Our featured blogger is Chacoy Aguayo of the inspirational blog Living in La La Land.  Chacoy is a busy single mom who loves spending time with her tween son. She juggles her time as a full-time student, and full-time blogger while supporting important causes.

How did you start blogging? I started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep out-of-state family and friends in my and my son’s lives. It’s an amazing feeling when someone other than family is reading your blog, and leaves a comment about how the “story” that you’re telling has helped or made another person feel as though they aren’t alone.

What do you believe helps to differentiate your blog from others? I often get asked what my “niche” is, and I honestly don’t feel that I fit into one. I write about things that I love, my family, my life, things that have molded me and my family into who we are and sometimes I am lucky enough to share some amazing product reviews.

Tell us about your audience and what kind of content and information they are looking for. I recently took a poll to see what my readers wanted to see more or less of, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that a lot of men took the survey. So I would say that my readers are a mix of women in the mid 20s to 50s as well as men in their 30s and 40s. It’s absolutely humbling to see so many ages, ethnicities and sexes reading what I have to share.

How do brands work with you to reach your audience? At first I didn’t see how brands were able to connect with their audience through a blog. It wasn’t until I did my first review, and realized how much I loved that product. I wanted to share my positive experience with other parents who could potentially benefit from the information that I provided. I believe that brands sometimes see how my family and  I live our daily lives, and reach out to me because they feel that their product would be a good fit for our busy lives. I am completely flattered when a company/brand reaches out to me to review their product.

Do you ever refuse to review products that you don’t use or believe in? Yes, and no. Sometimes I haven’t tried the product that I’m being asked to review, but agree to review it because I think it will be amazing for my family. Unfortunately some products are not what I expected. While I may need to email the brand or agency with negative feedback, or provide a not so great review I am happy knowing that my honest feedback may help someone else who may be curious about the product. I also will never agree to review a product that doesn’t fit my lifestyle. For instance, my son is older so I would never agree to review a car seat or baby products.

Do you support any particular non-profit organization or cause through your blog? In my life I have experienced some amazing and not so amazing things that have impacted my family. It is because of these experiences I want to help to raise awareness for causes that may not often receive the attention that I feel that they should. There are three organizations which I support including: The March of Dimes, Survival Mode Parent and Relay for Life.

My son is a preemie. He was born at 28 weeks, and weighed 2 pounds, 4.5 ounces. When I first started searching for information about preemies there wean’t a lot of information available. Then I came across the March of Dimes, which is a great organization whose mission is to help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies. We host walks, runs and fundraisers in my town to help.

I also love Survival Mode Parent, a website that helps to match people who need help while their child is in the hospital to volunteers who are willing to provide that help. The volunteers can do a variety of different things to help out these parents, from running errands, or helping with groceries and basic needs. It’s unfathomable how much help you need when your child is in the hospital, so it’s great to have these amazing volunteers to help with the basics.

Another organization that I love to support is Relay for Life. Having been diagnosed with cancer made me want to help those who are also going through it by helping to provide support and encouragement.

I like to remind people that while you may not be personally impacted, you can still reach out to help. Sometimes someone just needs to know that they’re not alone.

What advice do you have for a Latina who is thinking about starting a blog but may now know where to begin?  I am no expert in starting a blog, but I do have some advice. Before you start, make sure that this is something that you really want to do. Talk to your family and ask them if this is something that could work for you and for them. Make sure that you’re in it, not just do it for a week, disappear for a few months and then come back and expect to see a successful blog. Do your research. There are a lot of sites out there that can help you to start a blog.

Once you’ve decided that it’s something for you and your family, then you should start by selecting a name for your blog,
blogging platform, “niche” (don’t start a DIY blog if you aren’t going to any DIY projects often, don’t start a cooking blog if you’re only going to share a recipe once a month) and how much time and money you’re willing to invest. My most important advice for starting a blog is to write about what makes you happy. You don’t want to have a blog that you’re not happy to go to every day! If you’re consistent and write about what you love, the rest will follow.

