This weekend is a very important one because, although we like to think that we honor the important women in our life all year long, we don't always stop to give them the recognition they deserve. On Mother's Day, we take some time away from all of the usual distractions and responsibilities that are part of our daily lives to focus on the women who hold the title of "Mother" in our hearts. It's the perfect opportunity to let them know how much their love and support has meant to you and to demonstrate how blessed you are to have them. Let's face it, it really does take a village to raise a child and mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts all play an integral role when it comes to instilling important values not only in you but even in your own children once you become a parent. My sons are very lucky because they have both of their great-grandmothers and grandmothers in their lives as well as a multitude of aunts who nurture them and have "mothered" them over the … [Read more...]
Honor Important Women In Your Life This Mother’s Day! #PutYourHeartToPaper @Hallmark #Sponsored
My Sons And I Are #Inseparable @CocaCola #DiMe #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Coca-Cola and DiMe Media and all opinions are my own. When my husband and I got married in 1999, we immediately discussed that we were planning on having children. We both had so many things in common when it came to parenting and we agreed on all the important issues that arise when two people are raising kids together. Unfortunately, we were unable to get pregnant right away and, year after year for four years, we were disappointed that it just wasn't happening for us. Suddenly, in late 2002, we got the news that we had been eagerly awaiting for, we were expecting and I was due to give birth to our child in June of 2003. During the entire pregnancy, we planned for everything! Every afternoon, we would both come home with new clothes for the baby which soon began to fill the closet in the nursery. There was so much planning for the arrival of our new blessing that we were actually painting the nursery in sky blue the … [Read more...]
You Are Better At Parenting Than You Think! @minutemaid_us #DoinGood #DiMe #Sweeps #Ad
*DISCLAIMER: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Minute Maid and DiMe Media. Minute Maid will provide this prize. Minute Maid is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with the contest – and all opinions are my own. This time of the year is very special because it honors all the moms and dads through the celebration of Mother's Day and Father's Day. Although parents make many sacrifices for their children throughout the year with absolutely no expectation of recognition, it's really important to highlight what a wonderful job they are doing raising their kids. After all, who doesn't like to hear that they are doing a good job, especially when that job is as monumental as being responsible for another human being? I have to be completely honest, I don't always feel like I am doing the best job possible at raising my boys. Although their father and I do everything possible to ensure that they are always safe and cared for, life … [Read more...]
Put Your Heart To Paper This Mother’s Day! #PutYourHeartToPaper @Hallmark #Sponsored
When I was a little girl in Spain, I lived with my grandparents. They were the ones who basically laid the foundation for who I am as a person. Although they both played an integral part into molding me as a person, my grandmother has been a constant in my life in so many ways. To say that she is special to me is an understatement because there aren't enough words to describe the profound impact that she has had on making me into the woman who I am today. I have so many fond memories of the special things that she would do, on a daily basis, to demonstrate her love for me. My grandfather would wake up in the wee hours of the morning to head to his job at the steel mill and I would promptly crawl into bed with Tata. She would scratch my back until I fell asleep and just feeling her loving touch was so soothing to me. Every single time she brushed my hair, straightened out the clothes I was wearing, or guided my hands as she taught me how to sew, I could feel the … [Read more...]
Every Baby Is Born To Do Something Special! #imbornto #MoDSquad @MarchofDimes #Ad
I'm very excited and proud to share with you all that I have been selected, along with 39 other moms across the country, to represent March of Dimes in the #ImBornTo campaign. That number was chosen to represent the number of weeks in a full-term pregnancy. They call us the MoDSquad and we are here to celebrate all of the moms and dads who keep babies healthy and safe, before and after birth. During my second pregnancy, I started having contractions at 34 weeks and my son was in real danger of being born early. Every week, I had to go into the hospital to receive IV fluids in order to stop my contractions and keep me from going into labor early. I was very afraid because I knew that babies born prematurely are at risk for developmental delays and medical problems. Thankfully, the medical interventions worked and I was able to hold off giving birth until 38 weeks and had a healthy baby boy. March of Dimes believes that every baby is born to do something special and … [Read more...]
