Music: Best Songs of 2011

What are some of your favorite songs from this year? Here are a few of mine...

Life Update: My 2011 Weight Lost Journey

                                                                                                                                                       

It's official! On today Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 I decided that I have put getting in shape off for far too long and it was time to do something about it, so I decided to get back in the gym. Here's a few of me earlier 2011 at my heaviest. How did I gain weight? Life happened!
                                                
I became pregnant with my daughter my freshman year of college so on top of my "Freshmen 15" I gained baby fat, then I started working a 9-5 office job (sitting on my behind), needless to say I gained more weight. I got married, I got older, my daughter got older, and life just got extremely busy for me to the point where cooking at home was no longer important to me. I realize now that had I made the choice to exercise regularly and eat healthy back them I could have minimized my weight gain.

                                                                               

Making the choice to eat healthy is a very hard one, most of the time I find that the healthy stuff just doesn’t taste as good as the "bad stuff" but as they say everything that glitters ain't gold. My first healthy food step will be to minimize the amount of fast food I intake and then eliminate it from my diet all together. I plan to cook more at home by trying different recipes, eat more fresh fruits and veggies and drink more water. I plan to workout daily for the first two weeks and then 4 days a week after that for at least 2-3 hours.

                                        

My first goal is to lose 30lbs or more, then I plan to lose 50 more and then 50 more and then finally 20-30 more lbs to finish my weight lost plan. Once I'm at my desired weight I plan to keep it that way by keeping up with my workout regiment and continuing to eat healthy. I want to do everything naturally and I’m extremely confident that I can do it. I’m taking care of me now! I’ll post an update of my progress in a few weeks.

XOXO

Mika Dione B.

HAEVP: Event Recap & Photos: Le Feu & La Glace

 

Le Feu & La Glace

On Wednesday November 2nd, 2011 at six thirty in the evening "Le Feu & La Glace" hosted by Houston Area Event Vendors & Professionals (HAEVP) took place at one of Houston's most exquisite event venues; Event Luxe located in the Houston Heights. Event sponsors included: Event Luxe, Bad Apple Photography, Exclusive Catering of Houston, Extraordinary Cakes, DJ Mo Phatt, and the Shandra Ward Design Studio. The featured non-profit for this event was the Houston Bags Against Hunger Association (B.A.H.A.). B.A.H.A was onsite collecting donations that will go towards helping the homeless of Houston and their pets. You may make a donation to BAHA at anytime and get more information about B.A.H.A. by contacting Jasmine Lewis at Jasmine@HoustonBAHA.org. There was networking, food, fun and awards. HAEVP showed their appreciation to all supporters and members received some much deserved awards and recognition. The 2011 HAEVP award recipients included Photographer of the Year Cindy Gomez – BadApple-Photography, Event Designer of the Year Shandra Ward - Shandra Ward Design Studio, Florist of the Year Arteflora-Kimberly Mueller and Entrepreneur of the Year Pamela Lafleur - A Lil Something To Remember. HAEVP also introduced their "iHeart Award" at this event, iHeart awards are awarded to individuals not only based on their talents and skills but also by their work ethic and professional charter as a business person first and then as a human being. The 2011 HAEVP iHeart award recipients included Cindy Gomez, Shandra Ward, and Kimberly Mueller. The next HAEVP award presentation will be held in fall 2012. For those of you who were able to participate and or attend this event HAEVP would like to say thank you again for all of your support and we look forward to connecting with you in 2012! Also special thanks to all HAEVP team members and volunteers for helping make this event a success.

Click here to view all photos from this event.

Beauty Trends: NIVEA Express Hydration - Daily Lotion w/Sea Minerals & Lotus Flower Scent

This lotion was designed as an ultra light formula that absorbs quickly and gives 24hrs + of hydration while softening the skin. The texture of the lotion is light/silky and the scent is very light. The lotion is not oily at all and did absorb very quickly. Once washed off skin is left dry.

Price: 3/5
Scent: 4/5
Uses: 3/5
Beneficial Ingredients: 5/5
Result: 3/5
Where to Purchase: CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart

Overall Rating: 3/5

***Disclosure***

This review contains a sample product sent/give to a BLS team member by the company list above to be use and test. Our priority is to you, and we honor that commitment by being honest! We don't do paid reviews or guarantee reviews. We promise to remain truthful and share our honest opinion of the product with you.

Small Business Spotlight: 2011 HAEVP Award Recipients

The 2011 first annual HAEVP iHeart awards took place on yesterday, Wednesday November 2nd, 2011 at six thirty in the evening at one of Houston's most exquisite event venues; Event Luxe located in the Houston Heights. Members received some much deserved awards and recognition for their hard work and professionalism. The 2011 HAEVP award recipients included...


Florist of the Year Arteflora-Kimberly Mueller

Entrepreneur of the Year Pamela Lafleur - A Lil Something To Remember

Event Designer of the Year Shandra Ward - Shandra Ward Design Studio

Photographer of the Year Cindy Gomez –BadApple-Photography


The HAEVP “iHeart Award" was also introduced at this event. The iHeart award is awarded to individuals not only based on their talents and skills but also by their work ethic and professional charter; as a business person first and then as a human being. The 2011 HAEVP iHeart award recipients included....
Cindy Gomez, Shandra Ward, and Kimberly Mueller.

The next HAEVP award presentation will be held in Fall 2012.