#AngryBirdsMovie in theaters May 20
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Saturday, April 9, 2016
SYTYCD: THE NEXT GENERATION SEASON 13 AUDITIONS IN CHICAGO
"So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation" Season 13 hit Chicago by a storm on March 11 and 13. Hundreds of talented kids between the ages of 8-13 auditioned to be on the show. Listen to what Executive Producer Jeff Thacker and show judges Paula Abdul, Jason Derulo, and Nigel Lythgoe had to say...
https://youtu.be/46FKPi7dZpw
Interview: Nikoleta Morales
Videography/editing: Jose Gonzalez
Videography: Hector Gonzalez
Interview: Nikoleta Morales
Videography/editing: Jose Gonzalez
Videography: Hector Gonzalez
Monday, March 14, 2016
America's Beauty Show Rocks Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Big Bold Experience filled with Glitz, Glamour, Pizzazz!
AMERICA’S BEAUTY SHOW 2016
McCormick Place March 12,13, 14 (Sat-Sun-Mon)
Showcasing hot, new beauty products coming to “A Salon Near You!”
Thousands of salon professionals will come to Chicago to attend the annual America’s Beauty Show (ABS), to be held at McCormick Place (West) Saturday, Sunday andMonday -- March 12, 13, 14, 2016. Paul Dykstra, CEO of America’s Beauty Show, comments “We were honored to be recognized by Choose Chicago, which announced the 85,000 attendees --- who came from all over North America and 35 foreign countries --- had a $116 million impact on the local economy. We are proud of the contribution the beauty industry has made and continues to make on the City of Chicago.”
Check out our America’s Beauty Show booklet here:
So, what is America’s Beauty Show? Simply put, it’s hundreds of thousands of square feet of wall-to-wall beauty products, where salon professionals go to find out what’s new … what’s hot … and what consumers can expect to see at their local salons in coming weeks! It’s the only place where beauty salon professionals can view over 450 manufacturer exhibits and learn from the best educators in the industry about new beauty products/trends, hot colors in nails, and how to utilize new techniques in hairdressing and hair color. They’ll discover latest innovations in hair dryers, flat irons, curlers, hair treatments, hair extensions, hair colors, nail colors, and skin care treatments… even the latest in looks for men on the Barbers Stage! There are continuous runway presentations from national and international Beauty Stars and celebrity hairdressers from top manufacturers - including Pureology, Farouk, Mizani, American Crew, Matrix, CND Nails, and Aquage.
For salon professionals only, America’s Beauty Show is owned and produced by Cosmetologists Chicago, one of the nation’s largest associations of beauty salon professionals. The Face & Body Show is co-located @ America’s Beauty Show.
For more show details, visit americasbeautyshow.com. or ring us at 312.951.7575
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Cornered in - it ain't about how hard you get hit
One young boy, one dark, lonely, cold street. Cars were rushing fast, back and forth. A group of at least 10 young men ran to him and started beating him up. They cornered him, punching, kicking and no one stopped to help. The young boy was all alone in this fight laying helplessly on the ground. After a few minutes the group ran through the street back to where they came from. The boy got up, cleaned up his blood and walked away alone on the dark street.
As I was looking through the bus window observing this battle, helpless in shock I couldn't stop but think - he was all alone in this fight, cornered up, beaten to bleeding but yet he managed to get up and walk away. This isn't just about violence, safety concerns or gangs, it's about life! We all at some point end up pulled into it and we must manage to get out of it. For each one the corner might be a tough choice, heartache, divorce, break up, growth, fight, whatever it is it's something important, but we must manage to fight. Life simply puts you in that corner punching you from left to right but you must withstand and clean yourself up!
My corner is the battle with myself. My fight is with the people around me punching me with their views, ideas, accusations, my past...my divorce! I spent 6 years with a man whom I have a child with. We had dreams, hopes, love which now is just a glimpse of the past. I am cornered to deal with life as a single, working mother who must fight. One blink and all that you had is gone...I can't stop but wonder how and when did it all go away as if it never happened. I end up cornered up with problems, stress, bills, people and I have to take the punches...alone! I must walk alone in this dark unknown path of life finding light in the small happy things in everyday life, in my daughter who is the best and most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. It's all for her! I fight and take the punches for her, for me with my own strength!
