Miss. Velasquez's Blog

A few years ago after a trip to Ecuador (of course), I met a shaman on a trail in the Yasuni National Park. I remember being so comfortable with him telling him life stories and sharing good laughs, even though I met him the same day. He shared much of his wisdom about mental health and physical health through meditation, yoga and diet. I was never taught in school about mental health and I wish I was because it is so vital in our world. We live in a society of always rushing to get somewhere and tense environments because everything and everyone is competitive. All of this stress builds up and makes us become unhealthy! We get headaches, break out with acne, over eat or under eat, become depressed or procrastinate, etc. As a student, there are deadlines to be met, meetings to attend, homework to do, tests to pass and so on. But what about time for oneself? In a school day there is no class that teaches students techniques on how to destress and I believe students need that. Teachers d

As the spring comes to an end, I start to get into a health kick. I start eating more greens, vegetables and fruits. I also love making smoothies! It's one of my favorite things to drink during the summer for a refreshing thirst quenching drink/meal. If you want to make smoothies regularly, it's a great idea to stash some fruit in the freezer. Not only will they retain their nutritional value and flavor, they will instantly chill your smoothie, so no need to add ice. Before your bananas have a chance to turn brown in the fruit bowl, peel and slice them, then freeze on a sheet of baking parchment on a tray until solid. You can then store in sandwich bags and throw into your blender whenever you need them. Even fruits that don't usually freeze well, like strawberries and melon, are okay to freeze if you're using them in a smoothie. Most supermarkets now sell frozen smoothie packs, which are often great value and give you a good mixture of fruit. Below I share one of my

As you've read in my previous post, I have traveled to Ecuador plenty of times. The year my brother got married I stayed in Ecuador for one month. My other cousins who live in the capital, Quito, were also going to the wedding. I stayed with them for two weeks until the big day because they have an extra guest bedroom and I insisted on staying with them because Quito is a very metropolitan area that is filled with rich art and culture everywhere you turn. There are sculptures constantly being constructed in the middle of the city or in unknown parts of it. There are artisanal markets with people sharing their stories, arts and talents. The first day I arrived to my cousin's house, she told me her dog, Celina, was pregnant with a litter and she was supposed to give birth that night. We set up a small "cave" with heating pads, pillows, blankets and towels, ready for the night.  I have to say that it was one of my most memorable experiences. What made me nervous was t

When I was in high school I worked basically everyday in a public library as a page and I would save all of my money because my parents were in charge of my money and bills. I was never allowed to cash any of my checks to hang out with friends or to go shopping. Now, years later I'm very thankful my parents took charge because they helped me save money towards my retirement already! It's never too late to start saving or investing money. I used to despise going to my family's accountant a and sit there just listening to his advice while he was managing mine and my family's money. My parents taught me how to write out a check when I was in high school also and how to begin filing my taxes - (the worst!). When I was in college my parents suggested I go to my accountant on my own to file taxes - my first time was a nightmare! I kept forgetting some paperwork so I had to keep rescheduling my appointment. After doing it on my own for three years I finally got the hang of it

My parents are both from Ecuador, a small country in South America between Peru and Colombia. Ever since my sister and I were little, they have brought us there to see where and how they grew up. When I was a sophomore in college, I wanted to travel by myself to Ecuador to see my cousins. My parents were a little skeptical because it was my first time traveling by myself, but I felt confident I could do it. This was the first time that I had started to feel I could really conquer anything. First I went to Quito, the capital of Ecuador for a few days to spend time with family there, then I went off to the Galapagos Islands where my cousins and I would meet. I have another aunt that lives on one of the islands, so we were able to stay with her for the week. We visited the Charles Darwin Conservatory, Las Grietas, Tortuga Bay, The Galapagos National Park and so many other places. A few interesting things about the islands are you are not allowed to touch any of the wild animals, or you wi

Welcome to New York! One of the most diverse states in the country. Being that it is one of the most diverse states, means that there are various foods to try by different countries. From Thai to Ethiopian, from Spanish tapas to street styled South American food. Whatever country you may come from, I am sure there is a restaurant that has some great comfort food for you!  You can find amazing tasting restaurants stretching from the end of Long Island, all the way through the 5 boroughs. Some of my favorites include Korean BBQ in Flushing, Queens, Roberta's Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, authentic Puerto Rican food in Spanish Harlem, authentic Thai food also in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, delicious and unique ice cream flavors and desserts in the Lower East Side, Manhattan like in Soft Swerve, Ice & Vice and Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream. Each restaurant has a different vibe too, some can be for a romantic date and others can be for a large crowd or group of friends. After e