22Feb18, IslanderView today

P.S. GUPOT CHAMORU activities begins

THIS SATURDAY, FEB 24!

Here is the calendar of events as of Feb 22, 2018:

Poster/Drawing Competition: 

March 3, 2018 - April 1, 2018 @ Agana Shopping Center

CHamoru Eucharistic Mass: 

February 24, 2018, 6pm @ Immaculate Heart of Mary church, Toto

Resolution Signing: 

March 2, 2018, 4pm @ Guam Congress Building, Hagatna

CHamoru Fashion Show: 

March 3, 2018, 11am @ Agana Shopping Center

CHamuru Music Festival: 

March 3, 2018, 3pm @ Agana Shopping Center

Hot & Spicy Chicken Competition: 

March 10, 2018, 11am @ Tamuning Cost-U-Less

Food Tasting: 

March 17, 2018, 11am @ Agana Shopping Center

Weaving Competition & Canoe Building: 

March 18, 2018, 11am @Agana Shopping Center

Dance of the People: 

March 24, 2018, 4pm @ Chamorro Village, Hagatna

P.P.S.  I want to also add activities for 

Guam History & Chamorro Heritage Day

which actually takes place over two weekend!

February 23, 24, and 25

March 2, 3, 4, and 5

Continuing from my Feb 11 introduction

About me...Vera Flores Dela Cruz & IslanderView and my goal for this blogsite

Hafa adai & hello from Guam!

God didn't just create U to survive but to Thrive.

I want share some information about me and the start of IslanderView...

My name is Vera Flores Dela Cruz,
wife to Henry Dean Tydingco Dela Cruz,
eldest child of +Benny Toves Flores & +Teofila (Tilly) Cruz Flores,
granddaughter to +Jesus Muna Flores & +Maria Quichcho Toves Flores and
+Mariano Leon Guerrero Cruz & + Pilar Perez Mendiola Cruz 
sister to 5 siblings - eldest to youngest:  Christine Flores-Dela Cruz, Laverne Flores, +Vincent Flores, Mary Flores & Tim Flores,
Nina (Godmother) to 12 amazing young people most of them adults now,
aunt to many; niece to many amazing aunts and uncles, and friend to even more; Chamorro/CHamoru from the beautiful island of Guam, born in village Sinajana, raised in the village of Ordot, and now reside in the village of Mangilao.  Guam is a tiny island but is the largest of the Mariana Islands.

Each person in my life has been an inspiration; some of my earlier blog post mention or feature them.  I believe I am blessed. 

In March 2010, I was living with my hubby in Sacramento, California. Having family and friends out in California & Washington, we met even more people living on the west coast.  All had left their homes in our part of the world, the Micronesia islands, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau ... to either attend college and/or make a living stateside.  Note it was my hubby who gave me the idea to include all of Micronesia!  I like to bounce ideas off of him and I believe that  inspires my creativity... a lot!

While I had a full-time job that I enjoyed, I saw an opportunity to do something to connect everyone.  Islanders have an awesome way of living!  Sharing & giving people, no matter which island you're from, we have very similar lifestyles.  I recognized this and started IslanderView in March that year.  

IslanderView dreams in 2010 included producing a digital magazine and social media posts on Facebook, a 30-minute TV show on PBS, moving towards a print publication and sales of island favorites like food items and souvenirs.  I was so excited to have found my draft plans in a notebook just recently!

Today I plan to fulfill and expand those notebook dreams!  And I'm hoping to do so with your help, our 5,000 Facebook friends, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Because I love to read and learn and read some more, I signed up for some newsletters from successful bloggers.  What got me was their sharing of their personal lives and how far they've come, learning and overcoming their humble beginnings, ultimately becoming top bloggers in the industry.

The one's I've stuck with started where I'm starting now.  In debt, wanting to pay off 100% of those debts, be happier, live better, lose some weight, be healthier and most of all... work from home.  All who know me know I am hearing impaired as of 2012.  A result of multiple strokes from hypertension in 2012 that left me hearing impaired and limping.  Thus, wanting to be healthier.  

You see, I don't want to stop working.  I just want to work with something I love to do and at my own schedule.  Working from home offers me the freedom to still earn a living but be my own boss and make my own schedule.

I've actually tried to do this before but with limited success.  That experience taught me a lot and I have not forgotten it.  Being successful this year is a great possibility because I've chosen not to do it alone.  I have signed up for Work at Home School by Caitlin Pyle and Crushing It with Ruth Soukup and even working on my first book ever!   With the help of Chandler Bolt and Self-Publishing School and with Caitlin & Ruth, I'm very confident I can do all of these and I plan to #crushit in 2018.  Remember, you are a huge part of IslanderView also!

I've always loved writing!  ugh! you say?  Most people don't and that's okay! But I do...writing assignments (school days) and essay type tests were my thing.  I've carried that into my adult life and now have rebooted this blogsite with plans to launch an official website for IslanderView.com and VeraDelaCruz.com.  Stay tuned!!

I also love to share what I know and have learned with anyone who wants to learn also.  One major thing I've learned is that my journey is not unique or that different from many others.  We are all trying to live a good life and deal with all the not so nice things we get hit with.

I would love to be a cheerleader for you, no flips and splits though!!
I can cheer you on and give all the (online) "love" and encouragement you need to keep pushing forward.  Life is hard, I know.  Some days I don't want to get up.  Other days I'm raring to go but don't  have the resources ($$) to do what I want for myself or loved ones.  You feel me?  I think you do.  

Any questions?  Ask away! 

Let's do 2018 together. 

