Finally FALL!

My beloved fall time has finally arrived and while I LOVE LOVE LOVE summer, I'm happy to see it go this year.  Summer was a bit dissapointing this year so I welcome Fall with open arms.  Here are just a few reasons why....

Good Bye Humidity. Any one like me with naturally nappy curly hair despises humidity!  I cant blow it out or wear it curly no matter how much gel or spray I use because I will turn into Bellatrix from Harry Potter!   Humidity - Your a Motherf%#$@r and I hate you!

I live in Jeans.  I love my jeans and rock them even in the summer but Jersey heat is a killer and I welcome wearing my skinney jeans and not sweating to death. 

No More Excuses - on covering up my pale un-toned legs that is.  I hate shorts because i haven't hit a gym in years and my legs are far less that hot.  IMO they suck...not to mention I never have time to catch even a spray tan so now I can cover them up all I want!

Boots boots and more BOOTS!  Just ask the 500 pairs (ok well maybe not 500) of boots in my closet how much Mama Loves them!

Pumkins & Apples Galore. We love taking our kids pumpkin and apple picking every year up near Boston.  They have hay rides for the kids, fresh cider, petting zoos and all around beatuful scenery.  We get tons of apples for pies and pumpkins to carve for the kids!

My baby girl at the Pumpkin Farm in 2008 (13-14 months old)

Fifi with her Titi Chepa

Bring on the Holidays.  Who doesn't love a reason to get to gether and party with family and friends!  Forget about work.  We get 3 day weekends full of food, drinks, and fun!

Christmas Shopping Begins!  I love strating my christmas shopping especially now that stores do their sales during the season instead of at the end of the season.  GAP is the best IMO for pre-Christmas sales!!!!  

The Leaves Changing.  I love love the changing of the leaves.  It's so beautiful to see all those Oranges, golds, and reds especially up here in the NorthEast.  It really makes for great outdoor photography too!

Dark Hair.  I'm a natural brunette and I've never been a fan of highlights.  I love my dark hair so when fall comes I'm so much more in my element.

FOOD FOOD FOOD! I can't say it enough but I love me some holiday food......Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, soups, stew, and endless desserts........plus the fact that for the next few months I have an excuse to eat till my heart's content!

Thank you to Mama Kat for another fabulous Writer's Workshop!!!

30 Days of Truth: Day 4

Day 4: Something you have to FORGIVE someone for.......

I have FORGIVEN my father for not being around so much as I would have liked when I was growing up.  unfortunately my parents divorced when I was 4 or 5 was in my life off and on.  He always was very successful in his career which took him all over the USA and outside of the U.S. so I understand that.  For awhile as a teenager I would see him maybe once or twice a year on holidays and he would call on my birthday and stuff but to me that wasn't enough.  As an teen and early adult I was bitter for many years and always envied my friends who had a constant Dad.  I never doubted my Dad's love for me and I think he just got caught up in his career and his own life that time just flew by.  When I was about 21 or 22 I reconciled with my Dad and let all that bitterness go but the tables turned.  I was the one who got caught up in day to day life and work.  My father passed away on October 10th, 2008 very suddenly and not a day goes by that I don't have regret or that I don't wish I called him more.  I forgave him a long time ago but sometimes I just don't forgive myself. I feel like there was so much wasted time.  I will never never let that happen with my own daughter.  I hope her Dad will always be a constant everyday figure in her life.

I hope my Dad know's how much I love and miss him!

30 Days of Truth: Day 3

Something you have to FORGIVE yourself for........

This is really hard for me to say.....and I hope that anyone reading would find it in themself not to judge mebecause GOD only know how much I judged myself and I have to live with it the rest of my life but I have to try and forgive myself for the decision we made to terminate our 1st pregnancy.  It was the hardest choice of my life.  One that was made under much pressure. We were not financially stable or ready and we were scared and alone with no support whatsoever.  I was totally against abortion before but one never knows what they would do when facing a tough situation and I must say I'm still against abortion especially with our religious background.  Even more so now.  It destroys you as a person and for me personally I've cried many days and nights with so much regret, guilt and sense of loss and emptiness.  I took an innocent life and have to live with my decision forever.  But I must FORGIVE myself and move forward and be a good mother to the the babies I have been blessed with afterward.  To anyone considering abortion I encourage you to really think things through ....it's a life-long choice and I promise you if you give your baby a chance our Lord will help you through and provide for you.

