New Year, Awesome Stuff, & Goals

So here I am. It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed already and that all my old issues are the same issues I have today. It's hard to believe that I feel like I didn't accomplish anything in my personal and professional life. I saw this idea floating around Facebook and Pinterest at the end of the year and it got me to thinking that maybe this is what I need to do this year.

Why? Because I think I forget all the good things that happened in 2012. I'm sure that I accomplished something this past year. I still have a roof over my head, my children are healthy, I have an interesting job, I accomplished something with Seth to help him in school, (more on that later) I have great friends and sisters and I met a lot of interesting characters along the way.

This is one of those years when I don't feel like setting any goals but I know I have to. Who cares if the goals are the same ones I set last year? Zig Ziglar said we have to have goals.

He says in his CD How to Get What You Want: “The great majority of people are “wandering generalities” rather than “meaningful specifics”. The fact is that you can't hit a target that you can't see. If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. You have to have goals.”

So I ask myself do I want to be a wandering generality or do I want to be a meaningful specific? This past year I think I was wandering more than I was specific. I think I was just survival mode just doing what I had to do to keep my sanity and to keep my kids fed and healthy.

This coming year I plan on being a meaningful specific in all aspects of my life but especially professionally and personally. I have a great book brewing inside me but unless I write it I'm just a wandering generality.

I know what I need to do. It's already January 5th. It's time I sit down and set those goals and commit them to writing.

I loved this idea too. I found these pages on this website. Download them while they're still available. Let's set our goals for the year.

Official Rules for the Orgullosa Breast Cancer Awareness Package Giveaway

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. Timing: The Orgullosa Breast Cancer Awareness Package Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) begins on October 20, 2013 at 6:00:01 P.M. Central Time (“CT”) and ends on October 27, 2013 at 11:59:01 P.M. CT (the “Promotion Period”).

2. Eligibility: Sweepstakes are open to those with valid US shipping addresses only. Must be over 18 years of age at time of Sweepstakes to enter. No purchase is necessary to enter.

3. How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, send an email with the #Orgullosa4EarlyDetection in the Subject line to Shoegirlcorner (at) Yahoo (dot) com. A limit of one entry is allowed per person. You may not enter more than once, whether or not you use a different e-mail address. Subsequent entries determined to be submitted with the same email address or from the same individual using multiple email addresses may be declared ineligible.

4. Disclaimer: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and Orgullosa/P&G will not be responsible for: a) any late or lost entries; b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer or communications-related malfunctions or failures; any giveaway disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of ShoeGirl Corner or by unauthorized human intervention; or c) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes.

5. Winner Selection: One winner will be selected. All winning entries will be randomly generated on or shortly after the Entry Deadline Date. If your name is drawn and you meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise comply with these Official Sweepstakes Rules, you win the prize.

6. Winner Notification: You will be notified by email from Shoegirlcorner (at) Yahoo (dot) com within four (4) days after the Entry Deadline Date if you win the prize.

7. Prize: One prize will be awarded. The winner will receive one Orgullosa Breast Cancer Awareness Package, which includes an iPod shuffle. The approximate retail value of this prize is $100.00.

8. Claiming Your Prize: Winner must respond within four (4) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.

9. Taxes: ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

10. Prize Substitution: Winner may not substitute the prize for any other prize or for cash.

11. Prize Delivery: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes, but if a prize delivery problem occurs than an effort to redeliver the same prize or deliver a prize substitution will be made.

12. Publicity:  Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use winner’s name and prize information for promotional purposes in any medium, except where prohibited by law, without further payment or other consideration.

13. Technical Problems: The Sweepstakes may be canceled, suspended and/or modified, in whole or in part, if in the opinion of ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications any fraud, technical failure or other factor beyond its control impairs the integrity of the Sweepstakes.

14. General Release: By entering the Sweepstakes through this website, you release ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, mis-delivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

15. Waiver and Governing Law: By entering this promotion, participants waive all rights to claim punitive, general, special, compensatory, incidental and/or consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages other than actual out-of-pocket costs incurred to enter. Any dispute(s) regarding the rules of this game shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas, without regard to any conflicts of laws rules.

17. Sponsor and Administrator: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications, P.O. Box 8754, Houston, TX  77249. Questions should be sent to Shoegirlcorner (at) yahoo (dot) com.

18. Facebook Releases: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook.  Facebook is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Sweepstakes. The entrant is providing their information to ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and not to Facebook.

18. Twitter Releases: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Twitter.  Twitter is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Sweepstakes. The entrant is providing their information to ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and not to Twitter.

Official Rules for the Orgullosa Hispanic Heritage Month Package Giveaway

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. Timing: The Orgullosa Hispanic Heritage Month Package Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) begins on October 8, 2013 at 4:00:01 P.M. Central Time (“CT”) and ends on October 15, 2013 at 11:59:01 P.M. CT (the “Promotion Period”).

2. Eligibility: Sweepstakes are open to those with valid US shipping addresses only. Must be over 18 years of age at time of Sweepstakes to enter. Family members of ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications are not eligible to enter. No purchase is necessary to enter.

3. How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, send an email with "Orgullosa Hispanic Heritage" in the Subject line to Shoegirlcorner (at) Yahoo (dot) com. A limit of one entry is allowed per person. You may not enter more than once, whether or not you use a different e-mail address. Subsequent entries determined to be submitted with the same email address or from the same individual using multiple email addresses may be declared ineligible.

