2014 Philadelphia Out Of the Darkness Walk

As many of you many know back in April I signed up for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Community Walk and formed Team Manny. Before I talk about the actual walk I'm going to talk about my motivation for joining the walk and creating Team Manny.

This is my big brother Juan Manuel Rodriguez. He was my mother's first born and 5 years older than me. My brother was 31 years old when he passed away. We fought like only siblings could fight but we loved each other like only siblings can love each other. Manny, as I called him, was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and Paranoid Schizophrenia Disorder. He battled with these disorders for a really long time. He tried to seek out help and saw doctors for his issues. He was prescribed a bunch of different medications. But the thing about these medications is that when he took them all he did was sleep all day. He told us a few times he "felt like a zombie." He did not like feeling this way so he decided to stop taking his medications. On March 1, 2012 he lost his battle with these disorders and took his own life to end his suffering and what he perceived was the suffering of others. 

He and every person who has lost their lives to mental health issues are my reason for doing the Out of the Darkness Walk and for creating Team Manny. Too many people have these stigmas and stereotypes regarding mental health and suicide and it's time for us as friends, family, and community members come together and shine a light on those suffering with mental health issues so that they know they aren't alone. It's time to stop blaming people for something they cannot control. It's time we learn to lift each other up instead of tearing each other down! 

Left to Right: Miguel, Jose, Jorge, Makaylah, Matilde, Adam, Emneris, Rafael

This is Team Manny, this is my family. I am so grateful for the love and support my team members showed me through this whole event. Many of my team members were unable to attend the event due to other circumstances but were supporting us from a distance.

On Sunday, October 5, 2014 Team Manny joined over 5,000 others at the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum to help spread awareness and keep suicide Out of the Darkness. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life!

This was our first year participating in this event and we raised $375 dollars as a team which was 63% of our goal. Next year we will participate again and hope to raise even more money to help raise awareness and keep suicide Out of the Darkness!

I would like to spend a big thank you to everyone for all the donations, prayers, kind words, and support you all provided through out this entire journey. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda Usos y Consejos #BakingSodaTip

Yo recibi una libra de Arm & Hammer Baking Soda cortesía de Smiley360 para propósitos de prueba todas las opiniones expresadas son mías. 

Utilicé el Arm & Hammer Baking Soda de diferentes maneras alrededor de mi casa . Lo usé para lavar la ropa . Añadí medio de una taza de Arm & Hammer Baking Soda para cada carga y mi ropa salío mas limpio , brillante y suave! También lo usé para ayudar a desodorizar la cama de mi perro y los sofás . Puse 1 cucharadita de Arm & Hammer Baking Soda y 1 cucharada de vinagre blanco en una botella de aerosol , después de que se detiene la formación de espuma agregar 2 tazas de agua y agitar bien , entonces todo lo que tienes que hacer es rociarlo.

El Arm & Hammer Baking Soda es bueno para muchas cosas. Lo utilicé con peróxido para crear una pasta de dientes que dejó los dientes más limpios que las pastas de dientes regulares . También lo usé para mantener con vida ya mis flores .

Me encanta que mi casa y ropa son no solo mas limpio pero huele mucho mejor gracias a Arm & Hammer Baking Soda!

I am a #RaguSauceMaster

I was chosen by Crowdtap to receive a free sample of Ragu Pasta Sauce and share it with family and friends. All opions expressed are purely my own.

First step in this adventure was figuring out what I was going to make for my family. I wanted to try making something I've never done before so I decided on making crock pot lasagna.

I used my coupon at Target and decided to get the Meat flavored sauce.

I gathered all the ingredients I would need for this dish: Ground beef, lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and of course my ragu sauce!

I'm not really a follower of recipies so I can't tell for certain the amount of everything that I put in but I can give you an approximate amount.

First I browned approximately 1 lb of  meat in a skillet and then drained it. Once the meat was done I took 1 cup of of the sauce, spread it at the bottom of the crock pot, and added the rest of the jar of sauce to the meat. Then I placed 2 uncooked noodles on top of the sauce, spooned on some meat, added 1 cup of ricotta cheese, and finally 3/4 cups of mozzarella cheese. I then repeated these steps 2 more times.

