Hello! Hola todos los que toman un poco de tiempo y leen este post. (hello to all of you that take some time and read this blog)

First of all I apologize for posting late. I was in Colombia for most of August and getting back home has been a little hectic....

I am not one to use clichés, but when they happen, I have to stop, and acknowledge their presence...having said this: Time flies when you are having fun! Which pretty much sums up our time in Colombia. I think it had been a little over four years since I went to Cali, and I didn't realize how much I missed it. Yes, there are some things I definitely did NOT miss, like the millions of motorcycles that clog the streets and resemble a swarm of bees. Or the hundreds of street dogs, cats, and other abandoned animals that walk around and hang by the semáforo. However,  I did miss the random ash showers you get from the burning of the sugar cane fields, and the oh so glorious breeze you feel in the afternoon after the bochorno has passed. See, Cali has warm weather year round, and the sun at mid-day is very intense. Cali is not big on A/C, so throughout the day, we drink lots of fluids in the form of: Juice, jugos de fruta, cerveza, Cholado, Champus, and many other local drinks to stay cool. Unless you go to the Centro Comercial (malls) and step into a store, the availability of an air conditioner is not the norm. Maybe if you go to the movies and then you see people dressed like a blizzard was approaching! Ugh! I was baffled and all I thought was how little did they know about an actual winter. To most caleños, pronounced (Ca·len·yo) Bogota is the north pole, and any sign of granizo is their version of snow. Anyway, Cali is full of happy people who enjoy dacing, drinking, eating and napping after lunch. I ate like a crazy person and I lost weight, haha, yes, I just typed that. Being in South America does that to you. A person is able to eat everything under the sun, fried and everything, and still lose weight. I love it! I missed it, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Besides being surrounded by friends and family from day one. Seriously, five people were at the airport waiting for us. Unlike living in the U.S. where you are lucky enough if the UBER driver shows up. In Cali, if you haven't visited in a while, or even if you come home every month, someone is always there, ready to greet you with a hug, help you with your luggage, and in some cases, carry a huge post card welcoming you back.

I had the chance to visit el centro, which is our version of china town, or any place were commerce is present and you can find anything at a discounted price. I was looking for a place to print my new business cards, and source leather, my burlap bags which are my packaging of choice, and just walk around and for a second view life through the lens of the people that work for very little pay, to make enough and support their families. Having a child of my own has really opened my eyes to how other people live their lives, and most of the time struggle to make ends meet. I went with my cousin, who designed my logo and his girlfriend Catalina, who can hustle like no other woman I have ever met, and I have seen some good female hustle. She knew everyone as she handles PR and marketing for one of the local radio stations, so it was because of her, I got a good deal and quick service. 

Being back home also meant seeing my extended family, and the many struggles that we still have. Somehow the anonymity of living in the U.S. is gone once I stepped foot in the city were I grew up. The prejudices, stereotypes, and in many ways insecurities come back from the time I was a teenager, and I remember how far I have come. People say "Cali es un pueblo" (cali is a small town), and like most small towns, it seems nothing happens and everyone knows everybody's business. I feel it has grown and evolved in many ways. Transportation has changed, we have el MIO, which also has a cable car that goes up to Siloe, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Of course there is a heavy police presence at this station, but the mere fact that it was built shows that we are thinking about including them in our city planning. To me, this is progress. I guess one could say, we are on our way to becoming a developed country. On a larger scale, we came to a historic "agreement"  with the guerrilla group, FARC in Cuba, which has caused so much controversy amongst Colombian people. To some, this means "giving our country away to terrorists", to others, this is as close to a true peace as we can get to given our circumstances, and the 50 plus years of war our country has suffered. Some things just cannot be perfect, and on a larger scale, I believe, we have to start somewhere. Colombians are happy, proud, hardworking people, but sometimes our memories and personal perspectives keep us from taking a step back and looking at a bigger picture than what is immediately in front of us. We should try to have a broader, wider, deeper vision for the goals we wish to accomplish. I think this is truly what August brought for me. Vision. Where do I want to go with this brand? what is the message I want to send? what is the long term impact I wish to see. How can I help from where I am sitting in this life-match, and how do I want to get there. 

On one hand, the packaging I use, besides the burlap bags is a small box which is compostable, eco friendly and made of 100% recycled paper. The first order I made was from this company I found online called Distant Village which is great and well established. If you care to find out more about them, below you can click on their Etsy/ About Page. 

My good friend Ricardo, mentioned he knew a small group of women who are head of household, that can manufacture those same boxes for me, and maybe add the logo. This sounded like an excellent way in which I could include that social impact portion into my brand identity. Listen, I am not saying I can stop hunger, help the children in the traffic lights, and open a massive Finca for all those wandering animals in one shot, but I want to start somewhere, and why not doing it via these working women, who are also trying to keep their families afloat. I guess this is my Vision version 1.0.

Anyway, without extending my speech/bragging rant, about how great my country is, and the foot print I wish to leave before I die, I leave you with this: What is your vision? Have you stopped to plan how to execute it? I am sure as hell working on it, and although planning at times seems too rigid for me, it does give me a visual map of where I want to go. The rest I leave to the powers at be of the universe who never cease to amaze me. I am currently waiting to meet my "Brand specialty Guru" who will help me develop the force within. Hahaha. 

Have a wonderful September!

Thank you for reading.

Gracias por leer.

