Everyone has a family heirloom, right? For some people it may be grandma’s old rocking chair or grandpa’s favorite foot stool. These are priceless, timeless pieces that seem to always fit into our heart and homes.

Above: A memorial candle I had in honor of my granny at my wedding. That candle is now an heirloom in our family; it’s in my mom’s possession.

The priceless heirloom that I have in my possession is my grandma’s collection of costume jewelry. My granny was born in the 1920’s, so her collection is very vintage and chic. I remember when I was younger I loved to sit with her and try on all of the jewels. I felt like a princess of sorts with all that bling. And honestly, I just don’t see that kind of jewelry anymore, unfortunately.

Above: Me looking like a princess…as usual!

My mom gave me the collection after my grandma passed away in 2006, and I have it tucked away safe and sound. However, I thought I should display some of it, so I am officially inspired to do a DIY project. I know traditional heirlooms tend to be antique furniture pieces or family quilts, etc. but really I think any item that is treasured deserves the designation as an heirloom. DIY projects can help bring these heirlooms to life. In my case, my grandma’s vintage jewelry has inspired me to create a piece of art that I’ll enjoy for many years to come.

Above: My mom, my granny and me. :)

You can see the  priceless value of a dining table/heirloom in the YouTube video below by True Value. Warning—it’s a tear jerker, but I really want you to watch this video. It’s good! I got all misty eyed during the video, but it’s a good reminder of the power of DIY and the True Value of life—those we love. Family heirlooms can keep memories alive, and I think that’s what most of us want to do to honor those we love. I look forward to sharing with you my finished DIY project honoring my granny and her love of fabulously gorgeous baubles.

Video by True Value

So in honor of keeping memories and heirlooms alive, both in our hearts and homes, True Value is sponsoring a $50 gift card giveaway on my blog to help with your project. You can enter below on Rafflecopter, and there are several ways you can enter. Good luck! True Value is also hosting a Pin to Win Sweepstakes--You can find more information about that over here. Two exciting contests for you to be able to enter. Contest is open from now until July 22, 2013 at 12 am CST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I am also being provided with a $50 gift card in exchange for a post/giveaway promoting the True Value brand and their Pinterest contest.

I was sent a fabulous pack of Balance Bar® products to try to help me stick to my New Year’s Resolutions. The variety pack I was sent included a pair of each of the following: Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch, Blueberry Acai and Cookie Dough & Double Chocolate Brownie Minis (<---only 100 calories each!).

I’ve seen Balance Bar® in stores, but have never tried them until I was sent this variety pack. My absolute fave is the Double Chocolate Brownie Mini—I eat half before a workout and I eat the other half right after. My 2nd favorite is the Blueberry Acai bar—it’s become my go-to 3 p.m. snack. It satisfies my sweet tooth and keeps me satiated until dinner time at 6 or so.

But my favorite thing about Balance Bar® is that the bars are all reasonable/low in calories, and have a perfect amount of fat/protein/carbs plus vitamins and minerals. And, to be honest, some of the varieties are pretty darn close to being better than a candy bar. Sweet and satisfying.

Since I am trying to calorie count/do Weight Watchers, these bars don’t break the bank like some others I’ve seen. The most they have is around 200 calories and the mini’s have 100. Perfect as snacks or a quick breakfast. They’ve made it a tad easier and convenient to stick to my New Year’s Resolution of losing mucho weight.

Also included in my goody box of bars were some tips to help “outlast” my New Year’s Resolution. In 2011 I pretty much caved in April, and in 2012 I caved on January 3. This year, I hope to beat both of those records by making 2013 my lucky year. This tip is really what I keep telling myself daily because some days it really feels like a lot of work to stay on track:

“Be Patient with Yourself - On average, it takes 21 days to create a new habit. When you first get started, it will take more time and energy to focus on your daily goal. The trick is to notice when you didn't accomplish your daily goal - and to not beat yourself up about it. After about three solid weeks of working on your daily goals, they'll become second nature and part of your daily routine.” –Amber Rosenberg, Certified Life Coach

So, I’m being patient with myself, trying to enjoy the process, and trying to focus on the fact that it’s a journey not a phase.

