Posts from — November 2013

After a very exhausting work-filled month, I can’t wait to enjoy a delicious meal and give thanks for all the blessings and opportunities that have come my way. My son will be spending this Thanksgiving with his father so I’ll be home with my beau having a dinner for two. It’s always hard not having my son for a holiday but the love around him is in abundance, and I’m not alone in wanting to create memories with him – Another thing I’m thankful for. Whether your table is set for 12, 6, 2 or even 1 – I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving. Many warm wishes to you and your loved ones.

I’m so ready for the holidays! To get into the spirit, I decided to do a simple moonicure with a bit a sparkle. Who doesn’t love sparkle? I’m also trying to let my nails breathe (and grow out) from months and months of gel manicures that soften and weaken the nail. I’m a nail biter so the more sparkly they are, the better! I used The and purchased a na. To create the moon shape you can use the Sally Hansen strips I used here, or you can go freehand like I did using a . Before starting, I fixed up my cuticles and moisturized my hands. I simply used the Detailer Brush to outline the arch that will expose the bare nail. I filled in the rest of the nail with my polish and let it dry for about 30 minutes. I applied Sally Hansen’s UV Top Coat and let that dry for about 20 minutes. I applied another coat but this time I added the rhinestones to each nail. If you get polish around your cuticle, you can use a small paint brush or q-tip with nail polish remover to clean that right off.

*To see more holiday nail art inspiration, check out my roundup on Babble!

Recently, my family was invited by Disney to spend two awesome and fun days at the park. Several of my dear friends, who also write for Disney Babble were invited as well to get the holiday fun started.

What can I say about Disney? I grew up watching Bambi, reading Snow White and livening up the pages of Cinderella coloring books. I’d been to the park several times in my life, but this time around (maybe it’s age or perhaps this new chapter in my life), I felt the special Disney magic I felt as a child. Being with my son, the love of my life and my wonderful friends while celebrating the upcoming holidays made me feel like kid again. I was carefree and nostalgic as we went soaring over California and watched the beautiful twinkle of lights at World of Color, which is a display of fire, color fountains, fog and laser effects along with film clips on a water screen.

I thought my son would feel too old for Disney. But that wasn’t the case at all. In fact, my friends being as awesome as they are, made sure to include him in all their roller coaster adventures (since I don’t do those) like if we were all one big family. So he got to enjoy everything from swirling around upside to my personal favorite ride It’s Small World , which is beautifully designed for the holidays. I also got a kick of out of seeing the big smile on his face whenever he saw Buzz and Woody. Those were the characters he grew up with, and I can see still see that four year old full of wonderment and excitement, who could not get enough of Toy Story.

One of the coolest things about the invitation was being able to walk around the park after it closed. I never felt the quiet of the park ever before, especially on a perfectly cool night while sipping hot apple cider. It was one of those moments you look around, take a deep breath and simply enjoy everything around you. Thank you so much to Disney for this special invitation. And thank you to my friends for just being who they are. It was a great time, and I will definitely be back to Disney very soon!

What kind of post tile is that? Oxblood and animal print? Sounds gory but pretty much sums up the colors and patterns I’m currently in love with. I had a few meetings last week, which confirmed that you really cannot go wrong with a classic white buttoned down shirt. Without or without a blazer, heels or flats, it’s perfect for so many looks I could do several posts on how to wear one. I also really love my oxblood skinnies and can’t get enough of my recently acquired animal print clutch. And no look is complete without my bracelet from Maiden Nation, which is a company designed to empower women through ethical fashion. In fact, I listed 10 jewelry companies that give back if you’d like to get a loved something that will also help a family or community. Check it out on Babble!

(Zara blazer and pants, Enzo Angiolini booties, Ann Taylor clutch similar HERE, Maiden Nation Imagine Peace bracelet by Yoko Ono)

This post is in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Dove. The post is all me.

Can’t say I thought 40 would come this soon, let me tell you. I’m so glad I never had habits like cigarette smoking or sun bathing because it really does damage the skin. However, my biggest vice, ever since I got my first job in Wall Street in my 20s while waiting for my art teaching credentials, is coffee. Going for a cup of coffee was break-time, and I’ve been addicted ever since. This habit can leave your skin dry and dull. I find myself constantly having to moisturize my skin or try natural remedies to keep it rejuvenated. Drinking lots of water is especially important when you’re ingesting so much caffeine!

