FELIZ DIA DE LA PATRIA!!!!!

Today I must make it a point to be very Dominican. Eating sancocho, drinking Brugal, and maybe even getting my girls to take out the guira.

Enjoy!!! (Dios, Patria, y Libertad!!)

La bandera Dominicana:

Opps....wrong one!

Buscando la proxima "Model Latina"

Verizon Wireless is hosting a casting call for new talent to compete on Season 2 of Si TV's Model Latina which premieres August 2, 2009.

Young women 18 to 26 years of age can compete, and 12 will be chosen to vie for the title Model Latina. Judged by Jeffrey Kolsrud of Q Model Management and Katrina Campins of The Apprentice, contestants will be asked to show off their good looks as well as their knowledge and passion for Latino cultural ideals including beauty, style, values, success and power.

The casting call will be held in the following cities and dates:

SAN DIEGO -- SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28TH, NOON - 4PM
Chula Vista Center555 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910

SAN FRANCISCO -- SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, NOON - 4PM
2410 Mission Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94110

LOS ANGELES -- SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, 1PM - 4PM
City Lights Pictures3025 Olympic Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404

MIAMI -- TUESDAY MARCH 3RD, 10AM - 1PM
Verizon Wireless Store - Hialeah1599 W 49th St
Hialeah, FL 33012

NEW YORK -- THURSDAY MARCH 5TH, 10AM - 1PM
Verizon Wireless Store - Soho581 Broadway (between Houston St & Prince St)
New York, NY 10012

Suerte!!!

Hollywood comes to Washington Heights

Just in case you missed the news, Angelina Jolie was spotted in Washington Heights -- NYC -- checking out an apartment for an upcoming movie set to film next month.

Wearing dark shades, a black coat and black knee-high boots, Jolie checked out the luxury co-op building, The Riviera, on 157th and Riverside Drive.

Should be interesting to see Angelina Jolie in the Heights. I love Brangelina!!

Wait, does this mean the rent in my neighborhood is going to sky rocket now?

What is going on?

I'll keep it short, I'm late to work (as ususal). Just had to comment on the the New York Post cartoon that is causing quite the uproar.

The cartoon is in poor taste, period. It's not particularly funny, at least not to me. I understand it's commenting on current events -- the current chimp attack and the economy/stimulus plan. But one is left to wonder if that's just the excuse to publish something that is racist.

I try to be very objective when it comes to things like this, but I just don't see how this is not inappropriate. Now, the New York Post is not the greatest source of news, but enough people read the paper me included. But I really do think this is irresponsible journalism -- what kind of message are they sending out?

Final Day of Toy Fair 2009

Today was the last day at Toy Fair 2009, and I'm tired! I also have a horrible cold.

Hightlights for Toy Fair 2009

Brands that had a birthday:

• SpongeBob Square Pants (JAKKS Pacific, Lego) 10 year anniversary
  The Simpson's (USAopoly, Mattel) 20 year anniversary
• Super Soaker (Hasbro) 20 year anniversary
• Transformers (Hasbro) 25 year anniversary
• Hello Kitty (JAKKS Pacific) 35 year anniversary
• Barbie (Mattel) 50 year anniversary
  

Toy trends to watch this year:

• Exercise, Fun, and healthy kids
• Eco friendly toys
• Entertainment licenses like Hannah Montana, X-Men, Transformers, and Twilight
• Economy and value of play

I wish I would've had more time to actually tour the booths and see all the toys, but there just wasn't enough time for me.

Here are a couple of pics from Toy Fair.

Day #2 Toy Fair

Well, today there was definitely more traffic on the floor at the Javits than yesterday. I've been walking the floor but really haven't gotten a chance to check out the new toys, probably won't get to that until Wednesday. Tomorrow I think is going to be the busiest day there.

The highlight of my day was winning a Limited Edition Cabbage Patch Doll at the Women in Toys dinner. After 25 years I finally got one!! (yes, the kid in me is out -- full force)

Here she is:

Day #1 Toy Fair

The first day of the American International Toy Fair 09 is over and I'm exhausted. I didn't get to see much today because I didn't get a chance to walk to show. I was working at the Elmer's booth most of the day.

The one thing I did get to see was the Barbie 50th anniversary dolls. I became very nostalgic when I saw one of my favorite Barbie's on display as a collection doll. Her name, Barbie and the Rocker (1986). She was one of my coolest Barbie's!

