Back on Track

I am disappointed that I missed the last 3 days of my 15-Day-Blog-Challenge but I am ready to catch up again now. I had a rough 3 days, feeling a little under the weather and also been very busy with work and home getting everything ready for the weekend coming up. My stepdaughter's 4th birthday party is this Saturday and I have been making her goodie bags, ordering food, shopping for cake decorations and finally booked a clown and a character. Also, Sunday is Father's Day, as you know, so I coordinated a little get-together for my husband, children and extended family to go out to eat at an Italian restaurant: No cooking or cleaning, thank goodness! There are even a few surprises for my husband lined up that I am sure he will love.

Ok, now for an update on my fitness challenge. We went to whole foods and bought some healthy snacks which I am enjoying. I discovered some really tasty snacks like these winterfruit crackers and this delicious Adriatic fig spread. I have brought healthier things to work likely fruits and nuts so that I won't be tempted to make a bad choice in the hospital cafeteria or gift shop. Working out has been a challenge this week but hopefully next week will be easier.

Did you know that eating unhealthy food can actually shrink your brain? This is because people that eat unhealthy foods usually have a diet low in omega 3s and certain vitamins and minerals. There is even a link between making bad choices in diet and developing Alzheimer's Disease. Also recently in the news: women who have low Vitamin D levels are more likely to develop fibroids. Eating healthy should be on every one's to-do list, even if you are not trying to lose weight.

The 15-Day Blog Writing Challenge

Photo Weekend Challenge: Something Relaxing

6/8/13-6/9/13 Today my husband and I went out to lunch at a Cuban restaurant and left our youngest with her grandma. It was nice because we got to go shopping and have lunch at a nice mall. The weather was perfect! Then we played in the backyard with our little munchkin. She enjoyed blowing bubbles and playing in her toy car while we sipped coffee and watched the clouds pass by.

On Sunday we went to a street fair in Queens, which wasn't relaxing at all: very overcrowded and smoky (from various vendors grilling meat, frying dough, etc). We managed to have a good time though. We ate in one of the restaurants which was pleasantly under-crowded since everyone was outside.

The watermelon looked delicious! We were stuffed from our meal but later on in the evening we went to buy some at the supermarket.

Not Our Generation

Do you ever wonder what the children that are growing up today will be like when they grow up? Chances are if you are in your late twenties, thirties and older, you had a very different life than the children that are growing up today. Kids today have devices like iphones, ipads, tablets, computers at their fingertips. They can use search engines like google to look things up that they are curious about, while we had to wait for a trip to the library if we weren't lucky enough to have a set on encyclopedias in our homes.
This generation will enter kindergarten knowing far more, especially technology wise than we did. They will be able to look up answers to questions easily as they grow older which will fill them with far more knowledge than we had at that same age. Will this make our children wiser or more likely to suceed in life? How will this affect their SAT scores, their career paths and what kind of adults they will be become?
Will this have a negative effect on them? Should we be protecting them from too much technology? Should we allow them to be kids and play games like kids do? This is something to think about.
I guess only time will tell.


What about cell phones? Can they really cause cancer? Please limit you and your children's contact with cell phones. Never store them on your body (eg in a bra or in your pocket). Keep them in your purse and off your body if possible.

This is day four in my 15-day Blog Challenge

The 15-Day Blog Writing Challenge

DIY Personalized Birthday Goodie Bags

This is day four in my 15-day Blog Challenge

Eliana's 4th birthday party is coming up so I decided instead of the usual boring loot bags from the store, it would be nice to make a loot bag. The theme of the party is "princess" and the colors of the supplies (eg. plates, napkins, etc) are different shades of pink. I went to a craft store and bought a baker's dozen of plain brown bags.

I also purchased photo corners, decorative jewels, pink craft paper, and girly birthday stickers. I cut the craft paper into 4x4 inch squares and glued them to the bags and attached the 4 photo corner stickers. I wrote "Eliana's 4th Birthday" and added the jewels and stickers.

The goodie bag looks cute and original and I know Eliana will love it! I want to add glitter and more stickers to make it stand out. What do you think?