A few weeks ago, we hosted a Twitter Party with and (who is known for her amazing beauty tips), and one of things that was emphasized was moisturizing. This simple act helps keep your skin glowing and luminous. And if you can use a lotion with SPF – even better. Even though its Fall/Winter and our skin is covered, the sun can still damage collagen, which results in spots and wrinkles. The Party was so informative, not only did I grab a few tips for beautiful skin during Winter, I even learned more about Dove’s Clear Tone deodorant (which I talk about HERE and HERE). I mean, deodorant is deodorant, right? You have good ones and bad ones. I can’t say I ever really thought about them as anything other what they were intended for. But – I learned that Clear Tone is the only deodorant in the US designed to visibly reduce red spots and has calendula and sunflower seed to help speed up the process of skin regeneration. Calendula is a healing herb that can be used for beautification purposes, to tone and moisturize the skin. And, yes, that’s important for those arms of yours. Think of that crisp white shirt you’d love to wear or the strapless dress you’ve had your eye on. It’s important to care for every inch of your skin. Not just your face, hands and neck. Exfoliate your skin a few times a week, wash your face thoroughly every night before bed, moisturize (night and morning), wear SPF and drink lots of water to keep your skin looking its best. Sounds simple but we get so busy sometimes, it’s easy to let these routines go. But its so important to squeeze in a a bit of me time!

Intrigued yet? I was (very much so) when I went to the Travis Louie opening a few days ago at the Merry Karnowsky gallery in LA. If you’re not familiar with Louie’s work, he’s a contemporary artist known for creating his own universe of characters with a special story attached to each of his creations. It was like a visual essay through time in a world that doesn’t exist, yet you feel like you were part of it.

Louie’s sepia colored daguerreotype acrylic paintings (layered like watercolor on graphite) are captivating in all their oddities, and I love how the stories of each painting played into the whole viewing experience. Each painting was followed by a narrative describing the subject’s life, which brought them to life and made them somehow relateable. To see more of Travis Louie’s work, head over to his site!

This post is in collaboration with Unilever and Latina Bloggers Connect. The post is all me.

The Divina Latina campaign has been a lot of fun. It’s been great seeing how #LatinaBloggers like to feel and look red carpet ready every day. The women who participated in this campaign come from all walks of life and from all over the country – different ages, some are moms and others are right out of college. But they all have one thing in common – A zest for life! The world is so go-go-go now, it’s so important to stop and just enjoy the little things. Whether you like a simple candle-lit bubble bath or an elaborate party, there is beauty in each moment if you’re present in everything you do.

I have a lot of catching up to do because I was sick the last few days. But even with work, I plan on relaxing, browsing through a few of my art books and taking in the words of wisdom from some of my favorite authors. And as I’ve mentioned before, a warm bath is what I always do to unwind after a long day. So thank you Unilever – for sending me a Tempting Whisper from Caress. It’s part of my weekend plan!

This post is in collaboration with Dove and Latina Bloggers Connect. The whole story shared here is all my own.

Here’s one of my most symbolic pictures to date taken in 2010. Standing on a runway with a vibrant red wool coat, it represents the time I finally conquered my fear of flying. OK, wait. Before I continue, let’s define the word fear. I conquered my “I am never flying. Heck no. Post 9/11 phobia. Did not fly for 10 years” type of fear, which is not to be confused with the anxiety I feel when we hit turbulence. Long story short, in 2008, after much contemplation, I finally got on a plane to Texas (my mother lives there). In 2010, I took another leap and went back to Texas. That day marked the beginning of many journeys I would take. Since then, I’ve been back to NYC (four times) and visited Chicago, Louisiana, Florida (three times), Michigan, Texas (two times more), Washington DC (twice), San Fransisco, Georgia and Tennessee. Those trips were huge for me. Every time I get on a flight, I feel stronger. Every flight I take is my spotlight moment, and when I land I feel proud of myself for not letting this fear stop me from seeing new places and experiencing new things. Now, make no mistake as I mentioned before, I do not like turbulence. Once the plane shakes, I break into a sweat. But so worth it, as you can see by these pictures.

Now what does a fear of flying and Dove have in common? Anxiety makes me sweat. When I sweat, I need deodorant. When I’m flying, I always carry one with me. Dove sent me their Clear Tone Skin Renew Deodorant right before my recent trip to Georgia. I was a bit nervous because I was flying a very bare bones plane from an airline I had never heard of before. I also made the mistake of reading Astrology Zone two hours prior, which warned about October being a disastrous month. What was I thinking?

Before this collaboration even happened, I was already going to share the goods with you all if Clear Tone could actually make its way through the challenge of a long flight to the east coast. Well, it did. I also like that it was very gentle and didn’t irritate my skin. It’s perfect for traveling, especially of you’re going to an event or have a presentation. I was actually flying to Georgia to a conference but I was also speaking on a panel so it was important for me to arrive looking and feeling fresh. Clear Tone worked really well, and I’m so glad it came in the mail when it did. I would love for you to try it. Better yet, how about a year’s worth of Dove products? And while we’re at it, how about a gift card to Rent the Runway for an upcoming special occasion?

Three winners will receive a one year supply of Dove Clear Tone Pink Rosa, a Dove Hair Daily Moisturize Shampoo, a Dove Hair Daily Moisturize Conditioner, a Dove Style + Care Frizz-Free Shine Cream-Serum, a Dove Style + Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse and a $100 gift certificate to Rent the Runway. If this sounds good to you, all you need to do is tell me your tips for luminous skin (even under pressure) in the entry box below. Giveaway ends November 15th. Winners will notified no later than November 18th. Good luck!

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