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Today, we’ll go over the 5 quick and creative ways to set your goals and make sure they stick this year.

One thing that truly helped me is creating a word/theme of the year. Instead of doing resolutions or deciding what I’d accomplish that year, having a word really helps me create everything around that theme for the next twelve months.

My word for 2018 was Intention. I made sure everything I created, attended, and engaged with was intentional. During this intentional year, I created a method of goal setting: WWHWED Goals (you can pronounce it WED) and my intention with this method was to make sure the goal and intention setting was effective, practical, and most importantly intentional.

In fact, I like setting intentions better than goals, there’s power in words and when we think of what we intentionally want to do, we feel intention deeper in our heart rather than goal which is much more analytical. Throughout this article, you will find that I use the word goal and intention kind of interchangeably. I do this on purpose so you can check in and see which word resonates better with you.

1. CREATE A BRAIN DUMP

Aren’t we talking about goal setting? Yes we are and the first thing we need to do is to write down all the things we have to do and we want to do. The brain dump allows that “mental list” you carry every day to live outside your head, literally. Once your brain is cleared and all the fog has been released, you can now take an objective look at the things you want to do. I recommend the Daily Brain Dump template that allows you to download your mental list, categorize and prioritize everything on one sheet. If you’re more on the digital side, you can also use digital tools like Google Docs, or project management tools like Basecamp or ClickUp.

Make sure you have a place on your list where you can categorize the items between task and project, and a priority space also.  Included in this list will be the goals you want to accomplish. To illustrate, we’ll use the example of growing your email list to 100,000 people this year. For the sake of the example, we’ll consider we currently have 10 existing subscribers.

2. BREAK THINGS DOWN

Now that you have your big list of things to do, you can evaluate the items and decide what is important. Going back to our goal of growing your email list, this item will be marked as a project on your brain dump, and a high priority. Next, we will break this project into smaller tasks. Perhaps you can use another braindump to help you brainstorm. Ask yourself the following intention-setting questions:

1. When do I want to complete this? December 1, 2019
2. How will I know this goal is completed? I will have 100,000 email subscribers
3. Why do I want to accomplish this? I’ll be able to help 100,000 people reach their goals, I will be able to serve a community of engaged individuals, etc.
4. How do I want to feel when this intention is complete?
5. How am I going to complete this goal? – This list represents your monthly tasks.
   1. I’ll create an e-book and make it available on my website
   2. I’ll promote on social media
   3. I’ll reach out to my existing list and ask them to help me promote

And then ask yourself 2 more times How am I going to complete this goal?
The second list represents your weekly tasks, and the third list represents your daily tasks.

3. ADD THEM TO YOUR CALENDAR

Do you use your digital calendar diligently? If not, I want to challenge you to start this year, one of my mentors would always say If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist. Since you have your weekly tasks broken down, you can now block a time on your calendar to work on your goal every single day. Because your tasks are broken down into daily digestible tasks, you can calendar 30 minutes per day to work on this goal.

Using our example of growing your email list, we can set aside 30 minutes a day to work on the e-book for the first three weeks with a smaller intention of completing the e-book in three weeks, then the next two weeks we can begin taking care of the logistics, and finally start the marketing strategy to complete phase I of our goal in six weeks. It is also important to use your calendar because you’ll be able to see important events that might get in the way like weddings, vacations, etc. If everything is on the calendar, you can plan accordingly. You can use my yearly calendar to keep track of important dates.

4. MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE

Even if you don’t like numbers, it is important to have a way to measure progress. Every week, take a look at your task list and see how far you’ve come from your goal. Measuring also allows you to evaluate if you need to carve more time on your day/week to get more done.

There are different ways to measure, using our example, we can determine that in order for us to have 100,000 subscribers in the next 12 months, we have to consider the foundational work that will happen in the six-eight weeks which leaves us with 10 months to reach out goal, this means we have to get about 10,000 new subscribers each month, and 333 new subscribers each day. Perhaps we need to do more collaborations to create more promotion, or post more on social media, whatever you decide needs to be done, make sure it is based on measuring.

5. VISUALIZE AND PRACTICE GRATITUDE

One important question to pay attention to is How do I want to feel when this intention is complete? And a more important question is How do I feel right now?

Create a statement using both answers written in the present and look at it every day: I currently have 10 people I can serve and help them today. I am grateful I get the opportunity to reach them, and I have 100,000 email subscribers on their way to my list. I help them achieve their goals through my work, etc… Whatever your statement is, make sure you can see it and you can feel it when you read it. Believe this goal is accomplished and work on it every day.

One bonus point is to find someone to hold you accountable, do you have an accountability sister you can count on? Let us know in the comments!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pam is a Documentary Photographer, Podcast Host, Brand Strategist, and a Storyteller at heart. She identifies as a Recovering Procrastinator, a coffee lover, and she proudly has an elote (corn) and sweet plantain addiction. Pam works with individuals to help them develop their personal and company brand while staying true to their story.

