.. December 12, Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe ..

"Am I not here, me that I am your mother"

December 12, Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is one of the most important and spectacular days that is celebrated in Mexico & amongst believers around the world. On this day people from all parts of Mexico make their way to the Basilica in the Mexico city, where they will celebrate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. 

This day is a national fiesta, which is celebrated with traditional music, folkloric dances and songs dedicated to the Virgin. Amongst the thousands of bouquets of flowers that pilgrims bring in honor of the Virgin De Guadalupe, you can feel the love and thankfulness that each person is feeling. 

This day is of great importance to Mexicans and believers around the world. It is a day filled with gratefulness, love, compassion and it is hard to put into words but honestly when you are celebrating you are filled with peace within yourself. 

Frida's first Dia De la Virgin De Guadalupe celebration.

This is a very special day for us, it is of custom to dress little ones in traditional clothing and bring either flowers or a small offering to the church to present our Virgencita as a way of thanking her. 

Since Frida was born we have been showing her this beautiful tradition, she now 5 & loves this celebration. 

She gets to see first hand her culture, her faith, and her love for "Mama Lupita" as she refers to the Virgin. It is an aspect of her culture she gets to partake in, choose what offering we will be taking and simply learn more about her Mexican roots. 

Every year we look forward to December 12 to honor our Virgencita, we gather as a family filled with faith, thankfulness and love in our hearts to not only show our gratitude but to grow our faith in our family, in our home and in our hearts. 

Aztec folk dance in honor of Our Lady Of Guadalupe.

.. Dia De los Muertos: A day of remembrance..

Dia De Los Muertos also known as Day Of The Dead, is a Mexican tradition where families create altars in remembrance of loved ones that are no longer with us. Altars that are decorated with favorites items, foods and the loved one(s) picture.

Now a mom, This is one tradition that I absolutely love teaching Frida about, her curiosity and intrigue about it is something I love to see. When we are getting ready to build our altar, I tell her stories about loved ones she sadly did not meet but knows of due to this beautiful custom, she loves to help in getting the items we will be placing on the altar. 

I remember when Frida first asked my about Why we celebrate Dia De Los Muertos? 

It caught me off guard and honestly I was a little confused, how do I explain DEATH to her, thats even though it is a natural part of life, it is still something we tend to shy away from the subject.
Before I could answer her she told me " Mommy, we celebrate Dia De Los Muertos to remember our family that we love so much!" 

I answered her "Yes, we love our Family and even though they are no longer with us, we celebrate our love for them."

Every year as soon as we start getting ready to create our altar, Frida loves to help in getting things prepared, we go buy favorite food items, flowers and other things we will place in the altar. 

While we create the altar we play music each one of our loved ones enjoyed listening to, share stories of our loved ones and creating new memories with each other. 

" The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living."

Dia de los Muertos is special to myself and has become special to Frida, we will keep setting up our altar every October 31-Nov.2. We will remember our loved ones with much love and understand that even though there presence is no longer with us their love will carry on.

" When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure."

And just like that our family grew by one....

Maverick, Our 1st fur baby!

 We are proud owners of a 4 year old bully breed pup. Maverick is an absolute loving, caring,  protective and cuddle loving pup. He does not measure his size nor his weight (he weighs roughly 100 lbs!); he just knows that he is our family and he loves us!

Well, My family and I absolutely love animals. Frida has repeatedly told us that she wants to own a house where she will have all types of animals and she will take care of them if they get sick. She said "I will teach them to be a family, love each other and be happy." My heart fills with joy overtime she tells me this and I hope her dream of owning this house comes true. 

If it was up to her our current apartment would be filled with doggies, big ones, little ones, you name it she wants all of the doggies. 

Frida convinced my husband real quick, which is no surprise because if it were up to him we would have a dog filled with dogs as well. Don't get me wrong I would love to have all the doggies as well but not in an apartment, especially a NYC sized apartment. I caved in and next thing i know we were on our way to adopt a puppy, not any puppy but a Chihuahua puppy! 

We already had her name picked out and everything! We were all excited to bring Miley home with us and shower her with love!

Frida with Miley, on our way home from adopting her. 

I was a little nervous with the size difference between Miley and Maverick but Maverick is such a loving pup himself the nervousness quickly faded away. Maverick was eager in meeting her and we slowly introduced them to each other and they been inseparable since day one. They take naps together, sleep on the same bed even though they each have their own and Maverick has taught Miley the Do's and Don'ts of the house. 

He is very protective of her when they go out for walks together, both are protective of their sister Frida and both shower each other with affection as well as us.

Maverick & Miley.
My M & M!

Sleeping together is their favorite hobby! Haha!

Maverick teaching Miley how to roll around in the grass. 

Our family has now grown by one and we couldn't be happier! 

Get ready to be read the adventures of Frida and her fur-siblings!

