Adriana’s recipes are based on the principle that simple flavors can be combined to create intricate and flavorful dishes. She finds inspiration for her creations from her surroundings like the smell of fresh herbs, a visit to her local farmer’s market or whatever she may have available at home. Her cooking is also inspired by her late grandmother, Doña Alicia, who shared her passion for making family and friends happy by preparing delicious, home cooked meals that could be enjoyed together.

Adriana is a respected blogger and entrepreneur who has learned to combine her professional expertise with her love of cooking to create her own successful business. She is an inspiration to Latinas and we are honored to have her as a member of our Latina Mom Bloggers community. You can follow Adriana’s latest food adventures on Twitter @AsBestRecipes, or by “Liking” her Facebook page Adriana’s Best Recipes.

Here is our candid interview with her:

When did you start blogging?  I Started blogging in June 2011.

What do you believe helps differentiate your blog from others?  I work very hard to find recipes that will resonate with my readers, and that will inspire them to cook at home. My recipes are quick and easy, use simple and fresh ingredients, and are tested to ensure quality in taste. All of my recipes and pictures are original which is important because food is very visual – people eat with their eyes so a good picture is worth a thousand words.

Tell us about your audience and what kind of content and information are they are looking for.  My audience is 70% women, mostly from the U.S. and Latin America, which is why my content is provided in English and Spanish. I also have readers from Europe including the UK, Australia and Spain. Most of my readers are adults, moms and professionals looking for quick and easy recipes to feed their families or entertain at home.

How do brands work with you to reach your audience? I work with a variety of brands by testing their products and ingredients, and by sharing their recipes with my readers. I also develop original recipes and content for brands through paid blogger campaigns that are posted on the brand’s proprietary sites. I engage with my audience via Twitter and Facebook, and attend conferences to meet and develop new relationships with other bloggers and brands.

Do you ever refuse to review products you don’t use or believe in? Yes, I will sometimes refuse to review products that aren’t a good fit for my brand. I also want to be selective as I’m more interested in developing long-term relationships as opposed to only also try to be very selective as I’m also looking for long term relationships no only one post.

Do you support any particular non-profit organization or cause through your blog? Not yet, but I’m looking to do that very soon.

Do you have news about any recent or upcoming campaign news that you would like to share? Yes, I recently made my debut on Sears’ “Grilling is Happiness” Campaign where I’ll be a contributor along with a team of grilling experts. I’m the only Latina and look forward to sharing my tips on grilling and outdoor entertaining. I’m also working with Social Fabric to support a Mother’s Day Campaign for Mamas Glade, and with Latina Mom Bloggers to help build awareness about Avocados from Mexico’s “Aguacate Lindo y Querido Recipe Contest”.

What advice would you have for a Latina who is thinking about starting a blog but may not know where/how to begin? What can you tell them about maintaining balance between home and work? I think that my most helpful advice would be to determine why they want to start a blog, what they’d like to blog about, and determine what would distinguish their content from other blogs. It’s also important that they understand the amount of time and dedication that is required to develop quality content on a regular basis. Once they’ve thought their idea through, then they should develop a business plan that clearly defines their blog’s objectives, target and demographics, competition, content, and marketing strategy. There are thousands of blogs that are launched each day, so what is really going to set their blog apart and draw readers? As for maintaining balance between home and work, it is really important to get organized, keep a calendar and stick to a schedule. Family support is also very important along with social networks, affiliations and friends.

Do you have Twitter, Facebook or other social media contact information you would like to share?

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AsBestRecipes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AsBestRecipes

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100119702908016820421/posts

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=46803939&trk=tab_pro

 If you weren’t a full time blogger, what other field can you see yourself  working in? Marketing. I have over 20 years of experience in this field, and left my marketing job to pursue my passion for food and blogging.

Tell us about three people that you admire and why?

1)    My mom because by following her example I was able to become a strong woman, and a successful professional not only in my country but here as an immigrant in the US.

2)    Madre Teresa de Calcutta because she dedicated her life to serve others

3)    Papa Juan Pablo II because he was a visionary, and the first pope to travel the world and connect with people of all ages, races, different religion views.

What is the best book you’ve recently read and why? “The Shift” by Wayne Dyer. I think that sometimes we all need to shift the way we think and how we perceive life. I found that Dr. Dyer has a powerful message that inspires me to work on being a better person.

