*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of General Motors and Chevrolet. All opinions are 100% mine.

    On May, 8th, Chevy introduced the new Impala 2014 which has been completely redesigned.  The iconic sedan is now a combination of efficiency and refinement with many entertainment options as well.

I had a hard time getting my husband out of the new Impala 2014!

    The new Impala contains advanced technology which has never been available in this model such as MyLink.  With an emphasis on comfort and cutting edge technology  including a BOSE sound system, it is like nothing you have ever seen in this Chevy model previously.

    We had the pleasure of attending the Chevy Urban Style event at MILK Galleries in order to meet with representatives from General Motors and to get a sneak peak at the new Chevy Impala 2014.  It was an amazing experience to check out the Impala’s new features as well as receive demos describing these features from the very designers who came up with them.

Chad Lyons from General Motors giving me a demo of the new Impala 2014.

    The new v-6 Impala has the most powerful motor of all the Impala models and boasts a new and flexible navigation system.  It also contains improved suspension to create a more comfortable and safer experience for the driver and all of the car’s passengers.  The combination of luxury, style, and functionality is sure to attract many stares.

    My husband and I loved the sleek new look of the Chevy Impala 2014 and we enjoyed how modern the dashboard was along with the touch screen which allows for almost completely hands-free entertainment and seamless transitions.  As you can see from the photos, we had a hard time pulling ourselves away from the gorgeous new Impala!

Product Review/Giveaway disclosure: I attended an event sponsored by General Motors and Chevrolet in exchange for my opinion and for the purpose of writing this post. No other compensation was received.  I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

    The time has come for another Monday Mingle. It is always a pleasure to meet those of you who are linking up for the first time and to see those of you back who have been linking up for a long time. It is so exciting to link up with you guys week after week!

    There are always exciting things going on here at Tough Cookie Mommy.  We discuss important topics, try out new products, and conduct exciting giveaways.  Please make sure you don’t miss any Monday Mingles and remember to subscribe via email.

    This blog hop continues to be for everyone with NO RULES. Personally, I hate having to follow a bunch of rules just to connect with all of you so this hop will continue to be RULE FREE!

    I hope you are all ready for a great week of networking. So please link up and follow each other on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, or Twitter. Monday Mingle will always be easy and fun because nobody wants to follow some boring list of blog hop rules. Here are the rules:

WELCOME TO MONDAY MINGLE!

1) Please find it in your heart to follow my blog on Facebook , Google+ , Twitter, Pinterest or subscribe via email since I am the genius who came up with this idea, plus I would really appreciate it!

2) If you leave me a comment letting me know that you are following me through Monday Mingle, I can follow you back.

3) Follow as many blogs as you would like from the Linky and make sure that you comment that you found them through Monday Mingle so they can follow you back.

4) Please note that this is a family blog. Any text that is inappropriate or deemed inappropriate by me will be removed. I reserve the right to remove anything that I feel conflicts with the overall theme of my blog.

5) Have fun and Mingle!

6) Feel free to snag the Monday Mingle button code in the sidebar and post it on your own blog to help spread the word.

Have a great week and here is to many more Monday Mingles together!

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK:

DE DIVAH DEALS

***NEW FEATURE***:  If you would like to be considered for the BLOGGER OF THE WEEK, please post the Monday Mingle button on your blog or blog post .  One blogger will be chosen at random from the weekly submissions to be featured on the Monday Mingle

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jane Goodrich Photography. All opinions are 100% mine.

    I cannot even begin to describe to you all how badly I have always wanted to take a family portrait with my own family.  Whenever I visited the homes of friends who had beautiful photos on the wall of their families, I wondered when we would have the opportunity to take one of our own.  After having health issues starting in 2007, it became increasingly more important to me to be able to preserve these priceless memories with my husband and my boys.

