Nancy Mendoza

I’ve been trying to get healthy. Not to get skinny, just healthy. I’ve lost 26 lbs in 4 months. Everyone has been asking me how I am doing it.

Here’s my secret.

- A Low Glycemic Index Diet
- staying under 1,500 calories ( you have to use your height/weight to calculate your proper caloric intake to lose. Everyone’s is different)
- tracking all my food on the LOSEIT app for iPhone
- 30 minutes of Zumba everyday ( no exceptions or excuses) on my Xbox 360 kinect

I was vegetarian for 1 month to cleanse my digestive system of all meat. But I found myself eating too many carbs at work when I couldn’t eat anything served during lunch.
My diet stays pretty simple so that I can take my lunch to work and not have to count calories at 3am when I am packing my lunch and trying to rush to get to work.

What I eat:
No red meat or pork
Only organic chicken
Low sodium turkey
Fish
Low fat cheese
Lots of salad
Low fat balsamic vinegrettes
No sugar jello puddings ( snacks)
South beach diet bars ( snacks)
No white flour ( white rice, pasta or white bread) only whole wheat Ezekiel bread, whole wheat pasta, brown rice
Lots of veggies
And low glycemic fruit like apples and grapes

Eating low glycemic helps you stay fuller longer which keeps you from over eating.
It’s not a diet. It’s a life change.
I have “cheat” meals, but don’t go crazy and always stay within my calorie restriction. It’s the only way to do it. You can do it too! Just start with your next meal. I promise you that your body will feel better and your mind in turn will feel better.

“Don’t ever let the fear inside you convince you that you are not good enough. You have to constantly push yourself past your comfort zone in order to get to the next level. No one wakes up on top of the world. They took several small steps to get there” — Nancy Mendoza

Jul 05

The life of a Freelance Makeup Artist

It’s disturbing when people post statuses on social media about hating their jobs.

Do they realize how many of their friends and family are unemployed? Trying to find ANY job to pay their bills?

If they hate their job, why don’t they change their career to something they’ve always wanted to do? A job that brings them joy. A job they are excited to wake up every morning to go to.

If you hate your job, make a change. I did. I got my bachelor’s degree in Public Relations but wasn’t cut out for working in an office.

But to say you hate it?
That’s insane. You are getting a steady paycheck, right?

There are jobs I am STILL waiting to get paid from. From moths to even a year ago!

After every job is over, I’m basically unemployed. But when I am employed, I appreciate EVERY single second of it.

I don’t always make enough to pay the bills, but I wake up everyday loving what I do.

So, next time you want to complain about how hard it is to get up on monday to go in to work think about all the people who wish they had a steady paycheck. Job security. No worries about when the next job opportunity is going to come calling.

Jun 22

Rocket Man

I’m headed to Los Angeles for the weekend. Elton John’s Rocket Man was playing on the radio as my dad drove me to the airport. I had tears in my eyes because it made me think of the amazing time I had making the film A Feeling Within. Directed by Mike Yebba. There’s something about the script,the cast and the crew that will always have a special place in my heart.

This song will always remind me of the most heart wrenching scene in the film that brought me to tears and really made me truly appreciate every lesson I learned and all the mistakes I’ve made growing up. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for those mistakes and the lessons that came from them.

I’m thankful for having an amazing support system. Most people don’t have it when they need it the most. I try and tell the people in my life how much I appreciate them, but I don’t do it as often as I should.

I’m ready for the next chapter of my life. I’m ready for the next curve ball. Bring it. I’m ready

Jun 21

I’m completely obsessed with the Makeup continuity App for iPad ! This is a makeup nerds dream!!!!

The makeup continuity app let’s me take pictures of all my characters and organize them by scene.

Each character has their own sheet where you can input all the makeup/fx and hair info for each scene with pictures.

I can finally leave the photo printer, binder, paper and all the other heavy office supplies at home!!!!

Best of all you can export the entire films continuity info to your iCloud or pc.

It’s pricey at $49.99 but well worth it when you need to keep up with constant hair and makeup fx changes.

Jun 20

Daddy Yankee - Pasarela

Check out Daddy Yankee’s latest video for the song Pasarela. I had the pleasure of doing the makeup on this video alongside an amazing hair/makeup team!