When my father passed away, I was told "Be strong. Don't cry". What they actually meant is suppress your emotions and pain. But that's not true strength. True strength is acknowledging your emotions and feelings. The truth is in the last year, I cried a whole lot. I cried for hours, barely ate, sometimes ate too much, had sleepless nights, sometimes spent most of my day in bed, but every day I was strong. This year was particularly challenging. My father and grandmother passed away. I was overwhelmed and burnt-out as I was going to university full-time and never took any time off. University was completely online and that presented barriers as well. These are just a few of the challenges I faced, and the list goes on. And each and every day I was strong. I was resilient. I took time to acknowledge my feelings and process them. I continued attending classes and completing assignments. I tried to find small joys in life. I continued on and tried to use my coping skills to exist and thrive the best I could. Today I still cry once in a while as I grieve the losses and continue to face challenges. And somehow, through the pain and struggles, I managed to obtain my first Masters degree from my dream school. This isn't to share a sob story about how hard my life has been. It's to normalize a realistic life. Life isn't full of rainbows and butterflies and to imply such thing is simply deceiving. We've all faced struggles and hardship, especially this year. The pandemic hasn't been easy on us. No one is truly happy all the time, but we can have moments of happiness and I want to share a happy moment with you! I'm excited to share that I earned my Masters of Arts in Psychological Counseling degree!👩🏻🎓 It brings me one step closer to my goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor (therapist). As a low-income, first generation college student, latina, child of immigrants, this was no small feat! ❤ To celebrate I've made a graduate wish list and hope you will join in the celebration. 🥳 The gifts have a wide range of affordable options starting at $7. You can use the list to buy me a tea, a meal, or other special items. Link in bio! 
MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN: I’m usually between 💛 - 💜, depending on the day lately. where are you? 💚 I’m doing great 💙 I am okay 💛 I’m okay-ish 💜 Things are tough 🧡 I’m struggling ❤ I’m having a hard time and wouldn’t mind if someone reached out to me 🖤 I’m in a bad place right now Drop your heart color and let me know how you are doing! Today for my 8 day anxiety challenge I'm checking in with myself and I encourage you to do the same. A great way to check in with yourself is to journal about how you're feeling! One thing that has reduced my anxiety is @cairoandthecity! Yes, my chiweenie rescue puppy has been greatly beneficial to my mental health and has helped me cope. There are tons of studies on this to back up the benefits of pet therapy. 🥰 What are some ways you've reduced your anxiety? My DMs are open if you'd like to chat about something you're struggling or want help finding free resources. ❤ 
Let's normalize failure 🌻 Let's allow ourselves the grace and patience to fail miserably at something we love and enjoy. Allow yourself to be resilient by reflecting, reworking, and trying again. It's so normal and okay to fail! We often see these paths of success as linear, free of struggle and stress. Soledom do we see the sweat and tears behind that success. Maybe it took several trials and errors before getting to that accomplishments. Failure can be such a scary thing. I try to avoid it like the plague! 🙈 Self-sabatoge is one of my unhealthy anxious avoidance behaviors and it's something I work on everyday. Avoiding it prevents me from failing but it also prevents me from being successful. Can anyone else relate? 🙋🏻♀️ This is one of my anxious escape routes I reflected on yesterday as part of my 8 day anxiety challenge. Today to reduce my anxiety my task is to do a body scan. Its a relaxation technique that allows you to connect with and relax your body. As always, if you want to join in, you can find tons of free resources online. If you are having trouble finding one, I'll DM it to you! Just let me know in the comments that you're interested. PC: @juannunez0821 
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬! You constantly make me doubt myself. You make me think no one likes me. You make me think I'm not good enough. The list goes on. Ahh, anxiety, the one that never goes away and keeps me from living a consistently productive and happy life. 🤪 Some days anxiety gets the best of me but I've built coping mechanism to try and reduce the physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. Unfortunately, they aren't always the healthiest! And I know I'm not the only one. 🙊 Some of my unhealthy coping strategies involve avoidance which is often encouraged and glamorized with the media. 🥴 It can look like: • avoiding an essential or necessary situation or task that may cause you anxiety. (𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬! 👩🏻💻) • numbing or conforting yourself to ignore your anxiety with things like: TV, food, or keeping yourself super busy! (𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 @𝘜𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘹, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬). • attempting to eliminate all possibilities of mistakes, failures, imperfections, or conflict. (𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴!) Are you guilty of any of these too? 🙋🏻♀️ I'm doing an 8-day anxiety challenge as part of my (never-ending) healing and self-care journey to try to re-introduce some healthier coping strategies. Every day I'm using a different tool to reduce my anxiety. Follow along and turn on the notifications if you want to join too! Today the tasks are to: 1️⃣ Reflect on some of your most common anxiety-avoidance strategies. Then, write them down. This while help to recognize some unhealthy patterns you may have to help you reduce them. (If you're aware of it, you can take action to change those habits). 2️⃣ Do a 1 min Relaxing Breath routine. You can find TONS on YouTube! Lmk in the comments if you're interested in joining the challenge and/or learning more about coping skills and strategies for anxiety and I'll keep sharing them. 😄 
My therapist told me during our last session: "You're thriving!" I looked at her confused like 𝘶𝘮 - 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩!? 🤪 She then reminded me of all the challenging experiences and stressors I've faced, and yet I keep going. I continue to strive for success, growth, and healing. Sometimes I can be really hard on myself when things aren't going perfectly and hyper focus on a tiny human mistake. (Can anyone else relate to this? 🙋🏻♀️ I know I'm not the only one! 🙈 ) It's important to remind ourselves that it's okay to be human and not be perfect at everything all the time. If you're anything like me, this is your gentle reminder to be kind and patient with yourself! 🌞🌻 Sometimes trying your best, even if you make mistakes or struggle, is enough. 📍 @metmuseum 📷 @wanderouskaren 
My father and grandmother passed away both suddenly and unexpectedly just a couple of months apart. Around this time, I also faced a lot of conflict with some loved ones instead of support. While dealing with all this, I was a full-time student taking virtual courses during a pandemic that was already challenging enough emotionally and psychologically. 2020 was rough and I'm glad it's over. This 2021 I am focusing on healing and self-care and I want to share my journey with you! I'll be using journaling/writing and other creative activities to promote resilience, healing, and self-care. I hope this will inspire others to do the same, while normalizing their experiences and feelings. ❤ Also - HOW is it March already?! 🤪 I'm still processing last March. Can anyone else relate to this? 🥲 (Side note: this is a throwback!) 
STOP the big girl train! I want to get off. 🚂 These last few months of adulthood have been rough and it's been making me want to hop off this big girl train. 🤪 Remember when life was easy and our biggest concern was coloring inside the lines?! 🖍 I remember seeing adults so put together when I was a kid. They had it all figured out, it seemed. But as I get older, the more I realize that it's not the case. We all go through different chapters in life with various obstacles. With new challenges it gets pretty messy. Lately life has thrown so many curve balls at me and I've been struggling to manage it all. 🤷🏻♀️ Maybe if we were all a little more real about the struggle, it could make things a little more manageable and normal. Seeing others only sharing the highlight reels of their life can be misleading and confusing. If you're struggling with life right now on the big girl train, I feel you and you're not alone! Life gets messy and I try my best to manage, while making time to do things I love and take a picture or two. And I don't want to pretend I have it all together. If this sounds like you - we should be friends. 🤪 Tell me one thing about you that may be "messy" to some but you're not ashamed of in the comments. Read through them and interact with others! Can we stop with the perfect façades? 😌 Let's make messy life a little more normal. I'll go first in the comments. ❤ 
The ugly sides of healing and self-care we don't want to talk about goes beyond doing your hair and nails. 🙊 Sometimes it can be taking a break from social media or taking a lighter load at school to lighten your responsibilities. It can look like crying alone in car when you're feeling overwhelmed, just to release all of those yucky feelings you've been bottling up. 🥲 To me self-care and healing is about a healthy mix of processing emotions and small joys. The small joys are doing things I love that make me happy. Processing emotions are the ugly part we don't often share but are just as important- sitting and accepting all emotions, allowing myself to be authentic with my feelings, speaking with my therapist for insight and understanding of my emotions and experiences, reframing harmful thinking, avoiding toxic positivity. To truly practice self-care and healing, it's important for me to also deal with my emotions and feelings by taking steps to process them. It's not always pretty but it's necessary. 💖💖 If you're only focusing on small joys and not processing processing feelings, ask yourself: Are you healing or just distracted? 😏 What are some ways you process your emotions and feelings? 
You may feel weird seeing people share their accomplishments of 2020. As the year comes to an end, we're all reflecting on the wild ride that was 2020, but remember that surviving is enough. Making it through 2 global health crises* is enough. If 2020 did NOT bring the hustle out of you, you are not the problem. Don't let anyone or anything make you feel ashamed for not doing more. 2020 was rough. Many thrived because of their ability to disconnect and desensitize and/or had better resources and privileges. And that's okay! Take time to process. Take time to heal. Practice gratitude, kindness, and patience especially with yourself. What's one thing you are doing to process the challenging year? *covid-19 and the mental health crisis associated with it 
Free Travel Alert! 🎉 Have you ever been so bored that you keep checking the fridge for snacks every 15 minutes as if new food will magically appear? 💫 If yes, I have some free entertainment for you that won't give you tummy aches and does not involve making embarrassing tiktok videos - virtual museum visits! 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘵𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘱𝘱, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶. I just wrote a blog post on museums you can visit virtually. You can find the link in my bio or head over to 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐢.𝐜𝐨𝐦. Drop a comment on my blog post to share your thoughts. I’m a huge fan of museums! What’s your favorite museum? Is it on my list? 
There's no right way to feel right now. And in case you needed a reminder: We're not working from home, we're stuck at home during a crisis while trying to get work done. These are 2 completely different things. For many of us, this crisis has been extremely taxing emotionally and psychologically. TAG someone who needs to read this! Has anyone else been feeling kinda low lately? 🙋🏻♀️ You're not alone. We're all processing this differently. Don't feel guilty if you're not on your A game right now. That new project can wait. Your diet can start later. You don't have to launch your new business today. You don't need to enroll on those classes straight away. I've been struggling with creativity lately, while managing responsibilities, uni assignments, and my mental health. Fortunately I got some inspiration from some talented content creators @thatsosofi and @oliviacorin for my latest photoshoot! 🦋🌼 What do you think? How did I do? 😝 I have tried my best to be authentic and honest with myself and others about how I feel. So some days I may cry for hours and other days I do a DIY photoshoot at home, eat yummy greasy food, and watch a romantic comedy guilt-free. The best way for me to feel okay is to embrace my feelings and make time for things I love. How have you been using your time lately? Let's chat in the comments! I hope you're all well and healthy, all things considered, if not today, then soon. ❤ I have shared in a previous post some resources and support for people in Miami. If you need help look for resources or support let me know and I will help you look! PC: my bf! Also I did a practice shoot of him with the butterflies but he won't let me post it. 😂 How can I convince him to let me share with all of you? Please drop your suggestions in the comments! 
Fed up of hearing:"Stay home"? Well, I'm fed up with people not listening to science and experts, while people are dying because of the coronavirus. 🤷🏻♀️ I'm tired of ineffective and inadequate goverment action. I'm fed up with y'all not listening. All you gotta do is stay home and wash your hands. 👀 This crisis is hitting many people hard, especially the less privileged. Here are some cold hard facts: •Racial minorities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. @thehill @nytimes •Some businesses have closed down completely. •Many people have been laid off. •@bbc has called this "Worst economic crisis since 1930s depression" Let's not forget about how this impacts people of low socioeconomic status, people with pre-existing conditions, people with poor access to health care, those who are essential and continue working (like grocery store employees, flight attendants, janitors, trash collectors, cooks, heath care employees). Special thanks to these wonderful ladies for collaborating with me to promote social responsibility. Make sure to check them out and support them. ❤ How are you practicing social responsibility? From left to right: We Are: @trulyeli All in: @foolishserenity This: @lovelifebeauty.blog Together: @mylifestylereflections Stay: @laurisloves At: @musingsandadventures Home: @linaforrestal Let's: @sasharosebuzz Flatten: @welchmedia The: @steppingintoshe Curve: @jenniferlepage 
Physically I'm 😃 but mentally I'm 🤯 who else can relate? 🙋🏻♀️ This crisis has been emotionally and psychologically draining for many of us - especially those with less privileges, resources, and support. It's evident that it hasn't hit everyone the same way, and remember: that does not mean those who are struggling are weak. They simple require support and resources, (that others probably already have). During this time it is so important to prioritize our mental health. These last 2 weeks have been harder for me than the first 2. I'm making an intentional effort to do things that make me feel inspired and bring joy. For me, one of those things is photography! 🥰📸 I've been feeling very inspired lately by some of my fave creators who have mastered the art of creative DIY/at-home photoshoots: @thatsosofi @kamryn.law @alexismaymcmullin @paigearminta @thegracemattei @saracovey (make sure to check them out for inspo!) Who are some of your favorite DIY or creative photographers/instagrammers? Tag them below so I can check out their work. 🥰 Feel free to tag me on their pictures, I need some inspiration. Throwback to another photoshoot at @pixinitynyc with one the most creative photographers around- @linaforrestal @forrestalcreative. 
