Thursday, October 16, 2014

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!


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

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!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

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!