What is your favorite life or business quote? I have two:

“Never forget to dream!” (Personal) and “Simple ingredients make masterpieces!” (Professional as a foodie and blogger)

Can you share what is the most important business habit you have?

I find honesty, clarity, and professionalism to be the most important business habits that I have.

Transitions® lenses are the #1 recommended adaptive lenses worldwide and are an ideal choice for healthy sight. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better.

Transitions Optical understands that vision problems can affect anyone, but certain ethnics groups are more likely to develop eye- and overall-health issues that can take a serious toll on their vision and quality of life. Through its various web platforms and programs, Transitions Optical is helping to educate and motivate consumers nationwide, particularly in ethnics groups such as Hispanics, African American and Asian American, to visit an eye doctor regularly for comprehensive eye exams, helping with the early detection of vision conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy.

There are things you can do today to protect your sight for tomorrow. Transitions Optical supports the Hispanic community by providing bilingual tools and services to demonstrate its pledge, such as:

• Transitions.com
• The Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund: http://www.healthysightforlife.org and http://visionsaludableparatodalavida.com/
• Bilingual children’s site: http://www.yonosabiaeso.com
• Bilingual Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LentesTransitions
• Bilingual “how to choose your eyewear resource: www.aprendasobreanteojos.com

Party Details:

What: “Preparense para el Sol” Summer Safety Twitter Party
When: Wednesday, May 16, from 9 PM to 10:30 PM EST
Where: Twitter
Hashtag: #TransitionsLens

Who to Follow:
Panelists: @NaturalmentMama @CuponeandoLive @JoscelynRC @elianatardio @UnknownMami
Moderators: @Eva_Smith @JollyMom @latinamomblogs @latinomarketing
Brand: @Transitions

Prizes:
o Two (2) pairs of Transitions Eyewear (frame and lenses valued up to $500 each)
o One (1) $100 gift card
o Two (2) $50 gift cards

Rules: For the official rules, please click HERE.

RSVP: To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP below. Please enter your Twitter name and Twitter handle URL in the Linky below to RSVP.

By Angela Sustaita-Ruiz
Latina Mom Bloggers

This past week, just a few weeks removed from our own Hispanicize 2012 event that Disney also sponsored, my Latina Mom Bloggers partner Piera Jolly (the Jolly Mom) and I had the honor to attend the annual Disney Social Media Moms Celebration (#DisneySMmoms) in Orlando.  Now in its 3rd year, the annual conference is hosted to showcase the best of Disney Parks and Disney Destinations to some 200 leading mom (and some dad) bloggers as well as social media influencers.

• Chris Brogan, Author, Strategist, Consultant – Human Business Works.  Tweetable Quote: “Don’t do social media. Do big things using social media as the tools.”  
• Lisa Druxman, CEO & Chief Founding Mom – Stroller Strides –  Tweetable Quote: ”A burned out brain will not charge. Take 10 minutes to do whatever recharges you.” “The number one thing that keeps you from achieving your goals is your BRAIN. Change your thoughts! Achieve your goals!”
• Amy Jo Martin, Social Media Strategist – Digital Royalty – Tweetable Quote: “Humans connect with humans, not logos.”
• Ramon DeLeon, Marketing Mind – Domino’s Pizza Chicago – Tweetable Quote: “Be prepared to capture and share life.”
• Peter Shankman, Marketing & Customer Service Strategist –  Tweetable Quote: “The Geek Factory Nothing exciting ever happens in your comfort zone!” Don’t we know it!

The Disney's Animal Kingdom dinner was especially cool for the kids.

The Art of Animation's pool is the largest of any Disney resort. The resort is especially suited for larger families.

DadaRocks and his family briefly hung out with us at the Magic Kingdom.

Verizon is committed to the Hispanic community and provides tools and services to demonstrate its pledge, such as:

• www.EnciendeteFios.com
• Spanish-language programming
• Bilingual Facebook and Twitter sites
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund partnership

Verizon FiOS, an all fiber-optic based network that delivers the fastest, most consistent, most reliable broadband connection available in America offers home communications (Internet, telephone, and television) service in parts of 12 states and the District of Columbia.

Verizon has received top ratings in major studies and from a leading national consumer magazine among cable television and Internet service providers. With bundles available to suit your needs, FiOS TV offers over 550 channels, including more than 135 HD channels. The FiOS network of Verizon surpassed 16.7 million premises as of the end of the first quarter of this year.