And to help YOU outlast your New Year’s Resolutions, I’m giving away a box of Balance Bar® products just like the one I got! YAY!

You can enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!  

Disclaimer: I received products to review/giveaway, but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just a friendly reminder that there is still time to enter my giveaway for one of 2 Lane Bryant gift cards (see my post from earlier today), but if you want to have another shot at some holiday gift cards, then you might want to listen up...

There's a super fun Twitter party coming up where curvy gals can talk about getting all gussied up for the holidays. Maybe it's that fabulous company soirée or a family event where you want to dress to impress. Whether your favorite look is glam, modern, edgy, flirty or comfy chic, Lane Bryant has it all. You may get some ideas on how to put together amazing holiday looks. It may be cold outside, but you can still be smokin' hot, ladies!

Plus Lane Bryant has amazing special offers everyday, which you can learn about on their Facebook page.

So, join the @LaneBryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party this Monday, 12/17 at noon PT/3pm ET! Fab prizes! RSVP to win prizes, including $30 Lane Bryant gift cards! RSVP: http://clvr.li/128tjBx

The Details:

• What: Lane Bryant “Holiday Fashion Fun” Twitter Party
• When: Mon 12/17 noon PT/3pm ET
• Where: On Twitter! CleverTweets: http://clvr.li/SYaCNf
• Follow: Hashtag #LBHoliday @CleverGirlsColl @LaneBryantRSVP here: http://clvr.li/128tjBx
• Prizes: 18, $30 Lane Bryant gift cards

I hope to participate even though I will be on the road. Yay for technology! :)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

So, yeah, my goals of looking like Jessica Alba didn’t pan out this year. Nor last year. Nor the year before that.

I think as I get older I learn that beauty isn’t tied to a number, whether it be weight or dress size. Luckily, stores like Lane Bryant also agree with me, and they make gorgeous clothing, accessories and shoes for the modern plus size woman. Shopping in their stores is always a treat because of their friendly staff and beautiful dressing rooms, and this weekend’s shopping expedition was no exception. Lane Bryant stores leave me feeling happy and confident. I don’t want to be feel ashamed when I just want to feel pretty.

I’m trying to convince my husband we should finally DO something fun for New Year’s Eve and the holidays, so I am hoping this cute blouse, shoes and earrings will help convince him!

I already have a pair of Lane Bryant classic black pants that I can pair with my sparkly blouse, and those heels are actually very comfy. I’m so not a heels person, but they are truly gorgeous.

Lane Bryant is having tons of special surprise offers just in time for the holidays, and today’s special offer will rock your socks. Here it is:

That is a GREAT special offer. Essentially you can buy a blouse and add on shoes for $1. Or a dress and get a cute sweater for $1. That’s a lot of value, just in time for the holidays. I’ll probably head back to a Lane Bryant store today just to take advantage because I love their pants and blouses for work. Confident, comfy, chic—that’s how I feel in their clothes. And with special surprise offers like these, I have no excuse to not splurge a little. Right?

And, because I want to spread some holiday cheer, I am giving away TWO $30 Lane Bryant gift cards to 2 very lucky people. It’s super easy to win, not complicated at all…

To enter to win one of the $30 gift cards, just pin your favorite holiday look(s) from the Lane Bryant website and include the #LB12Days hashtag in the caption, and leave me the link to your pin in the comments section of this post (not the link to your pinterest account, but your actual pin URL, one entry per person regardless of pins). Also leave me your email address so I can find you and mail you this fantabulous prize.

Contest is open from right now until December 18 at noon. 18+, US only. I’ll draw a winner on the 18th, and I’ll contact them via email. They’ll have 48 hours to respond before I give up and choose another.

With so many great special offers, Lane Bryant is a great choice for beautiful, curvy gal clothes this holiday season. Happy pinning!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

It is no secret that I love, love, love my dog. His sassy attitude translates extremely well in photos, which makes me the crazy dog mom who cannot take enough photos of him on Instagram.