Throughout her diverse career, Pam has learned the importance of branding and positioning in the busy world we live in. Pam has combined her skills as a creative as well as a strategic marketer, to develop systems that help individuals accomplish their goals. She has a keen sense of how to blend creativity and practicality to create the best results for her clients.

Pam’s mission is to Spread Ideas, Move People. She recently launched a new product: Snoozet, the fabric pocket that lets you live outside your phone. Assembled by a group of women in Mexico and then handpainted in Sunny San Diego, Snoozet simply allows you to be present all while contributing to a beautiful cause: women working towards the reunification of their families.

The post 5 Quick and Creative ways to set your goals this January appeared first on Latinas in Media.

Just like last year, for this season we have created a gift guide for entrepreneurs and content creators, with our favorite gadgets and products. If you are here looking for the perfect gift for that “Girlboss” in your life, let me tell you that you are in the right place! And if you are part of our community, take the opportunity to take note and ask Santa some of these products that we love so much.

¡Clic aquí para leer en español!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy something using some of the links below, I may earn a commission without affecting your buying experience. This is just a way you help to grow and support this blog.

These T-Shirts will be the Perfect Gift for any Blogger!

Do you identify with some of these messages? Show the world how proud you are of your blog by wearing one of these shirts. Available in six sizes and five different colors.

Changeable Letter Board

You don’t have to look too much around to know that creating content using letter boards is one of the latest trends. Start 2019 creating creative and funny phrases using this board that is available in 3 sizes and in more than 10 colors.

A Gift with Purpose for the Jefa!

Are you the “Girlboss” in your family? This piece of metal art for the wall, will give a special and modern touch to your work area. Buying this adornment, you are supporting The Mothers Collective Collection, a fair trade collective of handcrafted items. With the purchase of this product, you provide training and work to women, families and communities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

#Theperfectgiftforyou

Are hashtags part of your daily vocabulary? This lamp will give a special touch to your office or workspace, above all it will complement your background when making a recorded or live video.

Books are Always a Good Gift!

It is said that for lack of mentors, good books! During 2018, I enjoyed these books a lot and learned a lot of tricks and tips to carry my projects, as well as lessons and advice for my personal and spiritual development. These books have helped me grow and be a better person and professional.

The Planner for the Jefas!

An agenda to plan successful projects, created by Sili Recio, from our community of Latinas in Media. This agenda includes pages for monthly strategies, monthly calendars, budget tracking template, to-do lists, monthly summaries to keep you updated on the quarterly goals you have set and much more.

A Gift to Relieve Headaches

A blog often begins as a hobby, but for many of us, our blogs have grown and become our businesses (lucky us!). Like any business, a money-making blog requires some organization and administration, which for many is complicated and boring. Be honest! Are you excited to prepare for the tax season? So, to avoid problems, this guide will give you advice on how to register your business with the IRS, what deductions you can report as a blogger, what blog earnings you can report as income, and much more.

Which of these gifts is your favorite? Share it with us in the comments. Happy Holidays!

 Click here to see last year’s gift guide!

Thank you Jenny The Voice for sharing with us some of these ideas.

The post The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Bloggers and Entrepreneurs appeared first on Latinas in Media.

This year, I’ve made a list of the best deals with some products and services that I use and that recommend for you and your business. I hope you like it and that you can take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday!

Adobe Creative Cloud – 25-70% Off

Students and teachers, save big on Adobe Creative Cloud. Includes Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and over 20 more apps.

Tailwind – Get one month for free!

Tailwind is the best tool for scheduling posts at Pinterest! It allows you to schedule pins, and their tribes are great places to share content with other pinners. Also, you can schedule posts for Instagram and try their awesome Hashtag Finder.

TingTal Host – 40% Off

After our website was hacked last year, we decided to transfer our hosting to TingTal Host. A Colombian-based company with great price, customer service and optimal security measures for your blog or website.

Somos TingTal –  75% Off (Only available in Spanish)

Get a personalized SEO audit and a week of follow-up with our webmaster Alex from SomosTingtal.

Amazon Deals Week

Enjoy Amazon Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in all their departments, including electronics, office products, computers, and cameras. Also, you can shop my favorite Working From Home products!

WiseStamp – 50% Off

With many different free and premium templates to choose, Wisestamp will give your emails a professional look.

Creative Live – 60% Off

Enjoy great deals on trending classes for entrepreneurs, bloggers, and freelancers at CreativeLive.

Some titles include:

How to Break the Habit of Self-Doubt and Build Real Confidence

A Brand Called You (Personal Branding) 

Get Started with Lifestyle Family Photography

Adobe® Photoshop® CC® Bootcamp

Norton Security – 75 Off

In today’s digital world, you need protection against new and existing cyber threats for all your devices. Join over 43 million people who trust Norton to protect their PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.

* Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links

Let us know in the comments if you end up getting any of these deals!

The post Black Friday Deals for Entrepreneurs, Bloggers and Freelancers appeared first on Latinas in Media.

This year, I have dedicated myself to organizing all aspects of my life, and my finances are my priority. That’s why I turned to an expert, to ask for some financial advice that would be really useful for our community of Latina entrepreneurs.

Alexandra Ramírez is a digital entrepreneur, financial expert and CEO of Financiallyfitlatina. This year as part of her movement, she has launched the financial agenda “FINANCIALLYFITLATINA”, a planner that will help you keep your accounts separate and organized with your money. With this agenda, you can also follow your monthly budget, keep track of your expenses and save your bills and receipts in pockets every month.

¡Clic aquí para leer en español!

By Alexandra Ramírez,
Financial expert at Univisión and CEO FINANCIALLYFITLATINA® /Financiallyfitlatina

Studies reveal that most entrepreneurs are not prepared to meet long-term financial goals. Women have a high impact on the economy and the global market and we are creating successful businesses.

When the entrepreneur woman doesn’t have her finances in order, her financial stability can drop up to 75%.

If you are a digital entrepreneur, I recommend you follow these five financial strategies that will help you achieve success in your business and personal life. Remember that a successful woman is one who knows how to manage her money, is organized with her finances and is committed to the growth and development of her personal and professional life:

Set High Impact Financial Goals

“If I had $ 55,000 now, what would I do with that money? Would you invest in a business? Would you buy a new house? “

Many entrepreneurs focus only on their current financial situation, but do not plan for the future. That is why you must create financial goals in the short, medium and long-term that are realistic, specific and tangible. Put a date on any financial goal, and make sure that it’s a realistic goal that you can achieve by working. Set goals with your family and your partner so you can work as a team and achieve them more easily. It is also important that you have them in writing. To do this,  I recommend the financial super agenda: “FINANCIALLYFITLATINA”, the only financial agenda designed for the entrepreneur woman. I created an agenda that will help you organize your finances, meet your financial goals and generate income. You can find it at www.financiallyfitlatina.com. In the agenda, you can set high impact goals and an action plan to achieve them. You’ll love it.

Separate Personal Finance from your Business

“It’s more convenient for me to manage a single account. I pay all my expenses from there.” Serious mistake.

Every entrepreneur should be disciplined and organized with their money. Knowing the numbers of your business and knowing how to handle your company’s financial data well is vital, not only at the business level but also when you want to get a loan or an investor. Do not associate your personal bank account with your business account. You must set up a separate bank account for your business. This is one of the major steps to reconcile money and also reduce the expenses of your company. This will help you to identify the source of the money, organize your taxes, make loans and thus you will not use personal funds to solve expenses. Get organized; document the difference between expenses and profitability. Also file invoices and papers separately.

Design your Financial GPS (Budget) – Review your Bills Each Month

“I’m always financially unbalanced, I don’t  know where my money goes!”

Many entrepreneurs invest and start making impromptu purchases. They do not have control of expenses or purchases. Live smartly and start a plan towards your financial success and your business. But to do this, you must first make a budget to know what your income is, your expenses and how much money you have left at the end of the month. A financial plan is the basis of a successful entrepreneurship and a better quality of life. You must establish a personal and family budget and one for your business. Remember, a budget is your FINANCIAL GPS and will help you to know what is your spending cap. It is key to check your daily schedule or budget and know your expenses.

Diversify and Invest. Create Different Sources of Income

“I’m creating different sources of income.” Wonderful.

It is important to diversify your income stream. Diversifying means expanding your income options so your money runs the least possible risk. Offer several services, create products, seek investments, start a digital business. As a digital entrepreneur, you may already have discovered the wonderful and lucrative digital world and all the wonders it offers. If you have a blog, you can create income in so many ways: you can sell ad space on your blog, sponsored posts on your networks, selling your own products, ebooks, online courses or sell affiliate products. But I want you to go beyond that,  invest in real estate or other businesses: savings funds, retirement, stock market, shares. Buy properties and generate a monthly rent. Remember, you want to diversify to run little risk as possible and not rely on a single source. The profits of some, can compensate the losses of others.

Automate your Finances – Use Digital Tools

“I love technology. I handle everything on my cell phone”. Good option.

Automate everything you can. Take advantage of technology. One of the biggest advantages of automating your finances is convenience. When your payments are made electronically, you do not have to worry about payment dates or think about checks or shipments. Also, you don’t have to buy stamps to send your payments by mail. By making all your payments through your bank account, you can go on vacation without worrying that you will forget a payment or that you will have to pay fines or penalties. Most of my payments are automatic, with the exception of those that don’t offer it or don’t have it available. From paying bills to scheduling transfers to my savings account, most of my finances work on automatic pilot. These are some tools that allow you to automate your finances, organize yourself, be more productive and save time and money:

Mint.com >Keep budget and accounts

Freshbooks > Make payments, report expenses

Hootsuite >Management of Social Networks

Canva > Graphic design

Fiverr >Everything for your business from $5

Evernote >Office on your cell phone. Organize everything!