SOCIAL DISTANCING MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN: I’m usually between 💛 - 🖤, depending on the day. 💚 I’m doing great 💙 I am okay 💛 I’m okay-ish 💜 Things are tough 🧡 I’m struggling ❤ I’m having a hard time and wouldn’t mind if someone reached out to me 🖤 I’m in a bad place right now Drop your heart color and let me know how you are doing! As humans, we crave social interaction regardless of how introverted you claim to be. Naturally being isolated and indoors constantly has been challenging for many of us. For that reason, it is so crucial that we keep checking in on our family and friends. I hope you're doing okay, if not - I hope you will soon. TELL ME: How are you been prioritizing your mental health? Have you been struggling to manage it? I did pretty well my first 2 weeks, now that it has been over a month, things are getting more challenging! TB to @pixinitynyc PC goes to one of my fave photographers in the NYC area @linaforrestal @forrestalcreative Definitely check her out if you're looking to get a photoshoot! Her and her husband are a super talented team. 🥰 
STOP feeling guilty for being unproductive. 🙅🏻♀️🛑 You don't have to feel pressure to constantly work, learn, build, be creative, hustle, grind. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to slow down. We are currently experiencing a crisis and everyone processes this differently. Everyone does not have the mental space, time, and resources to do fun and productive activities. Don't be fooled by the pressure. It is totally okay to be unproductive. How have you been spending your last couple of days in self-quarantine? Breathe. Rest. Heal. Stay home. PC: @linaforrestal @forrestalcreative TB to @pixinitynyc SLIDE ➡️ 
Support during #covıd19 crisis. Link in bio. ❤ SHARE with friends and family who may need this. In my previous post, I mentioned the importance of knowing available support during these times of uncertainty. I will be sharing more resources and supports on my instagram and blog (www.trulyeli.com). You can easily access more information on how to apply or donate using the link in my bio. Tell me: what kind of resources would you like to learn more about? 
Summer in Miami: Self-isolation style. 🌞🍦 Now I am back in Miami, and I decided to self-isolate and stay home. I haven't even pet my dogs. 😥 (But I did see them from a distance). More updates to come. During this time it is crucial to increase awareness about resources available for those struggling during the coronavirus crisis. Here are some financial and food support available within Miami Dade county. Is there one that should be added to the list? Let me know in the comments below. I will be sharing more support and resources on my website www.trulyeli.com. Share with someone who may find this helpful! SLIDE for details. 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 United Way Miami @unitedway and Miami Herald @miamiherald are providing $350,000 to aid families and small businesses. The Miami Foundation @miamifoundation is helping nonprofits, individuals, businesses, corporations, in need of financial support. Brad Kilgore @brad_kilgore and Felix Bendersky partnered up to create the Miami Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to support former restaurant employees, through $250 grants to full-time Miami-Dade employees. 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 Miami-Dade County public schools @miamischools are providing meals to students in need. Summer BreakSpot #FLBreakSpot has 934 sites across Florida to provide meals to school-aged children. Feeding South Florida @feedingsouthflorida has a food pantry and home delivery for qualified individuals. Farm Share @ farmsharefl is hosting drive-thru only food drives. Meals on Wheels @mealsonwheelsamerica provides home meal delivery to low-income and/or ill individual (in Miami Dade and Broward County). TELL ME: How have you been impacted by the crisis? 
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝! 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨. Experts have advised to avoid high risk countries (with a high number of corona cases), and some government officials have banned travel altogether. This has led to major chaos for many travelers. If you are in need of cancelling your trip and getting a refund, this post is for you! Read on and share with a friend who may need it. 
I'm going to Egypt! Well, at least mentally anyway cus you know your girl decided to cancel and get a refund. I don't play with corona and travel bans! 🙅 Lately, there has been a lot of confusion and panic in the world because of the rapid widespread of the coronavirus, also known as (COVID-19). Experts have advised to avoid high-risk countries (with a high number of corona cases), and some government officials have banned travel altogether. So if you wanna cancel and get a refund- I wrote a blog post for you! I included steps and tips to cancel and get a refund on my latest blog post: https://www.trulyeli.com/2020/03/how-to-cancel-your-trip-and-get-refund.html?m=1 You can access it by clicking on the link in my bio. Tag a friend below that needs to read this! TELL ME: Have you cancelled your trip or are you traveling? If so, I'd love to know why (either way). ❤ Let me know in the comments. PC: @isitgrammable 📍@hugmelovemepopup 
I feel a big emptiness. Where is the time to breathe, create, reflect? I have been on full power mode this 2020 with very little time for myself and it makes me feel drained, empty, uninspired. This semester is particularly busier than the last. But the business has led to suppressing my emotions, feelings, and needs. I am looking forward to a break. What are you doing for spring break? Do you have any plans? PC: @isitgrammable #hosted at @lovemehugmepopup 
#hosted @museumoficecream invited me to check out their location in NYC. It did not disappoint and the staff was so friendly and enthusiastic. It was a fun experience. A great opportunity to explore and be a kid again. 😜 When was the last time you got in touch with your inner child? 
Let's get to know each other! It's been a while since I've done this, so I wanted to share a bit about me. I'd love for you to participate in the comments. Here are 3 things about me: 1️⃣ I love pineapple on pizza. Sorry Hawaiian pizza haters but it takes a sophisticated palette to enjoy quality food like pizza with pineapple, you wouldn't understand. 🍕🍍😂 2️⃣ I love reality tv shows! Any one else? 🙋🏻♀️ I just started watching @loveisblindnetflix about people dating each other and getting engaged without ever seeing each other in person. 🤯 If you've seen the show, who is your favorite couple/person? 3️⃣ I do the best hen impersonation. Yup, an odd and silly talent to have. I spent a lot of summers chasing chickens in family homes in Honduras. So next time you see me and you wanna laugh, ask me to do it. Tell me 3 fun facts about you in the comments! 😍 PC: @wanderousKaren 
Depression and anxiety calling? ☎️ Neither of you are welcome here! 🙅🏻♀️ I'm an adult, in counseling, on the pathway to obtaining my counseling license, and I can experience challenging mental health conditions! And for those who think it's "all in your head" - newsflash (!) IT AIN'T! 😝🤯 "Mental and physical health is fundamentally linked. There are multiple associations between mental health and chronic physical conditions that significantly impact people’s quality of life..." (source: CMHA ONTARIO)* That's another reason why it's so important to check in with myself to see how my mental health is. In my experince, I often felt frustrated with the ups and downs of progress. But progress isn't linear. There are often bumps in the road and that's okay! I'm trying to be kind and patient with myself but honestly I'm not exactly where I want to be with my mental heath yet but I'm working on it with the support of my counselor and loved ones. 🥰 MENTAL HEALTH CHECK IN! Tell me, how are you really doing? *There is so much more research on this topic but because of time constraints and responsibilities I will not be sharing some on this post today. 😄 I encourage you to do some research on it! PC: @spanglish.gaby Also, shoutout to my new buddy @spanglish.gaby for meeting up with me and showing me this cute booth! 😍 It has been so fun connecting with creatives in the area. If you're a blogger/photographer/creative in the NYC area HMU! ❤ 
Sometimes I just need a helping hand. ✋🏻😂 DOUBLE TAP if you like lame and corny jokes like me! 🙋🏻♀️ Okay, let's get serious for a quick sec. That is, if you can HANDle it! Okay, okay, I'm done now! 😂 I have accomplished so much in my short time in NYC and I'm not one to toot my own horn but TOOT TOOT!! 🚂 I moved here last August and it has been a wild ride. We encourage working hard, hustling, striving, achieving, succeeding! What about resting? 🤔 Look, I am all about being a #girlboss and all that jazz but breaks are important. Rest is important. Time for your mental health is important. The thing is, regardless if you agree or not, working hard constantly burns you out. It's exhausting. I've said this before and I'll say it again: if you don't make time for your mental health, your body will! This weekend I did SO much and I didn't finish half of what I wanted to get done. Why? Because I was exhausted! I didn't schedule in any breaks or resting time. And then, when it's time to continue working on my to-do list - I can't focus, I feel tired, It's challenging to do simple tasks. My brain and body were yelling at me: "TAKE A BREAK!" I am an ambitious dreamer and high achiever. I get so wrapped up in my productivity that I forget to make time for me. Some weeks it's easier than others and this week I totally failed at it! 😄 My brain was like this ➡️🤯 So I'm going to try something new. 😍 EDIT: Actually spending just one day a week on self care may not be the best strategy. Instead, my counselor suggested consist commitment to self care by doing smal things that ground me every day, not just one day a week. What are some strategies you use to keep a healthy balance? PC: @isitgrammable 
I'm angry and I'm sad. It's not easy for me to admit this. Why? Because we are brainwashed to fake a smile and always reply with "I'm good and you?" when others asks us how we are, regardless if it's true or not. Be honest, DOUBLE TAP if you're guilty of lying when someone has asked you how you're doing. 🙋🏻♀️ Let's get real about feelings for a quick sec. Anger and sadness are not dirty feelings so why are so quick to suppress them instead of address them? For a while I've been in denial about how being discriminated, excluded, and in less than preferable circumstances, have made me both angry and sad. I'm quick to try and force happiness and joy instead, as if anger and sadness are dirty feelings. Who said normal human emotions are bad? 🤪 The reality is they are normal reactions to my experiences that need to be embraced and processed. I feel pressure to fake pure joy and happiness 24/7 even when it's inauthentic. Newsflash NO ONE is happy 24/7! No one solely feels joy and happiness. And in case it was not obvious already- ignoring and suppressing your feelings is unhealthy. It is best to be honest with yourself and your loved ones about how you truly feel. Accepting and embracing my feelings to me means- being my authetic self and being honest about how I feel as I find ways to feel grounded and channel my emotions in healthy ways. What are some ways you deal with your emotions? --- I have been taking some time to reflect and plan what I want to write and post. But I want to hear from you! What topics would you like to read more about? What content would you like to see? What resonates with you the most? I was talking with the lovely @ojosextranjeros and I shared that I am thinking of sticking to budget travel, personal experiences, and mental health content. Do you think that would be interesting/helpful? PC: @spanglish.planet 
Swipe if you want to laugh. You won't regret it. 😂 Thank you to all one of you that recently answered my story post about my upcoming trip! 😂❤ #IGFamous For spring break I will be going to... *drum roll* ... Egypt! 🥳🎉 It has been almost exactly two years since @juannunez0821 and I visited for the first time. And I'm excited to visit again and see Juan (who is currently studying abroad there)! For those who have gone to Cairo and nearby citities, what places and activities do you recommend? Also if you know any travel bloggers who have visited, please tag them in the comments below so I can connect with them! 😍 PC: @glendasagenda @travelonawhim or @eduwalo I don't remember 🤷🏻♀️ 
My favorite kind are the free and cheap ones. 😂 Any fellow cheapos? 🙋🏻♀️ Lmk in the comments, loud and proud, lol. #noshame As my act of self care for the day, I'm spending some time at one of my favorite museums and journaling. It's one my ways to take a moment to reflect and breathe; to stay grounded in the moment and process challenging experiences, feelings, and emotions. TELL ME: What are some things you love doing? Also- what museum do you think I'm going to? Drop your guesses in the comments. Hint: it's in NYC and it is not the one pictured. -- Throwback to @museumateldridgestreet PC: @artworldnyc 
Growing up multicultural gave me a unique opportunity to celebrate holidays in multiple ways. For example, within Latin American families, Valentine's Day is very community-focused. We call it the day of love and friendship. It's a day for you to express all forms of love to your lovers, friends, and family. Wish them well and express your affection. Was this news to you? (TAG a friend in the comments to share this fun fact!) In American culture for many years it was it was about celebrating romantic partnerships and slowly I have seen a wave shifting focus from couples to self love. But these celebrations of love and friendship don't need to happen solely on valentine's day. Lately I've been on a self love journey. I have been struggling with depression and it finally feels easier to manage since my symptoms are essentially gone. My anxiety continues but that has been significantly reduced as well. Now I'm trying to out where to go from here. TELL ME: What does self love mean to you? 
