Connecting people through business, social media, and events.
Author: April Monterrosa
I’m April Monterrosa, the writer, social media influencer, content creator, & photographer behind shinebeautifully.me. My blog, along with my social media channels are my content collection that displays my life as a free-spirited career woman, entrepreneur, and auntie. As a true renaissance woman, my goal is to influence and encourage others (especially the busy professional like myself) to make time for family, fun, adventures, and self-care. My passion for writing as a young girl is what lead me to blogging and self-publishing my first book titled, “Shine Beautifully”.
Born and raised in the Southside of San Antonio, Texas, I am very proud of my Alamo city, the neighborhood I grew up in, and being an ambassador for the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. I’ve been featured in Good Housekeeping, SAXtreme Magazine, Chicano Life Magazine, a former member of the SeaWorld Wildside Bloggers , a Naturally Lindy and James Avery Artisan Jewelry ambassador and a currently a member of the Texas Auto Writers Association.
In my professional life aside from writing, I have been in the beauty and hospitality industry for over 20 years and worked in some of the most luxurious hotel resort spas in San Antonio, such as JW Marriott, Marriott International & Hyatt; it’s what also influences me to share my experiences and recommendations. Unexpectedly building up my own clientele is what motivated me to start my own spa studio business where I offer skin care and waxing services. Due to all my experience in the beauty industry, I was brought on as a brand ambassador for Naturally Lindy, an aloe vera skin care company in Beverly Hills, California. I am very blessed that I can mesh my passions together and turn them into my full-time career, all while bringing my friends and family along on my ventures. Hope you enjoy all you read, share, subscribe, and shine beautifully! ~April Monterrosa
Want to work with a San Antonio Lifestyle & Travel Blogger? Contact me at: april.monterrosa@gmail.com.
Unexpectedly transitioning from the beauty and spa industry to the media and publication world, my businesses April Mae Media and Live from the Southside have brought on such an interesting journey.
The big life change that’s taken about 13 years to get to this point has brought amazing the people and opportunities to my life. One thing that didn’t change, was the wearing of my entrepreneur hat; the grit and drive has also grown.
I have always believed that we connect with people we are meant to connect with. A few months ago I met Mr. Peter Estevez. He was born in Mexico City, Mexico and migrated to the United States at the age of 10. Peter is an entrepreneur and partner in several companies in the energy, gas and oil sector in Mexico.
Peter is a philanthropist and an advocate for recovery and mental health, as well as the writer and author of his upcoming book, “From Lies To Riches”. He is the host of the top-rated podcast, “The Peter O. Estévez Show”. (https://peteroestevez.com)
Mr. Estevez is also one of the founders of Latin Talks. Latin Talks is a series of a series of talks and conversations where local leaders share their answers and solutions to challenges and adversities they once faced.
The first five-city series included Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio. I was honored to be on the San Antonio panel along with other community leaders entrepreneur Eliot Garza, Dr. Ray Altamirano, Artist Giovanna Dizurita, and our emcee for the event, Emmy award-winning journalist Erica Hernandez.
Seeing some of my closest friends, my love, and community support in the audience gave me an overwhelming feeling. What a day it was and I am looking forward to next year.
Before the event, I was interviewed by The Peter Estevez Show. It was pretty cool to be asked some interesting questions and discuss topics we tend to ignore. Here is the interview:
Self-care is so important for overall health, and August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.
I wanted to share a few favorite self-care tips and tricks from The Soul Publishing – an award-winning publishing co. behind one of the top five YouTube channels, 5-Minute Crafts. Being a spa professional in my early entrepreneur days, I still love products that make me feel like I am at the spa while at home.
DIY Bath Bomb: Baths are a great form of self-care and relaxation. Next time you’re looking to relax, try making this easy bath bomb! Mix baking soda, citric acid, coconut oil, your favorite essential oil, and coloring. Once mixed evenly, place the mixture into an empty ice cube tray and allow it to sit together to dry. Once hardened, pop the bath bomb out of the tray, place into bath water, and relax!
