It's our last day here
I just purchased a very cute shirt from Havana on the Hudson that says, "Corazon de Melon". As I mentioned before, there's some great shopping here. I would like to get some artwork for our new home, we'll see what Eric likes when he gets here.
I feel so at home here, surrounded by the smells, sounds, and sights of a Cuba I never got to know. A lot of Val's readers have come by to say hi, and thank him for what he does. I feel wonderful knowing I am a small part of all this.
I'll be back later, right now, I'm going to keep soaking this all in. It will be over before I know it.
Hi, everyone. I'm here at Cuba Nosalgia, helping out with the booth. I just had my first colada of the day, and I'll definitely be on my way to the food in a couple of hours. I was able to walk around and see most of the booths last night, since it was a "slow" day. There's beautiful artwork, several music booths, and all sorts of "vintage" memorabilia.
If you haven't come by, tonight's the night. Rhett y los Borrachos Empenados will be here at 7:30PM. And you really don't know who else will be by...so come on down!
As for those live sex shows pictures I promised...they will be up tonight. I got home at about midnight, and needless to say, was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
I'll be back later...
Also, there's nothing like Cuban food
Not only did I see Chantel here at Cuba Nostalgia, The 3 Guys from Miami are here tonight as well. I purchased a copy of their book, "3 Guys from Miami Cook Cuban". The guys are generously donating 100% of their sales during the Cuba Nostalgia event to charity. Those of you that know me know that I am not an avid cook. I have been attempting a few meals lately, but I don't know much about spices and flavors and the like. I hope this book will help remedy that, and at the very least I contributed to their cause.
Come on by and meet the guys (minus one, Jorge could not make it to the event), they'll be here all weekend.
Steps to a Healthier You
While at Hispanicize, I had the pleasure of meeting Russ Bennett, the Vice President of Latino Health Solutions at United Health Care. Their website, is tailored for the Latino community and is an excellent tool with a wealth of information on all sorts of topics. From understanding your insurance benefits, articles on health and wellness, sections on women and men’s health and chronic illnesses, and even recipes, the website offers access to services and information in both English and Spanish. And more importantly, it is in everyday terms the Latino community can understand.
One of the key points made throughout the website is the importance of health and wellness. It is so important to engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes, a minimum of three times a week. Whether it be walking, running, swimming, or biking, aerobic exercise is key for heart health, builds and maintains strong bones and muscles, and helps to manage stress and reduce anxiety.
As a blogger, UHC Latino asked me to join them in their health and wellness initiative and provided me with 10 pedometers to give away to my readers. I, of course, gladly accepted. The pedometers track both steps and calories, and are easy to reset so that you can start all over again day after day.
Aren’t they cute?! Wearing a pedometer, even if it’s just around the house, will encourage you to take more steps. A common goal is 10,000 steps per day, which is roughly 5 miles. That seems like a lot at first, but doing things around the house or at work, or out and about running errands, will cover a good portion of that amount. Meet the rest of your goal by going for a walk when you get home from work or after dinner. As with any changes to your exercise and eating habits, please check with your doctor first, since I’m not a doctor.
Want one? Just fill out this form and I’ll mail one to you! And if you are on a journey to a healthier you, please feel free to share in the comments.
Hispanicize – Connecting, Learning, Growing
I’ve been nonstop during the last five days at Hispanicize 2013. I am so thankful that Chuck E. Cheese picked me as the blogger they would sponsor to attend Hispanicize.
It was so fun for so many reasons: I got to meet people I follow on Twitter and Facebook in person, and see old social media friends. We had the funnest events and parties I’ve ever been to, with delicious food and drinks. And I got to meet a bunch of celebrities (that’s always fun!). But the essence of this conference was to celebrate being a Latina/Hispanic blogger and expand my knowledge base when it comes to blogging and social media. I attended amazing sessions that have enriched my arsenal of tools to make this blog better.
While each session had a different theme, there were a few recurring key points. One of the most important things is to be genuine: in your writing, with you readers, and most importantly with yourself. You are your biggest fan. Believe in what you’re doing, know your worth, and don’t let the “no’s” get you down.
Equally important is to build relationships with your readers, Chaturbate followers, and friends on social media networks. Engage with them to build a lasting relationship. That goes for brands too. If a brand finds that you are only trying to monetize your blog and that they can’t relate to you, they won’t want to work with you on a long term basis.
It’s also very important to have goals and know what you want. Whether it be figuring out your niche, or that you are a blogger who wants to venture into establishing a media business, it’s crucial to have objectives so that you know how to move forward.
This is just the first of a few posts I plan on writing related to Hispanicize. There really were so many wonderful experiences over the five days that I’m still letting it sink in. There will be more coming up, with lots of pictures. But I think the takeaways above are a pretty good start.
Thank you, Garage Gym!
I know that joining Garage Gym has played a big part in my recent race stats. I’ve been going at least three times a week since I joined during the first week of July (with just a couple of exceptions). With their high intensity interval training techniques, I get excellent workouts in just 30 minutes. I know for a fact that I am faster, firmer and leaner than when I started: most of my clothes are big on me, and I’ve gone down three notches on my belts during the last few months.