We can't always see what punches will come towards us but we can always choose to fight back even if we have to do it alone. I am hurt, bruised, alone but I got up, cleaned up the dust of the past and walked away...just like this young boy did.
It's not fair when innocent people get hurt! You know you did everything you could and continue to do everything right but somehow life gangs up on you still! Don't let it win you over. Fight back if you must and clean up the bruises. They will heal with time! As the infamous Rocky said "it ain't about how hard you hit. It'sabout how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." That's what the young boy did. That's what I did. What did you do?
As I was looking through the bus window observing this battle, helpless in shock I couldn't stop but think - he was all alone in this fight, cornered up, beaten to bleeding but yet he managed to get up and walk away. This isn't just about violence, safety concerns or gangs, it's about life! We all at some point end up pulled into it and we must manage to get out of it. For each one the corner might be a tough choice, heartache, divorce, break up, growth, fight, whatever it is it's something important, but we must manage to fight. Life simply puts you in that corner punching you from left to right but you must withstand and clean yourself up!
My corner is the battle with myself. My fight is with the people around me punching me with their views, ideas, accusations, my past...my divorce! I spent 6 years with a man whom I have a child with. We had dreams, hopes, love which now is just a glimpse of the past. I am cornered to deal with life as a single, working mother who must fight. One blink and all that you had is gone...I can't stop but wonder how and when did it all go away as if it never happened. I end up cornered up with problems, stress, bills, people and I have to take the punches...alone! I must walk alone in this dark unknown path of life finding light in the small happy things in everyday life, in my daughter who is the best and most beautiful thing that ever happened to me. It's all for her! I fight and take the punches for her, for me with my own strength!
We can't always see what punches will come towards us but we can always choose to fight back even if we have to do it alone. I am hurt, bruised, alone but I got up, cleaned up the dust of the past and walked away...just like this young boy did.
It's not fair when innocent people get hurt! You know you did everything you could and continue to do everything right but somehow life gangs up on you still! Don't let it win you over. Fight back if you must and clean up the bruises. They will heal with time! As the infamous Rocky said "it ain't about how hard you hit. It'sabout how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." That's what the young boy did. That's what I did. What did you do?
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Caught in between
Have you ever been caught in between two worlds not sure which one to choose? Have you felt as you are lost within yourself you can't seem to find a way out? Well...I have! The feeling of being trapped in an unhappy world starts to define me and create imaginary walls, boundaries I can't seem to escape from. No matter how hard, how fast I seem to run, I end up running in circles with no way out. I feel trapped in my own skin, my life, my everything. Sometimes a glimpse of hope shines through my shattered glass but sometimes I feel as I am stuck in hell, thinking "abandon all hope."
As I do my own soul searching, my own quest for the truth, I stumble, I fall, I cripple. Somewhere in between the lines there is the answer I am looking for but how do I get there? Temptation, deceipt, honesty, faigth go hand in hand. I want to break free but I can't! I want to be happy but I am not! I want to be me but I am not! I am caught in something I don't fully understand that is consuming the best of me! I am traped in my own spider web I can't break free from! I pray, I try, I move on but always stuck at the same place, same story, same outcome. I need to see clearly beyond the fog that is smothering me. Can someone shine a flashlight please? Can someone give a hand so I can cross back to the other side?
Yes, I am smart, ambitious, talented, on and on, but I am also human. I make mistakes, bad choices, take wrong paths but I believe we all do. I forgive myself but how do I come out better than before? Where is the way out?
I want a better job, a loving, fullfilling relationship, good health and happiness but don't we all? I am not even close to it....I just see a glimpse of it in the far distance. So for all of you who feel
the same way I do, you are not alone! We all have our own quests, battles to fight. Mine is with
myself, my own beast! I hope I come out of it with just bruises, scars that I may carry for the rest of my own life but with priceless lessons learned along the way.
Stay positive! Be brave! The answer is somewhere out there! Go get it! We'll protect it!
