I’ve long been a fan of Mary Kay for its vast product line and affordability. I even considered becoming a consultant…but chose the nonprofit route instead! I’m thrilled to share some great news with you! Mary Kat is the official sponsor of the latest Univision.com webnovela, Arranque de Pasión! This partnership means that Mary Kay products will be highlighted when characters are wearing their products! In honor of the sponsorship Mary Kay decided to create some unique “looks” of the novella and created a series of vignette’s featuring celebrity makeup artists Luis Casco and Mariela Bagnato share tips on how to replicate the featured looks at home! This is always a struggle for  me – I see an amazing makeup look, I try to replicate it at home and I end up looking like a clown! Not good!!

One of the looks Mary Kay created was the “Ela” Ready to Win look. Everyone wants a winning look, and for Ela, she believes that you should always look good and be ready to win in life and love. This character look developed by Luis Casco is a “winner.”

I was chosen as one of many bloggers to recreate one of the signature looks using Mary Kay products! In the mail I received the products to help recreate the “Ela” Ready to Win look!

Mary Kay® Foundation Primer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Mary Kay® Brow Gel

Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Hazelnut

Mary Kay® Cream Eye Color in Beach Blonde

Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Coal

Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Cinnabar

Mary Kay® Lash Love™ Waterproof Mascara in I ©Black

Mary Kay® Mineral Cheek Color in Strawberry Cream

Mary Kay® Lip Liner in Spiced Tea

Mary Kay® NouriShine Plus® Lip Gloss inCafé Au Lait

Mary Kay® Compact

Mary Kay® Brush Collection

As someone who doesn’t wear makeup often, I was a little intimidated by the products and recreating the look – but I tried to have FUN with it, and here is my recreating of the “Ela” Ready to Win look!

How did I do?

Be sure to tune into Arranque de Pasion on Univision be sure to contact your local Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant or connect with one on Mary Kay today!

To celebrate the partnership with Mary Kay and Univsion I’m hosting a GIVEAWAY! Enter below to win ALL of the products listed above so you can recreate the “Ela” look at home!!

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GOOD LUCK!!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Mary Kay.  

CONGRATULATIONS MARY RAY!!!!

It’s about three weeks since I’ve begun my health and wellness journey. I’m running, squatting, sweating, and starting to feel good! I was going to get a membership to a super fancy all women’s gym, until I was told the membership prices – $99/month…for one month!! With my upcoming Disney trip and summer camp expenses I knew it wasn’t something I could afford, so I’ve been getting outdoors and working out at home. My body is not yet at the point where I want it to be, and I’m a bit self-conscious, but I don’t want that insecurity to play a role in getting a good workout.

I want to be comfortable and looks good while I’m working out, and am so happy to be partnering with my social media BFF, Albion Fit. I first heard about Albion through a blog last year, and instantly became a fan. Albion Fit makes luscious clothing that woman want to wear! Their garments are fashionable and unique, but more importantly practical and technical. Designed by women, their apparel is crafted for women wherever they may be in their fitness goals. Our clothes easily transition from work out gear to lounging gear: whether she’s running an errand or 26.2 miles across a finish line.

It’s like we’re a match made in heaven! They speak my language

Wondering what their name means? Albion, hails from the Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon in beautiful Utah. They draw upon nature and its energy for their inspiration, always remembering that their ultimate goal is to reflect the power of natural femininity in their designs, as well as their lifestyle.

They really stood out to me because obviously their amazing clothes, but their engagement with people (like me) via social media. Sometimes you reach out to a company, retweet something they’ve tweeted and get no response. Kinda sucks! Whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Albion appreciates it’s fans, customers, and potential customers – and that’s how you build an audience!

They offer a variety of women’s fitness and swimwear and workout clothing. Below are a FEW of my favorites:

I recently received their Gown Suit in Navy (left) for my June Disney trip. And once I lose a few more lbs I’m going all out and purchasing my *favorite* swimsuit they carry – the Midnight Dip Swimsuit (right)!! I’m in loooove with it!!

Oh and another thing? They are forever having specials on their merchandise! So always checkout their Instagram or Facebook page to learn about their newest deals!

Go off and explore their site, and be sure to use this exclusive promo code alexandra15 up until May 12 to save $15 on any purchase of $50+! And I’m super excited to offer a GIVEAWAY to one lucky reader for the same swimsuit I have the Gown Suit in Navy (above on left), entering is easy – good luck & happy shopping!!

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Disclosure: I received one swimsuit as compensation – but all opinions expressed are my own! 

As a Mom to an active seven year old daughter healthy eating is something that we try to incorporate into her diet – and I realize that it starts with me. I really dislike breakfast (even though I know that’s really bad!) and would constantly skip the meal in the morning, and starting noticing my daughter was too. Then noticed she was getting more and more tired. So I got her together and we are coming up with fun new meals for breakfast. I’ve involved her in the healthy living process, and getting her excited about the endless possibilities in the kitchen. Her new addiction? Strawberry blueberry smoothies! Yum.