The force will be with you. Stars Wars Rebels season 3 is releasing today!

Stars Wars Rebels season 3 releases today! This action packed collection delivers the full 22 episodes plus never before seen bonus material. Star Wars Rebels season 3 brings some of the most critically acclaimed Star wars storytelling to date, with engaging characters, harrowing conflicts, and out os this world battle scenes on par with those seen in the films.

Star Wars Rebels season 3 is avaliable today, August 29! 

Get your copy today and May the force be with you! 

As Star Wars Fans we decided to have a little extra fun in before watching Star Wars Rebels season 3 by decorating our very Storm trooper mask.

Degin A Vinyl Strom Trooper is the perfect addition for any Star Wars fan, what better than being able to decorate your very own Storm Trooper mask in whatever way you choose. 

It comes with everything you need, markers, pencils and stickers to help your galactic begin come to life. 

Frida was very excited to decorate her own Storm Tropper, she went straight for the markers and decided where she would use each color. She asked for my help to place the stickers on the top of the helmet, she said that way they can read from the sky that he is a storm trooper, Lol.

And here is the final product:

Make sure you grab your copy today!

May the force be with you!

Disclaimer: We received product and film in exchange for this write-up. All opinions are our own!

Avoid the headaches when looking for the right car.

Disclaimer: The following is a sponsored post. Like always opinions are 100% my own. 

Finding the right car can be overwhelming and stressful sometimes, you never want to make a rushed   final decision when it comes to picking the right car for you. With all the different resources and competing sites that offer what may seem like the right information, finding the right car will seem long and challenging. 

Well fear no more, Im here to offer you a simple tip to avoid those dreadful headaches!

First things first, most important tip I can give you is RESEARCH!! You can't do anything without researching and knowing things about the car you plan to purchase, such as, make, model and price. 

This is where Cars.com will be your best tool in learning important details about your potential purchase. 

Cars.com offers information that provide you with everything you need to make an informed purchase, they provide extensive reviews on a different variety of cars. Key point about their site is that they don't hide the bad reviews of cars, if something is rated poorly, hasn't performed well and is not a good purchase they aren't afraid to let you know. If you're a first time buyer or just looking for another car, I highly suggest you look into Cars.com, the research you do will help you purchase the best car at the best price!

When purchasing a car it is important to be educated about the type of car you're planning to purchase, weather if you plan to purchase off a dealer or website, it is crucial to show that you know what you are talking about or what they are telling you about the car. The research you do will help you learn the true value and worth of the car(s) you are shopping for, in doing so you will be able to negotiate the right price for you.

One last thing, take your TIME! Purchasing a car weather its your first or not, should be made wisely and un rushed. There are so many models, editions, brands that all offer different features on there cars. You don't want to feel un happy and fell like you overpaid for your car. Take your time and do your research, this will pay out in the long run. Take advantage of all the resources that are available to help you in your purchase of your car. 

Avoid the headaches and smile while driving your new car! 

I lost myself?

I never have felt more complete than the moment I became a mom. The moment she was placed in my arms was the precise moment I felt more alive than ever, my heart, my being was complete. 

Honestly there aren't any words to describe the emotions that over take you at that moment, friends who aren't parents yet ask me to describe it but words always come short.

I just state "You feel complete." 

These past 4 years that have gone by watching my little one grow into the smart, brave, curious, funny, sassy and beautiful little lady she is have been wonderful, crazy, overwhelming and beautiful and definitely looking forward to the years to come. 

While on this mommy journey, I kinda of feel that I lost myself. Not only was I a new mommy but also a wife. Mommy & wife duties were keeping me on my toes, trying to be the best version of these new titles that I earned. 

But was that all I was? Was I wrong for feeling that way? Was I the only one who ever felt lost?

I felt like I couldn't talk to other moms as I felt like they would judge me or make me feel bad for even thinking this. I remember this one specific night where I couldn't fall asleep and stumbled upon a blog which for the life of me I can't remember the name of, well this blog had a post talking about the same thing I was feeling. 

I recall feeling a sense of relief knowing I was not alone, knowing that it was okay to feel anxious and/or lost in this new chapter of my life. 

Do I still feel lost at times? YES

Is it ok to feel lost? YES

Motherhood, Wife-hood (lol) and all new chapters will bring forward new emotions or ones you felt but will feel stronger are ok. It's ok to feel overwhelmed at times, just take a step back and know you're not alone. 

#MomTrendsSchool helping moms get ready for another school year.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to attend the Momtrends Back to School bash and received a gift bag in exchange.

It's almost that time, summer adventures are coming to an end and kids will soon return to their classrooms to begin another year of learning. 

This year I will be up close and personal with getting ready to send off my little to school, as she will start Pre-k this fall! 