Distant Village: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DistantVillage?ref=l2-more-about#about

Hello! Hola todos los que toman un poco de tiempo y leen este post. (hello to all of you that take some time and read this blog)

First of all I apologize for posting late. I was in Colombia for most of August and getting back home has been a little hectic....

I am not one to use clichés, but when they happen, I have to stop, and acknowledge their presence...having said this: Time flies when you are having fun! Which pretty much sums up our time in Colombia. I think it had been a little over four years since I went to Cali, and I didn't realize how much I missed it. Yes, there are some things I definitely did NOT miss, like the millions of motorcycles that clog the streets and resemble a swarm of bees. Or the hundreds of street dogs, cats, and other abandoned animals that walk around and hang by the semáforo. However,  I did miss the random ash showers you get from the burning of the sugar cane fields, and the oh so glorious breeze you feel in the afternoon after the bochorno has passed. See, Cali has warm weather year round, and the sun at mid-day is very intense. Cali is not big on A/C, so throughout the day, we drink lots of fluids in the form of: Juice, jugos de fruta, cerveza, Cholado, Champus, and many other local drinks to stay cool. Unless you go to the Centro Comercial (malls) and step into a store, the availability of an air conditioner is not the norm. Maybe if you go to the movies and then you see people dressed like a blizzard was approaching! Ugh! I was baffled and all I thought was how little did they know about an actual winter. To most caleños, pronounced (Ca·len·yo) Bogota is the north pole, and any sign of granizo is their version of snow. Anyway, Cali is full of happy people who enjoy dacing, drinking, eating and napping after lunch. I ate like a crazy person and I lost weight, haha, yes, I just typed that. Being in South America does that to you. A person is able to eat everything under the sun, fried and everything, and still lose weight. I love it! I missed it, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Besides being surrounded by friends and family from day one. Seriously, five people were at the airport waiting for us. Unlike living in the U.S. where you are lucky enough if the UBER driver shows up. In Cali, if you haven't visited in a while, or even if you come home every month, someone is always there, ready to greet you with a hug, help you with your luggage, and in some cases, carry a huge post card welcoming you back.

I had the chance to visit el centro, which is our version of china town, or any place were commerce is present and you can find anything at a discounted price. I was looking for a place to print my new business cards, and source leather, my burlap bags which are my packaging of choice, and just walk around and for a second view life through the lens of the people that work for very little pay, to make enough and support their families. Having a child of my own has really opened my eyes to how other people live their lives, and most of the time struggle to make ends meet. I went with my cousin, who designed my logo and his girlfriend Catalina, who can hustle like no other woman I have ever met, and I have seen some good female hustle. She knew everyone as she handles PR and marketing for one of the local radio stations, so it was because of her, I got a good deal and quick service. 

Being back home also meant seeing my extended family, and the many struggles that we still have. Somehow the anonymity of living in the U.S. is gone once I stepped foot in the city were I grew up. The prejudices, stereotypes, and in many ways insecurities come back from the time I was a teenager, and I remember how far I have come. People say "Cali es un pueblo" (cali is a small town), and like most small towns, it seems nothing happens and everyone knows everybody's business. I feel it has grown and evolved in many ways. Transportation has changed, we have el MIO, which also has a cable car that goes up to Siloe, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Of course there is a heavy police presence at this station, but the mere fact that it was built shows that we are thinking about including them in our city planning. To me, this is progress. I guess one could say, we are on our way to becoming a developed country. On a larger scale, we came to a historic "agreement"  with the guerrilla group, FARC in Cuba, which has caused so much controversy amongst Colombian people. To some, this means "giving our country away to terrorists", to others, this is as close to a true peace as we can get to given our circumstances, and the 50 plus years of war our country has suffered. Some things just cannot be perfect, and on a larger scale, I believe, we have to start somewhere. Colombians are happy, proud, hardworking people, but sometimes our memories and personal perspectives keep us from taking a step back and looking at a bigger picture than what is immediately in front of us. We should try to have a broader, wider, deeper vision for the goals we wish to accomplish. I think this is truly what August brought for me. Vision. Where do I want to go with this brand? what is the message I want to send? what is the long term impact I wish to see. How can I help from where I am sitting in this life-match, and how do I want to get there. 

On one hand, the packaging I use, besides the burlap bags is a small box which is compostable, eco friendly and made of 100% recycled paper. The first order I made was from this company I found online called Distant Village which is great and well established. If you care to find out more about them, below you can click on their Etsy/ About Page. 

My good friend Ricardo, mentioned he knew a small group of women who are head of household, that can manufacture those same boxes for me, and maybe add the logo. This sounded like an excellent way in which I could include that social impact portion into my brand identity. Listen, I am not saying I can stop hunger, help the children in the traffic lights, and open a massive Finca for all those wandering animals in one shot, but I want to start somewhere, and why not doing it via these working women, who are also trying to keep their families afloat. I guess this is my Vision version 1.0.

Anyway, without extending my speech/bragging rant, about how great my country is, and the foot print I wish to leave before I die, I leave you with this: What is your vision? Have you stopped to plan how to execute it? I am sure as hell working on it, and although planning at times seems too rigid for me, it does give me a visual map of where I want to go. The rest I leave to the powers at be of the universe who never cease to amaze me. I am currently waiting to meet my "Brand specialty Guru" who will help me develop the force within. Hahaha. 

Have a wonderful September!

Thank you for reading.

Gracias por leer.

Distant Village: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DistantVillage?ref=l2-more-about#about