Where I am now? ::Using our energy to move forward ::

Where I am now?

Well, I am in-between. Per usual. 

Between..... here and there. 

Between balancing life and Motherhood. Between finding myself and being lost. Between being myself and trying to recreate who I am. Between writing and taking time off. Between falling apart and building myself back up. 

I feel like I have been in this place for a while now, years maybe. Stuck, seeking a place with relevance to who I am and what I want for my future. It takes time for me to truly settle not because I don't want to settle but because I have not found the place that is a right fit for me.

In life that is... 

But, I think it all comes down to growth and continued learning. 

Does this mean I am a non-conformist? Maybe, a little?  I just want to be in a good place where I can "settle" but don't have to settle for less. It means that no matter what right now, I am making seeking this better place for me, making it a priority and my main focus. 

Have I thought about leaving the blog world? I talk about it almost every year, quitting and not blogging anymore, giving it all up and moving on with my life. But, it hasn't happened yet mainly because every time I try to quit something even more amazing falls into my lap and I have that innate urge to run with it. And, I usually do.

The writing also...... always, brings me back in. 

For almost 5 years now I  have also helped run a group called the Houston Latina Bloggers. Because of it, other amazing projects have come together in collaboration with so many other local women who hustle hard. Not to mention I work an 8-5 p.m. non-social media related position, have two young children, and I have also worked on my professional development and creating workshops to grow my blog and social media side-gig, and oh yeah, I try to maintain a somewhat social life.

In between all this,  I needed a good long pause and found a moment to slow down the Momma of Dos engine. To re-focus. Find my clarity and start over.... 

In a nutshell, I needed a true break. NOW, it's April of 2019 and the fire is back...

This year I want to give my all in a purposeful and genuine way and continue to move forward. This time, I hope it's different. I want to maintain a good focus and I want 2019 to end differently.

So, what will be different? 

Last year I started learning more about channeling into energies, vibes, and the light that surrounds us. I have since tried to truly seek these energies in myself and others. On the flip-side, I never really knew what kind of energy I was giving out to other people or how other people perceive me. But, I've learned to be more in tune and conscious of "my energy, my vibe" and who I am attracting. I know that I'm a person that tries to do as much as possible for everyone and anyone. I also know that I have been the kind of person that will find time to support others and give credit where credit is due. I don't ever really think twice about it, I just do it.

I truly believe in karma... do good for others and don't expect anything in return.

I know that I feed off of other peoples energy.  I feel that everybody has all the things they need to succeed. We choose to do things differently and to follow our own purpose and follow that light and that energy that we each carry. I always try to think about the positive because I definitely feel like I'm a positive person. Which doesn't mean that I don't have dark moments because I have them for sure. I've been in all kinds of situations and I've been hurt and hurt others but you keep going. You push through that energy and you renew it and you renew your life and you renew your vibes.

The difference is direction and intention... I want a new direction and intention for my blog...and that's what I plan on achieving. 

:: Faith and Motherhood:: with James Avery #MyJamesAvery

::Momma Disclosure:: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with James Avery, all opinions are my own. 

In September 2009, I had my Son, Santiago and 10 1/2 months later in July of 2010, I found out I was pregnant again this time with a Daughter, Camila. By March of 2011, I unexpectedly became a Momma of Dos. Being a mother isn't always an easy title to take on. I have had some very trying moments in the last almost 9 years but there is one thing I always find comfort in, my faith. Having faith that my direction as a mother is right, not always perfect or at all what I expected, but just right for me.  Along the way, I have learned many lessons of self-love as a Momma, patience and unconditional love towards my children. Not everyone walks the same journey into motherhood, it's easier for some more than others. Regardless of all the struggles, I wouldn't change the experience for the world. 

While motherhood isn't always an easy journey, it's a rewarding one. When I was asked to select two charms from James Avery Mother's Day collection, the first two that stood out to me were that of the Virgen de Guadalupe who has always been one of the biggest signs of faith in my life. I grew up Catholic and visiting many shrines in Mexico. La Virgen was always one of the saints that I prayed to the most, and still do. Her story of love and compassion towards a poor Mexican Campesino is one that always touches my heart so much. And the second charm was the Motherhood charm, which reminds me of the path I have been placed. One of great responsibility and love toward two tiny human beings. It reminds me of how much I should protect my children daily and remind them of how much I will always love them. 

