Happy 4th of July

So while everyone gets ready for one of the biggest barbecue days of the year, don't forget one of the most important things. No it's not the ice or the propane, it's SUNSCREEN!

Be sure to apply your sunscreen of SPF30 or higher atlas 20 minutes before you plan on venturing out in the sun and reapply as directed. I suggest every two hours max. Be sure to protect the kids with sunscreen and hats to protect their young skin and scalps. Often we forget to sunscreen our ear and the back of our necks, so be sure to do that as well.

You want to make sure that the sunscreen you are using has a minimum SPF of 30 and that it is UVA/UVB/UVC protective (Broad Spectrum) and water resistant.

TEACHING MOMENT:

UVA - The wrinkle damaging rays
UVB - The sunburning, skin cancer causing rays
UVC - Most dangerous of rays but does not reach earth atmosphere. More man made, i.e. welding or in tanning beds.
NOTE: AVOID tanning beds. It's like sitting on the sun and giving an open invitation to cancer. "Hi Cancer. Come on in!"

Here is what we use in our house to protect our skin.

Babyganics Sunscreen Spray

Babyganics Sunscreen spray with SPF50

It's very light weight and is non-aerosol, which is great for the kids and the environment.  We use it all the time and my kids have yet to ever burn even while being in the pool or sprinkler. It contains no PABA , Phthalates, paragons, nano-particles and is fragrance free. You can find it at your local Target, Walmart, Babies R Us or most local chain pharmacies. It comes in about a 6 oz bottle for approximately $9.

Personally, I like that it's non-aerosol. So many times I see moms spraying their kids with this, some directly in the face. I understand that it saves you a lot of time and fussing but your kids are inadvertently breathing this is. NOT good. So I prefer the fuss of rubbing it in over long term possible, we only pray not, problems.

J.R.Watkins Sunscreen

 J.R. Watkins SPF-30 Sunscreen

The adults in the house use this when we want a little color but still be protected.  You still need a little Vitamin D right? I love natural products and J.R.Watkins is known for this. 

Their sunscreen protects against all 3 dangerous sun rays, UVA,UVB and UVC. It goes on easy though you may find it initially greasy it absorbs quickly and is a great first layer to your make up. It contains all-natural titanium dioxide, PABA free, plant based Shea butter with environmental bonus of eco-friendly packaging. It's 95% natural. I'm okay with that. Also, it is fragrance free so you don't have to walk around smelling like a coconut or something else. 

These are my top two because I have used them for over 4 years nor I or my children have ever been sunburn while using them.

You don't have to use these suggested picks but PLEASE be sure to wear sunscreen. The sun still gets in, it just slows down the process of the sun attacking your skin. Reapply often. Wear sun protective clothing and hydrate, it's hot out there.  Most important protect the kids.

Have fun but be sun smart. Happy 4th of July!

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Please take a moment to comment, like, share or Google+ my post. Thanks so much.

Remembering Our Fallen on Memorial Day

Today I wanted to comment about what Memorial Day means to me.

Captain John J. McKenna IV USMC 
KIA Fallujah, Iraq, August 16,2006

Several years back, in 2006, I attended the funeral of a fallen U.S. Marine, Captain John J. McKenna, IV. This military funeral was the first one I had ever been to and it definitely stands out in my memory. Not just because of all the people that came to pay their respects to this man that gave his life for a bigger cause. Nor for the beauty of such a somber and sobering ceremony but because I will never forget his mother.

Captain McKenna was her only son. The moment when they handed her his flag and they lowered him into the ground, her wailing cries tore at my heart. Even today as I write this, I still feel her chilling pain, as if it were just happening.

So to me, Memorial day isn't so happy. It's not a day about barbecues or discount sales in stores. Today's a day to be thankful for the men and women like Captain McKenna, who gave their lives so that we can maintain the lives we live. My husband lives with the loss of his friend every day with only a small picture of John in our home to keep him with us. That mother lives with the loss of her son every day.

So I ask that today you take a moment to think about those lives lost. To be grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families made so that you can sit out to enjoy the warm sun, barbecue in their memory and pray for those still out there defending freedom.