Being A Working Mom When Your Kid Is Sick… #WorkingMom
The past couple of weeks have been rough for us in the health and wellness department. If you have been keeping up with us here on the blog and on social media, you know that I have been sick on and off with a bad cold, we have been dealing with my mother's mental health issues, and this week my younger son got sick with strep throat and asthma as well. Normally, when either one of my sons is sick, my Mom stays with them during the day. This really puts my mind at ease while I am at work because I know that she will care for them just the way that I would if I was home. Since my mother is currently in the hospital, I had to take my sick son with me to work on Monday in order to administer his asthma medication throughout the day. Today we had a snow day so I was glad to be able to stay home with my son an additional day to care for him. He is definitely better but he still has a cough which I wish I could take away from him. Tomorrow it will be back to work and I … [Read more...]
My Promises To My Children… #PromiseToBaby #Partner #LatinaBloggers
*This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with JOHNSON’S® Baby and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% mine. Becoming a mother has been the greatest joy of my entire life. Despite my many other accomplishments, whether academic or professional, motherhood has been the most rewarding and truly the role that I want to be remembered for. As a mother, there are certain promises that I have made to my children that will be true for their entire lives. These promises coincide with what I deem to be my responsibilities as their mother. Although the list of promises that I have made to my boys is extremely long, I tend to focus on the top five when we are going through our daily lives. These are the five most important promises that I vow to my two sons: I will keep you safe from harm and protect you at all times. I will love you unconditionally for the rest of your lives. I will always be there for you, to support you, no matter what. I will … [Read more...]
Celebrate Early Learning With Fisher-Price®! #FPMiPrimerCumple #Giveaway #Ad
*This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Fisher-Price® and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own. I can still recall the joy of planning both of my sons' first birthday parties. For me, it was such a precious milestone that should be celebrated and rejoiced while surrounded by friends and family. So many exciting things happened in that first year including saying their first words and taking their first steps and there were so many joyful events to still look forward to. The photos and the memories that remain from these celebrations will forever be etched into my heart. As a mother, I am thrilled to introduce all of you to Fisher-Price® Mis Primeras Mañanitas program. It is the first of its kind campaign designed to connect directly with Latina Moms and their families. It refers to “Las Mañanitas”, a song that highlights the love and optimism that a Latina mom feels on her baby’s special day. Being an educator, this … [Read more...]
Take Time Out For Yourself And Put Your Feet Up! #StreamTeam @Netflix #Ad
*I participated in a campaign on behalf of Netflix. As a member of the Netflix Stream Team, I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating. Although Summer Vacation began this past week here in New York City, parenting is a 24/7 job! That is why taking time out for yourself helps keep you strong for your family. This month I'm switching gears and making the focus some time to myself for a change. Most of my favorite shows are on hiatus, but Netflix has a selection of titles to get me through the summer months. And yes, that includes all-new episodes of some of my favorite Netflix originals -- Orange Is the New Black season 2 launched June 6th! I plan on waiting until the kids are asleep for the night and then relaxing with one of my favorite new shows. Here are some of the titles I have heard about but I haven't yet had time to watch but plan to this Summer: 1. Orange Is the New Black 2. Scandal 3. Pretty Little Liars 4. Sherlock 5. Breaking … [Read more...]
My Nephew Is Headed To High School!
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my nephew's eighth grade graduation. I can't even begin to describe to you guys how proud I was of his accomplishment. You see, his academic road has not been an easy one and, as a result, reaching this milestone is even more significant. As I sat proudly in the audience, I couldn't help thinking how this rite of passage was indicative of all of his hard work and determination. Let me tell you a little about my nephew… He is the oldest of three siblings who are being raised by a single mother, my sister. Although she works very hard to provide her three boys with everything that they need, the reality is that she struggles to make ends meet financially. With very little help from his father, she has had to step into both the mother and the father role for her boys. During this academic year, my nephew has struggled with bringing up some failing grades and the competition that exists in middle school to have … [Read more...]