Financial Agenda “FINANCIALLYFITLATINA” will help you keep your accounts separate and organized with your money. You can also take your monthly budget, keep track of your expenses and save your bills and receipts in pockets for each month.

Good luck! For more information, visit www.financiallyfitlatina.com or get in touch with Alexandra at info@financiallyfitlatina.com

The post 5 Powerful Tips for Financial Success in 2018 with Financiallyfitlatina appeared first on Latinas in Media.

¡Clic aquí para leer en español!

Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy something using some of the links below, I may earn a commission without affecting your buying experience. This is just a way you help to grow and support this blog.

The Desire Map Planner from Danielle LaPorte 2018

Planning is imperative in order to achieve success. The Desire Map Planner, created by Danielle LaPorte, is for women who want to put their soul on the agenda. What I will do to feel the way I want to feel…is the daily declaration you make with this planner. And with fresh daily Soul Prompts like, “What do you want to revolutionize?” “How do you want to feel in your body?” and sections for Gratitude notes and a weekly Stop Doing List ― this planner is where inner attunement meets outer attainment.

Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder

A very useful tool, no matter what your project or work in media is. You can use this digital recorder to make an interview for your blog and then transcribe it or to interview the next guest of your podcast. It is also perfect for when you are busy and want to record and save the ideas coming to you in the moment. This recorder uses SD memory cards, so with 64 GB, you can store up to one year of audio. You can connect an external microphone and it has a USB 3.0 connection. The audio quality is impressive!

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones

The Beats do not go out of style! Not only are they beautiful headphones, but few have been able to approach their quality. With more than 14 colors to choose from, these headphones are perfect for your day-to-day. They also have a Bluetooth connection, so in addition to listening to your favorite music when focusing on your work or your exercise routine, you can also take calls and activate Siri with the multifunction button. They don’t use batteries because they are charged by USB, just like your cell phone.

Don’t give up – Adult Coloring Book

Satechi Aluminum Desktop Charging Stand

I love Satechi products! Who doesn’t like to charge their phone with style? Apart from being very useful, it will give a special touch to your home office.
 

Camera Lens Coffee Mug

With this gift, I will not say much. If you’re Latina, I’m sure you love coffee. And if you are passionate about photography or have a beloved photographer you want to surprise with a nice gift, you need this mug!

CamKix Bluetooth Camera Shutter Remote Control and Premium Tripod for Smartphones

Perfect for taking selfies, group shots (including the photographer) and steady tripod shots wirelessly from a distance of up to 30 feet (10 m). You only need to pair the remote control with your smartphone or tablet once. Then choose the camera app you want to use and press the button on the remote control to capture that awesome picture!

A Subscription to Tailwind

One tip to succeed on Pinterest is to post constantly, ideally nearly 30-50 pins a day. How is this achieved? With Tailwind I have grown my account super fast in the last 6 months, programming pins with this tool and sharing content in their tribes, a tool that enables you to meet and grow with other marketers, just like you! To grow your brand on Pinterest and therefore the traffic on a blog or website, Tailwind is definitely an excellent gift. The annual subscription costs $15 per month or $119 per year.

Books for Entrepreneurs by Latina Authors

This year I had the joy of reading and reviewing three books by great Latina entrepreneur women, who definitely changed my life and gave life to this project. I assure you that any of these three books is a perfect gift for you or for any woman you admire and want to support.

Click on each to buy!

WD 4TB Portable External Hard Drive

You know how important it is to backup your files, right? When was the last time you lost an important document, or worse, ALL YOUR WORK! It happened to me this year and it will never happen again. This Western Digital external disk not only has a modern design, but it also comes in different capacities and colors. It includes software for auto-backup and you can use password protection with hardware encryption to protect your data.

Looking for gifts for Food Bloggers or a Mexican Foodies? Check out Mely’s Gifts Ideas!

Check out this beautiful Venezuelan jewelry!

Got any of these gifts? Let me know in the comments!

The post 2017 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Latinas in Media.

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Although this is a much-discussed topic, mainly because of the high indices of melanoma in the last years, many women still believe they don’t need sunscreen. Some of them simply ignore the issue and others think that even if they put their skin at risk, they will never suffer the consequences.

I left this trend a long time ago, but because I am still concerned about the issue, I decided to ask Dr. Alicia Barba for advice, an expert in cosmetic dermatology and owner of Barba Dermatology and Barba Skin Clinic in the city of Miami.