    Recently, we had the opportunity to finally have our family portrait taken by renowned photographer Jane Goodrich.  The prospect of being able to capture that special moment after longing to do so for so many years nearly brought tears to my eyes.  I would finally be able to hang that special photo on our wall along with the rest of our joyous events.  We had never had a professional photo shoot before so I didn’t really know what to expect when I made the appointment to take my family to Jane’s studio in Larchmont, New York.

    When we arrived at the studio, Jane came down to greet us and walk us upstairs and I was immediately taken by her warm and sunny personality.  She was very pleasant and interacted with my boys very naturally.  This was of utmost importance to me because I knew they would take better photos if they felt comfortable with the photographer.  It was immediately apparent that they connected with Jane right away.

    As we entered Jane’s studio, I was impressed by how welcoming and family friendly it was.  My husband and I sat down as Jane began to snap pictures of my boys while telling them funny jokes and asking them questions about their likes and about their lives.  We could tell that Jane wasn’t just taking photos of our boys but really trying to connect with them and to capture their essence in those photos.  It was heartwarming to see them giggling with her and to see their expressions in the photos that she was capturing.

    After we took more photos in the studio, Jane suggested that we go to the local park to take some outdoor shots and we thought this was a great idea.  At the park, she proceeded to take a variety of photos including more photos of our boys, family photos, and some action photos of the boys interacting with one another.  It was uncanny the way that Jane had the ability to set up shots and capture moments at just the right moment.

    We couldn’t be more happy with the experience we had with Jane and are so glad that she was the one who captured our special family moments.  She really went out of her way to connect with us as a family and it is evident that we made this connection in the beautiful photos she took of us.  As you can see, from the photos, they turned out absolutely exquisite and we are absolutely thrilled with them.

    Let Jane Goodrich Photography capture the special moments in your family’s life.  You can connect with Jane Goodrich on Facebook to see more of her beautiful photos and to learn her tips on taking photos of your own to immortalize those precious events in your life.  After all, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

GIVEAWAY:

“One Location Package” – Valued at $950

2 to 3 hour In-home, Studio or Location Session (WEEKDAYS ONLY)

located in the New York, New Jersey or Conn area.

Children’s (and Family) portraits

$150 worth of professional prints

Cosmetic retouching, Editing, Post Production

Online gallery

A Fully Edited High-Resolution Disk

-with a minimum of 30 images in at least 3 tonesa Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review/Giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above from Jane Goodrich Photography to test/review/giveaway in exchange for my opinion and for the purpose of writing this post. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Friendship Dairy. All opinions are 100% mine.

    Living in New York City is always very exciting because it is one of the busiest cities in the world.  Besides being so close to the lights and glitter of Manhattan, there are many opportunities to attend events with your family throughout the New York Metro area.  There are so many things to do and see that it’s a treat for your five senses.

    The Mobile Mixer Tour is coming the the New York Tri-State area this May and serving free 5-ounce Friendship Fit Friendship Fit to Go™ 1% Low Fat, 1% Low Fat Pineapple, and 4% Regular cottage cheese samples.  They want to tease your palate with new and innovative mix-in options instead of traditional toppings.

    These mix-in options include including Instant Wasabi and Granola Glee. Just to further excite your taste buds, Chef ROCCO DISPIRITO brings two new recipes to the brand, including Apple Pie Smoothie and Smooth and Creamy Cottage Cheese with Crunchy Walnut & Blueberries. These four creations together highlight how easy it is to turn a wholesome snack into a delightful treat. It’s a new way of thinking about cottage cheese.

    Make sure you keep track of the Mobile Mixer Tour on Twitter by following @FriendshipDairy and checking out the tour’s hashtag which is #FitToGo.  You will definitely be pleasantly surprised at how good it is!

