Nature is beautiful. Maybe not around the corner where you see trash on the sidewalk. But if you take a moment to look up and ahead of where you are walking, you may find that there is an awesome view. I usually take a moment to see above the floor.
I love photographing nature. It allows me to be calm. When I feel overwhelmed I tend to go to the beach, The Getty Center and/or hiking to a high peak to help “remove myself” from whatever is causing the overwhelming feeling. Somewhere I can breath and relax. I usually sit and stare at the beauty of nature and tend to get my “head on straight.”
This helps with reducing muscle tension, anxiety, anger, anything you want. At the end of the day, it is your thinking that allows you to “keep control” of how you want to feel, think and be. But I also want to remind you that feeling “out of control” can sometimes be good… why? Because sometimes you need a reality check, and feeling “out of control” is like a pain signal in your body telling you that something is not right.
Regardless if you feel in or out of control, going to a place that gives you peace is always good.
Here are some picture I recently took of The Getty Center. Staring out into the scenery helped me more than I expected… I reminded me how awesome life is for me no matter how much pain my body gives me. And Yes, I am paying attention to those signals too.
Panoramic views. Great Drinks. Wonderful Marcia. Live Jazz Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy Hour 4-7PM.
West is a stylish restaurant & lounge, high atop in the Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles, CA. It has boastful panoramic views and floor-to-ceiling windows. Wonderful service and an amazing atmosphere. A perfect place to have drinks with your friends while you view the sunset, bring in the night, laugh, and enjoy sports on the TV if you are watching the highlights of the Laker vs. Suns or Spurs vs. Celtics NBA games. Or Listen to Live Jazz on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. West is officially my new transitional place.
Their California fresh Italian steakhouse menus featuring prime dry aged steaks, chops and roasts with traditional pastas and small plates are delicious. I had their ravioli and the Sabor (flavor) was lip smacking. Their wine selection of Italian and California wines are perfectly paired for every dish if you choose wine. The bar and lounge offers specialty cocktails, my favorite is the Dark Rum Mojito, served by our wonderful and gracious host Marcia.
If you want to chill with your friends, or a date, they have comfortable lounge areas overlooking Downtown Los Angeles and the Beautifully Lite 405 fwy. If you dine your view stretches from beaches to downtown LA. Gorgeous! I strongly recommend you take the time to visit WEST Restaurant & Lounge in Los Angeles
WEST Restaurant & Lounge in Los Angeles. Where Sunset Boulevard Meets the 405.
WEST 170 N. Church Lane Penthouse Level, 17th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90049
There a lot to say… a lot to say! about friends. The end.
Just messing.
This word is everlasting. Actually, this word is very transitional. I say this as I sit at my friends home laughing because we are just being us.
As random as this will sound, this is what friends are too me. They are people you can be you with… being silly, moody, funny, exaggerated, hyper, quiet, sarcastic, chatty, anything you want to make it.
The people you can go to when feeling low and they somehow, with one word, make everything ok. When you are happy and you are able to rejoice with them because they are your cheerleaders as you are for them. Pure Joy.
And yes we were sober while I write this:
Friend B: Straightening her hair getting ready to cut it. Saying “my hair is transitional”
Friend A: Lays on her couch and asked to be a “publicity hog desperately wanting to place her name onto my blog.” She wants me to interview her.. and to place her products onto my blog.
Friend B: Making all sorts of noises in the restroom and all of us screaming across from each other.
Me: Why didn’t you make me some coffee today?
Friend A: I will make you my famous coffee once I get up to cute nap.
Me: says Blah
Friend A: says Blaaahhhh
Friend B: says count Dracula bleuhhh.
(quiet)
Friend A: You left the tea bags in the sink Friend B!
It is the beginning of the year, and as many of you choose to be healthy, I would recommend the Yoga wear for your new years resolution. Divine is an awesome Designer that makes the wear you see here and on her website:www.divineblessings.us
Her stylish yoga wear reminds you of core things to be reminded in life. Love,To breath, and other hopeful messages that remind us of an awesome peaceful life.
I’ve been writing for a bit now for people out there on how to take care of yourself. Is anyone out there???? I hope so.
