Pearmama

Happy 54th Birthday, Morrissey

2013-05-22T13:25:00.001-07:00

Today is Stephen Patrick Morrissey's birthday.

If you were a child of the 80's and 90's or you just have a love of moody, hipster music...than you should know who Stephen Patrick Morrissey is.

Morrissey.

Once the lead singer for The Smiths, Morrissey went on to have a solo career and I think that's when I really fell in love with his music. I listened to Bona Drag on constant repeat my first year of college. It was just me, my babydoll dresses, my black Doc Martens, my burgundy hair (that looked very much like Raggedy Anne) and my Morrissey CD's.

Gawd, I loved that music.

It was everything I needed during that rough child-to-adulthood, I'm in college and I have no friends and no boyfriend, #foreveralone transition I was experiencing. I would turn up Yes, I'm Blind, November Spawned a Monster, The Last Famous International Playboys and the always classic Suedehead.

I still love Morrissey's music and I've tried to get my boys into it but they're uncultured swine and if it isn't Dub Step, Reggae or Metal, they aren't having it.

Sad face.

I still have hope for my daughters. Hopefully I can pass on my love for Morrissey to them. I can see them now, sketching in their drawing books, black combat boots, hair hanging over one eye, listening to Morrissey and it sounding as fresh and relevant as it did when their mama was a lovelorn college student.

Artwork by Rio Yañez..

Happy 54th birthday, Morrissey!

Inspira Jewelry: Inspired to be one of a kind

2013-05-21T19:26:00.001-07:00

The second I saw this necklace I thought, this is something Frida Kahlo would've worn. I want!

Frida was known for wearing beautiful, bold Pre-Columbian jewelry, handmade stones and pendants. Contrary to popular belief, she wore them as a political statement. In no way were they trendy or fashionable during Frida's time.

As always, Frida was an individual.

I once read that many of her necklaces were gifts from her husband Diego Rivera, as a peace offering during his many infidelities.

Ew.

I love Frida Kahlo and I love Diego Rivera (enough to name my son after him!), but part of me hates him for all of the pain he caused her.

But of course, I bought it.

I can't help but feel a little exotic in it. I love the sound the stones make when they click against each other while I'm putting it on or taking it off. I love the weight of the stones against my neck. I also like that I can open the locket and put a photo inside. And it sits right in between the décolletage.

Like my new glasses? Read about them on BabyCenter.

You know, the cleavage--assuming I had some, of course.

I purchased this necklace from Inspira, which is handmade jewelry by my dear friend Lizzy. Connect with her on Facebook and follow @LaChillona on Instagram for more pics of the stuff she makes.

You can't have this one. It's mine!

Tales of a Font Hoe: 19 favorite fonts

2013-05-17T17:33:00.001-07:00

5th Grade Cursive

Cinnamon Cake

A Year Without Rain

Clair de Lune

Raja Drama

Frenchy

Vermilion

Jicama

Seriously

Cocobella

Sue Ellen Francisco

KG Call Me Maybe

Fascinate

Learning Curve

KG Ways to Say Goodbye

Stefanie Dots

Zebra
Suecos Locos

Elsie Tall-N-Skinny

It's time for another installment from Tales of a Font Hoe, where I confess my undying love of fonts. Or, as my husband so astutely pointed out to after my last post, type.

Whatever, man.

I just know I dig fonts. It recently occurred to me that I have a definite attraction to tall and skinny fonts. I don't mean to be discriminatory--chubby fonts need love too--I just like what I like. I also like way out, kooky fonts like Zebra. I just know there will be an occasion where life will demand I use Zebra.

If not, I will definitely make one up. Can I get a witness?

Does anyone recognize Sue Ellen Francisco from PicMonkey? What is it with that site? I paid good money that totes could've bought me a sushi lunch for the Royale version and....those fonts?

Weaksauce.

