I was watching TV this morning when I saw this Spanish PSA for Sex Ed. I changed the channel and saw another version of the same PSA but in Egnlish. Its interesting to note that both versions promote the same website. You would think that the Spanish version should promote a Spanish version of the website. After navigating through the website, I did find a miniature "En Espanol" link on the top right hand corner.
Either way I really like how this ad was executed. It really works well for the Hispanic market as well as the overall general market.
Spanish:
English:
December 30, 2008
November 05, 2008
Beer is the beverage of choice for Hispanics.
Beer is the alcohol of choice for Hispanics in the United States, a new study shows.
"This is important to know, because once we can identify a type of beverage that is more associated with risky drinking, such as binge drinking, then prevention policies can be developed to target that beverage and that type of drinking," study corresponding author Raul Caetano, a professor of epidemiology and regional dean (Dallas) at The University of Texas School of Public Health, said in a news release issued by the study's publisher.
The findings were expected to be published in the January issue ofAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Researchers surveyed 5,224 adults from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Los Angeles about their drinking habits.
ad_icon
Beer was the preferred beverage of all Hispanics, regardless if they were of Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American or South/Central American heritage. Of male Hispanic beer drinkers, the beverage constituted 52 percent to 72 percent of their total alcohol consumption. Among Hispanic women who drank beer, it made up 32 percent to 64 percent of their total consumption.
"One difference we found was that wine was closely associated with binge drinking among Cuban American and South/Central American women, more so than beer," Caetano said. "Furthermore, Puerto Ricans and Mexican-Americans seemed to drink more than the other two groups, and thus would be more at risk for alcohol-related problems."
Caetano said this knowledge is helpful, because many people think beer is a "safer or less harmful beverage" than wine or hard liquor.
"It is true that the alcohol content in beer is lower than that of liquor, but what the study showed is that beer is the beverage most associated with binge drinking, which is a dangerous way to drink alcohol because of the impairment associated with such a high number of drinks: five for men and four for women," he said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has more about alcohol abuse.
SOURCE:Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, news release, Nov. 3, 2008
"This is important to know, because once we can identify a type of beverage that is more associated with risky drinking, such as binge drinking, then prevention policies can be developed to target that beverage and that type of drinking," study corresponding author Raul Caetano, a professor of epidemiology and regional dean (Dallas) at The University of Texas School of Public Health, said in a news release issued by the study's publisher.
The findings were expected to be published in the January issue ofAlcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
Researchers surveyed 5,224 adults from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Los Angeles about their drinking habits.
ad_icon
Beer was the preferred beverage of all Hispanics, regardless if they were of Mexican-American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American or South/Central American heritage. Of male Hispanic beer drinkers, the beverage constituted 52 percent to 72 percent of their total alcohol consumption. Among Hispanic women who drank beer, it made up 32 percent to 64 percent of their total consumption.
"One difference we found was that wine was closely associated with binge drinking among Cuban American and South/Central American women, more so than beer," Caetano said. "Furthermore, Puerto Ricans and Mexican-Americans seemed to drink more than the other two groups, and thus would be more at risk for alcohol-related problems."
Caetano said this knowledge is helpful, because many people think beer is a "safer or less harmful beverage" than wine or hard liquor.
"It is true that the alcohol content in beer is lower than that of liquor, but what the study showed is that beer is the beverage most associated with binge drinking, which is a dangerous way to drink alcohol because of the impairment associated with such a high number of drinks: five for men and four for women," he said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has more about alcohol abuse.
SOURCE:Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, news release, Nov. 3, 2008
October 24, 2008
1.95
That's the price of a gallon of gas here in the valley.....
Probably the lowest in the country....
Probably the lowest in the country....
October 19, 2008
Premios MTV - Radio
One thing that I particularly found interesting about "Los Premios MTV", is that it was broadcast live not only on television, but on the radio as well. Here in the valley, we are lucky enough to share radio waves with Mexico. To be honest, most of the radio stations in the valley are based in Mexico.
One in particular, Exa FM, partnered with MTV to broadcast the award show. What I also found interesting was that a lot of the "foul language" was not censored. I wonder if the FCC has control over what is broadcast on American airwaves by stations based out of the country. Hmmm...
Anywho, Exa FM broadcast the show LIVE to 9 countries, in its 56 markets (including Texas, Arizona, and California.) I actually listened to the show while driving home from school. I found it pretty neat and convenient.
I leave you with XIMENA XARIÑANA performing with one of my favorite bands... Zoe...
One in particular, Exa FM, partnered with MTV to broadcast the award show. What I also found interesting was that a lot of the "foul language" was not censored. I wonder if the FCC has control over what is broadcast on American airwaves by stations based out of the country. Hmmm...
Anywho, Exa FM broadcast the show LIVE to 9 countries, in its 56 markets (including Texas, Arizona, and California.) I actually listened to the show while driving home from school. I found it pretty neat and convenient.
I leave you with XIMENA XARIÑANA performing with one of my favorite bands... Zoe...
October 17, 2008
MTV Latinoamérica - Premios MTV
Last night was the celebration for the 15th annual Premios MTV for MTV Latinoamérica. The event took place in Gudalajara, Mexico with performances by Katy Perry, Belanova, Tokio Hotel, Metallica, Zoe and Ximena Sarinana.
