Ten Years Later, 'Ugly Betty' Means So Much More to Me

Within the first few months of moving back home from college last year, I decided to take television more seriously. During college, I took a hiatus from watching new shows and was overall out of the television loop. I had so much to catch up on.

However, I couldn't find anything I was interested in and found myself continuously scrolling through Netflix. Then I stumbled upon Ugly Betty. I remember watching the first season when it first aired in 2006, but for some reason I never finished watching Betty Suarez work her fashion magic at Mode, the fictional fashion magazine she worked for. I decided to casually start watching it and see how much I remembered of the first season. I ended up finishing all four seasons in a very short amount of time...

My, oh, my. I fell in love with Betty Suarez even more than I did in 2006. When I first watched Ugly Betty, I was only twelve years old. I was still growing and learning, not really sure of who I was, the impact my culture had on my identity, and how much I would accomplish. Ten years later, Betty Suarez's character embodied all of those things I identified so closely with and more. Betty Suarez was a proud Latina, famously flaunting her Guadalajara poncho on her first day of work at Mode. She was college-educated, hard working, passionate about writing, intelligent, and sharp. She was a genuinely good person who loved her friends fiercely and her family even more. She was confident in her own skin, even when so many people tried to bring her down. She was unapologetic about her fashion choices, never shying away from a smile with her bright braces at age 23. She was a Latina who dreamed big even though she came from humble beginnings. Betty Suarez was an average girl who had all the odds against her, but was still able to persevere and work her way to the top at Mode. Obviously, none of this happened over night and Betty was constantly challenged throughout those four seasons. Eventually, *spoiler* she found her voice, discovered her potential, and decided to move to London to pursue her passion for writing. In the end, everyone at Mode realized how much they needed her. More importantly, I needed her. 

As someone who had freshly graduated from college and was working in her first 'real world' job, it was undeniable how much stress I felt. I often sought encouragement from family, friends, and mentors. I realized how fortunate I was to have a job months after graduating college, but was constantly intimidated by my position and potential. When I looked around, there weren't many people who looked like me. I was not fully confident in my voice within such a large company and was afraid to fail as much as succeed. What I was unaware of was the powerful impact Ugly Betty would have on me to keep me motivated during this time. I fell in love with Betty because she was perfect in every way it mattered. In 2006 or 2016, Betty Suarez is the perfect example of showing girls like me that we can become women ready to go out there for what's ours. She was a visual reminder for me of Latinas who kick ass and work hard to succeed in their professional and personal lives. No matter how much times passes, these types of stories on television have and will always matter.

Ugly Betty came out in 2006 and was still just as relevant in 2016. We need more stories like Betty's and we will always need characters like her. The most relevant character that has infused within me a similar passion and self reflection is 2014's Jane Villanueva from Jane the Virgin, which I previously have written about. Honestly, we shouldn't have to wait every ten years for the Betty's and Jane's to come along. Their stories mean too much to girls like me.

xoxo

Gina Rodriguez is the Woman I Have Been Waiting For

I was first introduced to Gina Rodriguez, star of Jane the Virgin, when I stumbled upon a clip of her Golden Globes acceptance speech in 2015. Without ever watching the show or knowing much about Rodriguez, her speech captivated me and brought me to tears.

"This award is so much more than myself; it represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes. My father used to tell me to say every morning. 'Today is going to be a great day. I can and I will.' Well. Dad -- today is a great day. I can and I did." 

From then on, Gina Rodriguez became someone I have continuously admired. She has inspired me in many ways as the first famous Latina I identify with. Apart from our strong affirmation to our Hispanic culture, she inspires me because of her focus on the issues she cares about and the person she aspires to be. Gina Rodriguez's Golden Globes speech was just the beginning. 

My growing love for Gina Rodriguez continued with her role in Jane the Virgin. For the first time, I was looking at the TV screen and the woman staring back at me was a reflection of myself. Rodriguez's character, Jane Villanueva, is a strong Latina, granddaughter to immigrants, living in a bilingual household, pursuing higher education, and dreaming to become a successful writer. She was juggling school, work, friends, and family. Then on top of that, dealing with being accidentally artificially inseminated. Gina Rodriguez has been very outspoken about rejecting roles that perpetuated negative Latino stereotypes prior to Jane the Virgin. In an interview with Marie Claire this month, she said,

"I was looking to play a girl who was independent and smart and going after what she loved. A girl who was taking risks and going up against challenges. Just a girl."