4. Disclaimer: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and Orgullosa/P&G will not be responsible for: a) any late or lost entries; b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer or communications-related malfunctions or failures; any giveaway disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications or by unauthorized human intervention; or c) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes.

5. Winner Selection: One winner will be selected. All winning entries will be randomly generated on or shortly after the Entry Deadline Date. If your name is drawn and you meet the eligibility requirements and otherwise comply with these Official Sweepstakes Rules, you win the prize.

6. Winner Notification: You will be notified by email from Shoegirlcorner (at) Yahoo (dot) com within four (4) days after the Entry Deadline Date if you win the prize.

7. Prize: One prize will be awarded. The winner will receive one Orgullosa Hispanic Heritage Month Package, which includes an iPod shuffle. The approximate retail value of this prize is $100.00.

8. Claiming Your Prize: Winner must respond within four (4) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.

9. Taxes: ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

10. Prize Substitution: Winner may not substitute the prize for any other prize or for cash.

11. Prize Delivery: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes, but if a prize delivery problem occurs than an effort to redeliver the same prize or deliver a prize substitution will be made.

12. Publicity:  Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use winner’s name and prize information for promotional purposes in any medium, except where prohibited by law, without further payment or other consideration.

13. Technical Problems: The Sweepstakes may be canceled, suspended and/or modified, in whole or in part, if in the opinion of ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications any fraud, technical failure or other factor beyond its control impairs the integrity of the Sweepstakes.

14. General Release: By entering the Sweepstakes through this website, you release ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, mis-delivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

15. Waiver and Governing Law: By entering this promotion, participants waive all rights to claim punitive, general, special, compensatory, incidental and/or consequential damages, attorneys’ fees or any damages other than actual out-of-pocket costs incurred to enter. Any dispute(s) regarding the rules of this game shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of Texas, without regard to any conflicts of laws rules.

16. Sponsor and Administrator: ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications, P.O. Box 8754, Houston, TX  77249. Questions should be sent to Shoegirlcorner (at) yahoo (dot) com.

17. Facebook Releases: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook.  Facebook is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Sweepstakes. The entrant is providing their information to ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and not to Facebook.

18. Twitter Releases: This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Twitter.  Twitter is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Sweepstakes. The entrant is providing their information to ShoeGirl Corner/Casares Communications and not to Twitter.

 

My First Blogger Conference- I'm Such A Virgin! Latism '12

For years I have been so jealous of people when they get to go to blogger conferences, especially BlogHer. I long for the day when I too can go to that conference and rub elbows with all the awesome wonderful women bloggers is cyberspace.

Well my dream has come true! Tomorrow I get to join my fellow Hispanic/Latino bloggers here in my very own home city of Houston for Latism '12 and I am so excited!! I know that to you non-bloggers and non-social media savvy people I sound like a total nerd and that's okay. I understand.

If a few years ago you had told me that you were excited about doing the same thing I would have probably thought, "Nerd!" Now that I am not only immersed in blogging but that I understand what impact this is having on communication and marketing I am the nerd.

I'm actually going for two reasons. One is because yes I am a blogger, on here and on skirt! magazine, but also because I work in Hispanic media and marketing. I am also a research nerd and I thrive on knowledge about what makes people, consumers, readers, tick. I want to know how we are going to take our product, our publication to the next level in this great digital shift.

So I'm going tomorrow as a blogger and as a Hispanic marketing specialist. I'm looking forward to learning a lot and meeting a lot of interesting people. Updates to come on Twitter! Follow me @shoegirl1970!

The Invisible Mom

A couple of weeks ago I read a story on the Huffington Post that really struck a nerve. It was "The Mom Stays in the Picture," by Allison Tate. I shared the post on Facebook and I immediately started getting "likes" from friends and honest open comments about how they felt about the topic. It was interesting to read their feedback. In fact Katie Couric even picked up the story on her show because there are so many invisible moms out there who are not documenting their existence.

Me, age 35, and my kiddos in 2005, when they were 1 and 4.

I love this picture of me and the kids. I'm so glad my then husband took it of us. It captures the moment of my motherhood so perfectly. My son in his 1 year old cuteness and my daughter in her 4 year old adorable self.  Even though I love this picture, when I look at it I see how fat I am. I see my double chin and the fatness of my arm. Isn't that sad?

What's even more sad is when I realize that we never took a professional family picture when their dad and I were married. I will never have those years or that opportunity back again. When I look back through pictures I see that there are a lot of gaps when I'm not in the pictures with my kids.

I read some of the comments after Allison's essay and one was so sad. This one woman said she only had one child and that she never took pictures with her because it was just a reminder of how ugly she was. Poor woman, but the saddest part is that many of us feel the same way.

On my Facebook post one of my best friends who lost her mom to cancer when she was 19 said that when they go back and look at pictures they have very few of their mom. Another friend admitted that she stays out of pictures too. We all agreed that this article was a reminder that we shouldn't be doing that.

The truth is that when we are old or gone and our kids are adults they won't care what we looked like when they were little. They won't care if we were too fat or too skinny. All they will care is that they have a picture of their mom, a memory of what we looked like when they were children. We are their mom, we're beautiful in THEIR eyes and really that's all that matters.