Have you ever worked out on carpet at home and found it difficult? Especially when doing activities like dancing or maybe kickboxing where you have to pivot, slide or move your feet quickly?

Well. It sucks.

It especially sucks if you have bad knees, like yours truly. Working out on carpet makes an already painful situation that much more challenging and painful.

Which is why when I heard about these awesome slip-on dancers that make working out on carpet a bit easier, I was enthralled. Could such a magic item really exist? And... Could it really be about $15?

Apparently yes.

I was so smitten with the concept that I asked for a pair to review, and they said yes. Score! (And thank you!)

When I took them out of the package, I was a bit skeptical. They sort of look like a bracelet gizmo that a cheer squad would wear.

Putting them on my shoes proved to be interesting. If you put them on after you already have your shoes on, you kind of have to man handle them to get them just the way you want them. If you put them on your shoes before putting them on your feet, it's hard to get the perfect placement. Overall, I'd recommend putting them on shoes first, then put the shoes on and tweak as needed. If you put the slip-ons too far up close to the toes and try to walk you'll quickly feel as if you're about to fall on your ass.

Not that I personally experienced that or anything. Hmph.

I've used them in various workouts, and I found that they do make my exercises easier. Are they a miracle worker? Not quite, but for $15 you shouldn't expect them to be. Basically they are designed to make it a bit easier, not effortless. They help my knees "twist" less during Turbo Jam, Just Dance, Zumba and help my lateral movements during Walk Away the Pounds.

However, I do find one of them does usually shift to the point of sliding off about every other workout or 2.  Annoying, but not a deal breaker.

Personally, I only use these shoes to workout in, so I don't have to take the slip-ons on/off constantly. I think if someone wanted to slide them on/off constantly (since you don't want to wear these outside) would probably reduce the life of the slip-ons.

Overall, they've made my workouts less strenuous on my knees which in turn makes me more likely to workout on my non-workout friendly carpet. The affordable price makes them worth a try. Let me know if you all have any questions in the comments section and I'll reply. :-)

I also wanted to point out that in addition to the carpet slip-ons they also have slip-ons for smooth surfaces. Make sure you order the proper one. Happy Dancing!

Disclaimer: I received a pair of slip-ons to review, but was otherwise not compensated for this review. All opinions/photos are my own, as always.

This is the view I have when sitting on my back patio:

Gorgeous, right? I have a pond with a waterfall, lots of trees and since I live about 70 miles from the Texas coast there’s usually a lovely breeze.

It’s glorious.

But…if you went and stood at the pond, you’d see my patio on most days looks like this:

And this:

It’s a hot mess y’all. Due to the insane winds, we always have dirt, pollen and leaves on the patio. The dining table is always off center and covered in junk. Not the place I want to hang out after a long day at work and definitely not the kind of place I’d love to have people over for a cookout. My patio needed a mini makeover.

Well, with Mother’s Day coming up, what better time to give my patio a mini-facelift for around $100? Now, $100 may not seem like much money, but you can get a lot for your money if you shop smart at a place with great deals…like Kmart. I had to do this revamp on a super tight schedule, so there’s no fancy DIY projects. This means anyone can do this makeover with some smart, savvy shopping. If you’d like to read about my shopping experience (which was 90% positive and 10% not-so-positive), you can look at my Google+ album.

Let’s take a look at the results.

Won’t you step outside with me?

Much better, isn’t it?

My first thought was that I wanted to replace the cushions. But actually, they’re very plush and in great condition. Also, new ones can be super, crazy expensive. Rather than break the bank, I purchased some fabulous accent pillows. They’re outdoor quality fabric and come in fun prints/colors.

It might seem a little weird to mix a trellis pattern with a zebra pattern, but if you choose accessories in the same tones/colors/textures you can mix up patterns and it looks eclectic chic. Or I think it does anyway.

The gazing ball is quite the centerpiece during the day, but it also glows in the dark at night. While shopping for outdoor décor, I really wanted the décor to be able to transition from day-to-night.

These candles serve a dual-purpose. The earthy brown tone of the container plays off of the zebra patterned pillows quite well, and the citronella will keep the pesky mosquitoes away. There’s nothing worse than being outdoors and being swarmed by mosquitoes. I try to keep those things in mind when decorating outdoors and inviting guests over. Comfort, style and value.

I also bought some citronella tealights for my outdoor chandelier. I adore this chandelier, and you can learn more about how it got to be this metallic stunner by reading this DIY tutorial.

