raised by culture

2014 Disney Shareholders Meeting Highlights

2014-03-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Incredibles 2
FROZEN made over 1 BILLION, just opened in Japan
Shareholders certificate is now collectible, Disney moving to paperless certificates
D23 will be in Anaheim next year August 14-16
Disney Shanghai will have Pirates Land
Cars 3
Star Wars EP 7 happens 30 years after Return of the Jedi - R2D2 is the only confirmed cast
Avatar Land opens next year
New Maleficent Trailer

Taste Wine Like A Pro With BevMo! Cellar Master Wilfred Wong

2014-03-18T02:01:00.002-07:00

I was invited to a private wine tasting at the new BevMo! store in Riverside last month with Wilfred Wong, BevMo! Cellar Master. A few awesome things happened that night - I was handed a glass of Veuve Clicquot which is a new favorite, I got to chop it up with Wilfred before the lesson started and my husband got to pick out hard-to-find craft beer before the store officially opened to the public.

Wine is intimidating to some people like me but Wilfred Wong is quite the character and sold us on wine without being a salesman. I love when industry folks talk with us and not at us. The biggest takeaway from the cellar master himself was that it's okay if you don't like a wine but know why you don't. He certainly has the resume to back up his thoughts: 40+ year veteran of the industry, Wong tastes 6000-8000 wines, spirits and beers annually! He is responsible for managing the wine rating system at BevMo!, creating product descriptions for all the wines and working with the wine team to develop private label wines.

The 4 S's of wine tasting:
SEE: The color of the wine. As white wine ages, the color gets darker, and as red wine ages the color gets lighter. Color can also help you determine how heavy or light the wine will taste/feel.
SWIRL: Coat the side of the glass to help the wine open up and release aromas for the next step
SMELL: Sniff three times and come up with three words to describe the wine
SIP: You will taste sweet, sour, salty and bitter

I actually preferred the more savory food with darker wines and the fruity and sweet food with white wine. Popcorn goes good with white and so does the tortilla chip with guacamole but my absolute favorite is Veuve Clicquot with the strawberry! I'm definitely a white wine fan even though Wilfred Wong says Pinot Noir is the holy grail of wines.

A lesson in "corkiness" - having worked in hospitality for years, I never heard of the term corkiness. It is when you open a bottle of wine and it doesn't smell right. It happens and BevMo! has an awesome return policy on wine - take the bottle back with the receipt and you'll get a new bottle!

Me with BevMo! Cellar Master Wilfred Wong!

BevMo! is your neighborhood beverage store and they have everything you need to make every occasion special #BevMo2TheRescue
The new 8000 sq. foot Riverside store will feature thousands of wines, spirits and beers along with hundreds of gourmet food items, cocktail mixers, glassware, bar accessories and more.

Get the ClubBev! card - it took a minute to fill out and I saved $1 on my visit!

This label rocks!

BevMo! is popular for their 5 Cent Wine Sale - Buy one bottle of wine, get the second bottle for 5 cents. You have to love how it is clearly marked! Over 200 bottles to choose from!

My husband Chris scored Lagunitas Sucks and Bootlegger's Brewery Knuckle Sandwich (not pictured) and I just might have won Best Wife that night!

Visit BevMo! to find a store near you - the new store is located at 7562 Mission Grove Parkway, Riverside, CA 92508

Get social with BevMo! on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

Get social with Wilfred Wong on Twitter / Instagram

Enter for your chance to win a $50 BevMo! gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with BevMo! All thoughts are my own.

I'm At The OC Latina Moms & Surf And Sunshine!

2014-03-17T13:01:00.001-07:00

So excited to share I'm a contributor at The OC Latina Moms! I am thrilled to share my favorite places in Orange County and learn more about the hot spot I live in! If there's anything you want me to write about, let me know! I hit publish on my first article there last week and feeling right at home.

I had an epiphany this year that soup is one of my favorite foods. Making good ramen broth is an art form, you need patience to create the depth and richness for what is basically a delicate base. Gomen Ramen delivers on that promise of authenticity, the environment itself is homely, making me feel right at home on some random street in Japan while never leaving Orange County. Read my post at The OC Latina Moms here.

I also had the unique opportunity to cover an event for another blog and had a blast - I think stepping out of my comfort zone and little bubble here is the motivation I needed!

I always assumed the food in TV and movies were… inedible. That those dishes had to be plastic food props that were painted really really well. Wrong! I recently spent the day in Food Stylist Chris Oliver’s kitchen learning tips and tricks on how to make that magic happen for the camera. Chris Oliver is the master at making food on-camera ready and delicious, having recently been featured on Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks. Read my post at Surf and Sunshine here.

Sunset Millennial Summit: A New Blogger Conference

2014-03-16T21:47:00.001-07:00

I ended up on a train heading to San Diego a day before Women Get Social. I somehow scored a special invite to the inaugural Sunset Millennial Summit (lucky me!) and was crazy nervous and out-of-my-skin excited. Nervous because I have never slumber partied with a big group of women before, most of them I didn't know. Excited for the open discussion about work/life balance at a vacation home in Ocean Beach. But you know me...always putting myself out there, challenging myself to try new things and maybe suffering a little FOMO (fear of missing out). I settled in to my seat and embraced my escape. My best thinking is done both in solitude and surrounded. One of the sponsors of #SMsummit, Chelsea of Millennial Blogs graciously picked me up at the Old Town train station and I eased up a little on the ride. I was the first to arrive and got to help Amy, the owner of Sunset Vacation Rental (the other gracious sponsor) in the kitchen making caprese skewers and good conversation.

The ladies started trickling in and I felt at home with the loud chatter (everything from photography to birth control) and laughs. Dinner was a group effort and incredibly fun. But the real fun was when Chelsea opened the floor to our questions and shared information I always want to hear at blogger conferences. She threw out actual factual numbers. Money is such a taboo subject at conferences and always makes us wonder if we are getting our worth. Just knowing what is possible in my future reinforced why I need to stay on my path.

