My Favorite Things this Month - March 2013

1. Green Chili Tortillas - Yum! Spicy Tortillas from Sprouts! I will try anything that is spicy and these do not dissapoint! They make great quesadillas!

2. Houston, Texas - The last time we traveled to Houston was back in 2007 when we did our Marriage Weekend and it was bittersweet to go back and present our talk. I'd have never thought I would ever go back, much less to give a talk. Praise the Lord for only He knows what He has prepare for us!

3. The Bible Series - So the History channel did a bible series that ended yesterday and it did not dissapoint. Daniel was one of my favorite parts along with the Jesus crucifixion and Paul's story. Amazing!

4. Pop Fly - By Justin Roberts, Sofia's favorite song! I love it too and we all dance to it. I already know all the words for it!

My Favorite Things This Month - February

1. Sofia Turns 5 - She's getting taller. She can read. She starting to spell words. She knows what she likes and dislikes and she's vocal about it but that doesn't mean I don't make the final decision, I still do. She likes to look at herself in the mirror and say, "I'm beautiful Mommy." and my response to her is, "Yes, you are because you have a good heart."

2. Valentine's Party - I like throwing parties even thought I still don't know how to be a good host but eventually even if some things go wrong, people still have a great time.

3. Ricardo Arjona Concert - I'm yet to post the concert pics but I will very soon! I love going to concerts especially when this guy comes to Dallas, I don't mind spending on a pricey ticket to see him up close.

My Favorite Things This Month - January

1. World Market - I like this store. But I like it even more when they have great sales, like 50% off on furniture. After owning our dining table with a broken leg for the last 8 years, we decided that it was time to replace it. So, we went to World Market and bought our new dining table. But it wasn't 50% off, it was 60% off! The cashier asked if I was a member, I said, "not yet." So, she I became I member and she gave an extra 10% off on all my purchases that day! yey!

2. Personal Interior Decorator - I can sew but I cannot decorate my house or anything around me. I'm pretty clueless. I know what I like, but I usually don't buy it because I'm unsure of where to put it. My sister, Yesenia is the opposite. So, I hired her and she did amazing! My house is starting to look like descent people live here.

3. Seasoning Blend - I hate cooking. Let me say that again. I hate cooking. But I want my daughters to eat healthy and since I cannot afford a chef or a maid to cook for us, I must do the cooking. This month, I discover, Seasoning Blend. I discovered that I can put it on anything and it makes everything taste good! So, I have found another seasoning to work along while I cook.

4. Patience - This month I also discovered that patience is truly a virtue. The Lord wants me to wait on Him and not worry about my unemployment status. It has taken me four long months to finally let go and let God do his work. Breath in, breath out and pray.

My Favorite Things this Month - December

1. Etzy - Since I became unemployed, I sought to look for employment and start something on the side that would keep me busy while making money on the way and since I love going to Estate Sales, I decided to open up a vintage shop and so for today I have made 14 sales! On the other shop, I have sold 6 bags! This new venture is not replacing my income but I'm not sitting around for something to happen, I decided to make something happen. It can be slow at times but it is rewarding when someone buys something from my shop. I'll keep this thing going and see where it takes me.

2. Skinny Margaritas - Having lunch with my best friend, I discovered a skinny alternative to drinking margaritas without the mount of calories and still the awesome taste of a Margarita drink!

3. Christmas Snow - I'm not a winter person; I much rather spend Christmas in a beach blowing fireworks but once in a while seeing snow on Christmas day is ok. As a parent, I enjoyed watching my girls watching and playing with snow. Priceless.

4. Craigslist - Our leather couches were in such a bad shape we were embarrased and since I'm unemployed, we decided to find descent couches through Craigslist. At about 1:30am on the 26th, I found them and the next morning, we were on our way to Allen to pick them up. We're just happy, we don't have a furniture bill every month.

My Favorite Things This Month - October

1. Throwback Cowboys Jersey - For my birthday this month, John gave me what I wanted. The Cowboys Throwback Jersey! I love it, it is so comfortable! Now, I look like a real fan!

2. Outback Sweet Potato Fries - This month we went to Outback twice and twice I ordered this amazing fries. I am not a fan of fries, period. But these I can eat all day long!

My Favorite Things This Month - September

1. All Saints Little Saints School - Sofia and Raquel started Mother's Day Out school again and this will be Sofia's last year, she's currently in the 4 year old class and God willing, we'll be able to enrolled in either St. Paul (John's first choice) or St. Joseph's (my choice but I'm leaning towards St. Paul) and Raquel will be enrolled to do her pre-k three year old class in either of these schools. How time flies!!