Unlike other awards shows here in the U.S., Los Premios MTV is broadcasted LIVE to 18 Latin American countries, and the U.S. and Canada. Which makes it one of the largest televised shows targeting the 13-25 Hispanic consumer.
What I found interesting is how each act incorporated a Hispanic custom into their performances. Katy Perry, for instance, opened the show in an elegant Quinceanera dress symbolizing the 15th anniversary for MTV Latinoamérica!
For the first time in it's history, a German "Emo" band (Tokio Hotel) won the best song of the year for "Monsoon". (Mexico has the largest "Emo" scene outside the United States.) This tells a lot about the modern music scene in Latin America and is very valuable information for advertisers.
More to come.
Unlike other awards shows here in the U.S., Los Premios MTV is broadcasted LIVE to 18 Latin American countries, and the U.S. and Canada. Which makes it one of the largest televised shows targeting the 13-25 Hispanic consumer.
What I found interesting is how each act incorporated a Hispanic custom into their performances. Katy Perry, for instance, opened the show in an elegant Quinceanera dress symbolizing the 15th anniversary for MTV Latinoamérica!
For the first time in it's history, a German "Emo" band (Tokio Hotel) won the best song of the year for "Monsoon". (Mexico has the largest "Emo" scene outside the United States.) This tells a lot about the modern music scene in Latin America and is very valuable information for advertisers.
More to come.
October 09, 2008
October 08, 2008
October 07, 2008
October 05, 2008
Interesting Fact
$2 Billion advertising dollars were spent trying to reach the 4 Million people on the island of Puerto Rico.
That is the same amount advertisers spent on the 44 Million people in the US Hispanic Market.
What Gives?
That is the same amount advertisers spent on the 44 Million people in the US Hispanic Market.
What Gives?
September 24, 2008
BBVA goes mainstream.
Pop Quiz:
Who knows what BBVA stands for?
Who knows where BBVA is from?
Why is BBVA in the news?
Answers:
BBVA stands for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.
BBVA is a Spanish Bank and maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico and Latin America.
BBVA will become the fourth largest bank in the US within a few years.
Throughout the past few months, BBVA has begun a push into the American banking system. First they bought out Compass Bank and rebranded their American banking operations to BBVA Compass. After initially focusing on the Hispanic market in the U.S., Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA is now preparing to go mainstream.
Spain’s second-largest financial company by market value after Banco Santander SA is developing an ambitious push into the Sun Belt region at a time when local rivals are retrenching after the collapse of the subprime-mortgage market.
Following the merger of State National Bank, Texas State Bank, Laredo National Bank and Compass Bank, BBVA's U.S. affiliate ranks as the fourth largest bank in Texas and among the top 25 largest banks in the U.S. based on deposit market share. The company has total assets of approximately $58.6 billion and operates 593 branches across a six state Sunbelt Region including: 328 in Texas, 91 in Alabama, 76 in Arizona, 44 in Florida, 33 in Colorado, and 21 in New Mexico.
Who knows what BBVA stands for?
Who knows where BBVA is from?
Why is BBVA in the news?
Answers:
BBVA stands for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.
BBVA is a Spanish Bank and maintains a leadership position in Spain, Mexico and Latin America.
BBVA will become the fourth largest bank in the US within a few years.
Throughout the past few months, BBVA has begun a push into the American banking system. First they bought out Compass Bank and rebranded their American banking operations to BBVA Compass. After initially focusing on the Hispanic market in the U.S., Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA is now preparing to go mainstream.
Spain’s second-largest financial company by market value after Banco Santander SA is developing an ambitious push into the Sun Belt region at a time when local rivals are retrenching after the collapse of the subprime-mortgage market.
Following the merger of State National Bank, Texas State Bank, Laredo National Bank and Compass Bank, BBVA's U.S. affiliate ranks as the fourth largest bank in Texas and among the top 25 largest banks in the U.S. based on deposit market share. The company has total assets of approximately $58.6 billion and operates 593 branches across a six state Sunbelt Region including: 328 in Texas, 91 in Alabama, 76 in Arizona, 44 in Florida, 33 in Colorado, and 21 in New Mexico.
Vans Mexico
Vans, by far, is one of the few American companies that have successfully targeted the young Mexican consumer. Vans are so popular in Mexico that you can even find street vendors selling them at ridiculous prices. Its interesting to note how Vans expanded into Mexico so succesfully.
They are the official sponsors of the X-Games Mexico. By doing so, they are telling the youth that its OK to skate and BMX (activities which are generally frowned upon in Mexico.)
Stores
There are 13 official Vans stores in Mexico. Half of them were built in the last 6 months. Unlike the US, it is rare to see standalone stores for one specific brand. Vans were usually sold by specialty retailers. However, as Mexico becomes more "American", were beginning to see the rise of major shopping malls and plazas. The transition from traditional Mexican shopping to that of American shopping is slowly beginning.
Warped Tour Sponsor
Vans did an excellent job in Branding a Vans Warped Tour Mexico. Very similar to the one in the US, the Vans Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival.. This year was the inaugural year for the Warped Tour Mexico.
Vans also sponsors a BMX team, a Skateboarding Team, and has a yearly Mexico Tour where the biggest names in skateboarding make their way to the capital and do what they do best, skate.
They are the official sponsors of the X-Games Mexico. By doing so, they are telling the youth that its OK to skate and BMX (activities which are generally frowned upon in Mexico.)
