Health
-
Brain health and it’s link to heart disease + Giveaway Rules.
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored twitter party with the American Heart Association. All views and opinions are always my own! I have had the pleasure of participating and co-hosting several #GoRedLatino twitter parties the last few years, and each time I can honestly say that I have learned something alongside many of you, and have met so many wonderful people and experts online along the way. This topic peaked my interest from the moment it was presented to me. While we have discussed several different heart conditions and heart-related topics in the past, this is the first time we will be discussing the possible links between brain health…
-
Interview with Chef Lala – The Milk Life Lo Que Nos Hace Fuertes
I was so excited to hear from the amazing Chef Lala, who wears many hats like us women do, and is a chef, cookbook author, food stylist and consultant, certified nutritionist and motivational speaker (whew)! She is talking about the importance of adding protein in the morning – including milk! This topic really resonates with me, as my Hunter turns 11 months today, and will be transitioning to cow’s milk next month as we are weaning him following the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Protein is so important for all of us, but especially for our children in these early years, and just 8-ounces of milk provides…
-
Protecting your heart and health during the winter months + Giveaways Rules
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored twitter party with the American Heart Association. All views and opinions are always my own! Although many of us begin each year with well-intention New Year’s resolutions, by February many of us have already given up, with just 8% of people sticking to their resolutions! Colder weather and shorter days may be the culprit for many of us, as we struggle to feel motivated when it’s just plain ugly outside. Unfortunately, unlike bears, our lives and bodies don’t shut down and hibernate during the winter. So how do we stay motivated? What are the things to look out for when exercising in the…
-
Hello again!
Hello and welcome back!! Just wanted to update you and apologise for my absence! Since I last posted, I got married to the love of my life, went on the most amazing honeymoon spanning 5 countries (OMG) which I can’t wait to share with you all, while raising my handsome son, Hunter, in a new country. In the meantime, here a few photos from my recent adventures and new family! Xoxo, Helen
-
The aftermath of the Orlando shooting. #HealOrlando
It was just like any other morning, except this morning as I was finishing up Hunter’s early am feed, the headline across my cell phone told me that there was breaking news of an ongoing tragedy in Orlando, FL. Fast forward a few hours later, and we all get the sickening news on the deadly attack targeting the LGBTQ community. at Pulse nightclub. I cried. I thought to myself, “what kind of world am I raising my son in.” I could never understand why it’s such a big deal to just let people love whomever they want. It may not be the top news story anymore, but many of us are…
-
Don’t be afraid. #ReinventYou
Don’t be afraid to keep your heart open to the unknown. Xoxo, Helen
-
How martial arts can reduce stress.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post. There are going to be times where we are going to feel particularly stressed and as women, along with everything else that is stressful we become even more stressed about appearing stressed in our facial features. The mind and body are linked throughout our lives and it becomes an ongoing cycle, therefore we must learn to respect both our emotional and physical needs. Learn to be able to balance ourselves and adapt with our feelings. Experts say that women feel particularly stressed more than men, and this is because more women have a career outside the home and struggle to maintain the perfect…
-
Hunter’s first #giveaway! Sharing why we believe bilingual is better with Child’s Play International.
This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Child’s Play International, however as always all opinions are my own! My sweet Hunter is two months already, can you believe it!! Like any mom, I want to give him the best head start possible, and for me that includes lots of reading time. Not only is it helping him develop his language and literacy skills, but it gives us time to bond as mother and son. While I mainly speak in English now, my first language was actually Spanish! I believe that being bilingual is better, and I want Hunter to be connected to both his Latino and Australian heritage, and be able…
-
Just in case you needed a reminder…
Know that you can start late, look different, be uncertain, and still succeed. Xoxo, Helen
-
Women, stress and balancing it all + Giveaway Rules #GoRedLATINO
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as part of a campaign with the American Heart Association. As always, all opinions are always my own! I love New York and will always be a “city girl,” but the work culture here for the most part is like the Rihanna song, “work, work, work.” If you have time to breathe then apparently you’re not doing enough! Not getting enough sleep because you’re so busy is something people are proud of. Being stressed out seems to be a way of life. We’ve been led to believe some or all of this is normal, but it’s not true. Several studies and medical opinions have…
-
Latinos, heart disease and uncommon symptoms + Giveaway Rules #GoRedLATINO
Every February the world gets a bit brighter and redder, as we “Go Red” to bring awareness to heart disease, the #1 killer of women in the United States. Within the Latino/Hispanic community, the American Heart Association (AHA) states that we will face an even greater risk of cardiovascular disease due to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. As women we also face an increased risk for cardiovascular disease because of our role as caregivers. We are the “heart” of our respective families and would probably do just about anything to keep them healthy and safe, but often don’t apply that same mindset to our own health, which can sometimes have deadly…
-
The importance of having #oneconversation.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Talk HIV Valentine’s Day campaign along with Latinos In Tech Innovation and Social Media (LATISM) and Social Lens Research. As always, all opinions are always my own! The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been found in the United States since at least the 1970s. Since then we have thankfully made many strides forward in our treatment options, but what has not changed as much as society has, is our attitude towards this virus. There is still a stigma attached. Communities, in particular Latino ones, still shy from discussing this within our social circles, and more importantly, within our…
-
Learning who belongs in our lives.