The new “Run the Rainbow, Eat the Rainbow” contest too understands the importance of healthy kids. Run in collaboration with ChopChop Magazine, The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families, and Boston based New Balance the “Eat the rainbow” campaign helps kids get in the habit of eating a balanced palette of fruits and veggies —and, because different colors are associated with different nutrients, it is an easy way to color your world healthy. What better way to eat multiple colors than with a rainbow fruit kabob?

In celebration of healthy kids and New Balance’s awesome brand-new 890 Rainbow shoe, ChopChop and New Balance invite you to enter the contest for chance to win a monthly prize pack, including a pair of Rainbow shoes, a one-year subscription to ChopChop, and a grand prize of a $400 gift card to a local grocery store. Visit www.newbalance.com/rainbow to enter! The contest is live now and will run through May (entrants must be 18 years or older).

The colorful brand-new 890v3 Rainbow shoe by New Balance are stylish sneakers featuring a synthetic/mesh upper, offering lightweight comfort and support with solid rubber outsole to provide long-wearing durability for active kids. These are my daughter’s new favorite sneakers, I love how they brighten up any outfit, and they’ll be the perfect addition for our upcoming Disney trip!

Be sure to enter today for a chance to win some amazing prizes!
Just for my readers, one lucky reader will win a yearlong ChopChop Magazine subscription AND a pair of the stylish New Balance Rainbow shoe!! They’ll make the perfect addition to any summer wardrobe and they are so comfortable!! You don’t want to miss out on this great giveaway, entering in easy just use the widget!!

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post between ChopChop Magazine and New Balance. I received a pair of New Balance kids sneakers and a ChopChop subscription. All opinions, as always, are my own.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Eileen Carter-Campos!!!

There is something so special about the holidays. Doesn’t matter if you celebrate Kwanza, Hanukkah, or Christmas there is no denying people tend to have pep in their step around this time of year. It doesn’t look like we’ll get a white Christmas here in MA but we don’t need that to know that the holidays are in full swing. Storefronts are decked out with special decorations. Lights adorn trees and bushes. Christmas trees hold tightly to the top of cars. Ooohh the holidays!

Since my daughter was one we’ve created holiday cards for our friends and family. It’s always been such a fun process, getting photos done, choosing the photos, and designing the card. I have been so busy at work securing my promotion (which happened Friday!) that I have been slacking heavy on our holiday cards this year!! I usually have pictures taken in November and I always like to aim to have the design done by December 1^st. Well not this year!! Time has slipped out of my hands and I’m scrambling to get everything together!

This year we’ve decided to send New Years cards (which gives us more time) and I think it’s a great alternative! I’ve gone through our address book and we’ll be sending a little over 60 cards this year – ahhhh. So I’ve got my work cut out for me, and will be designing our cards this week!

I am so happy to be partnering with Pear Tree this year! Not only do they have fresh designs but I stand 100% behind their story:

There is a moment, it happens every day, that makes us feel like kids on Christmas morning. The anticipation of something unexpected, something special. This moment happens just before opening the mailbox, hoping for the envelope that’s a little thicker, feels a little softer, and isn’t branded with bulk mail bar codes. Wishing for a card, just for you.

We at Pear Tree believe in this moment. We believe that lives should be shared, with style, at prices you can afford. We believe in the power of connection. We believe in that magic moment, the pause, that makes us all just a little giddy.

The story is in all of us. The story that bonds us. The story of You, Shared.

These are a few of my favorite designs from their site:

For those of you like our family that has yet to send out their holiday cards or need to send out birth announcements, invitations, or anything in between Pear Tree is giving you a $50 credit!! Enter today!

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Happy Designing!!

CONGRATULATIONS to

Julia Magnusson!!

I tend to thrive on organization and schedules. I like to plan activities as far in advance as possible and find that when last minute things arise I have a harder time figuring out what to do! Don’t get me wrong, once the weekend comes I love playing it by ear, but during the week when I’m running a mile a minute and have various work obligations, social activities, and my daughter being organized is a must!

Organization plays a big role at home especially with my 7 year old’s belongings. As much as I love every piece of art she brings home, it’s hard to figure out what to do with everything! We currently have a large bin of her masterpieces that I have to figure out what to do with! We’ll be mailing some to her Grandma and Aunts, some will be stored, and others framed for her room. It’s been so satisfying as a parent to look through things she’s made and see her progression, see how the people she’s drawn have evolved to now included eyelashes, bows, and various outfits. And to see her handwriting improve has melted my heart.

I was super psyched to receive my momAgenda School Years book and start organizing my daughter’s artwork and special moments by year. We received the purple book and it’s amazing! Categorized by their year in school starting with Pre-K until Grade 12 you can store various pictures and memories in a small folder and include a picture from that year, child’s teacher(s), friends, and most-loved after-school activities, and their signature!

I’ve since purchased one for my sister for Christmas (shhhh) and in the season of giving I’m giving away 1 momAgenda School Years book for yourself or as a gift!! Entering this giveaway couldn’t be simpler! Check out the widget below!

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