When I learned that I could turn some of those literally hundreds of photos of Pee Wee into works of art, I was eager to learn more. Here are the 3 Instagram photos I turned into SnapBox prints:

 

So, let’s talk about SnapBox. It’s a service that takes any photo, even Instagram pics, and turns them into canvas prints in a box…hence SnapBox. They stand on their own (as seen above) or they can be hung on a wall.

People…they are GORGEOUS! I was nervous about the quality of my Instagram pics, but I obviously had no need to worry because they are stunning. The ordering process could not be easier—I literally ordered from my phone while laying in bed. You email the photo to snapbox@snapboxez.com, they reply within like 2 minutes with previews of what your photo would look like at various sizes, you add to cart/pay and you are DONE. In about 5 business days you have them at your door (or you can pick them up at a participating store near you), beautifully/safely packaged and they are beyond amazing.

Only FIVE days! Perfect for those last minute holiday gifts. (Note: please order by December 17 to ensure holiday delivery).

I got them as gifts for family, because everyone loves Pee Wee. No seriously. The square photo is of Pee Wee cuddling with my mom’s dog Elmo. They usually ignore each other, so that photo is truly a rare moment in time. My mom is going to LOVE that print. The next photo, seen below is of Pee Wee in the back seat of our car; we had just taken him to an outlet mall where he was just SO EXCITED to get to walk around and smell new things. The expression on his face is priceless, and it’s probably my favorite photo of him ever. His smile makes me so happy. Incredibly happy.

And the other photo is of Pee Wee just cuddling here at home in his favorite blankie. I think if Pee Wee could have chosen any photo to give to Daniel for Christmas, it’d be this one below. Daniel and Pee Wee can often be found cuddling, so it seems fitting.

The sharpness in the photos is perfect, and the prices are so affordable. People, you get these amazing prints without having to have fancy cameras or special software. These photos are straight from my Instagram feed (I even emailed them to SnapBox right from the Instagram app).

I am in love. Head over heels in love with the quality, price, ease of ordering and how quickly they got to my door. I’ll be ordering lots of these, I just know it.

So, in the spirit of giving, I am giving away a set of 3 SnapBox prints! You choose your 3 photos in any of the sizes they offer. Even shipping is included!

You can enter below using the Rafflecopter form. Contest is open from now until Friday, December 14, 2012 at midnight. Code will be emailed to winner Saturday, December 15, 2012 so that you can order in time for the holidays if you’re the lucky winner. US only, 18+, good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

If you’re thinking, “Monica doesn’t have kids, why is she writing about Aveeno baby shampoo?” then you’re like half right, half wrong. I have a furbaby who licks himself into oblivion because he’s likely allergic to air. It’s crazy.

I gave him a bath last week, and it’s his least favorite thing to do because I undo all the stench he’s worked so hard to accumulate since his last bath. Usually I use sulfodene as Pee Wee’s shampoo, but because of how great Aveeno is for sensitive skin and is gentle on the eyes, I decided to use it on my baby!

I tend to get soap all over his face, and I felt great knowing that this wasn’t burning his eyes or irritating his already irritated paws and skin. I also used it on myself! I’ve been so itchy lately because of all the dust we’ve stirred up with the master bedroom renovation. My feet and head are just constantly driving me bonkers. I felt the wash was soothing, and while it didn’t totally get rid of my itchy feeling, it did help.

With winter coming up soon, wouldn’t this be a great time to get some awesome goodies to help your skin? I think so! This post is part of a campaign I am doing with Johnson & Johnson, and to wrap it up I am having a giveaway today + another one tomorrow! Isn’t that fun? I wrote a review about some of the items earlier this year, and I’ve been using them consistently since.

What items are up for grabs? Well, here they are:

A total value of $100 (products + shipping) of fab items that will help you stay clean, moisturized and fab during this winter.

To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment with why Aveeno products (or any product shown in the picture above) would help you survive the winter season. Drawing is open from 10/30 through 11/1 at 10 pm CST. 18+, US only. Good luck!

Disclaimer: I’ve received the product(s) shown in this post, but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

I’m obsessed with making sure my home always smells good.

