Change is Always Good!

Hola,

I have been trying to find a name that would fully capture all that I am doing.  Although I was happy with SimplyAna02, I didn't like that I had to have a number at the end too. I was looking for something that would show that I am a bi-cultural mother with different struggles.  So I went with Raising Mami.  At the end of the day, my children dictate what direction I need to go, focus more on home, study habits, cultural exposure, while still maintaining myself identity. I have one of the most rewarding responsibilities in the world, and I try to fully embrace it always. Looking forward to many blog posts to come.

Sincerely,

Ana

Matilda The Musical

Their 1st Broadway Show!

Matilda The Musical by Roald Dahl- Met all my expectations and more!

My girls experienced a series of firsts this past week.  Their first time on a plane, to the east coast, to the big apple.  It was truly a better trip than I could have ever asked for.  They were given an even bigger surprise when they were at their first ever show on Broadway.

They were eyes wide open during the entire performance.  The vibrant colors coming from the stage to the actors and their remarkable rendition of scenes from the movie Matilda.  They have watched the movie over and over throughout the years. This show did not disappoint! From Matilda's performance to the very big Miss Trunchbull.  Outstanding attention to detail. My girls were so excited to be there.

Even though the Shubert Theater is on the small side, it was perfect.  There is not a bad seat in the house.  We had orchestra seats and were able to see every last detail.  The way the musical orchestra brought to life the drama and comedy of the scenes was perfect.  My youngest usually gets startled every time she watches the movie and the scene of "The Chokey" comes on.  Presented in this form she was completely focused on Miss Trunchbull, played by Christopher Sieber. Every scene was right on, with the music, props like the desks that lied flat on to the stage floor when not in use.  They thought of everything.  All three of us were completely taken by Matilda, from age seven to forty.  We loved it!

The only downer was that we did not have space in our luggage to bring back the Matilda souvenir cups.  That's ok, as I plan on looking out for some good tickets here in Los Angeles to take them again.  So whether in Los Angeles or New York City, or a city near you, go check it out. Your kids will thank you!

What Broadway shows have you seen with children?

Smiles,

Ana

Essentials for blogger conference!

    Like the first day of school, we all get anxious.  What will I need? What will they offer me? I was fortunate enough to win tickets to the Lifestyle Blogger National Conference 2015 in Los Angeles this past weekend.  I knew that in 2015, I wanted to revitalize my blog.  Attending a conference would not only inspire me but help me learn. I can honestly say I was not prepared to go, but since I won the tickets it was on!  I began by ordering business cards through Vista Print.  I am a baby in terms of blogging, but I wanted to be prepared to network.  After all networking is the second biggest reason to attend any conference.  I was so happy to receive as promised and placed them in another pouch, since I didn't want them to get lost in my large tote.  Next I remembered I saw a video from Jennifer Ross, where she talked about her experience at a blogger's conference in January.

    I knew I was set in terms of taking my Whipping Post Tote, that i received for my birthday. It is an open tote, making sure that nothing falls out is key.  So, I began to gather my essentials.  I knew that I had to take my pencil pouch from my school bag.  I was debating on whether to take my tablet or laptop, but decided to take neither.  I figured with my notebook, I would be able to write down key points.  What I did need, was to make sure that I took a portable charger.  After all, I didn't want to miss out on taking pictures and I still wanted to keep my social media posts up to the minute! I also took a personal pouch, which held items like lipstick, advil, feminine wipes, and translucent powder.  I also took my smaller calendar to quickly jot down goals for my blog.  You never know when a bright idea comes through the brain waves. 

   I can honestly tell you I felt the part, I looked the part but most I was comfortable all day.  I drove over 2 hours to be at this conference and commuted both days.  I knew that I needed essentials to get me through.  What I didn't expect was to form relationships because of my essentials.  I sat at a table with some fabulous ladies.  During the conference we were encouraged to post on social media sites and my neighbor was running low on battery.  I pulled out my pouch and plugged her in to my portable charger.  She was so appreciative of that.  I think that as a woman, its important to be prepared but also share the wealth.  

Are you prepared for your next conference?