GIVEAWAY:

Our sponsor is giving away a branded tote bag for giveaway filled with health and Friendship-related goodies including the following items:

• Branded Friendship cloth grocery bag ($15 value)
•  $15 iTunes gift card (to create a mix for your workouts)
• Brita Filtered water bottle ($10 value)
• An autographed copy of Rocco DiSpirito’s new cookbook: “Now Eat This! Italian: Favorite Dishes from the Real Mamas of Italy–All Under 350 Calories” ($26.99 retail)
• 2 Coupons for FREE Friendship Dairies products ($8 value)
• $75 TOTAL VALUE!a Rafflecopter giveaway
  

Product Review/Giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above from Friendship Dairy to test/review/giveaway in exchange for my opinion and for the purpose of writing this post. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hormel. All opinions are 100% mine.

    Lunch can definitely be a struggle, especially when you are juggling a million things all at once like I usually am.  Half the time, I end up working right through my lunch break when I am at work because I just don’t have the time to eat.  I realize that this is not the healthiest option but I am honestly swamped with paperwork most of the time.

    Thank goodness, Hormel has taken into consideration the needs of busy on-the-go moms like me who are looking for convenient and healthy foods that are rich in protein and will give us energy throughout the day.  Hormel Compleats cheesy pasta varieties are ready to eat in just 60 seconds.  Now, that is the kind of delicious and quick meal that I like!

    These meals are microwaveable and fit perfectly into my busy life because I can prepare them easily and they taste great so I don’t have to compromise flavor.  They are made with real cheese and come in a variety of flavor options.  Here are some of the real cheese flavors that this meal line offers:

• Mac and Cheese
• Italian Herb and Cheese Rigatoni
• Three Cheese Chicken Pasta
• Cheesy Ravioli
• Creamy Cheese and Basil Tortellini
• Smoky Bacon Parmesan Rigatoni

    Along with these new cheese varieties, Hormel Compleats are available in over 40 different varieties that are sure to please everyone’s tastes and palates.  Now you can work, run around with your kids, run errands and still have time to feed yourself!

Let’s Discuss:  What is your greatest challenge at lunch time?  Do you have a favorite, quick lunch dish?  What is your favorite pasta variety?

Disclosure: In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program. While Hormel Foods provides me material and necessary resources to complete various activities, all statements and sentiment in Tough Cookie Mommy are my own.

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

    The time has come for another Monday Mingle. It is always a pleasure to meet those of you who are linking up for the first time and to see those of you back who have been linking up for a long time. It is so exciting to link up with you guys week after week!

    There are always exciting things going on here at Tough Cookie Mommy.  We discuss important topics, try out new products, and conduct exciting giveaways.  Please make sure you don’t miss any Monday Mingles and remember to subscribe via email.

    This blog hop continues to be for everyone with NO RULES. Personally, I hate having to follow a bunch of rules just to connect with all of you so this hop will continue to be RULE FREE!

    I hope you are all ready for a great week of networking. So please link up and follow each other on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, or Twitter. Monday Mingle will always be easy and fun because nobody wants to follow some boring list of blog hop rules. Here are the rules:

WELCOME TO MONDAY MINGLE!

1) Please find it in your heart to follow my blog on Facebook , Google+ , Twitter, Pinterest or subscribe via email since I am the genius who came up with this idea, plus I would really appreciate it!

2) If you leave me a comment letting me know that you are following me through Monday Mingle, I can follow you back.

3) Follow as many blogs as you would like from the Linky and make sure that you comment that you found them through Monday Mingle so they can follow you back.

4) Please note that this is a family blog. Any text that is inappropriate or deemed inappropriate by me will be removed. I reserve the right to remove anything that I feel conflicts with the overall theme of my blog.

5) Have fun and Mingle!

6) Feel free to snag the Monday Mingle button code in the sidebar and post it on your own blog to help spread the word.

Have a great week and here is to many more Monday Mingles together!

BLOGGER OF THE WEEK:

***NEW FEATURE***:  If you would like to be considered for the BLOGGER OF THE WEEK, please post the Monday Mingle button on your blog or blog post .  One blogger will be chosen at random from the weekly submissions to be featured on the Monday Mingle.