I'll be honest with you: it's Monday and today I am not feeling too inspired and motivated. 😐 Nothing is particularly wrong, I'm just not feeling chipper. Lately I've made great effort to being my authentic self - low and high moods included. I don't feel the need to fake a smile or fake motivation that isn't there. 🤔 I wanna be real and show that my life, just like everyone isn't all rainbows and butterfies. Some days suck. Some are great! And some are underwhelming... I think as a woman, especially in the US, we often feel pressure to be smiley, happy, and perky all the time, even when we're not. Thats draining and completely unnecessary if you ask me! 🤣 So thanks, but no thanks! #tb to Miami! TELL ME: How's your Monday going? 
Top favorite FREE things to do in NYC 🗽🍎 SAVE as a travel guide to use later. SHARE with your NYC friends! ❤ 1️⃣ Live shows! 🎬 You can grab FREE tickets to ton of live shows! 🎫 I watched @showtimeapollofox with @steveharvey and @adriennebailon for their talent show. It was filled with interesting talents to say the least! I also watched a live tapping of @colbertlateshow with @stephenathome. 🌟 Tip: Grab your tickets early! They run out quick. Plan ahead- you should look into tickets months in advance. Be ready to wait in line for HOURS (even if you have tickets). Bring comfy shoes, some water, and entertainment. 2️⃣ Museums! 🎨 There are tons of free museums you can check out. The most popular museums usually have a free museum day or pay as you wish, like @brooklynbotanic @metmuseum @themuseumofmodernart. If you're an NYC resident/student, many museums are always free or pay as you wish, to you. 🤑 And some even like you bring in a buddy for free/cheap. 🌟Tip: Do your research and plan ahead. Be ready to be squeezed in like sardines during some of these museum days. Probably not the best day for those IG shots, sorry. 🙃 3️⃣ Staten Island Ferry 🛥 Ride this FREE ferry from Manhattan ➡️ Staten Island (or the other way around) to get some great views of the city and the #StatueOfLiberty herself! @statueellisnps 🌟 Tip: As always- plan ahead! Usually the ferry is scheduled for every 25 minutes. There is indoor and outdoor seating but it gets pretty chilly and windy. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. 4️⃣ Brooklyn Bridge 🚶🏼♀️🚴♂️🚶♂️ You can take a stroll, run, or bike ride, at the Brooklyn bridge! Enjoy some beautiful views. 👀 🌟 Tip: Be aware of your surrounding and don't get on the bike lane if you are walking. This space is shared so please be mindful and considerate. ❤ It gets packed so if you can, try going during the weekday during off hours. 5️⃣ Free Walking Tours @sandemansneweurope and @freetoursbyfoot both have free walking tours around the city ranging from food tours to street art to much more! 😍 (continued in first comment) 
"Are you patient with yourself?" my counselor asked. "No" I quickly replied, without hesitation. I am often so kind and patient with everyone. I provide supportive and encouraging comments and advice but I'm often so unfair to myself. Why don't I practice what I preach?! Does this sound like you? 😅 DOUBLE TAP if you can relate. 🙈 I want success and results NOW. I've been working so hard for years. And I am fried. I'm exhausted and overworked. I could've taken the easy route but that wouldn't lead to the same amount of sucess nor fulfillment. 🤔 Today I woke up feeling like a failure. I'm unhappy with the lack of progress in some areas of my life. So I've been thinking of ways to combat this and if any of this resonates with you, I'd like for you to try it in the comments below. This is my approach to being more patient with myself and the process as I move (walk) towards my goals. Here's how it works. Think of a negative assumption, misconception, thought you have about yourself. Then create a rebuttal. Here are a few examples of mine: 🚫 I don't belong at my prestigious university 🌟 The admissions committee decided my skills and experiences made me qualified and I belong in whatever space I worked hard to be. 🚫 I have made great efforts to befriend others and it is not returned nor appreciated. I don't have many friends in NYC. 🌟 Friendships take time and MY people will be warm and welcoming always, without it feeling one sided. The best way to tackle irrational negative thoughts and feelings using this approach is to write them down and read them whenever you're in need of encouragement and reassurance. I suggest making a list for you to read to yourself at least 3 times when you wake up and before going to bed. Comment some of yours below! 
@lovemehugmepopup giveaway 🎉 #sponsored I've partnered up with @isitgrammable and #hugmeloveme to give one lucky winner TWO tickets to the Love Me Hug Me popup! 😍 All you have to do is: 1. Follow @trulyeli @isitgrammable and @lovemehugme 2. Like and save this post (send me a screenshot!) 3. Individually tag your friends in the comments. 1 friend per comment please. 1 tag = 1 entry 🌠For an additional 3 entries, share this post in your story and tag us 3. Make sure to follow all rules. We will be checking. Good luck! 💫 This giveaway is in no way associated, endorsed, nor sponsored by Instagram. Giveaway closes February 12 at 11:59PM. 
I'm cheap 🤷🏻♀️ and I'm not ashamed to admit it! I'm fulltime graduate student. This is the first time my tuition isn't covered with scholarships and grants (hello loans and debt). I also grew up in a household of low socioeconomic status. So I guess I don't really have a choice. For those reasons, I always try to find cheap and free experiences whenever I travel or explore my own city. Yesterday I visited @museumateldridgestreet for a dollar 🤑 with Michelle from @artworldnyc. 😍 On Mondays it's pay as you wish so you can give as little or as much as you want. 📍: 12 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002 📸 : @artworldnyc TELL ME: What are some must-see free and cheap places in your city? 
#hosted I've always loved art. 🖼🎨 I love art that makes me cringe. I love art that makes me think. I love art that moves me. But most of all I love art with meaning and @lovemehugmepopup is just that! It aims to "increase public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease" through interactive art. TAG a friend who loves popups! I had such a great time with @isitgrammable at this popup! Thank you @lovemehugmepopup for hosting us! ❤ TELL ME: Do you like art as well? Do you have a favorite artist? 
One of my favorite trips 😍 About a year ago @jmiguel_canaza and I took a trip to Peru. Although I got sick and it was SO cold - it is still one of my favorite trips I've ever taken. I really enjoyed the food and the sights. Swipe to check out some amazing views! ❤ It's been on my to do list forever to write a blog post about my experience there with tips! Would you be interested in reading that? What tips/suggestions would you want me to include in future posts? 
FREE Food Giveaway 🎉 #sponsored I've partnered up with @GuyFieri and @realRobertEarl 's new restaurant chain @ChickenGuy 🔥🍔🍟🍗🥤 I was recently invited to their Miami location and got to try various menu items. 😍 I loved it so much that I wanted to give YOU a chance to try it too for FREE at one of their locations (Miami and Disney Springs).❤ 2 lucky winners will get a $25 gift card to enjoy this yummy food on us! 🎉 To enter this giveaway you must: 1. Like and bookmark this post (and send me a DM and the screenshot!) 2. Follow @trulyeli and @chickenguy 3. Individually tag your friends in the comments. Each tag counts as an entry. 4. Tell us which food item you'd like to try first! 🌟 For an extra entry: Share this post on your story and include a text saying "$25 @chickenguy giveaway" and tag me @trulyeli ! 🌟 I will be checking who followed the rules when selecting a winner. This giveaway is in no way associated, endorsed, nor sponsored by Instagram. Giveaway closes February 5th at 11:59PM. -- #flavortown #ChickenGuy #Miami #DisneySprings #LakeBuenaVista #giveaway 
There were a lot of tears as I left my home yesterday. With that, came feelings of sadness and self-doubt. "Am I doing the right thing?" "Should I leave home again?" "Do I really belong there?" The answer is yes. Yes, I chose to go out of my comfort zone into a path full of obstacles and hardships. This path, with the info and knowledge I have, seems to be the right one. This seems to be the best option to me. It seems that way. The truth is I don't know. But here's what I do know: I know I'm going to a great school and I'm a hard working and high achieving student. I know I'm getting the tools and skills to make a positive impact in the world. I know my experience, education, and degree, will provide promising prospects professionally. I also know I have lived away from home many times but this time is the most challenging for various. I know I have not found the same support and resources I've gotten in the past. I know I will make the most out this experience. I know I will remain as positive as I can while being honest about my feelings and experiences. I have mixed feelings about entering a new semester after having an extremely challenging one. I think expressing one's truth, lows and all, makes SO many people uncomfortable! It's hard to express and hard to hear. But this year I will continue be real and honest about my feelings and struggles. I will try my best to ask for help when I need it. I will try my best to tell people a sincere answer to "hey, how are you?" instead of being dishonest for the sake of politeness "good, and you?". 🚫🚮 Here's one golden piece of wisdom I've learned over the years: people who care will be attentive and listen. Pay attention to those who are dismissive and bad listeners. Pay attention who is actually there for you (through words AND actions). So, what's the latest update? I'm back in NYC for a new semester of graduate school and honestly I feel mixed about it! TELL ME: Are you experiencing a really challenging chapter in your life in hopes of a positive outcome? Have you ever experienced one? 📸 @yenybaybee 
It's over and I don't feel ready. So yeah, I'm feeling a little blue about it! I have been home for nearly a month. For my semester break, I've been in Miami spending time with family and friends. I've had time to rest, reflect, reconnect, and explore. Now I have to go back to the student grind and I'm not ready for this to be over! But I also know, with my current situation, I don't belong here fulltime. Sometimes growth and self-improvement requires stepping outside of your comfort zone, outside of all that is easy and familiar. TELL ME: When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? 📍@pixinitynyc 📸 @linaforrestal 
Hey, let's talk! It's been a while since I introduced myself so I wanted to share a short little intro. I'd love to hear from you! I'm Elizabeth! 🙋🏻♀️ I'm originally from Miami, FL and recently moved to NYC for graduate school where I'm pursuing a double masters. 👩🏻🎓 I'm an ambivert - I love social gatherings but prefer smaller group settings. I've explored over 30 countries and share budget travel tips on my blog www.trulyeli.com. 🌏 I love pointing out dogs in public. 🐕 This 2020 I plan on doing monthly collaborations, blog posts, and giveaways. 💞 I'd love to connect with all of you! Drop an introduction below. 😍 Get friendly and chat with others in the caption. I'm looking for more blogger buddies so make sure to tag your favorite bloggers in the comments so I can check their account and chat with them! If you are a blogger, share your name, about your blog, and why people should follow you. ❤ 📍 : @blankslatetea 📸 : @ajthetechnologist 
"Smells like my vagina", a $75 candle by @gwynethpaltrow is sold out. #PieroManzoni sold Artist's Shit (Merda d'artista), literally 90 cans of his own poop, for the weight of gold. One of those cans was purchased for $67k in 2000. 🤯 DOUBLE TAP if you're grossed out right now! So yeah, you may be disgusted but more importantly you should be impressed and motivated! If these things are possible, what isn't?! Who are we to limit ourselves? Lately I've been questioning my career path a lot. I realize I've always known what I wanted but I don't always believe I can actually do it. These 2 success stories, along with others, are silly ways to remind myself my dreams are attainable too. I'm not sure what destiny holds but I'm trying to do my best with the cards I've been dealt. 🃏🎲 TELL ME: What keeps you motivated? Do you know any silly success stories like these? Share them in the comments below. Shoutout to @moi_newyork who #hosted @juannunez0821 and I last year. ❤ 
Hi, I'm Elizabeth 🙋🏻♀️ and I'm a supportive go-getter! Some of you may be thinking- 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰-𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?! 🤔🧐 Allow me to break it down for you. Those who know me personally, know I am extremely ambitious and hard working. I am ALL about achieving my goals and helping others achieve them as well! 😍🎉 What about you? Are you a supportive go-getter? Let me know in the comments! Honestly succeeding in anything alone isn't as fun as succeeding in something together. 💞 If you're not kindly supporting and helping, are you truly living? I don't think so! 🤷🏻♀️ DOUBLE TAP if this resonates with you in some way! ❤ If you're a supportive go-getter you should be striving for your goals AND ✔ celebrate your friends' wins (big or small) ✔ hype up your friends ✔ believe in their success (no matter how challenging their goal is) ✔ provid support and encouragement when things get hard ✔don't provide judgement or criticism ✔ cheer them on even when you're struggling to succeed in something ✔ avoid being jelly, be happy for them! Your time will come. Ask them for support. We all can make it. TELL ME: What are some ways you've been supportive to a friend this month? What are some ways friends can be supportive to you? 📍: #hosted at @pixinitynyc for our #kindcollaboration a bit ago. 📸 : by the lovely @linaforrestal 
Giveaway for coffee & tea lovers 🎉 #sponsored by @naughty_coffeeshop ☕ @trulyeli and I have teamed up with Naughty Coffee for this giveaway to provide to 3 lucky winners with some goodies. 😍 First giveaway winner will receive 1 coffee bag of @counterculturecoffee (open to participates within the USA). The other 2 giveaway winners will receive loyalty card for @naughty_coffeeshop redeemable for 2 beverages each (open within south florida only). To enter, you must: 1. Follow @trulyeli @moniquehercules and @naughty_coffeeshop 2. Tag 3 friends. 3. Comment below if you're a tea or a coffee person. 🍵 This giveaway is in no way associated, endorsed, nor sponsored by Instagram. Giveaway closes January 24th at 11:59PM #giveaway #miami #coffee 
"Are you healing or distracted?" This is a question I've been constantly asking myself for the last week, especially while I lie awake late at night. It's 12, then suddently 2, and before I know it, it's 4am and I still haven't fallen asleep. My heart is filled with joy and peace to be home, surrounded by all that's familiar. Yet, my brain gets wrapped up in anxiety and concerns I have struggled to resolve. I've been extra productive this year and I've been hitting a lot of my goals. I'm focusing on my goals by categories but I have yet to get to my mental health. I've been keeping myself busy; busy enough to momentarily forget my problems. Here's the thing though, as corny as it sounds, it's an endless journey. Some days will be easier than other. Those hard days may turn into weeks, months. We gotta make time and effort everyday continously. I'm not sure which direction life will take me but I decided to make the necessary steps to improve my situation as best I can. 👟👟 So I decided to start seeing a counselor in NYC. He's this feminist white dude with tattoos and a beard, that I see once a week for about an hour to talk about any concerns for and together we strategize to come up with solutions. I'm sharing this because many of us are scared and reluctant to seek support from a professional. The thing is, counseling is whatever you want it to be! Personally, I prefer techniques that involve talk therapy and is goal-oriented. And there are tons of different styles and counseling techniques. There is a perfect match for you! I went through different options and feel the most comfortable and supported with my current counselor. There are also free services and resources! You can search online for them. TELL ME: How are you prioritizing your mental health? -- On an unrelated note- I want to keep blogging! I'm looking for blogs to guest post on. Does anyone have any suggestions? Ideally it's travel related! 