What can you tell them about maintaining a balance between home and work? This is always difficult for anyone with a blog whether you’ve been doing it for a long time or are just starting out. You have to make sure that you’re not over extending yourself with your blog. Don’t make a commitment that is going to pit your family against your blog. Try to keep a schedule about when you’ll blog, maybe when the family is asleep, kids are at school, etc. as not to interfere with your home life. Keep a blogging calendar. This calendar should contain when posts are due, when you published a post, when reviews are due etc. This helps me to not only see what I have done, have to do but also makes me be accountable because it is “on the schedule”. Also another thing that helps is to write some of my posts in advance and have them pre-scheduled. Blogging doesn’t have to be hard or become a hardship on you or your family but it can be if your don’t carve out time for each.

Do you have Twitter, Facebook or other social media contact information that you would like to share? 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Living_LaLaLand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-in-La-La-Land/163899937000512

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/LivingLaLaLand/

If you weren’t a full-time blogger, what other field could you see yourself working in? I’m actually a full-time student, work a part-time job, keep busy as a single mom, and blog full-time, and I just started another part-time job. So I would say that if I wasn’t blogging I would be going to school and working.

Tell us about three people that you admire and why. There are three people that I admire including: my mom, my dad and my grandma.

My mom: She is such a great mom, wife, nana, sister and best friend. No matter what, my mom is always there for my siblings and I as well as her three grandchildren. She is open, kind, forgiving and beautiful inside and out.

My dad: He is hardworking, a great dad, loving husband, papa, brother and best friend. He too is always there to support me and my siblings and his grandchildren. Her is strong, caring and the best dad and daughter/grandson could ask for.

My grandma: She was such a strong woman who stood up for what she believed in no matter how controversial. She was beautiful inside and out. She never spoke bad/ill about anyone and always had a kind word for everyone. She never drove a car and still somehow managed to see the world. She is missed everyday!

What is your favorite life or business quote? I have a couple of these. First, “Treat others the way that you want to be treated”. It pains me to see people treat others badly. And secondly, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, because it’s all small stuff”. This is so true, why sweat the stuff that isn’t important and that you can’t change.

Can you share what is the most important business habit that you have? To be honest, polite, quick to respond, and just be myself!

What is the most important lesson about blogging you learned this year? That I don’t always have to write about what I think everyone else wants to read, that I can write about things that I want to tell people about my life, my family etc.

Our Featured Latina Mom Blogger, Amber Ortega is the Founder and Editor of Thrifty Ninja. A New Mexico mami of three, she enjoys sharing her broad interests with her readers.  Amber not only stays busy managing her blog and three children, but she is also committed to giving back to her community.  We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with her on a variety of Latina Mom Bloggers campaigns. You can follow Amber on Twitter @ThriftyNinja, or by “Liking” her Facebook page Thrifty Ninja.

Here is our interview with her:

 ○   When did you start blogging? I began blogging as a guest blogger for other blogs in 2006, and launched Thrifty Ninja in 2010.

 ○   How did you start blogging? After my youngest child was born, I decided that I wanted to stay home to care for my children. However, I still needed to contribute to the family financially so I found a job working from home for a search engine company. I loved the work and stayed on for over a year until the jobs were cut and outsourced. Fortunately by meeting so many amazing people, I was given the opportunity to become a writer for several large blogging companies. I loved writing and decided it was something I wanted to do for myself.  I had always been good at finding deals and wanted to start a blog to help others save money.  I started as a coupon-only blog and soon realized that I had a lot more I wanted to write about.  Now I focus on a variety of subjects, from crafts to food to fashion and everything in between!

○   What do you believe helps differentiate your blog from others? Me — I am what makes my blog different!  I write about what I care about, what is happening in my life or things that I find interesting. I love sharing my thoughts, ideas, joys and frustrations with my readers.

○   Tell us about your audience and what kind of content and information are they are looking for. Most of my readers are mothers from a variety of different backgrounds.  My readers seem to enjoy posts about my family, but the most popular are the product reviews and giveaways. My readers love giveaways and I always get a lot of engagement for those types of posts.