Given that I wanted to keep the dining area the focal point of my patio, I splurged on some nice outdoor dining additions. Plates/cups are great for eating, but when set out on a table can set the scene for a lively, fun time and add much needed color. Notice how the placemats have some metallic threads…swoon. I love me a nice tablescape.

I tried not to be too matchy-matchy when choosing dining pieces.

Overall, my goal was to really create a space where Daniel and I could hang out with our moms and talk, laugh and relax. Not only on Mother’s Day, but on any occasion where we would all be able to gather together outside. Daniel loves grilling, so now he can grill and us gals have a place to lounge in style.

Like I mentioned earlier, I really wanted this area to be able to be used day or night, so as part of our $100 patio makeover we bought some of these beautiful lights:

We strung them around the patio area so that if the conversation and food lasted til dusk, we’d be prepared.

Boy it is great to be able to enjoy this view again.

Cost Breakdown:

-2 Delevan Outdoor Pillows, $20

-2 Taylor Outdoor Pillows, $20

-4 woven placemats, $16

-4 pack of outdoor plates, $2

-4 pack of outdoor bowls, $2

-2 green hurricane glasses, $6

-2 clear wine glasses, $6

-2 sets of outdoor lights, $20

-2 citronella bucket candles, $10

-1 green gazing ball, $15

Total about $115 + I earned some Shop Your Way Rewards by shopping Kmart’s Outdoor Décor. You can probably snag these items for even less during Kmart’s upcoming sale in honor of Mother’s Day! From May 6-12 get 20% off outdoor cushions and umbrellas as well as 20% off planters, fountains and garden décor. Not too shabby.

Do you plan on revamping your outdoor space this summer? Any other ideas for how to spruce up my patio? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments section. :)

Want to find Kmart online? Visit these sites:

• Kmart Outdoor Living
• Twitter
• Facebook

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

I’ll preface this blog post by stating that I have never really pitched a brand for anything major. There have been the less-than-a-handful of times where I’ve approached a brand and said, “I love your product, would love to try it out and write about it, what do you think?” type of e-mails, but they’ve been for really low priced items. I’ve generally offered to write about the product (if I like it) and promote my post via Twitter. It’s been nothing super major though.

Like a $15 pair of slip-ons for shoes that make it easier to workout on carpet.

Speaking of which… I need to write that review on the $15 slip-ons that make it easier to workout on carpet. And that low calorie booze a lovely company sent me. And that stripe painting tool.

Duly noted. I need a week off just to blog.

While at Hispanicize 2012 in Miami, I attended a fabulous session led by Cristina Alfaro from McDonald’s and Jennifer Stansfield of VPE PR. I learned so much at the session, and when I have actual time available to write up a pitch, I will follow their advice.

Here are my top takeaways from their session:

Put it on paper {get your facts straight}: Be brief, smart and to the point!

-Audience Reach

-Twitter Followers

-FB Likes

Outline how you’ll benefit the brand: What’s in it for you AND them? It’s a 2-way street

-When thinking of ways you’ll benefit a brand, think outside the box. They’ve seen and heard it all. What can you do differently or better?

-Be creative, be true to yourself/blog.

-Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Keep it real.

Key things to include in a pitch/proposal: Be informative without rambling

-Background on your blog

-Objective: What do you want to accomplish by partnering with the brand?

-Creative concept…so important!

Don’t beat around the bush: Money talks and it should talk within the pitch

-It may feel awkward to include money in a proposal, but include what/how much compensation you expect

-Be open to negotiations about compensation and be realistic about how much to be paid

-Factor in how long the project will last, how much work you’ll do, etc.

Some other items Cristina and Jennifer talked about were the importance of keeping a proposal 1-2 pages max and making sure your pitch is professional. Don’t just write a company and say, “Hey I need airfare for BlogHer!” You need to come to the table ready to offer something of value to the company other than your presence at a blogging conference, etc.

Really what I learned is that a brand pitch is 2-way street in which neither party wants to be left feeling like they’re in a dead-end. Cultivating and creating these brand partnerships will open doors to other opportunities, so it’s essential to be professional, honest and realistic about expectations.

I don’t know if I will be pitching brands a lot, but I am thinking of creative ways that I may be able to work with brands/products I love and admire. I don’t get to blog nearly as often as I’d like, but I do feel that quality is better than quantity in these matters. Right?