Stores
There are 13 official Vans stores in Mexico. Half of them were built in the last 6 months. Unlike the US, it is rare to see standalone stores for one specific brand. Vans were usually sold by specialty retailers. However, as Mexico becomes more "American", were beginning to see the rise of major shopping malls and plazas. The transition from traditional Mexican shopping to that of American shopping is slowly beginning.
Warped Tour Sponsor
Vans did an excellent job in Branding a Vans Warped Tour Mexico. Very similar to the one in the US, the Vans Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival.. This year was the inaugural year for the Warped Tour Mexico.
Vans also sponsors a BMX team, a Skateboarding Team, and has a yearly Mexico Tour where the biggest names in skateboarding make their way to the capital and do what they do best, skate.
September 23, 2008
Recession? What Recession?
Coming back to the Valley has made me realize that the recession affecting most of the country is non-existant here in South Texas. Everywhere you turn, there is a new shopping center, new subdivisions, and farmland being turned into hip, urban "lifestyle centres".
This is very true in the Mcallen, Edinburg, and Mission area. According to a recent list from CNNMoney.com, McAllen, TX ranked as the #1 Fastest Growing Real Estate Market. The rankings include a twelve month growth projection of 4% with a median home price of $109,000. The second city listed comes nowhere near McAllen and has a projected twelve month growth of 2.7%. The article mentions the state of Texas is not feeling the housing crisis as hard as other states.
Mcallen also Ranked 2nd in the Nation for Income Growth and 1st in Job Growth by Forbes Magazine. The Valley is growing, but is it growing too fast for its own good?
This is very true in the Mcallen, Edinburg, and Mission area. According to a recent list from CNNMoney.com, McAllen, TX ranked as the #1 Fastest Growing Real Estate Market. The rankings include a twelve month growth projection of 4% with a median home price of $109,000. The second city listed comes nowhere near McAllen and has a projected twelve month growth of 2.7%. The article mentions the state of Texas is not feeling the housing crisis as hard as other states.
Mcallen also Ranked 2nd in the Nation for Income Growth and 1st in Job Growth by Forbes Magazine. The Valley is growing, but is it growing too fast for its own good?
September 04, 2008
Disney goes Hispanic....
Demi Lovato
Selena Gomez
The new faces of Disney
Being an Advertising major, I have to keep up with the latest, greatest, and hippest trends, products, and in some cases people. The girls that are blowing up the blogosphere the past couple of weeks are Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.
They are quickly becoming the new faces of the Disney channel. Many dub these Texan girls as Miley Cyrus's replacement. What I find interesting about this duo is that they are both of Hispanic decent.
With the Hispanic population growing faster than the overall American population, it is very interesting to see how different brands will try to target this newly developing audience. The Hispanic population is also considerably younger than that of the general market. The purchasing power of Hispanics has surpassed many analysts expectations.
Here are some key facts from a Research and Markets report released in May.
- From 1996 to 2006, U.S. Hispanic purchasing power posted a compound annual growth rate of 6.96%.
- Forty-seven percent of the nation's purchasing power and 50% of the Hispanic population are concentrated in California and Texas.
- We expect Income-producing Hispanic households in the United States to represent 13.8% of the population by 2015.
U.S. Hispanic Purchasing Power:
U.S. Hispanic purchasing power surged to nearly $870 billion in 2008 and is projected to reach as much as $1.3 trillion by 2015. During the past decade, the rate of growth was more than two times the overall national rate. We estimate current Hispanic purchasing power to be at 9.3% of the total current U.S. purchasing power and project it to be 12% by 2015.
So lets see what Disney is doing to tap this emerging market.
Demi and Selena seem as if they are highly acculturated into the American lifestyle almost to the point of complete assimilation. (Which isn't a problem since the younger Hispanic population tends to be more assimilated.)
Demi and Selena have both played Hispanic characters in their respective TV and movie roles.
The Spanish language has been used in these shows and movies signaling a wider acceptance of bilingualism.
Disney is doing an excellent job in its attempt to target the Hispanic market. I think Disney will soon be one of the first to successfully target and court the acculturated Hispanic youth.
I leave you with a video of Selena Gomez in her latest music video.
August 15, 2008
Ciao Dieste!
So my internship at Dieste Harmel has come to an end. Dieste wouldn't have been the same without a certain few individuals. First off, Joanna. Joanna was the "other intern" that started this journey with me. BUT, she decided to go to Thailand in the middle of Summer and ditched me! She did bring me a Thai flag patch for my camera case or my messenger bag. Jessica was pretty SWEET also. She accompanied me to our favorite food court. In order to get to the food court we had to pass through a series of underground tunnels and through a few abandoned buildings. Lets just say that the journey was very reminiscent of the mall scene in Cloverfield. Brazil. Oh Brazil Brazil Brazil. The only things I understood from this guy was, "Eh Man" (when talking to me" and "Eh Chica" (when referring to any female in our "area". Brazil was fun and entertaining. Especially while singing Over the Rainbow for an entire day. I need to learn a little bit of Portuguese so that I can communicate with him if i ever come across him in the future.
Last night we had the 5th Annual Butterfly Rock Battle of the Bands benefiting the Veronica Leon Scholarship Fund. The event was a huge success. A ton of people from our sister Omnicom agencies showed up. Hopefully the Battle of the bands will only continue to grow as the years progress.
Unfortunately, Ho Downs arestill very popular in Texas.