I love PicMonkey just as much as everyone else. But the fonts leave something to be desired. Way too Halloweenie. No one uses dripping blood fonts. Ahem. Dracula, Exquisite Corpse, Drawing Blood and Nightbird.

Just saying.

Enjoy!

Sweeten up your business card presentation

2013-05-17T02:18:00.002-07:00

If you are a blogger, than chances are you want to attend a blogging conference, you already attended one this year or you are definitely planning on attending one.

One of the most common practices at a conference is exchanging business cards. One thing I know for sure, you will smile and shake hands with many, many people. You will introduce yourself to a countless number of people and I promise you one thing.

You won't remember their name. Or what they do. Or what is the name of their blog.

You won't, so stop telling yourself you will.

This is where business cards come in handy. Those little cards put together a name, a brand, a company, a face, a PR agency--all of those very important factors that are needed when considering a working relationship. I was so sad to look through a stack of business cards I received from the last conference I attended with so little information on them, leaving me no recollection of the person or what they do.

Sssshhhh...don't tell anyone but I threw all the boring ones in the trash.

Not to be mean, but seriously, I had no idea what else to do with them. Trust me, I did not want my business cards to suffer the same fate. I loved the way my business cards turned out but I also knew I wanted to elevate their presentation just a little more. Inspired by the many posts I read about Alt Summit back in January (Alt Summit will be in San Francisco in July!! Squeee!), I knew if I just added some sort of personal touch to my cards when I handed them out to people, that would increase the chances of them remembering me.

Together with my bro Jeshua from Boifromipanema, we doodled on each of the brown paper sleeves with a black Sharpie marker. We actually did these in our hotel room at the Eden Roc the first night we arrived in Miami for Hispanicize '13.

Then, I slid my business card inside with (this is my favorite part)...a few Juicy Pear Jelly Bellies.

Totally cute, right?

I mean, who doesn't like Juicy Pear? Coincidentally, it happens to be my favorite Jelly Belly flavor.

I can't tell you how many people were surprised to find the Jelly Bellies inside the paper sleeve. And the cool thing is, they usually ate them right in front of me, telling me what a sweet, creative idea it was! And then we chatted it up. When I saw them in various sessions and luncheons, they knew my name and that I was the blogger from Pearmama dot com.

Mission accomplished.

The Craft of Blogging this Saturday 5/18

2013-05-16T14:45:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to announce The Craft of Blogging Workshop. It's happening this Saturday!

Anytime people find out I'm a blogger, I field a ton of questions.

How did you become a blogger?
Did you go to school for that?
Do you make money?
Do you get stuff for free?
How did you start writing for BabyCenter?
How do you work with brands?
How do I make a blog?

There is so much information I've gathered over the years that sometimes I feel like I overwhelm people with my response to their questions. In fact, we'll answer those questions and more.

In two days, I'll get to pour out all of the goodies, along with fellow bloggers Xenia from Raised by Culture and Ruby from Growing Up Blackxican. They are two really interesting people with great families and I love their blogs--I'm so excited to be working alongside them. We are all blogging from different niches, and we each have something worthwhile to share.

We've been sharing about this workshop through all of our social media channels over the past several weeks and I'm happy to say that we're going to have a full house on Saturday....but wait!

*************************************************

I just got the news they've released one more ticket for tomorrow's event! I'm going to give one lucky Pearmama reader a free spot at tomorrow's Craft of Blogging Workshop.

If you're in the Southern California area and you want to learn the basics of blogging, then enter to win!

Just make sure you follow @pearmama and @thecraftofblogging on Twitter and send me a tweet saying you want to join us and I'll pick a winner by midnight tonight.

Good luck!!

Restyle Your Favorite Sandals with Nail Polish

2013-05-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

I originally posted DIY: Restyle your Favorite Sandals with Nail Polish on BabyCenter last month and I thought I'd share it here with you all, since we're now in perfect sandal weather.

If you're like me, than you have a ton of sandals. I blame living in Southern California--you can wear sandals practically year round.