30 Days of Truth: Day 2

Something you LOVE about yourself.....

HMMMMMMM.....I know I will probably get alot of hate mail for this one,  but I have to say that after 2 babies I have no stretch marks whatsoever and I LOVE it.  If I were to get them so be it but for now I'm happy to still be able to rock my bikini in the summer!!!   I'm hoping to eventually be blessed with a 3rd....maybe even a 4th baby someday so I might not stay so lucky.  My mother didn't get any stretch marks till baby #3 .....but she only got 1 or 2 .....so who knows.

I also LOVE that I inherited the crafty gene :::thanking my Daddy in Heaven for that:::  I can create almost anything I see and do it very well. Jewelry, Home Decor, Sewing, Accessories.....you name it I love to make it!!!! Speaking of which my latest project: BABY SHOES....SO EXCITED!!

Camera Blues

The old saying that "You don't know what you got till it's gone,"  Is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO true.  Not this past  weekend...but the one before, my darling devil angel Fifi decided it would be fun to take Mama's camera and do God knows what with it.  A couple times she mentioned it was "Basura," which in Spanish would mean she threw it away.  Mind you....the garbage was taken out by that time!  We searched the house high and low to no avail and I'm really just beside myself when I don't have a camera :(
I planned on buying myself this pretty baby after tax time so I can't see myself dropping $150 on a decent camera to get me through till then.  Plus Daddy gets a pretty nice discount since he is a District Manager for Best Buy. 



Nikon D5000DX 12.3MP Digital SLR with Extra 55-200mm Zoom Lens  

I can't talke pics of anything right now to put on my ETSY shop let alone of my babies.  I really don't know what to do at this point .......ANY THOUGHTS???  I really want to cry right now :(

On a lighter note ....my mom is giving me her sewing machine since some of my new projects for Fifi's Closet I would need it.  Now I don't have to go drop money on one of those !! SCORE!

30 Days of Truth: Day 1

I highly doubt i will be able to keep up with this but I will sure try. I saw this on one of my all-time favorite blogs Lou Lou's Views and figured what the heck I will give it a try.  I love to vent so why not vent here :)

The writing prompts are:


Day 1: Something you hate about yourself.
Day 2: Something you love about yourself.
Day 3: Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 5: Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 6: Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 7: Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 8: Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12: Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18: Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

So here goes......

I know it'''s a shame my first topic would be so vain but I HATE HATE HATE .....I mean absolutely despise my profile.  I have a super pointy chin and nose so much so that my childhood years were tormented by my brother's and their friends calling me a witch or "man in the moon".  To this day I cannot stand pictures that show my profile.  I would even consider getting plastic surgery but I'm too afraid I would come out looking like Michael Jackson!

I HATE that I can't speak up for myself.  If I go out to eat and the food isn't what I ordered or somethings wrong I will keep my mouth shut.  I can go to a store and see something on sale and when i go to pay they tell me the sign was wrong or it was on the wrong rack and I will just pay the regular price.  I just can't bring myself to make them honor the price for the life of me.  I would hate to be "that customer" that ruined their day or put them in a bad mood.  i guess I'm just a push-over.

I could probably think of a thousand more little things i don't like but then I would just be nitpicking so I will leave you with that for now.  What do you HATE about yourself???

DiamondEarrings.org - [Giveaway Winner]

This giveaway ran a little long but we finally have a winner.  Congratulations to Liz!!!


 

Liz on September 23, 2010 5:41 PM said... 6

i follow fifi's closet on gfc

lizgiver at gmail dot com

 

Thank you to all who participated as well!!!! Liz - please email me your contact info so your prize can be shipped out.  Thank you !!!

Friday BlogHop

Hello hello So this is the 2nd Friday Follow I've done and i think its pretty cool ....Here are just some of the places I've linked up :)

Thirsty Thursday BlogHop

Hello lovelies!!!  This is only the 2nd time I've done a blog hop for followers .....check it out and also don't forget the Earring Giveaway ends tommorrow and if you enter now your chances are good since there are only 4 entries so far!!!  Also you can follow me back at my business blog Fifi's Closet to check out my latest and greatest baby accessories made by ME and for lots of my very own giveaways!

