My Life Isn't Perfect but It's Mine

When I think about my life I have to say I have been a very lucky Chica. Life hasn't been without its challenges and yet I am still standing strong. I love music and once in a while I hear a song that inspires me. It’s a song you can listen to on repeat and never get tired of it; soon you learn the lyrics and it plays over and over in your mind; inspiring you every day. It’s a song you sing at the top of your lungs in the shower, in your office when you think no one is there, or in your car.

I heard a song today and I started thinking about how life has certainly handed my share of challenges. However it has been an amazing life so far and I am looking forward to many more amazing days and of course challenging days. Because challenges are what give us that drive to succeed, to fight and most of all NEVER give up. What may seem impossible today always remember that tomorrow is another day; within the word “impossible” is the word “possible”.

Today I was reminded just how lucky I am; sometimes we think we can face hard times alone, that we are invincible. We must remember that it’s okay to seek help or advice when things aren't going as well we hoped in our life. To remember all things are temporary even the good days. It’s what life is about. We must fight for the life we want, don’t give up and enjoy even the challenging days. Each of us will experience our own challenges it’s how we respond to these challenges that will help us grow.

I went to HEB, and as I was walking in, there was the cutest dog sitting in a chair smiling at me, she was so cute I just had to say hello. Her name is “Loca” because her owner says she is one “Loca” dog. We struck up a conversation and I started telling him about my 15 year old “Mimi”. At one point in our conversation he mentioned he was homeless; I was speechless, he didn't look homeless, he didn't act homeless and he was very well spoken. I was instantly  ashamed that I had spent 10 minutes talking about how I cook my Mimi, Turkey, Chicken, and fresh veggies every day twice a day. We talked for a few more minutes and I reached into my wallet and said this is all the cash I have but I want you to have it. He didn't want to take it, and he said “Oh I didn’t tell you I was homeless to give me money.” I asked him to take it, we shook hands and he said “GOD Bless You”. And I know that GOD put him in my day to remind me how blessed I am, because there is always someone out there facing bigger challenges than me.

So, when you are having a bad day…. Go to YouTube and listen to this song: “Fight Song” by Rachel Patton. It will inspire you to keep on “Fighting” make your dreams come true and never give up!

Cheers,

Chica 

Destined to Meet

I am a firm believer the Universe connects us with people we are destined to meet. Sometimes they are there for a brief moment and other times for a lifetime (maybe even crossing lifetimes).

They come into our life in many different ways, a random meeting, at an event, party, business meeting; they sit next to you on a flight or a bus. When you meet them you feel such a strong connection you don't quite understand. The Universe works in mysterious ways and you may not know the reason why you have met them or why they are in your life.  Reasons which might never be revealed and then a light bulb goes off in your brain and you think “Oh I get it now”.

These special people will often take hold of your heart in such an intense way you realize they are in your life for a reason. Spending time with them feels like you have known them forever.  And just as mysteriously as they came into your life they leave are no longer present in your life. You reflect on your time together and realize they have taught you an important lesson, helped you grow or connected you to someone else you were destined to meet. Or they simply connect you to something missing in your life or something lost.

This happened to me recently. I kept asking myself why did I meet this person only to have them leave my life just as randomly as they came in. It puzzled me and one day I woke up and realized the reason why and I was so thankful to life, and the Universe for connecting me with this very special person who truly made an impact on my life.  I firmly believe the Universe intervened and connected me to someone I will cherish my entire life even if they are no longer are in it every single day.  

Today, I give thanks to the Universe for bringing into my life all these amazing people, those who brightened my days, taught me lessons, who stood by my side in the darkest of days and those who are still a part of my life today. I am a better person because of each one of you. I firmly believe “we don’t meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.”

Cheers,

Chica

SXSW 2015 thats a wrap!