This probably stems from the fact that I have a dog who licks himself silly, and I have a husband who feels socks strewn through the house is like manly confetti or something.

I was contacted by the kind folks over at Scentsy asking if I’d create my very own home fragrance scent using their Pink Pepper scent + other Scentsy fragrances. I own a Scentsy, and honestly have never thought of combining the bars to create a signature scent. So simple, right?

So I sniffed…and sniffed…and sniffed through the various scents they sent over to narrow it down to scents that would accent the spicy yet sweet smells of the Pink Pepper. Pink pepper could totally be the star of its own show, BUT it is so easy to pair other scents with it and create something totally unique. Versatile, complimentary scent.

Finally, I ended up choosing Pink Pepper + Ace (woodsy, cologne type smell) + Pixie (spicy, floral-esque)= Monica’s Signature Home Scent. I tossed them into my Scentsy burner and waited for my creation to fill my house with the smell of wonderfulness.

Typically, I choose home scents that either smell clean (January-May) then I migrate over to floral/fun (June-August) then from September and onward I love scents that tell a story and set the mood.

The scent I created definitely has a masculine scent to it mixed with sweet and spicy scents. Think of a male and female supermodel sitting in my living room and wearing the cologne/perfume they model.

Basically.

I have a penchant for birds, so for my warmer, I chose this spiffy owl.

Look at all the gorgeous detail! I love that Scentsy warmers easily blend in with décor, and that they’re good quality. I absolutely adore the one I’ve had in my kitchen for the last 2 years.

I think my new owl will look good in my living room all year round because I have nature décor in that room. Again, I have a thing for birds! :)

For now, he looks mighty spiffy alongside my fall décor on the console table in the living room. Understated, cute and functional.

So, now that I’ve created my very own signature scent, it needs a name. Monica’s Signature Home Scent just doesn’t do it for me.

And guess what? If you help me think of a name you are entered to win your very own Scentsy warmer (you get to choose it) + you get the scent bars I used to create the scent.

Oh and you get the huge pleasure of having my home signature fragrance named after your nifty idea.

To enter to win you HAVE to do this:

-Comment on this post with your idea for the fragrance name

And if you want 2 more chances, you can also do these:

-Comment on this post with why YOU need a Scentsy in your home

-Go like Scentsy on their Facebook page.

Leave a comment for each, open to 18+ in the USA. Good luck! :)
Contest is open NOW through Friday, November 2nd at 10 pm CST. Winner will be notified via email (so leave me a way to find you!)

Disclaimer: I received a Scentsy warmer + bars for review but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

A little over 2 weeks I wrote about my positive experience at Best Buy when purchasing my Panasonic Sound Bar! Now I’m back with a review (and video!) to show you all just how awesome this sound bar is. And just a reminder for anyone who knows Spanish-speaking folks that Best Buy offers a Spanish website for shopping.

Now, my husband is the audiophile of the family, but after experiencing this sound bar for a few weeks, I can definitely see and hear why it is so fantastic. It especially comes in handy if you have get togethers often, like we do, because the clarity and dynamic sound is amazing. I illustrate that point in the video later on in this post, but I can’t quite express how awesome it is to have people over and be able to hear over  crystal clear sounds over the chit chat, smartphone noises and a barking dog.

Super slim design!

The Panasonic sound bar allows us to have family gatherings in style in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Our TV audio was not so great…we’d have it full blast and barely be able to hear and it was very flat sound. Being a family that likes to celebrate everything, but is on a budget, this purchase from Best Buy was a smart investment to keep us at home and not eating out for family gatherings. It enhances our time with our family when we’re watching the big football game or our favorite TV sitcoms (or the novelas!). Family time is so dear to my heart, and I love having people over at our home. Family and culture are values I grow to love more and more as I get older.

Awesome bass for action movies and football games.

Funny how a sound bar can bring people closer, right? See and hear for yourself how clear the sound is and how sleek the sound bar is. We haven’t mounted it to the wall just yet because we’re still renovating a bit, but once it’s on the wall, it’s nice to know it won’t be an eye sore.

