selena gomez – The April Diaries

EMPOWER NOT TOWER: The Tortoise Doesn’t Care About the Hare… Be Like The Tortoise

Published on March 20, 2023 by The April Diaries1 Comment

When I get tangled in a hurdle of anxiety, after tripping and ultimately tumbling around on the track, (metaphorically speaking — I’m a former three-season runner, remember?); moreover, it’s lonely being an entrepreneur. My dear boyfriend Mark reminded me that “success doesn’t come easily,” to which he is absolutely right. Since the new year began, I became a certified nutritionist and I am building my business from the ground up, not just getting discovered by a coaching program. I also became a radio talk show host to a show that has now become a network. Did I mention I’m basically the next “Selena & Chef” and Julia Child? Yeah, I can’t believe it, either but here I am. It took 26 years and only 3 years out of college (post-pandemic) but I’m finally at peace with where I choose to be in my career. I always knew, somehow, someway, I’d be in the entertainment industry and patch my relationship with food.

We all know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The Tortoise wins the race in the end. The Hare is just straight-up arrogant and clouded by its own stupidity. No, this story is not why I became a three-season runner. I bring up this story to remind all of you out there who may feel like you are ostensibly behind in life. You’re not. Some people “get there” quicker than others. But you needn’t compare yourself to them, especially the hares of the world. I’ve known plenty of hares. These “hares” are equivalent to Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner. If you haven’t read that post, click here. In the end, they will be always be fans and wannabes.

In retrospect, it took me since 7th grade to be able to be rewarded ” 2015 Catholic Conference All-Star” in my senior year of high school. I’m grateful to be where I am, and I need not rush through life, otherwise I just miss everything and the beauty of it all. And sometimes, the beauty comes from suffering. What do/did we learn? What can we take from those experiences? I’m a very firm believer that everything happens for a reason. In the moment you are kind of like, “WTF!?” However, we must abandon the desire for perfection and see through the eyes of forgiveness and of love. After all, Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe once said, “love alone creates.” And with that said, I would like to share a prayer with all of you that has certainly helped me:

“St. Maximilian, amidst the hate and lonely misery of Auschwitz, you brought love into the lives of fellow captives, and sowed the seeds of hope amidst despair. You bore witness to the world, by word and deed, that only ‘Love alone creates.’

Help me to become more like yourself. With you and Mary and the Church, may I proclaim that only ‘Love alone creates.’ To the hungry and oppressed, the naked and homeless, the scorned and hated, the lonely and despairing, may I proclaim the power of Christ’s love, which endures forever and ever. Amen.”

I write this as I watch Julie & Julia, based on two true stories at once. Amy Adams’ character says in the beginning, “you’re not a writer unless you’re published” and that made me sad. For those of you who haven’t seen the movie, 1) it’s great 2) Amy Adams’ character is struggling as she sits in a cubicle catering to the emotional needs of those affected by the 9/11 attacks. She then gets the idea to start a blog about cooking almost everything in Julia Child’s cookbook. Slow and steady, as she approaches the age of 30, her blog is a huge success.

P.S. if you are looking for low-carb or diabetic-friendly recipes, check out my cookbook here.

IN THE MEDIA: https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/after-near-death-experience-federico-launches-cookbook-talk-shows/article_e5b27d94-aba6-11ed-8519-b7e454c72e2c.html

MORE LIKE THIS: Beware the Sides of March | I’ve Seen Both Sides Now, Confessions of a Diabetic: Healthcare Is A Human Right, EMPOWER NOT TOWER: “Go big or go home?” Is it really worth sucking on bone marrow?, Confessions Can Help | Women’s History Month

Why I’ve Never Been So Wrapped Up In Celebrity Drama Until Selena Gomez Vs. Hailey Bieber & Kylie Jenner

Published on March 2, 2023 by The April Diaries1 Comment

I was never one to be so wrapped up in celebrity drama, despite reading plethoras of fan magazines. Now, I just love inspiring stories about celebrities and the work they do. The one celebrity I’ve always admired was Selena Gomez, aside from my fifth-grade obsession with Miley Cyrus. I still remember the day I received an autographed picture of Selena Gomez in the mail, in response to a piece of fan mail I sent her. I also remember bringing it to school the next day because I wanted to show my friends. They consequently wanted to write to her, too!