What a radical idea! 🤯 It felt like my brain exploded. Let me tell you a story about a conversation I had with my mom recently. Late December I came to Miami for my semester break from graduate school. For tiny chapter in my life I did not have any pressing responsibilities. I did not have any upcoming deadlines for assignments, projects, readings, nothing. Sounds great right? Well, not to my brain. My brain was FLOODED with ways I can keep busy! My words sped out of my mouth at 100 miles per hour it seemed: "Okay, mom, so now that I'm here I gotta figure out what I should do! Maybe I should pick up a part time job! I can start looking online or ask around. I gotta find something soon because I'm not here for long. I wonder where should I start applying." "Why don't you just rest?" my mom replied. I was STUNNED! Rest?! Why didn't I consider that? Why did I think I had to continuously push myself so hard? What a genius, yet radical idea! It felt like my brain exploded. Clearly THIS was the answer! Mama knows best (in this case, don't rub it in). I know my fellow burnout overachievers are feel me on this. Where y'all at? 🙋🏻♀️ DOUBLE TAP if you can relate! Here's the thing though, people like us need a reminder to slow down, and make time to rest & recharge. So I've been making time to spend time with family and friends, even today! Today I spent some time connecting with bloggers in Miami: @moniquehercules @tinseldot and @journalistajannely at @puravidamiami --- Overworking myself is a bad habit of mine. What's one of yours? Have you been working on reducing your bad habit or ending it for good? 
Giveaway 🥳 ... ...Coming soon ‼ But I couldn't contain my excitement so I have to share a little bit about it with you. 😍 You know those people who plan surprises but get so excited that they can't help but dropping hints constantly? If you're one of them, let me know in the comments! And guess what, you're not alone. I'm one of them! 🙋🏻♀️ That's why I gotta tell you that I have some cool giveaways in progress! ❤ I think you'll really like them. I'm chatting with some peeps now as we finalize all the details. I'll let you know when the giveaways are officially available. Till then, sit tight! I'd like to know: what do you think the giveaway will be this time? In order to continue doing giveaways and growing my brand, remember to support your friend by liking, commenting 4+ words, sharing, tagging a friend, and bookmarking my posts. It takes a couple of seconds and it's completely free. This 2020 support your creative friends and business owners. ❤ 📸@linaforrestal 📍@pixinitynyc 
I want to be more intentional with my time. I am often forgiving towards people who don't deserve it. I let things slide. I allow joy-suckers to drain my energy as I'm unconditionally loving and kind. Why? Is it guilt? Loyalty? It's harder to cut people off when you've known them for years or if they're related to you. Over time, I've made progress in creating those boundaries but it's something I still struggle with from time to time. This 2020 I am working smarter on staying true to my boundaries for my mental health and overall wellbeing. I want to surround myself with kind, supportive, and inspiring people. For that reason, my tired and sleep deprived self got up early on January 1st to spend some time with quality peeps @travelonawhimblog and @diana.janisbel at @candytopia 😍❤ A great place for kids and candy lovers. (Did I mention they give free candy???) We had a fun time interacting with the art and doing photoshoots. We also spent time chatting and enjoying some food and shakes from @chickenguy! 🍟 Thanks @Candytopia and @diana.janisbel for the passes and @chickenguy for the freebie shakes! 😛 TELL ME: What's your favorite way to spend your time? 
Yeah, 2019 was one of my worst years ever but it wasn't all bad. Case and point- This was one of my biggest accomplishments of 2019. Many months ago I reached out to Paola from @coralgableslove about starting a blogger community in NYC, @thenycbloggers. Later on @pricklyfresh joined in. Before I knew it, I was managing the social media, finding speakers, and working with venues to host our monthly blogger meet ups. One of those lovely places was @savannarooftop 💫 😍 To say it's been hard work is an understatement but it's also rewarding and fun! I've put in a lot of effort and dedication and it has rewarded us with a lovely growing community. ❤ I'll be honest, because of my stressors and mental health, my blogging was put in the back burner. Fortunately, through our blogger community, I was able to get support and encouragement from other creatives. This helped me not get too off track. I'm pretty new to blogging and this 2020, I'm doing it more intentionally by planning, chunking, collaborating, and goal-setting. I want to continue creating content that inspires and supports (aspiring) budget travelers. TELL ME: What would you like to see more of? What would you like me to blog about? 
In a world where we are encouraged to solely share our wins, I feel obliged to share a fuller story. I'm not going to pretend 2019 was my year. I won't solely focus on my highs and hide my lows. Sure, there were a lot of great moments but there were more challenges and obstacles than usual. I'm not gonna fake toxic positivity for the sake of others. I'm remaining positive and honest about my experiences and feelings. That being said, most of 2019 sucked! I barely made it out alive. Last year took a toll on my confidence, motivation, mental health, and physical health. I am glad it's over. With the new year, comes feelings of hope and inspiration that promote reprioritizing, goal setting, and renewal. And let me tell ya, I am here for it. I am taking time to heal, reflect, and process. I am also making time to plan and set goals to make this year better than the last. 2020 is already off to a good start. 💫 Be honest, how was your 2019? What are your hopes for the new year? 📸: @linaforrestal 📍: @pixinitynyc Throwback to Pixinity in NYC! 
Unpopular opinion: I love the "new year, new me" attitude. I know- some of you roll your eyes every time you hear it. But allow me to explain why this is actually a great thing! A new year is an opportunity to work on yourself and strive for personal, academic, and professional goals. An opportunity for a new start. An opportunity to check on the progress of exisiting goals. An opportunity to support each other. I love that people take this opportunity to improve themselves and their lives! ❤ There's a misconception that "new me" means they're becoming an entirely new person and that's not necessarily true for everyone. People want to change aspects of themselves and that's okay. Allow people to grow and learn. And if they need to use a corny "new year, new me" phrase, let them! This upcoming year won't be solely about changes. I want to keep some things the same. I want continue showing support and encouragement to others. I want to continue being kind and caring. I want to continue being resilient and overcome challenging obstacles to the best of my abilities. In these times full of embracing change, what do you want to keep the same? Throwback to @metmuseum. PC: @wanderousKaren 
Rough couple of months? I hear you! 2019 has been a year of ups and downs. I got into my dream graduate school. I moved to NYC. I did a few giveaways and collaborations. I wrote a guest post for @dametraveler. I passed all my classes. Successfully planned and executed @thenycbloggers meet ups. Had 2 awesome Thanksgiving celebrations with @juannunez0821 and UMich friends. There was lots of joy and laughter. You see a smile in this picture but here's what you don't see: all the ways this year was also emotionally and psychologically draining. You don't see the anxiety attacks, depressed moods, loneliness, sleepless nights, hours filled with tears; experiences with self doubts, mistreatments, and inequalities. This year was challenging, in a way no other year has been. These last few months took so much from me. I feel like I lost a bit of myself along the way. Surviving it has been no easy feat. I don't know where 2020 will take me but I hope it will be easier and kinder to us all. ❤ For the remaining of the year, I will be taking this time to recharge, plan, reflect. How are you spending the rest of 2019? PC: @linaforrestal 📍: @pixinitynyc 
Here's what I've really been doing: I took another break. During this time I've been working on setting boundaries, prioritizing my mental health, career, and academics, & setting goals. It's a never-ending process I lost track of for a couple of months. To say it's been challenging is an understatement. As the year comes to a close, I'm thinking about ways to continue growing and learning while improving my life and overall health. I'm also thinking about any potential resolutions I want to achieve in our last month and new year. TELL ME: What is your goal-setting strategy? What are some ways you reach for those goals and hold yourself accountable? PC: @linaforrestal 📍@pixinitynyc PS: I know several of you have been enjoying my free instagram story templates! Thanks so much for using them and tagging me. I love seeing others enjoying them. Keep tagging me! You can find others on my Instagram highlights under "templates". Comment below if you have any questions. I can DM you the link as well if you need it! Let me know any template requests you have. #nycblogger #travelblogger #postitfortheaesthetic #documentyourdays #holdyourmoments #liveauthentic 
Happiness, what does it mean to you? As I reflect back to a time when I felt the happiest, I think of what was going on in that chapter that brought me so much happiness and how I can bring it back. Shortly after high school, I moved to southern France for nearly a year. This brought me so many tears and new challenges. And yet, it was still one of the best times in my life. So, what happened? It was a very different stage in my life. I had a lot of free time, but I was never bored. I used my free time to have some down time and also do things I loved. I had a schedule that had a healthy school and work balance. During the summer time, I rode a bike on the beach boardwalk for hours for fun. I lost about 30-40 pounds. I had a steady job, earned a decent amount that allowed me to travel, explore the city, and eat out a couple of times. I had a solid support system, and we would spend nearly every weekend together. We had picnics, movie and karaoke nights, we would cook meals together. I met @leska.zin who is still one of my very best friends to this day. I made meaningful bonds with people I am still friends with today, many years later: @thomastrs @aiichiru @lipsilis @remgou I never felt that free or happy in my life ever again. Today I am in a very different situation which made me realize how important free time, steady income, and social support, is to my overall happiness and health. It's especially hard because it feels like I don't have any of those things right now. I'm trying to get into a happier place by making some touch choices. This chapter has been a challenging one which led to a break from blogging and social media. I'm slowly getting back into the groove. I did 2 giveaways recently with @linaforrestal @wanderousKaren and @sheynellenumberfive. I wrote a new blog post for @dametraveler (link in bio). And I have another blog post in the works with @elliebearescapades. TELL ME: What makes you truly happy? 