Panasonic Sound Bar Review (Model SC-HTB20)

Now, it’s time for YOU to share how you think Best Buy can help you celebrate your cultura (culture)! If you share, you are entered to win a $100 Best Buy gift card! And if you need a gift in a jiffy, Best Buy offers e-Gift cards in Spanish and English!

But back to the fabulous $100 Best Buy gift card giveaway.

Super simple to enter…

Head on over to the Mi Best Buy Facebook page and comment on my post…Ok, once you find my post, leave a comment  on that Facebook post letting me know your favorite Best Buy product and how it would help you celebrate your culture/family.

Super easy, no fuss entry. :)

And for additional entries you can do the following (just leave a blog comment for these telling me you did them):

• Follow Mi Best Buy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BestBuyEspanol
• Tweet a link to this post and mention me @monicabenavidez + @mibestbuy use the #micultura hashtag.
• Leave a comment on this blog post telling me what you’d use your gift card on.

Contest is open from now until next Thursday, the 18th at 10 pm CST. US only, must be 18+.

FOUR chances to enter…so good luck! :)

And if you really want to enter to win some amazing prizes:

Join Latina Mom Bloggers and Best Buy for a Twitter Party to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on October 15^th from 9-10:30pm ET! The prizes will be amazing –

• SiriusXM Edge (includes $50 SiriusXM Prepaid Card, SiriusXM Portable Speaker Dock, Hardwire Modulator FMDA & Pro Installation up to $79.99)
• Xbox 360 with Kinect plus 50% off Xbox Live gold
• HP OJPro 8600 Printer
• Panasonic TC-L55ET5 55" HD LED TV (RV $1,499.99)

Rules: For the official rules, please click HERE.

RSVP:  To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP at Latina Mom Bloggers and follow @MiBestBuy. Click HERE to RSVP.

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Best Buy. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Spanish rice is a tasty food I love as a side dish or as a filling addition to my burritos/wraps. Problem is I could never quite make rice as well as my grandma did. It’d be a bright orange/red color and it’d be so tasty. I finally whipped up some Spanish Rice that I think my grandma would be proud of. It has the vibrant color and yummy taste that hers had…but all in about 20 minutes!

I kind of don’t like using bouillon cubes because it never fails that it doesn’t totally dissolve in the food and someone ends up eating a block of it. That’s why when I was asked to create a recipe using the new Mazola® Sobrecitos® bouillon packets, I was thrilled that they completely dissolve without needing to massacre a cube.

And 1 pouch=1 cube making it a fool proof, no need to measure when adding it to food.

The Mazola® Sobrecitos® bouillon packets come in a chicken and tomato flavor, so it’s easy to find a way to use them in soups, rice, beans or even taco night.

Now, let’s make some tasty rice!

Ingredients:

-1 Mazola® Sobrecitos® chicken flavor bouillon packet

-1 cup enriched rice

-1 tbsp of Mazola Corn Oil

-1 tsp of Sazón with Garlic and Onion

-2 cups of water

-Optional: Avocado for garnish

-Salt/pepper/cayenne to taste

First, heat your pan and add the Mazola Corn Oil in. Then, once that was nice and hot, I started browning my rice over medium-high heat. While that was cooking, I dissolved my bouillon packet into my water. A few turns with a spoon and it was all easily dissolved. I’m officially a convert to packet bouillon now! It’s convenient and saves this Latina lots of time and effort. I like cooking that involves no fuss.

After your rice is nice and golden in color, add in your bouillon water + Sazón. Let it come to a boil, then cover your pan and reduce the heat to medium, stirring occasionally until your rice is nice and fluffy. You’ll know when it’s done, trust me. It took about 15 minutes for my rice.

I served mine up with my beefy enchilada casserole and some sliced avocados on top. It was SO tasty. It had the authentic flavor I was seeking without much work. I got the pretty color by adding a dash of cayenne. It also adds a dash of spicy!

This recipe makes about 6-8, 1/2 cup servings. It’s the perfect amount for 2 people to end up with leftovers for the next day.

See? Yummy leftovers the next day. I love how Mexican food is always vibrant in color. Feast for the eyes and stomach.