I I cooked it on HIGH for 3 hours and viola here is the final result...

The dish was a big hit! Everyone loved it even my 3 year old ate up every single bite on her plate and she's the pickiest eater I know! 

Fit Girl's Guide: The 28 Day Jumpstart Challenge

My coworker, Jessica, and I have decided to motivate and held each other get fit by completing a 28 day challenge created by The Fit Girl's. I think this will be great for me to have someone who will help keep me accountable. The Challenge eBook can be purchased on their website. The eBook includes: Full Eating Plan, Full Exercise Plan, and Many more tips and tricks for jump-starting your journey to fit.

The Fit Girls break everything down step by step. The eBook offers so much more than just a do this, do that attitude. One of the first things they tell you is to "Craft your goals and then Craft your goals." What they mean is first you must figure out what your goals are and then you must create a reminder to yourself of what those goals are. They encourage you to remain positive about yourself, so no negative goals.

After I wrote down my goals it was time to "Craft my goals." The Fit Girls suggest cutting a heart out of a piece of paper, writing down your goals, and taping it somewhere you'll see it every day to remind you of what you are working towards.

I am super excited to start time challenge with my coworker! I will keep you all up to date with my progress.

A Test of my Strength

Nothing sucks more than stepping on the scale after over a month of starting a new workout challenge and seeing the number on the scale has actually gone up! This whole weight loss journey is really testing me. There have been so many times when I've wanted to give up. Today was one of those times....

I'm at a loss as to why my scale just keeps climbing but I will not give up. I shall not be defeated by this! I'm determined to become a better and healthier me not only for myself but for my little girl!!!

Stay tuned I hope to return with better news soon!

Weekly Positives and Goals for June 8th

So I've decided to start something new. In one of my workout groups on facebook for our Sunday rest day we are to focus on the positives from the week before and our goals for our current week. I have decided to turn it into a weekly post to share with you guys. This week we are starting a new 8 week weights routine that I will do along with my walking/jogging routine that I've been doing with my boyfriend Adam. I hope I continue to see results!

Last week's positives:

• I went for a walk/jog 5 out of 7 days last week.
• I walked/jogged at least 3 miles every time.
• I drank water, instead of soda or juice, with all my meals.
• I did not do any late night eating or snacking.

This week's goals:

• Go for a walk/jog every day
• Walk/jog at least 1 mile every time.
• Do 10,000 steps a day.
• Complete every workout of my weights routine.
• Drink at least 100 oz of water a day.
• No treat meal until Sunday.

I will check back with you all next week and let you know how I did. Wish me luck!

Viva VoxBox

Disclaimer I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was fortunate enough to be chosen by Influenster to test products from the Viva VoxBox. I was very excited when I saw the bright yellow box had arrived to my house.

Included in my Viva VoxBox were the following:

• NYC Twistable Lip Color
• Shell Fuel Rewards Card
• 2 Pure Ice Nail Polishes
• Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Cloths
• Montagne Jeunesse Peel Off Mask
• Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer

Needless to say this VoxBox is amazing and I could not wait to try it all! 

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Cloths

This was the first time I've ever used the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Cloths. The thing I loved the most was that they did not make my skin feel dry. When I used the cloths they removed all the dirt, oil, and make up from my face.

Pure Ice Nail Polish

I absolutely love the Pure Ice Nail Polish colors I received "After Hours" and "It's Complicated". With being a busy, working mom nail polishes and I don't usually get along. The polish lasted on my nails no more than 2 days. Here's a picture of one of my many manicures.

Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer

The best thing about the Spray and Go Moisturizer is that it moisturized my skin all day. It did not leave and oily or greasy residue on my skin or clothes.

Shell Rewards Cards

This is the item I was most excited about and the one the disappointed me. As the owner of an SUV I was looking forward to being able to save money on gas. It program is simple enough. Activate the card, recommend to friends and family, earn money off gas. 