After the Q&A, those of us staying the night got to pick out our beds, the home is a 2 bedroom but the rooms are HUGE!!! I wanted to crash on one of the couches, I'm weird like that. Some of the ladies went home and those of us that stayed got in pajamas and either went to bed or laughed the night away.

Chelsea and Amy celebrating with wine and cupcakes!

Woke up to a yummy breakfast! I'm gonna need your recipe Amy!

Sunset Millennial Summit was inspiring and kicked off the sisterhood I would also feel at Women Get Social. I needed to be surrounded with women who are doing the same things I'm doing. Women whose shoes I want to walk in. Women who get this business. Women who get me. I came home refreshed and wanting more. Chelsea and Amy are onto something.

Big thanks to Whole Foods La Jolla for hooking up the food and swag bags - I've since been back to my local Whole Foods to pick up more 365 Everyday Value Blueberry Blaze Trail Mix! I got to try the strawberry jam from Jackie's Jams out of El Cajon on my morning waffles and can't wait to use it as a topping on my vanilla ice cream!

Visit my new friends!

Chelsea: Someday I’ll Learn and Millennial Blogs

Amy: Sunset Vacation Rental and Beloved Atmosphere

Alli: Diapers -n- Heels

Heather: Baby Bump and Beyond

Heather and Whitney: Rookie Moms

Pauline and Lynnee: Club Chica Circle

Tiffany and Carole: Toot Sweet 4 Two

Elizabeth: The Pirate Prerogative

Megan: Sunshine Wonderland

Jillian: Mommy Testers

Bri: Bri Geeski

Becky: MissPriss

Danielle: Simmworks Family

Dear Tyler: Smellcome To Manhood

2014-03-14T18:26:00.002-07:00

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Old Spice. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Most days I find myself saying to myself - You are a mom of boys. Like this is something new! Maybe it's a subliminal pep talk to myself or a reminder of what's to come, I haven't decided which yet. My youngest moves up to the big 2 next month and my oldest just turned 17. Their age gap plus my two middles keeps me feeling young and in tune with what's cool. But you know, that all sounds good on paper but inside, I'm trying to embrace my baby becoming a man. I try to put myself in their place sometimes because I remember how hard it was being a teen - boys have it rough too you know. Smelling stinky is one concern of mine, I mean theirs. And trust me, they have had their days. I have gagged at the stench from over spraying cologne and wasting money buying new bottles!

Old Spice sent a very cool Smellcome to Manhood kit to check out and I laughed at the second step of How To Scent Responsibly because hello! I've been doing it all wrong! Tyler already told me that's gonna be a hard habit to break. We started spraying the air and loving all the scents. Not too manly, kinda refreshing in my opinion! He loved Swagger because well, that's what his generation is all about! Maybe he just likes saying it too. Me: What are you wearing? Tyler: Swagger. Old Spice Swagger. I would personally use the body spray it smells that good.

Go off in to the World my child and spray the word to your friends!

We want you to smell good, enter for a chance to win a Smellcome to Manhood kit!

Old Spice Re-fresh Body Spray – "Scent Responsibly" and smell like a man, not a middle school locker room.
Old Spice Branded Earbuds – James Blunt never sounded so manly.
“Over the Top” DVD – Dominate at arm wrestling like Lincoln Hawk, without having to go to truck driving school.
Duct Tape – Fix anything on the planet.
Old Spice Branded Wood Flash Drive – Important Old Spice files everyone should memorize (Old Spice “Scent Responsibly” education video, Informational Infographic, Fact Sheet, etc.)
Art of Manliness Book – Becoming a man is an art and a science. It was much safer to send a paperback book than a Bunson Burner.
Smellcome to Manhood Certificate – A made-up diploma to add to your LinkedIn profile
Bonus! Old Spice Hair Product – Guys who use Old Spice Hair product just seem to do better in life. Don’t you want to do better in life?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SuperFun Adult Drink Pouches FTW!

2014-03-13T19:08:00.002-07:00

I totally enjoy kids things more than I'd like to admit. I'm just that kinda mom. One thing I've always been envious of is those darn juice pouches. Why do kids get all the cool stuff? Love packing them for the beach, at the park, by the pool. I always think of Summer fun when I see juice pouches. But maybe this love and fascination goes way back to my childhood, visiting my grandpa in the Philippines for the Summer and ordering a drink from the corner cantina. The vendor would pour a bottle of soda into a baggie, throw a straw in there and tie the plastic bag. Sounds crazy, right? Oh but it was so fun as a kid! So when I was brainstorming what cocktail I should create for the #NickMomPJParty at #SoFabCon14, I came up with a kid-inspired adult twist I'm calling SuperFun Adult Drink Pouches in Fresh Watermelon Margarita flavor! I want to attend SoFabCon because I had a blast last year. I learned SEO, bonded with fellow bloggers and it snowed! SNOW in Arkansas in May made my life! So if I win, we can be sip sipping these babies at the pajama party!

Super easy to make and you can find the long reclosable bags at your local craft store in the jewelry supply section! Cheers!

For the virgin version, just remove tequila! You can also add fresh lemonade or lime slices to be extra! This recipe makes 6 pouches.

Like a #collectivebias boss!

Our Favorite Knott's Berry Farm Memories

2014-03-13T16:04:00.001-07:00

Disclosure: This post is a collaboration with Knott's Berry Farm. All thoughts are my own.

I live in Buena Park so I always get warm fuzzy feelings when we pass Knott's Berry Farm. I'm always tempted to check-in on FourSquare too. You would think by growing up in Southern California that I would get used to the Knott's skyline but the pride never goes away, it only grows. I just feel a strong connection to the memories I made as a kid visiting the park and now bringing my own kids! Knott's is an extension of our family, it is home for us and the memories we've made over the years are priceless - worth more than the cost of a season pass!

