MomsRising #FoodPower Conference Photos (Part 2)

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Migdalia Rivera

I wanted to share with you photos of some of the wonderful people I met at the MomsRising #FoodPower Conference Recap (Part 1). Because really, the take away from a conference isn’t only the sessions, it’s also the connections, the people, y aquí tenemos las estrellas / and here we have the stars of the show!

Byron Hurt, Director/Producer of Soul Food Junkies

Eileen Campos of Mommy Teaches & Migdalia Rivera, Speaker at MomsRising Food Power Speaker

Elisa Batista, Campaign Specialist at MomsRising.org, and Diana Limongi GabrielePhoto Credit:Diana Limongi Gabriele

Monifa Bandele, Campaign Director at MomsRising.org
Photo Credit: MomsRising

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, I leave you with the below photo which showcases the influence of Mom Bloggers. Click to enlarge.

How do you use YOUR voice and influence? It’s more powerful than you realize, especially when combined with organizations like MomsRising and their 3.5 million members. For more information, click here: MomsRising.

Disclosure: Migdalia Rivera, of Latina On a Mission, was a sponsored speaker at the MomsRising Food Power conference in New York City.

Blogalicious ‘12 Has It All… And CVS is Around the Corner

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Migdalia Rivera aka @MsLatina

I have a routine every time I prepare to travel, no matter how short or long the trip is. There’s always a hop to the grocery store to stock up in snacks for the road or plane rides. You know, those long flights, especially overseas can be grueling since airlines don’t feed passengers anymore.

Then there’s the more important pre-trip bullet point on my to-do list: visit the local pharmacy and drugstore for all of my toiletries. In my case, CVS/Pharmacy is my go-to store. While other stores have changed, or rebranded themselves, not once, but several times, CVS/Pharmacy has stood the test of time. Needless to say, it’s my go to store. You can’t beat their 24 hour service. No matter what time of day, or night, I know I can count on them. Every. Single. Time. [Have you seen the Valentine’ Day and Christmas sales the days after?? Those deep discounts help me stock up for the following year!]

Most recently, I found myself musing over the different nail polish options before my trip to Vegas to attend Blogalicious, a multi-cultural social media conference now in its 4th year. Even though I had just sat through a fresh manicure, I had to have a backup polish to take care of chips, etc…

While nail polishes, and some basic makeup products, are my main reason to shop at CVS, I’ve noticed CVS’ increasing inventory of French beauty products. I’ve been using French products, which I have only been able to buy in France, for the past 7 years. I was thrilled to see that CVS carries Vichy French products, and that I am able to get my hands on the fancy products that cost a fortune at department stores or can only be purchased during one of my specialty trips.

During my visit to Vegas, I had the chance to chat with some old and new blogging friends about our travel routines and learned most of them make a stop at CVS either before or during traveling. Although we may have varying needs, CVS is able to help us all.

Vanessa Bell, a Latina blogger at De Su Mama, frequents CVS for emergency baby needs for her newborn. Every now and then, she’ll grab something for herself.

My new friend Marie Legette, of The Curvy Fashionista, threw me a new one when she admitted she runs to CVS for alcohol. I had to ask her three times before I was certain she was speaking of spirits and not rubbing alcohol! Yet, she emphasized that her main reason for visiting CVS is for most of her beauty needs! Still, I was intrigued about that alcohol inventory. Perhaps I should share she’s in Los Angeles.

Eric Payne, photographer, speaker and jack of all trades, shared that he loves CVS for drinks and candy… a true man.

Finally, my friend Chrystal Baker, a food blogging colleague and friend, writing over at The Duo Dishes, makes CVS her go to travel store. In fact, while rooming together in Vegas, we made sure to hit up the local CVS/Pharmacy together!

Who knew CVS was such a staple in so many of our lives? Admittedly, I take CVS for granted because it’s there and too easy not to go. If I had to hand-pick my top three favorite products at CVS/Pharmacy, they’d have to be mascara, nail polish and those amazing French Vichy beauty products! So, now that you know mine…

Tell us. What’s your favorite CVS product?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post created for CVS/pharmacy. Opinions expressed herein belong solely to the writer, Bren Herrera.

Bren Herrera is a TV personality, private chef and writer, penning the popular food blog Flanboyant Eats™, where she documents her Afro-Latina experience cooking up Cuban, Latin, fusion and global cuisine. The blog’s popularity landed her TV gigs, including an appearance with Emeril Lagasse and a regular spot on NBC’s “Daytime” morning show in addition to private cooking demo’s with internationally revered chef Joel Robuchon. Bren’s work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Black Enterprise, and other national publications. Bren can be seen once a week hosting her own food and travel show called ‘Dine Out’ on the all new, on-demand network Chic Rebellion. When not filming Bren freelances as lifestyle writer covering food, travel and fashion for NBC Latino, CusineNoir and other notable online and print publications. Visit Bren’s blog at www.flanboyanteats.com, follow on Twitter @BrenHerrera and Facebook at Facebook.com/BrenHerrera

Photo Credit: Bren Herrera

Mischief, Magic and Mayhem With Disney Universe

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Migdalia Rivera aka @MsLatina

I did not take a drink from a bottle labeled Drink Me, did not eat a cake with Eat Me written on it, yet it seemed I had fallen down a rabbit hole into Alice’s Tea Cup.