I love James Avery current promotional offer where you can purchase two charms and receive a free bracelet, (or necklace up to a $70.00 value) This offer ends on May 29th so you can select to buy that special Mom in your life a new set of charms and necklace or maybe your favorite graduate a bracelet with some commemorative charms of their achievements since May is also graduation season!  

I love their jewelry because it's so versatile and I can wear it with any of my outfits which even for special occasions are usually very casual. Seen below is my new bracelet with my charms, which I was able to just clasp on and can change out whenever I want since my bracelet has an open clasp to hook the charms onto! 

Visit your nearest James Avery location and find out more about the offer details::HERE::  

::10 Things I Plan to Change as I age:: #Turning35

Picture Credit: Tendernest Portraits 

Picture Credit: Tender Nest Portraits 

I turned 35 in June and contrary to how I felt when I turned 30 where I thought I was falling apart and my world might end, this year, I felt great. The last couple of years I have tried my best to stay fit and eat right, to just be overall active and emotionally well. But, I realize and know I am getting older and that means making real life long changes. I know it won't be easy and my consistency might fail here and there but I must start changing these things now so that in 5 years I can feel better than I do now.

Funny how life circles around you. Explaining. As a young 20-something I felt all kinds of great energy, I entered motherhood right before my 30's and when I tell you it was a downward spiral, that's an understatement. Now, almost 7 years into being a Momma, things are looking up again. Looking balanced, happy, rested and more at peace with myself as an individual and ultimately as an accomplished Momma. So many things have slowly fallen into place, reminder, nothing is perfect but things are good.

Now enter my mid-30's epiphany, I must continue to take care of myself much more intentionally, because no one else will. I have to be a 110% for myself and for my children and Husband. Which is why I wanted to create this list of "30's Bucket List" items, those that I can be accountable for and that I know I can follow-through with.

Here are some things that I seriously have thought about and plan on making a concision effort to change: 

::Skin care:: 

I actually am currently in the process of creating a campaign with HallYu Cosmetics here in Houston. I visited with Anton one of the shop partners this past weekend and loved hearing how innovated Korean skin care is and how close to home we have access to it! 

As a working Momma of Dos, I am often torn between doing something quick, easy and inexpensive versus something of good quality that might take me more time but will pay off. My skin has always been very sensitive and I often had to visit the dermatologist for extensive skin care regimes. Today I want something that will help with dry skin, adult acne and future wrinkles and be inexpensive and east to follow. I will share more on this soon.  While I will also visit my dermatologist regularly I will also seek out alternative methods. 

::Diet:: 

One key word in a lot of what I do is balance. For me truly eating better is very important. Difficult with my busy work, momma and goal achieving schedule but doable. On good weeks we have good healthy meal plans that my Husband and I follow, allowing for maybe 1 or 2 nights of eating out mostly on the weekend. Always coming back to that healthy balance and cleansing every once in a while. The older I get the more this will be important, making a more purposed shift to healthier eating for our whole family. Food and what we put in out bodies affects our entire being. If we don't feel good from within, it shows an our mental well being will suffer. 

::Vitamins/Taking Meds::

I like to think that I am a very much "holistic" type of person when it comes to ailments, knowing that food and exercise affect what I do. I try to stay healthy and moving. But, I know that every once in a while taking medications that are needed is also important. I need to be better about following medical indications. One thing I love is vitamins and I find all types of vitamins that help me get through my day, some are a high complex Vitamin B12, iron and fish oils. I am sure your doctor can recommend some for you. Most of mine have come from different needs as a busy Momma and the issues I have with cysts and headaches. 