Honestly I am so mixed with emotions, excited for my Frida to begin a new & exciting chapter but also filled with immense anxiety and sadness as she will no longer be my partner in crime throughout my morning shenanigans!!  (Commence mom hysteria here!! Lol) 

Frida is excited to start Pre-k as she says "I will be fine Mommy, I will learn new things & make new friends!" this gives me comfort to see her excitement to learn and hopefully there will be no meltdown come the first day of school.

This years MomTrends Back To school to event was definitely one I did not want to miss, any tips and items I can learn about to help both my little and I be more prepared for school gives helps this mom feel a little more at ease.

TWELVElittle has wonderful variety for our littles., photo: courtesy of  MomTrends.

One of the things I still have to find is my little's backpack, my little fashionista is into pretty much all colors and patterns, so thats why we haven't found thee right backpack. I literally gravitated towards TWELVElittle table and their beautiful selection of both backpack and lunch bags! Just look at the perfect toddler size Pink and pewter backpacks, Frida automatically fell in love with the pink and leopard one when I showed her the picture.

Can these get any cuter?!? Well yes, because they having matching backpacks for us moms!! And for those who know me I absolutely love to match with Frida whenever it's possible!

Frida like a true fashionista is excited to pick out her outfit for not only the first day of school but for all of her school year. Orchestra is a stress free shopping experience for both adults and kids. Don't compromise style over price, this budget friendly brand lets you keep your fashionista in style without hurting your pockets. Perfect for school days, the anticipated picture day and to keep your little one in style and comfortable all at once.

Lost & Found will be so much easier to find your little's belongings all thanks to Name Bubbles. Fun labels to help kids easily spot their belongings and help your younger ones put their shoes on right with the cool shoe labels that they offer. Different patterns and cool designs to choose from, your little and you will have fun customizing your labels. 

Frida has already requested their unicorn labels for her preschool items. 

Thanks to Ozery bakery and Raisels packing lunch will be much easier! 
Ozery bakery offers a variety of bun flavors and sizes perfect for little hands and our bigger kids to enjoy. Raisels are the perfect combo of sour and delicious golden raisins, Kids wont notice that as they enjoy the sour kick they are also getting they're recommended dose of vitamin C. 
Weather you're packing a lunch for a picky eater or your little just prefers taking their own lunch, make sure you include both or at least one of these tasty products!

A big thanks to MomTrends for inviting me to this years Back to school event, this year it really meant a lot it being the year where my little and I will officially join the back to school craze. Frida And I feel more at ease and are ready for Pre K!
So let us enjoy what is left of those sunny summer days, soak up every little minute with our littles, as the first day of school is just around the corner!

Beyond Tablet, Perfect Interactive Board For Screen-less fun!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. But all words and opinions are 100% my own as always.

Beyond Tablet, Interactive Play like no other.

We were invited to celebrate the US Launch of Beyond Tablet, an interactive game board that enhances the traditional board game play with the newest technology, perfect for this generation of tech savvy kids. 

As a parent, we try to find new ways to keep our child/children entertained and away from away the screen.

Frida was excited to try out the Beyond Tablet, in her words " Mommy we need to take this home so we can play more!"

The Music Cube game shown above is a great way to get musically creative.

 But with kids being so addicted to technology nowadays, it can be so hard to get them off their favorite electronic 

device.

In come the Beyond Tablet, an answer to all our prayers. This interactive board lets kids enjoy some aspects of a traditional board game with a technology twist, the perfect touch for these tech savvy kids. 

Not only will your youngest child be entertained but there are various games that can be played on the Beyond Tablet. Beyond Tablet will definitely spark your kids love for music, creativity, critical thinking and some good old classic family fun. A fun new way of learning with a touch of the technology kids are found of these days. 

Beyond Tablet, a new interactive way to enjoy some family fun! Leaving all screens behind. 

Beyond tablet is now available on Amazon. I urge you to invest on the Beyond Tablet, not only as a parent but as someone who is guilty of over doing the screen time, time to got off the screen and enjoy some screen less fun!

Get ready to shift your gears with Cars 3!

Get ready to cheer on your favorite racing car, Lighting McQueen this coming June 16th!

Coming back to theaters this June 16th, 2017 is the beloved Lighting McQueen and gang for an all new adventure. 

As a car loving family, we were very excited to have been invited to check out Cars 3 earlier this week. (No worries no spoilers in this post!) Not only did we love Cars & Cars 2 but Cars 3 is absolutely a new family favorite! The trailers gives some clue as to the new adventure Lighting McQueen and the rest of the Radiator Springs family will venture in but not all is given away. 

Legendary Lighting McQueen will need help from his friends back at home but will also get help form newcomer Cruz Ramirez, an eager young car technician who will not only help him but help herself in some of unexpected turn of events. 

