Big Sexy: The New Sex in the City

Yesterday was the season premier of Big Sexy, a new reality TV show featuring five plus size women in the fashion biz living in the Big Apple. Let me first say, I'm really proud of The Learning Channel (TLC) for picking up this show. There is not another show like this on television that promotes beautiful women of all sizes. So kudos!!

TLC's Big Sexy

My favorite person on the show...well persons...are Tiffany and Heather. Heather, a bra and swimsuit designer, because she seems laid back and low key. Though she has some walls that she constructed due to something that's happened in her past. You know how I can tell...she didn't go to the club with the rest of the castmates. She's been through the shunning, the giggles, the hate and doesn't put herself in that situation.

Tiffany, a plus size model, because it's like looking in the mirror. When her ex told her she was a stalker...hahaha...I've done some crazy foolishness like that. But Tiffany's ex said it best..."If your size is a problem for you, then your size is a problem for them." That statement rung bells in my head, and it's so true.

Leslie, a fashion stylist and retail associate at ReDress, is the most confident of the group. She gets it. I'm jealous of her confidence. She's come to terms with herself, her flaws and her beauty. Leslie's embraced it and encourages others to do so. She's the mother of the group...the foundation... the rock.

Audrey gets a WHOOP WHOOP cause she's from Indiana and relocated to NYC to pursue her dream in fashion. The MUA and now model is gorgeous at her 6 foot 3 frame. Jay (who watched it with me last night) was like WOW, she's taller than me. I am happy her mother came to watch her in the fashion show, though I'm not convinced she enjoyed it as much as she said she did. Her face was stone cold as Audrey walked down the runway; almost disapproving. But...you know how things get edited. Yeah...we'll chalk that up to editing.

And last but not least there's Nikki, plus size model. The married but separated model finds love in the arms of an old classmate who is also married but separated. I want to see how that turns out. Escandalo!!

Sooo let me tell you though...when ol gurl (Nikki) pulled out that snack at New York Fashion Week...I was appalled. There is a time and place for everything. I cringed when she pulled out the cookies, crackers, whatever it was...and Leslie wanting to eat a whole chicken. That scene was so stereotypical of a plus size girl...always hungry and got food in her mouth. It makes it seem like she just took it out of her bra and started munching! Time and place chicas...time and place.

BBW...I hate that term. It reminds me of porn. So when the group went to the BBW party...I was mesmerized at the "Thunderthighs" competition. When of of the contestants, Erika (the black woman with the pleather fitting dress not one of the featured women) started popping her booty/fat...my eyes grew 10 times. She needs her own show! LOL

But in all seriousness, the show is a great behind the scenes look at a typical plus size woman; her fears, her outward confidence but inward fight to be strong in a world where big is bad. It focuses on relationships between a plus size woman, family, friends, lovers and haters.

Is it a must see...well I will definitely watch it...but a must see...Meh. If you haven't seen it, you should watch it for yourself. It's on Tuesdays on TLC at 10pm 9 central time.

What do you think of Big Sexy?

Janelle

Santana has Style & Mode

To see young talent in Puerto Rico trying to make a name for themselves makes me so proud. Today I am going to blog about an amazing young woman named Inelda Santana.

Inelda Santana

 She was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and is the oldest of 11 brothers and sisters. She was raised in the projects and is proud of it; telling me this has made her the great woman she is today.

She studied Cosmetology and is a makeup artist. Her good friend Emmanuel Acosta, a fashion designer from Puerto Rico, called her to prepare his models for a fashion show. Since that day doors have been opening for her.

It's not been easy for her because she is just 25 years old. Some people think she's is too young to get things done, but she has a goal and she will reach it. With God by her side, her family and her great team she will conquer the world.

Santana's Magazine, Style & Mode

She is the director of the Best Performance Studio Agency. Inelda wrote an article for Magic Image Hollywood Magazine that was very well liked and hopes to write some more. Recently she published an online magazine called Style & Mode. I read it and loved it! I am happy to announce, I will be writing a column called “Curvas con Estilo” (in English “Curves with Style”) in the magazine.

Marta's column, "Curvas con Estilo", in Style & Mode.

Inelda is happily married to a great guy named Jonathan and has two beautiful boys. They are the love of her life. Inelda doesn't posses luxuries, but she possess love and peace in her life that are more important. At the end of the day that is what really matters!