Her decision to wait for a role as important and visible as Jane Villanueva is one of the reasons I adore Rodriguez. The Golden Globe was well-deserved for the believability, emotion, and impact Jane Villanueva's character has had on women like me. Her talent goes beyond Jane the Virgin, but this role was an amazing start to the impact she has made and will continue to make in Hollywood. 

Gina Rodriguez uses her platform to her full advantage. She is aware of her impact in Hollywood and how her confidence, voice, and actions can inspire women and men. She is an advocate for education and teamed up with Clinique for their Difference Makers Initiative this year to spread the message of education equals empowerment. She is the co-founder of the lingerie line, Naja, which promotes positive body image, women empowerment, education, and the environment. She is involved in politics and even interviewed Barack Obama a few months ago. She wanted to create an event that would honor young women's accomplishments and partnered with Marie Claire to create the first ever Young Women's Honors this year. She is outspoken about changing the image of Latinos in Hollywood and creating roles that do not perpetuate negative stereotypes. She speaks eloquently in every interview about her identity, her purpose, and her desires. 

In 2015, Gina Rodriguez showed me how important diversity in Hollywood is and how truly inspiring it can be. When I look at Gina Rodriguez, I see myself. A first-generation Latina, motivated by higher education, looking to change the world, with dreams bigger than herself, whose parents often struggled financially but worked hard to put food on the table and give us (my siblings and I) everything we needed. She is a Latina who loves her body, who is confident, who does not speak Spanish perfectly but is unapologetically and perfectly herself. I needed Gina Rodriguez to remind myself that "I can and I will" succeed making my dreams and my family's dreams become a reality.

We need more women like Gina Rodriguez. So thank you for being you, Gina, and setting the bar high to show us it's possible.

xoxo

The Year I Got My Groove Back

Hello.

My last post was from about two years ago. I skimmed through my old posts and I couldn't help but smile about all the adventures I documented on my blog from my travels abroad, falling in love, spending the summer in San Francisco, and anything else that was on my mind in 2014.

Moving Forward...

It's obviously too difficult to recount the last two years so I will start and end with 2016. This year I encountered some of my lowest moments and highest achievements. Here are just a few:

2016.

I got a puppy. His name is Milo. He's a rascal. 

I broke up with someone after two loving years. 

I visited my best friends in their new cities around the US.

I went to lots of concerts and one music festival.

I went to Mexico and visited my family.

I made lots of memories spending time with my mom and dad.

I continued to explore San Francisco.

I made new friends.

I dated someone new. 

I listened to Zayn consistently for almost three months. 

Still listening to him.

I got caught up on pop culture, social justice issues, music, and film.

I endured an incredibly difficult election. Still reeling.

I had one of the most amazing birthdays ever. It was a surprise.

All this happened (and so much more) while I was unapologetically myself, making mistakes, learning lessons, and trying to take advantage of every opportunity that landed in front of me (or that I looked for). Although this year has been an emotional roller coaster, I think this has been one of the best years I could have ever imagined because I didn't know what to expect.

Heartbreak is never easy, especially when it happens right before Valentine's Day...but I learned to love myself again and finally do things for me. Figuring out what I wanted to do with my degree and the direction to head in for my career has and continues to be stressful...but I know that I am destined to do something I truly love and I am great at. Living back at home with my parents can be overwhelming...but I have never felt closer with my parents. Raising a puppy with your parents is extra stressful...but Milo has been the most amazing gift. Being far away from my siblings and best friends can feel so lonely...but I know they're only a phone call away and I will always go out of my way to see them and vice versa.

Honestly, this list can go on forever. What I am getting at is I learned so much about myself in my first year of post-grad life that I was never expecting. I learned that stress is temporary and are followed up by some incredible lessons and memories. I have met so many amazing people, while continuing to strengthen my bonds with my family and oldest friends. Everyone has made a profound impact on my life this year and even though I felt low in so many ways, I finally got my groove back. I just have to keep it up and I know I will. I know we still have one more month left of 2016, but up until now, this moment as I write my first blog post and hopefully not my last, I am so happy to raise my glass and say, it was a good one. 

xoxo

6 Things I Adore #3

Here are six things I adore right now or have adored for a long time.