Well I activated the card and was so excited to use it. I drove to my closest Shell station,  walked inside, handed the cashier my Rewards card, and he didn't even know what it was :(. I was so disappointed to find out the card is not accepted at every location. I live in the city of Philadelphia you would think there would be at least one Shell gas station that accepted the card but I could not find any. I feel like it should be like other rewards cards, that no matter the location it should be able to be used. 

NYC Twistable Lip Color

The NYC Twistable Lip Color in South Ferry Berry was a beautiful color. I absolutely loved the color. My only issue is that it smudged and rubbed off easily. I would have loved it if it lasted longer.

Montagne Jeunesse Peel Off Mask

In my box I received the Manuka-Honey Peel Off Mask which smells amazing! The mask is easy to apply and easy to remove. It did not leave my skin feeling dry. My face felt so smooth after using the mask.

Overall I loved all the products included in the Viva VoxBox. I would definitely buy these products on my own and recommend them to my friends and family. I would like to thank Influenster for giving me the opportunity to sample these products.

Disclaimer I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

Team Manny

Every 40 seconds someone in the world dies by suicide. Every 41 seconds Someone is left to make sense of it.

On October 5, 2014 my family and I will be joining with thousands of people nationwide this fall to walk in American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Philadelphia Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause.

I am walking in honor of my big brother Juan "Manny" Rodriguez who for many years battled with Bipolar Disorder as well as Schizophrena. He did not enjoy being on medications because he said they made him feel like a zombie. He lost his battle with these diseases and on March 1, 2012 he took his own life to end his suffering. 

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 38,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.

I hope you will consider supporting my participation in this event. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Donating online is safe and easy! To make an online donation please click the "Support This Participant" button on my fundraising page.

To Train or Not To Train? That is The Question!

My daughter, Makaylah, is now two and a half years old and showing some of the telltale signs of readiness for potty training. As a working mom this is difficult since I'm not home with her all day to do it. But nonetheless it's something that has to be done. So I looked around and did some research on how other mothers successfully potty trained their children. I decided to create a "Potty Prize Chart.

And since my daughter is obsessed with anything princess we went out and got her a princess potty and "big girl underwear".

But now what? There are so many different ways to potty train your child that so many people claim to be the best way. Do I let her go bare bottom? Set a timer and make her take potty breaks? Do I try to bribe her with candy? My head is spinning with all the suggestions.

I decide to try the timer method. So I set a timer for 15 minutes and then when the timer goes off I tell her it's time for a potty break. This results in tantrums most of the time since I'm pretty certain she feels like I'm disrupting her fun. Once the tantrum is done and I get her to go into the bathroom she sat there for maybe two minutes and tells me she's done. When she stands up I look in the potty and see... NOTHING! This happens for the next three hours. I'm thinking "There's no way this girl doesn't have to pee maybe she needs more fluid. Since it's bed time I put her in a diaper and decide to try again the next day once I'm home from work.

The next day comes and I try the same timer method but give her a cup of water as well. We just have a repeat of the previous day. More tantrums and nothing in the potty. After about two hours she's standing in the living room and starts screaming and crying, "I pooped again! I pooped again!" I look up and see she's had her first accident but what do I do? She's so embarrassed and I'm lost as to how to help her.

I'm guessing the timer method isn't good for Makaylah and I decided to try waiting for her to tell me she has to go and if/when she does have an accident taking her to the potty so she can learn that's where she should go. Wish us luck!

Moms' Night Out Review

I was chosen to attend a VIP premier of Moms' Night Out. I attended last week and I was able to take one guest. Who better to take to such an event than my own mother?We attended the premier last week and had a very good time. Moms' Night Out is one of the most hilarious movies I have seen all year! I laughed from the beginning of the movie through the credits. I feel like everyone, regardless of whether you are a mom or not, can relate to this movie. The characters are very down to earth and remind me of people I know in my own life. The movie has everything. It'll make you laugh, make you cry, and make you fall in love with all the characters in the movie. Moms' Night Out comes out in theaters May 9th just in time for Mother's Day weekend. I recommend everyone go out and see it. Take your mother, your significant other, your friends, or your children, I know everyone will love it just as much as I did!