How can we prepare our skin for the transition from cold to hot weather?
Start your routine with a gentle exfoliation using a body cleanser that cleans and hydrates at the same time. I recommend the Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar as it doubles as a facial & body cleanser, and provides superior care over premium soap bars. Its gentle exfoliating beads wash away dead skin while its 1/4 moisturizing cream, hydrates and leaves skin soft and smooth. In addition to your shower routine, sun protection is key as the damage you’re doing today will come back around when you’re older. Look for an SPF 30 or higher and where it daily. Today’s market there is no excuse for not wearing SPF daily, especially in the summer. They come in different shades with different consistencies and some even provide complete coverage for the face. Lastly, I always remind my patients not to neglect the other areas of their body that require gentle care. Our underarms are often an area we forget about, but in the summer, we find ourselves constantly shaving or waxing, which causes a lot of friction and sometimes irritation to this sensitive area. To combat this, I remind my patients to always use a gel or moisturizing shaving cream prior to shaving, and follow-up with a deodorant that provides moisturization in addition to protection. One of my favorites is Dove Invisible Dry Spray, it offers 48-hour odor and wetness protection, ¼ moisturizers AND leaves no white marks on 100 colors of clothing all for under $6 – with those triple benefits, you get a real bang for your buck, while also caring for your skin.

Why is it important to take care of our skin?
Our skin is the largest organ in the body, bigger than the liver and bigger than the heart and unlike your other organs; your skin is always on display. Its main purpose is to protect you: infections, dehydration, UV damage… you name it.

The majority of us care what it looks like, especially in warmer weather when more of it is on display.  For your skin to look its best and be healthy, free of inflammation and rashes, this organ requires constant care. Not only does it require gentle cleansing and moisturizing, but a lot of protection from the sun’s damaging rays in order to avoid sun spots and worse skin cancer. Skin that is not taken care of will begin to “break down,” it may get itchy, break out in acne or even get infected.

Our skin is the largest organ in the body, bigger than the liver and bigger than the heart.
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What is the biggest mistake most Latina women make when it comes to skin care?
I find that a lot of us feel that somehow genetically we have more “resistant skin”. That translates to not needing to wear sunscreen and not having to worry about the consequences of premature aging, sun damage and skin cancer later on in life. Living in Miami where the majority of my patients are Latina, I find that this is absolutely not true, even in darker skin tones. Sometimes I get thrown for a loop when performing a skin exam in a darker skin Latina and find skin cancer and can’t believe it. Then they reveal that they grew up in Miami, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic for example, and were exposed to a lot of sun. Intense sun exposure can overpower any natural protection from melanin (assuming that we have enough of it.)

What tips would you give to a female entrepreneur who is always busy and almost never has time to indulge her skin?
Entrepreneurs starting their own enterprises who are in front of clients, potential clients or investors definitely need thick skin, that is for sure. Believe it or not, the way our skin looks matters simply because it can be a reflection of our mental or physical health. One of the things I find in highly stressed individuals is excessive picking at the skin. Never do this as it can lead to scarring. If you are on the go, keep your routine simple. For your face, use a gentle cleanser that does not over strip the skin and combine with a tinted sunscreen/moisturizer. I usually mix in a tiny amount of highlighter for an extra natural glow. At nighttime, use a retinol-based product to treat any stress induced breakouts or dark spots, layered with moisturizer. You can even mix the two on one hand and apply. Don’t forget an eye cream if you are starting to see fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.

Our skin looks matters simply because it can be a reflection of our mental or physical health.
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Should a woman protect her skin from the sun only on a beach or pool day?
Latinas are at risk for pigmenting or getting “manchas”, especially if we are on birth control. Always protect your skin and always wear sunscreen SPF 30 or higher and seek shade, not only on beach or pool days. Once sunspots are present, they are chronic and even a little bit of sun will cause them to flare.

The post How To Prepare Your Skin For This Summer - By Dr. Alicia Barba appeared first on Latinas in Media.

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With her username @Dra_Gi, she uses social networks to share information with her patients and followers. In addition, she just launched “La Dieta Online de la Dra. Gi (Dra. Gi’s Online Diet)”, a digital platform that allows her to serve customers around the world and in only one week has managed to enroll more than 2,500 people.

Taking advantage of our meeting, I asked her for some tips to share with you, as our health should be a priority before any project or business that we want to undertake.

What is smart eating?

 
Balance is the magic word in Dra. Gi’s regimen. She educates her patients on what to choose at mealtimes and makes them aware of the benefits each food brings. Well-known for being “the medical nutritionist of celebrities in the Dominican Republic”,  she concludes that eating smart is knowing how to identify the needs of your body and learning to play with food combinations and portions.

We think of quick weight loss and we get frustrated. You have to prepare to lose weight gradually and consciously.

 
Our diet should contain both carbohydrates and proteins and fats, and many times when we start a diet, this is the first thing we give up. “It’s important that you learn to define what your body needs and what physical and clinical conditions you have. Everyone has a different body, and therefore a very personalized diet,” says Dra. Gi.  