::Drink More Water::

It's really easy to just pick up a sugary drink and enjoy it at times. But, I have to stop myself and drink more water. The more I think about it, the more I need it. Water I know can be boring but this summer has been so hot I feel that my body just needs it. So, I make the best effort to drink a lot of it! My personal trainer of Texas Fit Chicks gave us the best water challenge which helped me gain some water perspective. Bottom line, it's good for you. Do it. Drink more water! 

::Morning Routines:: 

This also comes from having two "school-agers" now and needing to be more productive in the mornings. I am all about being consistent but leaving room for the what-if moments, because life and mornings with two kids can be pretty unpredictable. Up until now my mornings, afternoons, and days have been based on this unpredictability. But, they are now 6 (almost 7) and 5 years old, so I imagine right about now a strict routine should be in order. Or somewhat routine that we can all follow.

I have promised them alarm clocks so they can both jump out of their own beds and get their days started. School starts in  13 days. I will let you know on August 22nd how well we followed this routine. I want to wake up and have some quiet mom time, which means I have to go to bed earlier. I want to be to work on time and get out on time so I can spend my afternoons sleeping, HA. The sleep might not happen but mornings will be key to the next 5 years and my mental wellness. Be more organized and prepared (in all my senses) for days, that's what I want.

::Toxic Relationships:: 

The older I become the less I have room for or tolerance of the BS. Yep. If you say you will do something do it. Simple as that, easier said than done I am sure. There are certain people that we are attached to in our circle of friends or acquaintances that maybe have been good friends in the past. But, for me I have a career and family to grow in so many areas and while I will always try to be a good friend, many can no longer be that friend to me and as stated by Truly Michele in her latest article, that's OK. 

Families and people go through different stages. Right now our little family of four needs stability, encouragement and faith. Not extra drama, or personal turmoil. As someone who has been through a lot and has even gone through therapy for a good portion of my initial motherhood journey, I have learned to let go. In some situations letting go is harder than other times but when you do, it's such a freeing experience. 

::Self-Motivation:: 

It's hard to be in a boat all on your own. But, one lesson I am constantly trying to teach my children is, to hold their own! That they will never be lonely if they seek to be their own best-friend. To move forward regardless of what's going on. In the same fashion, I must take my own advice. I know I don't have many close friends, and that's ok. I have my Husband and kids and they push me, more importantly, I have myself. I am a bad-ass and I can do what ever I set my mind to do. I need to continuously seek out to motivate myself and not rely on others to do that for me.

Why? Because we all have our own lives to live and people can't hold your hand every step of the way. Just saying, that's some real talk to me.

::More conscious effort of moving forward:: 

I do a lot to help create action but I also tend to get comfortable when things go great. I want to continue in the current moment and have not only a real plan of action but also, implement it in a way that makes sense for me and my future. I want to be able to move forward and not allow my fears of "hurting" people's feelings stop me.

As a Latina, I tend to try and be mellow and tame, because I think that others might feel I am being a "stereotypical" Latina, overly aggressive and angry. I want to channel that energy into fulfilling my capabilities and showing others, that I can get shit done. And, I will, just have to make a conscious effort to move forward and be intimated by my own "roar", if that makes any sense.  Being part of Mujeres de HACE has created a shift in my perspective, in a very good and positive manner, more on that soon...

::More mental health/self-care days:: 

Right now I get every other Friday off, I pack so much into that day, that it's basically another work day. I don't want that anymore. I want to work less and less as the next year goes by and if that means writing less and doing less overall, well then so be it. My mind and emotions can only handle so much. I don't want to constantly overload myself. As a working Momma I feel at times that I have to overcompensate by doing more, spending more time with my kids and just being involved in it all, I know that none of that makes me a better Momma. These days I want to minimalize the work and maximize my inner happiness.

::More sleep and relaxation:: 

Up until this moment, I have had a full-time job my whole life, volunteer work and then kids and blogging. My scheduled starts at about 6:00/7:00 a.m. and ends at about 1:00 a.m. For about 4 years I packed it all into those wee hours of the day and have become burned out, a lot. But, no more. I want to sleep and relax as much as I can so that I can be strong and healthy, well-rested and sane to do those things that are really important. Like laughing with friends, drinking wine on Friday night and sleeping in on Sunday mornings with my kids. More sleep and relaxation would make this Momma, HAPPY. 