As I do my own soul searching, my own quest for the truth, I stumble, I fall, I cripple. Somewhere in between the lines there is the answer I am looking for but how do I get there? Temptation, deceipt, honesty, faigth go hand in hand. I want to break free but I can't! I want to be happy but I am not! I want to be me but I am not! I am caught in something I don't fully understand that is consuming the best of me! I am traped in my own spider web I can't break free from! I pray, I try, I move on but always stuck at the same place, same story, same outcome. I need to see clearly beyond the fog that is smothering me. Can someone shine a flashlight please? Can someone give a hand so I can cross back to the other side?
Yes, I am smart, ambitious, talented, on and on, but I am also human. I make mistakes, bad choices, take wrong paths but I believe we all do. I forgive myself but how do I come out better than before? Where is the way out?
I want a better job, a loving, fullfilling relationship, good health and happiness but don't we all? I am not even close to it....I just see a glimpse of it in the far distance. So for all of you who feel
the same way I do, you are not alone! We all have our own quests, battles to fight. Mine is with
myself, my own beast! I hope I come out of it with just bruises, scars that I may carry for the rest of my own life but with priceless lessons learned along the way.
Stay positive! Be brave! The answer is somewhere out there! Go get it! We'll protect it!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Everything changes
The other day I had a very important conversation with my 4-year-old daughter about change. While I was teaching her how everything changes I was teaching myself. All of a sudden I accepted the fact that change is part of nature. Though it is convenient and easier to stay at the same place, it is simply not natural! Nature changes and so do we...Change can be good or bad but it ultimately becomes part of life, your life as you learn and grow and develop. Life is all about stages. Nothing remains constant nor the same; it flaws like a river, like the roaming of the wind.
When others are forcing change on you whether with good or bad intent they should expect some resistance. Change comes naturally from within. Working in the fitness industry I see how many girls come to change their bodies not because they feel the need to do so but because they were told how imperfect they look and how they should work on fixing the problem. It breaks my heart to see beautiful women who after going through one or several pregnancies loose the body they had and all of a sudden they loose their significant other's affection. They are still the same person on the inside but because visually it isn't pleasing to their partner their world crashes down. Some skinny girls come to me asking to be more curvy because their boyfriend wants them curvy. The overweight girls come to me crying because they are single and can't find a boyfriend because of their looks.
When did men and women for that matter became so critical? Certainly not because they look perfect themselves but because media continues to impose images of the Kardashians, JLos and so on causing the fantasy to take over the reality. Free porn sites over saturate the Internet causing men to believe that women should look and act that way in reality. It's all a fantasy and a very dangerous one that can destroy beautiful real relationships.
What happened to you are beautiful the way you are slogan? Why can't you look beyond the skin and really see the soul of the person you are with?! The body changes ladies and gentlemen, the soul grows. I am not saying if you are obese and unhealthy it's OK. I am saying you should want to change for you and not because your boyfriend or girlfriend told you so. They have the problem; not you!
Remember that everything changes and change comes from within. Embrace the natural process of aging and don't let it become a barrier to your true happiness because someone else sees it as a problem through a crooked lens imposed by media and the porn industry.
When others are forcing change on you whether with good or bad intent they should expect some resistance. Change comes naturally from within. Working in the fitness industry I see how many girls come to change their bodies not because they feel the need to do so but because they were told how imperfect they look and how they should work on fixing the problem. It breaks my heart to see beautiful women who after going through one or several pregnancies loose the body they had and all of a sudden they loose their significant other's affection. They are still the same person on the inside but because visually it isn't pleasing to their partner their world crashes down. Some skinny girls come to me asking to be more curvy because their boyfriend wants them curvy. The overweight girls come to me crying because they are single and can't find a boyfriend because of their looks.
When did men and women for that matter became so critical? Certainly not because they look perfect themselves but because media continues to impose images of the Kardashians, JLos and so on causing the fantasy to take over the reality. Free porn sites over saturate the Internet causing men to believe that women should look and act that way in reality. It's all a fantasy and a very dangerous one that can destroy beautiful real relationships.
