As always, we can not host a birthday party around here without a specified theme. Diego insisted on a Space theme this year (I wanted Asian/Martial Arts theme but it was not my party as Jose reminded me). [Read more…]
Space Theme Birthday Party
Posted by on February 23, 2012 Leave a Comment
Our Favorite Kid Apps
Posted by on February 16, 2012 Leave a Comment
My friend Tiz just got an iPhone! Welcome Tiz! She has two little girls and wanted to know what are our favorite iPhone applications for kids. Now, don’t get me wrong, Angry Birds will definitely keep your little one still at the restaurant while waiting for food! But there are so many educational and fun apps out there! Why not have them learn while glued to your phone?
My suggestions have been approved by Diego and I am a little guilty of not having many left on my phone at this point. This assignment has me hunting to re-install old ones that Diego loved and some new ones that Santi can be introduced to soon. [Read more…]
Five years…
Posted by on February 14, 2012 Leave a Comment
My big boy turned 5 yesterday. I have been planning his birthday for about a month now and my thoughts have been filled with mixed emotions. Of course, I am thankful he is happy and healthy, a good boy and super clever. But I’m also a little melancholy over how fast the time has passed and that always lingering question, “what have I accomplished in the last five years??!?” The obvious, as everyone points out and I think it too, I’ve raised this amazing boy and for the past 14 months his baby brother. As I type, in my belly, my third baby boy is enjoying the rush of whatever portion he gets of my egg and cheese bagel sandwich. I know what it is to be a mom but I continue my journey of what makes me…me. [Read more…]
Gratitude
Posted by on February 10, 2012 Leave a Comment
This past summer, our friends Luis and Vane joined us for a little beach get-away to Cape May, New Jersey. Bless their hearts for being brave and spending their vacation with a family of four! We rented a big SUV and drove for about three hours to the shore.
We ate, drank and exercised too! For some reason, this morning I remembered that while Vane and I did a workout on the beach, we did a little breathing exercise and somehow it flowed into paying gratitude to our bodies, our minds and…the ocean. I used to work for The Chopra Center in New York City years ago and I remember listening to Deepak Chopra talk about how nothing is a coincidence. Things align themselves in a way that is supposed to work for you. We need to take in the beauty of everything…see it, feel it, savor it and be grateful for it. That is why I love this latest article in the Dining and Wine section of the New York Times that published two days ago. Mindful Eating as Food for Thought is the anti-diet, it encourages people to [Read more…]
One Kind Act…Everyday
Posted by on February 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
I just discovered this new blog! I came across this story about a dad who decided to do one act of kindness a day as his 2012 New Year’s resolution. Ryan Garcia became a new dad and wanted to become a better person. I love stories like this! He has already delivered blankets and food to a church, cleared snow off all the cars on his block, and wrote a thank you note to a former teacher. Check out his blog to read the other 37!
xoxo
The Boobie Beanie
Posted by on February 8, 2012 Leave a Comment
The Boobie Beanie: $4.95 from Etsy seller SarasStitches!
This is doing the Facebook rounds and I stole it from my friend Pablo. I have nursed my 2 boys in public and as discreetly as possible. But with the news back in December about the Target protests or “nurse-ins”, I thought what a great way to take a stand. My 3rd baby is kicking while I look at this image. What a great shower gift! hint hint wink wink.
xoxo
Book Review #1
Posted by on February 8, 2012 Leave a Comment
I might be a little behind here, but if you have kids, you have to read this book. Outliers was published in 2008! Where have I been? I saw everyone on the subway, at Starbucks and on park benches reading Gladwell’s other two bestsellers, The Tipping Point and Blink, but I had not heard about Outliers until two separate friends (also parents) recommended the book. We were all discussing the usual kid stuff: schools, having baby number 3, how guilty it made us feel to have “less” time for children born after the first, etc. I was in the middle of reading this “story of success” when we received interesting news about our almost 5 year old son Diego. His teacher and director of the school pretty much said, “your kid is in preschool and doing second grade work. Have you thought about alternative programs for him?” We were blown away and after reading this book, our heads cleared up a lot. In a nutshell, here is what Gladwell has to say. [Read more…]
Tip for Your Next Gathering
Posted by on February 8, 2012 Leave a Comment
It doesn’t have to be expensive to ditch this…
For this…
So you are feeling a little down. You decide to brighten your spirits and have a few. You invite a few friends over and you bring out the…SOLO cups??? You have to act fancy to feel fancy to be fancy. [Read more…]
Average Isn’t Good Enough Anymore
Posted by on February 8, 2012 Leave a Comment
I read things weeks after they have been published. Sometimes years! But, I’m still going to pass it on in case you missed it. The New York Times published this opinion piece a couple of weeks ago and the title caught my eye instantly. “Average is Over”. You can’t be average anymore to keep up in this country. If you want to eat well, live in a nice neighborhood, you have to earn a good salary. Jobs are dwindling and if you lose your job to China, then what? It’s all about education. It always will be. How can we assure that our children are getting the best education possible? It certainly isn’t happening in Ohio right now! A school district in Garfield Heights, Ohio is ending the school day at 1:15 and if your child qualifies for free lunch, they’ll send him home with a sandwich! How sad is that? Budget cuts! How can we get ahead if states and federal government can’t spend money on our children? Thoughts? I’m sad for the children that have no say.
xoxo
What I Have in My Car Now
Posted by on February 1, 2012 Leave a Comment
I can’t take anymore booty music…in the car. Diego, who will be 5 soon, listens to every single lyric now. I don’t want to explain what Kanye means when he says he will have “alien sex” with Katy Perry. No thanks. My good friend Howard recently recommended some music for kids on his blog. This was so helpful and I now avoid a potential disaster by not trying to switch the station as David Guetta mixes what Turns (Him) On. I decided I will make our drives to school and to Tae Kwon Do kid-friendly, happy and educational.
Here is what I have in the car now…
Classic. Good old music about “love” as Diego says. The first five songs in the album, “Love Me Do”, “From Me to You”, “She Loves You”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, and “Can’t Buy Me Love” are the ones we play most often. Nothing better than introducing The Beatles at a young age…
[Read more…]
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