[Guest Blogger Post] - Bilingual Child Education

First and foremost I would like to thank Emily Patterson for writing this article for me.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a strong advocate for Bilingual Learning for children.  I personally started out bilingual as a child then went to English only....then to having to pretty much teach myself my family's own native language of Spanish.  I really wish that they would've continued it more with me as a child since now my Spanish is just conversational. 

Many times at least in Latin family households it is a belief to only Speak Spanish to the child just as if they were back in their native country because they will pick up English when they go to school or out in public and even on TV.  Total immersion at home in another language at home even if in the United States in my opinion has been very successful and we try to do this with our own children at home as well.  Their Dad is more fluent than I am in Spanish so together we try to do only Spanish at home.  My daughter so far prefers speaking in English but can almost totally understand Spanish too and says alot of things in Spanish more and more.  Im hoping to continue this as both of my children grow. 

So without further ado....her is her take on Bilingual Education.  Please also feel free to chare your own thoughts and opinions and experiences regarding this.  I would love to hear them.




Early Childhood Education – The Best Time For Bilingual Learning

Of course, nobody knows what the future will hold – but if current trends continue, your child will grow up to enter a workforce in which the competition for decent-paying jobs will be nothing short of cut-throat. Despite the calls for greater co-operation and "interdependence," human nature being what it is, it's a good bet that the economy of the the future will operate according to the Law of the Jungle. It goes without saying that a good education is one of the best ways to prepare that child for survival in that economic jungle of the future.

The Bilingual Future

One of the future trends that has become certain is the existence of a diverse, global society. Nowhere is this more true than in the United States. Almost from the beginning, the U.S. has been a land of immigrants, and while the "melting pot" has been an interesting theory, it has not happened in practice. On the contrary, most major U.S. population centers have become more of an ethnic and linguistic checkerboard; Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese speakers represent some of the fastest-growing segments of the immigrant U.S. population.

In addition, with the rise of China, English may very well lose its preeminence as the international language of business; at best, it will have to share that top status with Mandarin in decades to come.

Getting Ready

Traditional wisdom has been to start teaching a second language in middle school, or even high school. Yet numerous research studies clearly demonstrate that the optimal period in a child's life for multilingual education is during the preschool years – at exactly the same time they are learning their first language. Yes, it is possible to learn a second and third language later in life, but it is more difficult, because that neurological "window of opportunity" – when the brain is most malleable – has passed.

According to Dr. Fred Genessee, Professor of Psychology at McGill University in Montreal, it's as easy for young children to learn two or three languages as it is for them to learn one. He's not alone; educators throughout the world (in countries that often have two or even three official languages) have understood this for decades.

The way a child learns a second language is by actually speaking it in a total immersion environment. You may recall an episode of the animated series The Simpsons in which young Bart gets trapped on a farm in France – and by the end of the episode, finds he's actually speaking the language. While this was a fictional scenario, the phenomenon is real; anyone who has taken young children abroad to stay with relatives in a foreign country for any length of time has observed this happening.

Enrollment in a preschool program that offers immersion in other languages is the best way to get your child started. This investment will make him/her much more competitive in the job market later on.


Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the network of Texas educational child care facilities belonging to the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose educational child care schools. Primrose Schools are located in 16 states throughout the U.S. and are dedicated to delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum throughout their preschools.

8 Month Post

Better late than never right???  I wish I could be better with these updates as so many of you other ladies are bbbbbbbbbbuuuuuuuutttttttt so many things have been happening lately that I feel like I just can't find a free minute! 

As of 9/12 my handsome little man is 8 months old! WOW I'm freaked out saying that because it only feels like yesterday I was on my way to the hospital to have him! :::sniff sniff::: So hes closer to 1 year now than to newborn and seeing him develop everyday is just so exciting to watch. I think once you have your second child you really enjoy the special moments more because you realize that they go by all to fast!

Anywho on with the updates ....... sorry in advance I don't have more pics .....my little princess decided to take my camera and at this point we are pretty sure she threw it in the garbage (which has already been taken out)!