We must learn who is gold, and who is simply gold plated. Learning who belongs in our lives, and who is just meant for a brief visit can be a lifelong process. I think as women there may have been times in our lives when we might have been dazzled by the flashy cars, smiles and personalities. It can take a few heartbreaks to learn that that is just not enough. Look deeper. Your life partner may or may not be the flashiest one, but look to see what their heart is like. How do they make you feel? Do they keep their word? Are they so in sync…
-
Join me for the #FDFabulous New Year, New You Twitter Party with Family Dollar!
**Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign that I am involved with as a brand ambassador with Family Dollar. All opinions, reactions, and everything in between are always my own! UPDATE 2/17/16: Thank you again for supporting the #FDFabulous hashtag and joining me for this recent twitter party. We had an estimated 9.4 million reach overall – amazing!! Join me this Wednesday, February 10th from 7:30pm – 8:30pm EST on twitter as I join Family Dollar, Garner USA and Pantene for our “New Year, New You” twitter party!! It’s the first #FDFabulous twitter party of the year, and we are so excited to share new beauty looks and trends that…
-
Three reasons why I’m going to be raising a bilingual child.
It seems like just yesterday I was staring in disbelief at the two distinct lines of my undeniably positive pregnancy test, and now I’m frantically getting ready to meet Baby Noble in a few short months. In addition to making sure he or she will have the most stylish outfits, latest gadgets and everything else everyone tells me I need, I am slowly building a nice book collection too!
-
Health Hack: A healthy (and cheap) alternative to soda.
I used to guzzle diet coke like no ones business! Not only did I think I was doing the right thing (it does say diet right), but it was such a part of my daily diet that I truly enjoyed the taste. Snack time? Diet coke. Hung over? Diet coke. Don’t want to drink water? Diet Coke. Need a base for your alcohol? Diet coke. And on and on it went. Back then, not even the headaches and lack of weight loss clued me in as to what I was really doing to my body.
-
Happy New Year!
They say sometimes you have to keep breaking your heart until it finally opens, and 2015 was the year I finally allowed the love and family I have always dreamed about, to come into my life.
-
Health Hack: Tone your arms while blow drying your hair!
If you have ever gone to a salon to get a blowout, you might have noticed that your stylists arms are probably well-toned. That’s because day in and day out they are pushing, pulling and using several muscles in their arms to give us the straight hair we all love to have from time to time. Most of us can’t afford the money or the time to visit them everyday though, so we are left to do it on our own, taking anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour depending on the length or texture of our hair. That had me thinking, why not use that time to get a mini-workout…
-
Guest Post: Let Others Become Part of Your Healing Process.
While I was in Washington, DC last month at the Latinos In Tech Innovation and Social Media Conference (LATISM), I had the chance to mingle with the Top Latin@ Digital Influencers, one of which was kind enough to share this blog post with you all today! Meryland Cuevas is a wonderful woman with an amazing heart and passion to help improve the lives of others. Be sure visit her website to read more gems of wisdom from this amazing woman! I’m happy to share this post below, as always take what resonates with you, and leave the rest.
-
Winner of Best Latino/Latina Health Blogger!
On Thursday, October 29, 2015 thanks to your support, I was the winner of the Latinos In Tech Innovation and Social Media (LATISM) Best Latin@ Health Blogger Award!! I have to tell you that I was so shocked and incredibly humbled by the win and the support of my family, friends, colleagues and clients. Again, thank you so much, it really does mean more to me than you know! No one can deny the power of social media, and I am proud to be one of many influential voices bringing about much-needed health reform and awareness for everyone, but especially for women and minorities. During my acceptance speech I was overwhelmed…
-
I’m nominated for best Latino Health Blogger!