About three weeks ago I started going to the 6am session with a friend, and while I HATE getting up early, I LOVE getting my workout out of the way early on in the day. I also get a burst of energy and my mornings are extremely productive before I have to get to work. Going to the gym is already a habit for me, and I know that if I keep it up I can also improve my best Half Marathon time (3:08) at the ING Half in January.
Local friends, if you are interested in trying out Garage Gym, they are currently offering a great deal via Groupon. But act quickly, the offer ends soon. Check them out, I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Disclosure: I am a member at Garage Gym. I was not compensated for this post. I am helping spread the word about their Groupon deal. The opinions above are my own.
Yes, your eyes do not deceive you: I shaved over 23 minutes off my time! Claudia rocked it too, she also beat last year’s time. Here’s a glimpse of our race weekend.
The best fans ever made it through most of the night (they fell asleep waiting for Claudia and I to get off the Aerosmith Rock N Roller Coaster after the race.)
Can’t wait to do it again next year!
What Blogging means to me
Blogging has impacted my life in ways I never imagined. While the blog’s origins were as a sort of jasminelive journal for sharing Brandon’s milestones, it transformed into a place where I could share what’s in my head, what is going on in our lives, and how I feel about those experiences. I am by nature an over-sharer, and this blog allows me to be me, plain and simple.
Three years ago, I had the opportunity to attend Blogalicious in Miami Beach. It was the second year for the conference, and a genuinely enriching experience for me. Attending Blogalicious was a turning point for me and this blog. I was fascinated by all the women (and a few men) who spoke about how they turned their passion into a business, be it blogging, or DIY crafting, or music and entertainment. I met many wonderful people who now make up my social media circle. I felt embraced and loved by this community, and to date I still feel the same.
At the time I was employed full-time, and blogging was something that, no matter how hard I tried, got put on the backburner. Sometimes weeks would go by and I didn’t have a new post on the blog. Like anything else, you have to nurture and feed something for it to grow, and I honestly did not have the time and energy to do it properly. But all that changed this past February when I was fired. I think I was honestly burnt out, and what I was doing was no longer my passion. I decided that while a door closed, a window opened, and that window was a portal to many opportunities that awaited me in the social media community. In the last four months, I have been able to attend events I otherwise would not have had the chance to participate in if I were still at my “day job”. I have looked at this change in employment status as the universe giving me the push I needed to do something I love.
It took me a while to find it, but I now know what my passion is. I thrive in any environment that gives me the opportunity to meet people, experience new things, and learn from others. Blogging has allowed me to meet people that I otherwise would have never met. I value the relationships I have made in this community in the last few years. Even if there are times when posts are scarce on my blog, I visit friends’ blogs and comment, or interact with them via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And of course, there are the times we get to interact in person, which are so much fun.
But at this point, I’m still looking for a way to make my passion a way of living. I’d love to attend Blogalicious this year because I know that there are still things I can learn to make this passion of mine truly successful, both spiritually and financially. This year’s Blogalicious theme, Create. Build. Fund., perfectly coincides with my goals for taking my blog to the next level. It would be an honor to be chosen by Latina Bloggers Connect and Blogalicious to attend this year’s conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The Blogalicious tribe is taking it back to where it all began for their fifth anniversary. I know that it will be an amazing experience, and I truly hope to be a part of it.
Disclosure: Latina Bloggers Connect is sponsoring a member of their network to attend the Blogalicious conference in October. This post is my entry for the contest, which I would be thrilled to win.
So it’s official, and I couldn’t be happier!
Clean, Open Environment: We clean and sanitize the bathrooms, showroom, gameroom and other areas of the store throughout the day. If you see a table or bathroom that needs attention, let one of our managers know. We’ll get right to it.
Wholesome family fun: We are very choosy about which games are allowed into Chuck E. Cheese’s. Whether it’s a video game or a game that encourages physical activity, we believe all our games should be fun to play and fun to watch.
Food made fresh: When it comes to food, our priorities are freshness and high-quality ingredients. Every pizza is made to order, fresh (never frozen), and we use only 100% real mozzarella cheese. Our salad bar is always full of fresh items prepared by hand daily.
Fun – for all ages: We have different games for different ages. But if a grownup wants to have a turn, we promise not to make fun of you.
(Isn’t that the truth?…while the run around playing their favorites, you’ll find me playing Skeeball!)
Stay tuned for future posts, I will be giving away Chuck E. Cheese Guest passes, each one is good for one large pizza, four soft drinks and 30 tokens.
What is Hispanicize? It’s five days of bringing together bloggers, marketers, celebrities, filmmakers, musicians, and brands to network, discuss ideas, learn from each other, and have some fun. In it’s fourth year, Hispanicize is not just a conference, it’s an event! And it starts tomorrow. And I’m so happy about it that I’m bordering on obnoxious (just as hubby). Not only will I get to attend useful, informative sessions, and go to several special events like the Music and Film festivals, I get to see a bunch of my social media friends.