.

I’m in the process of writing an adaption of Left to Tell, a NY Times bestseller about the true story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, a woman who survived the Rwandan genocide in 1994. She was in her early 20s when the genocide began, and all but one of her brothers was killed.

I recommend you buy this book….NOW. I read it over the course of two days, and just couldn’t put it down. I was ecstatic when I was given the rights to the property (meaning given permission to write the movie) and there is a production company out here in LA currently developing a film. The CEO of the company is alumni from my film school, and I’m hoping I can show him my script.  

In addition to being A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, she’s drop dead gorgeous, no?

I wrote in an earlier post that Selena Gomez is the spokesperson for UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat Campaign.

You may ask, what does it mean to be an “Official Modestia Chick?” #1 it means you love God, #2 it means you serve Him by loving others!

She’s…just…so…adorable…

Seriously.

Mexican actor does sidewalk counseling in Los Angeles as part of 40 Days for Life campaign

 Eduardo Verástegui, the Mexican actor who starred in the movie “Bella,” joined pro-life sidewalk counselors and prayerful demonstrators at a Los Angeles abortion clinic last Saturday as he counseled women to turn away from aborting their unborn children. 

Many of the demonstrators were present at the Family Planning Associates abortion clinic as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign. 

John Anthony, co-coordinator of 40 Days for Life Los Angeles, described Verástegui’s efforts in an e-mail to CNA. The actor arrived at the clinic just after 8 in the morning and stayed until shortly after noon. According to Anthony, Verástegui spent time in prayer and counseled and encouraged women to keep their babies, acting with “love, tenderness, humility and compassion.” 

Verástegui and four of his friends showed some women the pro-life film Dura Realidad (A Hard Truth) and directed mothers to the Los Angeles Pregnancy Services (LAPS) crisis pregnancy center for help. 

Anthony told CNA that LAPS was “busier than ever,” reporting that one LAPS staffer said the morning was the busiest they had ever seen. 

“Five babies were saved that morning!” Anthony said. “Prayer and love in action were key and beautifully exemplified by all present. 

“The day had a dramatic ending when eight nurses from the mill came outside to meet Eduardo!” Anthony continued. “He spoke with them and gave them a Miraculous Medal as well as a copy of the video Dura Realidad.” Source

I actually met Eduardo two weeks ago. He was very amiable and gave me and my male companion a miraculous medal before we parted ways. (Click the link for pics.)

I will be out at the downtown Los Angeles post for 40 Days of Life this weekend, and hope to be at the Life walk on the 18th. If you’re in LA, come on down. 40 Days for Life is nationwide, so find a location near you and let’s stand up for life.

Ali Landry was interviewed in Tasty Baby:

Your adorable daughter Estela just turned one! After having her last year, you got back to your rockin’ body so quickly. What tips would you give other mothers looking to get back in shape after giving birth?
Give yourself a break, you have just gone through the most miraculous experience and you really need to honor your body. I do recommend eating a well balanced diet and drinking lots of water because it gives you the energy you need to care for and nurse your little one. I had meals delivered by a company called Chefs Diet so I could make sure that I was getting balanced meals with enough calories to sustain my milk production. Also, it was awhile before I started working out again, so I was really depending on my diet solely to gradually bring my weight down.

We know you love organic goodies, how do you try to keep a “green” lifestyle for your family?
I buy as many organic products as I can. I am becoming more conscience on the decisions our family makes every day and how it can affect our environment. I am trying to educate myself on keeping it “green”, but mostly we are really trying to be aware of our lifestyle choices.

Are you the cook in the family? Or do you prefer to eat out at restaurants?
We do a little but of everything. I still get my meals delivered from Chefs Diet which i so enjoy, but with our busy lifestyles and travel schedules we do eat out. Lately I have been cooking a lot more and I swear I feel more love and appreciation from my husband because of it.

Being the Southern gal that you are, do you find that your taste buds are still influenced by your Louisiana upbringing?
Most definately! I usually travel with packets of cajun spices in my purse at all times. When I am visiting home, all of my discipline goes right out the window. I refuse to say no to rice and gravy, shrimp stew, gumbo, snowballs, homemade cakes and bread pudding. I always know that I will probably gain 5 pounds each trip so I just work extra hard when I return to get it off. It is so worth it!