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Target. All opinions are 100% mine.

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

    Last night, my family and I attended my nephew’s first birthday party at my sister’s house.  We all had a a great time talking, laughing, celebrating, and dancing.  As a matter of fact, one of the party games that my sister had planned for all the kids was a dance contest.  It was really a joy seeing my sons and nephews jamming to their favorite songs and spending family time together.

    I can’t recall any holiday or family event that we have had over the years that didn’t include some kind of music and dancing.  It’s almost as if the music is in our blood as Latinos and it moves us from within.  Basically, it’s an extension of who we are and a large part of our culture and traditions.  Over the years, I have added a variety of songs to my Latin music playlist that move me and remind me of memorable events in my life.

    When I listen to these songs, they catapult me back in time to all of the memories that I have attached to them.  Some of them are associated with joyous or monumental events in my past and others are aligned with not so happy times.  Regardless of their origins, they make up the fabric of my life and my experiences and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, without further ado, here are the top three songs on the Latin playlist of my life!:

Number 1:  Marc Anthony-Te Conozco Bien

Number 2:  Jerry Rivera-Dame Un Beso Asi

Number 3:  India-Ese Hombre

Let’s discuss:  What are the top three Latin songs on your Latin music playlist?

GIVEAWAY:

Our sponsor, Target, is giving away a $25 Target Gift Card to one lucky reader of Tough Cookie Mommy!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This sponsored post was written as part of a blogging program through Target. Any statements made in this post are the author’s honest opinions. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The California Milk Advisory Board and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% mine.

    In the Latino culture, food is a very important part of every family gathering or event.  We take pride in preparing delectable meals that our loved ones can enjoy together and we infuse love and affection into every dish that we serve to our families.  As a result, we include ingredients in our recipes that are fresh and natural whenever we can.  After all, we wouldn’t serve our family or friends anything that was any less than that.

    My husband is half Cuban and, since becoming a part of his family, I cannot even begin to describe all of the delicious meals that his grandmother has prepared for us to eat during holiday gatherings or special events.  One of my favorite treats that she always makes for me is the Cuban Sandwich.  It is a variation of the traditional American ham and cheese sandwich that was made for Cuban workers in Cuba years ago but continues to be very popular to this day.

    Cuban Sandwiches are made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and sometimes salami on Cuban bread.  I wanted to learn how to make this delicious sandwich on my own so I sat down with my husband’s grandmother, Mima, to find out what makes her variation on this traditional Cuban food so pleasing to the palate.  Here is the recipe that she shared with me that I am now going to share with all of you:

Mima’s Cuban Sandwich and Meat Pastelillos.

Mima’s Cuban Sandwich Recipe:

Ingredients:

• One loaf of Italian bread
• One pound of sliced ham
• One pound of roasted pork/pernil
• 1/2 pound of sliced Real California Queso Blanco/White Cheese
• Yellow mustard or mayonnaise

Preparation:

• Preheat frying pan on medium heat
• Cut the loaf of bread depending on how many servings you need to make and slice it on the sides to make sandwiches
• Coat the inside of the bread with mustard or mayonnaise and create layers with the roast pork, ham, and Real California Queso Blanco
• Coat the frying pan with butter or cooking spray and heat the sandwich
• Make sure you heat the sandwich on both sides and press down on the bread with a metal spatula to flatten it
• The sandwich is ready to eat when the cheese melts on the bread and the ham and roast pork are golden

    When looking for a variety of cheeses to add that special flavor to your Cuban sandwich, look for the Real California Milk seal so you know that your dairy products are made from 100 percent California milk from California’s over 1600 dairy families.  California is the number one dairy state in the US, producing more milk, butter and ice cream than any other state and is the 2nd largest producer of cheese.

    In our home, we are happy to include Real California dairy products in our recipes whenever possible since California is the leading producer of Hispanic dairy products.  Many of these California products are sold nationally and  99% of them are family owned.  Make sure you look for the Real California Milk Seal next time you visit your local supermarket!