• You now have 6 teeth ....4 on the bottom and 2 on the top which just came in this week!
• You are well over 20 lbs......you will see why in a minute :::wink wink:::
• You can sit up like a pro now.
• You crawl around like a pro with 3 different crawls  ARMY CRAWL, REGULAR CRAWL, and TURTLE CRAWL ...as we call it .....because your hands and feet are flat but your butt is up in the air ! Wish I could have captured video of this before your sister hijacked the camera!
• You eat everything and anything you can get your hands on....including whatever Mom and Dad are having!  Sometimes we just have to cut you off since you are a bottomless pit!
• I think this is a latino family thing maybe.......since our little guy started on stage 1 baby foods in the bottle at 1-2 months and was eating regular foods by 6 months!  PLEASE NO SNARKY COMMENTS!!!
• Antonio you are in amazement with both of your sisters ...so much so that when they are in the room you forget all about poor Mommy :::pitying self:::
• This week you also started pulling yourself up on everything and you love to shake your crib rail like a little crazy man!
• You also have started saying "DA DA" which is too cute!
• Your eyes have also been getting lighter blue like your big sister's instead of such a dark blue!
• Mommy also loves that you are such a cuddle bug with her! You love snuggling up to mama and giving her loads of hugs and kisses which melts her heart to the core.

We pray everyday that you continue to grow and thrive and receive all of GOD's blessings and we cannot wait to see what plans our Lord has in store for you!  We love you so much more than you will ever know.  God Bless you little prince!

 

Story Time for Me - 2 FREE BOOKS

Do you like reading books to your little one??? Fifi and I love reading books especially at bedtime. Usually she picks 2 books for Mama to read and then she almost always suckers me into reading ten stories!


Recently I was contacting by a company called Story Time for Me to try out their new interactive story books. Even some nationally renowned preschools have been using these interactive stories including YMCA, Goddard Schools, and Bright Horizons. We decided to try them out and they are awesome. It even lets her play around on the computer a bit since she’s always begging to play on the “puter” as she calls it. If your baby is too little for that you can do the interactive page turning and just let them listen.

Each story has a narration and the words highlight as they are said aloud so your baby can hear them and see them at the same time which helps them develop reading skills early on. The narrator also has a very soothing voice which is perfect for bedtime.  You can even get stories personalized with your child's name and picture interacting through the story!




 



If you would like to try it out for free like I did here is the link: http://www.storytimeforme.com/redeem and the code you enter is 4j9Cn3m8 and it will give you 2 children's books. You even get to choose the 2 books you want and they are available in your library for 1 year to read. Check them out !

Extending Giveaway One More Time

Due to the underwhelming (if that's even a word) response on the earrings giveaway I have decided to extend it once more till Friday the 24th.  I have also made this for USA and Canada readers instead of just USA readers.  I have also removed the mandatory entry and just made it optional.  Please enter people since you have a very good chance at winning right now!!!!!

3 years old already???

This past saturday 9/11/2010 my baby princess turned 3 years old.  It feels like only yesterday I was looking at her precious face for the first time.  I sooooooo miss my little peanut but I love seeing her grow into such a beautiful intelligent young lady. 

Her accomplishments......

• Counts 1-17 in English and 1-13 in Spanish with exception of her word "eleventeen"
• Knows and rocognizes her entire alphabet in upper and lower cases
• Know how to recognize and spell her first and last name which is awesome being that her last name is long!
• Fifi can dress herself completely except for tying her shoes.
• She loves puzzles and can complete the ones for ages 5 and up all by herself.
• Knows all the shapes including the hard ones like parallelogram, trapezoid, rhombus and octogon! (yeah Mommy is crazy and decided to teach her those)

Fifi's Favorites ......

• Loves loves loves hot dogs......if all else fails and she wont eat.....she can always make room for not 1...BUT 2 hot dogs!  Oh yeah....and fruit too....shes a little fruit monster.....no wonder shes so darn skinny!
• Her favorite songs to sing are "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Bringing Home My Baby Bumble Bee"
• Much to Mommy's dismay she wants to play "Ring Around the Rosie" all day .......One can only take so much spinning.......:::::sighs::::
• Fifi's loves animals and thinks shes the mommy to all of them!
• Hates bugs big or small ....she is absolutely terrified of them!
• Favorite books are "Cooking with the Cat" and "A Night Night Prayer".  Fifis also loves her baby bible too and calls it her "Jesus Book"

Funny story this week.....