Also don't forget to celebrate National Mom's Nite Out on May 8, 2014!

Meeska-Mooska-DisneySide!

Discliamer: I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own.

A few months ago I was asked to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration sponsored by MomSelect, Disney Parks, HP, American Tourister, and many more. I was excited when I received my #DisneySide @ Home Celebration Kit filled with goodies from all these amazing sponsors. The first thing I did was go on Pinterest to find inspiration for hosting the best Mickey Mouse themed party. Check out my idea board! I also found many fun ideas on the DisneySide Celebrations website. After weeks and weeks of having to postpone due to inclement weather and battling sickness we were finally able to host our party!

I decided to host a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed party since my two year old simply adores Mickey and what's more Disney than Mickey Mouse? So, first thing first, how was I going to entertain 10 children for a few hours? The answer to me was simple! With a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse marathon. We gathered tons of pillows and blankets and set up a super comfortable location in front of the tv to watch the show. We watched 2 hours of episodes and everyone jumped up to do the hot dog dance at the end, which is my absolute favorite part! On the menu for the party was "Hot-diggity dogs", Minnie bow pasta, Daisy's garden fruits and veggies, Chips and Dale(dip), and Pluto's punch. I used the cookie cutters to create Mickey shaped rice crispy treats. 

I had so much fun hosting this party and showing my #DisneySide! This proves that even adults have a #DisneySide and can show it. Thank you so much to MomSelect, Disney, and all the other generous sponsors for the opprotunity to host this event. I can't wait to host another party! 

Discliamer: I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own.

 

February Workout Challenge

I'm a member of a workout group on facebook where we motivate, encourage, and keep each other accountable during our weight loss journeys. Everyone is on different levels and everyone is super encouraging. One of the admins makes monthly workout calendars and this is the one I will be following for February. Feel free to join me in the challenge and let me know how things are going for you.

Hard but in the end worth it...

Losing weight is hard work! You have to change your entire way of looking at life in order to do it successfully. A healthy balance of diet and exercise is in my opinion most effective. So here's what I've done so far to help me achieve my goals.

• Cut out soda
• Eat smaller portions (I use Makaylah's plates to serve my food)
• Drink more water
• Cut out fried foods
• Exercise at least 3 times a week

I know there's probably more I could be doing but we're taking baby steps here. Every little bit counts. I know slowly but surely I will reach my goal!

My #DisneySide @Home Celebration Kit Arrived!

Many of you may have noticed a lot of bloggers or friends talking about the Disney Side @Home Celebrations that will be coming up.  Over 600 people were chosen from all over to host a party with at least 10 kids to show off their Disney Side. There are even a ton of commercials on TV about the new Disney Side campaign.  I was fortunate enough to be one of those chosen to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration. Once I reveiceved the email letting me know I was choosen I began to wait patiently (or not so patiently lol) for my box to arrive.  Well it FINALLY arrived!

Discliamer: I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Let's See What's Inside!

When I first opened the box there was an American Tourister suitcase, giant white envelopes, and cheer on your favorite racer signs to decorate.

When I opened the suitcase it was packed full of goodies for hosting my party!

Included in the kit is:

• Balloons


• Plates


• Napkins


• Tablecloth


• Cups


• Decorations


• CupCake liners


• 10 HP Photo Card Packs


• Face Painting idea kit


• Mickey cookie cutters


• Measuring Cups from The Chew


• Pack of game ideas


• Tattoos and Stickers


• Luggage Tag


• (2) Craisins 6-packs w/ coupons


• Disney Planning DVD


• Rubber Bracelets

I'm even more excited to host this party since my kit arrived. I know the kids and adults will have a ball! Time to search pinterest to find even more ideas for our celebration. I look forward to sharing more with you all!

Discliamer: I received free products in order to host the Disney Side @Home Celebration. The opinions expressed here are my own.