Inspiring Youth: Yamiles Elicier

Iconic, stunning, bold, original. 

That is what comes to mind when I think of the new clothing line, Zelimay by 18 year old Dominican-Puerto Rican designer Yamiles Elicier. 

Yamiles has always been passionate about fashion designing, loving every part of the creative process. By the age of 10 years old, Yamiles was already designing and tailoring her own clothes, though she lacked the confidence to share her genius with the world until she was around 14. 




Her decision to begin sewing her own products was due to her limited financial situation, but the young woman is an optimist; she would see amazing pieces in store windows and on magazine covers, and instead of thinking "I wish I could afford that", she thought "I know I could make better!" She was inspired to create clothing that people would crave! 

Now, the ambitious young woman doesn't let any circumstance hold her back. Her inspiration stems from anything, from Tumblr to architecture, that is beautiful and catches her creative eye. Once she has an idea in mind, virtually nothing can stop her from making that vision a remarkable work of art. 

Sure enough, as soon as people realized her immense talent, the orders began pouring in! The first piece she ever created for someone was a green v-neck dress that she made for her cousin. The sexy gown was tailor made to hug and compliment the curves of the voluptuous woman. Needless to say, the client was extremely satisfied, feeling great and looking great as she sported a Zelimay original. 

Model: Cousin of designer

That was when Yamiles realized that she had what it takes to become the next Oscar de la Renta or better! 

"I realized that my dream could be a reality when I not only saw that I was equipped to start my own brand, but when others were there to support me as well." - Yamlies E.

The talented young fashion designer also stated that there is nothing more amazing than having strangers believe in her work as if they knew her personally. When she sees others wearing her ensembles, she sometimes finds it hard to believe that she could produce such breathtaking designs. And when she wears her own pieces (she would be crazy not to!) she feels exhilarated and professional, like nothing and no one can touch her. 

 

Perhaps one of her best qualities is that Miss Elicier never shies away from a challenge. She constantly pushes herself to go above and beyond what she was previously capable of. The words "comfort zone" are foreign to her, as she is accustomed to breaking limits and not letting anyone tell her what she can or cannot create. Fashion has enabled her to grow and become more patient, daring, and selfless. Her family, who has witnessed her evolve into a mature artist, is one of the sources of her unshakable confidence, having always encouraged her and supported her talent and dreams. 

Yamiles has already had enormous amounts of success, landing photo shoots with models, features in magazines, and even interviews on television, but she humbly acknowledges that she still has a long way to go. She is grateful for every person who has entered her life and who desires to work with her. 

Model: Mitchelle M Cobb, 34 years old  Photographer: LUXe Creative Imaging

Within the next 5 years, Yamiles envisions Zelimay to be an international brand and a household name, having shows all over the world, and establishing a little family of her own. But for now she continues to build a strong foundation for her brand. She is well aware that this is only the beginning and that there is no where to go but up. 
 

Throw Back Thursday!

Thursday are happy days! 

Bring on the THROW BACK!!

 (Anna and me before Nico)

 (Preggers and the light house!)

 (On a camping trip with the love of my life)

 (My mean taking a nap on the beach)

 (Nico being a adorable)

 (Ready for Winter!)

(Me in a very cool light! No filter!)

Welcome New Kul Mom: Jenny Curtin

Congratulations to gorgeous and wonderful Jenny Curtin!

She officially became a Kul Mom on October 7, 2014!

My good old friends Christopher Lantigua and Jenny Curtin

had a handsome little boy, Dante Lantigua Curtin! 

Isn't he the cutest little one you've ever seen!?!? 

I wish you guys the best of luck, I know you are going to be amazing parents! May God bless your new little family with every blessing known to man! =D

When Parents Turn to Murder: Alexis

As many of you know, the month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. In order to raise awareness, this week I would like to tell the story of Alexis and her mother, Victoria.

