...what Betty read, heard, recommends or just wants to say.
My little scares of the past week have me even more motivated than usual to let go of the things I can not control, to relax a bit more: I always say it, but I must do it too.
I have written in the past the importance of being nice to yourself and that sort of challenge is good for a weekend as it includes steps you may or may not have time for on a daily basis.
But surely there must be a few things you can do to brighten up your every-day days! Here are a few of my suggestions for you to try:
Our vacation starts today!!! In reality, our vacation starts in about 24 hours because we are DRIVING to Chicago! Yikes! Snow and three kids…fun!! jajaja! But first, we are off to Diego’s winter concert!! Hooray! I hear it’s so sweet I should bring pocket tissues! What a great way to start a vacation.
I can’t wait to see my family, my friends and Coco (my sister’s dog)! I also can’t wait to dig in to the yummy Chicago food!! It should be a fantastic Christmas and I wish you all the same!
May your holiday be magical!
My middle baby is 2 today! Everyone says this, but honestly, I really can not believe it.
This past year I have been worried about Santi feeling left out as his older brother keeps us so busy and the baby was arriving. We were wrong! Santi demands attention, is hilarious, mischievous, and so compassionate. He can hold his own really well around here. He always looks out for Diego by taking two of whatever he is going to eat to give to his big brother. He recently started patting Jordi on the head, a clear indication that he is being initiated into Santi’s world.
Baby boy, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. You have brought so much laughter, joy and passion into our lives. Happy Birthday little honey badger. You are truly one cool kid.
I’m so happy to see the daily updates and time people are taking to post gratitude on their FB status, “Day #15, I am thankful for…!” It’s so nice to read through them.
I have personally been thinking about Thanksgiving as well as there is so much to prepare! My BFF is coming over with her two kiddies from Brooklyn (side note: I have stopped saying that I have no family nearby. BFF is like a sister! We have known each other for 25+ years!!! So def. family!) I know what I am cooking for our Thanksgiving meal but I didn’t know if I could write about 22 things I am thankful for!
As you know, I like to write about being grateful and appreciative, but besides being thankful for the basics in our lives (yes, like power and heat! jajaja!), I am oh so grateful for three things…err groups of people. From the bottom of my heart. Super grateful. Super thankful. Here it goes: [Read more...]
Well, these past two weeks were interesting! I feel like I have been hit by a truck. I am ending these last two weeks with a nasty cold that has knocked me on my behind…hard. I’m also mentally and physically exhausted. When it rains it pours (no pun intended) and when it snows it creates a huge mess out here. Sandy met Athena in New Jersey and they both checked Betty really well.
Our world was definitely rocked and displaced and we were left in the dark and cold but thankfully we were one of the lucky ones. We had no damage to the house (a tree collapsed on a house about four doors down, taking electrical wires down with it. Image above). You probably saw a lot of it on TV-it was bad out here. [Read more...]
Hi everyone! Do you like this photograph? I have been enjoying it more on Instagram than in my actual home! Forget about finishing a cup of coffee around here! I keep saying to myself, “I. Must. Sit. There!” to enjoy the stack of magazines, the gorgeous roses and the scent of the candle. But life happens. And my four guys keep me really busy. I don’t know what it has been lately…wait a minute yes I do: [Read more...]
My mom is here again! It’s been such a treat! She has been here three times since the birth of Jordi. We are very fortunate. You all know how much I love my mom and having her around to do things like this with my boys is a bonus!
I was finishing up tonight’s dinner and I peaked in the sunroom to see what Diego and Santi were doing. I found Diego next to my mom working on his Spanish reading. Santi was at their feet playing with cars but listening intently to Tita and Diego read from our Spanish books.
The scene brought be back to 24th and Drake in Chicago where my mom would sit with us in the kitchen to read. All my early memories of reading are set in that tiny kitchen! I remember her reading to us. I also remember the thick, red and white ESL textbooks she shared with my dad. I liked to flip through them and read the conversation bubbles on top of each cartoon. And later, I remember reading aloud from a children’s Bible in Spanish. I remember the images of all those books. And I’ll never forget these images of her helping me teach my children.
What are you feeling this Monday morning? I’m happy to be pampered yet another week! I have a haircut scheduled too! Ha! Can you tell I don’t get out much? Have a great week everyone!
Your friend,
Betty
Happy Monday!
How was your weekend? I had a lot to think about this weekend because I took a lot of time for myself (thanks to my supportive hubby)! It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day craziness that can leave you irritable and crabby and perhaps even saying, “I’m so tired. I feel fat. I haven’t had time for myself…” Do you recognize the negativity with which we fill ourselves EVERY SINGLE DAY? Here’s me raising my hand. I heard something over the weekend and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It’s not the first time I hear it but it was a well needed reminder, “Be nice to yourself”. We are not showing ourselves gratitude.
Why are we so mean to ourselves? Not just the working moms or the stay-at-home moms but all of us. Why can’t we be more gentle? So another reminder: if we can not be nice to ourselves, we can not be kind to our children, to our significant others, to our students, and to the baristas at our coffee shops! We mirror each other and without that positivity floating around, well then…we are all just walking Negative Nancys. Hmph.
I have 7 tips for you (and for me) to practice the niceties on ourselves. You can do one a day or you can do them all over a weekend. I did them all this weekend and feel amazing. Challenge yourself. Be conscious and see what works and what doesn’t. Most of them don’t take much time at all and they don’t have to cost a thing! [Read more...]
It’s my birthday this weekend and look what arrived in the mail this week! Yes, the author of Jordi’s Star, Alma Flor Ada sent us books! Autographed books!! Bilingual books!!! Just like she said she would! I know they are for the boys but because they are for the boys…it made me so happy. [Read more...]
Hello! I’m back! I’m sorry I have been gone long. I became really busy with Chicago guests! My mom was here for two weeks and I just sat back, enjoyed her company and ran out the door with out the kids a lot! My Tia Mago surprised us after week one and joined us from Chicago as well! Then I had an extra pair of hands and literally took advantage of the ladies (that’s the nickname I gave them a few years ago). I went to the spa for an hour massage and a pedicure and Jose and I went on three dates!!! I was able to take Diego to soccer practice alone, I went grocery shopping alone, made numerous Starbucks stops, including a coffee date with my friend Celeste, and ran daily errands without the hassle of buckling car seats and stressing in traffic because of little backseat tantrums. [Read more...]
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