2. Laid-Off - I was laid off by my employer on the 18th of this month and I breathed a sign of relief. They had been asking me to relocate to Kansas City and my answer was always no. I do miss my co-workers which I'm still connected with. After almost two weeks home and a lot of prayer, I have decided to seek a part time job instead of a full time job. So, whoever "dares" to read this please pray that the employment doors be open to me and that I find a job that will work with my family time. I was heartbroken to let go of my nanny, she's such an amazing woman who loves the Lord and I'm praying something will come up for her and I.

This is the second time since in my working years that I have been laid off but the good Lord allowed it to happen for a reason. I'm already feeling the effects of unemployment, as in weight gain, but this week that will change.

My Favorite Things This Month - August

1. Summer Olympics 2012 - John and I love to watch sports and the Olympics are also on our list of sport events we watch every two years. This year, Raquel and Sofia got into watching Gymnastics and hearing our national anthem. British did amazing in their opening and closing ceremonies, however, I hate to say this, but the Chinese did do it better. I did love to see George Michael, though. He was my 80's heartthrob!

2. Freedom of Expression - One thing I love this country is that fact that speech is protected and when someone's opinion about certain subjects is blasted and the person is crucified across the media circus is disheartening. Whether my right and wrong is not someone else's right and wrong it is one's opinion and one must practice TOLERANCE across the board whether one belongs to Mercury and the other to Pluto. That is why, we, the Seaman's as a family stood in line for 40 minutes to support freedom of expression.

3. My 5 Year Anniversary - This is how long I have been working at my current employer and for their gratitude for having stick around so long, they gave me a booklet to choose a gift. I chose luggage. I know lame, but I was hoping there was an I-Pad or laptop. Maybe that's a different catalog...

4. Outback, Absolute Wildtea Cocktail - About two weeks ago, we had some cash laying around and we decided to break our Friday night routine and not cook, so we went to the Outback and as I glanced the menu, I "accidently" came across the drink menu. So, I glanced and nothing looked good until I saw this and I thought, tea and vodka? Well, I've never had that before. Ten minutes after I had order mine John was ordering one for himself. This drink is so good, I googled the recipe on how to make it. I haven't done it yet, but it is on my to do list!

My Favorite Things this Month - July

1. South Beach Diet - Yep, we are back on it eating a lot of greens and yummy stuff while losing wait. We were on a food binged not caring about what we ate for about a couple of months until our clothes were too tight it wasn't fun anymore to eat what we liked. It is a constant reminder that we have to take care of ourselves to be able to teach our girls the same.

2. Mom's Very Best Recipes - John bought this book at Half-Price Books and is turning out to be an amazing book to get more recipes for our girls. We want them to experience a variety of food so hopefully one day (very soon) they'll start eating what we cook for ourselves minus the spicy part.

3. Taste of Home - Grill it.- This magazine is full of AMAZING ways to marinate your beef/chicken/pork and is delicious! Also healthy! I haven't had any type of meat stuck on my teeth which is a plus!

4. St. Joseph's Early Learning Summer School - I enrolled the girls for 7 week summer school at our St. Joseph Parish. This was the only option that ran longer than 5 days and it was affordable! The teachers were amazing and even though Raquel went three weeks crying when I left her in her classroom, she eventually came to love going to summer school and her teachers. God willing, I plan to do the same next year, they have a class for kids going into Kindergarten which is amazing which means Sofia and Raquel will be able to attend together once again. 

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!

My Favorite Things This Month - April

1. Vikings Book - John is fascinated with Vikings. I wasn't until I started reading a Viking book he recently checked out from the library and next thing I know I had read some twenty pages. And what happened next? John took it back and didn't check it out again. So, next time, I'll check it out and finish reading what the Vikings were all about and how they converted to Christianity.

2. John's Retreat - I was very touched at all the letters family and freinds wrote for John for his Men's ACTS retreat. I didn't read them all but the one's that I read made me cry and smile. Javier's letter was very heartfelt and so was Chaz's. Z's letter was amazing! and Libby's, (John's mom) made me cry.

3. Starbucks VIA Ready-Brew Coffee - I love coffee but I was spending too much money. Then one day, I came upon this VIA Starbucks product and decided to give it a try. I loved it. I no longer have to spend $4 bucks for my favorite coffee. I now buy this packages and it takes me up to 3 weeks! That's a lot of savings!

4. Pearl Couscous with Crandberries - Andra and I went out to dinner at a Brazilian Steak house and upon serving my salad, I stumbled upon this Pearl Couscous rice I had never seen and lo and behold, I was hooked. So was Andra. The next day, I told John I wanted to make it with crandberries as well. Sofia and Raquel loved it. It is now a part of our menu.