Popular diets, like clothing or technology, change or stick, depending on fads. Many of these are super intense, and tend to limit a variety of foods. What is the outcome of these diets? Rapid short-term results that suffer a rebound effect later on. Because, as in any regimen, the most difficult stage is maintenance.

Eating smart is knowing how to choose foods, the right portions, the time, quantity and frequency.
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In our conversation, Dra. Gi insists that you can eat both healthy and delicious. And to get a taste, you can find the delicious dishes that her patients prepare using the hashtag: #yomecuidocondragi.

If you want to eat smart, start by following these tips!

 
Get Organized
Just like we mentioned in our previous article, organization is key. Prepare your food in advance. Take a moment during the week to plan a menu. That way you can prepare some of the dishes that you are going to consume each day in a timely manner, taking into account the types of food and the portions that you need.

Eat every 3 to 4 hours for your metabolism to stay active
You heard right! Eat 5 to 6 times a day. Entrepreneurial women often miss some meals, especially breakfast, because we have many responsibilities and use the famous excuse of “not having time”. If you can’t have a full meal in a period of several hours, it is advisable to eat a snack.

Food Combinations
Do not limit yourself to just one type of food! The body needs protein and vegetables, but also carbohydrates and healthy fats. Where do you find these fats? Not in empanadas! In some foods such as nuts, avocado, chia seeds, fatty fish such as salmon, olive oil or coconut oil and other foods that benefit your cholesterol level.

Hydration
Ever since we were girls we have been hearing that we need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. All of us, especially those who are very busy, often forget how important it is to stay hydrated. We have the idea that if we do not exercise, we do not need to consume enough water. And friend, let me remind you that the body is composed of 65% water and if we do not consume it for more than five days, we put our life at risk. Pause right now and have a glass of water!

Exercise
It is very important to exercise at least 3 times a week. Look for an activity or a class that motivates you, whether it is cardio, a dance class, riding a bicycle or cycling… Dra. Gi confirms that 35 minutes, 3 times a week, is enough for a person to have a healthy weight and a better quality of life.  

And you, how do you take care of yourself? Are you eating smart? Share your opinion with us by leaving a comment!

About Dra. Gi:
Giselle Escaño, better known in the media as Dra. Gi, has more than 100,000 followers in social media and is the director of the Aesthetic Medicine-Clinical Nutrition Unit at Centro Escaño de Endocrinología y Estética in the Dominican Republic. She is a pioneer in developing the first light calorimetric menu in the Dominican Republic, in accordance with United States regulations and along with Restaurant Colatte. She graduated from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) and did a specialty in Aesthetic Medicine-Clinical Nutrition at the University of Les Illes Balears in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. As part of the program for weight loss and prevention of excess weight and obesity, she has been working for four years with #RetoDraGi through social media, and also held a Reality Show known as #RetoDraGi2017 in the television program Noche de Luz by Luz García, transmitted by Antenna Latina, channel 7, in Dominican Republic. She is also a member of the Dominican Society for the Study of Obesity (SODEO) as well as a member of the Dominican Foundation of Endocrinology and Diabetes (FUNDOMED). In addition, she collaborates with different media outlets on the subject of health. It should be noted that Escaño is a presenter of the radio program “Salud en línea” and is currently collaborating on nutrition issues in Telemundo’s morning show, Un nuevo día. She has also been featured in HOLA! TV, RCN International, Caracol radio, Univision radio at the national level and Diario las Américas, among others.

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Did you know that women stress more over money than men? A PriceWaterhouse study reports that 52% of women suffer from financial stress and 28% attribute that stress to distraction.

Do you suffer from financial stress? These three things are key to help you mitigate financial anxiety.

¡Clic aquí para leer en español!

Get Organized
Getting organized entails having a good budget. But don’t panic! Let’s use the closet analogy. How do you organize your clothes? When you have a messy closet you even forget what pieces of clothing you have, and without much thought, you go out and buy some more. If you know what you have, you become more conscious and can save plenty of time and money. The same applies to getting your finances in order!

Understanding
On the Internet there are thousands of free resources for understanding any topic you need to investigate or better comprehend in order to boost your confidence. Use online courses, books and tools, to understand and achieve better management of your finances. Some of these books by Elaine may be useful and can help you to understand some issues, as well as give you some tips that you can implement in your financial life.

Control
Control is achieved through organization and understanding. Nothing like being clear about what you have, knowing that money is optimally organized and being used as you intend to.