Make Your Own Moisturizer: Add aloe vera gel, almond oil, lavender essential oil, and cedarwood essential oil into a mixing bowl and mix until evenly spread. Place the mixture into a container with a lid to store, and you’re all set!
Honey & Brown Sugar Exfoliator: Struggling with dry, cracked skin? Try this easy-to-make honey exfoliator! Simply mix brown sugar, honey, and coconut oil together in a bowl. Once evenly mixed, scoop out the mixture and rub it onto your dry skin. Rinse off and done! Your skin will be left feeling soft and smooth.
Find even more of 5-Minute Crafts’ self-care tips here!
There are a lot of things we want to achieve and a lot of things that we want to do. But making time for yourself (and a priority) is not only important, its a great way to be more relaxed to be able tackle that “to do” list.
What are tips to making time for yourself? Well, these are few you can try:
1. Try expressing the needs:
Being selfless is a quality that is considered good and appreciated. But this can also be draining. Sometimes we do so much for others and forget about ourselves. For this purpose, make sure to tell others and mainly yourself that you NEED some space. It will be good for both your physical and mental health states.
2. Don’t feel guilty:
Most of the time, when we think about giving time to ourselves, we consider it like we are becoming selfish. But the main thing to know is you also need time for yourself, which is not something to be guilty about.
3. Say NO:
Sometimes we feel hesitant to say no to anyone. Even if we are unable to make time, we are still hesitating to say NO. Try saying no to the tasks that are not meant for you or not worth it. This way, you can save time and make it for yourself.
4. Set boundaries:
Set the boundaries for any task you are doing. Do not overload or overburden yourself. The reason is that you won’t feel easy and comfortable doing that.
5. Do workout:
Work out every day and make it a routine. Normally we think it takes too much time or that we have to be a gym rat .A simple daily walk is also considered a “workout routine” and a great start.
6. Solo lunch:
Another thing that you can do is take a solo lunch. We often feel uncomfortable doing lunch alone. But try to feel the pleasure and peace you will get while taking a solo lunch. Keep your mobile aside; your tv is off, and just enjoy your lunch.
Is it essential to make time for myself?
Making time for yourself will make you mentally relaxed. It is a form of meditation and gaining peace. You must give yourself some free time, almost half-hour a day, where you do nothing and sit and relax.
Sometimes we are unable to get what we wish (or hope) for. As a result, we can become upset and disappointed. This often leads to hopelessness, being stuck in a rut, or even the worse… we miss out on enjoying life.
It is essential to let go of things that do not matter. Here’s a few suggestions on how to.
1. Does IT really matter?
The first question is thinking about how much a situation truly matters or not. If you cannot get rid of thinking about it, think of a solution, maybe stop dwelling on things for a bit, or look for the positives in the negatives.
2. Try meditation: Thinking about the past over and again can, mistakes you have made, or people that are no longer in your life can make you fall into depression. Try meditating exercises that will help you focus on peaceful things around you now.
3. Try doing things that inspire you:
You must try doing more things that make you feel joyful. Try to get rid of negative thoughts by doing positive affirmations. For this purpose, focus on the positive aspects of everything that happens around you.
4. Spend Time in Nature: Nature is always good for the soul. Suppose you feel gloomy or sad and cannot get rid of that overthinking spell. Go out in nature and relax. You can enjoy nature by doing simple breathing exercises, yoga, swimming or even watering the plants.
5. Don’t Blame Others:
Everything is destined and happens because of fate. Never blame others for what has happened. The more positive you will think, the happier you will be. Leave everything to fate and try to move on. Try listening to positive motivational thoughts.
6. Try to Speak:
Whenever your heart is full, try to open up. Have a conversation with family, friends, or even your pet. If you have no one around you with whom you can share feelings, then go out in nature and talk to yourself while walking. Sometimes speaking things into existence is a great release.
Happiness… many of us struggle with finding it. Am I right? I have been trying to be less stressed and practice ways of living a happier life.
It’s made me to think about my lowest of lows, my highest of highs, and where I am at now. It also made me miss writing and sharing more personable content with my readers too. So here I go again, sharing personal thoughts as I am also finishing my second book.
