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!