As a former Miss USA, you are an incredible role model for several women. Has that experience affected who you are today?
It was an amazing experience but what I remember most fondly about it was the pride and joy that it brought to the people of my small town and surrounding area.

We are envious of your resume! You’ve been named one of People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people, and topped the Sexiest 100 lists at FHM and Stuff Magazine. Does that inspire you to keep yourself healthy and in shape?
I really do not consider myself any one of those things but I am definately flattered. iI keep healthy for me. I love the way it makes me feel after a good workout or a healthy meal. I am a happier person when i take care of myself.

Now that you’re a mother, do you think there are more children in the future for you and Alejandro?
We would love more children. I am thinking that we go one at a time, and of course he wants a soccor team, but absolutely, more children would definately be a blessing.

You made your mark as a spokeswoman for Doritos – we just loved those commercials! Do you still get tasty cravings for those guilty pleasures?
Always, and if I am craving something I usually eat it. Life is too short not to eat chocolate cake!

You and Alejandro met on the set of Bella, and you manage to keep a happy marriage by staying out of the Hollywood madness. How do you keep your relationship tasty
We really guard our relationship from this business. We are very aware of the realistic temptations and we have boundaries that we never cross in order to protect our marriage. Our relationship and our family come first…no compromise. We also pray together and go to church together as a family every Sunday.

And of course, something we ask everyone, what makes you tasty?
Funny! I am “tasty” because I recognize my faults and I have no pride about admitting them. I also really try to work every day on becoming a better person, friend, mother and wife.

Former America’s Next Top Model contestant Leah Darrow is being featured in the Sept./Oct. issue of Faith and Family Magazine:

Excerpts from the article:

After being eliminated from the show in 2005, she received contract offers from top modeling companies such as Ford and Elite Modeling, but the conditions of the contracts were troublesome. She decided not to sign a contract, and instead went independent. Soon she had many offers.

Yet something else was going on in her soul. She was feeling a weight of sorrow. There were relationships and other elements of her life that were not right. There was a value being given to her body that seemed to make her soul worthless and irrelevant.

On her conversion experience:

And his help came in an unforgettable way. “One day I found myself in the midst of a high-powered photoshoot,” she says, “where the outfit I was modeling was anything but modest.
“I had to sit there and think about the responsibility I had, as a model, to myself, my family, the world, and most importantly to God.”

As the photographer snapped picture after picture, her mind was racing. “What if this is my last moment on earth?” she thought. “What if my life ends right here and now? This is what I would be holding in my hands as I faced God.”

On her style icons:

I have three fashion inspirations,”

1. The Blessed Mother. “She is the purest definition of a woman of grace and dignity.”

2. Audrey Hepburn. “She always kept an image of modesty with her clothing, never less than respectable.”

3. Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis. “Jackie’s style has never gone out of style.”

What she’s doing now:

Pure Fashion is an international faith-based program affiliated with Regnum Christi and the Legionaries of Christ designed for girls ages 14 to 18. It helps young women discover their deepest beauty: that of being images of God’s love. It affirms their innate value and authentic femininity.

This year, Leah helped to put together the first St. Louis Pure Fashion team.

I never talk politics on this blog because 1) it’s not what this blog is about and 2) because I write about politics almost every week in my news column back home and I already have to take behavioral drugs just to do that.

I’m kidding.

But I, like many Americans (and global citizens for that matter) was shocked—SHOCKED I TELL YOU—when I learned that John McCain had picked Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his VP. But unlike many Americans I knew exactly who Sarah Palin was, and by consequence was ecstatic to hear the news. I’ve been keeping track of her for at least 7 or 8 months. Palin’s name came up when I did some research on possible female VP’s I would actually vote for, but she really hit my radar when I read she was suing the Bush administration on behalf of her state Alaska.

You can consider this post an endorsement. I will be creating a “Palin Watch” thread on this site. There are already a plethora of lies being spread about her (which I will be addressing in this week’s news column)…and I look forward to watching her put the press in their place. Plus, she’s got style!

Pax Christi, Rebecca.

PS: My prayer intention this week is for those affected by Hurricane Gustav. And if you’re interested in other GOP newcomers, keep your eyes on the Golden Boy.

Dare I give in to the hype? Jindal/Palin 2012? *gasps….sucks in breath*

Update Numero Uno:

Palin’s daughter is pregnant? Do you care? I don’t, but I do think we should have known on day one.