Please feel free to add in your comments/suggestions/thoughts in the comments section! I’d love to start a dialogue about this topic because it’s something that many bloggers feel awkward in discussing or don’t know what to ask. Let’s help each other! :)

I still have not recuperated from all the amazing, fantastic people and information I learned while in Miami last week for Hispanicize. Living in a small town where people look at me funny when I say the word “blog”, it was an immense privilege to be surrounded by people like me. People who are constantly engaged in social media, taking photos and up for lots of drinking.

It’s common to go into these sorts of conferences/events and be nervous, but much like BlogHer 2011, I instantly made a group of BBF’s (best bloggy friends) and we were attached at the hip. Then there is that sad, melancholy feeling when you miss your BBF’s and think to yourself, “Last week I was on a yacht drinking and dancing with my friends. Today I am trying to decide which frozen dinner to eat.”

You know what I mean, right?

And I totally was dancing on a yacht last week. I’ve never been on a boat in my entire life, and thanks to the folks at McDonald’s I got to be on a yacht with an open bar. The views of Miami were out of this world gorgeous. Besides the BBF’s, the booze/food and being on a vacay of sorts, I was smitten with the Vive Mejor lounge. The overall event wasn’t too swagalicious, BUT the items I got from the Vive Mejor lounge have already transformed my frizzy curls into glamorous, silky curls. And Dove was also giving away samples of their new Clear Tone deodorant which makes your armpits even in skin tone. You might be thinking…do people really care about the color of their armpits?

Yes, yes we do. It’s one of 2 reasons I don’t wear sleeveless shirts. I don’t want my pits to show because I don’t like them. And the other reason is that I have chunky arms.

Blah.

I am going to do a post about what I learned from the sessions (lots of great stuff from Ted Rubin and McDonald’s) and then I want to show you some beauty products that you need to buy ASAP that are all likely to be available at your local Walmart. Which means they’re affordable, deliver what they promise and are given the Monica Wants It seal of approval.

What else? Oh yes, I will have some updates on my bathroom renovation (there is progress!) and I hope to start working on some home décor tutorials that are sure to keep you busy over the summer. I must hit up the garage sales soon. Must.

For now, I leave you with some photos from my whirlwind trip to Miami. Enjoy.

Lynda (Hit The Road Jane) & Zelma (Yo Soy Mami)

Candy from Mommypalooza

My view from the McDonald’s #chillatsea Yacht Party

My run-in with Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer)

More BBF’s.

Fabulous soiree over at Villa Vecchia sponsored by Bacardi & Cricket Wireless

Stars from the movie Scarface

Listening to the inspiring Emilio Estefan

My BBF’s with Cesar Millan and his lovely girlfriend

Stunning rooftop over at The Soho Beach House

So that’s what a beach is supposed to look like… Swoon.

Beautiful surroundings everywhere I looked.

And here’s me looking slightly tipsy and oh-so-happy in Miami.

I think I need another vacation.

If you were at Hispanicize (or even if you weren’t) and would love to connect with me, I am always available to help one another advance in this big, big online world. Seriously. If at anytime I can help any of you out there, please let me know.

To see more photos from my Miami trip, head on over to my Facebook album.

All photos taken with my Sony NEX-3 camera that I adore!

This past weekend, my best friend Candy and her daughter Caylee came over to partake in egg dyeing. While it was my first time EVER dyeing eggs, it’s something that Candy and Caylee do every year. I know, can you believe I’ve never dyed an egg? I apparently live under a rock. A rock without Paas dye.

Caylee adores me, so she was super excited to help me dye my very first batch of eggs.

Isn’t she adorable? Yes, yes she is.

We got all the stuff prepared, and honestly, I didn’t know this project required so much vinegar. And honestly, my house majorly smelled like farts for a few hours afterwards. I imagine its what a house full of teenage boys would smell like. Perhaps?

The dye gets all fizzy and the colors are so bright and gorgeous. This project also requires lots of cups…

Candy used the time to bond with her daughter as well as chat with me about the Fifty Shades of Grey book/novel that I had already given up on. I got bored, but she got me intrigued enough to keep reading it. We decided that Zac Efron would make a fabulous Christian Grey. It’d also help us forget he was ever in those High School Musical movies. We also decided that we had no clue how on earth it could get away with a rated R rating unless they took out 70% of the book. But I digress.

Minutes later, we had a bunch of bright eggs. It almost seemed kind of magical. How does a little dye tab the size of a Sweet-Tart + 3 tbsp of vinegar= bright eggs.