Victoria was a victim of regular, brutal domestic dating violence. Her boyfriend, Freddy Mendez, would repeatedly beat her during arguments and force her to do ridiculous things for him. In one video she speaks about one of the instances of abuse where he punched her repeatedly in the face, threw her in the pool, dragged her out, punched her repeatedly again, shoved her into the closet, and then told her to go make him a sandwich.

One day, he began beating Alexis, Victoria's 3 year old daughter, and he did not stop until she was dead.

Victoria said she stood by holding her 7 month old son, yelling at Freddy, trying to get him to stop. When he finally did, she was left to "take care" of the lifeless little girl. 

Freddy was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole, and Victoria was sentenced to 35 years in prison for "allowing" the abuse, which escalated to murder. But after serving only 2 years, the judge decided to release her. Many people were appalled by his decision.

This country has made a habit of turning battered women into criminals for failing to protect their children in situations such as this one. Many of them face between 20 and 40 years of prison time. 

I believe that there is always something you can do to get your child out of danger. I would even go to the extreme of killing anyone who is physically threatening the life of my son.

But every woman is different. 

I don't think that a woman who lives in constant fear can be expected to make rational decisions, and I don't think that they should be considered in their right state of mind. Who knows how much head trauma they themselves have faced, who knows how much emotional and psychological abuse they have endured.  Many of them have been brainwashed in to thinking that they are worthless and powerless by men who are obviously crazy and manipulative. 

Everyone deserves a second chance. The judge's decision only means that Victoria can grieve her daughter, get her life back on track, seek the help she needs and try to focus on regaining custody of her son and providing him with a better life.

This does not mean that I excuse the child abuse.

Like I mentioned before, there are always ways to keep your baby safe. Leave them in the care of a trusted adult, teach them to call 911, encourage them to tell someone who you know will help, find a hiding place for them in the house that only you know about, physically defend them even if it means getting hurt yourself, or my personal favorite, get out and get help! 

Remember, these women are not alone!

 If you see children with multiple bruises, report it; better safe than sorry. If you hear your neighbors arguing a little too violently, report it. If you see a man (or woman) treating their partner or child harshly in public, report it. If you see a woman with multiple bruises, report it. 

In this world, we have to take care of each other. Together, we CAN...

New Chapters and Open Doors

Recently, my husband and I made the decision to move to the United States early, instead of waiting until I graduate from school in Puerto Rico. However, that does not mean that I am abandoning my studies to get a better paying entry level job in the United States. I have decided it best for me to transfer to Elon University to complete my final year of college, and I feel that God has yanked the door wide open for us.

Elon is a magnificent school; it is one of the top schools on the East Coast coming in as a close second to Tisch University of NYU. I have been working on my application materials, and I am happy to announce that I have finished my personal essay.

In case you are in the process of writing an essay as well, I am posting the essay as an example. 

I would also love to hear feedback! Let me know if you loved it, or if it belongs in the toilet! 

Why I Chose Elon

By Sabrina Halliburton

The first time I ever heard about Elon University was during my first semester of my junior year in Enloe High School. Mr. Leslie Curry, our television production teacher, was offering us valuable advise on how to begin a career in the entertainment industry. He suggested that we try to attend one of two of the best film universities on the east coast; Tisch of NYU or Elon University in North Carolina. I fell in love with the television and film industry in his class; so naturally, I decided to follow his advice. Since North Carolina had been the most permanent home I’ve had, I knew the Elon was the obvious choice. I dreamed of walking around the beautiful campus, learning behind an industry quality camera, and taking notes on lectures given by professors who are successful in their area. However, I soon found that God had other plans for my life, and just when I thought he had closed the door to Elon for good, I realized he had simply been telling me to wait.