For money to be a positive thing in women's lives, women need to get educated.
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How to invest in a small business without falling into debt and without leaving aside our personal savings account

As entrepreneurs, it is very difficult to start a new business without falling into debt. And the savings account? Many push it aside, because it seems impossible to invest and save at the same time. During my conversation with Elaine, I asked her for financial advice for us, enterprising women, and this is what she shared:

Invest in something you are passionate about
It is very important that your investment goes to something that you like. You must invest in your dream and not in any other. If your friend wants to open a clothing boutique, maybe that is her dream, but not yours. Maybe your dream is to be an artist … Your company must be a reflection of your values, your passion and your talents. Focus on what you’re good at!

Positive debt is good
Taking out a government loan in order for your company to thrive is a good thing. Getting into debt over things that depreciate over time, such as clothing or the latest mobile phone you don’t need, is not recommended. Debt must be used as a springboard to grow and not as something that works to your disadvantage. Bad debt can affect your credit history and when the company grows and you need more money, your credit won’t be good enough.

Credit has to be your ally. @ElaineKing
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As entrepreneurs, saving is difficult, but not impossible
You must make saving a habit. For every dollar you earn, you should spend 10% on your savings account. As a freelancer or business owner, it is also very important that you set aside a savings account for taxes. If you do not keep an amount of your winnings each month, at the end of the year you will have to pay out of pocket.

Request a bank account, separate from your personal, and designate it as “tax saving”. In most states in the United States, where there are no state taxes, it is advisable to set aside about 15% of your income, while if you live in New York City, it is advisable to take 20% of your monthly income.

For clearer goals, plan more
Designate your partner, family member or a trusted friend as the person who can keep you accountable for the goals you achieve. If you are an entrepreneur, you have your dreams and you put them on paper. But, what happens if you don’t achieve them? This person will support you, when you achieve and when you fall short. When you earn rewards for the goals you achieve or when you need reprimanding for not achieving them. This will help you to be disciplined, staying focused on your goals and pushing your project forward.

Do you have any questions about this topic? Share with us your personal tips on how you organize your finances!

About Elaine King:
Author of the 2 award winning books Family and Money Matters Next Generation and La Familia y El Dinero Hecho Facil, Elaine King is frequently invited to international television and radio shows and is quoted by international news organizations for her brilliance and philosophy in the field of finance and family. With an International Business Degree from St. Mary’s University and an International MBA from Thunderbird the #1 ranked school in the world by the Financial Times, and Graduate studies in Family Therapy from Georgetown,  Elaine’s expertise is unparalleled.

Her career has taken her to Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Peru and across the United States. Currently serves as WE Family Offices Director of Family Education & Governance.  She has also served as Vice President of Bessemer Trust’s $88 billion family office group, Managing Director of LFG, Director of Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust’s Wealth and Well-Being Planning Institute, Investment Manager of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Coutts Latin America Division and Investment Manager of Citigroup’s $13 billion advisory service group. All these experiences along with her insight into finance and family dynamics and careful studies led to the creation of “Family and Money Matters Institute” lessons simple enough for everyone to understand.

Elaine King resides in Miami, FL, and is a successful Certified Financial Planner , Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who provides families with planning strategies by helping them understand, organize and manage their wealth around an actionable strategy. Her unique vision allows her to play multi-faceted roles of advising on retirement planning, saving for educational needs, estate planning, family meetings and financial competency programs for children & women. She is a public speaker, a public educator, and serves as Ambassador for the CFP Board, the Financial Planning Association Board, Estate Planning Council and has served for the Collaborative Family Law Institute Board.  She mentors children and supports CIMA, a shelter for homeless children, in her native Peru.

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If your mom, sister or best friend is a Latina in Media just like us, I want to give you some last minute ideas that you can still get in time to celebrate this special occasion and the great mothers in your life.

Is your mom away? Don’t have anyone to celebrate Mother’s Day with?

 
This list is still useful, because it has some cool gifts for any occasion that I am sure we all want to have. Take a look!

¡Clic aquí para leer en español! 

A light for more beautiful selfies!

There is a big difference between a good and a bad selfie! And we all know that good light is essential for taking a good photo or video. This ring light comes with a rechargeable battery powered by USB. Includes three levels of lighting and it is very compact. This is a LED type o light and it adapts to any type of cell phone. This light is perfect to use at night and also in rooms with low light. And who said this is only for selfies? Your live videos will also be in better quality using a gadget like this one!

Organizada: A Blogger’s Guide to Getting It Together

This is THE PLANNER for bloggers! Created by Latina Blogger Sili Recio, it includes a monthly planner, goals and overviews, income and expense tracking, social shares tracking, weekly calendars to track your posts and their social shares and a long list/short list to ensure you’re knocking out that to do list. All in a sleek, undated 6×9 planner.

Take care of her voice with style!

For those who work in radio, have podcasts or a VLOG, in this article we talked about the importance of taking care of your voice. Our friend Anabelle Blum shared some advice: to use a scarf or pashmina to keep the throat warm and comfy. Here are some great options!