I am going to fill them with pink tissue paper, healthy snacks, bubbles, and toys!

Finished product!

The 15-Day Blog Writing Challenge

I am giving myself a fitness challenge

This is day three in my 15-day Blog Challenge.

I am giving myself a fitness challenge because I am tired of this extra weight that I gained after my pregnancy that I was never able to get rid of. It's not alot of weight but I don't like how its arranged itself on my body. I basically need to lose about 10 to 15 pounds. Along with losing the weight, I want to feel better and look better and to do this I need to change how what I am putting into my body.

1. Less Sugar! Ok so I no longer put 3 or 4 sugars in my coffee every day like I used to do. I am down to 1 to 2 sugars. I am going to work on putting less than that. On weekends, I don't put any sugar because I use my vanilla creamer but I have to remember to buy the low sugar one. Of course it goes without saying, no cookies, cakes, etc. Ok so I had some OREOS the other night but that has to stop!

2. Lots of Water. I want to make sure I drink at least four 8 oz servings of water per day. I dont know what happened, I used to drink alot of water but recently I haven't. I am going to take my Camelbak water bottle to work and fill it every chance I get.

3. Eating healthy. I need to make better food choices. I am going to add some superfoods to the diet again and avoid eating unhealthy and high calorie foods. 

4. Exercise. I am going to work out 3 to 4 times a week. I have a treadmill in my basement and I need to use it! My husband and I are going to be supportive of each other and make this happen. We are also going to take advantage of the weather go out for runs.

5. Take my vitamins. I need to start taking my vitamins again. I am sure my body lacks some minerals and vitamins and can use some extra calcium, vitamin D and biotin. 

6. Manage stress better. Managing stress is very important. Stress releases cortisol in your body which does all sorts of bad things to you including making it difficult to lose weight.

I think that sums it up for now. The first day of my challenge will be tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes! 

The 15-Day Blog Writing Challenge

Photo-a-day challenge just for mommy

This is Day 2 of my 15-Day Blog Challenge

Here is some photo fun just for me. I love photography and love my iphone so this challenge will include fun pics taken with my iphone. Thanks for the cool challenge! http://www.theidearoom.net/2013/05/june-photo-a-day-challenge-2013.html



Day 1: Breakfast

Arepa with fried egg with mozzarella cheese

Day 2: In my hood

View from my office window

Day 3: Color

Beautiful flowers from the hubby

Day 4: Play

Waiting to be played with

Day 5: Road

Road to NYC

Day 6: Lawn

Day 7: Reading

Day 8: New

Day 9: My Smile

I know it says my smile but this smile was too cute to pass up 

Day 10: Pet

Day 11: Chocolate

How I Plan to Celebrate Summer

I am excited that the warm weather is finally here and that the summer activities can begin! I am looking forward to doing some fun activities with my family this summer. One of the best family getaways we will go on is a trip to a horse ranch in upstate NY. We went last year and had an awesome time so we plan to visit in July. I want to make it a yearly thing, at least until the kids outgrow it. Where else can you enjoy all-inclusive meals (including outdoor BBQs and late night snacks), ride horses, go to the pool, go to art class, sing karaoke, watch entertaining shows, play baseball, go to the arcade and even play jeopardy! By the way, I played jeopardy last year and won! The kids loved it and so did we.


I am also looking forward to having friends and family over for BBQs at our place. We hosted a few last year and it was great. We have already had 2 so far and its only June 3! In 2 weeks we will be having another party in the backyard to celebrate my step-daughter's 4th birthday. Then there is 4th of July which we plan on either going to watch the fireworks and eating somewhere or having a few people over and celebrating at home.

I plan on a few lazy summer days, relaxing by the pool or at the beach with a good book. It has been a while since I have been able to do that. There is something so soothing and calm about being able to feel the heat and the wind on your body while reading and sipping a cold drink. Our youngest child will be almost 3 so my husband and I might be able to enjoy a weekend getaway to ourselves.

Summer will be over before you know it. Late August and early September will already feel different. I plan to make the best of it while I can!

This is Day 1 of my 15-Day Blog Challenge.