If you’d like other recipe ideas, you can visit Mazola on their

• Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MazolaEspanol and
• Mazola’s website: http://www.mazola.com/spanish/inicio.aspx

And to help you get started, I’m giving away a $25 Walmart giftcard AND some Mazola Sobrecitos!! YAY!!!

You can enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. You must be 18 and up, US only, closes on October 3, 2012 at 8 pm CST. Good luck!!

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Mazola® Sobrecitos®. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hi everyone! Last week I saw Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias in concert, and oh my gosh, they are AMAZING in concert. The whole night I was on my feet dancing the night away. Here’s a photo of each of them that I snagged from the 6th row.

 

I’m not going to lie…during some of their Zumba songs, I just about broke out into the Zumba moves. I apologize to those lovely people sitting around me at the concert. Truly, I love music, and it was exhilarating to see them live. I was in heaven.

This got me thinking about songs this summer that I’ve loved dancing to or that would be great for a workout playlist (which reminds me…I need to workout). Going to the concert gave me a bit of Latin fever, so I shall stick to the theme and feature Latino/Latina artists rather than my usual faves Katy and Britney. Now, if you’ve got a song you think I absolutely should listen to, please leave me the name/artist in the comments section. I love discovering new tunes, so do share.

Without further adieu, here are my top 5 dance songs (or “Las del Baile") of summer 2012

Look at me all fancy with my Spanish.

1.) Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again

2.) Enrique Iglesias: Tonight (I’m Loving You)

3.) Shakira: Addicted to You

4.) Don Omar: Danza Kuduro (also a FUN Zumba song… just sayin’)

5.) Pitbull: I Know You Want Me

If you download those songs, and don’t feel like getting up and shakin’ it…there’s a problem.

There are tons of great playlists you can vote for over on the Mi Cricket Facebook page, and you can also enter your own playlist, too. Why? Well, Mi Cricket is giving away a fab prize to the grand prize winner, with the most total votes! They will win a prize package that includes a trip for you and three friends to the taping of the Alma Awards on September 16, 2012 in Los Angeles, including airfare and accommodations. The entrant with the most votes in each category will win a Huawei Ascend Q Muve Music phone and three months of free wireless service.

So, why not give a try? It takes less than 5 minutes to enter, and if nothing else you can get great ideas for your playlists.

And, Cricket wireless is also featuring some playlists from America’s top DJ’s. I particularly liked MC Magic’s Top Summer Songs.

Some of them are a little old school, and I dig it.

If you’d like to connect with Mi Cricket on Twitter, you can find them at https://twitter.com/MiCricket

So, tell me, what’s your favorite summer jam of all time? And if it’s “Call Me Maybe”, please don’t leave that in the comments! ;-)

Disclaimer: I am being compensated for this post by Cricket Wireless. All ideas, opinions, etc. are my own, like always.

I’m so excited to bring you all two posts today that can earn you some super fun and amazing technology related prizes. This is post one of 2.

I want to invite you all to join in the Samsung Galaxy SIII T-Mobile Twitter Party next week on September 5 @ 9 pm EST.

As you can see from the image above, there are some outstanding prizes.

I actually played with a Samsung Galaxy S II and was blown away by the amazing screen and camera, and I can only imagine how this one is. So, if you’ve been needing a new phone, love to tweet and are available that evening, please RSVP over on the Being Latino website so you can be eligible to win those amazing prizes. You have to RSVP, but it literally takes ONE minute. Go on, go RSVP.

Here are some more specs on the phone in case you hadn’t heard about them yet:

• One touch sharing, AllShare, 8 Megapixel camera, T-Mobile’s first full HD screen, Wi-Fi calling and Smartphone Mobile Hotspot

Pretty sweet! And with a variety of plans, there’s sure to be something that fits in your budget if you want to upgrade soon.

If you want more information about the phone, you can take a test drive, or you can ask T-Mobile on their various social media sites:

• Website: http://www.t-mobile.com/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/tmobile
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TMobile (Hashtag #Vida4G)
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TMobile?WT.z_conne

I’ll be at the party as one of the co-hosts, so please join us. It’ll be fun and who doesn’t love techie stuff? I know I do! See you there. :)

Disclaimer: I am being compensated for my participation as co-host, but all opinions are my own.