1. Frida Kahlo

Oh this woman. I learned about her when I had to write a book report in the fourth grade. Since that moment I pulled her book off the library's shelf, I have not looked back. I think as a Mexican woman myself, I admired her for her pride in the Mexican culture, which can be seen in the way she dressed and presented herself. Her artwork may be seen as disturbing or confusing, but I always found it to be so real. You do not need to explain what she is trying to express, because her emotions are on every canvas. I have been lucky enough to even visit her old home in Mexico City, La Casa Azul, which serves as a museum today. Frida, I have and will always say you are the one famous person I wish I could meet.

2. Boba

This is not only something I adore, it is something I am obsessed with. I am not ashamed of that.

3. Elephants

These beautiful giants are actually not my favorite animal...but they slowly are starting to become my favorite. My room is currently decorated with a large elephant poster, accompanied by a small elephant poster, elephant "piggy" bank, and two elephant mini artworks. Current life dream: hug a baby elephant.

4. Taking pictures

I would say this is something I would not like to pursue as a profession, but rather, for leisure. I just love getting behind the camera and taking really great shots. I think it also has to do with my bossy tendencies, so I like telling people how to pose or where to stand. Not only that, I like finding the right angles to get a different perspective of a monument or object. 

5. Cinema Paradiso

I saw this film by chance one day last summer. I was having a movie marathon (by myself) and had watched The Perks of being a Wallflower and Broken, both of which I had cried watching. I decided to watch a third film on Netflix to top off the day and it was this beautiful Italian film. I cried, of course. I think it is safe to say it is one of my favorite films because it is a film about loving films, but it is much deeper than that. Sorry for the horrible synopsis, but it is on my list of things I adore, so it must be good.

6. Strawberries

These are by far one of my favorite fruits. Not only the way the taste, but the way they look and smell. I love the bright red color, but I love even more what they taste like with whip cream or inside of a crepe.

xoxo

Photo Diary of Pride Weekend (1 month ago)

Hello blog lovers. It has been a while since I have posted last, but the whole month of July went by in a flash. I swear it feels as if I have closed my eyes and when I opened them, it was already August 2. That is not to say I have not enjoyed this past month. I have been blessed to have been working in SF this summer. Part-time at my internship and part-time at my school job. I think it went by pretty quickly because I started to get in a routine of work, eat, work, eat, laundry, tv, movie, work, more tv (you get the point). However, I have been able to go out in the city and adventure around with my boyfriend/friends and my high school friends have visited me along the way! Any who, I have been thinking about posting these great pictures for a while now and it kept slipping away from me. Here are a couple photos of the famous, and one of the largest PRIDE weekends in San Francisco:

xoxo

On a Mission

A couple weeks ago, Danielle came to visit me for a day. We met up mid-afternoon because I had work, but we still made the most of our day. I decided we go to the infamous Mission district in San Francisco, an area often less explored by tourists or day trippers. I did not have much in mind other than window shopping along Valencia Street and making a stop at Dolores Park. We did both those things, in addition to visiting the popular Balmy Street Murals and grabbing some delicious Bi-Rite Ice Cream after dinner. 

We wondered along Valencia, having realized I had been here before with my best friend, Alexandra, and my mom. We got an iced chai at a coffee shop that had really great ratings on Yelp...I would have gotten coffee, but you see, I am not a huge coffee drinker. I do like my guilty pleasure of coffee frappuccinos at Starbucks every once in a while, but even then I would not really consider that coffee. Anyways, we walked a couple blocks and made our way to the top of Dolores Park. Danielle could not have come on a more perfect day, the sun was out, which meant there were crowds of people at the park enjoying the beautiful view. I have been to this same spot a couple of times, but it never ceases to amaze me. Customary to many locations, we had a mini photo shoot.