To learn more about Captain John J. McKenna, IV see these links below:
Military Room
Military Times
The Daily Beast
Together We Served
Legacy.com

Today, Be Grateful!

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful! 

Thanks so much.

Happy Mother's Day

When I was an infant, I relied on my mother. As a small child, I loved my mother. When I became a teenager, I hated my mother. As I grew up in my 20s, I questioned my mother. As I became a mother, I seeked out my mother. And now that I am a mother, I appreciate my mother more then ever. With all her imperfections, bountifully flawed, I choose to only recall the good. She, despite the bad, has helped me become the person, the woman I am today.

Her actions as a mom, both positive and negative, taught me resilience and strength. Power of faith and of ones own resolve. I was not the perfect child, I rebelled in ways that people would be surprised to know. Nevertheless, I came out the other side, stronger, wiser, full of empathy and love. These lessons I bring into my parenting.

Now with three kids of my own, I try to do better. There are days as a mom I feel defeated and question my "mom skills". I wonder if I am doing any of it right.  I've learned that only a good mom would ask herself that because it means we care about our kids, that they matter. When I find myself saying "oh, that mom makes it look so easy." I recall a Ms. Sallie, when i told her, "I just don't want to mess them up." and she simply replied "Oh honey, you are going to one way or another. We can't be perfect." Motherhood comes with no book all though there are a million that will tell us one way or another how to be with our kids. In the end, we all write our own books. So I just do the best I can.

I'm taking the time to know my kids as individuals and am allowing them to teach me as I teach them. I am doing my best to raise them with love and compassion. They teach me to practise patience and understanding. Most importantly they remind me the importance of breathing! When the madness of scheduling for a family of five can seem endless or the kids all screaming for me at once puts me at the edge, I breathe. The crazy passes and then I can tend to the next task or child.

A short note of thanks to my second mother, my sister. She was always there to pick up the pieces where my mom perhaps slipped. She protected me from others and myself. She tried her best to keep me safe. Even in the worst of times as sisters, she always was there for me. She has always been the warm jacket on a blustery winters day. Thanks M for not letting me go out in the snow in high waters.

So Happy Mother's Day, to all mothers out there, new and experienced. For the dads, who have the job of mom as well. Keep it up, your doing great! We have the best salary-less job in the world. We get paid with hugs, kisses and with the bright smiles of our children. For me, that is payment enough.

Enjoy your Mother's Day!

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Please take a moment to comment, like, share or Google+ my post. Thanks so much.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since it is Valentine's Day, I thought I would share this body scrub with you all. It will leave your skin super soft and energized. Try it but don't eat it. Or at least try not to eat it. 


Mocha Coffee Body Scrub:

1/2 Cup Raw Sugar
1/2 Cup Coffee Grounds
3/4 Cup Coconut Oil (Hard)
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
You may add a few drops of Vanilla, Hazelnut or Almond extract to give it your favorite coffee scent. 


NOTE: Try to use Pure/All Natural extracts or essential oils that won't agitate skin. Last thing you won't is a skin reaction.


May your hearts be just a little extra full this Valentine's Day. Blessings and Love to all. #Valentinesday2016 #skinscrub #skincare #diyskincare 


As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!




Please take a moment to comment, Like, Share or Google+ my posts. Thanks so much.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to YOURS. My this holiday remind you of the importance of love and forgiveness, kindness and selflessness as well as courage and compassion. Live YOUR truth. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful.

Christmas Prep time is here.

Christmas, Christmas Christmas is here!

Super excited this year to wake up in the morning and watch the kids dig into their gifts. They are finally old enough to start to experience the joy of the holidays together.

Since the little ones are still in destruction mode, I decided to skip the traditional tree to avoid precious ornaments being broken. Went with a "Frosty the Snowman" themed tree, thank you Pinterest. First I purchased a pre-lit white Christmas tree at Walmart ($40). Never thought I'd ever have a white tree. Then I spray painted some pouch caps and styrofoam rounds black (Walmart $3) for the "coal" and a cylinder orange for the nose. My little boy got at one of the buttons so there are only two belly buttons now. Couldn't find a large enough button for the nose. Improvised with the look of a carrot. Found the hat and scarf at Target in the discount section and used my own rain boots. Tossed some fluff and white tinsel on floor and "Ta da!" Done.