It was a festive, inviting wonderland filled with all types of tea, served in dainty teacups. They were not labeled Drink Me. They did not have to be. They spoke on their own. Not with words you see. No. These were magical teas that pulled you in, called you, tantalized you with their aromas and warm, inviting scents. I tasted a few and waited. Would I grow bigger? Would I shrink, smaller than my 5 feet 1 and a half inches? I need not have fretted. These magical concoctions did no such thing. They did, however, invigorate me. Filling me with a warmth that entered through my lips and traveled to my toes.

Not to be outdone, the pastries placed before me screamed Eat me! Eat me! I believe one may have even jumped out of Mitch’s hand in a mad dash to my lips. It gloated and laughed as it did so. It knew it would not stop there. No, not these pastries. They were, and still are, stuck to my hips. They were mischievous pastries indeed!

I was at a guest at a “mad” tea party, one where I could become Alice in Wonderland if only for a time. Dare I dream? Would I Ms. Latina, a divorcee, albeit gorgeous divorcee (Hey! Somebody has to compliment me!), be able to regain my carefree ways in this magical universe? It seemed I could. But only if I dared to grasp the control and take the challenge offered by Disney Universe.

Disney’s newest video game, Disney Universe, allows users to become the magical characters they have read about in books and watched on the big screen. You can choose to suit up as 40 classic and contemporary Disney characters including Alice, Tron, Stitch, and Pocahontas while facing challenges in the magical Disney Universe. The game offers 6 different worlds, that can be enjoyed by four players at once. Best of all, it’s rated E+ and wholesome fun!

When I left Alice’s Teacup that day, I did not leave my character behind. Disney Universe’s mischief, magic and mayhem came along with me, taking permanent residence in my Wii Bundle. I fear my hands may also be trying to permanently fuse to the my bundle’s Wii control, as Disney Universe beckons me to newer and greater adventures!

Let’s talk! Which is your favorite Disney or Pixar Character?
Can’t decide? Check out the game to view the available characters!

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Disney Universe. This in no way influenced my decision to play Disney Universe. I blame that on my Tween who keeps challenging my gaming skills!

I’m Speaking At Hispanicize

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Migdalia Rivera aka @MsLatina

I’m currently at the Hispanicize Conference in LA, preparing for my panel, The Rules of Engagement: How to Effectively Collaborate with Bloggers and Groups of Bloggers”.

I’m not only sharing some great tips but also meeting a few of the bloggers I’ve come to partner with in the past. I’ll be sure to post pictures, and hopefully a video or two, when I return!

@Cuponeando, @MsLatina and @BlogsByLatinas

To view more photos, click over to my Facebook Page. Also, feel free to tag yourself if you find your photo!

Bubbles & Bubbly Event Recap with an Online Contest

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Migdalia Rivera aka @MsLatina

Bubbles & Bubbly

I was recently invited to a Wisk Event hosted by LaundryHE.com to learn about washing bubbles and champagne bubbly. It was held in a swanky loft in Chelsea called 24th Street Loft.

We had a wonderful time learning tidbits about laundry. I was surprised to find out that adding extra detergent did not make the clothes cleaner. It actually made the dirt stick to the clothes. Apparently less bubbles in your wash works better than more! Even worse, using more than the recommended amount of detergent is a money waster!

LaundryHE.com also demonstrated the difference between High Efficiency (HE) detergent and the regular detergent with a little experiment that demonstrated less bubbles does more in the wash. Thats me below in my Latinalicious Scientist garb conducting my own research. Don’t you just love those gloves!

Wisk HE

After testing out Wisk HE, we moved onto the bubbly. Belinda Chang, sommelier and wine director at The Modern, explained that, unlike Wisk HE, more bubbles in your champagne is a good thing. When champagne has more bubbles (smaller is best) then it provides a bigger burst of flavor. She demonstrated this fact by letting us taste different champagnes, ranging from the very pricey to the more modest priced.

Some Moms, like Katja Presnal of Skimbaco Lifestyle (shown below), also received a bubble reading from the official “Bubble Reader”.

In the end, I left the event having met some fabulous bloggers like Blasian Baby Notes, Dancing Hot Dogs, Mommy Goggles, Next Kid Things, New York Single Mom, When Tara Met Blog, Style Mom and 24/7 Moms.

img_0169a1

I also discovered that LaundryHE.com is holding an online Bubbles & Bubbly contest where anyone that visits www.laundyhe.com can win a year’s supply of Wisk HE detergent or even the grand prize drawn on Nov. 6^th for a new HE washer and dryer!

So head on over, and join the fiesta/party, just make sure you grab your bubbly beforehand!

Latina on a Mission

Life, style and substance for the Modern Latina | Latina Blogger

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