 ○   How do brands work with you to reach your audience? I work with several brands on a variety of campaigns including sponsored posts, ambassador programs, and giveaways.

○   Do you ever refuse to review products you don’t use or believe in? Yes. If I feel that a product doesn’t fit with my site, beliefs, values or if it’s a product I just don’t believe in I don’t accept the opportunity. I want my readers to trust the content that I develop and believe in what I share. I won’t provide a good review or endorse a brand that I won’t use for my family or myself.

○   Do you support any particular non-profit organization or cause through your blog? Yes. I have written about several non-profits and causes, although there aren’t any that I support exclusively.  I do work with a local non-profit here in New Mexico, so I do develop posts about different events that we host. I put a lot of my time into Dream BIG and believe in the organization. I love being able to share something that I’m so passionate about with my readers.  

○   Do you have news about any recent or upcoming campaign news that you would like to share? I recently spoke at Hispanicize 2012 on the “How to Stumbleupon + Pinterest Traffic to Your Blog or Website” panel. I was also recently selected to be a member of the Britax Latina Advisory Board along with several other influential Latina mom bloggers. It’s been an honor to have the opportunity to work with a respectable brand like Britax.

○   What advice would you have for a Latina who is thinking about starting a blog but may not know where/how to begin? What can you tell them about maintaining balance between home and work?  Blogging is something that works best when you really think about your passions before you start. What do you want from your blog?  What is it going to do for you?  Are you starting a blog as a place to share your stories, to help others or to vent?  There are so many options, but make sure that you find a reason to blog that you are passionate about.

It can also be hard to find a balance between home and work.  If blogging is your full-time job (as it is for many), you may need to spend some evening time writing or a weekend at an event.  This goes back to the passion.  If you enjoy what you are doing, you make it work and you find time for everything.  If you are just writing as a “job”, you may find it more difficult to make time for your blog. 

○   Do you have Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or other social media contact information you would like to share?

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/thriftyninja
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/thriftyninja
• Pinterest: http://pinterst.com/amberortega
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/111656282670617160153/
• StumbleUpon: http://stumbleupon.com/stumbler/thriftyninja

○   If you weren’t a full time blogger, what other field can you see yourself working in? Well, blogging is my full time job, but I also work on a number of other things!  I’m an event coordinator for a local non-profit (Dream BIG) and am on the Board of Directors for the ABQWest Chamber of Commerce.  I think if I weren’t blogging, I’d probably just divide my time up between those two.  Between the three, I stay pretty busy!

○   What is the best book you’ve recently read and why?

Honestly, I’ve never been much of a reader.  I did recently get Hunger Games for my TouchPad, and have been hooked ever since.  I saw the movie and was told the books were better. I must admit that I love the books now.

○   What is your favorite life or business quote?

‎”Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

– Benjamin Franklin, Inventor

○   Can you share what is the most important business habit you have?

I would have to say it is my organization. If you aren’t organized things can get lost or forgotten.  There was a time where I was allowing things to slip through the cracks so to speak because I wasn’t being an organized as I should be.  I soon realized that doing that was hurting myself and I needed to get in gear.  I have spreadsheets for everything and lists of what I need to do, when they are due or when I am expecting payments.  It really helps my sanity because otherwise I am running around last minute trying to get things done.

Our Featured Latina Mom Blogger, Adriana Martin is the Founder and Editor of Adriana’s Best Recipes.  A native of Mexico, she is now a proud U.S. citizen who resides in Central Florida with her family. Adriana enjoys sharing her love of food, recipes, cooking trends and information about chefs who she admires with her readers.

Adriana’s recipes are based on the principle that simple flavors can be combined to create intricate and flavorful dishes. She finds inspiration for her creations from her surroundings like the smell of fresh herbs, a visit to her local farmer’s market or whatever she may have available at home. Her cooking is also inspired by her late grandmother, Doña Alicia, who shared her passion for making family and friends happy by preparing delicious, home cooked meals that could be enjoyed together.