I’ve written about people; highlighting their strengths. Writing about how to look at your basics in life, instincts, follow your dreams, be modest to others and rest when you need to rest. Giving hope.
Well, I’ve been doing just that too, practicing what I preach. Resting, giving myself hope when pleading for spasm mercy! and talking to my besties (Best friends) and even crying on the phone to my boyfriend, yes I am human too…lol
He is awesome. My facebook quote last night: “I ♥ my bf. I’ve been taking meds to ease my cough etc… and I’m sleepy and meds make me feel icky and all emotional. He called… I cried, he made me laugh. I can always count on him even if far away. So excited he is coming home soon!” It also helps that hes an awesome man. Facebook people… geniuses I tell ya!
What is going on?! you may ask. Well… along with getting fit, back better, I became so sick last month, got pneumonia/bronchitis, got better, then again got another strain of this horrible flu. Immune system weakness I like to call it. Can a girl get a break! hijola (e-hole-la)! (geesh in Spanish). It really took me down. Like for many of us out there…I think I slept for two days straight. Going to my family for only 3 hours for the holiday eve and my Christmas was filled with sleep. When I did wake up, it was to reply to text, tweets and some phone calls. I even attempted to speak to some friends…giving up only because when I spoke, I coughed. It is a bit funny now that I write about it because my last post was about having a low day. More so, today my mom (awesome support) asked me to make an effort to get better because she was becoming worried. (When do mother’s no worry right?) So with my sneeze, red nose, I’m making an effort, I’m writing, she reads my blogs. Also, to make my mind begin to think that I am doing better. Sleeping another day will only make my back hurt more anyways. As if coughing helped right? It is a string of things, coughing aggravates my back pain, which then makes me feel more yucky. I definitely will and want this to go away.
So this is my personal update to you. I’m better than two days ago. My back is spasming after a lot of coughing but I’m resting. For those that know me, rest for me is like telling a fish not to swim… but I’m doing it. I’m learning its a must sometimes. Life is a little lot of effort, to rest, is too an effort sometimes too.
I hope you had an awesome holiday! I’m excited for the new year! What do you think about the topic of New Year Resolution? ha! here is comes!
Happy Birthday to me… like I informed you earlier this month, I will interview Strong women as my choice to celebrate my birthday month. I hope you enjoy this selection.
Elianne Ramos is the Principal & CEO of Speak Hispanic Communications/PR. She is the Vice-Chair of Communications/PRLatinos in Social Media [LATISM]. On twitter she is the hostess of LATISM every Thursday.
Elianne “was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Moved to New York at 16 an currently lives in Baltimore, MD. In between, she lived in New York, London, Italy, Massachusetts.” and has “travelled to 30+ countries and all over the US.” She expressed “When I grow up, I’d like to move back to Italy, buy my own vineyard and become a full-time artist [painter, writer].” She is “a self-confessed workaholic, but her family is her rock. “They are the ones who give me the strength to keep going when craziness is swirling around me” she says.
She loves “public speaking and social media; the connections that are made.” As Vice-Chair of LATISM, she says: “That is what I love about LATISM and the amazing community we have been able to create for Latinos online and in the social sphere. These connections are like an energy drink for the soul, they are what inspire me to share my ideas, insights, my talents and expertise. I find that once you tap into the collective wisdom of the world, the words flow freely. ” She allows herself to be known. I always read her say, Social media is personal to me. Someone who bares her soul. Her drive comes from her passion. She has “been in Marketing/PR/Communications for over 15 years now and in this crazily-changing world, passion is the only thing that keeps you sane.”
Elianne keeps her balance by “making time for my family and for myself” she says. Also “by disconnecting [online] at least one day during the weekend. She also, travels, which is one of her passions, so I shes made a pledge with her family to have at least one major vacation every year, and to visit our family several times a year, not just during the holidays.”
When I asked her, what about her makes her strong, She expressed: “I’ve been told I’m a bit stubborn, but people say that like it’s a bad thing. I prefer to call it persistence/passion/inner drive.” I will agree, she made stubborn into a positive. She continued saying “I also believe in helping others without expecting anything back. One’s personal power is multiplied exponentially when used to enable others to own and exercise their own power. When you share the abundance around you, it comes back to you a thousand-fold.” Words to live by right?…Giving without expectations.