Well SXSW 2015 is over and somehow we “locals” managed to survive all the additional people coming to enjoy our great city of Austin, Texas. SXSW for me personally seemed a little different this year. As I talked with friends who live here we all agreed. SXSW 2015 was different this year but we couldn’t quite put our finger on it. So I suspect we will continue to discuss our SXSW 2015 adventures over cocktails and we will come up with one consensus. Stay tuned.

I love SXSW; people from all over the world descend on our “small” town to do what they love, whether it’s education, technology, film or music. The networking is amazing and you never know who you are going to run into or meet walking down the street.  Living in Austin, Texas has its perks and one of them is enjoying SXSW!

While I love music and film, my favorite part of SXSW is the Interactive part. The city is filled with many innovative companies here to launch their technology, and I love all the swag and there are many opportunities to win technology prizes. Let’s not forget all the parties, you must be ready for lots of walking and wear comfortable shoes.

To fully enjoy SXSW it really pays to know where and what you want to do so it really is a plus to have your schedule planned ahead of time. The only way to enjoy SXSW is to know which parties to hit up and which ones you don’t want to stand in line for. AND you will stand in line, but it’s the fun part of the whole experience. I met so many interesting people while standing line, I even made a few new friends.

After 5 days of Interactive fun, I was personally exhausted and in my usual manner learned a few lessons from this year’s SXSW. Here are a few pointers:

1.      Comfortable shoes

2.      Plan ahead of time and RSVP for events. Have your schedule ready and check in with your friends so you are all in sync

3.      Carry a small bag in your purse (for all the free swag, t-shirts etc.)

4.      Pace yourself – free drinks can catch up on you

5.      Have a cell phone battery backup, I carry one of those recharge units and it saved me

6.      Don’t drive, Uber was great this year and more economical than paying for parking

7.      Plenty of business cards

8.      Sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, scarves… you know the usual

And remember to have fun! SXSW dates for 2016 haven’t been released but I know I will be ready after the 12 months of recuperation and will I be recharged for SXSW 2016.

Cheers,

Chica 

**** Photo taken on the last day of SXSW, March 22, 2015, Photo credit goes to Ruben Morales Photography

Spring is here!

They are calling it a “trifecta of celestial events” for Friday, March 20, 2015. A solar eclipse, a supermoon and the spring equinox all converging on what some are calling “Freaky Friday”; it is the last total solar eclipse of the millennium. If you stood only one place on earth you would only get to see a total eclipse once every 360 years. I am not going to go into all the details of what each of these celestial events means because the truth is you can just do a Google search and read all about it. It is all quite interesting.

What does all this mean? Well I can tell you what it means for me. Spring is a time of birth and renewal; we have spent several weeks in what I like to call the craziest winter I have experienced. It is Texas after all, so between the ice, flash floods, and 80 degree weather, I am really looking forward to spring. The flowers are blooming; the weather is not too cold, not too hot and I feel like more energized!

Most people use the New Year as a time to reflect on what they want their “New Year” year to look like and they spend time deciding “New Year’s Resolutions”. I frankly don’t like to put that much pressure on myself. I am usually too tired from all the holiday festivities to think about what I am going to do in the “New Year” and on the first day of the “New Year” I am more interested in rehashing all the shenanigans of the past year with my friends over black-eyed peas and other foods we are supposed to eat on the first day of the “New Year”.

On the first day of Spring I am working on my “Vision Board”; which I hang in my bedroom so that I can see it every morning and right before I go to bed. It keeps me focused until the next spring; last year I had 12 goals this year I am keeping it simpler. I am going to focus on 5 specific goals; one of them being more writing. Let’s see how it goes. Happy Spring time!

Cheers,

Chica

It's a Magical Place

My dear friend Scarlet, is fun, outgoing and someone whom everyone loves being around had an unfortunate mishap. Scarlet was skipping  to her car, and had to make a quick stop before she headed off to work. It was the Chinese New Year and she was so ready for a fresh start! With a bounce in her step she stops by the dumpster to throw out the trash, after all it was the Chinese New Year and she didn't want trash in her flat.

