02/08/2026
Munching on some nachos; gearing up for the Super Bowl π aka the Benito Bowl π°. The highlights today for me are the performances by Teddy Swims, Green Day, and Bad Bunny. Truth be told; I don't follow either team, but I'm going to root for the Seahawks today. Excited for PR π΅π· to have it's spotlight too! Anyone else watching?
10/14/2025
I appeared in Woman's World last month. Check out some of my story below and let me know if you want to read the full article.
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08/23/2025
A few days ago, I was in the hospital. My heart β€οΈ was acting up; arrhythmia and all. I was calm, not panicked or anxious; just knew something was off; had pain in my chest (neck & arm too), woke up in a full sweat, and my heartbeat was erratic. My blood pressure dropped low. They kept me overnight and tested me; but still no resolution. They gave me medicine to slow down my heart & a referral to a cardiologist for further testing. Whatever it was, it didn't appear like anything that would kill me, but it was very real. And they told me to never ignore these symptoms because women pass away from silent heart attacks. Thankfully, my heart muscle looked perfect under the ct scan; no plaque, calcium, etc. But, my family has a history of heart problems that don't always show up in testing. Either way, it was a wake-up call for me to take better care of myself, be thankful for my blessings and the people around me. And never let days go by that have no purpose. Salud!
07/02/2025
Betcha didn't know I can bake. I had some extra ripe bananas in the fridge, so I decided to make some banana bread from scratch. ππ
Ingredients:
π 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed
π§ 1/3 cup of butter, melted (or oil)
π« 3/4 cup sugar
π₯ 1 egg, beaten
π« 1 tsp vanilla extract
π« 1 tsp baking soda
π§ a pinch of salt
π 1 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose)
π« 1/2 tsp cinnamon
π₯ Optional walnuts
Recipe:
-Preheat oven to 350F.
-Get a loaf pan & grease it (Mine is 8" x 4").
-Mash the bananas in a big bowl. I use a meat tenderizer, but you can use a potato masher or fork.
-Stir in butter/oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
-Sprinkle in baking soda & salt, then mix in the flour until it's combined. Don't overmix, lumps are fine.
-Pour the batter into the pan and make sure it's even/ smooth on top.
-Bake 50-60 minutes (you know the toothpick trick, make sure it comes out clean).
-Let the pan cool for 10-15 minutes before taking it out. I like to butter my slices while it's still warm.
06/30/2025
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06/11/2025
Throwback to attending at with aka .bella45 We had the opportunity to meet some of the cast; which put on an amazing performance that night. (I've had that hand-designed purse for over a decade; just waiting for the opportunity to use it.) Thanks again to for the invite.
05/15/2025
Congrats to our client, Groundswell, on their successful Spring Into Summer benefit event last week. They raised more than their goal! HypeSmack had the honor of designing the look of the promotional materials including the emails, the signage, and the programs. We incorporated some artwork from one of their murals on the streets of NYC into the overall design.
2025 Spring Into Summer Benefit
A look into our 2025 Spring Into Summer Benefit! A wonderful night that included raffles, live mural painting, a silent art auction and fun conversations. Th...
05/01/2025
Through our HypeSmack & Bloggin' Mamas divisions, we held a "Coffee con Conchas" themed influencer event on May 2 last year; which was designed in a tasteful way. And some of our affordability and decorating tips were mentioned in this article about Cinco de Mayo parties.
How to Throw a Fabulous Cinco de Mayo Party That Doesnβt Cost a Fortune
One way to save is to delegate food and beverages for people to bring so you don't have to shoulder the entire cost.Β
04/24/2025
Tonight, & I head to to experience π¦ musical live and in-person! Until now, we've only seen the show on recordings or samplings via WDW. Fun Fact: Our rescue chihuahua πΆ is named Nala, so I thought this picture apt for posting here. It embodies the strength and power of the feminine, while calling us to honor our family and community. I'll be posting to my stories a special pre-show event & more surprises starting around 6p ET. And stay tuned for more info on the show which is running in Orlando through 5/18 (aka my son's birthday).
01/08/2025
Today's my 45th birthday. But, instead of celebrating, I am mourning the loss of my grandfather yesterday. While the military covers some of the funeral expenses, they don't cover the expenses outside of the cemetery, like the casket, funeral home, church, etc. In order to send my grandpa off with a proper funeral worthy of a Korean War veteran, our family has organized a gofundme: https://gofund.me/432ba29c
Without your help, they will cremate him with no church service, no processional, no public ceremony, and no casket next to my grandma. We would appreciate anything you can do to help.