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to take a couple of pics and report on new toys for fall at Toy Fair.

Very busy in the city.....

I am going to be one busy girl for the next week.

First off, I'll be at the Toy Fair '09 at the Javitz Center in NYC from Sunday, February 15th - Wednesday, February 18th where thousands of toy makers come each year to show off their latest and greatest. My nephew is of course super excited about Toy Fair and wishes he could come along with. Unfortunately he can't.

Next weekend I'll be at Rendez-Vous NYC. The contemporary fashion tradeshow from Paris, will launch their first New York event during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York in February 2009 (Friday, February 20th - Sunday, February 22nd) in The Altman Building. The event will showcase 75 contemporary fashion collections from North America, Europe and the Far East.

I'll do my very best to report all the goings on at both shows. If anyone reading this will be attending the event, either as an exhibitor or as an attendee..let me know! I'd love to meet-up. Have a great weekend everyone!!

LEGOLAND

Being a part time mommy to my niece and nephew, I'm always looking for kids activities to do with them and toys to buy for them. Now, we're not in Chicago, but I thought I'd share this info with those that are.

Walk the red carpet with Bob the Builder, be the first to see the new 4-D LEGO movie featuring the popular animated TV star, and watch your own LEGO creation debut on the big screen in the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Red Carpet Contest -- now open to Chicago-area children 12 and under. Entry deadline is March 1.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago in Schaumburg is seeking the 10 best original LEGO creations -- either items built with LEGOs or videos between 30 seconds and three minutes in length featuring the child's own LEGO models -- to coincide with the premiere of the 'Bob the Builder 4-D' LEGO movie in the facility's 4-D Cinema in late March.

The 10 winners and five of their closest friends or family members will be invited to a private sneak preview of 'Bob the Builder 4-D' -- complete with 3-D glasses and 4-D special effects that take viewers straight into the film plus a live appearance by the star building contractor himself. Winners will also receive a special LEGOLAND trophy and see their entries in a larger-than-life slideshow presented on the theater screen.

Entries can be emailed to admin@legolanddiscoverycentre.com no later than March 1 or mailed to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Red Carpet Contest, 601 N. Martingale Rd., Suite 130, Schaumburg, IL 60173, postmarked March 1 or before. The child's name and age, parent/guardian's name, address and phone number must be included.

Entries will be judged by LEGOLAND Discovery Center team based on their creativity and originality. For more information, visit http://www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com/chicago

New York City is a Drug!!

I try really hard not to go out during the week just because it’s even harder for me to get up the next morning. But this Thursday, February 5th my friend convinced me to venture off into the East Village to the former CBGB – current John Varvatos store to catch a really cool band, The Dirty Pearls. I can’t say no to free booze and a free rock show so I went along.

I’m glad I did because they were awesome!! So much energy and genuinely good tunes. Every song was good and they have that 70s feel that I love; good heavy blues-rock, with excellent vocals, drums, baselines and guitar solos.

Here are some pics from Thursday:

You’ll definitely want to check out The Dirty Pearls at www.myspace.com/thedirtypearls.

Celebrate your inner balm-shell!

Since we’re going to have a longer winter, might as well stock up on a cute, stylish lip balm to fight against the harsh wintry weather (and might I add a lip balm that tastes and smells good). Pin Up Balm lip balm is a fun throwback with modern appeal. Packaged in cute retro slide-top tins adorned with old-fashioned pin-up girls, Pin Up Balm is flirty, sexy, and sophisticated. With over 40 fabulous flavors to choose, from Strawberry Cheesecake to Raspberry . And for an added bonus, Pin Up Balms are packed with avocado oil, beeswax, and Vitamin E, providing every Pin Up girl with top rate lip nourishment.

Y ya que el día del amor y la amistad es la semana que viene, saca $4 y dale un cariñito a tus amigas – http://www.pinupbalm.com/.

Groundhogs Day 2009

I for one am sick of the winter. I just can't take the cold weather anymore. Unfortunate for me Punxsutawney Phil saw it's shadow this morning meaning there will be a longer winter. Porque!!! Haven't we suffered enough with the recession, now winter is longer too?!

All I have to say is sit tight, and don't put away all of the winter gear just yet, we have about six more weeks of winter.