Spoiled Latina Toy Drive & Holiday Mercado Brings Joy to H-Town Kids

On December 16th, Yvonne Guidry invited the Houston community to donate new toys for “H-Town” kids and Christmas shop at her first-ever Spoiled Latina Toy Drive and Holiday Mercado at Art Square Studios on Commerce in East End Houston. With a goal of filling up two Volkswagen Atlases with new toys, the Houston community showed up with goodies and shopped at the Holiday Mercado featuring 30 local small businesses.

This first-time-ever event was super festive! As soon as you walked up to the entrance of the event, you could hear DJ Areal in the mix playing a variation of music from classic Christmas songs to Latin hits like “un x100to” by Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny. Outside the studios, you could also find the two Atlases parked out front full of toys donated by the community. Out on the patio were tables for the gingerbread house-making competition and a few of the local vendors, like Santi’s Boutique selling diverse types of jewelry.

There was a lot to do as you walked into the Downtown Studio, like take pictures at the photo booth by Lavishly Events with a pink-themed Christmas tree, fit with a Santa Clause and pink couch with Spoiled Latina-themed pillows and a backdrop with the phrase, “The world is your concha”. Inside the studio, you could meet and greet the Spoiled Latina herself with her Jefita Bonita merch for sale along with Mija Cultura selling their various Latina-themed clothing and accessories like Concha-themed pillows and keychains.

There was also food and desserts to enjoy at the other end of the studio. Guests could indulge in complimentary tamales and desserts, like cupcakes from H-E-B, with refreshments courtesy of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. In addition, the first 30 toy donors received a meal from Whatcha Cravin Food Truck. After the event was over, Ms. Guidry and her cohost, Miriam Valencia from Alumbra Properties, were able to donate two Atlas trucks full of toys for families in Houston. Volkswagen Cypress also donated a third Atlas truck full of toys, considering the event a great success. This is a Latina-inspired Christmas event that you do not want to miss next year!

The featured vendors for this event were: Jefita Bonita, Mija Cultura, La Chica Fashions Boutique, Beauti Beads & Bangles, Crystal Wood Shop, Cultura Confetti, Unique Vibes, Shortcake Pastries, Yum Yum Candy, Scents by Alma, Popcorn Blast, ChingonaPicositaCandies, Prissy’s Tees Totes & More, Jessica’s Art Shoppe, The Blooming Skin Studio, Remake Beauty Studio The Woodlands, Luna Clay, Thirty Threads, DopeCreator, Viva’s Designs, Boujee & Blessed, Oh Sweet Cami, Magnolia Lane Store, Remmii LLC, Candy Inspired, Chiropracticly Healthy, Katu Shop, Rosa y Espina, Princessthingsxoxo Jewelry, Casa Bella Shop, Bombo Chiya Luxury Boutique, Dahlia Artesanal, Ixchel HTX, Santi’s Boutique, Tiendita Bonita, Tazza Coffee, and Mimi’s Sweets.

Author

Sonia Sanchez

Sonia Sanchez is a vibrant journalist with Mexican roots that has a penchant for spreading good news. Her journey into journalism began at The Dateline, the student-run newspaper for The University of Houston-Downtown. She has a Master of Science in Technical Communication and Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing. She is also a Latina in Tech that runs a technical writing business called Simply Write for clients such as HP, Inc. She enjoys taking Hip-Hop and Street Jazz dance classes around Houston for fun. Recognized for her contributions to journalism, Sonia received a scholarship from the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals. With a passion for cultural topics and a dedication to uplifting the Latino community, Sonia continues to make her mark as a journalist with heart and credibility. She is also passionate about the advancement of women, especially Latinas.

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