Last night we had the 5th Annual Butterfly Rock Battle of the Bands benefiting the Veronica Leon Scholarship Fund. The event was a huge success. A ton of people from our sister Omnicom agencies showed up. Hopefully the Battle of the bands will only continue to grow as the years progress.
Unfortunately, Ho Downs arestill very popular in Texas.
August 13, 2008
Pine-Sol
The following ads were made for Pine-Sol at Dieste (the hispanic ad-agency im interning at). The first ad won the agency a lot of awards. Let me know what you guys think.
August 10, 2008
Play
Mademoiselle Juliette - Alizee (France)
Volare - Ximena Sariñana (Mexico) (I think shes my new favorite female singer)
Party Fowl - Andrew Del Torres (US/West Coast)
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend (US/East Coast)
Uno Los Dos - Miranda (Argentina) (Real People Used in the video)
Volare - Ximena Sariñana (Mexico) (I think shes my new favorite female singer)
Party Fowl - Andrew Del Torres (US/West Coast)
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend (US/East Coast)
Uno Los Dos - Miranda (Argentina) (Real People Used in the video)
August 09, 2008
August 08, 2008
August 06, 2008
La Tour Eiffel.... eat your heart out!
This tower is located near my house in Dallas. I had no idea what it was or why it was there.
After a little research I found that it is a radio tower for the local High School.
The tower is massive and looks very similar to the Eiffel Tower.
Theres a pretty good view of Downtown Dallas from the top.
August 04, 2008
107
Today it was 107 degrees here in Dallas. Apparently its a record high. Its also been 10 straight days that North Texas has had 100+ degree temperatures. The sun set about 4 hours ago, and its still 91 degrees.
:)
:)
August 03, 2008
I'm a Loaner
I wanted to let all of you guys know about Kiva (www.kiva.org), a non-profit that allows you to lend money to a specific low-income entrepreneur in the developing world.
You choose who to lend to - whether a baker in Afghanistan, a goat herder in Uganda, a farmer in Peru, a restaurateur in Cambodia, or a tailor in Iraq - and as they repay their loan, you get your money back. It’s a powerful and sustainable way to empower someone right now to lift themselves out of poverty.
So to answer the question that EVERYONE asks me... "What do you do with your money."
This is the answer.
www.kiva.org
Check it out.
July 28, 2008
Stranded at the airport
I've been stranded at the airport since yesterday. Crappy weather in Philadelphia and Boston have led to the cancellation of dozens of flights. Don't know when I'll be getting back home. Hopefully later today!
July 26, 2008
Top 5
"Music is the greatest good that mortals know."
- Joseph Addison
I'm going to start using this blog as a tool to update you guys on what kind of music I'm listening to. Every Saturday I will post my favorite 5 songs of the week for you guys to check out. Hey, you might find your new favorite jam. Listen to them!
Number 1
Antonio Jose "Te Traigo Flores"
This kid has TALENT.
Number 2
Ximena Saridana Vidas Paralelas
Number 3
Chetes "Completamente"
Number 4
中国加油！！北京加油！！韩庚加油！！
Welcome To Beijing...
Number 5
Metro Station "Shake it" (I know, I know WAY too popy .... But hey its CATCHY!)
- Joseph Addison
I'm going to start using this blog as a tool to update you guys on what kind of music I'm listening to. Every Saturday I will post my favorite 5 songs of the week for you guys to check out. Hey, you might find your new favorite jam. Listen to them!
Number 1
Antonio Jose "Te Traigo Flores"
This kid has TALENT.
Number 2
Ximena Saridana Vidas Paralelas
Number 3
Chetes "Completamente"
Number 4
中国加油！！北京加油！！韩庚加油！！
Welcome To Beijing...
Number 5
Metro Station "Shake it" (I know, I know WAY too popy .... But hey its CATCHY!)
July 23, 2008
When in Roma. Do as the Romans do?
I also got the chance to visit Roma, a unique city known for its amazing architecture, spacious parks, lively art scene and AMAZING food.
No... I did not travel to Roma, Italia. I visited Roma, Mexico.
Roma is a very popular neighborhood known for its picturesque parks and buildings. There is a strong European influence in the way the neighborhood was constructed. Most buildings are of Parisian style architecture.
Roma is largely inhabited by Lebanese and Jewish immigrants as well as young yuppies seeking to revive the art scene the city has been known for throughout its history.
I really like Roma and Condesa and wouldn't mind living there for a few years.
July 21, 2008
Santa Fe, Distrito Federal, Mexico
I finally got the chance to upload my pictures from Mexico City.
My familia lives in Toluca which is a suburb of Mexico on the west side of La Marquesa National Forest. It's about an hour away from Mexico City and half an hour from Santa Fe.
Not a lot of Americans have heard about Santa Fe, Mexico unless they are involved with international business or marketing. The reason being is that Santa Fe is relatively a new part of the city. Back in 1985, there was a horrible earth quake near the Centro Historico. This caused a lot of people and businesses to migrate to the west of the city which was largely undeveloped land. The land was perfect for development. It was situated between two high-income neighborhoods and was directly located on the toll road connecting Toluca with Mexico City.
So city planners got busy and created a master-planned business, residential, and educational community. all surrounded by one of the largest malls in North America. Within twenty years Santa Fe has grown from a small town to Mexico City's largest business powerhouse districts.