What happened to you are beautiful the way you are slogan? Why can't you look beyond the skin and really see the soul of the person you are with?! The body changes ladies and gentlemen, the soul grows. I am not saying if you are obese and unhealthy it's OK. I am saying you should want to change for you and not because your boyfriend or girlfriend told you so. They have the problem; not you!
Remember that everything changes and change comes from within. Embrace the natural process of aging and don't let it become a barrier to your true happiness because someone else sees it as a problem through a crooked lens imposed by media and the porn industry.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Who are you?
The only way to get out of the box and be free is to
think outside the box. Society has told us who we should be and not to find who we trully are. We have to trully be brave enough to live to find who and what defines us.
I always wonder why do we have to follow the rules? Who created these rules in the first place? Who said you should fit in a certain form and if you don't you are an outcast? Why can't I be simply me with all my imperfections and flaws? I am both perfect and imperfect and I am simply here to learn, to grow. Perhaps we should all learn how to live so we can grow. Living is not the same as gowing through the motions of everyday life and routines. Living is being present in the moment and enjoying it with all of your senses! But how often do we allow ourselves to live? Once, twice a week, a month and then back to the old cycle? How many of us are actually brave enough to live? Maybe not many...at least not in corporate America, which should be the land of dreams. So why aren't we living our own dreams but instead somebody else's? Because someone said so!
It takes a lot of courage to face the real you! The real you is the one that wants to thrive, be free, live! The everyday you is the one that simply goes through the motions, waits for another pay check, pays the bills, eats, goes to sleep, and the cycle continous on and on. Sounds familiar? But who wakes up happy with a true smile ready to embrace the day? Who simply cannot wait for another tomorrow because their being is so fulfilled and thriving that life seems to be so exciting and amazing? I personally over the years haven't met that many people.
We all have to learn to live our dreams and allow ourselves to simply be! Why stay hidden in a closet? Who are we hiding from? Are we hiding from ourselves because we will be judged by society? So what? People will always judge you! Remember that! You can't please everyone and you shouldn't! You must learn to love and respect you, your true you, not the one everyone wants you to be! Do what you love and embrace your imperfections! Embrace what makes you unique, different! Being different is an advantage. You don't have to blend in with the crowd to be liked! Don't blend in at all! Stand out like the bright colours stand out in winter! You will feel the difference in your attitude, behaviour, life!
We have learned and been programmed to be prisoners of our own selves and believes. We have allowed the box that society has created to define us! Break it! You don't need the box to love yourself! All you need is to learn to live by your own standards, rules and vision! Only then you will go far and move ahead. Otherwise you will be stuck and you will feel stuck, drained, tired, sick, emotionless...feelings I am sure are felt and shared by many.
I am not saying all that because I have mastered the bravery to be me. In fact, I haven't. I am still learning how to be me in a society full of judgement, labels, criticism, norms. So how is America the land of the free if we don't feel free ourselves nor are we allowing it to happen? Freedom is more than what we perceive it to be. Freedom is courage, bravery to stand up for you and fight for that right!
So who are you? What do you want from life? Do you feel happy where you are now and if not why not? Do you feel the spirit inside of you? Are you ready to make a change in your life for the better? The beauty of it all is we all have choices. We have been given that right as humans. We just simply have to learn to make the right choices for us.
I hope you can find the answer to some of these questions to help you better understand the real you! That's all I want...to feel trully happy and free and me in a society where being you is not a norm its simply a dellusional standard. Be you, be happy and trully smell those roses once in a while!
think outside the box. Society has told us who we should be and not to find who we trully are. We have to trully be brave enough to live to find who and what defines us.
I always wonder why do we have to follow the rules? Who created these rules in the first place? Who said you should fit in a certain form and if you don't you are an outcast? Why can't I be simply me with all my imperfections and flaws? I am both perfect and imperfect and I am simply here to learn, to grow. Perhaps we should all learn how to live so we can grow. Living is not the same as gowing through the motions of everyday life and routines. Living is being present in the moment and enjoying it with all of your senses! But how often do we allow ourselves to live? Once, twice a week, a month and then back to the old cycle? How many of us are actually brave enough to live? Maybe not many...at least not in corporate America, which should be the land of dreams. So why aren't we living our own dreams but instead somebody else's? Because someone said so!