At the end of the first quarter of this year, the company had a total of 5 million FiOS Internet customers and more than 4.3 million FiOS TV customers. FiOS Internet penetration reached 36.4 percent at the end of the first-quarter of this year. In the same period, FiOS TV penetration reached 32.3 percent.

Now, for the party details!

Party Details:
What: Verizon FiOS “Celebremos a Mamá” Twitter Party
When: Tuesday, May 8, from 9 PM to 10:30 PM EST
Where: Twitter
Hashtag: #SomosFiOS

Who to Follow:
Panelists: @Mami2Mommy @MContemporanea @MamaLatina @SassyScorpYM @MichelleRivera5
Moderators: @Eva_Smith @JollyMom @latinamomblogs @latinomarketing
Brand: @SomosFiOS

Prizes:

• 32″ Class HDTV (ARV $360.32)
• Tablet eReader (ARV $214.00)
• Studio Headphones (ARV $212.49)
• Walmart Gift Card (ARV $150.00)
• Walmart Gift Card (ARV $50.00)

Rules: For the official rules, please click HERE.
RSVP: To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP below. Please enter your Twitter name and Twitter handle URL in the Linky below to RSVP.

We are hosting a fun and informative Twitter party on March 28 — from 9-10 pm EST for all Hispanicize 2012 attendees.  We’ll provide details on parking, what to wear, what to bring and more! We’ll be answering  some of the most frequently asked questions and give you lots of tips.

 About Hispanicize 2012:

Now in its third year, Hispanicize 2012 (#HISPZ12) is the annual event focused on Latino trends and trendsetters in social media, entertainment, marketing and media. Bloggers who attend will have access to brand and agency representatives in a unique creative environment focused on ideas and best practices. Bloggers will also receive VIP access to special activities, high-end giveaways and even a Latino Blogger Dinner Cruise. If you’re a Latina (or Latino) blogger you won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity!

This year’s sponsors include Disney Parks, Ford, BlackBerry, Walmart, Sprint, Clorox, Diageo, Transitions, Visit Orlando, The Axis Agency, The Jeffrey Group, Fleishman-Hillard, Pampers, Unilever/Vive Mejor, and Univision Networks among others. Hispanicize 2012, a partnership of the Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA), Hispanicize and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), will be held at the luxurious JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Miami, April 10-13, 2012.

Twitter Party Details:

Date: Wednesday, March 28  2012

Time:  9-10pm EST
Moderators:  @hispanicize @latinamomblogs
Panelists: @YolyMason, @Mcontemporanea, @thetinyjewelbox
Hashtag: #Hispz12
Prizes: $100 Target gift card and more

Please tweet this:  #HISPZ12 Twitter Party. Wednesday, March 28th. 9-10pm EST.  #Hispz12 #latinamoms PLS RT

RSVP:To be eligible to win prizes, you must follow the panelists, moderators and RSVP below.

http://twtvite.com/hispanicize12

Latina Mom Bloggers is an affiliate company of Hispanicize 2012 and Hispanicize.

Thank you to everyone who entered the SheStreams All Access Conference Pass and Hotel Giveaway! SheStreams is the first conference that spans two days of informative and engaging sessions intended to catapult women and brands into the future of social technology. The Conference will be held March 30-31 at the Gallery One DoubleTree Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale.

We have randomly selected the winner below, and the winner is…

Congratulations to Súper Baratísimo o Gratis who won the SheStreams 2012 All Access Package which includes one (1) conference registration pass and three (3) nights at the beautiful Gallery One DoubleTree Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale (valued at $767). We’ll see you at SheStreams!

Yolanda believes that Networking is one of the most important business habit to have as as blogger.  She recommends that all bloggers be part of a blogging network that will support you. Whether it be within the same niche, or different, you need to have a network of people that understand you and will be there for you whether it be just to exchange tips or to vent over a deadline, networks are imperative to becoming a great blogger.

Yolanda Machado always goes above and beyond in fulfilling blogger campaigns.  She also has a large and loyal following of readers and willingly shares her indepth knowledge with bloggers in the communities that she is a part of.   Please join me in congratulating Yolanda on all her recent accomplishments.  We are very honored to have you be a part of the Latina Mom Bloggers community.