Look for the Real California Seal in your local grocery store or supermarket.

    You can make Real California Milk part of your family by liking them on Facebook and including their delicious dairy products in your traditional family dishes and recipes!

Disclosure: This compensated post was written as part of a blogging program through  Latina Bloggers Connect and the California Milk Advisory Board. Any statements made in this post are the author’s honest opinions. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Café La Llave. All opinions are 100% mine.

    I can still remember the rich aroma of coffee waking me from my slumber as a young girl in Spain.  My Grandmother would get up earlier than everyone else in the house and prepare coffee and put out breakfast pastries to help fuel our bodies before we headed out to work and school in the morning.  To this day, the scent and taste of coffee catapults me back to a happy childhood abroad.

    This Mother’s Day, we want to celebrate all of the mothers who give of themselves tirelessly day after day to make sure their children and families have the very best of everything.  We are offering you the opportunity to win a Café La Llave gift basket full of delicious coffee products and much, much more.  It’s just our way of letting all the moms out there know just how much we appreciate them.

    We want to hear about your favorite coffee moment with your mom over the years.  While you are sharing your fondest coffee memories with all of us, make sure you pass by the Café La Llave Facebook page and give them a “like” to find out about all of their aromatic and delicious coffee and espresso blends.  Happy Mother’s Day!

Giveaway:

Our sponsor is giving away 4 Café La Llave gift baskets containing great coffee products and more!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review/Giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above from Café La Llave to test/review/giveaway in exchange for my opinion and for the purpose of writing this post. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

*This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Johnson’s Baby and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are 100% mine.

    I met my good friend Lauren almost seven years ago.  From the moment I met her, she always made it clear that she wanted to have children one day.  From the way that she has interacted from the beginning with my own boys, I knew right away that she would make a great mother.  She is very affectionate and loving towards them and thinks nothing of rolling up her sleeves and sitting on the floor to engage them in any activity.

    A few years ago, Lauren gave birth to her daughter Carmela and she proved to me right away that I had been right about her being a great mom all along.  She immediately immersed herself into motherhood and did everything in her power to be the best parent for her daughter.  Shortly thereafter, she gave birth to her son Mateo who completed her life and they couldn’t be a happier family.

    Unfortunately, she has had to assume this role as a single parent due to unforeseen circumstances.  Despite having to juggle a full-time career as a teacher, raise two babies who are close in age by herself, and go through many personal struggles, she is doing a great job as a mother.  She has selflessly devoted herself to being a good mom and puts the needs of her children before her own at all times.

    JOHNSON’S® Baby CARES, which is the brand’s charitable platform dedicated to improving the health of moms and babies, has launched JOHNSON’S® Baby Care Cards, which is an e-card digital platform helping to brighten the days of deserving moms across the country by sharing cheerful messages of encouragement and support, while also raising money for the global children’s humanitarian organization, Save the Children®.

    For every care card sent, shared, or liked Johnson’s Baby will donate $1.00 to go towards such programs as Early Steps to School Success which is an early childhood education initiative.  This charitable platform was created to improve the health of moms and babies and to help ensure that every baby born has a healthy and happy start.  This is accomplished through educational and social initiatives, product donations and financial support.

    I created a digital card for Lauren to let her know that she is a good mom and that she is doing a great job raising her two kids.  Hopefully, receiving this card will make her realize what a wonderful mother she is and will giver her the strength and courage to continue raising her children as a single parent.

    Do you know a mom who is doing a great job and would love to send her a digital card to let her know?  Visit the Johnson’s Baby Cares Facebook App and brighten her day this Mother’s Day!

Disclosure: This compensated post was written as part of a blogging program through  Latina Bloggers Connect. Any statements made in this post are the author’s honest opinions. I only recommend products or services I use personally and I believe will be “family friendly.” I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

© 2013, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.