Stomach Virus + Vomit = Christmas

Yeap. We have been sick around these parts. Finally recuperating and doing the aftermath cleaning (so far 4 loads of laundry and not even close to being done).

I'll be back...

Over & out

Holly Jolly Holiday Tag

Are you done shopping? wrapping? food shopping? LOL The Holidays is one big race to get everything done. Thankfully I have very little on my plate this week, yay!

I don't know if you knew but I'm seriously addicted to youtube makeup gurus. Love them, love learning techniques and seeing new pretty makeup that I cannot buy :)

Dear nvmakeuplover has this awesome tag (that she did in a vlog) and I thought they were so cool and so here they are:


Favorite Christmas Movie? Although I love watching most of them, I love two non traditional one's : "The Family Stone" and "Love, Actually" because life is not always perfect, and that is ok.

Are you on the Naughty list or the Nice list? in between? I think nice, but naughty where it counts lol

Show us an embarrassing Christmas Card photo! This was the first year we did a photo card and it was juts the kiddo-big kid refused.

Have you ever had a White Christmas? Yes, I have

Where do you usually spend your holiday? In NYC, but not happening this year, so is off to my Sister's house

Play or Sing your favorite Christmas Song! Have about I tell you? Carol of the bells, although I love "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"

Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve? Nope, I did once and I regret it

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I don't think so: Dancer, Pracer, Vinxen, Rudolph...I'm done
What holiday tradition are you looking forward to most this year? Sadly none. Everything I wanted and was looking forward to is just not happening.

Is your Christmas tree real or fake? fake, is a tradition back home
Hands down, what's your all-time favorite holiday food and holiday sweet treat? Pernil (roasted pork) and flan
Be Honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better? My hubs loves giving gifts, I, however love receiving them-except for the kiddos, I like giving them gifts.

Show us your tackiest Christmas attire (ex: Ugly Sweater) I don't do that. Ever. Our outfits are planned in advance and usually nothing with red or green in it.

What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season? I would love either England or Disney World.

Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make? Yes, Pernil-see above, and my famous potato salad.

Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably? Definitely a Pro. I've worked in stores wrapping presents before.

Most memorable Holiday moment? My Hubs moving in, one December. Kissing under the big tree @ Rockefeller in NYC. Our kids first Christmases.

What made you realize the truth about Santa? The letter my Mom always included with the gifts, telling me to behave and be respectful, I finally recognized her hand writing.

Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them? Nope, but I do believe each year is an opportunity to start over and do better.

What makes the Holidays special for you? Having my family around, the music, the scents, the spirit all around us and the feeling that most people want to do good.

Hope you take the time to answer some of these!

Over & out

Another FMM, yay! have you ever...

It's Monday and this week I have so many plans, all connected to cleaning and organizing the place even more. I have a few things on my mind that I will share later, got some new nail polishes too. Our trip to NYC has been delayed once more but that is ok.

We are joining today to another Friend Makin' Mondays! hosted by All The weigh

FMM: Have You Ever?

1. …traveled outside of your home country? Yes, I moved to the US when I was 22. We are looking forward to visiting other countries as well. I have been very lucky to visit different states in the US but I'm looking forward to other places. Oh, and I've been to Canada too.

One of our many Beaches *sigh*

2. …performed on stage in front of at least 1,000 people? Oh dear lord in heaven, NO.

3. …watched an episode of Jersey Shore? Yes, is a family thing in which our oldest, the hubs and I sit together, a few snacks and laugh our asses off! (We lived in NJ for a while so we find this super funny)

4. …baked a cake from scratch? Yeap, Dominican cake which uses Meringue as a frosting, Yummo.

5. …worked in a grocery store? Nope, my father was really opposed to us working on food establishments ( no idea why)

6. …dated someone who was your best friend first? Not really, although the Hubs and I where really good friends but no Best Friends.

7. …made a difference in someone’s life during Christmas? Yes, but If I told you then the magic would be gone :)

8. …been on TV? no, unless you count "Cops" (bwahahaha, I kid, I kid)

9. …had cosmetic surgery? No, but I can't deny I have thought about it.