When my BFF and I used to do Zumba regularly, there’d be certain songs that we’d get giddy about when we heard them come on the speakers.

Some of the are “Baby, I Like It”, “On the Floor”, “Let’s Get Loud”, and there’s many more. We had our favorite songs that made working out so much fun when we went to Zumba.

The other day I tuned into the Zumba station on my Pandora, and I realized something that made super excited for many reasons…

Most of the songs are by Jennifer Lopez and Enrique Iglesias.

And Pitbull, too, we all know this right? He’s like in every song! I know, I know. I like him a lot as well. Very catchy.

But back to JLO and Enrique.

I love them! Now I’m not saying they’re like my life role models, but as a Latina woman, I’m proud they’re Hispanic and making FAB music. I’m proud that Jennifer Lopez played Selena, which is hands down one of my favorite movies. I loved Selena and her music!

I just bought one of JLO’s gorgeous necklaces from her line at Kohl’s. In fact, I also have a pair of GORGEOUS red corduroy pants I bought back in college when her clothing line was at Macy’s. I’m talking like in 2003. Those JLO pants are my goal weight pants. Once I fit in them, I will be done with weight loss and elated. ELATED y’all.

^Me in said JLO pants. Skinny Monica, I miss thee! And look at my old school Nokia phone. I thought I was soooo cool.

Enrique has very catchy tunes, and he’s done so well for himself in the music industry, and I’m proud of him, too. I feel like his music is infectious. I don’t think he tries to be like anyone else (Marc Anthony, Pitbull, etc.) And then there was that “Hero” song that we all slow danced to at our high school dances with that guy we liked back in 2001-2002, but he didn’t like us until it was too late and we had moved on.

You know you did.

I’m proud they’re successful Hispanics in the music industry. Bottom line. They’re mi gente you know, and it’s awesome to hear them on the radio and see them on magazine covers. And one song at a time, they help me lose weight. And their songs can make my day brighter because they bring back happy memories with my BFF at Zumba. Oh the stories her and I could tell you!

But overall, I want to fit into those pants!

As you all know, they’re on tour together right now (and they’re both so gorgeous…all that hotness under one roof) and YOU can win tickets to see and meet both of them (I’d die!) in Miami thanks to State Farm. If you’re already going to one of their other tour stops, you can enter to win at the State Farm booths as well. Also, the State Farm Facebook is pretty nifty—that’s how I made that little banner up there. Neat, huh?

I’m lucky enough to have gotten tickets on behalf of State Farm and Latina Bloggers Connect, so I’ll be at the San Antonio show! If you’re going, too, let me know and I’d love to meet you. I’ll be tweeting from the concert live, so if you want to feel like you’re there with me, follow me on Twitter @MonicaBenavidez and you can also follow the #enriquejlotour hashtag.

Disclaimer: I received a pair of tickets to the San Antonio concert, but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Growing up with a mom who works in the medical field meant I was around a lot of lotions, medicines, etc. My mom always had really dry hands from working in the dental dispensary at a university all day, and she religiously used Lubriderm on her hands.
Although she still works in the dental school, but no longer in the dispensary, her hands look amazing! She always, and I mean always, has her nails done and she has beautiful, youthful hands.
This means there is some good juju in Lubriderm. I’ll admit I am the foo foo type that enjoys scented lotions, but sometimes all the shimmer, glitter and scents leaves my hands dry. Other times, scented lotions make my hands feel like they’ve been dunked in rubbing alcohol and it BURNS.
My feet have just been super dry and itchy—I’ll wake up in the middle of the night just because they are THAT itchy. I’ve tried various creams and powders, but without much long-term success. After a few days using Lubriderm, my feet feel a lot softer, which I hope will lead to feeling a lot less itchy over the long run.
I always tend to look for products that are dermatologist recommended because in my head that equates to being good on even the worse skin types.
Success!
Would you like to try some Lubriderm out in addition to all these other fabulous Johnson & Johnson products? I wrote about a few other products featured below a few days ago.

