Isaac's First Day in a Play-Station!

Isaac is going nuts in the Play-Station I pulled out of storage today.

Isaac (4 months, 3 weeks)

Isaac standing!

Isaac biting the the parrots head "feathers".

Isaac has a strong grip. He is a determined young boy.

Isaac enjoying the new Play Station.

Kindersay.com - FREE English Video Activities

If you are like me, you want to give your children a head start with their education, even before preschool. Therefore I am always seeking resources to share with my children.

Kindersay is a great website filled with FREE online videos to help preschool kids and English as Second Language (ESL) children learn English words.

What I love about this website is that it is intuitive, concise, and FREE! The video/slideshows are very effective.

I will admit it took sometime to get my daughter to sit and watch with me. (I think it is because we don't watch television and she finds anything that she can't physically touch boring.) However after three or four times, she has managed to sit with me through a few different activities. In fact she is beginning to "say" the letter's of the alphabet.

As I mentioned before, it is important for my husband and I that our children speak Spanish. I've looked everywhere for a version of this in Spanish and have not been able to find one so.... I am creating and ABCs activity. I promise to share with you all when it is complete.

Let's Get Fit!

The last time I workout was probably about 3 months into my first pregnancy. Since then zip-zero-nada exercise in my life. I'm convinced that running after a toddler and carrying an infant is more than enough. Moreover I feel fortunate to fit into my "pre-pre" maternaity jeans due to nursing.

But there are those last 12 pounds I'd like to shed. I want to be a "Hot Mama," but I feel like there is never enough time to reach that goal. The reality is I don't make the time.

So I came across a cool website, "Acacia Lifestyle" which has FREE weekly workouts. The really great things about these weekly workouts is that they vary in style. Example, Monday-Yoga, Tuesday-Pilates, Wednesday-Zumba, Thursday-Total Body Fitness, Friday-Weight Lifting. Isn't that great!

They are fun workouts that I can fit into my busy homebody life. ;)

Let me know if you find time to fit in Acacia's free weekly workouts, and how you feel afterwards.

Happy Valentines Day

This day was simple, yet beautiful. 

Good Morning, Babies.

Isaac anticipating his sister's next move.

Isaac's 'back off' look. Can't you feel the love?!?!

Sweet Moment.

 While I was putting clothes into the washing machine, I realized I hadn't seen Isabella for about two minutes. So I ran into the room and this is what I saw in the mirror. 

Hard at work, hanging the clean baby clothes.

She is such a great helper.

Isabella hanging her clothes.

Isaac decided to help out, too. 

Posing on the job.

Then... he started biting on the hangers.

Isabella didn't think biting the hanger was very effective in getting the work done so she stepped in. Yikes.

Pulling. He still has it.

Pulling. He put up a fight.

Pulling. Full strength and he still has it.

He is SO strong! He fought hard to the end. My Boy!

My mother stopped by to delivered some V-day goodies.

Chocolates, Sweethearts, and Orchids in a meaningful flower pot.

Beautiful Orchids.

Teddy bears for Isaac and Isabella.
Also, one lovely card from my mother-in-law and another from my great friend Maria.

Crochet Valentines Day hearts.

Neat, eh?

 In the evening, the entire family went out to Los Gatos Brewing Co., located in downtown San Jose and enjoyed delicious food. Overall, it was a beautiful day. 

Sold!

I am thrilled to say that after a long, 2.5 hour, sales meeting, I walked away with a ton of positive energy and a deposit!

My clients are so excited about their event coming up in May. They love Quince Star products, and trust that my staff will meet the expectations I have set. 

I am particularly excited about this event because...

1) There will be about 300 attendees! 

2) They have included a Portable Studio! 

3) They have also included a Digital Album! 

This means Quine Star will shine to about 300 people in one evening, I get to shop for fun novelty items for the Portable Studio, and I get to design an album for someone to cherish forever!

Here is an album I designed. 