Here are some tips I wanted to share:
Spend more time with your family and your spouse. Even something as simple as a phone call or a dinner weekly can increase communication and strengthen the bond between all of you.
If something doesn’t go your way, don’t dwell on it; pick yourself up and figure out what can make things better. Sometimes, we need to accept that some things are just not for us.
Do what you love. If you absolutely hate your job, maybe it’s time to turn that passion into a career.
Appreciate nature. Don’t take those beautiful sunrises and sunsets for granted. Take in all those tranquil colors, breathe, and start your day or end your night with taking in Mother Nature’s beauty we were blessed with.
Try new things. Foods, places, meet new people, get out of your comfort zone and branch out to your unknown. You will definitely learn more about the world and yourself.
Love yourself. We all have something to offer, are special, beautiful and play an important role in the world.
Ask for help. If you need a shoulder to cry on, someone to listen, a way to figure out something you are having trouble with. Don’t be afraid to speak up and out. We don’t always have all the answers for ourselves and sometimes our loved ones do.
Listen to more music and watch less TV. In my opinion, music livens up anything. If I am working at my studio, working at home, blogging, cleaning, I almost always have music on.
Say NO! If you don’t want to do something, DON’T. It’s ok to say NO sometimes. Don’t let people take advantage of you.
It’s ok to enjoy life’s guilty pleasures…these things exist to aid in our happiness. Eat the cake, drink the wine, put off doing chores till the next day, and sleep late.
Have faith. Pray. Have a spiritual outlet. Believe in a higher power, it’s around us. For those that do not believe in God…believe in yourself.
And lastly, lighten up! Though we all have goals, want to make dreams come true and work hard…don’t forget to enjoy your life and all you have in it. We only get one. Enjoy it.
Though most of these things seem easy to do, we often forget to do them. Be happy friends…it’s the best way to really live life and be successful.
Our past experiences can significantly impact our daily lives. Decisions are based on the events that occurred in the past and letting go is not an easy thing to do. It might be easier for some people, but it is very hard for others. If you are also one of the people who find it very hard to let go of the past, this article is for you. Read it till the end to know some tips and tricks to let go of the past.
Surround yourself with positive people
Do you know what separates the people who achieve their goals from those who don’t? It is not time or skill, but it knows how to use the law of attraction to achieve what they want. They are aware that what you focus on, you feel. It means that the energy you put out into the world is what you receive and back, and in addition to this, you become the same as the people who surround you. It is not easy to avoid the past, specifically if you stay around the people who continuously remind you of your past. So, in this case, if you think over the theory of peer elevation and apply it to your lives by surrounding yourself with positive people who are continuously committed to progress and growth, then you will find it very easy to move on.
Work on your personal growth
Moving on from the past is important, and the best thing is to work on a personal growth plan. You need to know that if you focus on learning and improving, it is not only a distraction from the negative thoughts circulating in your mind, but it is also very empowering. Once you identify the areas you want to work on, then pinpoint the obstacles you will be facing and collect the tools you need to succeed. When you collect all the tools, take the help of an expert who can guide you through this personal growth and journey.
Meditate
If you are feeling frustrated and upset due to the things that happened in your past, you are unable to change your feelings; then, in this case, you should start meditating. It helps a lot when you find stillness, take long breathes, and remain calm. Meditation practices such as yoga and tai-chi will help you keep yourself away from the hustle-bustle of this busy world. If you are thinking about the best meditation options, then yoga can help control your thoughts. If you are thinking about the best mindfulness practice, then yoga and some other deep breathing exercises can help you to relax. Both yoga and meditation will help you concentrate on the present moment of your life instead of focusing on the events that had occurred in the past.
Exercise
There is no doubt that exercise is an excellent way to improve your physical health, but research also suggests that it helps a lot with your mental health. Harvard says that exercise can help you avoid different negative emotions. Different chemicals associated with happiness, such as dopamine, are released when exercising. You can choose to exercise for at least 15 minutes daily.
