Life is Like a Bicycle | #WordlessWednesday

#DearBlogalicious {My 600th Blog Post & #Blogalicious5 Recap}

When I first started blogging, I had no idea a community like Blogalicious existed. And after I met a few bloggers and learned about blog conferences, Blogalicious was a name that constantly came up. It seemed different from other blog conferences I heard about. The women that I knew, spoke about it with affection, they all had a story about their first time. And for many of them, Blogalicious seemed to be a turning point in their careers.

I'll be honest, while I wanted to attend Blogalicious, I had no intentions of making the trip to Atlanta. But when I was invited to speak on a panel on awareness blogging, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I had to make it happen. 

And I am so very glad I did. 

I don't attend many conferences. Working full-time (outside of the home as a legal secretary), blogging is my side gig and often takes a back seat to my other responsibilities. Attending conferences means taking vacation days, spending money and time away from my family. Attending a blog conference is difficult to justify. But Bloglacious was worth it. 

Usually I'm intimidated by conferences. The crowds, the brands, the pressure to network and practice my elevator pitch. But Blogalicious was different. I mean, yes there were brands and networking is always a must. But the vibe was so laid back. I felt the sense of sisterhood. And everyone was so genuine, I felt completely at ease.

While at Blogalicious, I spent time with Ananda Leeke and got a 15 minute coaching session. She gave me a game plan and set a time line for me to publish my book. For the first time in a long time, I was inspired to write. The plan feels like a real possibility.

  

I can go on and on about why I loved Blogalicious. But what I really want to say is thank you. 

Thank you for creating space for bloggers to come together - to reunite with old friends and to make new ones. Thank you for creating a place for us to learn and to be inspired.   

Thank you for being a one of a kind experience. Blogalicious is my fourth conference in the three years I've been blogging. With each conference I've attended, I learned something new. I've learned to value my writing and my work a little bit more. But what I learned at Blogalicous couldn't have been learned anywhere else.

At Hispanicize, Pierra Jolly taught me I needed to own it. At LATISM, I learned that my voice matters. 

At Blogalicious, I learned that I was worth the investment. I realized that I needed to start seeing myself the way others saw me. I realized that my dreams were within my reach, I just need to continue moving forward. I learned that I have the power to make it happen.   

Blogalicious used to be the conference that changed other bloggers lives, and now it's the one that has changed mine. 

I cannot wait to see you all next year!

  

from top to bottom, left to right 

(1) [@ the Gloria Estafan Concert for AARP] w Denisse Montalvan, Crystal Gudino, Vanessa Martinez Bell, Nicole Pressley, Monique Frausto, Maura Wall Hernandez, Jessie Nuez, Yoly Mason and Lorraine Ladish 

(2) Jessie Nuez & Monique Frausto

(3) Ananda Leeke  

(4) Jessie Nuez 

(5) Pierra Jolly 

(6) Ana Flores 

(7) Denisse Montalvan 

(8) Nicole Presley 

(9) Maribel Lara 

(10) The best damn donut I've ever had in my entire life. There's bacon on it. 

(11) Rhachelle Nicol, me, Christine Koh and Janee Darden

3 Important Life Lessons from Ashton Kutcher at the Teen Choice Awards

I don't make a habit of watching the Teen Choice Awards. I don't really watch any award shows - not even the Oscars. But I watched this 4 minute clip of Ashton Kutcher's acceptance speech at this year's Teen Choice Awards. And I was really surprised.
  
Ashton Kutcher was absolutely poignant. And his words of advice, the lessons he's learned can be of real value - especially to a kid like mine.

Ashton Kutcher "insider secrets" to his success and his thoughts on: 

Opportunity | Being Sexy | Living Life

This is a MUST WATCH for us all! 

Sometimes You'll Get Knocked Down

Last week - completely knocked me out.  And I feel angry, frustrated, anxious, bitter, depressed, guilty, emotionally bruised and beaten down. 

Because how can any parent not get emotional when it comes to their kid? 

There is so much going on right on.  And I can't keep it together long enough to write a post.  Truth be told, it's been hard for me to write for the last few months. 

But this week, is especially hard.

I'm having a hard time recovering from last week's knock  down.

This week, I'm trying to catch my breath.  I'm trying to stand straight on shaky knees.  I'm trying to clear my head.

Because getting knocked down, doesn't mean giving up.  It means having another chance to get up and make things right.