Blessings to all,

Marta

Wouldn't It Be Loverly

This weekend was our first Aesthetic Design Style House photoshoot. I had the honor to work with some amazing and special women this weekend. It was a wonderful time with lots of sweat...we used the upstairs of a warehouse/office building, which probably hasn't been used in AGES. It was creepy and dirty, (I probably have a touch of lead and asbestos flowing through my veins.) but we got some WONDERFUL shots.

Thanks to everyone that put everything together. We had some rough patches at the beginning, but we pulled through it. Everyone was there that was supposed to be there! Here are some behind the scene shots I took of the photoshoot.

Janelle

Castelar at the Movies: Cowboys & Aliens

During Cowboys & Aliens, we have two alpha males who are trying to prove to everybody who the toughest man is. Throughout the movie, these two characters have to work together to eliminate a common enemy.

Daniel Craig portrays the mysterious John Lonergan who wakes up in the middle of nowhere and he doesn’t remember who he really is. On the other hand, Harrison Ford plays Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde who is the most powerful man in the town of Absolution and this man has a grudge against John Lonergan.  When Dolarhyde finds out Lonergan has been captured in Absolution he takes a posse of his men with him to settle the score.

    Unbeknownst to everyone, there are many aliens lurking around the area and all hell breaks loose when these extraterrestrials attack the town of Absolution. These aliens take many people with them and Dolarhyde takes a couple of people with him to rescue those people who were taken away.

In my opinion, this film was a mixture of the films Silverado and Independence Day as it is a western movie with a science fiction element which works on some levels. There are several memorable action sequences that are truly stunning to watch and those people who are looking for a vicious science fiction film will like this movie.

   Of course, there are various remarkable special effects which look great, but the story of the film could have been better. There is not a lot of exposition on how the aliens got to our planet and they don’t really seem to be a scary presence throughout the movie such as other extraterrestrials which have appeared in other science fiction films like Alien and Predator. Most of the main characters are not really very likeable and I didn’t really care if they lived or died.

Fortunately, there are some memorable performances by some of the members of its cast. Sam Rockwell gives a great performance as the comic relief of the film. Rockwell portrays a man called Doc who is a saloon owner in the town of Absolution and he is truly one of the funniest characters in the entire film. Adam Beach gives a terrific performance as he portrays Nat Colorado who is Colonel Dolarhyde’s right-hand man and a fearless ally who is extremely loyal to his boss.

 In my opinion, this was a good summer action flick but it could have been better.   

Castelar         

World Class Cuisine: Sangria Global Cuisine

Everyone has had great experiences in restaurant dining. The most basic but also the most important factor of any restaurant is the food. Another important factor of the dining experience is the atmosphere. Today, I want to blog about a great restaurant named Sangria Global Cuisine, located at Calle Alda Urb # 1577  in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Dessert

angria's concept is a "global creative kitchen" and on their menu you will find everything from seafood, pastas and different cuts of meats. Their dishes apply new techniques and textures from ingredients you know, but always emphasizing the Puerto Rican flavor.  Chef Pedro Torres and Chef  Elías are two of the best chefs in Puerto Rico, the way they present the plates are incredible.

The chef hard at work.

Sangria Global Cuisine is open Monday to Friday from 11:30 to 10:00 for lunch and dinner and Saturday from 4:00 to 10:00PM. The atmosphere makes you feel relaxed as General Manager Marilyn Arroyo will give you the royal treatment; making sure you have excellent service. This is a great alternative to go with your family and friends and with PRHFW coming up you can go to dinner and then head to San Juan for the Fashion Shows.  Bon Appetit!!

General Manager Marilyn Arroyo

Blessings to all,

Marta

The Three Anas

Having a daughter who loves the modeling world could be overwhelming, trust me I know having one myself. It's another world. But to have three daughters who have a passion for it, can be a handful. Ana Diez Rosas has three daughters. I call them the three beautiful Ana’s, because they are all named Ana. What a coincidence my daughter is named Ana too! They are all beautiful and amazing, each one in their own special way.