It has very modern architecture and amazing landscapes. Santa Fe is on of Mexico's fastest growing areas. 8 Million shoppers visit the mall alone each year! I got the chance to tour the city with my familia. We had the family driver give us a tour of the town. A def. must see for everyone who visits the city.
My familia lives in Toluca which is a suburb of Mexico on the west side of La Marquesa National Forest. It's about an hour away from Mexico City and half an hour from Santa Fe.
Not a lot of Americans have heard about Santa Fe, Mexico unless they are involved with international business or marketing. The reason being is that Santa Fe is relatively a new part of the city. Back in 1985, there was a horrible earth quake near the Centro Historico. This caused a lot of people and businesses to migrate to the west of the city which was largely undeveloped land. The land was perfect for development. It was situated between two high-income neighborhoods and was directly located on the toll road connecting Toluca with Mexico City.
So city planners got busy and created a master-planned business, residential, and educational community. all surrounded by one of the largest malls in North America. Within twenty years Santa Fe has grown from a small town to Mexico City's largest business powerhouse districts.
It has very modern architecture and amazing landscapes. Santa Fe is on of Mexico's fastest growing areas. 8 Million shoppers visit the mall alone each year! I got the chance to tour the city with my familia. We had the family driver give us a tour of the town. A def. must see for everyone who visits the city.
New York City
Things I like :
Everything you need is within walking distance.
TONS of diversity
A vast array of food
Amazing cheescake :)
Things I dislike:
New yorkers: RUDE
The contaminated air
The congestion
Having to spend 2 hours trying to get to the airport. (I arrived at the airport 20 minutes before my flight departure)
Central Park - Overrated
I didn't have a lot of time to go sightseeing. I did visit Time Square and visited a few comedy clubs with some peeps I met on the plane. I didn't want to carry around my camera so not that many pictures were taken. :( I'll be visiting back in November so I can actually go sightseeing.
Everything you need is within walking distance.
TONS of diversity
A vast array of food
Amazing cheescake :)
Things I dislike:
New yorkers: RUDE
The contaminated air
The congestion
Having to spend 2 hours trying to get to the airport. (I arrived at the airport 20 minutes before my flight departure)
Central Park - Overrated
I didn't have a lot of time to go sightseeing. I did visit Time Square and visited a few comedy clubs with some peeps I met on the plane. I didn't want to carry around my camera so not that many pictures were taken. :( I'll be visiting back in November so I can actually go sightseeing.
July 18, 2008
New York
Im in New York, about to head out and explore the city with some girl i met on the plane. Fun
Will update on new york later
Will update on new york later
July 15, 2008
Quinceañera
Last week I traveled to Mexico City for my cousin Alma's Quinceañera.
What is a Quinceañeraa you may ask.
A Quinceañera is much like a mix between the Bat Mitzvah and a Sweet Sixteen here in the states. Families are known to save up money long before the fifteenth birthday in order to make this the most lavish celebration ever. And lavish is sometimes an understatement.
Alma's Quinceañera involved live bands, limousines, flowers, catered food, lavish gowns, and lots of gifts.
The day began with a Thanksgiving Mass (Misa de Acción de Grácias) held a the Templo de La Merced, a former and one of the oldest preserved Spanish convents built in the 18th century.
Alma entered La Merced followed by 4 chamberlains dressed in tuxedos, her godparents and of course, her loving mother and father.
After the hiphop routine was over Alma yet again disappeared. By this tie the alcohol was flowing. The smell of tequila began to fill the room. All of a sudden alma reappeared, but this time dressed a salsa dancer. She performed a Salsa routine with one of her dance instructors.
After the salsa routine she went backstage and changed into an arabian costume. She then performed an arabian inspired dance while hr chamberlains (dressed in an aladdin style outfit) stood at attention on the sidelines. She then changed back into her gown and got ready for the cake photo ops.
The party ended at 5 am, and the after party began the next morning at 10 am. We all had a blast!
What is a Quinceañeraa you may ask.
A Quinceañera is much like a mix between the Bat Mitzvah and a Sweet Sixteen here in the states. Families are known to save up money long before the fifteenth birthday in order to make this the most lavish celebration ever. And lavish is sometimes an understatement.
Alma's Quinceañera involved live bands, limousines, flowers, catered food, lavish gowns, and lots of gifts.
The day began with a Thanksgiving Mass (Misa de Acción de Grácias) held a the Templo de La Merced, a former and one of the oldest preserved Spanish convents built in the 18th century.
Alma entered La Merced followed by 4 chamberlains dressed in tuxedos, her godparents and of course, her loving mother and father. Everyone was dressed formally and the scene resembled a wedding complete with Alma's ball gown and some stunning jewelry. The priest spoke to Alma about the importance of the Quinceanera tradition. Her parents took the podium to wish her good luck and to tell her how proud they are of her.
After the tears are shed and eyes are dried, the true fun begins. Consider the mass as a pre-party for the festivities to come. After mass ended, everyone huddled around the quinceanera for that perfect photo op.
While the photographers and videographers recorded every detail of this makeshift photo-shoot, we (the family) all jumped into our vehicles and rushed to the grand ballroom located in one of the poshest hotels of the city. When we got there, we were greeted by Alma's portrait along with a doorwoman in a bright green coat who sat us in our designated tables and chairs.
