Posted on

Girls, Celebrate your Independence

In two days we celebrate our Independence day. As we approach this day I usually picture a hamburger on the BBQ, Adirondack chairs, fireworks and kids chasing each other with water balloons. But today I think, we are lucky to live here. The land of the free. I recently saw the CNN Film “Girl Rising” where nine girls from developing countries share their stories of survival, education and hope. The film was a reminder that we should be grateful for our liberties and our education.

Girl_Rising_Screen_Shot
“Educating a girl is one of the highest returns on investment in the developing world.” www.girlrising.com

Here in the USA, it doesn’t matter which political party you are affiliated with or which religion you follow, you have that choice. Despite the flaws in our education system, we are offered free education no matter your gender, race or culture. Despite the flaws of our government, we should be thankful for democracy. Despite disagreements and political outcomes, we have a voice. We have laws that protect us and people that enforce it. For the most part, we feel safe. Of course there is always an exception but we should be mindful of the fact that in some developing countries girls are deprived of an education and some are even killed for voicing their opinions. WE ARE LUCKY. Women should be educated and empowered because in doing so they have the ability to change everything.

I wake up everyday knowing that my dreams are alive and free in this country. We should celebrate this country’s independence day as our own. Happy Independence Day gals!

“Educating a girl is one of the highest returns on investment in the developing world. 66 million girls are not in school… When a girl is educated she can change her life, her family’s life, her community, her country, our lives”

Thanks for reading!
Z~

Posted on

Miss Ideas Webisode #6 – Luciendo bien en tus fotos

Screen_Shot_Miss_Ideas_Luciendo_Bien_En_Fotos

Hi! In this episode of Miss Ideas in Yahoo! En Español we show you how to pose for full body pictures as well as ‘selfies’. Follow these guidelines and you will achieve a great pose for your pictures. The best advice I can give you when taking pictures is to have fun and be natural! If you force a smile the camera will know! Let me know what you think! Have fun!

¡Hola! En este episodio de Miss Ideas en Yahoo! en Español vemos como posar correctamente para fotos de cuerpo entero y en las “selfie”. Sigue las sugerencias del video y veras que tomaras unas fotos buenisimas. El mejor consejo es que te diviertas y sonrías! Las sonrisas forzadas se ven a travéz del lente asi que asegurate de ser totalmente natural. !Espero que disfrutes el video!

Thanks for reading!
Z~

Miss_Ideas_Header

Posted on

Miss Ideas Webisode #5 – Tres formas de arreglar flores

Miss_Ideas_Yahoo_Tres_formas_de_arreglar_flores_2

This week’s Miss Ideas episode on Yahoo En Español teaches you how to make three different flower arrangements. One arrangement is tall, the other short and bunched up and the last consists of floating flowers. This was fun to make. For filming purposes we did not include the part where you should cut the flowers’ stems under running water. Also, you don’t have to follow the rules exactly as they appear on the screen. Those are meant to be guidelines. You can do whatever you want and get your own version of flower arrangements.

Click on the image above to view the video. To watch all of the Miss Ideas videos click here. Subscribe to my blog by clicking on the +Follow link at the bottom right of your screen to receive email alerts every time I publish a new post. Enjoy!!

Miss_Ideas_Yahoo_Tres_formas_de_arreglar_flores_1

En este episodio de Miss Ideas en Yahoo En Español aprenderán como hacer trés arreglos de flores sin pasar mucho trabajo. Un arreglo es alto, el otro corto y el último es con flores flotantes. Es muy lindo y moderno. Por razones de grabación, no incluimos la parte donde se deben de cortar los tallos de las flores debajo del agua. Tengan en cuenta que las instrucciones en la pantalla son guias y no necesariamente deben de seguirse al pie de la letra. Usenlo como quieran y seguramente terminarán con un arreglo muy bonito.

Hazle click a la imagen de arriba para ver el video. Para ver todos los episodios de Miss Ideas vaya aquí. Subscríbete a mi blog con hacerle click al link +Follow localizado a la derecha en la parte baja de tu monitor. Recibirás un email cada vez que publique un post nuevo. ¡Que lo disfruten!

Thank you for reading my blog! ¡Gracias por leer mi Blog!