We were talking about 3 out of 4 of Fifi's grandparents in Heaven.  I told her they are happy and safe with Jesus in Heaven now.  She told me she wanted to be in Heaven too.  So I said, "Someday Jesus comes to get all of us and if we believe in him we will go to Heaven with him."  Fifi said, "Does he come to get us on a motorcycle mommy?"  I think she sees a bit too much of her Daddy's motorcycle.....although I was laughing hysterically!  This girl is such a clown and I am so excited to see whats to come in her future and see the beautiful person she's becoming!













 

 


I will leave you with a video of her birthday dinner at Cuban Pete's .....I think she was a bit traumatized by the singing....

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Extending Giveaway

Just an FYI I'm extending the earring giveaway until 9/22 since i haven't gotten a huge response :)

DiamondEarrings.org - [Review/Giveaway]

 THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED @ 8:30 am EST 9/24! 

Recently I was contacted by a new company DiamondEarrings.org to review a beautiful pair of earrings as a way to promote their new site and in turn to give away the same pair to one of my lucky readers!! The pair I received came in less than a week in a gorgeous little black box.  Now these are simiulated diamonds (Cubic Zirconia) not real ones however in my opinion they are just as gorgeous.  They are super sparkly and a pretty decent size.  They are square cute 5mm earrings as you can see below.






I also have very sensitive ears but these are set in genuine .925 Sterling Silver and didn't bother me one bit!  These are the ones I received.  My camera isn't that great though so sorry in advance for the quality of the pics.  I can assure you they are gorgeous in person though!




 
 
Now if you go here to Buy Diamond Earrings, you can also get a pair completely free however you would have to pay the shipping of $3.77.  This is also a great deal but by entering this giveaway you have the chance to win them without paying the shipping either.  This pair of earrings will make a great gift for yourself or any special woman in your life.  Soon DiamondEarrings.org will be selling these as well as other simulated diamonds and reall ones too!

I would love to send you a free pair just like the ones I received.  All you have to do is enter this giveaway and their are many ways for you to enter and receive multiple entries.  Good Luck to all and here are the Rules:


***This giveaway is open to US and Canada readers only***


1.  Mention their website http://www.diamondearrings.org/ on your blog, facebook or twitter and comment that you did so on this post.  You can receive a separate entry for each place you mention them but remember you must leave a separate comment for each too.  Also leave a link to your post in your comment!

2.   Follow my blog publicly and comment that you're following or if you are already a follower comment this post that you are. (1 entry)

3.  Follow my other blog  Fifi's Closet publicly and comment that you're following or if you are already a follower comment this post that you are. (1 entry)


4.  Vote for One. Two, Buckle My Shoe on TMB by clicking below and then comment that you voted.  (1 entry per day)







5.  Vote for Fifi's Closet on TMB by clicking below  and then comment that you voted. (1 entry per day)

I will annouce the giveaway winner on Friday 9/24 so get as many comments in as you can before then.  Good luck to all!!!

Lots of News!!!

So it's been a little while since I did a personal post and there are so many changes in our household right now that I figure I need to post some updates.

First and foremost my stepdaughter Suehalie who is 15 is officially living with us in NJ now and will start school tomorrow! I won't get into our personal family details as to why ....but we are overjoyed to have her as well are her younger brother and sister. We love her so much and she is super special to us. Suehalie is such a blessing to have around! I can't wait to post some pics of her so you can also get to know her!

Because of this new change we absolutely will need to move into a larger place. As of right now the baby has moved into our room and the girls are sharing the other bedroom. 3 bedroom places for rent in NJ are hard to come by and if you do find one they are usually priced sky high. However we all know how GOD provides for us and one just became available right across the street from the high school Suehalie will be going!! AMAZING TIMING!!! My little ones' nursery school is also right down the street too! We are going to go see it this weekend.......wish us luck!

In other news my baby girl has moved up to the 3 year old preschool class as of Tuesday. Day 1 went great but DAY 2 and 3 not so great. Both mornings were meltdowns over her outfits (girls will be girls) and potty accidents all day. DEAR LORD LET ME MAKE IT THROUGH TO FRIDAY!!!!!!

Also this coming Saturday Fifi will be 3 years old and on Sunday Antonio will be 8 months!!! I will hopefully post their milestones over the weekend so check back on that!!!

I will leave you with some recent pics i have but only of my little guy since Fifi would rather take the camera from me these days than let me take her picture :(



Both of my babies always look like redheads in pics but their hair is really light brown not red



Showing off the toofies....he actually has 4 on the bottom but only 3 are really visible right now.