To being 35 and beyond!!!!

::5 Tips for a Stay-at-Home Mama:: Guest Blogger

Today on the blog we have Bailey of Everyday with Bay! Enjoy.
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I am a stay-at-home mama, it's my dream job! I sit on the couch all day while my sweet little innocent children play independently in their own rooms! They make their own breakfast, wipe their own hineys, kiss their own boo-boos. You get it, it's the perfect job! It's glamorous, it's easy and I'm a big fat liar!

Being a mama is hard and all of us mamas know that working outside the home or staying home, it's all hard! I wish I had tips for you working outside the home mamas but I've never experienced that so I'm gonna shed some of my stay-at-home mama light on you! I've been a SAHM for over 4 years now, that means for 4 years now my main source of conversation has been baby talk or toddler babble and I pretty much haven't been to the bathroom alone in 4 years either! So I thought about some of the ways I make my days go smoother, tips that have helped me keep sane, and things that just make me feel normal in my days of being a stay at home mama with demanding little people!

1. ALWAYS have your coffee on a self-timer so that's it's ready before your kids are up!

This may sound silly but there is nothing worse than waking up to a baby covered in poop, a screaming child because we're out of cereal, and one who tried to independently pour her own milk because she's 4 now which means she can do anything which resulted in milk all over the floor that your dog is now licking up and flicking on your cabinets. Now imagine all of this going down with a hot cup of coffee already in hand or imagine it without....yah I can handle a lot more with coffee in my life!! So coffee self-timer for the win y'all! Seriously if your's doesn't do this, change that and get one! I have this one!

2. Don't stay in your pajamas all day/everyday

Okay, okay stop freaking out! I said all day/everyday! Don't get me wrong I loveeeeee, like double love my pajamas but man there is something about putting on real yoga pants (these are my fav) & a tank that just makes me feel a lbittle more put together and like I'm actually doing something with my life! I sometimes put shoes on inside the house just to feel like I'm real or that I'm going somewhere when in reality I hardly ever leave the house with all 3 alone! #hotmessexpress

 

3. Go get some fresh air!

Take your kids outside to play or for a walk, it's magical! You will be surprised how much better you feel & how much their little imaginations start opening up when you just remove them from everything and explore outside! 

4. Find playdates/friends (for you & them) 

Everyone is always like it's so important for your kids to get social interaction with other kids...yea it is but my goodness I think moms need it more! Kids are entertained with a box, we as moms are not, so find some friends and have them over, join a MOPS group, do something with other adults/kids for the sake of you AND your children! I have friends that have kids and some that don't and I love them all dearly! Having ones with kids is nice because all of our crazies can play together while we talk about how
insanemuch we love them, while the ones without kids aren't totally fed up with their own kids so they entertain mine with new things that I don't do which is totally nice to get a little break in that way! 

5. Soak it in & breathe! 

Some days are just flat out disastrous. Everyone cries, everyone throws fits, everyone loses their temper, everyone yells...I'm talking about you mama! It's okay! That's one of the best parts about being a mama, is you have children who love you unconditionally. They don't care that you break down, that you haven't worn makeup in 14 days, that your hair hasn't been washed in a week or that you just need a moment to regroup! They think you are the perfect mama, and you are! So in those moments, breathe & love them harder! Remember these days because they will be gone before you know it! 

What tips do you have for making your day go smooth? I'd love to hear them!!

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More about Bailey:

Hey Y’all! I’m Bailey! I am a blessed wife, to my fabulous husband Matt and stay at home mom to three littles, Greleigh, Kaige & Huxx! I am a small town Texas girl heading to the big city. I grew up in a town of 365 people so really anything is “big city” to me! We are chaos everywhere we go with 3 little 4 and under & I love it! I am a nurse, turned realtor, turned just stay-at-home and raise my babies kind of girl! This blog is to share our everyday life and things we love! Hope you stay awhile & lets be friends!

You can find her on her BLOG, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & PINTEREST. 

