Honor Important Women In Your Life This Mother’s Day! #PutYourHeartToPaper @Hallmark #Sponsored

    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...]

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...]

Celebrate Mothers And Help Raise Money For Childhood Cancer! #MyHeroMom #MC @NM_News #Ad

*I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.       Have you lost someone you love to cancer?  Unfortunately, chances are that you have been negatively affected by this disease in one way or another.  In 2007, when I was thirty years old, I was diagnosed as having Chronic Myeloid Leukemia or CML.  There is no way for me to describe to all of you what a shock and horror it was to hear those words.  When you are young you think you are invincible and you never expect to hear that you are afflicted with a life-threatning illness.     Since I had a newborn baby and a toddler, I did not have the luxury of feeling sorry for myself and I decided to take my health into my own hands and to become proactive about my treatment.  I am very blessed that advances in modern medicine have made my form of Leukemia treatable although I do still suffer from … [Read more...]

From The Mouths Of Babes… #YoureDoingOkMom #Ad

*This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with JOHNSON’S® Baby and Latina Bloggers Connect.   All opinions are 100% mine.       Ever since I found out that I was going to become a mother, I worried over whether I would be able to do a good job.  After all, being a mom could possibly be the most important role of a woman's life.  Unfortunately, however, parenting does not come with a handbook and children certainly don't come with instructions.     I love being a mom but, like most moms, I often wonder if I'm even doing this whole parenting thing right.  Luckily, my boys seem to think that I am the cat's pajamas and they remind me on a daily basis that I'm doing a great job after all.  I asked my eight year old son what I'm really great at and his response included, "Giving me hugs, taking care of me, scratching my back, and making sure my clothes are clean."     The old saying is so true, "From the mouths of babes…"  Who knew that scratching his back every … [Read more...]

Kohl’s Is The Destination For Mother’s Day Gifts! #DearMom @Kohls #Ad

*This is a sponsored campaign on behalf of Kohl’s. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.       Let's me be honest, I am not a materialistic girl but boy do I love to get gifts for Mother's Day!  There is just something about being lavished with gifts and attention on this special day that tickles my fancy and I always make sure that I let my husband know exactly what items are on my wish list so he doesn't have to go crazy trying to figure out what to get me.     Kohl's is definitely the destination for all of the Mother's Day gifts on my list of must-have items this year.  Not only do they have a wonderful variety but their prices are just right for our family friendly budget.  Although I want Hubby to treat me like a queen, I also want to make sure that he has enough money left over to start saving for my birthday present, but I digress...     This year, since I have lost a lot of weight, I am excited about getting a new wardrobe and accessorizing those outfits … [Read more...]