She is influenced by “the many strong women role models in my family, and my mom is by far my biggest inspiration. To see how she was able to deal with so much while we were growing up and still managed to raise three professional, responsible adults reminds me that no matter what life throws at you, you can still do the right thing and come out on top.” “As a writer and geek, Elianne derives her inspiration from authors and artists like Isabel Allende, Italo Calvino, Garcia-Marquez, Frida Kahlo and so many others.” “Reading, art, traveling, keeps the writing spark alive in her.” She read dictionaries “a habit I picked up when I was little.” ” I’m fascinated by words in any language. So far, I only speak three [if you don’t count Spanglish LOL]: English, Spanish and Italian… wish I could learn to speak every language in the world.”She is also a funny woman.
Ellainne “would like to fulfill her life mission of helping others, whether it is by inspiring them through my actions or by encouraging discussions that may awaken their passions. It’s at the heart of everything she does, and she prays to be able to do that every day.”
When asked what suggestion you can give women about anything she stated, in no particular order:
“·Set your priorities right in life
·Honor those who came before you, open doors to those who come after you
·Discover the joy of travel: it awakens your passion for life. Plus, it’d be a shame to leave this world without seeing most of it, don’t you think?
·Speak your mind. Many of us have been taught that saying what we think is not polite, especially Latinas. The world is ready for your voice, let it out!
·Harness your femininity without losing your dignity
·Harness your talents with pride without becoming too full of yourself
·Harness your power without stomping on others
·Be humble enough to ask for help/advice and to admit your mistakes
·Don’t forget that before anything else, you are human”
Her three words to describe December : “Food, family and Fiesta! The holidays are the time of the year to revel in our Latino-ness, our heritage, and I’m planning to do just that!” I would agree. December is the best month, but that is my bias because its my birthday month.
A woman the gives with out expectations. Loves to help, a traveler, writer, business woman, mother, self proclaimed workaholic and a woman that knows how to keep her balance. This is Elianne Ramons. How great is she?
By the time you read this, another child is born. Into this world where you are able to give, love, grown and learn from our past and our continued future. Where you will be able to teach and educate this child about the history of how you and other’s became. The struggles you and they had and triumphed through. By the time he or she is grown they too will learn that they are part of their culture. The may be brown, caramel, tan, and black, white or beige and they will have a linage connected to what we now call Latino, Hispanic, Spanish speaking.
I was privileged to attend the Latino2 luncheon. A one time planned conference, derived by LATISM, and became a Luncheon due to its attendance. I was very blessed to have participated in such a powerful meeting. Where eight people told their life story, paths, hopes and future dreams. Leaders like Dorinda Moreno, Jessie and Belen Luna, Giovanni Rodriguez, Jose Huirton, Christina Gonzales, and Hilda Zacarias and yours truly, came together for a weekend to brainstorm how Latino2 can become a force of power.
We brainstormed on who, what, where, when, why, and how we could contribute to this life, this cause of making leaders to help influence you and others to come to help others know of the past, and how we can help in the future.Its was a meeting where every idea was allocated into one group to help the growth of what will be a powerful organization that will allow ideas to be cheered and worked with to help the empowerment of people.
I cannot wait to write about the upcoming meetings and then Big Conference I do wish you allow your self come to in the future Spring of 2011.
Welcome to December. This month I’m dedicating my blog to Women I consider Strong; this encompasses many things… I hope you enjoy this month’s selections.
Passion and Strength: Two words I choose to use out of many positive ones about Yesi Ortiz. She is an on air-radio personality Mon-Saturday from 10am-2pm. Yes ladies and gentlemen, she is the sweet voice you hear on POWER 106. Bringing you smile while your listening.I had the pleasure to meet and speak to Yesi a few weeks ago. In the interview I was able to learn about her. She is charismatic, sensible and passionate in what she does. Moreover, she is a helper and a giver, all of which you will read.
I asked her how she kept her balance being a radio celebrity in the city of Los Angeles, CA.