We also used a tie-dye egg kit with GLITTER. It was heaven. Lots and lots of glitter everywhere. And the best part? You can make really gorgeous eggs. Look at this one that Caylee made. Love.

Mommy and daughter look happy. :-)

It may seem like this whole egg dyeing thing was just an activity. But really, it meant so much more than that to me. I am blessed to have a best friend who wants me to partake in traditions and projects that I never got to do. It means a lot that Candy made it a point to ensure I got to stain my hands a variety of colors and smell a plethora of farts all at once. Even sweeter than that is watching Candy with her daughter. I am the friend that gets to tag along with them a lot, and it often makes me wonder if I truly don’t want children like I always tell people. I’d like to do this sort of thing with my daughter someday. I’d like to have memories that are sweet, innocent and precious. I am sure my mother has those of me, and well… it just makes me wonder.

Do I or don’t I want one of these beautiful little girls to call my own someday?

And then the very next day I went over to my in-laws for Easter lunch. My 2.5 year old nephew was present and in a sour mood. He was just tired and whiny. I kept wanting to take a photo of him and he said, “NO!” Oh goodness. I gave up. Eventually, he got totally fed up with everything and let out a tantrum that I miraculously caught using Instagram.

And now I am more confused than ever. Sigh.

• Do you have any fun/meaningful traditions that you built with your friends? Did you ever not want children and change your mind?

It really is. And honestly, the past 3 years have been me yo-yoing up-and-down, and I am so up right now that I can’t even see the floor where I started from.

I think I’m doing this all wrong. I feel like I’ve tried everything. Count calories/points. Do low fat/low calorie. Cut out carbs/sugar. I just cannot seem to find something I can stick to unlike the fat that has no problem situating itself on my mid-section.

And I’ll be honest: I want to lose weight to look good. Plain and simple. But they say to be successful at something, you must want the end result more than the immediate satisfaction. Much like saving money for a vacation. It is much easier to go out to eat every night than it is to eat at home everyday and eventually go on a vacation.

It is also said that you should never give up something that you cannot go a day without thinking about. Granted, you have to follow the cliché in a logical manner. If you can’t go a day without thinking about possibly winning the lottery…you should probably get a new hobby and stop wasting money on lottery tickets.

Right?

So, for over 27 years now, I’ve wanted to be thin.

I sit here, 27 years old, at the highest weight I have ever been. I’m fatter than I was 30 pounds ago when I thought I was really fat. OMG.

Last week I was at the mall getting my wedding rings inspected for this dumb warranty thing I have. Sad to say, I didn’t even wear the wedding rings into the jewelry store. In fact, I haven’t worn my wedding rings in months. Not because I am going through some turmoil in my marriage, but because it’s that I have gained so much weight that to wear my wedding rings is impossible unless I want them to have to be cut off.

Wow.

While chatting it up with the lady at Gordon’s Jewelers, I joked that I gained the weight due to marriage and that eventually I’d be back to have them sized back down again.

And she laughed.

Hysterically.

I need to prove her wrong. I cannot go to BlogHer 2012 and be about 25 pounds fatter than I was at BlogHer 2011. I’d sooner just not go. I want to at least break even by then. I want to feel good about myself and not dread family functions due to my weight. I want to not avoid my childhood best friend because I’m so much larger than I was last time I saw her. Insanity.

But how?

I have a fabulous list of excuses, but none of them really get down to the root of why I am so unsuccessful at losing weight and maintaining it.

Oh lord. Maybe I am just lazy.

But maybe, just maybe, I’d really love to be this cute, thinner, happier lady again.

Man I had great hair back then. And no rolls. Sigh.

Oh thin Monica, how I miss thee.

Words cannot express how extremely grateful I am to get to go to Hispanicize in Miami next week. Mostly because I really hadn’t planned on going, but it appears that I was meant to go because everything fell into place.

With that being said, I must cue the song that I have been indulging in ever since I found I was going for sure last Friday:

Don’t judge.

This will be my second blogging conference, and as a blogger, of course I feel the need to write about it. Today’s post is all about tips for people attending Hispanicize/blogging conferences. Also included is what I am most excited about and what I am most nervous about. And then I get all mushy and thank people at the end. Sound like a plan?

My top 3 tips for people attending Hispanicize. Now I am not going to go into obvious things like pack comfortable shoes, rest, eat, sleep, etc. Those are a given. I’m going to tell you 3 things that I wish someone would have really hammered into my head before I went to BlogHer last year.