Security was strong and only those with an invitation and proper identification were allowed in. After the Alma's entrance she dances a waltz with her chamberlains. The Quinceanera usually selects the song she wants to dance to and in this occasion she choose Jen ai marre by French artisit Alizee.
Security was strong and only those with an invitation and proper identification were allowed in. After the Alma's entrance she dances a waltz with her chamberlains. The Quinceanera usually selects the song she wants to dance to and in this occasion she choose Jen ai marre by French artisit Alizee. She then proceeds to dance her with her father as her last dance as a child and first dance as a woman. After the first waltz, the party begins. A 3 course dinner is served waiters. Starting with a cream of cilantro soup, then an alfredo pasta and finally a chicken with pesto dish. Yummy! After the food, Alma popped out with her chamberlains and surprised everyone with a hip hop routine (Boots with the fur anyone?)
After the hiphop routine was over Alma yet again disappeared. By this tie the alcohol was flowing. The smell of tequila began to fill the room. All of a sudden alma reappeared, but this time dressed a salsa dancer. She performed a Salsa routine with one of her dance instructors. 
The party ended at 5 am, and the after party began the next morning at 10 am. We all had a blast!
On my own
What's New?
A few months ago I bought my first house in Dallas. It's a small 3 bedroom house built in the Rollingwood Hills area of Dallas. I grew up in a small farming town of about 1,000 in South Texas, so the move to Dallas was shocking at first. After I graduated, I moved to Malibu, CA. I lived in what I like to call the "Malibu Bubble", where luxury cars, luxury brands, and luxury living are the norm. Malibu didn't necessarily give me the "street smarts" needed to live on my own. For example, in Malibu, I had daily maid service and weekly gardeners. We had a weekly laundry service that would come to our door, pick up our laundry and have it clean, pressed and neatly folded by the next morning. A trip to the local grocery store meant paying $5.00 for a HALF-dozen of eggs and artisan water flown in from the Islands of Fiji (so the tag says). No other alternatives were offered. $2.00 for a Mango imported from Mexico (which cost 5.70 Pesos a Kilogram in a grocery store in Mexico {.57 cents for roughly 2 lbs.}) A life where the biggest worry was if Malibu FroYo was still open after 5.
Lets fast forward to today. Now I have to do my own laundry (I don't have a washer/dryer yet.) I don't have a lawn mower so I have to pay some neighborhood kids to mow my lawn. I have to buy my own groceries, cook, PAY BILLS. Living on my own is tough, but I'll manage. :)
A few months ago I bought my first house in Dallas. It's a small 3 bedroom house built in the Rollingwood Hills area of Dallas. I grew up in a small farming town of about 1,000 in South Texas, so the move to Dallas was shocking at first. After I graduated, I moved to Malibu, CA. I lived in what I like to call the "Malibu Bubble", where luxury cars, luxury brands, and luxury living are the norm. Malibu didn't necessarily give me the "street smarts" needed to live on my own. For example, in Malibu, I had daily maid service and weekly gardeners. We had a weekly laundry service that would come to our door, pick up our laundry and have it clean, pressed and neatly folded by the next morning. A trip to the local grocery store meant paying $5.00 for a HALF-dozen of eggs and artisan water flown in from the Islands of Fiji (so the tag says). No other alternatives were offered. $2.00 for a Mango imported from Mexico (which cost 5.70 Pesos a Kilogram in a grocery store in Mexico {.57 cents for roughly 2 lbs.}) A life where the biggest worry was if Malibu FroYo was still open after 5.
Lets fast forward to today. Now I have to do my own laundry (I don't have a washer/dryer yet.) I don't have a lawn mower so I have to pay some neighborhood kids to mow my lawn. I have to buy my own groceries, cook, PAY BILLS. Living on my own is tough, but I'll manage. :)
June 24, 2008
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Before flying back to Dallas, I had a chance to spend a few hours wandering the streets and parks of Minneapolis. Luckily, Minneapolis has a well planned out transit system which can take you to any part of the city tight from the airport. The tram is safe, fairly new, and takes you to the most popular tourist sites.
When I got to the airport I decided to go to the Mall of America, which was about a 5 minute tram ride to the west of the airport (I think).
Once there, I was surprised by how HUGE the mall was.... although the mall is no longer the largest in America, (that title now belongs to King of Prussia in Penn.), it is known for it's amazing theme park. Nickelodeon now sponsors the themepark and has renamed it to Nikelodeon Universe. The Mall of America is very kid friendy and a must for any family.
After not spending any money at the mall (sorry Vanessa), I needed to go out and get some fresh air. I jumped onto the Tram and headed towards the Minnehaha Falls.
After hiking through the park, I came across the falls. They were amazing. The falls are only active during the summer when the glacial snow melts and pours into the Mississippi River. Minnehaha comes from the Native American Dakota language meaning Water Fall.
After a few photo ops I hopped back onto the tram and headed back to the airport to fly home.
This weekend ----> Denver, Colorado. Stay Tuned.
When I got to the airport I decided to go to the Mall of America, which was about a 5 minute tram ride to the west of the airport (I think).
Once there, I was surprised by how HUGE the mall was.... although the mall is no longer the largest in America, (that title now belongs to King of Prussia in Penn.), it is known for it's amazing theme park. Nickelodeon now sponsors the themepark and has renamed it to Nikelodeon Universe. The Mall of America is very kid friendy and a must for any family.