Our Tree version of Frosty the Snowman

Yes, he doesn't have arms. That's only because it's been raining so much here on and off since the flood that the trees haven't had a chance to dry out. And though I contemplated putting them on, I figured they would just end up on floor and kids would wack one another with it. Which is exactly why I am okay with that decision not to give him arms. 

Super glad I went this route for them. They touch the tree a bit to much for my liking. So all my precious ornaments that I have collected through the years or inherited will remain safe, at least this year.  My daughter is always trying to plug it in, screaming "Poopy tree light." I'll explain that in a minute. Or I will find the tree in the middle of the living room because my little boy has pulled it away from its original placement. Tinsel in another room or someone wearing the boots. It's all in good fun and I am glad to see them enjoying the tree even if it means they may play a small part in destroying it. 

I want to explain why my daughter calls the Christmas tree a "Poopy tree". She recently watched Charlie Brown's Christmas but for some reason she connects the movie only with Snoopy. She doesn't call snoopy, snoopy, she calls him "Poopy". And it's with this thinking that I believe that this is why she calls it not the Charlie Brown Christmas tree but the "Poopy tree". It's adorable but we are still teaching her how to say it right and she gets it right more often now.

This will be a quiet holiday as we spend it just our immediate family at home. Still working on what Christmas dinner will be. Not sure I will host Christmas brunch either this year do to some scheduling issues with my husbands job. Plus my time management is awful this month but I will do my best to make it special for them. Once they have gifts they won't care much about anything else anyway. So no pressure. 

If you would like to pamper yourself to release the stress of the holiday try this mask after cleansing. It is a mild exfoliant and humectant so your skin will fell soft and look bright. 

Ginger and Spice mask

1 Tbsp Organic Plain Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp Organic Pumpkin purée

1/2 Tbsp All natural Pumpkin spice

Apply thin layer to face. (I use a facial brush)  Let dry. Try not to eat it off your face. Wipe with lukewarm water and wash cloth. (Don't rub skin to hard. Gently cleanse away.) Any extra can be saved in fridge for next day. Or I like to use in my hair to brighten and nourish it, just add 1Tbsp Coconut Oil. Smells yum too. 

Hope you all are enjoying the prepping for the holidays. 

Please take a moment to comment, like, share or Google+ my post. Thanks so much.

And as always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!
#DIYSkincare #DIYskinmasks 

A Note of Thanks

This Thanksgiving, I would like to give a note of thanks to those close to me. For my friends and family that have kept ties to me despite the move and all the changes in the past 2 years.

We are blessed to have such a great support system here and to those we kept up North (you know who you are), thank you. Thank you for answering the phone or calling back. For listening to me when I needed an ear or talking just when I needed a distraction from my life. For making trips down to visit when budgets and time are tight.

To my family here, mom, dad, M and Ant, I can never express how grateful we are enough. For coming to my aid on more then one occasion. For answering my every homeowner question. To being better grandparents then perhaps parents. (So jealous. Haha!) My husband and I are forever appreciative of all you have done and continue to do. We know you don't do it for us so much but for the kids so we are all the more thankful.

That's me bottom left.

A special note to my dad who celebrates his 75th birthday today.

Dad you came to America with only a small suitcase and $30 in your pocket. As a son of a farmer from Dominican Republic you came with a dream. Later, you found mom, got married and started to have a family. In the midst of that you brought over relative after relative and started your own business. You continued to help your family back home while building a life for yourself in the United States.

When you look back on these past 75 years, I hope your heart is filled with pride. I know you are not a perfect man but you have been the best father you knew to be and I never felt less from you. Thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for all that you have given to so many. Without you, many people would be living very different lives.

I love you dad. This Thanksgiving, I hope you see and feel that from us all.

To my big brother, I simply say, I love you always.

Happy Thanksgiving.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy, Be Beautiful!