Amazon’s Echo Dot

Have you seen the latest Amazon commercials? Everybody is talking about Alexa!
The Echo Dot is a hands-free, voice-controlled device with a small built-in speaker, which can also be connected to other speakers or headphones via Bluetooth or through an audio cable. With Alexa’s help (Amazon’s voice service) this little gadget is able to play your favorite music, audiobooks, provide information, news, sports scores, weather and more.

Echo Dot can hear you from across the room, even while music is playing. When you want to use Echo Dot, just say the wake word “Alexa” and Dot responds instantly. If you have more than one Echo or Echo Dot, Alexa responds intelligently from the Echo closest to you.

A book to cook delicious recipes with “La Cocina Cubana de Vero”

If the gift is for a food blogger, someone who likes Latin food or who is always in the kitchen, La Cocina Cubana de Vero is a great book for her.

This book, by Veronica Cervera, has 100 delicious dishes. Among them are Stuffed Potatoes, Lentil Salad, Plantain Soup, Fried Snapper, Ropa Vieja, Mamey Shake, and Guayaba Turnovers. It is, from any point of view, an indispensable book for lovers of cuisine in general and Cuban food in particular.

Help her be more productive with a Focus@Will subscription

Nothing like using music as a tool for concentration and to increase productivity! As I told you in this article, when I started using Focus@Will, I couldn’t believe it. The music was somehow playing with my brain in a way that suddenly allowed me to complete my entire to-do list before noon.

Focus@Will is a music service based on human neuroscience. It helps you focus, reduces distractions, maintains your productivity and retains information when working, studying, writing and reading. The scientifically tested technology behind Focus@Will has been shown to alter brain activity toward a state that is more conducive to productivity.

You can gift a subscription to Focus@Will for 3 months, for a year or a lifetime. The app can be used through the Focus@Will website and the mobile version is available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

Did you like these ideas? What did you end up giving for Mother’s Day? Let me know in the comments!

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Although I am from the Caribbean I still have a lot to explore in the area, so we decided to go to the Turks & Caicos islands. These belong to the UK and are composed of 40 islands and cays, of which only 8 are inhabited.

¡Clic aquí para leer en español!

Being a native of the Dominican Republic, it hurts to admit publicly that these islands, so far, have been the most beautiful beaches I have seen. The clarity of the water and the different shades of blue in the sea will definitely make you reflect on the grandeur and beauty of our natural resources.

Point Grace was the perfect place to stay

In Turks & Caicos you can find accommodations for all kinds of tastes and price points. We stayed at the Point Grace, a colonial – style boutique hotel that only houses 28 rooms. This is located in Grace Bay, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind for several days, this is a perfect place. It includes continental breakfast, has free WiFi around its facilities and roundtrip transportation from/to the airport.

Land and Sea cuisine

It is good to keep in mind that in these islands the food is a little expensive (both in the supermarket and in restaurants), but still, it is delicious. Obviously, I recommend you try the seafood. The conch in all its versions and the whole fish snapper and grouper are very popular, both fried and grilled. But also, because of its Caribbean roots, the island serves chicken and pork both jerk and bbq style, accompanied by rice with peas, plantains, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. All delicious!

Visit Little Water Cay and book a snorkeling tour

At the hotel, we booked a 3-hour tour with Island Vibes Tours, which included snorkeling at the coral reef – one of the largest in the world – and a visit to Little Water Cay, where they have the Iguana Sanctuary called Iguanas Island. To be honest, having been in Laguna de Oviedo (Barahona, Dominican Republic) before, the iguanas on the island did not surprise me. Now, if you cross from one end to the other on the north side of the island (around 5 minutes walking), you will find one of the most breathtaking beaches I have ever seen. Simply beautiful!

Don’t miss the Fish Fry!

Every Thursday is a party in Turks and Caicos. Locals and tourists gather from 5:30 p.m. in Bight (Children’s) Park to watch the sunset and enjoy the food stalls, as well as listen and dance with the best live bands from the island.

Watch out for the Rum Punch!

Like many of the Caribbean islands, Turks & Caicos also has its own homemade rum, called Bambarra. Upon arrival at the hotel, on the snorkeling excursion or anywhere else, you will be welcomed with their signature cocktail, the Rum Punch. I have to tell you to be careful! The first one will be delicious, the second even better … and at the end of the third, you will barely know where you are. And the next morning… you could wake up feeling like someone literally punched you. As I drink less and less alcohol, I decided to swap the Rum Punch for the Chocolate Rum Cake, which was delicious. These you can get at any tourist shop, liquor or grocery store.

An interesting fact: Although many classify these islands as part of the Caribbean, technically these belong to the Atlantic Ocean and not to the Caribbean Sea.

Turks & Caicos is located 550 miles southeast of Miami, Florida and just below the Bahamas. East of Cuba and northeast of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

The islands are home to around 30,000 residents and welcome more than 200,000 tourists every year.

Have you visited Turks & Caicos before? Share your impressions with me in the comments!

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