Me trying to live my best + healthy life while managing my anxiety, creating a social life, and being a full time student. It feels impossible! 🙃 Here's the thing. I have high functioning anxiety. This means that anxiety significantly impacts my everyday life, yet I manage to "fuction". My anxiety has emotional and physical symptoms that create challenges for me with simple and complex tasks. I make it look easy but I'm constantly struggling. And even when I share my struggles with others they tend to be very dismissive because they believe a "positive" and "cheerful" person can't be struggling. I have to remind myself that it's okay to not be okay. And it's okay to admit I need some support. Mental health is also HEALTH, and a key component to living a healthy and fulfilling life. 💫 If you're also working through these feelings or any of this resonates with you remember- it is okay! You CAN ask for support. You CAN see a mental health professional. This does NOT make you weak. If anything, it empowers you! 💪🏻 I am aware that mental health services are not accessible to everyone, unfortunately. I came across this cool article that talks about how to get free mental health services: //www.nbcnews.com/better/health/mental-health-services-how-get-treatment-if-you-can-t-ncna875176 You can also just search online! There are plenty of resources available. If you need some support in this comment below or DM me! 💕 Please be mindful of the support you seek and use. There are licensed trained mental health professionals that have the tools and experience necessary to help you. Do not seek help from untrained people. 🙃 TELL ME: Are you making time for your mental health? PC: @linaforrestal Hosted by: @pixinitynyc -- #thursdaythoughts #chattycaptioncommunity #cybercorner #communityovercompetition #nycblogger 
"Catch flights, not feelings! Why not 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩?! In a world full of “𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵!”, dare to think love is limitless. As I approach my seventh 20th birthday anniversary, I definitely did not picture it like this. I believe that it’s possible to do both… and manage a long distance relationship while traveling too! Let me rewind a little bit, and tell you about how this all got started." In my newest blog post I talked a bit about my 6 long distance relationship and even gave some tips! Read more on my new @dametraveler blog post. Link in bio. https://www.dametraveler.com/catch-flights-and-feelings-how-i-do-long-distance-while-traveling/ TELL ME: Have you ever been in a long distance relationship? If not, would you ever consider one? Let me know in the comments. ❤ Throwback to Helsinki! One of our first trips abroad together. 😍 PC: @juannunez0821 -- #idrcouple #dametraveler #nycblogger #visithelsinki #travelblogger 
Happy birthday to me! 🥳 I'm a low maintenance friend. It really does not take much to make me happy. Today the lovely @wanderousKaren and @sheynellenumberfive celebrated my birthday to me. Spending quality time, taking pictures, chatting about how crappy RKelly is + bonding over our mutual love of @Backstreetboys while eating a chocolate cake, somehow really made my birthday feel special. Thank you Karen + Sheynelle for spending the day with me! Shoutout to @sipshopeat for hosting us + @drunkbakers for the yummy bday cake. 🥰 Guess my age! Drop your guess in the comments. Image 1 PC: @sheynellenumberfive 
It's my birthday tomorrow 🥳 I kinda wish it wasn't. I'm not too excited about it but I'm trying to make the most of it. Birthdays are hard and being away from loved ones makes it harder. I hope it's better one next year. PC: @wanderousKaren How's everyone's weekend going? 
Caption this! 📸 Best caption will be announced in my story. PC: @linaforrestal Congrats to the giveaway winner of the @sipshopeat @yemieshow ! If you didn't win this time, no worries. I'll be teaming up with other venues to do more giveaways. Thanks to @wanderousKaren and @sheynellenumberfive for joining the giveaway. ❤😍 #hosted #pixinity @pixinitynyc 
I took a leap and let me tell you it wasn't always pretty but it was also great...? I recently visited the @metmuseum with @wanderousKaren and take a picture by an area that reminded of me a different chapter of my life. Many years ago while, fresh out of high school, still a teen, I moved to France to work. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. It gave me an opportunity to learn French, travel, make friends abroad. But it also was extremely challenging for various reasons. This visit flooded me with memories. It gave me a chance to reflect on the mistakes, growth, and overall experiences. Today I am in a very different place- figuratively and literally. 💫 My interest in story telling ignited then. Many of you don't know that I started making videos back then that will never see the light of day again. 😳 Trust me, it's the best choice for all of us. 😂 Now, I am boldly sharing my story (on IG), providing budget travel tips + tricks on my blog, connecting with local bloggers through @thenycbloggers , and doing giveaways. Which brings me to two announcements: Congrats to @electric.days for winning the 2 FREE tickets to @Pixinitynyc ! 😍🎉 I have my second giveaway live on my Monday post for a free ticket to @sipshopeat. More giveaways coming soon ❤ @thenycbloggers is having their next meet up Saturday November 23 with the lovely @linaforrestal as our guest speaker. She's dropping some knowledge on photography skills. 📸 SWIPE to read more about it. Space is limited. PC: @wanderousKaren TELL ME: Is there a place or an object that brings back a lot of memories? Where/what is it? 
It's almost my birthday! 🎉 Nov 10 My birthday is just a few days away and it always brings up a lot of feelings for me. It often makes me feel very alone and sad when my family and close friends aren't around me. It's been amazing moving to different places and making connections with others. But that also means, I'll never feel whole, while pieces of my heart, where I created cherished memories and bonds, are spread out throughout the world in my former homes. This year I am in a new place, New York city. Away from my family and close friends. Friendships take time & unfortunately my birthday falls shortly after my move, in the fall. & I'm kinda falling apart. 🍁🍂 I'm excited to create new friendships and memories in my new home. This weekend I'm doing things I love with some cool peeps. I'll be going to karaoke and checking out a popup! If you wanna cheer me up, and/or wish me a happy birthday, give me a shoutout on your IG or facebook and tag my IG or include my link! Tell others who are interested in giveaway and budget travel to follow me so I can keep helping & connecting with others. ❤😍 TELL ME: What do you usually do for your birthday? 📍: @blankslatetea 📷 : @ajthetechnologist 
GIVEAWAY ALERT 🎉 I want to share this cool experience with you by giving you a FREE ticket to join us! I've teamed up with @sipshopeat @wanderouskaren and @sheynellenumberfive to do this super cool giveaway for you. We are giving away ONE FREE TICKET to the popup Sip Shop Eat for Sunday November 10th! To enter the giveaway simply: 1. Follow @sipshopeat on Instagram. 2. Follow @trulyeli @wanderouskaren and @sheynellenumberfive on Instagram. 3. Leave a comment below tagging someone who loves popups. 4. Which friend would you like to share this experience with? Tag them in another comment for additional entries! Each comment is an entry! 5. For an additional entry share an IG story telling us which room you’d love to explore, use #sipshopeat and tag us all. (We check you followed the rules when selecting a winner) Contest ends Friday, 11/08/2019 at 11:59 pm EST Good luck! ❤ #sponsored PC: @wanderousKaren Want more giveaways? Here's how you can support me for FREE so I can keep giving back to the supportive IG community: 1. Like my posts. 2. Share my posts. 3. Put meaningful comments (4+ words). 4. Follow my account and encourage others to do so. 5. Tag your friends on my posts. 6. Give me shoutouts on your stories. 7. Let me know what you love about my content and what you'd like to see! 
My future looking bright like this stained glass rn 🔥 Although I am hopeful about my future and certain things are getting easier, it does not mean things aren't challenging for me right now. It's often hard for people to wrap their head around the reality that I struggle with my mental health and sometimes with life in general. Just because I carry it well, doesn't mean it's not heavy. Just because I'm bubbly and smile a lot, doesn't mean I am happy and struggle free all the time. I cry a lot. Often I feel very alone and overwhelmed. There are a lot of battles I fight in silence. Of course there are many positives. I have some cool roommates and a supportive cohort. I have a lot of friends who continue to encourage and support me from a distance. I'm starting to connect with more bloggers in the area. My first blog guest post is going live this Friday with @dametraveler. I'm announcing my second giveaway tomorrow with @sheynellenumberfive and @wanderouskaren. I have a growing kind and supportive IG community. It really blows my mind sometimes. The power of social media is insane! But focusing on the positives doesn't resolve problems. It just helps put things into perspective. I'm trying to remain positive as I take action and work towards a happier + healthier life. This transition has been challenging. I'm trying to be kind and patient with myself. But enough about me. Tell me about you! What did you do this weekend? Is there anything that's going really well for you? Is there something you're struggling with? Let's chat in the comments. PC: @wanderousKaren 
A visual representation of me drowing in responsibilities, anxiety, and stress, while I try to have a social life, healthy lifestyle, and excel academically. 🙃 I am so hard on myself! I set these super high expectation and push myself to grind, grind, and grind some more as if my days are endless. I'm a people pleaser and overachiever. So I want to do everything and I want to do everything right. Recently I came across quote shared by @diana.janisbel that I'd like to share with you: "I spend an insane amount of time wondering if I'm doing it right. At some point I just remind myself that I'm doing my best. That is good enough." 🔥🔥🔥 If this resonates with you, like it did with me, I hope this serves to remind all of us that we ARE doing enough. Be kind to yourself. TELL ME: When was the last time you did something for yourself? When did you last take a break? --- I was recently #hosted at @pixinitynyc and we are giving away 2 free tickets! Make sure to enter on my Tuesday post in the ballpit. ❤ 📷: @linaforrestal 
I'd like to think people are inherently good. I believe most people are. Some may be misguided or still hurting from unresolved trauma and/or challenging mental health experiences. Living in the NYC bubble, where you expect people to be self-centered and rude, it may appear as an unkind world. But I still see the glimpses of kindness. A smile here and there. Help offered whenever I have heavy luggages with me. Support and encoragement to street performers and beggars. Maybe most people aren't unkind, they just may not know you're struggling. But if you pay close attention, you will notice there is still kindness all around you. TELL ME: What's the last act of kindness you did or witnessed? PC: @WanderousKaren 
I think it's time... It's time to get back to blogging! I have had a really challenging time with this new chapter in my life. As I'm trying to find my new "normal", I am trying to make time to do things I love, including blogging and making content! On a recent story post, many of you expressed interest in reading my blog posts. My blog posts are usually totally different from my captions! My blog posts are either informative or have a light silly vibe, like the one I wrote for @dametraveler that is going live on Friday. Any guesses on the topic? Drop your guesses in the comments! What topics should I blog more about? What type of content would you like to read about? Don't forget YOU also have a chance to share these cool experiences, like visiting @pixinitynyc for FREE! Enter on my Tuesday post (2 posts ago, in the ballpit). Thank you Pixinity and @linaforrestal for collaborating with me on this giveaway! ❤😍 PC: @linaforrestal 
Exciting news! 🎉 I have my first giveaway live & I've teamed up with @linaforrestal! You can check out the details to that in my last post. You can get 2 FREE tickets to @Pixinitynyc 🎫🎉 I want to do more giveaways + I'd love to know what types I should do. Which would would you be interested in? A) Free downloadable ultimate guide to budget travel, packing, or something else travel related. B) Free experiences like tickets to a popup or a gift card to a cool cafe. C) Free or discounted products that you can get mailed to you. 𝗪𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭? Do you have any suggestions? Let me know in the 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰! I'd love to hear from you and keep giving back via blog posts, tips, and giveaways. ❤😍 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬? Remember the only way I can do more giveaways for you is if you: Like my posts Comment 4+ words Share with your friends Tag your friends in the comments Thank you for your support! 
