First up to Bat: Mandy Alvarez

 Simply Thriving is not only a clothing brand, but a community made up of fashionable, outgoing, and successful people who are all glowing in their own ways. That being said, in an effort to highlight the diverse individuals who make up our line, we decided to create the Simply Thriving Lifestyle Series here on our blog.

   While we're just getting started, we figured who better for our first installment of the posts than Armando “Mandy” Alvarez. He's a recent New York Yankees signee and a Miami native who also happens to embody our brand, galactically. To learn more about this baseballer and his own personal take on Thriving, read the exchanges from our conversation below.  

• What’s your name?

• Armando Alvarez (@amoneyyyy37 on Instagram)

• What do you do?

• Baseball player for the New York Yankees. 

• What does a typical day look like for you (if there’s such thing as “typical”)?

• Wake up, workout, then eat breakfast around 12:00. Head to [the] field for early batting practice at 2:00, then team practice/batting practice [from] 3:00 to 5:00.

• 5:00 P.M. pregame meal, then shower, then workout a little before a 7:00 P.M. game (abs, calves, forearms).

• Finish game around 10:00 P.M., then eat dinner [and] head home to do it all again the next day.

• What’s your favorite part of each day/ what makes you thrive on a daily basis?

• My favorite part is the at bats I get in the game. I prepare all day for that moment. It’s the most rewarding feeling knowing that all your hard work has paid off for that moment… till the next time you get to hit and do it all again. Even if it goes bad, I know I’ll have 3-4 more at bats to do what I’m capable of.

• What makes you thrive in general (i.e., family, friends, lovers, hobbies, etc.)?

• The things that make me thrive are my family and friends. Yeah I have an end goal, but I truthfully wouldn’t keep going if it wasn’t for their motivation and support. My dad inspires me [by] showing how hard he works, so I remember that every time [that] I’m tired and want to quit.

• How would you describe your personal style?

• I would describe my personal style as pretty casual. Always want to look good, but never want to be uncomfortable in doing so. Jeans and a t-shirt are probably my go-to.

• What/who inspires you to dress?

• What inspires me to dress is just the fact that I want to look good, but not try too hard, you know? There’s beauty in simplicity. I always want to make sure [that] I look and act like a professional everywhere I go. I represent the New York Yankees on a daily basis and I take pride in that.

• What drew you most to the Simply Thriving brand?

• What drew me to Simply Thriving brand is the authenticity, the t-shirt designs, and it’s one of my best friend’s clothing lines. He’s always been a supporter of mine, so I can’t help but be a supporter of his.

• What do you desire to achieve this year/what are the dreams you’re pushing for?

• I desire to make it to the MLB. I mean, that’s the only end goal I’ll consider as a success for me.

• Does the unknown scare you? Why or why not?

• As for the unknown, it doesn’t scare me. I know that on a daily basis, I control what I can to put my best foot forward in everything I do in life.

   We wish the best of luck to Mandy this spring as he gears up for the season!

   For further Simply Thriving Brand and The Lifestyle Series updates, make sure to subscribe to our email list and to follow us on our socials: Instagram and Facebook.