Ana Paola

 Ana Paola was born on September 7, 1994. She loved to pose for cameras since she was small. When she was 10 years old she represented Puerto Rico in the World Beauty Festival held in Peru. She won the title World Child Queen. When she was eleven years old, she modeled at Puerto Rico High Fashion Week for the designer Marta Negrón and has modeled for such designers as Jackie Tejada and Christian Ramirez.  After winning several titles in competitive modeling, Ana Paola has participated in fashion editorials for major local magazines such as Picture, EGO, My Wedding, etc . For Ana Paola modeling is her passion. In the future, she wants to become an international model and travel to Italy and France to do fashion editorials.

Ana Sofia

  Ana Sofia was born November 4, 1995. She is a free spirit with a strong personality being very sociable and very independent. She started modeling at age four, doing commercial print and television for companies like Burger King among other things. She took dance classes excelling in Jazz and Tap. In 2006, she competed in the Fashion Model Catwalk Puerto Rico, where she won first place in the pre-teen category. Ana Sofia has modeled for designer Jackie Tejada among others. She loves fashion, but would rather produce events. She hopes to break the mold and stereotypes of modeling, as she believes that in the world of modeling there are opportunities for everyone and they don’t have to be a size 0 to model. I baptized her the beautiful and curvy Ana because she’s my kind of girl!

Ana Isabel

The smallest of the Ana’s, Ana Isabel, was born on June 15, 1999. She’s a super sweet girl, with high aspirations. This young lady loves modeling and like her sisters she began at an early age. When she was 4 ½ years old she won her first modeling competition. It was the Catwalk Fashion Model Competition and since then she has not stopped. She has modeled for five consecutive years for the designer Jackie Tejada, being the image for two of her collections. In 2010, she was chosen as the "Girl TU" TU for the magazine, appearing on the cover of the magazine. Thanks to this, she traveled to Mexico where she also had a photo shoot to be published in the edition of Mexico. Ana Isabel has very clear goals as she wants to establish an animal shelter because she believes that cruelty to animals is intolerable. She also wants to continue modeling and hopes that in the future she will be able to represent the island at the Miss Universe Pageant. As you can see these three amazing Ana’s are different physically, but they have the same passion for fashion and modeling.

 Can’t wait to go to PRHFW and meet these three beautiful and amazing Ana’s and their beautiful mom, Ana!

Blessings to all,

Marta

Castelar at the Movies: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

    

 In this final chapter of the Harry Potter saga, the protectors of light and the forces of darkness collide for the final battle. The realm of magic is a world that has succumbed to the forces of evil as those who stand against the forces of chaos, death and destruction are being exterminated.

This film starts with Harry Potter and his friends trying to find a way to destroy Lord Voldemort. In order to do that, they seek to find and to destroy the remaining Horcruxes as these magical objects contain a part of Voldermort’s soul. When all of these Horcruxes are destroyed, Voldemort can be killed once and for all. It is a dangerous path our heroes take this time around as there are many perilous places they must travel to, but it is a risk they must take.  

   In this final journey, Harry Potter along with his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, put their lives in danger several times but never surrender. These wizards of virtue stand together in order to vanquish a foe that is purely evil.

These three friends, along with their allies, decide to fight this malevolent enemy and his followers who will surely create a world of despair if they are victorious. This is an epic fantasy that is full of grief, loss and disillusionment. It is a rite of passage which shows a loss of innocence and a sense of maturity to find the courage and the will to face your deepest fears. It is a magical journey which involves many secrets and painful sacrifices that are necessary to stop the suffering which has plagued this magical world.  Faith, trust and hope can lead the human spirit to neutralize the pessimistic thoughts which affect our ability to act in the face of danger.

     There are many memorable special effects that convey a sense of realism to this magical journey which concludes with this movie. In a way, this film brings a sense of closure for those who grew up with these fascinating books which have turned out to be a worldwide phenomenon. These characters and its story have mesmerized the imagination of an entire generation.  Overall, this is a story about friendship and the hardships of growing up. It shows how our lives are composed of an array of memories and irreplaceable experiences that mold who we are. In other words, Harry and his friends forged a bond of trust, happiness and compassion which is timeless.           

Castelar

Lights...Camera...Action: "Que Viva La Musica"

Broadway shows are magical; transporting us to another world. Today, I am going to blog about a musical that will be presented in Puerto Rico that promises to be just as magical. My friend, Luly Haddock Mangual, invited me to a rehearsal of “Que Viva La Musica” in english, "Long Live the Music".