Here is my candid interview with her:

How did you start blogging?

I was going through a really rough period in my life. My husband and I had separated and I was still trying to find myself after becoming a mom. One day, as I was browsing the internet, I came across some great blogs that I got lost reading for hours. Seriously, I think I read like 20 from beginning to end I loved them so much. Having once wanted to be a writer, I decided to give it a try. At first, I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing, and I actually was rather depressing to read, lol. After reading over my little blog then, I decided that’s not who I wanted to be- and I dove in full force. Bought a domain..and researched everything I could about Social Media…and well, the rest is history.

What do you believe helps differentiate your blog from others?

It is 100% me. Doesn’t matter what I write about, my personality is always there. I don’t try to be perfect, and I don’t try to sell you a thing. I just want my readers to feel like they are chatting with a friend.

How do brands work with you to reach your audience?

I offer a variety of options to partner with me to reach my readers and followers. Most want a more personal relationship, which entails anything from going to or hosting events, to featuring them on my blog for a long term period, to well, anything. I work hard for my relationships and always try to go above and beyond to help them reach their goals.

Do you ever refuse to review products you don’t use or believe in?

All the time. My readers trust me, and they do so for a reason. I would never ever promote or feature something that I myself didn’t like/trust/use or see value in. There is no point in that. Wouldn’t be fair to my readers, to me or to the brand of I didn’t believe in the product too.

Do you support any particular non-profit organization or cause through your blog?

None exclusively, but I do blog about topics that I am in support of like Heart of Haiti, Breast Cancer Awareness, Women’s Rights and more.

Do you have news about any recent or upcoming campaign news that you would like to share?

I’m speaking at Hispanicize 2012  on Social Media Tools and I am SO EXCITED!! I am so honored to be part of such an amazing conference and I get to talk about something I know really well- How to use Social Media to benefit you! I am also part of the new Toyota Women’s Influencer Network, which is brand new and am also a new Eucerin Ambassador.

What advice would you have for a Latina who is thinking about starting a blog but may not know where/how to begin? What can you tell them about maintaining balance between home and work?

Number one is know who you are before you even start. The blogging world is very big and very competitive. You may find yourself trying to please everyone but yourself and losing sight of why you started it. Know who you are, learn to roll with the punches and just no matter what, keep writing for you.

Finding balance is something that takes a bit of practice… and I am still learning to juggle myself. I mean… you are talking to someone who is up til 3am typing up posts and then getting up at 7am with my daughter and running all over LA for events, errands and family. It’s tough but you gotta find what works for you and your family. I unplug once a week and spend family time or, go hang out with my friends. You will soon learn to schedule just about everything you can…it works, sometimes LOL

If you weren’t a full time blogger, what other field can you see yourself working in?

Social Media or PR or maybe go back to school and become an IP lawyer so I can stay in the cyber world realm.

Tell us about three people that you admire and why?

Mis abuelos- My grandfather passed away in 2006 but he and my grandmother were married over 50 yrs. They moved their 4 children to the US when they were in their 40’s all for the better of the family. They learned a new language and lifestyle, never once giving up. They taught me what it means to be family and to never forget where you come from.

My mom- She was a young, single mom who went through so much and sacrificed to make sure my siblings and I never went without. She taught me how to respect myself and never ever let anyone make me doubt myself. She gave me my voice, my attitude and my style.

My daughter- Although she is only 4 yrs old, she has taught me more than I have ever learned about life in my thirty plus years. She is head strong, and strong willed and sees things with a keen eye, yet complete innocence. She is the reason I do everything, and every day she amazes and inspires me to be the best me I can be.

 What is the best book you’ve recently read and why?

Ok ok.. so this is where I admit I am a sucker for Chick Lit. I loved Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed and the follow up, Something Blue. I also love anything by Jane Green. I am a big ol’ mushball at heart and they always tug at my heart strings.

What is your favorite life or business quote?

“Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.” – Dalai Lama

Do you have Twitter, Facebook or other social media contact information you would like to share?

Twitter:  @SassyScorpYM

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SassyMamainLA

GPlus: http://gplus.to/sassymamainla

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sassyscorpym

Stumble: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/yolim

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/yolanda-machado/19/2/1a0

Thanks to everyone who submitted entries for the Hispanicize 2012  All Access Sponsorship giveaway! We enjoyed all the fun and creative entries, but unfortunately only one winner could be selected.

