Looking at the bigger picture

I recently questioned if I made the right decisions. I felt like at certain moments I had to play keeping up with the Jonses that is until I stopped to count my blessings.

There is far too much going on my life right now. I realized that distractions around me were causing me to look past what was already written down in my plan for this moment.

I learned this year that it's best to write it out and really look at what's worth pursuing.

Before my journey of blogging or writing I didn't have a plan. I didn't have many goals most were just life goals but not career focused or really personal goals.

I feel focused now. I feel like I'm in my right mind and yes sometimes I do get stressed out and lose motivation but I've learned how to get back on track. I have surrounded myself with positive supporting people and my life both personal and business are at a high!

This month I am working on focusing on the bigger picture as my friend suggested and looking at what comes next for me not what everyone else seems to be into! I have some goals set with detail and others still with a lot of work pending.

How has this past month been treating you? Did you learn anything? What are you working on to focus on the bigger picture?

Beautiful Inside and Out with Neutrogena

I am lucky enough to be invited to several events via GUB. I decided to attend Neutrogena's Beautiful Inside and Out event in NYC recently to explore the new me.

Many of my friends know me as the makeup collector. I love all things girly now as an adult which is very different from my pre-married life.

The event was awesome. Not only did I learn a little more about the brand but I got a little pampering and some 101 time with Brand Ambassador Sandra Echeverria and Elizabeth Ulloa, Neutrogena's first Hispanic Makeup Artist!


Sandra's biggest tip is to have a routine! I think I've failed miserably at keeping a routine and using products that are right for my face.

Elizabeth shared some of her favorite products as she helped me find some for my self!



I love the variety Neutrogena offers and the research they've committed in finding the perfect combinations for women of color needs.




1- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunscreen- If I forget to moisturize I at least know this sunscreen can keep me protected!
2-Neutrogena Shine Control powder- Love this stuff. If you feel greasy or shiny pat some of this rice powder on and presto back to looking fresh!
3-Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara- My go to now! I love that it doesn't clump and I saw the long naturally looking lashes instantly!
4-Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Color Sticks- Rich Raisin is my go to! It's lightly tinted but color is buildable. Leaves my lips nice and soft and super moisturizing!
5-Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes  These are my favorite. My eyes don't get irritated and they break down waterproof mascara! I take these when I travel. **Quick tip via Elizabeth Ulloa- Use these for a quick clean to your brushes. **




Thanks Neutrogena for a great time I learned a lot and am having fun with all the goodies!


Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event. I was not compensated. All opinions are my own! I did receive a goody bag of products to take home to try.

10 Tips to stay positive in life

One of the constant battles on my journey is escaping the negative. I've had to find my happy medium. I've created a list of things that help me stay positive, hence my 10 tips to stay positive in life.

Staying positive in life has been one of the hardest things to do. I've had to do some drastic changes. I feel they are drastic because I have always been the peacemaker. I had to stop caring about what others thoughts about me to find some peace. I've always wanted everything to be happy go lucky and for everyone to get along. The reality is it weighs you down so much more than you hope and in the process you realize who really cared at all.

But staying positive in life goes beyond dealing with others. Sometimes situations lead us to a negative state and it is our power of decision that help us move forth... or not

I've decided to share 10 tips to staying positive. These have helped  me but again this is a continuous battle for a person like me that is highly emotional. In no specific order:

1. Read a positive quote a day to start your day and read it again at night to end your day.
2. Surround your self with supportive positive people. 
3. Release yourself from negative minds or those that may cause put down even when it's family.
4. Do things that make you happy Learn what makes you happy and choose to be happy!
5. Listen to positive speakers YouTube has tons just type in Positive speakers
6. Don't speak negative! Give attention to what is positive instead- There's a difference between venting and dwelling on the negative. 
7. When the negative comments or actions come near dismiss them Move on. Be the bigger person and just move on
8. Journal. It doesn't help to talk to someone about it sometimes, especially that person causing pain. It does however, helps to release your emotions on paper, Write it out!
9. Don't hold a grudge or plot revenge. It only continues to affect you.
10. Meditate or give yourself space. Allow yourself some time to gather your thoughts and bring peace to yourself.

These are just a few of the things I do. I don't do them all the time and I don't do them all the time to just to stay positive. I believe that being consistent in what brings you peace will allow the positivity to also become consistent.

Valentine's Day Exchange #BlogLuv

I am thank for all the friends I've made thanks to blogging. They each have helped me learn, grow and be a better person.

A couple months ago I decided to gather up a few of my bloggy friends and a few other their friends for a blogging support group. It turned out to be one of the coolest experiences that I've been a part of. I not only have met a lot of these ladies in person but many of us communicate on the daily bases. It is a great feeling to know you have supportive positive people at your side.

Over the holidays Nikki suggested we do a gift exchange while that one didn't go as planned we wanted to make it happen and Valentine's was the perfect time to share the love! 

We each got assigned to a partner and I was happy to get my Amiga Connie from Momma of Dos!Check out her blog!

I met Connie just this past year at LATISM'12 conference in her hometown of Houston. Connie and I connected right away. I knew we'd be in touch after the conference just because I saw so much of myself in her. She was a newly stay at home momma of 2 but she was also a career woman who now turned to blogging to start a new journey.
While I was at the conference Hurricane Sandy hit she knew we were stranded and made sure to come say good bye  and give us a farewell gift. It meant a lot that she took the time to be there for me during that time.

Enough of the mushy Here is my Valentine's Package from Connie!

She sent me so much of my favorites! I know I mentioned some of the stuff I liked but she got me some awesome things!