80's Please

80's Please by aboutvanessa featuring a metal cuff bracelet

H m dress
£25 - hm.com

H m jacket
£35 - hm.com

H&M ballet flat shoes
£7.99 - hm.com

H&M earrings
£3.99 - hm.com

H M wide ring
£3.99 - hm.com

H M metal cuff bracelet
£3.99 - hm.com

Ray-Ban ray ban sunglasses
$150 - ray-ban.com

Polyvore Fashion Sets

I have come across a really cool website, Polyvore. Have you ever flipped through a magazine and loved the fashion spread where they replicate a celebrity's style with clothes that you can buy? You love it, forget about the magazine, and then forget the cool outfit idea. Well, in essence, Polyvore solves that problem for me.

It is SIMPLE.

Clip
Clip your favorite products from across the web.

Style
Mix and match products to create sets that express your style.

Share
Share your sets on Polyvore, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

Here are a few of my sets. It is so easy to do.

Bikram Yoga

Love, love, love! I went for the first time four weeks after my second baby, and let me tell you...it was amazing! 

My friend Nani, an avid yogi, invited me. I had no idea what to expect, all I knew is that my brother was betting on me dying before the end of the class.

I have had constant back problems for as long as I can remember. I don't know when it all started but I think it's because of all the sports I have played through out high school and college, and never stretching before and after, religiously. 

Anyhow, I made it through the class like a champ, and felt as though I walked out in a new body. Really! Yes, I know... only a 90 minute class to feel that great? Yes, indeed. 

The picture above shows all the poses/stretches completed in those 90 minutes. I highly recommend attending a Bikram yoga class. You'll be amazed at how flexible your body will become.

A Better Way to Learn Math

IXL Math Learning Site

I came across an awesome math learning site. I actually can't wait for the kids to be old enough to use this site with them. IXL understands that everyone learns differently, and uses that approach on their site. They have lessons from Pre-K - 8th Grade. Practice makes perfect, and IXL makes math practice fun! IXL allows parents to monitor the progress of their students and motivate them through interactive games and practice questions. Widely recognized as the Web's most comprehensive math site, IXL offers a dynamic and enjoyable environment for children to practice math.


Try out the FREE sample tests!

Language

Spanish is my first language and my hsubands second language. Our spanish dialects are different. I learned Spanish in a Mexican household, and he while growing up in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador.

For example:

	Mexico	Ecuador
Banana	Platano	Guineo
Beans	Frijoles	Habichuela

Regardless of that difference, it is very important that our children speak Spanish. Why? Because the language is a staple to their ethnic background, Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States, and it puts them at an advantage in all aspects of life.

To better prepare them, I am regularly looking for online tools to assist me in teaching them Spanish.

Here are a few really cool sites that I have found. I hope that you will take the time to show them to your children as well.



Tu Discovery Kids : The interactive games keep babies engaged.

KidsTV123 : The music is catchy. You'll find your little one dancing and singing the numbers.





Alfabeto Español : The music is catchy. You'll find your little one dancing and singing the alphabet.

Children Reading

Read to your children as young as one day of age. You will be surprised how much they absorb. I used to think it was a bit absurd to read to infants, but I have found that it simply is not. Children are so intelligent and grasp ideas so easily. Even if they do not know what you are saying, the fact that you have a book in front of them, sparks an interest in them.

Surround them with books. I have books thrown all over the house. It is easy for the kids to get their hands on and run over to you to read to them.  They are influenced and engage with everything around them.

Isabella (15.5 Months) getting ready to read to Isaac (3.5 Months)

Isaac getting eager for story time

Isaac decided to eat the book

Enjoying story time together

Sunday's Best

Being at home with the kids all week is a lot of work. So my mother has volunteered to pick up Isabella every Sunday and take her to church with her. It gives me a little break which I take advantage of by enjoying some time with my husband, but most importantly gives Isabella the opportunity to play with other children her age at the church's nursery.

Check out these pictures of her dressed in her Sunday's best!

Isabella (15.5 Months)

Grandma Rachel and Isabella

 While Isabella was out we spent some time with Isaac!

Dad and Isaac (3.5 Months)