GIVEAWAY ALERT 🎉 I've teamed up with @Pixinitynyc and @linaforrestal to do this super cool giveaway for you. We are giving away TWO FREE tickets to Pixinity! Pixinity is essentially a venue with interactive art. It is very cutesy, bright, and colorful, with pixels as the constant theme. Perfect for kids and photoshoots! 😍❤📸 To enter the giveaway simply: 1. Follow @pixinitynyc on Instagram. 2. Follow @trulyeli and @linaforrestal on Instagram. 3. Leave a comment below tagging someone who loves popups. 4. Which friend would you like to bring? Tag them in another comment for additional entries! Each comment is an entry! 5. For an additional entry share an IG story telling us which room you’d love to explore, use #pixinity and tag us three. (We check you followed the rules when selecting a winner) Contest ends Tuesday, 11/05/2019 at 11:59 pm EST. Popup will close on 11/10 (my birthday!) Want more giveaways? Here's how you can support me for FREE so I can keep giving back to the supportive IG community: 1. Like my posts. 2. Share my posts. 3. Put meaningful comments (4+ words). 4. Follow my account and encourage others to do so. 5. Tag your friends on my posts. 6. Give me shoutouts on your stories. 7. Let me know what you love about my content and what you'd like to see! #pixinity #communityovercompetition #nyc 
Perfectly flawed? I am a lot of things. I am ambitious, driven, funny, kind, friendly, hard working, among many other things. I am also sensitive, self conscious, anxious, and can be many negative things in challenging situations. I'm not perfect. It's important to be confident and proud in who we are, while remaining honest and aware of moments when we may not be our best selves. We can be great but in other moments, eh, not so much. The key thing is to being open to contructive feedback and work towards being our best selves as often as possible. It is never a exact science. You will often make mistakes, even if you are honest and aware of your occasional mistakes. But that's okay! Be fair to yourself and never stop growing + learning. Own up to those mistakes and try to do better next time. TELL ME: What's a personal flaw you're working on? Throwback to Peru! 
Are you up for the challenge? Let's play one of my favorite games: 2 truths and a lie! I'm going to say 2 things that are true and one thing that's a lie. Ready? 1. I've spent at least one month in 7 different countries. 2. I can say the alphabet backwards. 3. I can fart on command. Which do you think is the lie? Comment your guess below! I'd love for you to join me. Drop 2 truths and one lie in the comments. Extra points if you engage with others in the comments! REMINDER: My first giveaway will be announced tomorrow. I'm very excited to team up with @linaforrestal for this one. More details to come! PC: @linaforrestal #pixinity @pixinitynyc 
I love putting my brave face on. When someone asks, "How are you?" I feel pressured to say "fine" even when I'm not. So don't ask me how I am, if you don't really wanna know. Here's the thing, I hate small talk! 🤪 I love keeping it real and telling my truth. Don't come to me and give me that "I'm fine, thanks" NO! I genuinely want to know and love talking about things that matter. As for me, things are getting better but it is still a process. There will be some more bumps in the road to come, as I deal with some current issues. TELL ME: Are you a talker or do you like to keep things short and sweet? #throwback PC: @juannunez0821 
When they tell you the guac is free. 🥑 TELL ME: Are you a fan of guacamole or are you a hater like @dread_hampton 😂 As some of you may know, if you read my captions, the transition to this new chapter in my life has been extremely challenging for me, especially for my mental health. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again as I try and find a new "normal". My birthday is coming up and that also brings up a lot of feelings for me. But things have been slowly falling into place which has allowed me to get organized. *Finally* can spend some more time doing things I love like exploring the city and meeting with bloggers. Yesterday I checked out @pixinitynyc and today I will be going to the monthly @thenycbloggers meet up! We are being hosted by @lacubananyc. @suitsheelscurves and @pricklyfresh will be telling us all about monetizing as an influencer. 🎉 PC: @linaforrestal #hosted 
Look instagram, I have friends! 😂Had so much fun hanging out with @linaforrestal today. ❤ Such a talented, kind, and warm person! 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, would recommend as a friend. 😂 Thank you @pixinitynyc for inviting me to this adorable little popup in the heart of Soho! Pixinity is essentially a venue with interactive art created by @tianyuqiu_studio. Has a cutesy, colorful, fun vibe, with pixels as the constant theme. We had so much fun with this collaboration. For those who want to visit: it will be open until NOVEMBER 10, 2019 (my bday!) and it is located at 1 York Street NYC | Entrance on the corner of 6th Ave & Laight St. Tickets are on sale for $19. Let me know in the comments of some cool popups or places in NYC! #hosted #pixinity 
I don't have it all together. 🤷🏻♀️ I feel like my life has been a constant journey or figuring things out, exploration, and with that came learning and growth. The older I get, the more I realize we're kinda all lost and confused. 😂 The ones that say they aren't are probably lying, lol. 👀 If you agree, lmk in the comments! With every chapter, I've been exploring a new territory, exploring things that are hard and new to me. You see, I have been a lot of first in my family. First generation college student. First generation American. The list goes on. I feel incredibly lucky and brave for chasing my academic and professional goals. It seems easy on the outside but there have been a lot of self doubt, tears, lack of guidance + support, challenging mental health experiences, socioeconomic barriers, and mistakes. I've gotten far in spite of all the challenges I've faced. Things really changed for me when I kept moving forward by challenging myself by asking "okay, let me see what I can get away with" "let me see how far I can go". Things changed a lot for me when I started traveling. I moved to France as a teen to work. Years later, with multiple college degrees and 30+ countries explored, I'm still asking myself "What else can I get away with?" I wanted to be vulnerable and honest about my experiences to remind you that users of social media are still real people who do not live easy + perfect lives. We're all just trying to sort everything out, and tackle one problem at a time. 😂 TELL ME: What are your thoughts on this? Do you think/know anyone who has it all figured out? Throwback to Morocco. I visited with my friend @amp1e while studying abroad in France. 
6 months left to live? I had a strong reaction to this. Last week while learning about existential psychotherapy, our professor asked us to think about what we would do if we had 6 months to live. I had a strong reaction to it. I thought about all the people and things I loved. I thought about all things I want to do. I thought about who I wanna be, my ideal self. Yesterday I asked you a few questions. (Feel free to join on my last post!) Today I'm sharing my answers. I realized what I want to achieve is the same things I'm already doing. I want to travel, love + laugh intensely, enjoy the little things, connect with others, surround myself with kind loving people. ❤ I want to explore new places. See new people. 🌏 • what I want to say I want to be authentically myself by being honest about what I feel and want. I want to get the courage to stand up for myself and not let others belittle me or talk over me. (Is there anything more annoying than ppl talking over you?) 🙄 • what you want to give up I want to give up self doubt. I want to roll around in so much self confidence it equally inspires and grosses people out. 😝 Here's the thing though, I'm already doing most of these things. And let's face it- they're all pretty attainable. The things I haven't achieved yet, I'm working towards anyways. I've been going through a rocky chapter, as some of you know. I've been working on finding my way out of it. And I'm excited to share the journey with you! This class activity really got me thinking... But maybe, we don't need our life to end to make a change. Our motivation for chasing our goals and dreams doesn't need to be based on a catastrophe. The world doesn't need to end. Your world doesn't need to end. Start here. Start now. Just start today. Throwback to DR with my bf who took this picture and will make fun of me for posting it. 🙄 ![If you had six months to live, what would you do? This is a question we had to consider in my theories course. It really made me stop and think about all the things I'm doing wrong.
I wanted to share the full activity and encourage you to participate in the comments. This is an activity from existential psychotherapy.
We are very capable of switching off our knowledge of our own mortality - it's something we need to do in order [to] get on with life, much of the time. By never seeing past this veneer we can busy ourselves without any real sense of poignancy to our lives. This process helps bring the beauty and opportunities of our lives to the forefront of our minds such that we might act upon it.
Method
1 Imagine that you have been told that you have six months left to live.
2 Spend a few moments thinking about receiving the news, how it would feel and what would come up for you.
3 Now, [in the comments below tell me] what you would do with the remaining time. Consider the following:
• what you want to achieve
• who you want to spend time with
• where you want to go
• what you want to say
• what you want to give up
Take a moment to think about it. For me, it really made me think how capable I am of achieving all these things so, why am I not doing them now? Why do I think I have to hit rock bottom or have something terrible or limiting happen for me to truly live every single day? I'll share my answers on the next post! I encourage you to share your answers and thoughts in the comments below. ❤
Throwback to DR!](https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/73393256_537203590375095_2684399918660316607_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=KrTitcTUQ3EAX9hfizO&_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&oh=b5912aa1410f4f57d81e3e0676430ac2&oe=60C62AF6)
If you had six months to live, what would you do? This is a question we had to consider in my theories course. It really made me stop and think about all the things I'm doing wrong. I wanted to share the full activity and encourage you to participate in the comments. This is an activity from existential psychotherapy. "We are very capable of switching off our knowledge of our own mortality - it's something we need to do in order [to] get on with life, much of the time. By never seeing past this veneer we can busy ourselves without any real sense of poignancy to our lives. This process helps bring the beauty and opportunities of our lives to the forefront of our minds such that we might act upon it. Method 1 Imagine that you have been told that you have six months left to live. 2 Spend a few moments thinking about receiving the news, how it would feel and what would come up for you. 3 Now, [in the comments below tell me] what you would do with the remaining time. Consider the following: • what you want to achieve • who you want to spend time with • where you want to go • what you want to say • what you want to give up" Take a moment to think about it. For me, it really made me think how capable I am of achieving all these things so, why am I not doing them now? Why do I think I have to hit rock bottom or have something terrible or limiting happen for me to truly live every single day? I'll share my answers on the next post! I encourage you to share your answers and thoughts in the comments below. ❤ Throwback to DR! 
I've gone silent because I've been having a hard time and I didn't want to share it. There's a huge misconception going on, specially in the social media world. People assume that if you don't share your WHOLE truth then you're being misleading. Some argue that the only way to be authentic is to share EVERYTHING that's going on. I completely disagree. You can be authentic without the pressure of sharing things you're not ready to share. You can be sincere without sharing every single struggle you face. It's not dishonest to share certain aspects of your life while protecting your privacy. People do this offline too, so why are we being so judgy to those that decide to share their story in ways that are both honest and appropriate to their boundaries? The ONLY times people are being inauthentic or dishonest are: when they lie, pretend to be someone else, try to appear perfect. Some people chose to show their happiest of moments and that's okay. Some, like myself, share some of their struggles, and that's also okay. What's not okay is others being critical of others. I wasn't ready to talk about the current challenges I've been facing online. And maybe I'm not ready to share all now, or ever. I don't know yet. But what I do know is I'm thankful for the support I've been getting from others. This transition has been harder than expected and things just happen, regardless of how much you prepare. I'm also not sure how this will impact my blogging and social media presence. I do know I want to continue connecting with you all and sharing my story. I'm still passionate about helping others travel on a budget, and plan on expanding it to helping others navigate through the educational process. Thank you for supporting me (through kind words, shares, follows, and likes), listening, and allowing me to share my life, tips + tricks, and struggles with you. TELL ME: I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this? 