Knott's Merry Farm
Not surprised this got so many votes. We love the holidays at the farm! We've been two years in a row and it is one of our newest family traditions. It's Christmas, Snoopy! ice show is my absolute favorite, it is enchanting and a must every year. The Gift of The Magi is another family favorite - the story made the kids really think about Christmas beyond gifts. I wish it was December already!

It's Christmas, Snoopy!

Boardwalk Opening
I was lucky I got to cover the official opening of the Boardwalk and visit again later with my family. I was thrilled to show off Boardwalk Bay, Coast Rider, Surfside Gliders and Pacific Scrambler. Duke screamed like crazy on Pacific Scrambler and I could not stop laughing. My favorite ride growing up was the log ride so it was awesome to try out the new remodel of Timber Mountain Log Ride with the family!

This picture was probably taken before Duke screamed his head off!

Camp Spooky
Camp Spooky is another new family tradition for us - we absolutely love seeing Camp Snoopy transform for Halloween! It is cute seeing all the little monsters and princesses trick-or-treating!

Our favorite dog!

Favorite Food at Knott's

Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken
Boysenberry Punch
Funnel Cake
Churro Sundae
Carne Asada Fries from La Papa Loca
Ribeye from Ghost Town Grill

Knott's Skyline
On a good day, you can see the skyline from the 5 freeway - the kids know when they see it, we're home.

Knott's Berry Farm is giving away FOUR SEASON PASSES - enter for a chance to win here.

Jellyfish Discovery at LEGOLAND SEA LIFE Aquarium

2014-03-11T12:55:00.002-07:00

My lovely friend Jillian of mommytesters.com is guest blogging for me in this post - she did an amazing job and it is wonderful to see her daughter Kayla's cute face grace my blog! (Girl envy!) Thank you Jillian & Kayla! (raisedbyculture.com was invited to a media preview)

In case you haven't heard, it's about to get extra stingy in SoCal. Okay, don't freak out or anything. Jellyfish are invading but it seems like they are very well contained (and really cool to check out) at the SEA LIFE Aquarium in LEGOLAND. While Xenia was playing nurse to a house full of sick kids, Kayla and I headed to LEGOLAND to check out the little creatures.

If you've never been, the SEA LIFE Aquarium is a really neat add on to LEGOLAND. Quite frankly, I think it's kind of a genius escape from the sun during the summer months when theme parks get hot and everyone needs a little time to cool off. Also, who wouldn't get a kick out of walking through a huge underwater tunnel while rays and sharks swim by overhead?

Plus there are lots of ways for your child to satisfy their need to be hands on. Like multiple touch pools filled with starfish, abalone and super squishy sea cucumbers just waiting to be discovered.

But back to the real reason why we came. Those jellyfish. They've got a serious party pad at the SEA LIFE Aquarium. I'm not kidding, think neon disco party pad. Which of course is awesome for showing off their little details as they move around the water. And very modern for creatures that actually pre-date dinosaurs.

Yes, Kayla's mind was fully blown when she heard that jellyfish have been around since before the time of dinosaurs. Her response - "that's SO old mommy, way older than daddy." That's my child! But honestly, not only are there cool jellyfish to look at, there is a lot of education available to learn about them and a couple of experts on staff to share their impressive knowledge.

We learned about a variety of jellyfish including how they eat and get around. Which is pretty interesting if you take into account the fact that they lack brains, hearts, nerves or blood! All of the kids loved watching the different jellyfish float around the tanks with their ghost-like movements.

And we had plenty of time to check out a crystal jellyfish up close and ask questions before moving on to some more fun. Think LEGO fun...

That's right, in keeping with the theme and knowing that kids really need lots of chances to get tinkering there is a giant LEGO sand castle near some of the touch pools that encourages kids to play and help add on to the build.

We finished off the evening with a very fun and easy jellyfish craft. I've created my own jellyfish craft for you with step by step instructions that’s perfect for play, a school craft or party decor.

And of course Kayla had to take her jellyfish down the slide with her. Yes, there is an awesome slide inside of the SEA LIFE Aquarium that continues to integrate that hands on fun while surrounding your child with lots of nature and cool aquatic creatures to seek out.

If you're thinking about heading to the SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND California, you can find out more here.

Just Another Post On Parenting

2014-03-08T20:45:00.002-08:00

2014 is turning in to a banner year for me and my son Tyler. I feel incredibly close to him and he's definitely opening up to me. This is all important for me because I was not close to my parents. At all. I came to terms with my issues with them years ago and have forgiven them for being so so strict with me. There really isn't any rhyme or reason how they parented though - I couldn't do certain things and if I did want to go out with friends I had to take one or both of my siblings. Looking back at it, I can't believe my parents trusted me as a 16 year old and let me drag my 3 year old sister around. Best believe that everything I went through made me who I am today and the parent I am now. For my oldest son to share his life with me is freakin' amazing.

I wanted to write this post after the tattoo post because I finally met his girlfriend. We got to attend a soft opening of the new Farrell's in my city (which is open now so go!) and I told him he could bring her. She's quite lovely. And she didn't bat an eye at our conversation and warped sense of humor. Boys are hard but she handled it like a champ. I like her.

I don't ever want my kids to wonder if they are loved. I want them to know my hugs and kisses. I want them to know my door is always open and I want them to make mistakes and own up to 'em. I want them to find their place and just be happy.

My parenting advice: If you think your parents did good with you, follow their parenting style. If you want better for your kids, do better. It's that simple.

Women Get Social Post Conference Thoughts

2014-03-08T12:28:00.003-08:00

Tiffany Romero said something along the lines of... the people who are meant to be in the room are there to hear the message. I'm probably jacking that up in some way but it hit home hard. It was a stormy weekend in California and I could've stayed home because well, that's the safe thing to do. (I don't want to play it safe anymore!) I made a lot of excuses, flaked and lagged on things that were important to me when I was younger. I did not value my time and honestly, no one else's. Now that I'm older and feeling like time is fleeting, I wish I could just stop the clock so I could do everything I want. I can't tell you what you should do but take it from me, quit playing it safe and take those chances. Everything I do from here on out has to be important to me.

