars you are born under, at the precise moment you enter the world. In my book, The Power of Your Birthday, I show how each sign views Time. This is important, as we can tell how each sign understands their place in Time, and how they’ll react when a major shift in Time occurs, such as the end of the Mayan long-count calendar.

Aries…Time flies. Taurus…Time sooths. Gemini…always needs more Time. Cancer…Time is also imagination. Leo…Time bestows power. Virgo…Time is a great provider. Libra…Time to get ready. Scorpio…Time makes things happen. Sagittarius…I fly on the wings of Time. Capricorn…I’ll say it again; Time is money. Aquarius…it’s my Time . Pisces…Time is order above chaos.

How does the Mayan prophecy, that on Dec 21, 2012, the world would come to an end as we know, play into 2012?

There are big changes in the movements of the planets of our Solar System afoot. The Mayans saw it, and I see it. But my version of what could happen is that we will discover we are not alone. And that yes, there is life somewhere out there in the Universe. This will jolt the world into a state of action and reexamination. Everything we know and believe will need to be reevaluated. Terrifying for some, exhilarating for others.

Have you noticed changes already? Will we able to see it or feel it?

All you have to do is read the news to see how our beautiful but complicated world is changing, to gauge how we’re doing. I believe that we need to learn to share, to take a few moments to think about life, to enjoy the process of living much more than most of us do. We need to collectively wake up! Doing so will breed a new sense of compassion into the cosmos. Many people are asleep at the wheel, as the saying goes, and those people will not do well passed this coming year.

With only a few days left of 2011, are you scrambling to figure out how to face the new year? According to astrologer Andrea Valeria, here’s how we can prepare our mind and spirit for what’s to come.

Aries: With panache.
Taurus: With lingering serenity.
Gemini: With imagination.
Cancer: With a better understanding of others.
Leo: By listening to those who know more than you do.
Virgo: With insight.
Libra: With consideration and awareness.
Scorpio: With passionate truthfulness (towards yourself as well as towards others).
Sagittarius: With a good understanding the real story.
Capricorn: With some serious sure-footedness.
Aquarius: With new angles to your unpredictability
Pisces: By being as worldly as you possibly can.

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