Starbucks card- Cuz I love me some frapps
Nail polish Kardashian collection- Can't have too much of the Kardashians or nail polish for that matter
Hello Kitty Valentine- I LOVE HK
Mustache Sign= Perfect for my office
Candy-some of my favorite candies Gobbstoppers and nerds!

She also sent over some valentine's for the kiddos Thank you so much Amiga you didn't have to but I am so happy you did because I wasn't trying to share my candy. hahaha!

It's not about the materialistic gifts we receive in life it's the act of kindness. The act of being thought about and cared for. I am thankful for the wonderful ladies I have grown to call my Amigas!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Head on over to Connie's Blog Momma of Dos to see what I sent to her!

SUPER MAJOR IMPORTANT Update!
How did I not mention my the amazing support and help from my amiga Xenia who helped organize this if not all! Thank you for your constant support. I am honored to have someone like you in my corner. Big Hugs Miss u much!  Visit her blog at http://www.raisedbyculture.com/

Why we do what we do: The power of decision

Situations in life mold and shape our beings or so we think, but it’s ultimately the decisions we take after a situation that power our destiny.

After a 20 minute video with Tony Robbins that I happened to stumble upon during a motivational YouTube video search, I was empowered. He spoke about “why we do what we do”.

Instantly I was intrigued. My being drives on needing to know the WHY to many things in my life”

Tony said “Decision is the ultimate power.” “When people fail they give excuses that are not defying factors” and “emotion is the ultimate resource- resource vs. resourcefulness”

He said there are Three decisions of destiny

1-What am I going to focus on?

-Focus = feelings 

- Past, present or future

-Self or others

2-What does it mean?

                -Is it the beginning or end?

                - Are you being rewarded or punished?

3-What are you going to do?

                -Give up or move forward

I paused the video and wrote down notes and question after question:

Why did I start this journey?

Why did I start Hi Rubydw?

What empowers me?

What emotions make me do things?

Why do I feel the need to do it?

I pressed play and continued to listen.

He mentioned how we all feel the need to be appreciated and the need to contribute. It’s all from the art of fulfillment.

He then continued with the 6 human needs:

-Certainty- needing that control

-Uncertainty- having variety and being surprised

-Critical- having significance

-Connection- friendships and love

Those are all needs of personality. Meaning as a person those are easy to fulfill based off our own decisions.

The following two are needs of spirituality and are needed but not obtained by all:

-Grow- accomplishing something of great worth or meaning 

-Contribute- the need to help more than ourselves because “life is about we not me” he says.

This is where I stand. I am currently in the need to grow for myself. I feel the need to contribute in many ways.

After deciding that the world didn't end I picked up the pieces of the life I had planned and continued with the beginning of my new life.

He asked: “What is our lead need?” and "what is time factor"  again "Why do we do what we do" 

I went back and revised my goals (more on those in a later post)

Tony mentioned one last thing. Going back to emotions being our ultimate resource,

He states he had a group of people write down the emotions.  Emotions they feel on a regular basis. Most couldn't write more than 25. This is a big deal because there are 6,000 named emotions.

Let’s begin to experience different emotions and see how they affect our journey.

Here is a Personal Growth Worksheet I created for myself. I hope it inspires some change when it comes to your emotions to better make decisions after situations or events in your life.

Download here

At the end of my notes I wrote, “Live with a purpose “ and  “act on needs” 
Don’t lose the momentum to reach the destination of your dreams! Get inspired Be motivated!

Just when you least expect it magic happens!!!

Last night was the beginning of "Hi RubyDW"

2013 is officially 4 days in and while I thought I'd give myself time to add yet another project to my growing list this one was not going to let me take my time.

In life things happen for a reason, at least that's what I believe.

I went from being in a state of confusion to a path that lead me to this journey.

I've always been one to help and when it came to following my dreams I would get scared and fear failure. I worry too much what others think of me-- so the hubs has pointed out. I refuse to live in that state any longer. I've let opportunities pass me by because of fear.

Long before my presence online was noticeable,  I wanted to be a counselor. I was set up in a comfortable life and then it happened it all changed!

Everything I had planned out got flipped upside down and I was married with kids, unemployed and losing my mind but through it all one thing remained consistent that kept me sane, the blog!

GUB was my outlet it became my passion and soon enough I was able to call it my career. It was the path to my journey. I didn't know what I was doing but it kept me going.

I became focused and with the support of my husband and family I reached goals I didn't set out to accomplish. I am so happy I did though.

I felt blessed but still there was a void. I still longed to help and be of service. I didn't know how, but I wanted to inspire others. I wanted others to feel that spark of hope the way I was inspired by so many in my online community.

Then I rallied some of my great blog friends in a support group. That group helped blossom the want to give more.

In the process of wanting a place non-mom related where I could share who I was  I came up with the idea of a positive lifestyle blog. I decided to start this here blog!

Soon enough I came across a vlog that started inspiring me. It created such positive thoughts (more on that later) It actually pushed me to design my site a little faster. I suddenly had this adrenaline that made path to the journey much more clear.

Days later I was invited to participate in a twitter party #DREAMUP13
This is when my little fire burned harder than any other day and everything I mentioned hit me!

I was overwhelmed with joy and I wrote to a friend "I am having an AHA moment" she wrote back "Put it in the UNIVERSE"

I quickly  reached out to the person in charge of the twitter party to thank them and that's when the magic just happened!!!

I look forward to sharing more on this wonderful journey I have started and in the process share more about myself as an individual. I hope to inspire and motivate you to go on this journey to your dream destination whatever it may be.

In this journey I want three things to be constant positivity, happiness and success.

What does your dream destination consist of?