The other standout speaker for me was Nell Merlino - she posed powerful questions that just spoke to me.

What is your vision?

What do you want to make happen?

Why do you exist?

What problem are you solving?

What info are you going to share to change lives?

What are your objectives?

What are you counting/measuring to know it's working?

I have an idea about my vision but I haven't totally crafted it out yet and I really should. I don't even have answers to the other questions but I haven't stopped thinking about it. If you want small keys to success, having a plan and seeing it through helps. And if you know a little something about me, I'm a believer of putting what you want in the Universe. So maybe at some point in the near future, I will answer those questions on here.

All that said, Women Get Social is an awesome conference where you are surrounded with amazing bloggers and sessions where you can actually learn (Google+, Pinterest, Facebook, SEO, etc). Don't attend if you want to meet brands. Don't attend for the swag (though there is some). Go be with your people and get motivated and inspired to do things.

Other things happened at Women Get Social - I'll be posting more thoughts next week! Thank you latinamom.me and Wells Fargo for sponsoring the Latina track, I am so happy I won a pass!

Pi Day Crazy For Cream Pie Collection

2014-03-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: This post is made possible by Glam Media. All thoughts are my own.

Photo by: Nestle's Kitchens / Courtesy of: nibblesandfeasts.com

Pi is never-ending and constant, just like my love for pie. I vaguely remember the first time 3.14159 was introduced to me, I had to have been in 5th or 6th grade... my math teacher had some choice words for pi and I just wondered why did I have to learn about it when it's an approximation. Now pie was first introduced to me when I was probably a toddler - I'm assuming by way of empanadas (or hand pies). That type of pie is always more fun. But when I got older, I realized pi could be just as fun and with the popularity of National Pi Day on 3/14 ~ nerds everywhere can rejoice in the celebration! Yay! My favorite pies as an adult are banana cream pie or coconut cream pie and to celebrate, I picked out 14 cream pie recipes I am crazy for!

Whole Foods Market Venice: Fantastique French Wine Tasting & Art Exhibit

2014-02-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Market Venice.

Whole Foods Market Venice is hosting a fun fundraiser this Saturday, March 1st from 5-8pm featuring the works of Gildas Coudrais and French wine tasting! The cost is only $10 per person and proceeds will benefit the Whole Planet Foundation! Germanybased French artist Gildas Coudrais unique pop culture inspired artwork looks fantastic on wine labels and reminds me of modern contemporary pieces I'm such a fan of! For more information, you can check out the official event page here (or if you are savvy, click the flyer!)

The featured wines:

• Chantebelle Sauvignon Blanc

$9.99/750 ml

A bright and brisk beauty with crisp citrus flavors, it's sensational start to the evening, especially with chilled shrimp and goat cheese!

• King Rabbit Malbec

$9.99/750ml

Rich, black plums, berries and cherries dance smoothly on the palate, hoping to get a turn with roasted duck, beef, or rabbit!

• Anciens Temps Cabernet – Syrah

$9.99/750 ml

This is serious bang for your buck, with robust flavors of black pepper and berries, and a vanilla-kissed finish. It begs for steak au poivre topped with St. Agur bleu cheese!

• Eagle Coq Pinot Noir

$9.99/750 ml

A pleasantly priced Pinot Noir with juicy red cherry and currant flavors pleasing French & California drinkers alike, especially when served with baked Brie or Coq Au Vin!

• Fantastique Pinot Noir

$9.99/750 ml

A fantastically bolder Pinot, with flavors of spiced black cherries that would love to meet up with some cedar-plank grilled salmon or a French dip sandwich!

One of Gildas Coudrais pieces - c'est magnifique!

Get social with Whole Foods Market Venice by following on Facebook and Twitter!

Cross Setting A World Record Off My Life List #MIXIMLOVE

2014-02-23T23:06:00.004-08:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Ehrmann MIXIM. All thoughts are my own.

I can cross another thing off my ~~bucket~~ life list - setting a World Record! The thought of breaking a record crossed my mind over the years but I'm not too wild, not at all athletic and honestly, just didn't know it was as easy as attending the launch party of Ehrmann USA's greek yogurt MIXIM! The Queen Mary looking pretty in pink for Valentine's Day was a majestic sight to see.

As we made our way to the front deck of The Love Boat, we were greeted with music and yogurt samples!

I grew up in Long Beach and I never got to experience seeing my hometown from the deck of The Queen Mary as the sun set - it was truly sublime. And I'm sure for the couples, very romantic!

One of the more interesting things to happen that night was my conversation with Guinness World Records' adjudicator Michael Empric. I'm convinced he has one of the coolest jobs in the World!

So what is Ehrmann MIXIM™? A new, creamy fat-free Greek yogurt in a unique heart-shaped container that features two delicious “mix-in” ingredients that let consumers customize their yogurt experience.

Right now you can find the six extraordinary flavors in California, Arizona and Nevada at Albertsons, Bashas and Safeway for $1.89-$1.99 per 5.3 ounce container. The yogurts are free of artificial preservatives, additives, colors and sweeteners! The six flavors are:

Blackberry+ Pomegranate and Granola + Dried Fruit
Honey and Coconut + Almonds
Mango + Pineapple and Coconut + Almonds
Cherry and Dark Chocolate Curls
Raspberry and Dark + White Chocolate curls
Strawberries and Granola

I really enjoyed the smooth and creamy texture of the yogurt, it wasn't tart and I loved controlling the portions of the toppings! The absolute favorite for me is mango with pineapple and coconut & almonds! The mango popped and woke up my taste and smell senses - it was so flavorful and didn't taste fake. I am a huge fan!!! I also sampled cherry and dark chocolate curls and

raspberry and dark + white chocolate curls - so so yummy!

436 people ready to set a Guinness World Record for the "Most Couples Simultaneously Feeding Each Other."