For the first seven years of my life, my family and I lived in New York, New York. My mother and father got divorced when I was very young due to the abusive nature of their relationship. To keep my older brother and I safe and away from my father, my mom moved us from shelter to shelter in the city until finally settling down with my stepfather in North Carolina. I fell in love with our new home immediately. I loved being able to run around the backyard with our dog, and I enjoyed learning to ride my bicycle on the street in front of our house. There, I made priceless memories that I would not trade for anything in the world. My brother however, did not thrive in Raleigh as I had. He was problematic and rebellious as a child and often found a way to make trouble in whatever school he attended. Eventually, when he was expelled from the Wake County Public School System, and Camden Military Academy,  my mother decided that it would be best for our family to move to her native island of Puerto Rico. At 14 years old, I was not thrilled with the idea of leaving the life I had built behind. On top of that, everything was different in Puerto Rico. High school there does not begin until the 10^th grade, so I had to spend an extra year in middle school, which is a big deal for an adolescent. Also, I was excluded and made fun of because I spoke Spanish with a thick American accent, my peers used to call me, La Gringa. At that time I tried absolutely everything to get out of Puerto Rico; I even applied to a boarding school in Michigan, Interlochen. Though I was accepted and offered a substantial scholarship, my mother did not allow me to attend. For a time, I was extremely depressed and saw no hope for my future.

About a year later, after my mother joined the Army Reserve, I was given the opportunity to live with my best friend in Raleigh, which is where it all began. Upon returning to Puerto Rico six months later, I decided to take control of the events that would shape the rest of my life.  I began attending youth group at my church regularly, and I boycotted going to school until my mother enrolled me in a school with an accelerated graduation program. I was able to finish high school when I was 17 years old and met my high school sweetheart. Soon after graduation, I was accepted to the best school for communications on the island and I moved in with Pedro Aleman, the love of my life. About halfway through college, Pedro and I got married and had a beautiful baby boy, Nico Isaac Aleman. Although it was challenging to work full time, study full time, and manage my small family, my love for film kept me motivated. I maintained good grades, participated in two internships on major films, wrote five screenplays and two books, and worked on two feature length productions as a production assistant. The only explanation I can give for my ability to accomplish such amazing things is my faith and close relationship with Jesus Christ. Whenever I was feeling exceptionally stressed overwhelmed, I would pray and remembered that God would never put us in a situation that we could not handle.

Despite knowing that, upon completing the first month of my senior year of university, I realized that something in my life needed to change. The demands and responsibilities of our life as young parents were starting to take their toll. Pedro and I wanted to move back to NC to give Nico a better life, and to find better jobs. We were both tired of the eternal summer sun of the tropical little island. Something inside me clicked, and I realized that if there was ever a time for me to attend Elon it is now. Instead of sulking through my last year of college, I want to rediscover the joy of attending school. I am no longer going to let being in Puerto Rico hold me back from the incredible, career changing opportunities that wait me. My family and I deserve to live a lifestyle of peace and happiness where there is no limit to the goals we can accomplish together!  

Published Book Monthiversary!

One month ago I published my very first book, Liars Like Me!

 

Today, I am celebrating that amazing accomplishment by having a 67 percent off sale during the entire week!

For those of you who are mathematically challenged, like myself, that means that Liars Like Me will be on sale for only 0.99 cents! 

I am doing this as a thank you to all the people who have supported me this month, and who have turned The Kul Mom in to what is it today! 

I hope that you can benefit from the sale, and more than anything, I hope you enjoy the book!

To read a special excerpt visit the page entitled "My Book" located next to the Home tab or follow this link: http://kulmom.blogspot.com/p/my-book.html

Also don't forget to show your support and help raise awareness for Liars Like Me by visiting ThunderClap!

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/17111-the-kul-mom-liars-like-me?locale=en

Inspiring Youth: Angelica M. Prendez

The message that young people are being sent is that the more we party the cooler we are. Young people are given poor examples from reality shows and the media. It seems like we are all expected to binge drink and sleep around every weekend with out considering the repercussions, wasting our energy and our time. 

Energy and time, that could go into something which involves getting us some how one step closer to living out our dreams!