Emotions will be all over the place in this new adventure as old meets new and you're surely leave the theatre loving a character (s) from the film! 

So shift these gears into high speed and make your way to watch Cars 3 on June 16th!

.. Summer is coming & here come body image issues ..

Ehhh... Summer is here & I'm ready??

I've never really been one to have issues with the way my body looks, at least I think it is not to the extreme where I have said that I hated my body. I've aways been the chunky one in my family since I was a little girl, with the thick legs and fuller body. Through my school years I was always the thicker girl amongst my friends but never really felt "Ugly" or "Fat". I always just accepted th fact that even when I was at a lower weight my thighs would remain thick! 

Married and a now a mom, has brought changes in my body that honestly I don't mind, wider hips & well my thunder thighs are still here. My husband has never made me feel not wanted, if anything he's more into my body than ever before! Which I appreciate, he makes me fell loved for the person I am as well as my thunder thighs, Lol. 

Summer is always a time where I feel a little shy to whip out the shorts, dresses and skirts jus because well I hate NYC summer weather, humidity kills me!!! Plus I do tend to feel a little self conscious about how big my thighs look or how the outfit doesn't seem to look like it did on the model, just a small voice in my head that makes me doubt myself. 

Do I hate myself? N-O! 

Do I hate my body? N-O!

Yes I do get a little hesitant, Yes I do have a little self-doubt but I just push those thoughts out of my head and rock the hell out of my outfit. 

I truly do love myself & my body, especially since the magical experience of giving birth. You truly appreciate your body, and see the immense capability it has, So how can you not love it?!?!

So heres a little service announcement for us all (including me)

LOVE YOURSELF, LOVE YOUR BODY, LOVE

 EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU, Y-O-U!

You're perfect, You're Special, You're One-of-a-Kind, You're YOU!!!

So this summer put on that romper, the skirt and shorts you doubted about and Love yourself! 

.. Stride Rite, Bringing comfortable yet stylish footwear to tootsies everywhere! ..

Stride Rite has always been a classic staple in footwear for tootsies everywhere. As parents we look for shoes that will offer our children the feeling of being able to conquer the concrete jungle, suburban playground and all of the places those curious little tootsies travel to.
Stride Rite has given little feet a chance to wander and not worry about their shoes hurting them or putting a stop to their adventures.




 I was invited to a sneak peek of Stride Rite's upcoming Spring and Fall collection.
Not only did I fall in love with their wonderful styles, bright colors, flexibility and array of choices but Frida wanted to bring home at least a pair of each shoe she liked! She was already making plans as to what shoe she would wear and where she would wear it to!
One of the things I love about Stride Rite is how they reinvent their shoes to stay hip and in style.
Stride Rite has kept tootsies in style since their first shoe was introduced in 1919, now in 2017 they remain a favorite not only for us parents but for our littles as well.

The Leepz offer great cushioning for kids , they are available in different colors for little and big kids.  

Stride Right offers awesome styles for everyday play no matter the season!

Stylish & comfortable shoes for those beginner walkers! Those first steps will be on point with these shoes!

One of Stride Rite's featured brands Sperry offers just as much style as security in keeping little tootsies comfortable.

Merrell is the perfect fit for your little adventurer, hikes will be easy-peasie
for those tootsies ready to take on the world!

Keds, offers your little fashionista a vast selection to keep their tootsies stylish!

Frida was sure to let me know she loved these Sperry Shoes, just as well as she fell in love with Leepz!
She wanted a pair of each shoe in every color it came in! 

Stride Rite, a classic shoe that will be a part of your little ones wardrobe for years to come.

Make sure that next time your looking to vamp up your little ones shoe style, you check out Stride Rite, a vast selection for your littles. Comfortable, stylish and affordable shoes to keep up with the adventures your little one will embark on.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. We were gifted a pair of shoes for attending Stride Rites Spring & Summer showcase but all opinions and words are 100% our own as always.

.. Monday Mayhem Wishlist!! ..

Spring days are here & summer is just around the corner. 

So Ive been eyeing a few pieces to add to my wardrobe. Something with some color besides my usual black!

Below are some of the pieces my heart is desiring:

This Forever21 Tie Dye T-Shirt is a must! Not inly is it Tie Dye but it also has Stuck in the 90's written on it! Umm.. Hello..Duh! It has to be in my closet!

Forever 21 is definitely owning the Tie Dye game

Tie Dye & Ren & Stimpy plus Whatever!! 

No brain tease here this piece will worn on those summer days.

Forever 21

Tie Dye Romper! Enough said!

:)

This awesome Tie Dye hat with a melting happy face is available at Urban Outfitters

OMG!! I need these!!! :)

 Mother of pearl sandals from Iron Fist Clothing 

are a must!!!

Sunshine in my room with Urban Outfitters

 I can dream of sunny days with this groovy tie dye duvet cover!