Can I just tell you how amazing it was to find out that I was nominated by Latinos In Tech Innovation and Social Media (LATISM) for “Best Latino(a) Health Blogger.” I have been blogging for a few years now, first as a way to share what was going on with my life, and that evolved as I saw a need to talk about health and health disparities particularly with women and minority communities. It’s not always easy to write a post. I try to make them personal, because that is what resonates with me. You may leave yourself open to people critiquing your writing style, judging your lifestyle and so…
-
Health Hack: What To Do When You Only Have A Few Minutes To Get Fit.
I have to start by saying that I’ve been there. Overworked. Tired. Maybe my period was coming. Whatever it was, I just didn’t have the time nor the energy to fit in an hour or more at the gym, but I knew I had to do something (anything) to make sure I kept moving toward my fitness goals. Here is what you need to do when you only have a few minutes a day, and still want to get in a full-body workout.
-
Not everything you lose is a loss.
Not everything you lose is a loss. In addition to eating well and saying fit, don’t forget to take care of your emotional health too! Be open to letting go of people, things and situations that no longer fit. XOXO, Helen
-
Health Hack: 3 Small Changes That Make A Big Difference in Your Health.
Just about every week there is something new in the health world. Eat this. NO wait, don’t eat that!! Try this pill, or buy a waist-trainer, or better yet, let’s just spin that fat off! As a former beauty queen I have probably tried everything there was. Some of it worked, but only temporarily. As a health professional, I know better. Our bodies have a science and rhythm to them that fad diets or products won’t fix. Here are three proven changes that will make a difference in your health.
-
The ABCs of health insurance.
While this post has been sponsored by Access Better Coverage and PhRMA, all opinions are always my own. Health insurance is so important. I’ve really come to appreciate that during my travels overseas when there is always that nagging thought in the back of my mind of, “what if.”What if something happened to me and I had no health insurance to cover the costs. What if I get sick? Do I go to the doctor’s office or do I try to treat it with over the counter remedies first? Although I knew it wasn’t permanent, that feeling of insecurty never left me.
-
#TBT Travel Post: Pangkor Laut Resort
About a month ago I googled, “best beach Malaysia” clicked on images and found the most beautiful resort that I came to know as Pangkor Laut. A place this beautiful deserves a full review, so for now I’ll just leave a picture to peak your interest. I must warn you though, your significant other is going to want you to take them here, and you should. If you have children, I probably should not mention that a place this spectacular, is also child-friendly. To the point where those without children would never know they were even there. That’s how great this place is. So for now, I leave you with a…
-
Live the life you’ve always wanted!
I’ve learned that fear limits you and your vision. It serves as blinders to what may be just a few steps down the road for you. The journey is valuable, but believing in your talents, your abilities, and your self-worth can empower you to walk down an even brighter path. Transforming fear into freedom – how great is that? – Soledad O’Brien Know your worth. Have faith. Renew all those hopes and dreams you had for yourself. Live your life on your terms. Don’t be afraid to reinvent your life at any age, or in any moment. XOXO, Helen
-
Hong Kong 101: I’m on Periscope!
Stop by every Tuesday and Thursday when I’ll share a new tip or some of my favourite things in Hong Kong! Have you heard of Periscope? It’s a live video streaming app that allows you to view events and interact with people live from all over the world! It means my family, friends and all of you can see what I’m doing in Hong Kong and all of my travels. You can also write text messages that I will see in real-time, so we can have a live two-way conversation. The app is free and available for Android and iOS. Search for me: @MsNYAmerica2012 and hit the follow button so…
-
Ask, Believe, Receive!
There is power behind your thoughts and words so be clear with what you want to bring into your life. What you speak is your truth, so if you’re complaining that there are no good men/women out there, and that your job sucks and so on, then yes, it becomes true for you. Say it, feel it, and let it come to you. XOXO, Helen
-
Hong Kong 101: Bring your flats girls.
Stop by every Tuesday and Thursday when I’ll share a new tip or some of my favourite things in Hong Kong! New York is definitely a concrete jungle, but apart from the Meatpacking District, it’s also a flat one. Something I wish someone (anyone) would have told me before I arrived in Hong Kong is to buy flats, and lots of them because unless you want to fall (like I have many times in the beginning) flats are just the way to go here. When I say heel, I’m talking about the usual 4 or 5 inches that I wore as one of my staples in New York. I’m…