::No Light at End of the Tunnel::

This post came to me the other night as I did chores and tried to summon the strength to get them all done. Hope it helps in whatever stage of childhood you are in.

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In those moments right before you are about to lose your shit. You think. This too shall pass, right!?

As I wipe pee off my toilet seat and floor for what seems like the millionth time today and I pick playdoh pieces off my bare feet. The exhaustion kicks in but the determination lingers. Determined to tame these wild children of mine; their giggles and Christian music play {yes this potty-mouth family listens to Christian music} in the background. My nerves ease and my frustration gone. I am living in these moments  of  chaos and messiness. You know those moments all too well? The "half" moments; of things making it halfway to the toy bin, halfway to their room, halfway to the trash and of course halfway in the toilet. Hence, the pee wiping.  

And, still no matter what they are happy, those two little ones that put up with my extra loud voice and sometimes witness the tears. Their love is endless y'all. And, in that moment, I see a light at the end of the tunnel that wasn't there before. And, I have peace. I have love and joy. Always. Deep in my heart no matter what the sorrows are or what obstacles we meet, they bring me true joy and peace. No matter how many times I have to wipe the pee off the toilet seat or how much playdoh sticks to the floor. I am living in these moments that will never come back. And, the frustration is gone. 

Then hope kicks in, hope that your kids will grow up to be appreciative, hard working and loving. The hope that they will be a better person than you and achieve far more than you. The hope that they will not fear or suffer the things you did. Faith. Faith that they will have happy fulfilled lives with the best blessings that they surely deserve. That in 20 years they will remember all the moments you lived together. Moments of joy, sacrifice, and peace.

As Momma's we all live in these moments, whether we publicize it or not, we are all in that same boat of days when you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel and could decide that you can't anymore. But, somehow with short rests and time, strength is renewed, and we do it all over again the next day. 

Momma, you are strong, you CAN do this. Wipe that pee off the floor and move forward... because I promise you, this too shall pass. You can either sit and cry over the moments of frustration, which sometimes are needed, or you can learn to embrace it all and love every moment you are living in. It's not always easy and it is VERY much easier said than done, but if this unorganized working Momma of Dos can do it, you can too!  

Just a little piece of my heart on this Tuesday morning.... 

::Top 10 Motivational/Inspirational Songs:: Momma Edition

When I am looking for daily motivation or inspiration, I often listen to either podcasts (one of my favorites is MFCEO), Ted Talks (Love them!) or a variety of music.

On my sad days or days when things don't seem to go right I listen to radio stations like KSBJ here in Houston. Their overall message is very motivational. For years, I have listened to KSBJ. And, the other day I realized that since I started listening back in 2001, the morning show has been very important. Not only because of my long commutes and the need to listen to good-positive radio, but also because of the dynamics of the morning show hosts. The hosts are usually male and female, parents and non-parents, but their dynamic over the years has been similar. They work wonderfully together to uplift, to encourage, or provoke deep thought as well as to make you laugh. I have fallen in love with every pair of hosts and truly appreciate a good morning radio show.

Mornings are so important because they set the mood for the rest of the day. When you don't feel great and no on else has told you that everything will be okay or that your day can turn around, motivating messages like those on the radio can help change your mood.

Here are my current top 5 KSBJ motivating/inspiring songs, there are so many others but these I love. You might recognize some of the faces from American Idol.










Then, of course, the girl power has got to flow! My top 5 female empowerment songs.

::Momma's Day Series 2016:: P's Story

::Momma of Dos Guest Blogger Post:: 

Please note that this post was written by a guest blogger in collaboration with Momma of Dos and as part of a current mini-series. Please feel free to contact each writer individually for further information about their blog.

Here's my story...

My name is Priscilla, but I go by P. I am 33 years old and from a small town in Southern California, but feel like a southern girl at heart ;) I've been married to my hubby for almost 11 years and we have two beautiful children, Jase who is 2 1/2 years old and Savannah who is 5 months old. Before getting pregnant, I struggled with infertility for 7 years. My struggle was due to a toxic relationship with diet and exercise that ultimately caused my reproductive system to shut down. It wasn't until I learned what it meant to live a truly healthy lifestyle that I got pregnant with both of my children naturally. It's because of my journey that I have become and Health & Fitness Coach in hopes of helping & inspiring others to learn how to live a truly healthy & happy life!