Attempting it!

Photo courtesy of: Ehrmann MIXIM

We did it!!! The world record was achieved and the company donated $20,000 to its charity partner, the Children's Heart Foundation. YAY!

I chased the official certificate down - isn't it the coolest?!

Everyone was treated to Journey cover band, Don't Stop Believin' and a beautiful Valentine's themed fireworks display to celebrate!

Photo courtesy of: Ehrmann MIXIM

Additionally, MIXIM will be donating $1 for every photo uploaded with the #MIXIMLOVE hashtag up to $5k - by entering, you have a chance to win an iPad Air and $1000 in Visa gift cards!

Simple Start Activities For You & Me! #lovehealthyme

2014-02-21T19:05:00.003-08:00

Disclosure: I wrote this blog post as part of a movement by Weight Watchers to encourage people to remember that loving yourself starts with taking care of your healthy everyday. Though I was compensated for my time and commitment, all views, positive and negative, are my own.

When this project hit my inbox I seriously screamed at my husband that this was totally me and I would be honored to work on it. All because I am a huge advocate of loving yourself. I didn't get to this point in my life for years but when I did, it was clear that in order to be happy with me I had to work on my insides first and eventually the outside works itself out. Naturally change is incredibly hard for anyone and you simply don't have to wait till the new year every year to set new goals - you can start on any given day. And my simple start happened on February 14th and I've been going strong for a whole week! The idea behind simple start is doing small activities little by little to make an easy transition to getting healthy. Think of it as choose your own adventure! I decided to tackle 6 activities and do them everyday.

My days and nights are split between working from home and attending events - snacking is inevitable and I am totally guilty of having chocolate in my bag. I attended a conference and brought fruit in another bag to hold me over till mealtime. I was so proud of myself!

I usually am good about "me" time but it consists of checking Instagram while laying in bed or binge watching bad reality tv. I decided to curl up on the couch and re-read one of my favorite books before bed this week!

So I totally didn't buy this pair but rewarding myself consists of shoe shopping. I am at my happiest when I'm checking out new shoes.

Do you do any of these activities right now?

Do you see yourself committing to one or all of these activities in the future?

New Breakfast Sandwiches At Denny's!

2014-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: I partnered with Denny's for this post. All thoughts are my own.

Having a meal at Denny's is a big deal to my 8 year old Duke. But it isn't only a celebration to him, it's kinda a big deal for me too. No sweating in the kitchen for a couple hours and no dirty dishes to worry about. It is a little piece of freedom. Especially when you work at home...I'm always cooking the same stuff for the littles! Oh the monotony. To keep the menu fresh, each month Denny's will highlight a new "Monthly Features" menu! The new Breakfast Sandwiches caught my eye - you can get the Loaded Breakfast Sandwich or Fit Fare Breakfast Sandwich for $4 each or you can make it a plate! I didn't realize my Denny's was so budget-friendly, on Tuesday and Saturday nights, kids eat FREE! Our total for two adult entrees and two kids meals was under $16! Hello once-a-month visit!

I cannot force this happiness.

And of course he wanted to be in all my pictures after that! I did get the Fit Fare Breakfast Plate but confession! I didn't get turkey bacon, I got bacon cause that's just how I do. MY SANDWICH WAS DELICIOUS. Yes even the egg whites, veggies, fruit and yogurt.

The Jungle Book With Mi Familia #LoMasVital

2014-02-19T19:23:00.002-08:00

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and Disney Studios. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

One of our favorite family activities is watching movies, especially when we're at home. My chulos actually sit down and we get to enjoy quality time with them. I happily participated in a fun photo-a-day challenge that highlights how we're enjoying life and it led to finally watching The Jungle Book Diamond Edition, which is now available for the first time on Blue Ray™ and Digital. The Jungle Book is a new one to us, I vaguely remember watching it as a kid but the Bare Necessities song always stood out to me... not only is it catchy but relates to life! A topic we always talk about is the importance of our familia! We're currently plotting our next fun adventure - to visit our families in Texas this Summer and the movie set everything in motion.

Omie loves movies he can dance to! Duke couldn't believe Disney made movies "way back then". I don't know anyone that can hold back when The Jungle Book is on - we were a singing and dancing party over here! The conversation was also deep with a question like, "why is that kid living with animals?" and celebrated with the realization that animals do care for humans. I explained that it's a two way street and we have to take care of each other. I guarantee we'll watch this movie again and again!

The Jungle Book inspired me to create a fun trail mix for everyone. It will be perfect for our travels or hanging out at home when you crave something different! All you need are apple chips, banana chips and chocolate chips!

Put all the chips in a cup or bag and you are good to go!

I Went To The GRAMMYs!!! #PricelessSurprises

2014-02-18T19:25:00.002-08:00

I still can't believe I went to The GRAMMYs!!! I was on a whirlwind high from it all for the past month. I'm gonna tell you how it went down by timeline.

10:30am - left my home to be at Cerritos Mall by 11am for my appointment at MAC
10:50am - the mall is packed with people, stores aren't officially open yet. I'm thinking what is going on???
11am - MAC raises the gate, I'm in a mad dash with 12 other women to get inside. I check-in and get seated
11:08am - The makeup artist introduces herself and asks what I have in mind - I show her a picture I found on Instagram and tell her, "I'm not expecting a miracle but this is the look I'm going for"

These are all the products used on my face. MAC charges $50 to get your face done (you get to take home a brand new mascara) and extra if you want lashes. I wanted lashes.

50 minutes later... my face! This was the first time I had a makeover I actually liked and the first time I ever wore fake eyelashes. That was intense.

Wendy, my +1 picked me up and we got to LA at about 1pm. No traffic on the freeways but around the LA Live area was crazy. Our first party was the MasterCard Pre-Grammy Reception - everyone flocked to the extravagant dessert table to check out the gramophone. There was live music, good drinks and food.