Her first word was: schedule! “I schedule everything. Work, home, kids, life.” For a busy-on the go- Lady to have a schedule, I believe is very important. Yesi makes time for her family, her friends and her passion. I can only imagine how busy she is. She mentioned that she couldn’t do all she does with out the support of her mother and sister of whom help her during her working hours. Oh yes, a Latina that allows her family to help in her, a brave woman she is, and oh so wise.
When asked what her passion was she expressed, with a smile, that she loved helping the children at the AVIVA. “Aviva Family and Children’s Services provides a comprehensive range of diverse and culturally sensitive therapeutic and educational programs to help at-risk, emotionally distressed, abused, and neglected youth – as well as their families – function more effectively as individuals and within the family and community.”
Yesi makes time to go over to Aviva and provided moral support for the kids who don’t have a home. Her passion comes from her own personal experience; she took her nieces & nephews out of foster care and became an adoptive mother. She acknowledges the great need to help the children who have no home and “who have suffered horrendous physical abuse, sexual abuse and/or abandonment. Who have known what depression was/is and have been at a point of suicide.”
Her passion is her strength, to give, support and help to the children in need whom. Personally being someone who loves to help and Give I admire her. It takes a lot of courage to make children happy and provide continuous support of any sort. Thumbs way up!
We became chatty about her goals for this current year at AVIVA. She said that this year she will give them a holiday party and this will continue to visit as much as she can to lend her support any which way she is able to.
Yesi, I am happy to have met you. You inspire me to continue to give to others, to have a voice.
Many thanks for your time. I hope you see that people helping people is an honorable thing. Anyone who would like to help Yesi in her awesome endeavor to help Aviva please send her a note at www.yesiortiz.com
“The mission of Aviva Family and Children’s Services is to provide a comprehensive range of diverse and culturally sensitive therapeutic and educational programs to help at-risk, emotionally distressed, abused, and neglected youth – as well as their families – function more effectively as individuals and within the family and community.” http://www.avivacenter.org
It is suppose to be a time for happiness, cheerful moments, and creating memories. However, not all families go through these “happy times.” For some its dreadful moments, avoidance of childhood memories, and ongoing regrets. And what I can tell you is this, It is what you make of it. Also, the following…
You can kick and scream, through a tantrum and act like you are five or six all over again, but what will that get you? Maybe being ignored, or hollered at and being told you are acting like a five or six year old.
You can scream, argue and throw things around. But that will only get you a broken vase/plates/brown windows. You can also hurt others including yourself.
You can make horrible food. But you have to sit down and eat it too…
You could even avoid the holidays in general, but you will miss out on what you can change and make better.
Like I said, Not everyone likes the holidays. Moreover, sometimes as an adult they may seem like a waste of time when you are busy making YOU happen.
BUT! Its not an everyday thing. They are the holidays. Which means, a vacation, from your everyday life to make more memories with the ones you love or in some cases choose to deal with.
Here are some tips to get through this Holiday season:
Communication
Use the Letter “I” (I think, I feel) you speak for you… You are the only one that knows your thinking. I’m pretty sure you cannot read someones mind. If you can good luck!
With out communication, you cannot express your self in a DECENT manner.
People prefer to hear communication in a calm voice more than violent acts or screaming.
Communication allows for you to release these “ghost” that have haunting you from a young age.
Self- Control
Making sure you are aware of your body…i.e. drinking. You can always communicate better when you have control of what you want to say.
Only you have self control of you, no one else. There isn’t someone pulling your strings unless you let them.
Awareness
Being aware of what other are saying, hearing them and reciprocate without being violent.
Know that everyone is not in the same situation that you are in.
Follow up with your family; of the family circumstances.
Tell your family what is going on with you. I’m very sure they would like to know. Some families tend to be resentful of the wonderful things you are doing, include them into your life.
Be there.
Boundaries
Learn people’s boundaries.
Inform your family members what your boundary is and WHY you choose to have that specific boundary.
Give them time to adjust and understand your choices.
Don’t feel like you cannot say no, even if it gets someone mad. You need to take care of you… communicate about it. You can also say yes, you don’t always have to say no. You get where I’m going with this?
Goals
Set a goal for yourself in this holiday season: To be happy.
Things happen and people come and go in your life, but what you remember best of them is what counts…because you can choose to be miserable or you can choose to be happy.It is your choice.