I would say we were here for quite some time before we decided we should head over to the murals because we were getting hungry. I had visited these murals twice in my three years of living in San Francisco, and my reaction is always the same. I love looking at the simplistic or complex paintings that occupy this alley. I even had a moment when I saw my girl, Frida Kahlo, portrayed in one mural. What the murals mean to me is pride. Pride in your roots and where your family comes from. Along with, struggle. The struggle of moving to a foreign place, trying to provide for your family to live out the "American Dream." I take these messages to heart because I am a product of parents who came to America in hopes for a better life for themselves and their children. This is one reason why I love the Mission district. The hispanic culture, after so many years, is still strong regardless of the remodeling and big tech companies trying to move in. I think of my dad too. His work predominately takes place in the Mission, so I think of him every time I am there and the life that goes on around him. 

After being bombarded by elotes (Mexican corn on the cob) and hot dogs on every street corner, we rushed to get dinner as our feet were getting sore from the walking and our tummies were growling. It was well worth the wait, topping the night with some ice cream. On this day, we were on a mission to explore and enjoy the day. I think we were pretty successful.

xoxo

[photos: courtesy of Danielle]

Frolicking with the Best

Hello. Can I just say that I definitely believe there is nothing better than exploring cities with some of your best friends. Whether it is a small town or a big city, just having the company of your best friends allows for good conversation, laughs, and memories we will always think about in the near and far future. That was definitely the case when my best friend, Danielle, spent the weekend with me. 

Okay, so I will admit, I was a little overwhelmed at the possibilities of our weekend together because I had never had a friend stay with me in my apartment. I made sure to have an endless list of things we could do, even though, looking back now, that was completely unnecessary because we tend to go with the flow when we are together. Let me just say, our day couldn't have gone any better. 

San Francisco decided to be beautiful and warm on our main adventure day which was perfect because we were planning on spending some time outside. We decided to go to the Presidio for the Off the Grid: Picnic at the Presidio. I have attached the link below so any one who is in the area can spend a perfect Sunday here, I highly suggest it! As soon as we arrived, we saw a huge crowd scattered throughout the lawn positioned toward the ocean and the fog covered Golden Gate Bridge. We spent a good couple hours here, Danielle even got sun burnt on her shoulder. After enjoying our lunch and an ice cream dessert, we headed toward the Palace of the Fine Arts. From there, we headed to the luxurious Marina District homes looking over the waterfront. I had never walked so closely to these mansions that I loved looking at the details often missed driving by. We continued our walking extravaganza and made our way over to Chestnut Street to do a little shopping. I realized I made Danielle walk more than expected that with a combo of sunshine and walking, we were getting pretty tired... but our day was not over yet.
(http://offthegridsf.com/markets/PICNIC#about) 

Later in the evening, I got dinner with two of my favorite people, Danielle and my boyfriend, Daniel. Afterwards, we headed to Sutro Baths and a secret passage way Daniel had been to before looking out towards the ocean and GG Bridge. It was so beautiful here, especially because we were quick enough to make it to sunset. The sunset and ocean were the perfect backdrop to end our day. Looking back now and writing this post I realize how lucky I am to have spent time with people I love very much in a city I love dearly. I would have just been happy to have eaten dinner with them, because it is the little things that really warm my heart. 

xoxo

Picnic in the Park

I moved back to the city about two weeks ago. As I am getting older, the time always seems to be going faster. Regardless, I am trying my best to enjoy every moment even as the days seem like they are passing by. I am spending most of my summer working, luckily only Monday through Friday, which gives me the weekends to enjoy the city or go home. My first official weekend in San Francisco is one for the books. Saturday, let's talk about Saturday first. 

So Chipotle, the Mexican chain food restaurant, was putting on a free event in Golden Gate Park. I was unsure about what the event was actually for, but I assumed to promote their restaurant with food booths, professional chefs, and life performances. I heard Charli XCX was going to be there (Iggy's sidekick in her song "Fancy") so I had to go. I was excited because it meant the chance to hang out and finally picnic with my boyfriend, Daniel. We had been talking about going on a picnic the week prior, but it was cold and windy out so we postponed the date. We picked the perfect day to do so too, because unlike most of the summer days in SF, it was actually sunny out. We had our little picnic outside of the Chipotle event and scarfed down some Lou's sandwiches. Afterwards, we headed into the event where each booth had a line at least with a 10 minute wait. We just walked through the event and it was actually really awesome. Not only were they promoting their restaurant, they were providing awareness about GMO's and other fast food meals compared to their healthier option.

We walked toward the stage just in time to find a great seat for the short set by Charli XCX. She sang my favorite song by her (enjoy below). Overall, it was a relaxing and successful day.