Disclaimer: this is not a celebrity gossip story. This is why I am on the technical #TeamGomez versus Hailey Bieber and Kylie Jenner.

I remember when I was in middle school, majority of my female classmates looked down on me because I was somewhat shy and I didn’t wear Abercrombie & Fitch, amongst other things I will never comprehend because it was so childish. What’s even more childish is that Kylie Jenner took to TikTok to shade Selena Gomez for making a silly mistake with her makeup. Jenner and Hailey Bieber went on to make a video saying “I’m not saying she deserved it, but God works…” Gomez responded in return, “I’m too old for this.” And if you ask me, she had the appropriate response.

To be honest, this reminded me so much of my middle school and some of my high school experience. These were the ugliest times to be on social media. Everywhere I looked on social media, boys were mocking me and so were people who were older than I. It wasn’t just on social media. I remember specifically on my first day of high school, I sat down in English class. And let’s just say, my entire course schedule changed and I needed to be put in private school ASAP. I’m not even going to talk about volleyball. Needless to say, I was in hell and I was lucky enough to get out. One of my best friends told me, “you were strong enough to get out.” And honestly I agree because it takes a crap ton of strength to leave a situation that it does to stay in a situation where you are clearly suffering and your mental sanity is being compromised.

What I admire even more, is that Selena Gomez still pursued social media, despite saying she wanted to quit. The poor woman goes through enough as it is, with lupus and the consequent criticism of her weight gain due to her autoimmune disease. The fact that she had to go live on TikTok just to address her weight gain is something no one should have to do. It made me really sad, and I know I’m not the only one.

In short, I’m not saying they deserved it but as Selena’s BFF Taylor Swift sang, “Karma is a god.” I’m not the only person to say this, but Selena is a multi-talented icon, while Bieber and Jenner only have to offer the way they look and their famous families.

And can I just say, I love the fact that anti-bullying is resurfacing, or at least being taken seriously. 🧡

Karma really is a god.

xoxo,

April 💕

What my 26 year old self would say to me in 2016

Published on November 4, 2022 by The April Diaries1 Comment

I recently saw an article about Selena Gomez and her new documentary My Mind and Me. Though I have yet to see the documentary and really connect with the actress and producer, I’ve always had some sort of connection with her since Wizards of Waverly Place premiered in 2007. As the Disney Channel started to not align with me anymore I still heard and read about Selena Gomez in fan magazines and on E!. She became mostly known as “Justin Bieber’s girlfriend” to me, which, looking back on it, is a terrible thing to associate her with (no offense to Justin Bieber). It’s mainly terrible because no woman, any female-identifying individual should be primarily known as “so-and-so’s girlfriend/wife.”

Another example is Giselle Bundchen, Tom Brady’s now-ex-wife. When I broke out into the modeling industry at 14 years old, (fun fact, I was a model and starved myself in the process), my mom told me about Giselle’s “discovery story.” She was discovered in her hometown in Brazil when she was selling ice cream. She was mainly known to the media, nonetheless the public eye, as “Victoria’s Secret Model who married Tom Brady.”

Now, what do these high-profile celebrities have to do with me in 2016? In 2016, I got out of a terrible relationship that was insidiously controlling. I remember when the guy and I were dating, someone had asked me at a college party, “are you so-and-so’s girlfriend?” But that’s just an addendum to the story. In the last few months into that relationship, I felt more or less like a beard that just had to be maintained, until I was thankfully and metaphorically “shaved off.” I would give that 20-year-old a huge hug and tell her the following:

“Listen, you really do have your entire life in front of you. Use it to every part of your advantage. You’re only at the beginning of the golden decade. And believe me when I say that MS was not the ‘love of your life.’ In fact, you’ll meet him when you’re 25. As far as who you are, you’re a writer. Own it. You’re blog is internationally known, and according to high-profile recruiters, you exude confidence. You are more confident than you ever have been, or least tricked yourself into thinking. One day, you will be done with being the reporter, and be on the other side of an interview. And who knows? One of your books might just be turned into a movie!”