How old were you when you first became a Momma?  I was 31 years old when I had my son.

Was it expected? With my first, it had been a VERY long cycle and I had given up. Fully expecting to get my period that morning, I had this feeling I needed to take a test...I was shocked to see 2 pink lines! A day I will never forget. With my second I had no clue I could be pregnant, I had just gone off birth control 6 weeks prior and we hadn't started trying yet. 3 days late and I figure something was up...instantly 2 pink lines!!

Did your pregnancy/ies go well? I was VERY sick during both pregnancies and my first was considered high risk. I had a hard time gaining weight and felt like a stranger in my own body. This made me sad since getting pregnant was something I dreamed of for a long time, but finally accepted that it was just how my body responds to being pregnant.

Was your pregnancy what you expected? Nope! Not at all lol! I was expecting to feel amazing and be able to eat anything I wanted haha 

Did your delivery go well? Both of my deliveries, however, were AMAZING!! The two best days of my life and something I will miss forever. They are moments I wish I could go back to over and over again...

Was your delivery what you expected? They were both better than expected!! A true blessing!

How was your first year? My first year was amazing, to wake up that morning and actually have a little one to cuddle and celebrate with is something I will never forget. I cried tears of joy that night knowing how lucky I am!!

Was it all that you expected? Yes! Absolutely! And I had my own mother here to celebrate which made it all that more amazing!!

What advice do you have for others new Momma's? That time goes SO quick! When the hard days come, and they will, just know that it's only a phase. Focus on the good and remember to soak it all in.

We all struggle daily with so many self-issues; what has been your favorite quote, book, movie, item, or website that has helped you keep strong and move forward? The book Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson is AMAZING! One I think all mommas should read.

Contact "P": Absolutely! My email is findingpurehappiness@gmail.com, 

FB is www.facebook.com/FindingPureHappiness &

IG is Finding_Pure_Happiness

::Baby Numero Tres:: Warning. I am not pregnant.

:: The Story ::

When Ricardo and I first got married, we knew we wanted children. We didn't have a specific number in mind. We just knew we wanted kids. We also knew we had a certain level of stability we wanted to reach before we had them, we knew the goals we needed to accomplish before becoming pregnant. We didn't count on having fertility issues. And, the same year that we decided to check into those issues was also the year I became pregnant with my little boy. My Santiago is a true blessing and soon after came another beautiful blessing, Camila. Becoming pregnant back to back was a shock both to me as a Momma and to my body for more than obvious reasons. I had several surgeries before I had Santiago to remove tumors and cysts. Then two c-sections back to back, trauma is probably the easiest way to describe it but it was bad. Really bad. Still the thought of a third baby lingers.  

As 2015 ended we had a couple of family members, who had babies. The question to us as parents of {Dos} is usually, are you going to have another baby?

My quick reply would be, "uhm, nope."

My thought out response would be, "I don't really want to but Ricardo does."

:: The Thoughts ::

Deep down inside I think about it and wonder. Could I do it? Would it slow me down? Do we really want to? And, would we still be able to maintain the crazy unstoppable lifestyle we have now?

I know if you ask parents of two or more children they will quickly tell you, that it's doable. But, we are all different. We have different levels of tolerance, different abilities, and different interest. I love my children. We do so much with them, I do so much for my blog and for myself. I feel that at almost 35 I want to be a little more selfish and if I have another baby right now, that would not be possible.

In February, I go see my Ob-Gyn. She will help put a piece of the puzzle into perspective and further help me determine what is best for my aging and always changing Momma body. I am thankful that I was able to have two children when doctors were uncertain if I could even have one. Now, it's all said and done. I have two amazing little beings who drive me INSANE on a daily basis, sometimes minute after minute.