3pm - We ventured out to see the action, we headed into Nokia and had to take a picture with an official GRAMMY gramophone. While we were in line we did a lot of people watching, some of the outfits were super sparkly.

4pm - You have to be inside Staples Center by 4:30pm. This is when they lock the doors. Yes they really do. What we found out later is that our tickets had special stickers on them and we could've walked on the actual red carpet. Not the one the celebs walk on but the one behind it. Yeah there's a few red carpets. These little strips are what we walked on and people took pictures on. Hey, it is a red carpet.

This scene actually surprised the hell out of me and is super popular on my Instagram - women in gowns ordering up McDonald's right before the show started. What you can't see are tons of people eating on closed concessions stand counters. Savages!
4:30pm - I tried to buy a bottle of water but the stands were closing so everyone had their butts planted in their seats to get The 56th Annual Grammy Awards started. I was told to return at 5:15pm. Wendy nonchalantly pointed out Quentin Tarantino and I told him I loved his movies and asked if we could take a picture. He very very sweetly said no but thanked me and shook my hand. We found our seats and I had to get a picture in even though I technically wasn't supposed to take pictures at all inside Staples Center. I couldn't resist!

Around 4:50pm - general announcements are made to find your seats and this is in very bad blogger form but I forgot who addressed the crowd and introduced LL Cool J. I'm assuming the producer of the show. Also got to meet blogger friends Chelsea & Melissa!

Pink was amazing flying above the crowd.

I didn't want to disrespect (or get sued by) The GRAMMYs by taking pictures all night so that's all you are gonna get!

9pm - The show ran late and we're newbies so we got to the Official GRAMMY Celebration After Party late and it was crazy. The theme: Roarin' 20s. All the tables were taken and no one was getting up so we roamed the ginormous space for about 30 minutes (with hurt feet!), grabbed some food and drinks before we approached a cute couple willing to share their small cocktail table with us.

The drink menu - I really would've liked to the Patron or Ultimat signature drinks but I needed caffeine to keep me up. I took a picture so you can make it at home!

The dinner menus were based on cities in the Roarin' 20s - got to rep Los Angeles!

Got to meet one of the lovely couples that got married during the Same Love performance - Wendy Diaz and Monique Flores!

10pm - Ciara performed with her cute little baby bump and sounded SO GOOD!

12am - home in my pajamas!

You basically got a program if you attended the GRAMMYs. If you attended the after party, you got a bag with the official nominees cd and 5 Gum. My passes are on the right and you see that red sticker - I could've walked the red carpet!

The best "swag".

Questions from my friends!

Melissa of melissadell.com asked: What happens during commercials?
It's actually really quiet while the sets are being changed out. 20 seconds before the show goes live again there is a countdown. LL Cool J doesn't entertain us and we really only saw him about 3x!

Chris of whatiruninto.com asked: If you could do it again, what would you do differently? Arrive earlier/later? Dressed up/down? Interviewed attendees? Tweeted celebs while they were on-stage?
I think we arrived at a good time, I would've dressed up a little more and interviewed attendees. I intended on making Instagram videos but everything is so crazy busy that you just kinda blank out... I would've tweeted celebs but the reception inside wasn't the best.

Erica asked: Your first reactions, absolute favorite and unforgettable moments. Did you get any goodie bags?
I flipped out when Beyonce and Jay-Z opened the show. It was wild. Meeting Quentin Tarantino was cool and seeing Paris Hilton walk in to the after party when we were walking out was surreal. She looks like an angel in person, totally flawless. I could not contain myself when Metallica performed, it was amazing. Katy Perry and Juicy-J performance was just so weird. Watching the backs of celebrities dancing during performances was also surreal but also made me feel a little bit stalkerish thinking they were right there in front of me.

Danyelle of thecubiclechick.com asked: Who really sang. Who didn't? I'm guessing Taylor Swift didn't really sing but I don't know. All of them sounded so good.

Ruby of growingupblackxican.com asked: After party what was poppin? Favorite moments? The after party was intense, like a wedding gone wild. One of my favorite moments was seeing the couples come out during the Same Love performance and then talking to a few of them at the after party.

I cannot thank MasterCard enough - this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never ever forget. Read how I found out I was going to the GRAMMYs here. #PricelessSurprises

My Kid's First Tattoo

2014-02-18T12:12:00.001-08:00

Ty's first tattoo, not finished yet.

My oldest kid got a tattoo.

Saying that will take some time getting used to. He's still healing actually and so am I. It's definitely something I thought I wouldn't have to worry about for another year when he turned 18. You know that age when your child is officially an ADULT. I'm not gonna be dramatic and say I was mad because I actually wasn't. I was just a little disappointed. He's newly 17, celebrating his birthday at the end of January. He's the oldest but still my baby and will always be. He's still a teenager in my eyes... not able to make these types of decisions. Or so I thought... maybe we don't give our kids enough credit because I am relieved that Ty had the foresight to get the tattoo behind his leg. I would've died if he got a brand or name tattoo. I guess that's what's cool with kids these days and not tribal bands or barbed wire like in my day. I feel better telling myself that it could have been so much worse. And he came over on his own to make sure I was okay and show me it. He didn't hide it from us and it is artsy.

I wasn't close to my parents and couldn't tell them anything growing up. When I was 17, all I thought about was lying to my parents because they couldn't handle the life I wanted to live. And here is my kid at 17, sharing his life with me. At 38 years old and four kids later, I'm definitely not the parent I thought I would be. All parents have a vision of what's right and perfect but you gotta be willing to adjust down the line... that's real parenting to me.

Find Your Style With #KleenexStyle

2014-02-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Kleenex. All thoughts are my own.

You know me - I live for good art and design. Even though I love black & white, color makes my heart flutter. Kleenex has stepped it up for their 90th Anniversary with another innovative first: The Kleenex® Style Studio. It’s a fun, inspiring way to discover more of the Kleenex® Brand designs and products you love. And maybe even a few that’ll take you by surprise. Not only can you check out designs, you can learn some fun facts! Did you know Kleenex has been in MOMA twice?! Or that Kleenex started out as a facial tissue for removing makeup?