1.) I was at a training for work recently, and the speaker said something that really resonated with me: “You can only be known by what others know about you” How this relates to blogging is that you have to let people (i.e.:brands/bloggers/contacts) know what you and your blog are about and what you can offer them. Quickly. As in try to get it down to under 30 seconds; that may be all you have. At BlogHer this is known as the elevator pitch, but it really works no matter what. Furthermore, don’t be shy about what you do. For a long time I kept my blog a secret to those who are around me everyday, but again, you can only be know by what others KNOW about you. Let it be known exactly what you do that makes your blog yours.

Brag. Be succinct. Be prepared. Be you. Be proud.

2.) Write down information about the brands/PR reps you talk to on their business cards. Don’t do this as you’re talking to them, unless you’re jotting notes, but do try to get it done within 15 minutes of meeting them. I have a stack of business cards from BlogHer last year that all are identical, but with different names on them. Heck if I know which brand Jennifer or David worked for/were representing, although they both do work at the same PR agency. Yeah, no clue. I should have written down the brand they were with, what we talked about or something that would allow me to put a name to a face. Or at the very least a memory to a business card. Now, this issue isn’t so big for blogger business cards since they usually filled with relevant info like blog URL, Twitter handle, yada yada.

3.) Let it be known that you are attending the conference so you can find people to hang out with. For me, this whole Hispanicize thing is very sudden. I won a pass, asked for help, got the help and BAM I am going. After all that sunk in, I was thinking, “Oh my gosh. I am going to be all alone.” I am just not down with that, at all. So, I went to all my networks and groups to let them know I was going. And now? I have several girls who are looking forward to hanging out with me, and we’re going to have cupcakes and go on a Chevy Landmark tour and party it up. Together. You’ll feel so much less intimidated if you just find some people who you can connect with. Get cell phone numbers, put them into your phone and make sure to keep in touch with them.  A conference buddy is just a text away if you follow those steps. I am so looking forward to Carolyn being my BlogHer pal again this year. We truly bonded at BlogHer last year. She was the person I’d run around with or go to the room and chat with as we looked at all our swag. It’s amazing the friends you can make if you put yourself out there.

Now moving on to what I am most excited about at Hispanicize:

Image Credit: Monsters & Critics

1.) Cesar Millan. Not going to lie, I am hoping to stuff him in my carry on and bring him back with me to Texas so he can make Pee Wee stop licking his paws. I am totally joking and mean no harm to Cesar Millan. He is a doggy genius, and just to be in the same room with him is a dream come true. Much like meeting Bob from The Biggest Loser at BlogHer was last year. These conferences are great for meeting people you admire.

2.) Connecting with brands and other bloggers. When you get that many people in a gorgeous location with all the creative energy moving through the air…it’s bound to be amazing. I hope to meet people that can help me take my blog to the next level. And I want to meet other bloggers that can share tips and advice. Furthermore, I want to let loose and have so much fun.

3.) I look forward to all the events being put on by Hispanicize and their generous sponsors. I’ll be attending a yacht party by McDonald’s and a fun event by the Latina Mom Bloggers. Besides being able to have a fiesta, these events are great to have longer conversations, take lots of photos and make special memories you’ll cherish. And blog about.

And although I am not a total conference newbie, there are things that make me nervous about Hispanicize:

1.) I hope no one tests me on my Spanish skills. I totally understand it, I can read it, but speaking it…oh lord. I am a bit rusty on it. I do know the words margaritas, fiesta and siesta. Hope that doesn’t disqualify me at still being classified as a Latina! ;-)

2.) Miami humidity. Will straightening my hair prove to be a waste of time?

3.) Feeling like I know no one. Even though I know I will know people, it’s still a little intimidating, but I am sure I’ll have a lovely time.

And now I’d like to thank some very special people/companies for helping make this trip a reality:

Eva Smith & Zelma: They are awesomesauce. Eva helped me try to find a flight sponsor, and she answers all my dumb questions via DM. She is what Hispanicize is all about-- helping others succeed and feel included. Zelma is my conference buddy and a total sweetheart. So blessed to have them in my life. <3

I’d also like to thank the Clever Girls Collective for my free conference pass, Southwest Airlines & Hispanicize for the free airfare and Collective Bias’ Courtney Velasquez for letting me crash with her for 2 nights.

See you in Miami!

If you’d like to tweet with me, follow me @monicabenavidez and if you’d like to e-mail me you can do so at monicawantsit@gmail.com

To see what sessions I’ll be at during the conference, check out my schedule here.