After not spending any money at the mall (sorry Vanessa), I needed to go out and get some fresh air. I jumped onto the Tram and headed towards the Minnehaha Falls.
After hiking through the park, I came across the falls. They were amazing. The falls are only active during the summer when the glacial snow melts and pours into the Mississippi River. Minnehaha comes from the Native American Dakota language meaning Water Fall.
After a few photo ops I hopped back onto the tram and headed back to the airport to fly home.
This weekend ----> Denver, Colorado. Stay Tuned.
June 21, 2008
Duluth, Minnesota
This weekend I'm in Duluth, Minnesota. Duluth is by far one of the most unique cities I have visited. It seems like your average Midwestern town, but deep inside, Duluth is simply "something else". Besides the faint "awkward" vibe in the air, I fell in love with the scenery, and the location.
Duluth is located on the shores of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. As you drive inland, the elevation drastically rises (perfect for sledding in the winter.) The roads are steep, but the homes have amazing views of the lake. Would not mind living here if the temperature would not fall to -30 degrees in the winter.
Duluth is known for having some of the harshest weather in the country. We were lucky to have perfect weather this weekend. We got rained on during the marathon for a few minutes, but nothing major.
The skywalk system in Duluth is known to be one of the best in the country. You can go to any part of downtown without ever stepping a foot outside a building. This is perfect for those freezing days. The longest part of the skywalk crosses over Interstate 35!, connecting downtown with the convention center. Amazing.
I also had a little free time to go geocaching in one of the hills. Pretty nice views. Even caught a rainbow on the lake!
June 18, 2008
Update..
Forgot about my blog for a while.
I have been so busy the past few weeks... and I didn't have a camera, so updating my blog would be pointless without any pictures.
I am still on the road with Crocs. I will be in Duluth this upcoming weekend for Grandma's Marathon. After that I will fly out to Denver for a Danskin Triathalon. Then off to Mexico City!
I moved into my new house here in Dallas where I will be spending most of the summer.
I recently bought something that I have unnecessarily put off for the past few months. I got myself a Canon Rebel XT DSLR. Thats dork lingo for a new camera. I love it.
I also have a new Macbook that Dieste hooked me up with. I will be doing a lot of shooting and uploading because of this. So don't worry, my blog will begin buzzing once more.
So what is Dieste ?
During the week (Mon-Wed), I am working at a Hispanic Ad Agency in Dallas called Dieste Harmel & Partners. Dieste is the largest Hispanic Ad Agency in the U.S. and has won numerous amount of awards. I am working as an Art Director for a few months until school starts in the Fall. After I graduate I plan on continuing my advertising career at Dieste.
So basically my time consists of Dieste on Mon-Wed, Fly out Wed night, Crocs on Thursday - Sunday, Fly back to Dallas on Sunday Night. Repeat.
Yea.. hectic, but no complaints here, I love both equally.
I have been so busy the past few weeks... and I didn't have a camera, so updating my blog would be pointless without any pictures.
I am still on the road with Crocs. I will be in Duluth this upcoming weekend for Grandma's Marathon. After that I will fly out to Denver for a Danskin Triathalon. Then off to Mexico City!
I moved into my new house here in Dallas where I will be spending most of the summer.
I recently bought something that I have unnecessarily put off for the past few months. I got myself a Canon Rebel XT DSLR. Thats dork lingo for a new camera. I love it.
I also have a new Macbook that Dieste hooked me up with. I will be doing a lot of shooting and uploading because of this. So don't worry, my blog will begin buzzing once more.
So what is Dieste ?
During the week (Mon-Wed), I am working at a Hispanic Ad Agency in Dallas called Dieste Harmel & Partners. Dieste is the largest Hispanic Ad Agency in the U.S. and has won numerous amount of awards. I am working as an Art Director for a few months until school starts in the Fall. After I graduate I plan on continuing my advertising career at Dieste.
So basically my time consists of Dieste on Mon-Wed, Fly out Wed night, Crocs on Thursday - Sunday, Fly back to Dallas on Sunday Night. Repeat.
Yea.. hectic, but no complaints here, I love both equally.
May 14, 2008
Boston (The Freedom Trail)
After the checking out of my room, I decided to take a solo and in-depth tour of Boston. With the help of my Blackberry, my "Charlie Card" and a sweater ... I plunged head first into this amazing city. I started by leaving my luggage at the Crocs Flagship so that I wouldn't have to make a long trip back to the hotel.
I used VirtualTourist.com to do a little research on Boston's best sightseeing. Fortunately, Boston is a very tourist-friendly city. They developed the Freedom Trail to cater to the many tourist that visit each year (including me).
So what is the Freedom Trail you ask.... My first response would be a simple "Google it", since there is plenty information out there. But that would only lead you away from my blog, and none of us want that happen now do we?. So I will give you a short synopsis of what the Freedom Trail is all about.
The Freedom Trail is a red (mostly brick) path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts which leads to sixteen significant historic sites. It is a 2.5 mile (4 km) walk from the Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown and is popular with tourists.
I did about 3/4 of the trail since I had to start at Quincy Market instead of Bunker Hill..
So this is a list of the places that I actually did get to see...And the pictures I took...
1) Boston Common
2) Massachusetts State House
3) Park Street Church
4) Granary Burying Ground
5) King's Chapel
6) King's Chapel Burying Ground
7) First Public school in the US, the Boston Latin School
8) Old Corner Bookstore
9) Old South Meeting House
10) Old State House
11) Site of the Boston Massacre
12) Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Pictures to come....