10. …learned a second language? Yes, I learned English when I was very young. My First Language is Spanish. We did have to study 4 yrs of French in High School because our law is based on the French Laws but nothing really stick with me.

Now it’s your turn. I know the Holidays are on their way but would love to hear some of yours.

Happy Monday.

Over & out

What are you praying for?

Blessed to have a place to put a tree

I'm sorry if talking about my issues has become a theme here, but I must say that I have share some of my thoughts with others and seeing how many people are in our shoes and how many are suffering and having struggles I figure I share some insight.

It is so sad that most of the time when we are in trouble is when we remember to pray, to seek God. To hope that there is someone out there listening to us, someone who cares, but most of all, someone who can do something.

It breaks my heart to see how many people are strugling out there, even worst than we are (take for example my ill brother); but what it's even more sad is the amount of people who do not care about others, at all.

Dr. Phil had a show today about how many families go hungry in America (1 of 6 americans have struggle with putting food on the table. Dr. Phil was asking to make donations. Some of the comments said this:

"If people that had jobs before that lost them saved and stopped spending over their means maybe they would have had something to fall back on. Also, there are alot of people that aren't working because they feel like some jobs are below them. I don't feel sorry for any of them."

"How about giving birth control to the poor so they stop having children they can't feed!!" (because God forbid someone poor is blessed with children)

"Raising money to provide meals is a waste of money. "

These are the nice ones. They call people receiving help Lazy, bums, that people really are not that bad off. It truly breaks my heart. How can we be so judgmental, so hard, so cold. How can we not feel for others around us? how can we not try to help when we can?

But my post is not about who we no longer see what is in front of us, how we don't want to get involve, how we ignore the poor and the homeless, the sad, the lonely and the ones hurting, no...is not about that.

I want to talk about Praying.
In the last week I have spoken to people suffering, hurting, people wanting a better life, a better future, etc.

So I ask you: What do you Pray for?

Do you pray for a house?
Do you pray for a car?
Do you pray for that raise at work?
Do you pray for more money?
Do you pray to meet your better half, get married?
do you pray for a day off?
Do you pray for health?
Are you making plans for the future when you have the bigger house, your dream car, the higher paying job, more cash?

I will make a humble suggestion.

The next time you pray, ask God to give you faith above all.
Faith to know that you have what is meant for you, there is a reason for all. Pray to have joy for the things you already have, that you enjoy each day for the things it brings.

Pray for the faith to believe in your heart that you are not alone, that he knows what is best for you, that today things may seem unfair, that the road seems long and hard, but that
one day you will look back and know everything has a reason to be.
Ask him to put in your soul the believe that you are blessed TODAY no matter what your situation is.


Blessed to have a messy house, with a play tent in the middle of the living room, for having kids that enrich my days.


I have been praying so hard and I know in my heart that no matter what, we are so blessed. That life is wonderful and beautiful, that I am never alone. I hope that if you are sad, problems have been troubling you, please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Over & out

Hello Monday...now leave

The lack of sleep is still taking over my life, however I've decided I will win this fight. Even though last night it was 4am and I was still up, kind of sort of watching a ridiculous movie called "Christmas in Connecticut" and thinking that we really should move to the country, I woke up at 7am, took the Hubs to the train station, came home, made the largest posible cup of coffee and hang with the kiddo in bed watching cartoons for a bit.



I am exhausted but I wont lay down. Alain last test for the semester is today so I have to take him to school early. So what is one to do when you get no sleep and are supper tired and waiting for maintenance to come sand a wall in our bedroom? Clean of course!

Stress have been taking over me, the lack of sleep, the bills to be paid, then the Holidays, I seriously just need a breather. I don't want to complain, specially since driving thru one of those shopping plazas I saw a tent behind an old building, seems like some folks have been living there. I know this happens all the time, all over, but seeing this just showed me how lucky I am indeed, and that no matter what there is always a tomorrow.

I know this post seems so random and all over the place, but with my scatter brain this is all I can muster right now.