You're not my competition, no one is. And in case you didn't know already no one is yours either. Time and time again I see people tearing each other down, judging, criticizing. Instead of lifting each other up and supporting each other, people love making nasty comments like these: "She is so self centered" because she's practicing self love and posting a selfie. Maybe she's insecure and finding ways to love herself. "Their accounts are fake cus they pose for their pictures" um, have you not learned the history of photography? Lol Newsflash, some people use photography as their creative outlet and spend a significant amount on their art. Some people want/do pursue modeling, digital marketing, photography, as a fulltime job. And making it a hobby is okay too. I know peole who use photography as their form of story telling and healthy outlet to their mental health issues. Trying to get high quality images doesn't mean they are fake. It just means they spend more time on their photography skills. "They're always traveling. They're probably rich and lazy" Maybe they work everyday and save to travel during their breaks. 🤷🏻♀️ Next time you catch yourself thinking or stating these negative comments, STOP. Ask yourself: Am I assuming these things? Is there an aspect about what they're doing that I actually admire but don't want to admit? Are they doing something I want to do and can learn from them? Am I being supportive and uplifting? Is there something I'm curious about that I want to ask them? This isn't exclusive to social media, of course. I see this offline too. STOP assuming, judging, criticizing. START asking, encouraging, uplifting. Let's start now! Tag a person in the comments and tell them what you admire about them! If they're an influencer/blogger- let us know why they're so awesome and why others should follow them (this can be you too). Extra points if the person you tag is based in NYC! What are your thoughts? Do you agree? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to continue the conversation. PC: @juannunez0821 
Chasing your goals isn't easy. It involves a lot of work, patience, and sometimes crying in front of strangers (a story for another day). When you're feeling crappy maybe you take it as a sign that it's time to move on. How do you know when it's the right time? If it's hard, should you give up? The thing is, the answer isn't always clear. We have to decide for ourselves. After facing a bump in the road, I have to admit this thought crossed my mind. It's so easy to fall into that mindset "everything sucks" "the world is against me" "this is too hard". What has kept me going is not only focusing on my lows, but also my highs. What's working for me right now? What accomplishment am I proud of this week? What made me smile today? In our little world, we get wrapped up in the negatives but it is sooo important to be grateful and remember all the great things. Yeah, some things suck but is EVERYTHING really terrible? No, of course not! TELL ME: What made you smile this week? Throwback to Miami! PC: @4everalonewithacatandmaybeadog 
MENTAL HEALTH CHECK IN! How are you? No, no, really how are you? And don't tell me the short polite version (in the comments below). American culture has brain washed us into thinking answering anything besides "I'm good how are you?" as unacceptable. Why? If that statement isn't true, why do we encourage fooling others into thinking everything is fine? 🤔 To show (false) strength? To avoid conversation? To get on with your busy day? Let me know what you think in the comments! In my world things have been good...and bad! It's hard to put into a sentence how I've felt in the last 42 days. It hasn't all been great, but not terrible either. I've gone silent to focus on getting this new chapter of my life sorted out. 🗽📚📖 👩🏻🎓Now I feel that I'm in the mental space to provide new content and share a piece of my life with you (and of course budget travel tips!) If you haven't already, check out the link in my bio for FREE budget travel tips. ✈🌎 Throwback to my hometown Miami! New content from NYC coming soon. 💙 
Big challenges ahead, but are they worth it? I'm not one to settle on anything: life, education, ect. But in my experience, not settling has meant taking the more challeging (and rewarding) path. Currently, I'm going through some challenges but I'm reminding myself that I didn't get this far to just get THIS far. I gotta keep going. I deserve the best and I'm not stopping here. 😜 I'm trying my best to be in the moment, take it all in, and enjoy the bumpy ride. Afterall, the simple path is boring and not very enriching in the long run. Now I'm starting a new chapter: graduate school + move to NYC! I'm both excited and nervous. Probably underprepared too, but who's to say when one is REALLY ready? 🤣 Well that's been my mindset for the month pretty much. TELL ME: How's your August going? AND regarding my blog, I gotta get back to it! I'm trying to get organized and motivated but with everything going on it's been a challenge. Do you have any blog topics recommendations? What about video topics? Any suggestions? 
Everything happens for a reason, or at least that's the lie I kept telling myself when things don't go my way. But what if there's actually some truth to it? As some of you may already know, I'm moving to NYC and it's been really overwhelming and stressful for several reasons. One being: finding housing! I was chatting with a potenial room in Bronx. This place had recently became available again. I wondered why, but didnt think much of it. 🚩 We spoke on the phone and she seemed like a total sweetheart, maybe too nice. Or was I just being cynical? Fast forward a couple of days and the "deal" fell through before even seeing the place. I was a little disappointed. After that, I quickly realized why the place was available again and how problematic the landlord actually was. 😟 She showed her true colors and they weren't pretty. (If you wanna know the full story, DM me!) Anyways, I feel like I dodged a bullet just because things didn't go my way but in reality, this was what needed to happen! So maybe in the moment we don't get why things keep falling apart but maybe it's just a push to get us on the right path. Maybe not every time but this time it felt like that. TELL ME: Do you have any experiences that made you relate to this? Share them in the comments! 
Given the political climate, there's a lot of negative stereotypes going around about Hispanics/Latinxs. These stereotypes are problematic because it makes the untrue assumptions that ALL members of this community are X,Y,Z. Although there are a few bad apples, this does not mean all are the same. So we ask you to judge us individually for who we are, and not attribute misconceptions about our entire community. Bottom line is: to assume something negative about an entire race/ethnicity soley based on that identy is racist, wrong, and unfair. Judge individuals for their character, don't judge entire communities as a whole based on their identity. It saddens me to see so many targetting us as an entire group and dismissing all our contributions and accomplishments. And we are not the only ones being targeted in this manner. As I travel and educate myself, I always remember who I am and where I came from, and how that impacts both my experience and behavior. I keep in mind all the struggles and obstacles my family and I had to overcome, and still do. I remember all the sacrifices my parents made for me, and the path families before them paved. I am thankful for the opportunities given to us, and for the grit and determination we've had to create new ones. I hope and fight for the day where everyone has equal opportunity and is judged individually for what they do, not who they are. Perhaps that perfect utopia will never come, but rest assured others and myself will keep pushing to get as close to that as possible. I plan on continuing to be a positive representation of my community and pave the path for others to follow through my social interactions and career. TELL ME: What are you doing to make a positive impact on your community? 
I'm not sorry I've been MIA for a while but I am thankful. I'm thankful to have an understanding and supportive community that knows sometimes we just need time. Time to reflect, focus... Thank you for being patient with me when I took gave short responses and got distracted. Thank you for supporting me and being there for me when I needed it most. Thank you for understanding that I wasn't in the mental space to be the great friend I usually am. Thank you for believing in me when I felt small and insignificant. This one goes out to my true friends who are there for me no matter what. And yes, sometimes we get to a better place but somehow we can end up right where we started and that's totally okay! Today I wanted to share a visual from my past (to continue with that idea returning to past moments/feelings). This was from my trip to Germany in 2012. Facing great challenges has often been like a cycle to me: excitement, fear, anxiety, eagerness, determination and then the cycle begins again, (sometimes multiple times for the same challenge). I'm going through a big transition in my life and it's pretty hard! Moving, finding a job, dealing with grad school fees, packing, questioning my own choices, wondering if it's all a huge mistake, should I eat those brownies again even though it's really bad for me, the list goes on. So a lot of mixed feelings right now! TELL ME: What's something you're excited/nervous about right now? 
Top 5 secrets to budget travel! Do you ever say to yourself "I would love to travel!!" and you hear your wallet laughing at you in the background? Fear not aspiring traveler! You can travel on a tight budget! Here's the deal: I have been budget traveling on my own since I was a teen. I know it is possible because I have done it while broke af! I decided to start a budget travel blog to help others do it too. In this blog post I will be sharing my Top 5 Ultimate Budget Travel Tips: Budget Travel Guide! 𝟏. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝! I cannot emphasize this enough! For the most part, everything travel related is first-come, first-serve. What offers sell out first? The cheapest options! (This includes lodging, flights, trains, everything). Don't miss out on the early bird deals. 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴. You can find my other tips for free in the link in my bio! Click on "Top Budget Travel Secrets" TELL ME: If you could go anywhere, where would you go and why? 
A couple of months ago I worked on this cool project with Pearson. For my non-American friends: Pearson is an educational company that provides books and educational materials to schools. So how does this relate to me? Well I'm excited to share I was chosen as one of their characters in for their primary school Spanish book. Basically, I played myself, a Miami-native travel blogger, showing the diversity in Miami while showing my life as a travel blogger. Pretty cool, eh? I watched the final video and omg, it is SO GOOD! I'm looking forward to sharing it with you once they've officially released it. So stay tuned. If all goes well, I'll be featured in videos and book chapters all over the US. 📚 This project was part of what influenced my choice to start a YT channel. The film makers were so impressed with my camera presence. And I've made videos and posted them, event back in high school! I have then removed them and now plan on starting over by sharing How To videos. TELL ME: What type of videos would you like to see? And be honest, would you actually watch my videos? 
Big announcement! 🎉 Chase your dreams, especially if they scare you. Look, I'll do it, even if I'm shaking, shedding tears, and making a mental list of all the reasons why it's a dumb idea. And you know what, to my surprise, it still works everytime, LOL. It's not about being confident in yourself and your abilities. It's not about knowing everything. It's not even about knowing step by step everything you're gonna do. It's about having a clear goal and going for it (with smart strategies). I was scared to move to France alone as a teen. So many people feed into my fear: "you're gonna get kidnapped" "you will get killed" "you don't even speak French" "French people hate Americans, why are you going?" And guess what? I learned French, had an awesome time, and don't ever regret going for it. I was scared to attend the University of Michigan. I felt like a puppy in a big dog playground. Well this puppy kicked butt in academics and exceeded my own expectations. Now I'm scared of attending an ivy league. What if people are stuck up and arrogant? Am I smart enough to even be there? Total imposter syndrome to the max, just like in Michigan. But hey, my grades, application, and experiences got me accepted so I earned my place. And yeah, maybe some people aren't gonna be great but I'll find cool and kind people there (like me!) Also if you know a nice, kind, woke, blogger in NYC please send them my way and tell them I'm looking for a friend, lol. Tag them below. 👇🏻 And I'm also scared of starting a YouTube who wants to watch How-to videos from me? Well, apparently a lot of people. 😂 Thank you so much to the people who have encouraged me to pursue this. ❤ I've gotten an overwhelming amount of response and support off and online. All 2 of you have been so kind, ha jk there have been but not 100s haha, I'm not internet famous. Even if it were 2 or 200, it means a lot. Sometimes numbers get to me but getting positive feedback reminds me of my "why". Why I wanted to do this: to be a resource to people who want to travel on a budget. And now I'm expanding it to education. (Continued in 1st comment) 
Does social media portrayed a factitious reality or do we just see what we wanna see? Today everyone has an opinion about everyone and their grandma. But very little people take time to see the whole picture. Why? You see someone exclusively posting sexy pictures. So they're overly confident you may assume. Or could they also battle insecurities like the rest of us? You see someone post all their flashy clothing and cars. So you assume they're rich and successful. Or could they be living paycheck to paycheck and struggle with money management like some of us do? You see someone posting pictures of their travels. So you assume they're always traveling, lazy, and don't have a job? Or could they be saving up, earning scholarships, traveling on a budget, and using their vacation time to go on trips, like I do? You see someone posting pictures of joyous moments and smiles. So you assume they're happy. Or could they be struggling with mental health like you do? You see, somehow people use social media as an excuse to "judge a book by it's cover". We have forgetten to read between the lines. I often find people ignore the truth, even when told, just to continue holding on to their misguided assumption. We are so quick to judge and so reluctant to see what's right in front of us. Some people still think I travel 24/7, yet I've talked about my fulltime jobs, life as a student, countless times in person + online (in my captions, blogs, my location is even in my bio). I've talked about all the hours I spent applying to scholarships and writing essays to get funding for programs abroad, yet people assume I'm rich. Maybe it's easier to assume people have it easy instead of acknowledging their struggles, because it feeds into our excuses for not going for it ourselves as well. This isn't a social media issue, it's a people issue. I've seen this happen offline all the time. The judgements, criticism, assumptions. Stop. We need to do better to connect and get to know the whole story, not just the book cover of assumptions. Throwback to my trip to Cusco, Peru. TELL ME: What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree? 
I'm THAT type of person. I'm that silly chick that likes to dance in front of the mirror in her pjs. The one who will take pictures at Walmart by fake flowers. I'm the type of person who will enjoy the little things and make an adventure out of small things. Who else is like this? 🙋🏻♀️ Often I've been called "childish" for being this way. At first it seems like an insult but it's really a compliment. I live in the moment. I try my best to make things enjoyable. I laugh at the small things. I'm caring. I'm in touch with my feelings and try my best to express them. I like to have fun AND I'm responsible and persistent in the areas that matter: academics and career. I used to be self conscious about what others thought about me. As I got older I realized the weird and quirky things are what my people love about me the most and what makes me feel the happiest. So have fun, be a kid! TELL ME: What's a small silly thing that brings you joy? 