Women are not only the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, but also their businesses have been growing at a faster speed than those owned by men. The majority of these women are single mothers, balancing home and life as single career women. Balancing home life and work is not an easy task for any woman. Working mothers are faced with the daily challenge of balancing their time between home and work, which can be exhausting. The article will discuss the challenges women face in balancing their lives at home and at work with useful steps to overcome them.
Here’s how you can balance your life and home as career women step by step:
Step 1: Prepare a Plan of Actions
Work-life balance has become a serious issue for career women. They are often put in the dilemma of how to balance their work and home life. The initial step to solving this problem is to plan your time and actions accordingly. First, plan your week ahead of schedule, then divide your week into days and finally allocate tasks for each day. Second, set up a routine that can help you manage your time more efficiently so that you can have enough time for both work and family. Third, find out what are the things that are important to you so that you can prioritize them in order of importance.
Work-life balance is an important aspect of every woman’s life. Women often face the dilemma of choosing between work and family. It is important that we prepare a plan of action to manage our time and energy in order to get a healthy balance between work and family. If you have children, it will be hard to find time for yourself or for your career. Consider whether you want to take care of them yourself or hire someone else such as a nanny. You can also talk with other women who are also struggling with the same challenges as you are. This will help you feel less alone and like you’re not the only one going through these things.
Step 2: Make a Priority List
In this modern world, we are expected to be perfect in every way. We have to juggle our career and family life and be perfect wives and mothers. We all know how challenging it is to balance our personal and professional lives. Women are usually the ones who take care of the home and children. Sometimes, they have to work too. And when they are in a position where they have to juggle both, then there are some things that they need to keep in mind when it comes to balancing home and work life as a career woman. The following is a list of things that you can do in order to balance your life and home by making a priority list:
1) Be flexible: Don’t be rigid with your schedule. Make sure that you’re able to adjust it as needed so that you can maintain a strong work-life balance.
2) Avoid the chaos of having to remember everything by investing in a productivity tool like an agenda, planner, or calendar. These come in physical form or digital form and provide you with an organized schedule for the day, week, or month.
3) Make use of technology: Technology has made it possible for people to save time and stay on top of their work with ease. For example, many people use Google Calendar or Trello as a way to schedule and manage their workloads.
Step 3: Find a Partner in Crime to Help You Keep the Balance:
It is always good to have a close friend or partner in crime that can help you keep the balance in life and home. A good friend is someone who will always be there for you, no matter what. They will always be there when you need them most. They are not judgmental, and they will listen to your problems without judging.
A partner in crime will always be your biggest supporter, cheering you on through life’s ups and downs. They will be there to help pick up the pieces when things go wrong, and they will celebrate with you when things go well. It is very necessary to have the best partner for creating balance in home and life as a career woman
Step 4: Be Prepared to Give Up Some Things Along the Way
We can’t have it all. We need to be prepared to give up some things along the way. What we need to do is make sure that we are not sacrificing what we love in order to get ahead. It is important to be prepared to give up things that you love and that you are passionate about. It’s hard to give up time with friends and family, but it’s a sacrifice that will be worth it, in the end, to balance your life as a career woman. Aim to keep your family time, sleep time, and personal hobbies intact by not neglecting them for work. You should also stay away from toxic people and unhealthy habits.
Step 5: Protect Your Sleep Time
When you are a career woman, sleep is something that is often forgotten in order to balance home and work. You can create a routine for when you need to go to bed and when you need to wake up. This routine should be followed every day, even when you are on vacation or sick. The next step is to make sure that your bedroom environment is conducive to healthy sleeping habits. This means keeping it dark, cool, and quiet at night time.
There are many women who have to take care of the house, the kids, and their careers. It is not easy to balance all these responsibilities. However, there are some ways that can help them balance their work and family life. One of them is to make a schedule for themselves. They should also prioritize what they need to do first and make sure that they don’t overbook themselves. In this blog post, we have covered all of these. For more blog posts and similar articles, please keep visiting our website.
A person cannot heal another person, we can pray together, direct positive energy flow while in deep prayer and meditation. Healing only comes from one source which can only happen within. Guidance come from many sources, we decide which information we want to accept or ignore”, mentions healer & blogger Michelle Espinoza.