Anyone else watching good TV? seems I'm always up I finally caught up with 2 shows that I'm loving right now: " Once Upon a Time" & " Grimm" both based on fairytales, I love it!

OK, off to make lunch to one demanding little guy.

Over & out

Suze Orman is CRAZY

If you don't know Suze Orman is "an internationally acclaimed personal finance expert". Psst.
Whatever.To me the Biatch is crazy.

I'm not hatting on her (which is another post that I have coming up) and I'm sure she has helped some people along the way. Personally every time I see her on TV I just want to throw something at her. But why lovely Nina Patricia? you ask.

I'll explain.

I was browsing the tv while the kiddo napped and as always stop by my local PBS channel (I love the "Masterpiece Mystery"...but I digress...as I was browsing she comes up. She was having some sort off seminar and people where asking questions.

I should have known to just skipped this and look for something else, but of course like a moth to the flame I stayed put and watched.

This is what she was saying (in my own short words)
1. Advise #1 to a kid in college with huge loans: don't care about your friends traveling, partying, or having fun. Right after getting out of college take the first job they offer you, not the one that pays the more. Start your job and hour early, leave 2-3 hours after you are requested to. If you are not required to work weekends, go work on Saturdays. Make yourself indispensable to the company.

BWAHAHAHAHA. SHE IS MENTAL!!!!
First off, I have a kid in college and I want him to be a good student (which he is 3.9 aver) but I also want him to have a life.

Second: Companies DO NOT CARE what you do for them. They will use you and abuse you, they will give you a pat in the back but if it comes the time to let you go they WILL NOT care how many family functions you missed to work Saturdays, how many hours away from the family or how many times you where there @ 6am to get this done. Trust me, this happened to me. Has happened to many friends and family. Working so hard and they JUST.DONT.CARE.

And Third: really? the memories of his younger years are of him missing out on fun, trips, friendships, dating, etc. because he was working? (she suggested he do this well into his 30's)

Advise #2: A man who had great credit was thinking on filing bankruptcy because of financial troubles. Rather than doing this he went back to school to get his Master's. He knows has a 100K student loan and only makes 20k a year. She prompted to ask him on National television if he was a man who cries, because she could tell he was, and what she was gonna say is going to break his heart. She stated it was stupid to go back to school thinking his life would be better, that he was better off with the first loan of 25k and working as a waiter to pay it off than what he did of going back to school.

OH, I soooooo wanted to punch her in the face!
Who the heck are you to tell people that their dream to having a better education was stupid? So he is better off living as a waiter then going back to school? REALLY?
I have never heard that before, that going to further your education is a mistake, that he was stupid and that waitressing is the way to go.

Now, I am no financial expert and I certainly don't have financial security. and guess what?
It's OK. Life is still much better than some that have more than we do. I have kids. I have a family. I'm teaching and loving each moment with them.
I know there is a lot of you guys out there looking to be debt free, trying to have a secure future, etc. and that is ok. I just wonder what the price that people pay for it. How many school functions for your kids have you missed? how many games? how many birthdays? how many days have you come home and the kids are already asleep?
How many people you hear saying: I'll be happier when I get the new car, a house, then another car, another bigger house, when I have 100k saved, when this, when that, and they let life pass by and they never enjoyed it.

I have MANY friends and family that are working really hard at having money. The kids are being raised by someone else, the husbands work so hard they barely see him, yes they have money but no love, no connection, no life and no family.

When my oldest was 7 I moved to the US and he stayed back home (thanks Immigration). I worked really hard and he had a pretty decent life: Private schools, going to the country club, I had nice vacations with him. However I was only able to see him maybe twice a year if I was lucky. I tried really hard not to miss his important events, First Communion, etc. But the day to day life, the time he got Chicken pox, His first dance, etc...I missed all that.

He is 19 now and going to college. To this day he still tells me of how it was growing up without me. Those years are never coming back to us. In 20 yrs your children wont care about how much money you had and how many things you can buy them (would they enjoy it? certainly), they would remember the camping trips, how you set up the Christmas tree, or their favorite meal. I never noticed that my parents had a pretty good financial life until I was older.