Another one of my thoughts is, I feel that I can't, or maybe don't want to, handle a third. I feel we are done having children. My two are very happily spoiled rotten by SO many, we like it that way. And, as parents, we are able to fully provide and comfortably give them so much and that's not just material things, but time and attention as well. 

:: The Reality ::

The reality is that as "planned" as Camila and Santiago were they didn't come at the most "ideal" moments. We had SO many struggles throughout my pregnancies. In our marriage, in our finances, with our families, with our health, achieving stability and reaching the goals we have now reached. That as "prepared" as we were to have children in our 30's, we still didn't have it all figured out and we totally created the life we have today, one day at a time. So, if I were to become pregnant with a third baby would we be ok? Of course. We have made it through some pretty crazy moments and have made the best of the last 10 years. A third baby would be more than welcome. Are we trying to have a 3rd baby? No, not really. Will things fall into place if we did? Yes, things always fall into place. 

The third child in this picture is my nephew and that's my Dad trying to be Super GranPa back in 2012, but I am sure this would be us pretty much every day if we did have a third baby. Am I ok with that? Sure. I mean look how much fun it was to watch my Hubby graduate from UH, while he was unemployed with two toddlers and I worked 40 plus hours as an Assistant Manager with Harris County.  Fun times, ya'll...fun times! 

::Building Strategic Partnerships in 2016::

You know how sometimes you make specific plans in your mind for things to go a certain way and then oh yeah. Hello, Life. Well 2016, started with a major plot twist at my job, which could be a great and wonderful change. The universe and the stars were looking out for me and I think I like it. I have for a few years been escaping toxic environments. I love working, I say it all the time. I love my blog, it's become the hidden passion I didn't know I had 8 years ago.  

Having my 8-5 pm merge with my passion, has been in the works for years now. It had not ever worked out. But, now I feel SO much closer than ever before. And, I feel timing couldn't be better, cause it is. 

I also started my year with saying YES, to a lot of great things. I also wanted to remain local with events and conferences, and so far, so good. How did this happen? Well honestly, even though it's not happening as I thought it would, it's happening. The best thing is that I have had this need to tell my story, who I am, where I come from and how I make it all work. Suddenly those doors have opened widely.

All the while, these words remained in my head; strategic partnerships and tell your story or purpose. Today I will share with you how I feel you can build good strategic partnerships.

:: Things to keep in mind with Strategic Partnerships are::

1) Not everything that shines is a star- Don't be blinded by the social media numbers that I rock, well not me but JLo. Obviously, she is a superstar. In real life, we want to not only seek good partners but also be good partners. Just cause people have thousands of followers, are they really superstars or are they duds? Do they really create relevant and useful content? Do they have quality content like you? Does your vision look like theirs? Or is it very similar?

You can't be blinded by the shining lights, you must look past the numbers, and their possible "celebrity" status and figure out if there is depth. If they are all surface or are  they really making the light shine brightly for a reason. 

2) Build relationships (the money comes later)- Really get to know who you want to work with and what they stand for. Do their visions align with yours? Just because someone can potentially make you money, doesn't mean you should work with them. At the end of the day, some of my best partnerships with brands and people have been because I truly like their vision and they truly like my style.

I have repeat brands that come to me regardless of my pitch. Or brands that just come to me without even pitching. Usually, they have studied me and my blog and my style and they like it. The money, perks, and benefits are just that... perks of the relationship being built.

3) Be Supportive- Being supportive is so important. But, being consistent and having mutual levels of support is, even more, important. You can't just support people when it's most convenient for you. Yes, we are both trying to gain something. Whatever that gain might be it can be important too but at the same time, if one side is gaining more than the other, the trust is lost.  I don't ever want to be the person always giving or taking, neither are productive to anyone. You will lose credibility if people realize you are just trying to gain from them and never give in return.

So, supporting one another is not only key for all around success but also for building those relationships that will really allow you to be who you are and create productive partnerships. For women the concept of partnerships is far more important these days. Let's try to support one another and build empires that we can all be successful in!

{Photo Credit: Houston Latina Bloggers Facebook Page} 

Look for tomorrow's post on telling your story, some fun Youtube videos will be required......