Last month I spent the day with my friend @dannyagudelo exploring @evergladesnps and other places here in South Florida. Danny shared with me his love for nature and the importance of preserving it. AND we also got smoothies. 🥤😍 Today I am sharing a some facts about the Everglades and the ocean (they're both important things to all of us, especially Floridians). Slide to view. Most of them were cut off but some cool info is still included! 🌻 TELL ME: Which fact surprised you the most? Share a fun fact in the comments! Sources: @natgeo, Everglades National Park, Everglades Holiday Park site 
Moving to NYC soon and I'm so incredibly nervous and excited! I'm moving to NYC to attend my dream grad school so it's a huge deal. I'm pursuing a double masters in psychological counseling (nerd alert, am I right🤓)? This program will get me one step closer to my career goals: improving access to education for underserved communities. Growing up in Honduras opened up my world to a harsh reality. I witnessed extreme poverty and poor education. I think it made me realize how much progress is still needed. But this doesn't just impact Honduras, it impacts all countries (on a different scale, in different forms). My mother taught me at a young age the importance to give back to the community. One day (after moving back to the US) we went to visit during the summer, as we usually did. We spent days gathering my old toys and putting them in boxes in front of our house. Everyday for several days, people came to get toys. The joy and smiles on their face made me feel warm inside. Something so small can make such a difference. 😍 But I didn't want to just end it there. I know there's much more that can be done.I want to dedicate my career to help others achieve their academic goals and have access to a better life and work opportunities. I don't want to just take up space, I want my existence to add something positive to the world. I know I can't change the world or solve all the problems but I hope to make a positive difference in others' lives, big or small. ❤ I encourage you all to think of ways you can positively impact your community. Volunteering or providing a social service (teaching, counseling, ect) can be a great way to do this! If you're in Miami and want to volunteer, HMU! I can send you sites or maybe we can volunteer together. If you're in NYC & wanna volunteer, HMU cus I'd love a volunteer buddy! 👀 TELL ME: When was the last time you made a positive impact? 
I was crying while eating a mango recently. Has this ever happened to you? 🙋🏻♀️ put your hand down, of course it didnt. 😂 I swear sometimes my life sounds like a comedic drama. This happened and it wasn't because the mango was amazing, (but it was amazing, btw). It was because life gets rough and you break down when you least expect it, even when enjoying life's simple pleasures like eating a mango. Here's the thing: life on the other side of the screen isn't always pretty and smiley. It's raw and unfiltered. It's good and it's bad. And sometimes you just gotta ride the waves and laugh when you can, specially post-mango meltdown. I think we've all been there. Maybe it wasn't with mangos, maybe it was with popcorn during a sad clip or a bowl of ice cream after a rough social interaction. The key is to feel and express all your emotions AND find a way to move past it. The tears became laughter. Sometimes you just gotta laugh at yourself. 😂 TELL ME: What was something that made you laugh recently? 
I have the kindest of intentions and still get negativity. It's kinda funny how that happens. I started blogging to help & inspire others to travel on a budget. I've gotten countless unfollows & critism from strangers, friends, & family. I've also got a lot of people who doubt me and my sucess. To deal with this I do two things: remind myself of my goals & try to understand them (the haters). Everyone isn't going to get it and some are just not interested but that's okay. I don't need to support from everyone because my goal isn't popularity. My goal is to be a resource to others. I try to understand them by remembering everyone goes through their own struggles and some havent found healthy ways to cope with them so they tend to be judgemental and nasty towards others. It could be jealousy, insecurities, unhappiness, or something similar. This applies to people irl and online. I'll give you an example of something that happened to me. I had a coworker who was always really nasty to me. She was rude and judgmental, specifically towards me but not everyone. She was young, just a teen. I didn't pay much mind and just figured she had poor manners. I was told by a friend + coworker that she was gossiping about me and among the things she said include: "ugh, look at Elizabeth. She thinks she's so cool with her travel IG" whaaat?? 😂 (My IG is never to show off or make others jealous but to share my story and help others) So I kinda just laughed it off and remained respectful to her always. That same summer she started her travel IG. 🤔 This to me showed that maybe she was jealous and wanted to do the same thing but struggled to be successful or something like that. I hope she's grown, become kinder, and less critical of others, wherever in the world she is. That's just one example of plenty! Not the worst one either. If similar things happen to you, don't get to their level- be kind and respectful always. Deep down the nasty people just need support and love like the rest of us (but may not be getting it, unfortunately). I'll do what I love & continue to get the support from my people. TELL ME: How do you handle the haters? 
Really going for it 🌟 Some of you may have noticed that I took a little break from social media. Tbh I was feeling a little frustrated and confused. 🙃 A @sflmombloggers event kind of helped me figure things out. That's where it started. I got the push and encouragement I needed, along with other things... I have so much I wanna share but I'll tell ya later! For now, I'll tell you what I did during my break: -completed several online courses Cus you should never stop learning, who's with me? 🙋🏻♀️ -took time to re-focus on my goals Mm, we get a little lost sometimes and we need to take a moment to figure out what the point of it really is -created steps to achieve said goals Dreams dont work unless you do -binged on tv -ate some cookies The important things in life -remembered I rarely half-axx anything so why start now? So here it is- your warning: I'm back and coming at ya full force. Renewed and reenergized. Working on some cool stuff on my end. Stay tuned. btw, Happy 4th of July to my American friends. How are you spending today? 
"No one will accept you" were the words my high school counselor told me when I asked for help applying to colleges. And without a question, I believed her. I didn't know how to apply to college. I didn't know what my next steps should me. I didn't know what to do as I was entering the new chapter into adulthood. I didn't know. I also didn't know she was wrong. I didn't know how much power and potential I had. I didn't know I will eventually end up at one of the top colleges in the world. I didn't know one day I'll have a passport so full of stamps that I'll need a new one before it even expired. I didn't know and I just believed the negative comments, judgments, criticism, that came my way as a teenager. No questions about it. Adults must know, why question them? Later, I learned that even the wise, authority figures, educated individuals, any adult, can be wrong. This realization made me challenge those who doubt me. The person whose negative thoughts I challege the most are my own. These little pieces of limiting comments have been engraved in my mind since childhood and I work everyday to silence them. Most days I suceed but the last few days have been exceptionally challenging. I'm trying something new today. I'm going to write down all my doubts on a piece of paper and a rebuttal to go with it. I'd like you to join me! TELL ME: What are some negative beliefs about yourself you have or had, and what's the rebuttal? (If you don't have a rebuttal, I can help you make one! So just post your negative belief) Throwback to volunteering in Santa Maria, Brazil! 
I'm tired and underpaid. I'm sorry if you were expecting a happy-go-lucky post but I like to keep it real. I share the good, the bad, and the ugly. And let me tell you it gets pretty ugly on this side of the screen. What can I say? Adulting is hard. You may be thinking: "Okay Elizabeth, but why don't you just quit?" 🤔 Here's the thing, I made the conscious decision of getting into the education and psychology field which are underappreciated and underpaid. In order to balance it out, I'm getting 2 graduate degrees. This will enable me to qualify for better paying jobs that make a bigger positive impact. Oh and btw, I LOVE school! University was both one of my most stressful and enriching + fun times in my life. This (tired and underpaid) chapter is part of the process (and it will eventually end and get better). This experience is meaninful to me on a personal level and professional level. I work with differently-abled college students to provide academic support, guidance, and teach life skills. Some of you may be wondering why I chose these fields. Well, I've seen a lot of extreme poverty and need. I didn't want to just sit back and do nothing. I want to dedicate my life and career to making a difference. It feels like it give my life meaning and purpose. 🌟 I began to consider my career goals while in France when I was working abroad by changing my major, making goals, and doing some research on career paths. I also found my love for travel there and explored near by cities like London. 🇬🇧 TELL ME: What are your career goals? #london #londondiaries #londonforyou #londonphoto 
Hands up if you love to explore and travel but are constantly on a budget! 🙋 Yo, I hear you! But can you be a tourist/traveler on a budget? Listen, I love all things budget but I also don't want to have a bad time traveling + exploring for the sake of saving. Lucky for you, budget is my middle name! I create budget city travel guides, including free and cheap activities, so you have fun without making your wallet hate you. Here's my guide on the Top Free Things to do in Miami. For more information click on the link in my bio or head on over to www.trulyeli.com TELL ME: What types of blog do you like to read? What travel guides do you love? #miami #travelguide #free #frugaltravel 
Abroad Opportunity! How about a job abroad that includes housing, food, and opportunities to travel? Sounds awesome right? It sure did to 18 year old me (many moons ago)! Slide to see the top 7 reasons why you should be an au pair. For the full blog post head over to www.trulyeli.com! Shortly after school I moved abroad for work. I left all things that were familiar. I didn't even speak the language! I quickly learned French, made meaningful connections, and memories I still cherish today. Throwback to one of those many adventures- I traveled to London with some friends I made in Bordeaux! TELL ME: When you were 18, do you think you would've moved abroad for work? --- #visitlondon #london #londontrip #london_city_photo #linkinprofile 
The one-sided story The one-sided story is often what we usually show & tell to our family, friends, and even strangers. We often seem embarrassed to share the struggles. Why are we ashamed to share our failures and mistakes? It's only human, afterall. I think it portrays an unrealistic idea of success and "adulting". Not sharing my truth is exhasting! 😂 Pretending like all is good and perfect all the time is overwhelming and overrated, if ya ask me! 😜 So, I'll just continue embracing my mistakes and try my best to learn from them. 🌟 We often show this on social media as well, not just influencers, but well, everyone. Maybe the hardships just aren't as "instagram worthy", or so we think! I've made an effort to keep it real and share more about my life, travels, even failures. I think it helps me stay humble and connect with others as well. Some shared they really appreciated my vulnerability and transparency. The most interesting part is, they can relate! So many of us chose to struggle in silence. Although I'm not saying EVERYONE should share ALL their struggles (I sure don't) but sometimes sharing can make a positive impact. For me it's been beneficial (for the reasons I've listed above and also) because others can help + guide you. You're never too wise, too good, or too smart, to learn something new or ask for help. And in honor of embracing mistakes, here's a "fail" picture taken by @juannunez0821. 😂 (slide to see) TELL ME: What's something you've been struggling with lately? #miami #KennedyPark #florida #floridablogger #miamiblogger 
Your dreams are calling your name! 🌟 Isn't it great when your goals just 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 happen? 😍 No? Oh, you can't relate? cus it doesn't happen! 😂😏 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐝𝐨! Take breaks if ya need to. It's okay to be confused or get lost, as long as you get back on track. Ask for help and guidance if you need to. But YOU gotta actively reach for them. Be patient, persistent, and intentional. After a not so great week of migraines and feeling icky, I got a week of productivity! I got some things done, goals met.💕 I'd love to get inspired by you! Drop your kickass weekend goals in the comments! TELL ME: What are your plans this weekend? Are you doing something productive? Are you indulging in some very needed me time? Btw, I also believe breaks + "me time" is essential to your overall health and to achieve your goals. You gotta be your priority. ❤ This weekend I plan on continuing the productivity by completing small goals to reach my long term goals. I plan on doing the following: -Continue planning future NYC blogger events with @pricklyfresh -Applying for more grad scholarships -Completing a Youtube course -Completing a MailChimp course -Completing a LinkedIn course -Editing and writing my blog post on long distance relationships with @elliebearescapades (so sorry I'm behind on this Ellen!) Throwback to London! I was an au pair shortly after graduating high school. It was my goal to travel, learn French, and work abroad! I achieved all that as a teen. This was one of my trips while living abroad in Bordeaux, France. --- #London #England #UK #unitedkingdom 
This seemed impossible until it was done. Full time student, working, broke, AND traveling? Is this possible? 🤔 The answer is:HECK YES! Because I've done it and I will continue to do so. I have no loans, no debt. I was fortunate enough to have earned scholarships to travel + pursue an education. And today I am sharing all the secrets on how YOU can do it too! 🌎 Look, I'm just an ordinary broke chick who love to travel, pet dogs, and spend more hours playing The Sims than I'd like to admit. I'm also resourceful and organized when it comes to planning trips and finding funding, programs, and opportunities. So I wanna not just show the pretty pictures. I'm not that "ooh look at me, I'm so cool and I travel" chick. Nope. I'm that chick who has worked her butt off, saved, and earned funding for trips. I'm also that chick that wants to help others. Cus honestly it's more fun to help + inspire others than to just share cool pics (I'm just saying). 🤷🏻♀️ TELL ME: What types of questions do you have? What types of blog posts would be helpful? Is my existing content on IG + blog helpful enough? I wanna be helpful. ❤🤗 Make sure to check out my website: www.trulyeli.com for free budget travel resources and guides. #red #KennedyPark #miami #florida #redinmyfeed