La Potencia that is #Hispz14- Day 2

As is customary, there were many events and much swag in the conference,

 but the post, opinions and pictures are all Babushka.

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!

Today we continue with #Hispz14 because only 2 posts about it is not enough. Besides, there was officially 3 days, but being Latinos we have to have our pre-party & after party right??  Pero for now, let's go to Day 2.  As y'all read in Day 1 the "specialness" of that day was personal, but did that mean the other days weren't special?  JU SO FONII!!! Let BB show you how Day 2 started-  

Hyatt Regency room Gracias to Strayer University

In case you didn't read the first post of the series, Strayer University was Babushka's sponsor for #Hispz14 and they had arranged for me to stay in this remarkable room. Imaginate, a room to myself, ac totally in my control and all the coffee I wanted to drink!!  Actually, I should have had much more coffee- totally overslept, by about 2 hours.  Quee?? It was nice and cold, quiet, and not a recliner. Si, BB had to make herself leave the room. But of course, I'm totally glad I did.

Arriving at La Potencia that is #Hispz14, I realized the breakfast was over, but no 24/7 comida, no always abundant food at a Latino event?  Never gonna happen.  Especially at #Hispz and especially when my fave @ViveMejor Lounge was around.  BB had missed them at last year's #Hispz and was so happy to see them again this time.  They were Babushka's home away from home, and they didn't lose that touch when they returned this year.

ViveMejor Lounge- cozy & classy

After getting reunited with "familia", 

BB left the Lounge to find my new Strayer University "familia".  

But before I did...

There were just a couple of contests I had to enter...

Back at Strayer's Booth-

Ruby & Marcus Wright of GUBLIFE

By the time I got back to Strayer's Booth it was time for the days Latinovator Luncheon.  Today's recipient was NPR's Maria Hinojosa. As a journalist and radio show anchor, Maria has shined for over 25 years and Babushka was overjoyed to see her in person and hear about her passions and peeves.  The point she made about the high rate of young Latinas attempting suicide hit close to home as it once again stressed the need for mental health education and acceptance. Maria Hinojosa was witty, informative, and very thought provoking- rallying for more and truer representation of Hispanics in the media.  Naturally everyone attending agreed.

The interview- very worth the watch.

"We are changing the narrative."

Manny Ruiz, Maria Hinojosa, Maria Elena Salinas

The next event BB attended was fast,fun and helped to bajar la comida 

because everyone was jumping up and down to see

Gracias Coca Cola!!  BB got to see Carlos Vives close up.

Oh my and Oh Yeah.

After that Babushka needed to rest.

The activities of the day were plenty, and the noche promised more of the same.

Intercontinental Hotel Lobby

BB's Night to feel like a Celebrity-

6:00 - 7:45 p.m.

Target Reveals it's AMBAR collection

"See styles before they even hit stores, sip on summer inspired cocktails, 
mingle with Latin style expert Rodner Figueroa, 
and dance the night away with celebrity DJ Juan Magán."  
 #MusicMeetsStyle

8:00 - 10:00

Mar Rod from Emy Cooks.

A much anticipated Yacht Cruise sponsored by McDonalds.

This is the third year a cruise was given, showcasing the sights along the waterways- as can only be seen in Miami.

Where one makes new friends unexpectedly.

Babushka getting photobombed by Second Chances Girl. 

After the cruise, those wishing to get a late night snack at the Little Havana McDonald's were taken, the others of us were returned to the hotel.  Quee??  Ok si, JU SO FONII!!! Babushka did pass on a free meal, but I had eaten at that specific establishment so many times while staying at La Tata's that I decided I needed my rest more.

Top Row Left: Divina Rodriguez,BB,Blanca Stella Mejia,Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz,Teresa Garza,Veronica Cervera Top Row Right: Heather Lopez, BB, Myrah Falco Duque Bottom Row Left: Heather Lopez, BB Bottom Row Right: BB, Myrna Calderon, Blanca Stella Mejia,Teresa Garza,Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz,Veronica Cervera

Once at the hotel BB looked at the fotos and repaso the days events.

The words of Maria Hinojosa struck me as very true and was right before my eyes.

"Latinos are ambicultural."

You ain't just whislin' La Guantanamera.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

La Potencia that is #Hispz14- Day 1

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!

With this post BB continues contando of "La Potencia that is Hispanicize."  Particularly #Hispz14, and for Babushka the best day, Day 1.  Now, knowing that every day of Hispanicize event is Buenisimo, why should the first day be singled out?

  Was it the Swag??

Continuing tradition- Pic of Day 1 Swag

Was it the sponsors??

Of course these aren't all, just some of the ones BB went to on the 1st day

Was it the food?

Yoani Sanchez Latinovator Award Winner & Winning Home Depot Breakfast

 Was it the Networking/Seeing Friends?

Some of my Bella Bloguera Friends

Diana Rodriguez, Daily Baez, Myrah Falco Duque, Marilu Duque

Actually My Beautifuls, it was a combination of all these things because I was sharing it with a very special person. 

It was Day 1 of not only #Hispz14, but of my daughter's blog Babushka's Bebe.

Not only was it her first post, but she wrote it during Hispanicize- write/right in the middle of the Target Lounge! We had so much fun, and BB can't begin to tell you how proud I was of her and how Babushka was strutting around showing her off.  Pero truthfully, who can blame me?

Seems only fitting that my First Born would join me in the First Conference BB attended.  And Babushka's so grateful to all the sponsors who made this possible.  My Bebe is now in "The Family Business", learning the way and making her mark.  And having her Mama beside her each step of the way.

; )

Oh Si, and if you think #Hispz14 is the only one we'll be going to together...

JU SO FONII!!!

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.  

Color & Café doing the #Hispz14 Pre-Party Right!! @SWPintura & @Coffee_mate , ESO!!!

This is not a sponsored post however Babushka did receive complimentary gifts from the sponsored party. 

Observations, photos and opinions are all BB's.

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!!

Today we continue the #Hispz14 posts with the pre-party celebration.  Now, only Hispanicize could have a pre-party party, and seeing that they started it, only Sherwin Williams Latino could continue that tradition.  In case you didn't read last years pre-party post, aqui esta, here it is. I can just see the @SWPintura team wondering what else besides color could be part of a Latinos soul?? Naturally Café had to be on that brainstorming list, and no one better than la gente de Coffee-mate to accompany that one.  

And speaking of acompañamiento...

But before you think it was all just fun, we Bloggers do realize ours is a business, so we had an informative and empowering presentation by Nuria Santamaria, Multicultural Strategy Guru of Tweety itself!! Si My Beautifuls, y'all know Hispanicize is in the big leagues when Tweety takes it seriously and sends one of its own to share her knowledge.  The untapped potential of the Latino market is unknown even to us Latinos!!  Eye opening to say the least.

Colors, Café, Creamers-

 now all we needed was

Comida, Compañeros & Colleagues!!

Buffet of Cuban styled party food

Foodie @AsBestRecipes Adriana Martin                                Bloggin' Mamas BB  w/ Prez Heather Lopez

And of course it isn't a party sin party favors!!

So My Beautifuls, we laughed, we learned,

we had food, we had fun, 

but did we have our fill??

JU SO FONII!!!

BB had another fiesta to go to- right afterwards.

Pa' eso mismo Dr.Scholl's were created.

♪♫A BAILAR SE HA DICHO!!♪♫

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. Check out Sherwin William's Color Snap App  

and Coffee_Mates newest flavors with a Latino nod- 

 Abuelita Mexican Chocolate & La Lechera Dulce de Leche. 

You're gonna love them all!