My Favorite Things This Month - May

1. Sweet Tea - I've been on a kick for sweet tea this month and no I'm not even pregnant and I don't even like tea. The peach sweet flavor tea from Quick Trip (gas station) is A-mazing! Nothing else compares. Sweet tea from a gas station. Nice.

2. Pollo Regio - As a family we do not eat junk food. However, on the weekends when we run out of time or just don't feel like cooking anything, we drive by Pollo Regio and get our favorite Mexican grilled chicken (is not fried) with grilled onions, rice, beans and tortillas with our favorite green salsa. Our girls love it! Hey, it totally beats fries and burgers hands down!

NY Bans Large Soda Containers

Apparently the government in New York City is pretty big and has decided to police the size of soda people drink in that city, they currently also tax you for drinking soda. Therefore, they have decided for the citizens of that city that anything larger than 16oz is bad for you and will be prohibited! The government doesn't trust that citizens can trust which cup to buy therefore, they are making the decision for you.

However, the ban will not apply to diet soda, fruit juice (I'm scratching my head on why this one wasn't ban because it has so much sugar it can rotten your teeth!) dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, alcoholic beverages.


“Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health officials are wringing their hands saying, ‘Oh, this is terrible,’ ” Mr. Bloomberg said in an interview on Wednesday in the Governor’s Room at City Hall.


Mr. Bloomberg, being obese for some people doesn't come from drinking sodas only, it comes from health issues to make a lifestyle change they are not ready to make just yet. People are happy with their choices and size of clothes they wear, you will never be able to change that by changing the cup soda size they buy. They will buy two cups instead of one. Next thing this guy will ban is candy!

Government is ignorant. Leave people alone to make their own choices.

-Sandra.

It's Just a Handbag

In another news item that just doesn't make sense to me comes from Clint Eastwood's daughter, whatever her name is, she happens to spend money on this bag, I assume, or was given a very expensive purse totalling $100,000.00 dollars, exactly the amount that I now owe in my house; she decided that in the name of "Art," to destroy it, burn it, slashed it in half.

But oh my, the fashionistas were screaming the name of Vogue for the atrocity that she committed. How dare she destroy a Hermes Birkin handbag. How dare she! It's like destroying a baby in the womb! No, not exactly. But you get my point. They scream loud into the heavens for a stupid handbag but it is just fine to kill a baby in the womb.

Give me a break! It's her bag, her money, like Bobby Brown says, her prerogative to destroy whatever she feels like. I actually thought it was very abstract of her. I wouldn't do that to my house but for those that can burn whatever they want and not regret it, go for it.

Uh! It feels good to vent.

-Sandra.

Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Starting the long weekend in a hammock is always a good idea!

Barbecuing and celebrating Andrew's birthday is even better! 

Sofia and Weiser became great buddies this past Friday night. I think it had to do with Sofia feeding weiser lots and lots of chips!

We were due for a get together! Good thing my sister Yesenia and I brough our mosquito repellent. 

Thank you James for a great evening! You are the best! and your homemade salsa rocks!

We took John's grandpa Williams out for breakfast. It was nice to see him. He brought a flower from his garden! He's very sweet! But Sofia claimed as her. Sofia loves flowers.

                          Raquel is 2 not 62. We celebrated my mom's birthday this holiday weekend!

Anthony and Sofia waiting for the cake! 

Sofia decided that Yesenia's cake was not enough. So, she brought my mom her own toy cake straight from her toy box. Very thoughtful of her.

                                 The weather was so nice, we decided to go outside and play!

                                 Raquel and Uncle David. There is a bond between these two!

Today, Aaron, John's nephew left for the Army. So, we took this before picture to compare after we see him again who knows when. We are very proud of you Aaron!

There is a shoe flying in this video!

Dancing competition without holding a remote!

Five on Friday - Fences

1.What’s something you were unreasonably forbidden from doing when you were a kid?

Talking back to my mom, hitting back at my siblings when she was around.



2.In what area of your life would you say you have especially conservative boundaries?

That's an easy one: My moral values. I don't care what society/media/politicians say, I'm sticking with what I know is morally correct.


3.In what area of your life would you say you have especially permissive boundaries?

I'm not quiet sure I can think of one; I'm sure there is one but can't come up with it.


4.In what area of your life do you routinely go over the line?

I have to check myself when I become intolerable and pick my battles.


5.How many keys do you have on your key ring?

I have 5 keys. Two I don't know what they are for; the other two, I think are my house keys (I think) and the last one is my car key.

Flip Phone User

I hear that by 2018 all phones will be smart phones. They frustrate me! Ugh! I can't stand them. I do have to agree that having all kinds of information at the palm of your hands can be useful at a time of great need but for the life of me, I cannot operate the darn thing! Well, besides Angry Birds, I do like that game, I can lose about a couple of hours just like that playing the stupid game but I am not willing to pay my hard earn money on a stupid smart phone that breaks easily and gets viruses!

Heck, I can drop my flip phone and still works! I don't have to pay over a hundred dollars for the service that's ridiculous! On a good note, I hear Verizon will not stop selling flip phones for people like me that prefer a more simple life so if my carrier, T-Mobile, stops selling flip phones, I will end my ten year relationship and fly over to Verizon.

John is so hooked on his smart phone. I don't get it. Thankfully, his company pays for his IPad and IPhone. I can't even turn the darn thing off! And how do you type on that screen keyboard! Are my fingers too fat? Wide? Or am I just too old-school for all this technology stuff? I sincerely just prefer an old typewriter.

Those were the good old days...