You can also enter to win a trip to NYC and $5000 when you visit the Kleenex Style Studio and take the quiz!

Now that you've seen some of the modern designs - Do you think Kleenex appeals to my sense of style?

Ingredients: A Love Story At Whole Foods Huntington Beach On 2/11

2014-02-11T00:21:00.001-08:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach. All thoughts are my own.

My husband Chris has always been sweet on Valentine's Day. His love of the day made me love it too. We are cheesy and go out for lunch or dinner, he brings me roses. Those are some of the ingredients to our love story. Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach knows how important love stories are and is kicking off Valentine's Day with a very sweet event on Tuesday, February 11th from 6-8pm

You will be treated to tastings and there will be an in-store raffle to win tickets for a Valentine's dinner for two!

•Specialty Experience the sweet heat of Pepperlane sweet and hot fruit spreads paired with tangy goat cheese selected by our Cheese Specialist. While you're at it, meet our Wine and Beer Specialists and sample their Valentine's favorites

•Grocery Try the decadent combination of fresh nuts from our bulk section paired with California Rancher's Cajun seasoning and just the right amount of sweetness in Mike Keller's Hog Wild Nut Brittle

•Bakery Indulge in fresh baked Chantilly fruit cake with sweet and savory butter cream

•Meat Savor layers of flavor with chicken wellingtons served alongside Meat Educator Scott's in-house made Smokehouse Habanero Aioli

•Prepared Foods Sample Chef Nick's play on culinary seduction with his roasted asparagus salad with lemon, basil, and crisp quinoa with fresh green goddess dressing

•Produce Discover new realms of sweet and spicy snacking with Nercy's tempting mango, pineapple, and habanero guacamole

•Seafood Experience briny bliss with our fresh shucked oysters and kick them up a notch with a splash of La Pan's Et Tu Brute Bloody Mary Mix

•Whole Body Really get things started by adding a little maca to the mix with Whole Body Team Leader Danny's in-house made maca balls

Mmmm! I am excited to sample all of the above but you can find me in the Bakery Dept. ~ the Chantilly fruit cake is calling my name! Which food is calling your name?

My Whole Foods Market is social! Check out other upcoming events:

Every Friday in February, Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach is featuring live jazz in its 24 tap craft beer bar, Woody's Surf City Grill from 6-9pm.
Saturday, February 22nd from 12-4pm, join Edzon and his Seafood Team as they fillet whole fresh fish to order. As always, we cook, we clean, we do it for FREE!

Stay in the know by following Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach on Twitter / Facebook

Spend Valentine's Day On the Love Boat #MIXIMLOVE

2014-02-07T20:16:00.004-08:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Ehrmann MIXIM. All thoughts are my own.

Hey lovers, to celebrate the US launch of Ehrmann MIXIM greek yogurt, the iconic Queen Mary will turn pink on Valentine's Day and host a FREE event to benefit the Children's Heart Foundation! Will you join me on the love boat? You get free entrance to the Queen Mary ($24.95 value), live concert performance by Journey tribute band Don't Stop Believin', Valentine's fireworks show, MIXIM yogurt sampling and giveaways! RSVP here.

And if that isn't enough fun for you, help attempt a world record at 7pm for the most couples feeding each other yogurt simultaneously and Ehrmann MIXIM will donate $20,000 to The Children's Heart Foundation! For every photo from the event shared on Instagram, Twitter or Vine, Ehrmann MIXIM will donate $1 to The Children's Heart Foundation up to $5,000 additional dollars! Use the hash tag #MIXIMLOVE

I'm sweet on Ehrmann MIXIM's heart-shaped container with 3 separate chambers but it gets better: Each product is as unprocessed as possible using fresh, cow milk from local farms, and the highest quality fresh fruit and ingredients. MIXIM is non-fat and kosher certified, with no artificial coloring or preservatives. Each serving of creamy, smooth MIXIM Greek yogurt is paired with two topping combinations to let you create your own taste sensations:

- Blackberry+ Pomegranate and Granola + Dried Fruit

- Honey and Coconut + Almonds

- Mango + Pineapple and Coconut + Almonds

- Cherry and Dark Chocolate Curls

- Raspberry and Dark + White Chocolate curls

- Strawberries and Granola

I can't wait to try it out on Valentine's Day!

Enter MIXIM Year of Love Valentine's Sweepstakes here. One grand prize winner will win a $200 Visa gift card and a year supply of MIXIM yogurt! Ten other winners will receive $100 Visa gift cards!

Show love to Ehrmann MIXIM: Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram

Making Bad Good With Hasbro Marvel Super Hero Mashers #MiMashup

2014-02-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: This is part of a product review campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Hasbro; complimentary products were provided. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

My littles were so excited when we got a box of Hasbro Marvel Super Hero Mashers in the mail. They could tell that Iron Man and Captain America were different from their other toys. Omie studied the back of the boxes but Duke immediately knew that he could interchange parts and accessories and create his own super hero or villain. Duke started talking about how he can make "Iron America" and if we bought other mashers he can make all kinds of heroes! I was excited to see his excitement about creating new characters... we're always encouraging creativity and the mashers make it easy for kids to use their imaginations. Duke had his own thoughts:
Duke: Hey mom, so if I give Dr. Doom Iron Man's legs that makes Dr. Doom half super hero!
Me: Basically!
Duke: That's awesome, I always wanted to make the bad guys good!

I like to think my sons are my best mashups - my husband is Mexican and I'm just a big ol' mix of Filipino, Chamorro, Spanish, German and Chinese. We use our cultures & life experiences and take on the World!

Create a virtual HASBRO MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHER here!

Join us for the Hasbro Marvel Super Hero Mashers #MiMashup Twitter Party on 2/11 from 9-10 pm EST. Follow @LatinaMomBlogs for details.