Due to lack of inspiration, I would like to officially start something called Inspiring Youth. 

At least once a month I am going to dedicate a post to some one who is spending the "prime of their life" doing something meaningful. It time to shine the spotlight on better Role Models of Today!

I could think of no one better to start with than 21 year old Latina, Angelica M. Prendez.

 Angelica loved modeling and being in front of the camera even as a little girl. She dreamed of one day being able to show people that inner beauty counts just as much, if not more, than outward appearances. She learned how to set and realize her goals appearing in local fashion shows and beauty pageants. 

 

(Photo Shoot)

 

(A Night in Rio Fashion Show) 

 

(Photo Shoot with Jose Gomez) 

You can see that she is no stranger to not only reaching for the stars, but plucking them out of the sky! Recently she made the decision to audition for the popular Latin American beauty pageant TV show, Nuestra Belleza Latina. 

She trained and practiced and prepared for the audition day and she was there bright and early to face the challenges of the day head on!

Values are the core to any successful person. In order to be successful in mapping out the future, you have to know who you are, where you come from, and what you stand for. When I asked Angelica what she believed in, she replied,

" I believe in doing good, because when you're a good person at heart and give off positive energy, good things happen."

It is also important to accept that sometimes the door might close before you get there. But where one door closes another one is opened, and occasionally a closed door unlocks in time. Angelica did not make it to the final round of the audition process but she did not hang her head. Instead she is certain that there are better opportunities to come! 

For people like her there is no such thing as failure, only slight setbacks. What makes Angie so inspiring is her determination to follow the path to success no matter what the obstacle! She stated,

" I didn't make it into the last round but this is only the beginning!"

 Remember her face because you will definitely be seeing it again soon!

Welcome to the Grind

We don't need any more reasons to hit the snooze button in the morning.

 If this video doesn't convince you of the power that lies within you, I don't know what will!

WELCOME TO THE GRIND!

Welcome New Kul Mom: Emily Delvalle

Congratulations to Emily, who officially became a Kul Mom on Sep. 11, 2014, and to her boyfriend Zach! 

This is their little bundle of joy, Lily Raquel Johnson! She weighed 6 pounds 1 ounce and she came to them with a full head of hair!  

They created such a beautiful baby girl! 

Welcome to the world Lily! 

And welcome to mommy hood, Emily!

Published Book, Liars Like Me

Yesterday I published my first book, Liars Like Me, via Amazon KDP. 

This proves that you can literally do ANYTHING you set your mind to no matter who you are. 

It is a fictional young adults novel about a girl who move across the country in order to protect her secrets from her friends and family. But when she receive a message from someone who is threatening to expose her she must go back to face her past. Soon she is left with only two options; tell the truth or dive deeper in to an intricate web of lies. Get Liars Like Me Here!!!

Married at 18

My husband Pedro and I met in the last semester of our senior year of high school in 2011, in Puerto Rico, in a crowded classroom that I was afraid to walk in to. He invited me to hang out with him and his friends the day we met, and some how I ended up giving him my phone number. He called me that night and we ended up talking for hours. Next thing you know, we are going to prom together. 

He is my best friend. Though he drives me absolutely crazy sometimes, I could not imagine life with out him. I have spent some of the best days of my life so far with him. 

He loves me at my best, and at my worst.

 We spent 3 months in a long distance when he moved in with his friend back in his home town in West Virginia. When I went to visit my best friend in Raleigh, NC, he drove 8 hours to spend 2 days camping with my friends and me. 

When he got back, we were a little too happy to see each other, we ended up making Nico. But he was excited because it meant that we could get married much sooner than I had planned. We went to florida, got married by a Rabbi staying at our hotel, and spent the rest of the week in Disney World. 

We are not rich but we are happy. He is a full time dish washer at Denny's who plans on becoming a professional Rally racer, I fully support his dream. I am a part time bagger, full time student, who plans on writing and producing books and movies, he fully supports my dream. That is what is important.