Five Things About Me Today

1. My Hair Dryer died on me yesterday. It all happened so sudden while I was drying my hair. At first, I was looking at myself and thinking, "What do I cook the girls for breakfast," when all of the sudden my hair dryer started flickering sparks and smoke and it freaked me out. I thought, "Oh no! My house is going to burn!" I unplugged the device and I threw my hair dryer in the trash can. So long! I couldn't finish my hair but I saved my house!! So I went to Target and spend $5 more on a new hair dryer. Hopefully, this one will have a more peaceful death in the future.

2. I'm so tired every night the only thing I can think of is vacation! I need to remember to take my vitamins...

3. Buying Sofia's and Raquel's new dresses for my brothers wedding was fun. They loved looking at dresses and Sofia, for the first time, begged and begged me for one pink dress (pink is her favorite color.) I gave in just this one time, because it looked like something I would have bought anyways, but the price was something I wasn't prepared to spend BUT I'm always buying her clothes that are on sale (kids grow so fast it doesn't make sense for me to purchase everything at regular price.) Sofia is very happy.

4. I'm trying to get up at 6am every morning to have more time to do things that I have to do without rushing but for right now 6:15am will have to do.

5. I enrolled Sofia and Raquel at a summer camp at our Parish, St. Joseph's for six weeks! I'm so glad they will be able to go and not spend all summer inside the house.

Andy Gibb - He Started a Joke

And it turned out to be one of my favorite songs. Once upon at time a he was Bee Gees. Rest in peace and may you now sing with the angels in heaven.

It looks like my blog is turning out to be an obituary.

Donna Summer - Last Dance

I was listening to her music last night on our KLove station. Her music was outstanding and she was an amazing singer. We don't have her type nowadays.

God bless you Donna! Rest in peace in God's grace.

Time Magazine & Breastfeeding

What is big hoopla about moms and breastfeeding? Really! If a mother wants to breastfeed her child up to 4/5 years of age. Let her. If a mother wants to breastfeed in public. Let her! It is a natural thing to do. Yes, in public as well.

I grew up watching mothers breastfeed their children in public (El Salvador) and it showed me how much they love and care for their children. If people are offended don't look, don't stare, respect their God given right as a mother to breastfeed their children. For goodness sake, when did breastfeeding become such a abnormal thing to do?

Time describes the pillars of attachment parenting as:

•extended breast-feeding

•co-sleeping

•“baby wearing” - physically attaching children to parents with slings

In my very humble opinion, attachment parenting could mean many things, not just these three, but what is wrong with "attachment parenting when it is done in a healthy way?" I'm still attached to my mother! Because I love her!

I don't see a problem with these reasons. Feminist should really stop critizing and judging mothers who choose to breastfeed their children past the age of 2. I only wish I could have been able to breastfeed my daughters.

America leave the woman alone.

Five on Friday - Travel

1. If you could get on a plane tomorrow, where would you go for a week? Where would you go for a month?

Oahu.

2.Where do you want most to return to?

Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

3.What was your most memorable meal or drink while traveling?

New Orleans, Diaquiris!


4.What is the most breathtaking view in your city? How about from your travels?

Standing on top of Diamond Head; the view is breathtaking!


5.What’s the most touristy thing you’ve done?

ugh! Wearing a travel belt pouch. Even John told me it looked pretty "American." But I wanted to keep all my small stuff safe in one place but looking back I could have bought a cute traveling purse instead.

Etzy - My First Sale!

I had made several bags months ago to sell on my shop at Etzy but suddenly my depression took me away on a down sided spiral and it took me a while to shake it off. A month ago, I was talking to John about my lack of motivation, strength and desire to pick up the pieces and start all over again. I have to say that I thank God for my husband because he was able to speak the words and lift me up when I needed to be encouraged. It took a lot of prayer, belief and self-motivation to not give up this time.

Today, I opened my Etzy shop called, Roni Sea and I discovered someone had purchased one of my purses I had placed on sale. Now, it was the one with the less hits! But, the fabric is from Alexander Henry, one of my favorite designers, and it SOLD!!! for $10 bucks, I know is not much but its a sale! and my first sale! I was shocked, I didn't know what to do, of course ship it first thing tomorrow, but this only pushes me not to give up when its looking gray. No, I will not quit my job, but I will enjoy making more stuff and look for my next sale.

Praise the Lord for He is good!

Here's the purse that sold today!

Date Night

John and I decided that it was time for us to go out just by oursel, ves and be each other. Therefore, we chose to attend the funeral of...I mean, the Mavericks playoff game this past Saturday night. We had great seats, great people sat around us, we had a blast! Of course, it would have been A-mazing if the Mavericks wouldn't have lost but we enjoyed ourselves nevertheless. After the game, we thought it was still early enough to go do something else, besides, who knows when we'll be able to go out again (last time was December) so, we decided to go watch the Avengers movie. I'll review this movie on my movie post later.

Me! I'm trying to let my hair grow out. I love short hair but I get tired of the same look over 6 months all longer.

                                                                        Until next season!



Adam Yauch - A Beastie Boy

Adam, your music rocked and you made me believe that I had to fight for my right to party.  Rest in peace. May the Lord have you in his mercy and grace.

End of the Stick Shift?

My heart broke when I read on the news today that the car manufacturers are making less and less with the manual transmission I so adore.

I drove stick shift for more than 15 years until recently, I was forced, FORCED  to give up my stick shift car for an SUV which doesn't come with manual transmission. BUT, that is only in the United States. Outside of this great land we call America, everybody else still drives and loves their stick shift. I've told John that once we pay off our SUV, I am going back to the manual transmission.

I have to say that when I used to shop for stick shifts car sales man looked at me weird. It's men who usually want them not women. Well, I'm a different type of woman. Yes, indeed.

But unfortuntaley, It seems sore left legs are becoming less and less every year.