Que Viva La Musica

I got to meet the producer. His name is Carlos Quiñonez Hernandez. He is a native of San Juan, PR. Carlos is a very talented producer and tells me this has been his passion since an early age. Hernandez has produced amazing musicals like "The Enchanted Toy Store", "Safari", "Maranatha" and one of his best productions Hollywood. He took a break for four years and did other things like coordinating events among other tasks.

Marta with Producer Carlos Quiñonez

One day a friend contacted him telling him Puerto Rico needed a great musical and the rest is history. They got their team together and "Viva La Musica" was born. I met some of the cast like Michelle Shante, Jossie Le Blanc, Angel Tanque Gonzalez among others. They are very talented! 

Michelle Shante, Jossie Le Blanc, Luly Mangual and Angel González

Luly Haddock Mangual

The day of the musical is August 27, 2011 at the  Georgetti Theater, in San Juan, PR. There will be a cocktail before the show and they will have some Puerto Rican celebrities there. I'm happy to say they follow Ruby Leonne and want me to cover it for the blog. I will be going backstage taking pics and interviewing the actors….so stay tuned for my blog after the show.

 If you are in town don’t miss it, as it promises to be amazing!!

Blessings to all,

Marta

Oh Blah Di Oh Blah Da...Life Goes On

I haven't been dilly dallying on Facebook lately...Marta and Castelar has been holding down the blog (by the way THANKS GUYS!!)...RL Twitterville has been a ghost town.

I work for a state university in the financial aid department. School starts in two weeks, so we have been hopping. When I get home at night, I don't want to see a computer or pick up a phone. Don't worry, September is coming soon and everything will be back to somewhat normal. Not too much though...I hate normal!

The other reason is...remember a few weeks ago when I posted the blog about getting mental help. I've taken temporary custody of my niece. She will be staying with me 90% of the time and visiting her mom and grandmother on the weekends. This is truly a HUGE change in our household.

Jay and I don't have any children, and we both agreed it's not in our plan to have any. My mother said I was selfish for not wanting children. I don't call it selfish. I just know the life I want to live and children are not involved in that life; though I love being auntie. Right now...not going to lie...I've been so depressed. It's like a piece of my old "selfish" self is dying. Been eating like an athlete lately...lol! And I shouldn't even be writing this...the big family secret...but sometimes you just need to vent!

But as I get Kay signed up for school and make sure she has the things she needs to have a healthy mental and physical life, I'm starting to come to terms with my new found parenthood and looking forward to my own personal growth.

So blogs, Facebook and emails will be cut down as I focus on Kay's education and showing her as much love as I can. This is not only a huge adjustment for our household, but her little 5 year old emotions are all over the place right now. I will still be blogging and taking care of the RL blog site, but right now it will not be as often as one would like.

 It's going to be a crazy ride, so everyone will be along for it.

Janelle

Big Life...Small Package!

Eduarelys Picon Bonilla

What comes to mind when we think about a Top Model? We might think she is tall, thin, has a nice body, has great facial features and bone structure, has a great walk, and is photogenic. Today, I am going to blog about a special model in Puerto Rico. With PRHFW coming up all everyone talks about is fashion, designers, and models. I will be blogging about some models that are going to participate in Fashion Week, but first I had to blog about this amazing and unique model.

 Article written about Eduarelys

 Eduarelys Picon Bonilla was born on July 18, 2006 in Manati, Puerto Rico. My friends she's not tall, but has all of the other qualities mentioned above. She is called Diva Eduarelys, if you will, and she truly is.

Winning World Model International

This little wonder has won many prizes a very special one was when she went to Cartagena, Colombia and represented our Island. She won the title of World Model International 2010-2011 and she also obtained the title best International Catwalk. Isn’t this amazing!  

Loving her model life

She has appeared in magazines such as EGO, Sassy, ​​Pampers Magazine among others.  This model is a force to be reckoned with, she has a goal and she will reach it. I know in my heart that she will be one of the best models that Puerto Rico has ever seen.

God bless you Eduarelys for putting a smile on my face! Remember, perseverance and hard work will lead you to your dreams!! So go get them girl!!

