Hispanicize Texas 2017

In 2011, I attended my very first Hispanicize event in California.  Little did I know that after that I would have a little surprise in my oven.  With me almost losing Lil Bit and my near death experience after birth, I truly cherish my family time.  Traveling without my family for work or conferences went to the back burner.  This is why I appreciate when conferences come to Texas.

Even better when they come to my home town of Houston.  According to census reports, Houston is the biggest metropolis city in Texas.  It is the 4th most populous city in the United States.

Thanks to the all the people that made this happen.  Especially Manny Ruiz, founder of Hispanicize.  Hispanicize Texas 2017 was hosted at Silver Street Studios with a full schedule of panels, brand/creator meet and greets, and unlimited opportunities.  A wonderful event that gathered creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs all under one roof.

And if you know Latinos, we go everywhere with family.  So nobody gets left behind.  This includes our Latinitos who are paving their own way.  Sessions were available for the tween/teen creators.

It is also a conference that celebrates our culture.  You know it is not a Latino event unless there is music and dancing because wherever we go, there is always a party.

(Thanks to United for helping celebrate our culture)

(Thanks to Kroger for the delicious treats)

One of my most favorite things is seeing the comadres/compadres.  It is like a family reunion.  We come from far and wide.  It is crazy how many friendships I have made online through social media.

And did I tell you, there is always an after party.

(closing night reception - Henke and Pillot featuring Valerie Ponzio from The Voice, Team Blake)

Wordless Wednesday - Headshots

 What do you think? 

Thanks @wellsfargo and @lamikbeauty.  Pictures taken @BeBlogalicious  #BeGreatB6

#BlogElevated 2014 Conference Recap - Day 1

Just in case you missed Day 1 of Blog Elevated, here is my recap from today!  Hello, my name is ....

First things first, make sure you stop by the REGISTRATION table to get your name tag, lanyard, conference folder, and swag bag.

This year I am volunteering.  I said hi to about 75 conference attendees at the registration table when they checked, and will be at the registration table again tomorrow.  I had a lot of fun working the registration table today meeting and greeting everyone as they came in.  This was a great way to meet bloggers, sponsors, speakers, and of course friends I already know.

The welcome party got started and thanks to Imperial Sugar I was able to make some scrubs to take home:

If you would like to learn how to make these or check out more recipes, go to www.imperialsugar.com.  These sugar scrubs are a great DIY idea to make for the upcoming holidays.  You can even personalize and print labels.

 Day 1 was a lot of fun, we even had 'Smores !  Not to mention the perfect night breeze, glow lights, and great company all around.

I cannot wait for the break out sessions.  If you are not at the conference, follow the conference

hashtag, #blogelevated.  Day 2 is sure to BE an awesome day!

Reasons Why you Should Have Attended Blog Elevated

Yesterday, I recapped my Thursday and Friday experience at Blog Elevated.  If you still are not convinced on why you should attend next year, here is my Day 2 recap and reasons why you should have attended:

1)  Lisa, Bobbie, and Kristi (picture courtesy of Blog Elevated community)

These ladies did an awesome job from the vision to the finished product.  This conference was a great success because of them.  If you don't know follow them, you should.  They are a wealth of knowledge.

2)  Agenda and Speakers with Real, Useful Content

I learned so much in each of the sessions.  Information I had never heard of before.  Useful tools that are there for bloggers to use but are not using.  At least I know I was not using.

Eric T Tung (@EricTTung) - Social Media Tools
-IFTTT
-commun.it
-paper.li
Have you heard of any of this?  Are you using them?  Do you track your blog?  Do you use twitter list?

Jeff Sauer (@jeffalytics) - Goggle Analytics 101
-bounce rate
-avg time on page
-webmaster tools
Do you use goggle analytics?  Did you set it up and forget all about it?  Do you measure your social traffic?

Holly Homer (@TexasHolly) - Goggle +

Goggle what?  Circles?  What do I need circles for?

Each speaker brought it!!  I can honestly say, this was not redundant information being heard.  I know, you are wondering what is all of this, yeah you should have been there to learn.  Like I did.

3)  Personal Connections with over 200 people.  Bloggers, and speakers.  You get to pick at their brains.  This conference had study hall built into the schedule.  This time was to be used for catching up on blogging, putting to use what you learned, mingling/meeting new bloggers, stalking speakers, in prompt to mini classes/sessions, or mixing with the brands/sponsors.

This is one of the sponsors, Lemi Shine. (West Texas company)

Thanks to all the Blog Elevated 2013 sponsors.  Kroger, Macy's, The Woodland's Resort & Conference Center, Imperial Sugar, Pressgram, Tillamook, GoPicnic, AllYou, Moo.com, Zevia, Bluehost, Erin Condren, and Dr Pepper Snapple group.

To learn more on Blog Elevated Conference 2014, follow the conversation online @BlogElevated on Thursday's twitter party or www.blogelevated.com.

I am Going to Blog Elevated

I have a big announcement to make....I have been jumping for joy and I am ready to share my news!

Why am I so excited?  Well let me tell you...

Who:  I am so excited to LEARN from the wonderful speakers but most excited to be in Jenny Ingram's You Tube and Vlogging 101.  If you have ever suffered through one of my videos, sorry!  Very sorry!  But I am so ready to learn how to make videos and use them wisely on my blog.

Goggle + what is that?  How does it work?  Do you use it?  Ready to LEARN from Holly Homer how I can use it and how it will help me.

What:  A conference that is ready to help me Be Professional, BE Inspired, and BE ME!  Calendars, analytics, SEO, Copyright Law, Business plans and so much more....