Don't get me wrong, I want to provide a decent living to my children, I want to be able to do things with them, and buy them reasonable things, but not a the cost of missing them. Hasn't she seen "Click" with Adam Sandler?


Why do you think so many rich kids get into drugs, get in trouble? because they have everything and they are bored. The same happens with the other side of the spectrum if the parents are working 3 or 4 jobs and the kids basically have to raised themselves. If you don't have or want kids, and your ideal is to have a vast amount of me, then go for it.

There has to be a balance in between. I highly recommend reading this post from "Like Mother, Like Daughter" that I have mention, oh I don't know...20 times by now? Click on it I have it linked. It's called "Five things that are worse than being in debt." and whenever I feel discourage I read it again.

As far as I know Mrs. Orman does not have kids. I know is her job to give you "financial" advise. I know people judge us and think "oh they should not have more kids, they should get another job, I know people think being SAHM is a lazy job, and easy job. Life is so much more than what you have on the bank. It is so much more than going to work even when you are sick, or worst, when your kiddos are sick and you still leave them with someone else...that, is just not me.

Sorry Suze, you are crazy if you thinks having money is more important than anything else in life. And for that, I feel sorry for you.

Over & out

Friend Making Mondays-12/05/11

Thank you guys for all the comments on my last post.
I am glad to know we all go thru all these stages in our marriages. I've always hated those people who claim "we are so in love, our marriage is perfect, we are so perfect together" and a year later they are divorced. Never got that. Like the friend that dated her Hubs for 6 yrs, got married and then divorced a short year later...I'm not judging, just saying: how does that happen?

Anyways, we are back to FRIEND MAKIN' MONDAYS!!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: I am…

1. I am good at…cleaning and organizing, and lately cooking.

2. I am happy when…I can do stuff with the family, even if is just going to the mall, out to dinner, etc.

3. I am working on…my marriage first, then loosing weight.

4. I am interested in…makeup and craftiness.

5. I am always…happy to go back home and see the rest of the family.

6. I am enjoying…being home and not working. Although financially we could use another income, spending time with my boys have been such a blessing.

7. I am in…Maryland, but looking forward to NYC for the Holidays

8. I am reading…trying to go back to old Books by Anne Rice...sadly I'm not doing really good, so I may pick up the newest one by James Patterson.

9. I am concerned about…our future, not just us but the things coming to us. Also deeply concern about my Brother who is still battling Stage 4 Colon Cancer.

10. I am looking forward to…going away for the Holidays.

Now it’s your turn!

Happy Monday my friends!

Over & Out

Life or something like that

I've been away from blogging these past couple of days. I had to refocus my efforts in life to make some things work.

Marriage is hard and you have to keep working at it. I truly believe that is like a roller coaster, some times you are up high and some times you are coming down...fast. I had to refocus my attention when things got really ugly and the arguments where the worst we had in all our time together. That is not how we want to live.

After much inner searching I realized it didn't matter who was wrong (him) or who was right (me...I kid, I kid) but how to make things work. I told him just so. I stated that what I was requesting was very important to me, but no more important than our marriage, I asked what could I do to make things better. You would not believe how fast things cool down once we realized being right was not the main goal but how to work thru this.

I would say that thankfully is not about cheating, drinking, gambling, drugs, or major things. To me (and to us it seems) is the little things that you don't talk about. The things that just build up until you explode for what may seem something trivial.

I recommend speaking about the little things every day and airing the laundry as much as possible. So I've been doing that, trying to work things out, spending time with the kids and friends, cooking and turning this:





into this delicious dish (that has tons of carrots and onions but you would never know since they are blended in!
Took sometime to do this (see how Happy Teenagers are to go take pics with the family?) bwahahaha

and received a few goodies: ALL FOR FREE!!! including our Christmas cards. I love me some coupons and giveaways.




It feels good to take care of me too. I've been stepping out with friends for 1 or 2 hours just to browse some makeup, browse the malls, run some errands. Just hanging with friends can do so much good. After all, we all need time away for ourselves.

Over & out