I usually buy a bunch of sandals and that short window of time when it rains and I wear boots, sneakers and flats, I store them under my bed. And somehow, during that time, my sandal collection grows to unseen proportions. When Spring is upon us, I unearth a pile of sandals and I stand there and scratch my head wondering....when did I buy all these sandals?

Needless to say, I have several pairs that are similar to each other. A couple of them could stand some sprucing up. I recently saw this pair of sandals on Pinterest and it got my wheels turning. I was inspired to diy a pair of my own sandals in a similar fashion.

How you paint your sandals are totally up to you. I wanted my shapes to look similar to the pair I found on Pinterest. Polka dots would look really cute, too. But as always, create what makes you happy.

Do you, boo.

The single mother side hustle

2013-05-12T10:54:00.003-07:00

My favorite photo of my mama. She's pregnant with me in this photo.

Although I hate the thought of wrinkles and gray hair, growing older is a good thing. I've gained wisdom and insight that I just didn't have when I was in my 20's. Take my relationship with my mother, for example.

We've always been close. I'll do anything for my mother and I know for a fact she'll do anything for me. But now that I'm a mother myself, I realize just how much she sacrificed for me, especially being a single mother.

I have this memory that took me several years to fully understand.

When I was around junior high age, my family got into a sort of routine. Every other Thursday night, which happened to coincide with payday, my mother would come home with a huge load of groceries. She'd walk in the door and she wouldn't even stop to change out of her work clothes--she'd start cooking. She'd pull out a huge metal pot and she'd start sauteeing garlic and peeling potatoes. When she caught a lull in the action, she'd rush to her bedroom and change her clothes. Meanwhile, the people started trickling in--uncles, cousins, her girlfriends, their children, etc.

It quickly became my favorite day of the week, as we all sat at the kitchen counter talking and laughing. While my mother worked feverishly on the stove, the delectable smell of simmering chile verde wafted through the house. Like an assembly line, she would start spreading the chile verde onto warm flour tortillas and rolling them into burritos. We all sat and ate and it seemed like my mom fed an army. In the midst of serving us, she was making more and slipping them into sandwich bags. Those were the burritos she took to work the next day.

It never occurred to me that her reasoning for hauling a big box of burritos to work went beyond being a nice officemate.

The next morning, I would hear the click click click of her high heels as she walked to her car in the driveway, carrying all those burritos (of course, she left us a few to enjoy after school). When she returned home at the end of the day, there were no more burritos to speak of.

Had it not been for mom's Thursday night hustle, there wouldn't have been any Friday night pizza, camping trips, drive-in movies, Dodger games or trips to the sporting goods store for a new softball glove and cleats--all the things we enjoyed as kids.

Years later, I realized mom made all of those burritos and brought them to work on payday, when everyone was sure to have money. I think of how exhausted she must have been, a single mother to three growing kids. Every dollar was accounted for and even with a full time job and child support, things were tight. Still, she figured out a way to bring in some extra money, always putting us and our needs first.

My mom often claims she doesn't have any gifts like her children. I can't paint, I can't draw, I can't sing--I'm not like you guys, she always says.

It's true--my mother's talent doesn't lie in the arts. But I've never met a woman more capable of making her children feel loved and taken care of. And to me and my siblings, and now, to her grandchildren, that is a true gift.

Family love.

Happy Mother's Day.

Large family survival tip with Charmin Basic #MamaBear

2013-05-09T20:48:00.002-07:00

In the midst of the whirlwind that was Hispancize '13, I had the chance to visit the Charmin booth, where they kicked off their salute to Latina Mama Bears with help from Latina celebrity mom Giselle Blondet, proud mama bear to three kids.

And yes, she was just as gorgeous in person, too.

Giselle knows what it's like to run a busy household with children and juggle different schedules, household duties, a career and trying to stay connected with your husband. The last thing I want to do is spend unnecessary time shopping around town for the best deals.

Ain't nobody got time for that, amirite?