Congratulations to Thrifty Ninja who will the official Latina Mom Bloggers Correspondent for #Hispz12! You can check out her winning entry here.

Also, as a special surprise for our other four finalists – they will each receive a full access registration blogger pass (a $295 value) as part of the Hispanicize 2012 “Brands Love Bloggers” campaign.

• Living Mi Vida Loca
• Estilo Familiar
• Aprendizaje Divertido
• Mommypalooza

Please note that if you didn’t win but would still like to attend Hispanicize 2012, please complete this online form  (http://bit.ly/yl10we) so that we can keep you posted of any additional blogger sponsorship opportunities.

Conference season is now in full swing and there’s a one-of-a-kind conference for social media savvy women to learn all about social media streaming coming up in March – SheStreams 2012.  Latina Mom Bloggers is proud to announce that we’re a Media Partner for SheStreams 2012 Conference.  We will be attending and presenting a panel “Ella Vlogs y Tu?” featuring some of your favorite bloggers and we’re inviting other Latina bloggers to join us. And the best part is that we want to help one lucky Latina blogger get there with a SheStreams 2012 All Access Package which includes one (1) conference registration pass and three (3) nights at the beautiful Gallery One DoubleTree Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale (valued at $767).

About SheStreams 2012:

SheStreams 2012 will be held March 30-31 at the Gallery One DoubleTree Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. It is the first conference that spans two days of informative and engaging sessions intended to catapult women and brands into the future of social technology.

Attendees from tech savvy millennials, to mom bloggers and business executives, united through social media and technology, are given the unparalleled opportunity to connect with brands offering the latest products and services that will help them effectively define their voice and continue to develop their overall influence in the online world. These early adopters will constantly update their various social networks throughout the conference; checking in daily with Facebook, FourSquare, Whrrl, and other location-based social applications, live blogging, tweeting, vlogging and photo sharing from every conference-related event- it is

WIN IT!

One Latina Mom Bloggers member will win a SheStreams 2012 All Access Package (valued at $767)! If you win and have already purchased a conference ticket, then you will be refunded in full. Giveaway is for one (1) conference pass and three (3) nights hotel stay only and does not include airfare, ground transportation, food, or additional expenses.

How To Enter:

1) Leave a comment below letting us know why you’d like to attend SheStreams 2012.

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2) Blog about the giveaway and link to www.shestreamsconference.com and www.latinamombloggers.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.

3) One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow @LatinaMomBlogs on Twitter and Tweet the following message:

4) Add the Latina Mom Bloggers badge to your blog sidebar.

5) Latina Mom Bloggers and SheStreams Facebook followers receive an additional entry. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did and include your Facebook name.

The giveaway will end on March 11th, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). Winner will be drawn using random.org and announced on this post. Eligibility:  To enter, you must be a member of Latina Mom Bloggers. To join, click HERE. US entries and ages 18 and up only, please.

Disclosure: SheStreams is a Latina Mom Bloggers media partner.

Thank you every one for submitting an entry to the Reviewer’s Retreat Giveaway.  We’re are very excited to announce the winner of the Reviewer’s Retreat Conference Ticket, Asha of Asha’s Butterfly’s.    Asha is a savvy single mom of a six year old little boy name Josiah.   She loves finding great deals and amazing products that work for all types of families.   She is very excited about attending the event. You can read Asha’s  Butterfly’s winning entry HERE.  Congratulations Asha!

About Reviewer’s Retreat:
The 2nd annual Reviewer’s Retreat will be held June 3-5, 2012 at Great Wolf Lodge, Concord-Charlotte, NC. Reviewer’s Retreat is first conference geared specifically toward the issues and challenges faced by bloggers in the product review genre, a topic that is lacking from most conference agendas. Review bloggers, those who conduct product and resource reviews on their site, will converge to take part in sessions on a variety of topics including brand-blogger relations, website design, perfecting the pitch, statistics, photography and more. This brand-friendly conference welcomes company and agency representatives as building and strengthening relationships between bloggers and brands is one of the conference’s primary goals.

For more information regarding Reviewer’s Retreat:

Check out the Reviewer’s Retreat site: http://reviewersretreat.com/

OR

Like the Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/ReviewersRetreat