Z~

Miss_Ideas_Header

Posted on

Before & After: Covering Wall-to-Wall Mirrors

Before_Peacock_Wallpaper Before_Peacock_Wallpaper_2 Before_Peacock_Wallpaper_1

My apartment is made up of various DIY projects. Covering the dining room wall-to-wall mirror was no exception. The only thing that I liked about the mirror was that it reflected the light and greenery from the outdoors but that wasn’t enough of a reason to leave it up. I rent this apartment so obviously I couldn’t tear down the damn thing. Sooo, I covered it. How, you ask? With removable wallpaper. Genius! Continue reading “Before & After: Covering Wall-to-Wall Mirrors”

Posted on

Miss Ideas Webisode #4 “Uñas Ombré”

20130612-122626.jpg

This fourth episode of Miss Ideas shows you how to create the ombre effect on your nails. You can use two or three colors to create the effect from light to dark or vice versa. You can get creative with colors or do this effect on only one nail. Experiment and let me know how it goes! Click on the image above to view the video on Yahoo! Have fun!

El cuarto episodio de Miss Ideas te enseña como hacer el efecto ombre en tus uñas. Para crear el efecto de claro a oscuro o vice versa puedes utilizar dos o tres colores. Puedes hacerte esto en todas las uñas o tal vez una sola. ¡Que disfrutes el video! Para ver el video solo hazle click a la imagen de arriba.

Thanks for reading! Gracias por leer mi blog!
Z~

Miss_Ideas_Header

Posted on

Miss Ideas Webisode #3 – Buenas ideas para envolver regalos

Miss_Ideas_Buenas_ideas_para_envolver_regalos_screen_shot

This is the third episode for Miss Ideas on Yahoo En Español. Here I teach you how to wrap gifts in three different and unique ways! You can get so creative with this and you’ll definitely get some compliments! It doesn’t take much time and it’s pretty easy to do. Just watch and learn! If you have any other suggestions or comments, please let me know below! I would love to hear what ideas you have.

Subscribe to my blog by clicking on the +Follow link at the bottom right of your screen to receive email alerts every time I publish a new post. xoxo

Miss_Ideas_Buenas_Ideas_para_envlver_regalos_Screen_shot_2

Éste es el tercer episodio de Miss Ideas para Yahoo en Español. Aquí les enseño como envolver regalos de trés maneras diferentes. Es muy fácil y no toma mucho tiempo. Solo necesitas tu imaginación y ¡listo! Vean el video y dejenme saber si les gusta. Si tienes algun comentario o sugerencia, me encantaría escucharla! Escribelo abajo en la sección de comentarios.

Subscríbete a mi blog con hacerle click al link +Follow localizado a la derecha en la parte baja de tu monitor. Recibirás un email cada vez que publique un post nuevo. xoxo

Thanks so much for reading! ¡Muchas gracias por leer mi blog!

Z~
Miss_Ideas_Header

Posted on

Miss Ideas #1 Trending Video on Yahoo en Español!

Miss_Ideas_Header

Very proud to announce that thanks to you the Miss Ideas scarves webisode is the #1 trending video on Yahoo En Español! We’re soaring over #2 Ways to Cure Irritated Colons and #3 The Steve Jobs of Sex Toys! LOL! Hey, whatever works! Go Miss Ideas! Click on the image below to view the videos.

Gracias a ustedes el “webisode” de bufandas de Miss Ideas es el video #1 en Yahoo en Español! Vamos por encima de #2 Jugos e infusiones para curar el colon irritado y #3 El Steve Jobs de jugetes sexuales! JAJAJA!! Oye, no importa que, estamos #1! Arriba Miss Ideas! Házle click a la imagen para ver los videos.

Miss_Ideas_Trending_on_YahooThank you for your amazing support! ¡Muchisimas gracias por su apoyo tan increible!

Z~

Posted on

6 Things to Consider if You’re Planning on Getting Plastic Surgery

635490_phnst
635490_phnst (Photo credit: Digi_shot)

I’ll tell you a little story… Back in 2004 a representative of the Miss Puerto Rico Petite Pageant asked me if I wanted to compete for that year. I shut it down immediately because it wasn’t something I was interested in. After they insisted, I took a meeting only to bolt out of there when they told me that they would have to plump up my boobies. I think I laughed out loud as I picked up my purse. Sorry boys! That just wasn’t going to happen. I was, and still am happy just like this, A cups and all.

That said, I understand that plastic surgery can be a touchy subject. I’m ok with plastic surgery only if it’s done for the right reasons. What do I mean by right reasons? Read on…

1. Make sure that whatever it is that you are planning on changing is something that you’ve thought about for a really long time. By long time, I mean years and years. With this, you will be able to differentiate impulse from reality. Suggestion: Use the age of 21 as a benchmark. If at the age of 21 you’re still thinking about breast augmentation then go ahead. If you’re doubting it, extend the benchmark to 25. If at 25 you’re still doubting it, then that’s a clear sign that you’re probably better off not doing it. My mom always said “When in doubt, say No”. I refer to that all the time and it works!