♫♪ Charli XCX- "SuperLove" ♫♪

Charli XCX

xoxo

Beginning of Summer Lovin'

I have been home for about a week now and everyday since has been major family time, which is exactly what the doctor ordered. I was sad to see my sister go and my parents have to go back to work after their vacation. However, it meant I was finally able to see my best friend, Danielle. I have definitely mentioned Danielle in past posts. Anyway, we finally saw each other yesterday and it was great. We headed to Napa for some lunch, then visited her friend for a refreshment, and got ice cream in Sonoma, California. I mean Danielle got ice cream and I got an icee. We enjoyed our treats in the shade in the town square and finally headed home. 

Danielle and I have been friends since we were in junior high, so this year will mark our ninth year as being best friends. She is one of the few who has seen the evolution from my braces and extremely long hair to no more braces and kinda long hair (although I am dying to cut it short again). I admire my friendship with Danielle because even though we have spent most of our friendship for the last three years a part, we actually talk every day and it always feels like she is right next to me. Although she is leaving me to go  away this summer, we still have three weeks left to go on some adventures and I cannot wait.

Also, something to note. Danielle and I love to have photo shoots when we are together. So please enjoy our fabulous pictures below while listening to a fancy song.

♫♪ Iggy Azalea-Fancy (ft. Charli XCX) ♫♪

xoxo 

Up Until the End (19 weeks later)

After my trip to Morocco, my time abroad flew by. My very good friend, Erica, came to visit on her spring break for a week. During her week in Madrid, we were able to do so much together. I showed her some of my favorite places, but we also did new things and tried new restaurants. Our favorite was La Musa, which we ate there twice! Our time together reassured me how blessed I am to have amazing people in my life who will fly across the ocean to see me. It also made me incredibly excited for future travels with all my loved ones and the adventures we will embark on. It was hard to see her go because I felt so at home with her with me, someone I could have amazing conversations with. Our week together flew by and before I knew it (2 weeks after) it was my spring break! 

On my spring break I visited the Spanish city, Seville, then headed to Portugal for the remainder of the trip. I absolutely loved Portugal, it was incredibly relaxed, beautiful, and flooding with history. I would definitely love to come back here. After I returned from spring break, I stayed in Madrid up until my mom came to visit me. Again, I am so lucky that she was able to come visit me and so happy she came. I showed her around Madrid, she met my home stay mom. Oh that is another bittersweet moment leaving my home stay mom was really hard...I cried. She was a really special woman and although she would frustrate me at times, I realized everything she did for me was with genuine care and love. Although she may not know a lot about my life, I learned a lot about hers, and those are stories I want to never forget. Anyways, afterwards my mom and I spent one day in the medieval city of Avila, and finally left to spend a couple days in Barcelona. I could not have asked for a better travel buddy than my mom. We did some serious exploring and walking around, that once we made it in Barcelona we took a 4 hour nap. Oops. I mean it was our vacation! We were relaxing. Finally, I headed home back to California, marking the official end to my 19 weeks abroad. 

I have been home exactly a week now and time really does fly when you are having fun. I have been trying to find the best ways to simply describe and summarize my time abroad. I realize that my answers will always vary to anyone I talk to because I learned a lot about my surroundings, others, and most importantly, things about myself while abroad. Obviously I wont explain this in boring detail to everyone I talk to but I made memories I will cherish for a lifetime (especially being with my mom and Erica), I met my home stay mom, I made a wonderful friend who I know I will see again sometime soon, and I learned that I am not done exploring this world. I am incredibly thankful I was able to embark on this once in a lifetime journey and as much as I wish it would not end, I am happy to be home with my family and friends to make new memories and have new adventures. Now, time to document my summer...

xoxo

Photo Diary of Morocco #2

This is my follow up post of my weekend in Morocco. The following images show me camel riding (for a total of 5 minutes lol) in Tangier, enjoying a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caves of Hercules, and the city of Asilah. These cities, including Chefchaouen, were beautiful. I hope one day I can explore other cities in Morocco and learn more about the culture and way of life. I would especially love to return to drink the tea!

Day 2: Tangier and Asilah

Baby camel was only a week old

He gets me

Caves of Hercules

Asilah

xoxo