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Blessings to all,

Marta

Castelar at the Movies: Horrible Bosses

This movie is an adult oriented comedy with three employees who work for three abusive and unpleasant superiors who treat their employees in an unprofessional manner. Their workplace is fueled by the dreadful and unbearable presence of their bosses who make their lives a living hell because they enjoy it. 

Jason Bateman portrays Nick Hendricks, an executive who has worked very hard for the last eight years of his life and looking forward to receiving a promotion for all of his hard work. Unfortunately, Nick works for Dave Harken, portrayed by Kevin Spacey, who brings a sense of menace to this manipulative and vile human being.

Dale Arbus, portrayed by Charlie Day, is a dental assistant who is about to get married to a sweet young lady. However, he works for Dr. Julia Harris, played by Jennifer Annison, who is constantly sexually harassing Dale every day at work. Julia wants to sleep with Dale before he gets marries and is blackmailing him if he doesn’t do it. This woman is a dangerous temptress who likes to play with her prey.

The third employee is Kurt Buckman, portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, who works for a good man known as Jack Pellitt. This wonderful boss dies and his drug addict son Bobby Pellitt, played by Collin Farrell, takes over his father’s business. Bobby is a loose-cannon who wants to make a lot of profit so he can have a life of luxury full of booze, drugs and women. Kurt knows his new boss is going to destroy the company he works for and in time this new boss will creates a dreadful work environment.

    All of these men decide to take action into their own hands and they seek a hitman who will kill their bosses. However, they find a murder consultant by the name of Dean Jones, played by Jamie Foxx, who gives them some advice on how to murder their bosses without getting caught. These three men decide to stalk their victims in order to find out their weaknesses, but their lack of experience creates some very funny scenarios that make the film funnier and amusing to watch.

 You won’t be disappointed with this film. This is one of the best comedies I’ve watched in a theater this year.  Just make sure you don’t leave the theater when the movie ends because there are a couple of additional scenes that are absolutely hilarious.              

Castelar

Could You Be The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

I think beautiful women simply have a unique way about themselves. Their good attributes, kindness, authenticity, sense of humor, artistic talent, intelligence, confidence without conceit, respectfulness and humility stand above everything else. It's just something about their attitude. What is my point while writing this blog? I want everyone to realize that beauty comes from within because no matter how beautiful and how fashion you are, if you don’t have inner beauty, you have nothing my friends.

I chose four women here on the Island that have all of these qualities so you can see that Puerto Rican women can be beautiful inside and out.

Mariana Vicente

Mariana Vicente is our Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2010. She is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Mariana decided to pose topless with the intention of promoting El Yunque internationally and getting people to vote for this national forest becoming one of the seven world natural wonders. She knew this would cause a little bit of a stir, but she did it because it was for such a great cause, and it was very tastefully done. I saw the pictures and they were beautiful.

Dayanara Torres

Dayanara Torres is our 1993 Miss Universe. She caught my eye because of her humble beginnings and how tight she is with her family. Every time she is interviewed she is so charming and so down to earth. During and after her reign as Miss Universe, she became an ambassador for UNICEF, traveling through Asia and Latin America in support of the organization. She was married to Marc Anthony. Her greatest accomplishment is being a great mother to her children!

Ana Garcia

Ana García is a beautiful aspiring plus size model from Puerto Rico. Her inner beauty reflects her outer beauty as she always has a kind word for everyone she meets, never judging anyone and accepting everyone as they are. What I most admire about her is her perseverance, her passion for what she believes in, she accepts she will never be a size zero and she is happy with this. She is proud to be plus on an Island where there are many issues about plus size women, especially in the modeling world. She has inspired other plus size ladies all over the Island to reach out for their dreams.

Tirzha Alcaide

Tirzha Alcaide is a woman whom I find fascinating. She is the designer of Matahari Jewelry and is in charge of The Shop in PRHFW. Furthermore, she is reality show contestant, works for charities and yet she is always so accessible to everyone. Her sense of humor and smile light up a room. You would think that a woman with all her accomplishments would be conceited and she is not like that at all. Talking to her is like a breath of fresh air.

So you see, if you cultivate your inner beauty, like these women have, your outer beauty will shine like a star. MY POINT EXACTLY!!!!

Blessings to all,

Marta