It takes a lot of courage to face the real you! The real you is the one that wants to thrive, be free, live! The everyday you is the one that simply goes through the motions, waits for another pay check, pays the bills, eats, goes to sleep, and the cycle continous on and on. Sounds familiar? But who wakes up happy with a true smile ready to embrace the day? Who simply cannot wait for another tomorrow because their being is so fulfilled and thriving that life seems to be so exciting and amazing? I personally over the years haven't met that many people.
We all have to learn to live our dreams and allow ourselves to simply be! Why stay hidden in a closet? Who are we hiding from? Are we hiding from ourselves because we will be judged by society? So what? People will always judge you! Remember that! You can't please everyone and you shouldn't! You must learn to love and respect you, your true you, not the one everyone wants you to be! Do what you love and embrace your imperfections! Embrace what makes you unique, different! Being different is an advantage. You don't have to blend in with the crowd to be liked! Don't blend in at all! Stand out like the bright colours stand out in winter! You will feel the difference in your attitude, behaviour, life!
We have learned and been programmed to be prisoners of our own selves and believes. We have allowed the box that society has created to define us! Break it! You don't need the box to love yourself! All you need is to learn to live by your own standards, rules and vision! Only then you will go far and move ahead. Otherwise you will be stuck and you will feel stuck, drained, tired, sick, emotionless...feelings I am sure are felt and shared by many.
I am not saying all that because I have mastered the bravery to be me. In fact, I haven't. I am still learning how to be me in a society full of judgement, labels, criticism, norms. So how is America the land of the free if we don't feel free ourselves nor are we allowing it to happen? Freedom is more than what we perceive it to be. Freedom is courage, bravery to stand up for you and fight for that right!
So who are you? What do you want from life? Do you feel happy where you are now and if not why not? Do you feel the spirit inside of you? Are you ready to make a change in your life for the better? The beauty of it all is we all have choices. We have been given that right as humans. We just simply have to learn to make the right choices for us.
I hope you can find the answer to some of these questions to help you better understand the real you! That's all I want...to feel trully happy and free and me in a society where being you is not a norm its simply a dellusional standard. Be you, be happy and trully smell those roses once in a while!
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Have you been nice to everyone in high school?
"The Gift" stars Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, and writer/director Joel Edgergton. It tells the story of a young married couple's lives that are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years. The family's friend Gordo who plays the stoker in the movie exemplifies feelings of both sympathy and fear as a complicated character.
The movie's message is be nice to everyone because the past is never fully forgotten! This is one of the most intriguing thrillers I have seen so far that is not just very well done but very intelligently plotted and developed. The ending is not what one would expect to see!
The movie's message is be nice to everyone because the past is never fully forgotten! This is one of the most intriguing thrillers I have seen so far that is not just very well done but very intelligently plotted and developed. The ending is not what one would expect to see!
What is interesting about this movie are the twisted faiths of the characters. Their complicated lives become simply intertwined in the midst of mystery and despair, which the viewer is able to see progress throughout the movie.
As Edgerton said about his movie: "Your future is your past and your past is your future."
If you are looking for a great, intelligent thriller than you must see "The Gift!" It comes out in theaters everywhere on Aug. 7.
Watch: https://youtu.be/bC9A2tV-Tsw
What defines beauty?
It always puzzles me what one's perspective on beauty is. In today's society beauty is looked upon at a very physical level. Media, porn, entertainment all define beauty as a perfectly fit body and gergeous face! But in reality beauty is skin deep! It is who you are on the inside that makes you radiant on the outside and attractive. But as a society we have been conditioned to ignore that and focus on achieving perfection. After all, that's how gyms, plastic surgeons, cosmeticians, etc make money! Why go out of business when you can use one's insecurities and imperfections to sell them a dream, the dream to be beautiful? When in reality they already are! It just takes the right person to see that. But how? Everyone is conditioned through media to see otherwise... bigger breasts, tighter butts, thinner waists, whatever that perfection might be! But does that really make you beautiful? No! But again, we have been conditioned to think otherwise. Women are beautiful just the way they are and men need to look at themselves before judging one's imperfections!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Have we lost our human connection?