 

All Images property of SimplayAna02

OPI NAIL ENVY REVIEW

  I have been a nail biter all my life! Since I can remember I always had a cuticle to bite and basically any part of the nail.  Most of the time I had nails that only covered half of my nail bed. It was rather gross but I think it served as my safety net. If I wasn't biting my nails I was grazing on some type of food. I have always been nervous by nature. 
  Throughout my early twenties and early thirties I spent thousands of dollars on acrylic nails.  I would also remove my acrylics at the first sign of a chip and eventually bite them off as well.  Talk about a waste of money! I never really thought about having long or healthy nails because most of the people around me had artificial nails as well.  Then one day I stumbled upon a YouTube beauty blogger.  I watched quite a few of her videos and something was consistent, her nails were perfectly short and manicured.  I then began to notice the same thing in Instagram posts of other people and surely I didn't even have good enough nail beds for that.
  I needed to make a change but how do I start.  I knew that in my many attempts at full set of acrylic nails, that my natural nail would then grow with it.  It was as if the acrylic would pull the nail to make it grow, or maybe just the fact that I wasn't biting them.  So that's what I did, I had acrylics put on for three weeks.  Then I removed them myself by just allowing them to lift and eventually fall off. Once the nails were off, I was left with very thin nails.  The nail however was covering my entire nail bed which was a great start.  I went to ULTA to purchase a crystal nail file, Zoya Remove plus, Sally Hansen Cuticle remover, and my ultimate savior OPI NAIL ENVY!
  As soon as I got home I washed my hands really well, then proceeded to apply a coat of the Nail Envy.  I was very careful about how fragile my nails were. I mean just taking out the laundry bent them back.  I didn't give up.  That same night I applied another coat before bedtime, them rubbed in a cuticle nail oil.  This happen for four weeks and my nails were already looking great in my eyes! I was so excited to actually be able to apply nail polish to more than just my toes.  I then decided to film a video to document my experience with such great results.

 Once I posted the video I was motivated to keep going.  My nails were nowhere near healthy.  They were still rather thin, they had ridges and most of there was still peeling from time to time.  I kept applying OPI NAIL ENVY every time I removed the color polish.  I was going through Zoya Remove plus like water.  I wanted something that would remove all the residue but as the same time wouldn't harm my nails even more.  I began to notice that the nail bed wasn't flat, a few of my nails were starting to form much better around the nail bed.  They began to take shape and I was one very happy customer! Every time they would grow enough to see the white part of the nail I cut them to promote more growth.  Here are a few pictures with and with out polish of the first months using Nail Envy.

 

This picture was taken 6 weeks after I began using OPI NAIL ENVY

 

 

 

Picture taken after 3 months using OPI NAIL ENVY

 

 

6 months of taking care of my nails. Nails were still cracking and I began to massage cuticle oil up to 4 times per day.

 

 

9 months of using OPI NAIL ENVY.  Yes they grew almost immediately after I started using nail envy but I wanted my nail beds to be healthy as well!

 

 

 

Check out my follow up video on this outstanding product!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by! Please share this page with someone you know is in my shoes! They will thank you.

Xoxo,

Ana

Working on me…

Every morning, after I drop off my girls at school, I analyze the previous day and set a daily goal for myself.   I'm tired by ten o’clock in the morning partially because mentally I am drained.  In thought, I’ve lost the 100 pounds, cleaned the house, remodeled the bedroom and finished my doctorate. Well, this year, has been full of extensions, pauses and it’s basically just like any other year.  I start off every year frustrated with my weight.

I have battled with my weight during my life but never this much.  The difference is that I am a very emotional eater. I am a Latina, so for me, my comfort foods are great at the moment but everything in moderation right.  I have to gain and maintain control.  I do not hide when I eat, I do not overeat.  I choose to eat empty calories.   My weakness is Mexican pan dulce, arroz con leche, enchiladas, and of course hot chocolate made with chocolate abuelita.  I have been down this path for a several years now. Every time, I renew my weight loss journey I start off right.  I eat and workout the way my training plan says to.  My willpower is strong and I stick to it.  My reason for self-sabotage, is that I eat my stress. Money issues, family problems, or my little girls’ chronic asthma are my triggers.  I know others may have it worse than me.  I know that in theory I should have that control but obviously I don’t.  You see I lose the weight and then I’m off track again. I was never this big; I started college and of course didn’t have the structure to avoid the freshman fifteen.   My parents had just separated one month before I started college. That started a short lived carbs only diet. Once I turned twenty I started my gym rat stage.  I enjoyed going to the gym, getting fit and all that came with that.  For the most part Latino families do not normally exercise to stay fit.  Since I also grew up with Asthma, my mother made me stay indoors to avoid running around outside and getting sick.  Once I learned how to exercise it was so much fun! I stayed pretty fit for the next several years because of working out from time to time and dancing every weekend.  My eating habits however didn’t affect me yet, so I ate what I wanted.  That would soon change!