Much love and blessings, 

V 

10Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Feeling a bit lazy 

on this Saturday morning.

Let's have a good one

nonetheless.

Sharing some of my fave pins.

Look out for IslanderView Magazine~

February issue coming soon!

9Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Happy, happy Friday to all

8Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Stay Positive

7Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Is 2018 the year to 
write your book(s) or freelance writing?

If this is your dream, here are some resources to check out:

Work From Home FREELANCE WRITING

Write a book- GET PUBLISHED

Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

WRITING ADVICE

WRITE BETTER WITH THIS NO COST WRITING COURSE

HOW I WROTE A CHILDREN'S BOOK 6 STEPS FROM IDEA TO EXECUTION

HOW TO START WRITING A BOOK

DISCLAIMER:  IslanderView / Vera Dela Cruz does not endorse any merchant or service.  You are responsible for performing due diligence before paying for any service offered online.  Be sure to verify there is a real company or person behind every advertisement.

6Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

Checking in!

Are you still working 

towards your 2018 goals?

Here's some new ideas for your new life in 2018

Love to write?  Have something you want 

to share with the world?

Why not try Blogging?

WHAT IS A BLOG

Do a little research and see if blogging could be for you.

I am using BLOGGER for the IslanderView blog.

There are many apps you can choose from.  

BLOGGER is one that is FREE.

Free is always nice.

After a year with BLOGGER, I plan to move to a PAID URL/web address:  www.islanderview.com

If not a blog, why not write a book?

Tomorrow, I share some FREE resources on this.

More information on writing and publishing your very own books!

DISCLAIMER:  IslanderView / Vera Dela Cruz does not endorse any merchant or service.  You are responsible for performing due diligence before paying for any service offered online.  Be sure to verify there is a real company or person behind every advertisement.

COMING SOON! February issue of IslanderView!

Hafa adai Islanders!

The January issue was a hit with our readers and we're getting ready to send out the February issue. 

IslanderView January 2018

February is the month of LOVE.  We have several couples from on and off island who have honored us with their participation.  

Please join us when we go live with February issue. 

Our March is will focus on IslanderView's 8th anniversary and the journey to 2018.  Established in 2010, we have been mainly on social media and relaunched this blogsite last November.  Much appreciation to Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera for inspiring me with her blogsite and being the web master for PIBBA Guam, PIBBA International, both the Guam Poets Club & Micronesia Poets Club.  Saina Ma'ase Dr. Rivera! 

Our feature line up is coming along nicely.  Please email me if you have someone in mind whom we may want to feature.  Islanders from Guam, NMI, Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Hawaii are all qualified. 

You do not need to be residing on your island nation.  You can be living anywhere in the world and we can feature you as long as you come from the islands. 

We want to show off and promote our islander cultures to the world!

February - Islander Couples CLOSED
March - anniversary edition; Islanderview through the years...2010-2018 & Guam History & Chamorro Heritage Day CLOSED
April- TBA; any recommendaions?
May - features on islander moms, grandmas, stepmoms!
June - features summer activities that islanders LOVE
July - Independence Day and Liberation Day
August - TBA; any recommendations?
September - TBA; Labor Day
October- TBA; Halloween
November- Giving Thanks throughout Micronesia
December - Christmas Islander Style

Information required:
1.  Full Name
2.  Island Nation
3.  Profession, if any (need not be a professional)
4.  Agrees to be featured in Islanderview
5.  Photos will be requested.

I may be requesting an interview from some of our main supporters on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  Some of you have been a ISLANDERVIEW FRIENDS from the beginning!

SAINA MA'ASE & Thank you!

5Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Today is a special. 

I turn 50 today!

To celebrate this

awesome occasion,

I decided to list 50 things

I want to do within one year;

February 5, 2018 to

February 4, 2019.

STILL WORKING ON IT!

Here's my FIFTY at 50

bucket list

1.  Pay of 50% of my debt by December.

2.  Attend Sunday mass at least 50 Sundays. 

3.  Pray 10 novenas with the help of PrayMoreNovenas.com

4.  Let go of a floating lantern.

5.  Lose 50 pounds.

6.  Be able to see my abs.

7.  Take a photo each day of my 50th year of life.

8.  Shoot a gun.

9.  Enjoy Walk behind a waterfall.

10. Enjoy 10 sunrises.

11. Enjoy Watch 10 sunsets.

12. Enjoy a ride on a boat around the island.

13. Visit each of the islands in the Micronesia region

14.  Speak my native language.

15.  Publish 12 issues of Islanderview magazine.

16.  Publish my first book ever.

17.  Learn to swim.

18.  hmmm

Any recommendations? 

What do you think?

I just felt it important

to celebrate

my making it to the

big FIVE-O. 

It is a privilege and

a blessing many

do not enjoy.

4Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

Happy Sunday!

Today I'm looking at colors and

how they affect us. 

I found some "color psychology" pins on Pinterest

which is very interesting!  It seems they have something

for everything on Pinterest!

I am a visual person so

my surroundings affect my mood.

It helps to have soothing colors to keep me calm

but I love red and orange. 

As a teen, I loved black, white and grey! hmmm 

As I have grown older, I now love all the colors!

Here are some pins to get you thinking about this.

Does color help you choose what you do each day?

Can it help you with your 2018 goals?

Do you agree?  Tell us what you think!

Enjoy the colors we are surrounded with

in our tropical paradise home.

2Feb18, IslanderView Inspiration & Quote of the Day

All photos/pictures are from Pinterest.com or my own.

FRIDAY!!

Love it when the weekend

comes around!

DON'T YOU?!

Have an awesome FRIDAY, Islanders!