Adriana is a respected blogger and entrepreneur who has learned to combine her professional expertise with her love of cooking to create her own successful business. She is an inspiration to Latinas and we are honored to have her as a member of our Latina Mom Bloggers community. You can follow Adriana’s latest food adventures on Twitter @AsBestRecipes, or by “Liking” her Facebook page Adriana’s Best Recipes.

Here is our candid interview with her:

When did you start blogging?  I Started blogging in June 2011.

What do you believe helps differentiate your blog from others?  I work very hard to find recipes that will resonate with my readers, and that will inspire them to cook at home. My recipes are quick and easy, use simple and fresh ingredients, and are tested to ensure quality in taste. All of my recipes and pictures are original which is important because food is very visual – people eat with their eyes so a good picture is worth a thousand words.

Tell us about your audience and what kind of content and information are they are looking for.  My audience is 70% women, mostly from the U.S. and Latin America, which is why my content is provided in English and Spanish. I also have readers from Europe including the UK, Australia and Spain. Most of my readers are adults, moms and professionals looking for quick and easy recipes to feed their families or entertain at home.

How do brands work with you to reach your audience? I work with a variety of brands by testing their products and ingredients, and by sharing their recipes with my readers. I also develop original recipes and content for brands through paid blogger campaigns that are posted on the brand’s proprietary sites. I engage with my audience via Twitter and Facebook, and attend conferences to meet and develop new relationships with other bloggers and brands.

Do you ever refuse to review products you don’t use or believe in? Yes, I will sometimes refuse to review products that aren’t a good fit for my brand. I also want to be selective as I’m more interested in developing long-term relationships as opposed to only also try to be very selective as I’m also looking for long term relationships no only one post.

Do you support any particular non-profit organization or cause through your blog? Not yet, but I’m looking to do that very soon.

Do you have news about any recent or upcoming campaign news that you would like to share? Yes, I recently made my debut on Sears’ “Grilling is Happiness” Campaign where I’ll be a contributor along with a team of grilling experts. I’m the only Latina and look forward to sharing my tips on grilling and outdoor entertaining. I’m also working with Social Fabric to support a Mother’s Day Campaign for Mamas Glade, and with Latina Mom Bloggers to help build awareness about Avocados from Mexico’s “Aguacate Lindo y Querido Recipe Contest”.

What advice would you have for a Latina who is thinking about starting a blog but may not know where/how to begin? What can you tell them about maintaining balance between home and work? I think that my most helpful advice would be to determine why they want to start a blog, what they’d like to blog about, and determine what would distinguish their content from other blogs. It’s also important that they understand the amount of time and dedication that is required to develop quality content on a regular basis. Once they’ve thought their idea through, then they should develop a business plan that clearly defines their blog’s objectives, target and demographics, competition, content, and marketing strategy. There are thousands of blogs that are launched each day, so what is really going to set their blog apart and draw readers? As for maintaining balance between home and work, it is really important to get organized, keep a calendar and stick to a schedule. Family support is also very important along with social networks, affiliations and friends.

Do you have Twitter, Facebook or other social media contact information you would like to share?

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AsBestRecipes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AsBestRecipes

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100119702908016820421/posts

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=46803939&trk=tab_pro

 If you weren’t a full time blogger, what other field can you see yourself  working in? Marketing. I have over 20 years of experience in this field, and left my marketing job to pursue my passion for food and blogging.

Tell us about three people that you admire and why?

1)    My mom because by following her example I was able to become a strong woman, and a successful professional not only in my country but here as an immigrant in the US.

2)    Madre Teresa de Calcutta because she dedicated her life to serve others

3)    Papa Juan Pablo II because he was a visionary, and the first pope to travel the world and connect with people of all ages, races, different religion views.

What is the best book you’ve recently read and why? “The Shift” by Wayne Dyer. I think that sometimes we all need to shift the way we think and how we perceive life. I found that Dr. Dyer has a powerful message that inspires me to work on being a better person.

What is your favorite life or business quote? I have two:

“Never forget to dream!” (Personal) and “Simple ingredients make masterpieces!” (Professional as a foodie and blogger)

Can you share what is the most important business habit you have?

I find honesty, clarity, and professionalism to be the most important business habits that I have.