 In my mid twenties, On Sept. 11^th, 2001 I went through a very traumatic experience.  I sheltered all my feelings because so many of my friends and family would tell me to just move on.  I was engaged to be married that following April and had a bad case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Since many around me didn’t want to hear it, I never talked about it to anyone! I did however begin to eat, and eat and eat.  I slept during the day and stayed up all night because I was afraid.  Afraid of being asleep and something would happen again that I again had no control over. In less than six months I gained more than sixty pounds!

 In September 2002 I got pregnant. I was ecstatic! I couldn’t believe that this new life was going to be a part of mine.  I thought this will help me.  I think I just put all those feelings on the back burner.  I gained 40 pounds with that pregnancy and was able to lose most of it.  The other weight however loved me so much, it stuck around! Being a first time mom, work, dealing with PTSD and tending to my husband, the last thing on my mind was getting fit.  I’ve tried to lose weight and I’m successful as I’ve said before but only to a certain point.  I lose thirty then gain it back and so on. I am 120 pounds overweight and I’m very aware of that!

This year is different.  I will make a difference in my health, weight, and most of all feel great! I have signed up for my first ever half-marathon! I will be doing this with all my might.  I plan on eating clean and training as of now. I have incorporated new recipes in a way that I can also add the spicy flavors into our meals.  I have learned how to make enchiladas using an egg white crepe instead on the tortilla.  Maybe I will post a recipe or tutorial if you would like to see that. I have already been training in a gym and now have to work up my stamina to a 5k.  Then at the end of July I will begin my training for the 13.1 mile trek to meet up with my Tiffany & Co. necklace! This is the medal we will receive at the finish line and I am so thrilled to document and vlog about this journey.  My weight loss goal will not end on the day of the half – marathon.  It will end in 100 lbs! Are you ready? On your mark, get set, GO!!

Generation Beauty by IPSY

 MOTIVATED! Thats what i'm feeling....

   Im so thankful for being able to attend the Generation Beauty by IPSY event this past weekend! This was by far a motivation that my channel and blog needed.  I attended this event with the networking mindset.  If there was a day or days in which i needed to be outgoing this was it. I interacted with the vendors that were present.  I met and asked questions to bloggers that were veterans and newbies alike.  I went to grow my inspiration.  It was a busy weekend for me to say the least.  I had my first running clinic for the Nike Women's Half Marathon the Sunday if the event.  That however, did not stop me.  I was there all day on Saturday and attended as many workshops as I could.  Yes, I wanted to meet the other beauty bloggers but taking a picture with them was second on my list. I wanted to chime in our their lessons learned, tips and tricks.  I wanted to know what, how, where, why.  I got that and so much more!

  One of the workshops I attended was that of Samantha Schuerman.  She was better in person than I had anticipated.  She was so sweet, and just real.  I know that watching someone on youtube or reading their blog is somewhat superficial. I mean we watch them apply eyeshadow, or make a dessert.  How much do we really know? They are just like you and me, normal people who want to make a how to for so many that depend on google for insight.  She is as real as she is on her daily vlogs with her family, The Schuerman Show. After the workshop, I was able to hang out with Sam for the rest of the day which was great!

  I was also able to connect with Rachel Talbott, Kandee Johnson, Liz from Whatwouldlizzydo, Judy from Itsjudytime, Charisma Star, Honey and so many up and coming bloggers!  Generation Beauty, was setup for us to really get to know the brands that were there.  The booths were different brands trying to gain more exposure through the eyes of beauty bloggers; Bare Minerals, Makeup Forever, Sexy Hair, Pixi, Pacifica, Temptu, Proactive, WEN, Sheercover, BH Cosmetics, Smashbox Cosmetics, Nicole by OPI.  The different brands gave demonstrations on their products, they had their Public Relations people there to get to know us as well.  After all, an interview doesn't always have to be behind a desk.

   Michelle Phan, was calm and collected as she dealt with logistic issues, workshops and took pictures with those who asked. I would love to work with her.  I think she has the vision and now the resources to make a great deal of information come to life.  I also had the chance to meet her and pitch my ideas to her.  I was very happy with the overall experience and look forward to attending next year! Generation Beauty by IPSY, is currently offering a pioneer discount code, if you purchase early bird tickets for next year.  The event will take place on May 17- May 18 2014 here in Los Angeles, California.  Will you be there?



This is a testimony of how much added pounds directly affects our skin. She is only a few years younger than me, yet she looks alomst a decade younger! Not for long ;)