I’d be lying if I said that this post did not make me muster up a ton of courage and even make me shed two tears. However, it’s like The Wizard of Oz. Each one member of that quad, the lion, the scarecrow, the tin man, and Dorothy all had their powers all along. In fact, Dorothy was given those ruby slippers just to make her feel confident.

20-year-old April, and for any 20-year-old reading this, this one is for you. Enjoy this song, an oldie but a goodie.

Happy six years of this blog. 🥳

xoxox,

April 💕

How To Activate Your Goddess Potential Part 3: Knowing What You Want And What You Should Do To Get It

Published on August 4, 2022 by The April DiariesLeave a comment

I was scrolling through photos from late 2020 (I accumulate a lot of photos on my phone overtime) and I found this one photo in particular that said:

Three rules for life:

1.) If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.

2.) If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

3.) If you don’t move forward, you will always be in the same place.

Yesterday, I invested half of my remaining paycheck from my time as a pharmacy technician to my friend, Katarina’s program on how to accelerate my business. This inspired me not only to rebrand Brownies For Breakfast, Co., but to simply move forward.

It’s hard to believe it’s already August — yikes! Where did the summer go? But that isn’t to say it wasn’t filled with self-discoveries and self improvement. For example, I joined a gym, I started walking 10,000 steps a day (though recently I’ve been slacking with that), and I dedicated my weekends to rest days. But as seasons change, (how am I already thinking about fall?) your goals for the future start to change, as well, especially as you mature like leaves falling from the trees.

On the topic of moving forward, I have chosen to immerse into my studies in dietetics after all. As of recently, I had an interview to get clinical experience at a hospital. Though my hope began to dwindle at around 6:00 p.m. tonight, I asked myself, “why don’t I feel any more grateful?” I know, I preach gratitude all the time, but even the best fall down sometimes. (I forget who sang that.)

Moreover, my mindset shifted immediately, and I knew I had to show up for myself and give myself the encouragement that I need. You must have faith in yourself to move forward in life.

I move forward by knowing what I want and not stopping at any rest stop to get [insert goal here].

My therapist gave me an analogy one time before I “graduated,” and it was “you see a light at the end of the tunnel? Are you going to stop? Or are you going to hit the gas pedal?” I replied with the latter.

Healing is a journey. Getting a degree is a journey. But it’s not so much about the destination as it is about the way you’re going to get there. I know people from Vogue who’ve said, “I still don’t feel like I’ve ‘made it’ yet.”

When I felt I didn’t have any proper qualifications to be a personal lifestyle and health coach, I added a CME from Stanford University School of Medicine to my repertoire. I had a goal to complete it, and I did it in less than a week. (Thank you, EdX!)

During your journey, you’re going to get more “no’s” than “yes’s” and that’s okay. It’s whomever’s loss. There will be people who don’t 100% understand what you’re trying to do, and as Selena Gomez once sang, “it doesn’t help when you say it won’t be easy.”

Whomever you are who’s been following this series, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you and if you want to hear more about the goddess potential method, book a 1:1 with me!

xoxo,

April 💕

THE FASHION DIARIES: Met Gala 2018

Published on May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 by The April DiariesLeave a comment

I never really quite grasped the purpose of the Met Gala. But from what I know and understand, it’s one of fashion’s biggest nights! This year’s theme was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”

I actually remember in my freshman year of high school when wearing crosses, in any way shape or form, were one of the biggest trends. I remember walking into a Forever 21 store and finding a section dedicated to lace, pastels, and crosses. I’m not going to lie, I thought it was a cute trend and the theme was very creative. But I can see why people were getting upset. It’s all about seeing both sides of the situations, after all. Yes, I actually learned something from Public Speaking.

So, without further ado, here are my top 10 favorite looks from the 2018 Met Gala!

10.) Lily Collins