2. Make sure that  you are doing it for yourself. You should not, by any means, go under the knife because a boyfriend, a parent, or pageant is telling you to do so. This is your body NOT theirs.

3. Consider that some of these surgeries are serious. You may need general anesthesia, you are being cut open and your body needs a long time to recover. Oh, and you will be in pain or discomfort for a while. Think about it. Is it worth it?

4. Can you afford it? Big one. Don’t do it if you can’t afford it. Just don’t. You have to make sure your are financially secure first. What if you suffer some complications after surgery? An infection perhaps? You might need to cover that on your own.

5. Have you considered counseling for those drastic plastic surgery procedures that you are yet unsure of? Maybe there is an underlying issue that’s clouding your judgement.

6. Get an excellent plastic surgeon. Look for recommendations and talk to ex-patients. Make sure the doctor is fully qualified and once there ask as many questions as you can. Your doctor must be attentive and make you feel comfortable. If he/she says “Ain’t nobody got time for that” RUN.

Remember that all celebrities look amazing on the cover of magazines because they are AIRBRUSHED! ¡Asi cualquiera! I encourage you to first love yourself! You are beautiful & unique! Watch this short video “All Airbrushed Anyways” on how this is affecting what women think of themselves. The very best way to be happy and beautiful is to feel it! xoxo

Credit: MAKERS.com
Credit: MAKERS.com

This post is inspired by a recent article published on Endi.com (El Nuevo Día –  Local Puerto Rican newspaper) about our Miss World, Nadyalee Torres having undergone plastic surgery to improve her nose and breasts. While she looks great, I just hope she did it for herself and not for the pageant. Read article here (in Spanish).

Nadyalee Torres Miss Mundo Puerto Rico

Thanks for reading! Click on the Follow sign (bottom right) to subscribe to these posts via email!

Z~

Posted on

Miss Ideas Webisode #2 “Recilando revistas viejas”

Miss Ideas Episode 2 SnapshotWebisode #2 of Miss Ideas is up on Yahoo!! Click on any of the images to view the video.

This idea was taken from a book that I’ve had since 2010 called Playing with Books: The Art of Upcycling, Deconstructing, and Reimagining the Book by Jason Thompson. This is a beautiful book filled with great ideas on how to use books to make art. I made two place mats for my kitchen table out of old magazines (like the one I made in the video) and surprisingly they’ve lasted 3 years! I’ve spilled water, milk, crumbs and maple syrup on them and they actually hold up pretty darn well. The best part is, that if you damage a section of the place mat, you can easily replace it by taking out the damaged rolls and placing new ones!!! It works just like the rug/carpet tiles!

I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did making it.

Miss_Ideas_Recicla_revistas_viejas

El segundo Webisode de Miss Ideas ya este publicado en Yahoo! Puedes verlo si le haces click a cualquiera de las imagenes arriba.

La idea detrás de esta webisode vino de un libro que compré en el 2010. Se llama, Playing with Books: The Art of Upcycling, Deconstructing, and Reimagining the Book escrito por Jason Thompson. Este libro es verdaderamente impresionante. Te enseña como hacer arte con solo utilizar libros y/o páginas de revistas, música, etc. Yo hice 2 de estos mismo manteles individuales  que hago en el video y me han durado 3 años. ¿Increíble, no? He derramado agua, leche, migajas y hasta jarabe de arce y después de pasarle un trapito humedo, no se rompen asi de fácil! La mejor parte es que si se te daña una sección, facilmente puedes botar esa y reemplazarla por otros rollitos de papel! ¡Que conveniente!

Espero que disfruten el video!

Thank you for reading! ¡Gracias por leer mi blog!

Z~

Miss_Ideas_Header

Posted on

The Women’s Success Summit VII: Shameless Self-Promotion

On Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd 2013 I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Miami Women’s Success Summit at The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse in Wynwood. I heard about the event through two very talented and hard-working women, Maria Elena Holguin from Holguin Interiors and Luly Balepogi from Luly B. They both spoke wonders about the event and about its founder, Michelle Villalobos, a skilled and successful business woman. Signing up was a no brainer!

 

Michelle Villalobos and Me!
Michelle Villalobos and Me!

The summit’s theme this year was Shameless Self-Promotion, something that I and many women struggle with. We tend to believe that promoting ourselves shamelessly is self-centered and can be interpreted as bragging. We get insecure and start to make up excuses for not being up-to-par with what we really want. Well, this summit trumped it all. In order to get business we have to stand up and lean in. We have to push ourselves and get out there. Let the world know who you are and scream it out loud. Don’t be ashamed! This is your life, your business, your money! Continue reading “The Women’s Success Summit VII: Shameless Self-Promotion”