Scarlet threw the bag of trash in the dumpster did a pirouette and headed for her car. She reached for her car keys and her purse was gone. OH no she thought. “Did I leave my purse in the flat?” and then standing in the middle of the parking lot she realized “Uh Oh… it couldn't be!?”

She slowly walked to the dumpster with fear in her throat and the bounce gone from her step, peered over the dumpster on the top of her tippy toes like a ballerina...

 Sure enough there was her beautiful Kate Spade purse lying on it’s side at the bottom of the dumpster, she could see her car keys tucked inside and her iPhone staring at her with a blank screen. Oh wait someone is calling! She stared at it … thinking “ Hello Hello, I am here!” But sadly couldn't answer her iPhone.

Scarlet stood peering over the edge of the dumpster and thinking “How am I going to get my purse?” She thought and thought I am a smart girl surely I can figure this out. Suddenly eureka, in her hand she held a curtain rod she had purchased the day before, the rod was too big for her  window so she was going to return it. What a lucky girl I am she thought! Scarlet put her mind into fisherman mode. Thinking only positive thoughts she started the process of trying to fish her purse out of the dumpster. Minutes seemed like hours and then YAY Scarlet had her purse and with a steady hand she start bringing her purse out of the dumpster. She almost had it in her hand… OH NO! Her iPhone falls out. “YOU have to be kidding me!” she says out loud. Then she knew the inevitable….

Scarlet makes the walk back to her flat with no spring left in her step and thinking “I am going to have to climb into the trash dumpster.” She grabs her ladder and with the attitude of a positive person  thinks to herself, “Lets think of this as an adventure. I mean how many people get to explore a trash dumpster?”

Scarlet props her ladder up, looks into the dumpster and imagines a cozy tiny little house full of pillows! Good thing there were only 3 pillows in the trash dumpster, I mean the tiny little house.

Wallah Scarlet made it in! She grabs her iPhone brings the ladder inside of the trash dumpster, I mean the tiny little house and starts the climb to the top of the ladder, thinking “almost done with this adventure.” Scarlett now has to jump out of the dumpster,  she says to herself “ I am an Olympian!” makes the jump and lands a perfect “10”! 

Scarlet cradles her phone and sees a missed text message from me, Chica About Town, I am  wishing her a “Happy Chinese New Year!” She texts back…. “Happy Chinese New Year I just jumped out of a trash dumpster!”

The next time you think you are having a bad day, think about my good friend Scarlet who turned a bad situation into an adventure! There are always people out there having a worse day than you are. Turn it around with positive thoughts and remember just how lucky you really are! You can turn a trash dumpster into a "Magical Place!"

Cheers!

Chica

Do you believe in Serendipity?

Do you believe in Destiny, Fate, or Kismet? Is it truly possible to connect with someone after many years and find true love or a lost friendship?

Timing is everything… maybe the person you are meant to be with isn’t ready, they have a significant other, they don’t live in the same city… or they are simply not ready to commit to a relationship. The chemistry is there, the attraction is there but the timing is off.

You go to a party you didn’t really want to go to, a meeting you were trying to get out of, answer a phone call from an unknown number and just like that “Destiny” steps in and makes things right.

I was at a dinner several weeks ago and listened to such a lovely story that had spanned decades and true love was reunited by a chance encounter. I have several friends who have experienced this gift from the Universe.  Years and decades lapsed and one day they are reunited with their true love; the Universe and stars align and lives are changed forever.

Is the saying true? “Let someone go and if they are meant to be in your life they will come back to you?” Could you really be strong enough to say goodbye to someone with the hope that the Universe would reunite you again?

It would take extreme faith and belief in the Universe to say goodbye to someone you love. Could you do it? Sometimes we don’t have a choice….we just have to believe and have faith.

Cheers to Love,

Chica

I lived in 2014! Did you?

When I think about 2014, the one thing I can say about it is that “I LIVED!”

 I thank God and the Universe for the good, the bad and the ugly of 2014. After carefully analyzing all the activities of 2014, if I was given the choice to change anything about 2014, you know I wouldn’t change a thing.