A total value of $100 (products + shipping) of fab items that will help you stay clean, moisturized and fab during this winter.
To enter to win, all you have to do is follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget below. Drawing is open from 8/1 through 8/8 at 10 pm CST. Good luck! 18+ up, US only.
Congrats Kassi!
Disclaimer: I’ve received the product(s) shown in this post, but was not otherwise compensated for this post.

Hi everyone! Boy do I have some fun for you all in the next few days. I have a sneak peek at the guest bathroom makeover, progress pics of our master bathroom makeover, some fun reviews and recipes.

But today, I have something for YOU. Yes, you. I am lucky to be part of the Latina & Latino Lifestyle Bloggers collective, and am part of their Johnson & Johnson campaign. I do reviews often, but this one is fun because I get to giveaway the identical products that I’ll be reviewing. This is the first giveaway during the 4-month campaign, and here’s what one lucky winner will be receiving!

Every single product listed above + some others not shown, for a total value of $100.

Super easy to enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck, tell your friends, and I’ll be back with more posts featuring their fabulous items from now until November.

I’ve used a few of these products already, so I’m going to give you a quick reviews that might help you out if you’re on the fence about these products:

Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer: I love that it’s unscented and has SPF 30. I put this on over my primer but under my foundation and it doesn’t make my face oily. I don’t know if I feel radiant per se, but over time I hope this will help my uneven skin tine. I give it an 8/10

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion: LOVE THIS STUFF! My feet get so dry because I have an awful habit of wearing flats without dress socks. Then my feet get dry and sweaty and then itchy…this lotion helps soothe my tootsies. This item gets a 10/10

Aveeno Nourish + Moisturize Shampoo/Conditioner: I didn’t feel this worked as well as what I normally use, and I also miss having something in my hair that smells nice. Aveeno stuff is natural, so there’s no extra scents and such that could possibly be irritating to the skin, but I would have liked for it to be a bit more scented. I give this 6/10.

Band-Aid Tough Strips: Great for breaking in shoes! I had wicked blisters on my ankle area from some new loafers I bought, and these band-aids stayed on all day without rubbing off due to sweat. 10/10 for SURE.

Listerine Mouth Wash: It’s fabulous, used it for years. I love the burning feeling (it’s not like painful or anything) that I get when using this product. My mouth feels sparkling and clean. Aaah. :) 10/10.

Have a fantastic weekend! I will stop taking entries on August 5th and announce the winner soon after.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Although my Photoshop skills are good enough to do basic stuff, I always want to learn more about how to fully take advantage of everything it has to offer. It does kind of seem intimidating though, doesn't it?

Well, my lovely blogger friend Dariela Cruz and her sister are super talented graphic designers who have put together Photoshop classes that you can take online. They are affordable (about $40) and limited to 10 students so it’s a really great way to get hands on experience from the comfort of your own home. I personally will be taking one of their classes, and I cannot wait to dig in and expand my skills. They offer 4 different courses + a just for you class where they’ll teach ya whatever you want to learn about Photoshop. Again, I cannot stress how affordable and USEFUL these courses are. Here’s a rundown of their 4 course offerings:

You can view all of the courses + the calendar over on their very easy to navigate website. As for me, I’ll be taking Photoshop for Bloggers on March 29th in the evening. If you’d like to join me, you can check out their calendar right over here and if you want to save 25% off the course, simply use the code monicawantsit at checkout. The code is effective until one month from today, Monday, March 19th.

And because Dariela is so nice and wants people to try out the courses, I get to giveaway a free course to one lucky person.

To enter, simply tell me which course you’d like to take and why. Leave me a way to find ya in your comment (Twitter handle, e-mail, etc.) Contest is open from now until Friday at 10 am CST, so tell your friends!

Side note: Photoshop courses are meant for Photoshop CS3, 4, 5 and are NOT compatible with Photoshop Elements.

May the odds be ever in your favor! :)

Disclosure: I was not compensated monetarily in anyway for this post, I just want to help out a fellow blog friend.