Duke with Iron Man and Captain America before the transformation begins...

There are 20 unique MARVEL SUPER HERO MASHERS characters planned for 2014 - we only used 2 here, imagine the combinations!
I was secretly excited that we got Iron Man because he's my favorite!

Love Is Getting Chocolate In The Mail #LoveEthelM

2014-02-06T09:20:00.003-08:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Ethel M Chocolates. All thoughts are my own.

My newest BFF is Ethel M Chocolates. Anyone who wants to send me a Valentine Heart box with 14 pieces of gourmet chocolates gets priority in my life. Chocolate is the magic word. Now you know how you get to me. I'm saying this because everyone should get chocolates in the mail at least once in their lifetime. Is that too much to ask for? I never knew the luxury of chocolates showing up at your door until this past year. Instant happiness.

I shared my box of chocolates with my husband cause he's cool and I love him. He ate all the solid chocolates and I indulged in toffee and creamy caramels. That's how marriage works, sweet sweet compromise.

And because you are cool and yes I love you, I'm sharing this - Get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $55 with code: CUPID14

Each of the Valentine's Day limited edition heart pieces are carefully sprayed with cocoa butter in seasonal colors. I totally thought the hearts were in cute foil wrap!

Labor Day Screening With James Van Der Beek #LaborDayMamarazzi

2014-01-31T09:21:00.003-08:00

Note: My lovely friend Jen of Skinned Knees is today's guest blogger, thanks Jen!

This past Thursday evening, my best friend, Aria, and I got together with a fun group of bloggers for The Moms ‘ Mamarazzi screening of Labor Day. We had both wanted to see the film so we were super stoked about being invited to an advanced screening! I am a huge fan of Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, and James Van Der Beek and their work so I was pretty sure I was going to love Labor Day! I also am really into Jason Reitman, the director – he directed Juno, Young Adult and a few other films plus a couple episodes of The Office, which is one of my most favorite television shows ever.

We met up at Paramount Studios. Having grown up in Los Angeles and driven past Paramount countless times, it was really cool to actually be inside the studios! We felt super special weaving around filming trailers and being ushered up to the Sherry Lansing Theatre for the screening.

Labor Day ended up being a SUPER intense movie, but in a really cathartic way. The movie opens with Kate Winslet’s character, Adele, and her son, Henry (played by actor Gattlin Griffith) giving Josh Brolin’s character Frank, an escaped convict, a ride and a place to stay. The plot evolves from there into a very human portrayal of love, coming of age, and loss. I loved the diversity of the characters and how easy they were to relate to. Plus, to say Josh Brolin is eye candy is pretty much the bigger understatement ever. That man is a dreamboat!

After the movie, we were all treated to a Q&A session with James Van Der Beek! The Moms’ Denise Albert and Melissa Musen Gerstein graciously facilitated the session and there were some great questions asked. James was incredibly humble and down to earth. He talked a lot about his new daughter (this was a mommy blogger outing, after all!) and told us all what it was like to work with Josh and Kate on set. And luckily, someone managed to find a way to tie in Dawson’s Creek so the 90s girl in my heart was pleased!

All in all, we had a fantastic time. Many of us got to take photos with Mr. Van Der Beek himself before heading into the lobby for dessert and coffee while we all processed the emotional ride we took during Labor Day. I definitely recommend seeing it – it’s perfect for a date, a night out with your best friend or even a matinee with your mom.

Labor Day opens on January 31st, 2014!

Have you seen it yet? What did you think?

Eight Candles At Pirate's Dinner Adventure, Buena Park

2014-01-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

Disclosure: Pirate's Dinner Adventure graciously provided tickets for my family and I to check out the show. All thoughts are my own.

We surprised Duke for this 8th Birthday by celebrating at Pirate's Dinner Adventure. We live in Buena Park so we drive by all the time and wonder what fun goes on in there! I have a tendency to be a little ocd when it comes to planning but promised myself that I'd let loose this year and not look at reviews. This is what I knew: dinner would be served and there would be pirates. What I didn't expect was an interactive adventure from start to finish.

Get there early for the h'orderves and pre-show. Yep, a show before the show. We roamed around and found most of the h'orderves were being served in the area farthest from the entrance. Our favorites were fresh veggies and dip, sweet potato tots and corn fritters. We happened to be standing right in front of the bar when the pre-show started. We got a little startled but I'd say it was the best place to be.

The show takes place on a replicated 18th-century Spanish galleon measuring 46 feet long, 18 feet wide with 40-foot masts and anchored in a 250,000 gallon indoor lagoon with night sky lighting. We were ushered to our seats in ships surrounding the lagoon and got to meet our pirate, the red pirate Cutthroat Jack!

Dinner is served during the show and you start off with soup or salad. I requested the VIP (Very Important Pirate) Kids Meal for the two littles - it was chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes and corn. My birthday boy ate it up and wanted me to ask for another serving (that's a rare request from him). The rest of us chose the roasted half chicken with rice and veggies. Dessert was brownie a la mode.

The show is a classic tale of good vs. evil with the perfect blend of action, comedy and romance. We were amazed at the special effects wizardry, aerial artistry, swashbuckling swordplay and dynamic duels.

Rise of the Sea Dragon is very interactive, my birthday boy loved having the opportunity to board the ship!

A birthday cake for a birthday pirate!

After the show you can take pictures with the pirates!
Cutthroat Jack & Duke!

Our family had the best time! The all-new show, "Rise of the Sea Dragon" is only a couple years old - we want to return in October for the Halloween-themed show, "Vampirate's" and in December for the holiday show, "Pirates Take Christmas".

Tickets for the 2014 Season are $58.95 plus tax for adults (12 years and older) and $39.95 plus tax for children (3-11 years old). Show times vary, please call for show times & schedule (714) 690-1497

Pirate's Dinner Adventure is located off the 91 Freeway in Buena Park at 7600 Beach Blvd.