It’s been a like a roller coaster ride ….  Starting with a New Year’s Eve VIP party with great friends; then followed by a King Cake party I had in January…those of you who attended know it was too much fun for a school night! Covering the red carpet for the Austin Film Festival and the events and activities haven’t stopped.

So many new friends that have made such an impact on my life, I am forever grateful to the Universe for putting these people in my path. As we focus on the direction we are taking our new venture, Chica About Town, I am extremely grateful for my business partner, Joe Llamas and my Radio Co-host, Carlos Platero Jr. Your faith in me and support leaves me wondering how I could be so lucky.

 I can’t thank my good friend Antonia Warren enough for the opportunity she has given Chica About Town. We now have a radio show on Radio Mujer, FM 95.1. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be on the radio… and now I can’t imagine not doing radio!

 A trip to Mexico City that truly changed my life and made me realize I had stayed away too long. And, why hadn’t I gone back? A second trip to Mexico City only reaffirmed that my destiny was to be back in a country that I love. So, my dear Mexico, I will see you again soon.

Thank you to all of my family, friends, followers, twitter fans, radio listeners and cheerleaders that have given me and the Chica About Town team your support, advice and unconditional love. We simply could not have done it without you!

We wish you a very Happy New Year and a spectacular 2015!

 Cheers!

Chica

Christmas Calling...

I missed a phone call from a friend this morning. My first reaction when I saw the missed call was, “I wonder if everything is okay?”. When I listened to the message a tear fell down my cheek. She was calling to check in on me and wish me a Merry Christmas. She ended the message with “love your girl.”

I started thinking, in this age of technology it’s so easy for us to communicate via texts or send a message on Facebook, Twitter or other social media outlets. We never pick up the phone, this gesture was so simple and yet it has had a profound impact on me. This phone call has been one of the best gifts I have received this Christmas.      

So, if you have time this Christmas Eve and are thinking of sending a text message to a family member or friend why not make a phone call. You never know what impact you will have on them.

If you see a missed call on your phone from me… everything is okay. I just called to wish you a Merry Christmas and tell you how much you mean to me.

 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

 Cheers,

 Chica                                   

Photo credit goes to Sahabel Porto, thank you my friend. 

Across the Miles

I have never really been a big fan of long distance relationships. I am the kind of Chica that likes to be with the one I love. But lately, I keep meeting people that don’t live in our great city and it got me thinking about relationships.  It’s hard enough making a relationship work when you both live in the same city… Do long distance relationships really work? 

I met the most adorable couple. They have been married 12 years; he has served in the military for most of that time. Being the inquisitive person I am, I proceeded to ask them a million questions. How do they make it work? After talking to them for several minutes, I came up with this simple answer to my question. “Long distance relationships aren’t easy and at times they can be really hard. But, when love is true, it transcends across the miles.”

I know several people in long distance relationships. Trust, love, faith and the hope that someday they will be reunited again works for these friends of mine. Technology has made it easier for communication, keeping in touch and being in each other’s lives via Skype, Google Hangouts, and all the chat options that are out there.

I guess I just haven’t met the right person yet. Would I consider a long distance relationship? If it is the right person, I would do everything in my power to make it work, no matter the distance. True love is worth it! If you meet the right person at the right time, it can be Kismet.

Your life becomes a series of wonderful rendezvous and plans for the next time you will see each other. If the relationship is worth it you will make plans to be together forever. And when you reach out to him or her they will only be arm’s length away and not across the miles.

Cheers,

Chica 

All I want for Christmas...

It would be cliché to say, “peace on earth.” Maybe the question is, “What do I need this Christmas?” Well okay, if go the materialistic route then I would have a laundry list… Fit Bit, Bose speaker, new pair of boots from Stewart Weitzman, new Gucci bag, and a Surface pro 3 and on and on and on. But, in the end, the soles will wear from my boots, I will just fill up my Gucci with more stuff, and the Surface pro won’t sync nicely with all my Apple products.