She offers services such as: cleansing (body, spirit, mind, homes, vehicles and business offices) and card reading.
Michelle has been a blogger for over 10 years on her blog, Permanent Expressions where she expresses real talk, living with absolute truth, learning from flaws and failures, and gaining strength from struggles.
She is not only open with expressing her own emotions, she also encourages others to express their individuality. She also shares that her family is extremely silly and have found humor & laughter=magic for~ positive daily living.
After spending many years of spending her time with the wrong type of people, she makes it a point to spend her days with people who remind her to laugh; and enjoy pure happiness from laughter.
“People who are happy are attracted to others who want happiness and share the love to laugh the day away.” ~ Michelle Espinoza
One of my guilty pleasures is taking bubble baths. Happy Bubble Bath day, by the way! Nothing relaxes me more than creating a spa like atmosphere at home with calming new age music, candles, a bath pillow and soaking my stress away in warm bubbly aromatherapy.
Enjoying a glass of wine during bath time is nice too. Bubble baths do more than just relax the mind, body, and spirit; they are also great for our skin and soothe achy muscles. The warmth of the soak is extremely relaxing and is a natural way to boost your immune system and hydrate your skin. As for the aromatherapy part of my bubble bath, I like to find scented foams that are floral and herbal. Here is one of my favorite bath recipes:
Instructions: Mix lavender oil, milk, & honey in a bowl, then pour into a jar. Before each use, shake the jar & pour half of the mixture into the bath. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Great for 2 baths.
Bath ingredients you can add from your kitchen cabinet:
Sage: Uplifting, calming and astringent
Rosemary: Relaxing and great for alertness and its clarifying
Peppermint: Energizing and clarifying
Chamomile: Extremely, relaxing, and calming
Green Tea: Energizing, and clarifying
Other ingredients you can add to your bath:
Epsom Salt
Oatmeal
Coconut Oil
Milk
In Ancient Rome, bathing at a public facility was part of the daily routine for most citizens. A trip bathed once a week for personal hygiene. A trip to the Roman baths might include a dip in a hot tub, a brief break in the sauna, and a refreshing swim in the cold pool. Up until the late 1940’s, the average American bathed once a week for personal hygiene.
Being in the Spa industry for many years, one question I get frequently asked by clients is “what can I use at home for a mini-spa bath experience?” Here are a few items that can enhance a mini-spa bath experience at home.
Today, a daily shower is standard, but it’s nice to indulge in a luxurious bubble bath every occasionally. Bubble baths can help open your pores, cleanse your skin, and relax muscles. Enhance your bath time with a few fun accessories like a bath pillow, facial mask, shower cap, body brush, and a book. Enjoy!
Assisting clients with transformations from the inside out are Body by Sasha’s words. She shared with us a bit about her entrepreneurial journey and what inspires and motivates her as a business owner.
Body by Sasha is owned by certified trainer and fitness coach Sasha Cervantes. Through her business and inspiration of her own personal transformation, her mission is to guide clients to transform their own lives through physical fitness, mental wellness, and boosting confidence.
The biggest goal of Body by Sasha is to help others reach their fullest potential physically and mentally. She works one on one with her clients as well as hosts boot camps and group workouts.
Believing in challenging the mind and body, she strives to get results without the restrictions and strict non-sustainable diets on the current market and most importantly to assist clients develop a fit and sustainable lifestyle they can commit to in the years to come.
When not training clients, she enjoys discovering and networking with other local businesses in her community and surrounding areas, and spending quality time with her 2 children.
Body by Sasha Mission:
– Get results without the restrictions
– Improve overall health
– Create a sustainable lifestyle
– Empower clients to develop a fit lifestyle
– Ability to enhance self confidence
List of services:
– Weight Training
– Personal Training
– Strength Training
– Glute Training (Build a Booty)
– Build Endurance, Flexibility
– Weight loss
– Muscle building
– Firming and toning
– Group Training
– Mobile Workouts
Women are not only the fastest-growing group of 