Vampire Weekend....
While I was in Boston, I discovered a band called Vampire Weekend. They are a group of Columbia students from NYC... but most of their songs are about Boston and Cambridge... they were on the cover of last month's SPIN magazine. They are a pretty sweet band so make sure to Ipod them!
April 28, 2008
Boston (Day 1 & 2)
The past few weeks have been amazing! I have been having a blast traveling across the country. During the past few weeks Ive been in Virginia Beach, New Orleans, Boston, Nashville, Indianapolis and just recently, Orlando. It has come to a point where I actually forget where I was the weekend before.
I want to keep you guys in the loop so I will start with Boston.
On my first day in Boston, I had to take the T to my hotel which was located in Somerville. Somerville sounded like a nice neighborhood. Boy was I wrong. I didn't run into any trouble but I knew something was up when there was three security guards on patrol at the entrance to my hotel. Checking in was a hassle... Apparently you have to be 21 in order to check into a hotel. I somehow missed the memo... but I talked them into letting me check in.
Second day was a usual day.... I helped setup for the expo and after a couple of Dunkin Donuts decided that a trip to the Crocs Flagship Store was well deserved. The Crocs Flagship is located in Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall area.
This part of town is known for their amazing food and shopping. I went to an Urban Outfitters which had two separate entrances which connected on the second floor. The store even had an elevator!!! I was standing right next to the elevator (which i hadn't noticed) when the doors opened and some random dude in a business suit stood there. We both stared at each other with a "WTF" look on our faces. I was surprised there was an elevator in the store while he was surprised that the elevator had stopped right in the clearance section of some random store. That moment was priceless.
The Expo was HUGE and fun..... Dunkin Donuts made a lot of money from us :) but the donuts were just oh so good.... goooooood... After the expo, it was tiem for us to go back and rest.. I still had a lot more of Boston to soak up... including Harvard and the Freedom Trail!
I want to keep you guys in the loop so I will start with Boston.
On my first day in Boston, I had to take the T to my hotel which was located in Somerville. Somerville sounded like a nice neighborhood. Boy was I wrong. I didn't run into any trouble but I knew something was up when there was three security guards on patrol at the entrance to my hotel. Checking in was a hassle... Apparently you have to be 21 in order to check into a hotel. I somehow missed the memo... but I talked them into letting me check in.
Second day was a usual day.... I helped setup for the expo and after a couple of Dunkin Donuts decided that a trip to the Crocs Flagship Store was well deserved. The Crocs Flagship is located in Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall area.
This part of town is known for their amazing food and shopping. I went to an Urban Outfitters which had two separate entrances which connected on the second floor. The store even had an elevator!!! I was standing right next to the elevator (which i hadn't noticed) when the doors opened and some random dude in a business suit stood there. We both stared at each other with a "WTF" look on our faces. I was surprised there was an elevator in the store while he was surprised that the elevator had stopped right in the clearance section of some random store. That moment was priceless.
The Expo was HUGE and fun..... Dunkin Donuts made a lot of money from us :) but the donuts were just oh so good.... goooooood... After the expo, it was tiem for us to go back and rest.. I still had a lot more of Boston to soak up... including Harvard and the Freedom Trail!
March 28, 2008
March 18, 2008
March 10, 2008
Soles United
One of the biggest and best shoe recycling program in the country.
Soles United.
Heres how it works:
You wear crocs.
You use them.
You donate them when they are worn.
We recycle them.
We donate them.
Plain and simple.
February 28, 2008
February 20, 2008
VOTE for him
David's performance on American Idol Last night in case you missed it.
Tune in and vote for him next week.
February 18, 2008
Motel - Y te vas
Motel has been a band that I have been listening to for about a year. They just dropped their newe record called 17 and it seems that they have developed a new sound. And I REALLY like it. Kudos to Motel!
This is one of my favorite songs from the album titled "Y te Vas" (If you leave)
They perfectly use alliteration throughout the song with the "j" sound which makes the song even more unique.
This is one of my favorite songs from the album titled "Y te Vas" (If you leave)
They perfectly use alliteration throughout the song with the "j" sound which makes the song even more unique.
February 14, 2008
Hillary Clinton
Presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, was at the new McAllen Convention Center yesterday. I didn't get the chance to go meet her because I had to go to class. I am more of an Obama guy but rumor has it that Hillary and Obama will visit the valley at least 2 more times before our primaries.
Heres why:
Texas has 140 democratic delegates, second only to California. However, the majority of the state is predominantly Republican. The Valley (South Texas), however, has the largest concentration of democratic voters in the state. (see map)
So its logical for the democratic candidates to focus on this area of the state. Another thing, the around 3/5 of Texas democrats are Hispanic. These voters seem to favor Hillary over Barack. Consequently, Obama has a lot of campaigning to do here if he wants to win the delegates.
Heres why:
Texas has 140 democratic delegates, second only to California. However, the majority of the state is predominantly Republican. The Valley (South Texas), however, has the largest concentration of democratic voters in the state. (see map)
So its logical for the democratic candidates to focus on this area of the state. Another thing, the around 3/5 of Texas democrats are Hispanic. These voters seem to favor Hillary over Barack. Consequently, Obama has a lot of campaigning to do here if he wants to win the delegates.