So, I will ask myself the question again, “What do I need for Christmas?”

If you are hungry, I would want you to have food on your plate. If you need a job, I pray that you find a place to work that provides you with the necessities for you and your loved ones. If you are homeless, I would want you to have a safe place to sleep.

To sum it up, we are all running around trying to find the perfect gift for a loved one, a friend, boyfriend, lover, or a co-worker and is it truly what they need? Or, will it go in the re-gift pile? (Chica would never re-gift!)

So, to answer the question, “what do I need for Christmas?” It’s your time; it’s the most valuable thing you can give me. So, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my blog it’s the best Christmas present a Chica could ever get.

Cheers,

Chica

Familia

I love the holidays! They instill hope for me, a time for reflection and renewal.  Christmas is a time to believe in miracles, flying reindeer, elves, and Santa Claus. And, the miracle of a baby born in Bethlehem. On a cold winters night… a light shone bright in the sky fulfilling a prophecy. I find inspiration in these beliefs and it’s what drives me and inspires me throughout the year.

When I was a little girl and we would visit Mexico, we would participate in a traditional “posada”. The reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for safe place to have their baby, my safe place is in front of my computer sharing my thoughts with all of our fans. The “posadas” remind me of the happiest moments I experienced in my childhood. I love my Hispanic culture and the traditions that live on through each generation. Familia…

Cheers,

Chica

Agradecida por muchas cosas y tu?

Hoy tomamos un momento en nuestras agendas ocupadas para dar gracias por todas las bendiciones en nuestras vidas. No puedo dejar de pensar en todas las bendiciones en mi vida.

Hoy estoy agradecida por mi Mami y mi hermana porque estamos con salud, juntas y felices en este día tan especial. Le doy las gracias a mi Papa que sin él no sería quien soy hoy.

Aquí va mi lista, nadie esta fuera intencionalmente…

Gracias a Joe Llamas, mi socio de negocios por tu apoyo… pero sobre todo por creer en mí. 

Carlos Platero Jr., te has convertido en una persona muy importante para mí. Gracias por ser asombroso, chistoso, agradado con el micrófono pero sobre todo por ser un gran amigo!

Antonio Warren, Gerente General de Radio Mujer Internacional, FM 95.1 Austin. Gracias por la oportunidad de tener un show en Radio Mujer, y mi nueva carrera, nunca me imaginaria que estuviera en el radio y ahora no puedo ver mi vida sin el radio. Gracias!

Agradecida por la oportunidad que nos dio Austin Film Festival por dar a Chica About Town acceso a la alfombra roja y entrevistar a todos los actores, escritores y directores de todas las películas en el festival.

Agradecida por todos mis amigos y amigos por todo el apoyo este año, hay muchos para nombrar pero ustedes saben quién son. Los quiero mucho por ser animadores, confidentes, socios en nuestros crímenes,  pero sobre todo por siempre escuchar. Ya saben que me gusta hablar!

Feliz día de acción de gracia! Les deseo muchas bendiciones a ustedes ye sus seres queridos!

Salud!

Chica 

What are you thankful for?

As we all pause out of our busy schedules and take a day to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives, I can’t stop thinking about all the many blessings in my life.

Today I am thankful for my Mom and sister, who are happy and healthy and we are together on this special day. I am thankful for my Father, without him I would not be who I am today.

So here goes my list, no one is left out intentionally….

Thank you to Joe Llamas my business partner, your support means more than you know… most of all because you believe in me.

Carlos Platero Jr., wow you have become someone so important in my life. Thank you for being an amazing, funny, taking the microphone co-host but even more for being a great friend.

Antonia Warren, GM, Radio Mujer International FM 95.1, Austin. Thank you for the opportunity to have a new career,  I never would  have thought I would be on the radio… and now I can’t even think of not being on the radio. THANK YOU!