Where:  HOUSTON, TX

When:  September 19-21

There is still time for you to get your ticket.  If you want to take your blog to the next level, come join me and along with the other bloggers who are ready to go to the next level.

See you there!!

For more information, go to www.blogelevated.com

Inspired to be Blog Elevated

I started blogging in 2008 after I met a great group of ladies on an out of town trip.  My life has never been the same since then.  I have not only learned a lot, made so many new friends, and traveled across USA.  My friends in my immediate circle would say I am an outspoken person but I really think that I am shy.  I recently attended a seminar that had me thinking back to why I started blogging.  Let me take you back to 2008.

I started blogging to have a voice.  I was a single mother and even with my village surrounding me, I felt so alone.  I did not think I could talk to anyone about my problems but I have always felt that way.  I am the problem solver not the person with problems.  Blogging allowed me to have a voice.  Someone was at the other end talking back.  I like most girl's always kept a diary.  My post became like an online diary but it was open to for others to read.  In my diary I would ask questions that never got answer but here people answered and commented back.  I was no longer alone.  I was not the only one.  There were others out there.  I am sure you have heard this before but until you have this ah-ha moment you don't really understand how it feels.  It felt great to be able to just let it all out.  So I learned that no matter what I was facing I have people who related to me and we together were no longer alone.  I have made wonderful friends that I greatly appreciate their long distance friendship.

Blogging not only helped me make friends but help me have several opportunities.  Imagine your inner circle just getting bigger and bigger.  The more friends you have, the more you know.  Bloggers are not all cut the same.  There is not a guideline or a mold.  We are all different.  We come from different places.  We are mothers, working, stay at home, travelling, multitasking, professional, blue collar, white collar, etc...  Several have careers, great ones.  Some have found their calling.  My first job straight out of high school when I was 18 was working at a department store.  A PR lady would come to restock, organize, and help the sales associate with the product.  She told us stories of traveling, and all this opportunities she had through her job.  My eyes only got bigger as she told us her story and journeys every time.  But real life happen and I did not become a PR person and all the travel I got was anywhere in the Houston surrounding area.  Houston is big, that was travelling in my world.  When I became a blogger I got the opportunity to step out of my little world and enter the big world out there.  Small town girl hits the big city kinda thing.  Thanks to blogging I have had the opportunity to travel from coast to coast.  Places only I had dreamed of going.  But it isn't about traveling it was about the opportunities I have gained and lessons I have learned.  Blogging taught me it was ok to step out of my world.  I learned to see the bigger picture.  If you don't understand why put it this way, I have lived a very sheltered life blame my parents.

But the most important thing I have learned is that I have a voice, a voice that counts.  I have been able to be the voice and help charities and people who didn't have a voice.  I have many blogger friends who have been in DC, walked those halls, and even met the president.  Blogging opened those doors for them.  I am not saying I am an advocate or will be running for president but now I know that I can make a difference.  Influence.  That is the word we toss around in the blog-o-sphere.  How much influence do you have?  Have you asked yourself how much influence you are making?  When I started blogging as a single mother I shared my stories for others to either learn from my mistakes or for me to get their take.  We influenced each other.  We have a give take relationship as we hear each others voices.  I am learning to use my voice.

I want to continue to use my voice.  I want to continue to be inspired.  My eyes were opened up and the light bulb went off.  I want to help others do the same.  I want to help others see the world and help them step out into the world.  One blog post at a time.  My journey has not ended here but continues.  I want my fire to continue to burn as it did before.  I am not a writer.  I am a mother.  I am not a publisher.  I am a wife.  I am not a PR person.  I am a blogger.  I am me.  I am you.

I wanted to attend Blog Elevated this September, here in Houston.  I believe I have only gotten my toes wet and I want to jump off the diving board into the pool.  There is so much to learn, more to see, and that is where I want to BE.  I want to be BLOG ELEVATED!

Houston Blogger Symposium Recap

Who:     Bloggers
What:    Meet, Hangout, Shop, Mingle, etc...
When:   Saturday, September 15, 2012
Where:  Hotel ZaZa, Houston, TX
Why:    ------->

Well why not! 

We mingled, we shopped, we talked, exchanged business cards, and we do what bloggers do!!

Here is some of the conversation from the panel:

-put good quality content on your blog
-give yourself a break every now and again
-be consistent
-find your voice
-be original
-be authentic
-respond to emails
-do what works for you
-make your schedule work
-know why you are blogging and who is your audience

Thanks to MyLitter for graciously giving Independentmami her ticket for this wonderful event.  Check out her website for great deals!

I am attending Hispanicize 2011

It is the 2nd Annual Hispanic PR and Social Media Conference. Next week on April 6-8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. This conference will have 32 sessions, and more than 80 speakers, keynoters like Edward James Olmos and panels in Hispanic public relations, social media and bloggers.

I cannot wait to meet and greet some of the elite Latina and Latino bloggers from all over the United States. I am also excited to learn from everyone, the sessions, trainings, and boot camp. Again this will be my first conference.

So stay tuned to my blog next week, as I blog live from Hollywood, California. Follow me @independentmami and #HISPZ11, for conference updates.

Any advice? Have you been to a conference? What was the good, and what was the bad? What do you want to hear about? Since this is my first conference I will be taking plenty of notes on everything. I will try and bring everything back to this blog and let you in. I love blogging. I have met a great group of bloggers who have helped me. But then there are those that only help themselves. Just recently I asked for help from some bloggers with my media kit (becuase I do not have one), sponsorship (because I am not rich but really wanted to attend this conference and learn), and just some place to start, again this being my first ever conference. Leave a comment with questions, advice, or just comments.

Thanks!