I have recently started to observe the people around me whether it is on the bus, train, gym, store, etc and I seem to find one common theme - the constant use of technology. The cell phone or I Phone has become the main means of communication, a way to avoid contact, a way to escape reality, a way to be locked in one's world without the need to communicate face to face. It's hard to feel connected with one another when the cell phone or computer or IPad is in between. It seems to me we have lost the human touch, a part of our soul somewhere and we have allowed ourselves to be controlled, addicted, glued to our devices without realising the price we pay for that. So when you ask yourselves why am I lonely, depressed, angry, emotionless, look at your life...are you somehow emotionally distant from yourself, your loved ones, your friends? Do you spend enough time emotionally connecting with them by talking, laughing, crying, being emotionally present in the moment or do you spend that time glued to your phone, your computer?
Yes, technology is a necessity but let's not make it the main focus of life! Our souls need to feel free, connected and flourish, thriving to grow and we block that by relying entirely on technology. Ask yourself am I happy? Am I emotionally satisfied and in peace? Give yourself and your loved ones a day without looking at your phones, checking on Facebook and Twitter and I promise you will feel the difference! Let's allow ourselves to be free, connected and grow! This is the choice we all have to make as humans...do we become slaves of technology or do we live free and connected with one another. I have made mine! Have you?
Yes, technology is a necessity but let's not make it the main focus of life! Our souls need to feel free, connected and flourish, thriving to grow and we block that by relying entirely on technology. Ask yourself am I happy? Am I emotionally satisfied and in peace? Give yourself and your loved ones a day without looking at your phones, checking on Facebook and Twitter and I promise you will feel the difference! Let's allow ourselves to be free, connected and grow! This is the choice we all have to make as humans...do we become slaves of technology or do we live free and connected with one another. I have made mine! Have you?
The Descendants of Disney
It is often said that parenting is the toughest job in the world and it is very well so. This also stands true in Disney's new movie "Descendants" where some of Disney's favourite villains (Maleficent, Evil Queen, Cruella de Vill and Jafar) prepare their kids in the Isle of the Lost to take over Auradon with their evil ruling. Their kids are allowed to study college in Auradon but their main focus is to help Maleficent by stealing Fairy Godmother's magic wand. Even though there is a saying that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, this apple might very well be sweet on the inside. Maleficent's daughter Mal is a perfect example of that! Her mom's dream to help her rule over and destroy might be challenged by her daughter's sweet side. Mal falls deeply in love with Beaty and the Beast's son Prince Ben from Auradon who shows her that everyone has a choice to make in life.
If you thought that you have seen it all and that Disney can't surprise you with something new, "Descendants" will challenge that view. It is by far one of the most creative and interesting twists of the fairy tales we have seen so far and it's worth to be seen by all parents and children alike!
If you thought that you have seen it all and that Disney can't surprise you with something new, "Descendants" will challenge that view. It is by far one of the most creative and interesting twists of the fairy tales we have seen so far and it's worth to be seen by all parents and children alike!
Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson star as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney's most infamous villains, in Disney's "Descendants," a live-action movie that – with a knowing wink at traditional fairy tales –fuses castles with classrooms to create a contemporary, music-driven story about the challenges in living up to parental and peer expectations. Made for kids, tweens and families, the movie is directed, executive-produced and choreographed by Emmy Award-winning Kenny Ortega.
View trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJCphjtVek0
Thursday, July 2, 2015
The outside view of "Inside Out"
If there is one movie that I would most definitely reccomend this will be "Inside Out" for it is one of the few Disney movies I have seen that really touches on the family aspect.
If we all had that tiny little voice that told us what to do...if we all had the ability to look deep within ourselves and beyond the limits of our own imagination we would see a brand new world of possibilities and happiness. I think this is what the creators of "Inside Out" were trying to tell us...question is are we ready to see it?
If we all had that tiny little voice that told us what to do...if we all had the ability to look deep within ourselves and beyond the limits of our own imagination we would see a brand new world of possibilities and happiness. I think this is what the creators of "Inside Out" were trying to tell us...question is are we ready to see it?
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