Grateful to the Austin Film Festival for giving Chica About Town, red carpet access to all the films at your festival this year. It was an amazing time, and we loved interviewing the cast, writers and directors of all the films!

Thankful for all my friends who have been so supportive this year… too many to name but you know who you are. I love you all, thank you for being cheerleaders, confidants, partners in crime, and most of all listeners. Because you know I can talk….

Happy Thanksgiving! Many blessings to you and your loved one’s on this special day!

Cheers,

Chica 

Time... Are you spending it wisely?

“Time”

When I think about “time” I think it is something so precious, there is never enough of it; “time” can fly by in the blink of an eye. So I wonder why so many of us spend “time” on things we don’t love or necessarily care about.  And why do we do it? Is the secret to true happiness in the “time” we spend on things we love or don’t love?  

When I was a little girl visiting my grandmother in Monterrey, Mexico, I used to sit and tell her I couldn’t wait to grow up and be on my own.  I wanted to travel the world, fall in love, and have kids and most of all I wanted to work. I am sure there is something very wrong with the last part of that sentence. She would tell me “Mija you need to enjoy your childhood every moment is precious, new and full of hope. Once you grow up “time” will fly so fast you won’t enjoy your life as much as you can when you are young.”

One thing I can say for sure is Grandmothers, and Mothers are very wise. Now I wish I was back in Monterrey playing with my cousins and enjoying my childhood. Telling my cousins and my family I love them and value the time we spend together.

Today my life is full of appointments, meetings, events, events and more events. Now don’t get me wrong I love my life but the lack of “Time” got me thinking…. This happens every once in a while you know the “thinking” part.

In a blink of an eye the day is gone.  So I ask myself did I spend my “time” wisely? Did I reach out to people I love and tell them I loved them? Did I make a difference in the world? Did I change someone’s life by offering them assistance, advice or my time and just listened to them? Did I spend my “time” doing the things I love?

“Time” is precious; make sure you spend it with the people you love doing the things you love. Don’t give your “time” to anything or anyone that isn’t making a positive impact in your daily life. “Time” and life go together.

If you are making a lot of money but don’t have “time” to enjoy it… Then what is the point? Money is fluid it comes and goes but “time”… once it is gone you can’t recover it.

Spending “time” with the right person can make “TIME” stand still…..spending “time” in the right job can make your life worthwhile.

Cheers,

Chica

Can I talk???

Someone asked me if I could talk about Austin for about 30 minutes…. I giggled and said “of course I can talk about Austin… I can talk about just anything for 30 minutes” the question is would anyone listen. Most of the time if I am talking no one can get a word in edgewise. My love of reading has become a love of writing…. Which I think goes hand in hand with speaking.  

When I first moved to Austin in 1997, I moved here kicking and screaming. I am a big city girl, born in Brooklyn, I have lived in places like Dallas, Houston and Mexico City. Austin was a small town when at that time you could cross the city in 15-20 minutes in your car. There was no Neiman Marcus, and hardly a mall, well if you could call Highland Mall a shopping mall. And what the heck was a Mopac? Mainly a college town it sure has changed since 1997. 

And then just like that, in one week I fell in love…status quo… I am a passionate person so I always do things 150%! Bam just like that I fell in love with this amazing city I love to call the Oasis of Texas. I have seen it change and grow, some good some bad and yet even when I am wondering why the freeway is packed at 1:00 in the afternoon I am still happy I live in the most wonderful city in the US. 

There isn’t a weekend that can’t be spent at a festival, or just enjoying our beautiful hill country, lakes, and rivers. Amazing restaurants, and of course live music, which is what we are known for. I have since long forgotten the passion I held for my hometown where I actually grew and wondered how did I not want to live here in Austin. I pride myself in holding fast to Keeping Austin Weird, thank you for reading and listening and I hope to see you “About Town.” 

So here we are at another growth phase of our venture “Chica About Town’s podcast”… So I hope that you are reading and now listening as we launch our new podcast. Stay tuned for a launch date. 

Cheers,

 Chica,