Like I mentioned in my last Mama Bear post, toilet paper is a hot commodity in our home. I often joke that with eight behinds to wipe, we should buy stock in a toilet paper company!

This is why I love Charmin Basic. It does the job and it's gentle on my wallet. It's 2x stronger than the leading value brand. I've noticed it lasts longer than the other brands we've tried, which leave us scurrying to the store for more. Case in point: one day I was putting away laundry in my son's drawer when I noticed he had a fresh roll of toilet paper tucked away.

"What's this for?" I asked.
"Just in case we run out, I know I'll have some backup!" he smiled.

And that, my friends, is a large family survival tip: always have your own personal toilet paper backup--just make sure it's Charmin Basic!

Make sure you enter Charmin's sweepstakes--you could win a spacious 2013 Chrysler Town & Country Minivan! Connect with Charmin on Facebook and check out the Mama Bear tab.

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

Kids grow up right before your eyes

2013-05-08T15:14:00.001-07:00

Motherhood can be tough sometimes.

Yes, we rarely get any sleep. We can't eat a meal without puppy eyes looking at us for a bite. We worry about their safety just walking out to the curb to take the trash out. We can't poop in peace without being interrupted at least five times.

My children are my greatest achievement and my greatest weakness.

I've come a long way. My babies are no longer in diapers, breastfeeding and learning how to ride a bike. They're growing, especially my sons.

It happened too fast.

My son Sol will turn 13 this year. I'm simultaneously heartbroken and happy. It's such a bittersweet feeling, knowing that the sweet babe you once cradled in your arms and adored is now taller than you, so talented and extremely handsome.

I catch myself staring at him sometimes.

"Mom! What?" He looks at me like I'm funny.

I remember when he was born...it was a Monday night...he was born at 9:45 at night...on the floor in the livingroom...I just stepped out of the birth tub and didn't have a chance to get back in once I felt the need to push. He was born and he was so peaceful looking.

How did I make such a good looking young man, I always think to myself. I see so much of his father in him, but I also see a little bit of myself in there, too. He spent the last couple of years in what he calls his "husky stage". He's stretching out now, and his boyish looks are changing ever so slightly.

I've already gone through this with my other two sons, but it feels different with Sol. It's like a rude shock. Sol was the first baby I had at home, he breastfed until he was nearly two and he was the first child that I felt convicted enough to forgo vaccines.

When I first started blogging, Sol was six years old.

Piñata time at a birthday party.

This was Sol just last year.

Enjoying Laguna Beach in 2012.

And this is Sol this week, after a much needed haircut.

I wish I could get the time back. I really do. It pains my heart. The funny thing is, I've been home with my kids everyday since they were born. I'm deeply grateful for this privilege.

It's true, they grow right before your eyes.

DIY Sugar Skull Paper Lanterns

2013-05-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

With all of the drama happening on the blogosphere yesterday because Disney was planning to trademark the phrase, "Dia de los Muertos", I was verklempt, to say the least.

I've lived in Southern Cali my entire life, and Disneyland is ingrained in the fabric of where we live. I associate many happy childhood memories with the place.

But you can't trademark something that isn't yours.

It belongs to a group of people.

A distinct culture.

I'm happy to report that Disney withdrew their filing. I wonder if all of the irate tweets that were furiously posted today by a legion of Latinos had anything to do with their decision. Like I said, I love Disneyland just like any other person born and raised here in So Cal.

But please, don't make it a love/hate relationship. Leave Dia de los Muertos alone. Just because you have the power to take something doesn't mean you should.

Ironically enough, I've been working on some cool paper lanterns that were inspired by my favorite place in Disneyland.

The Mad Tea Party, also known as the tea cups.

I can't tell you how many times I've been on the tea cups. In fact, now that my kids are older, it's one of the few reasons why we venture into Fantasyland (or, as I like to call it--Strollerland).

What I love most about the Mad Tea Party are the Japanese lanterns. Hanging from cables amidst the trees, they are lovely, colorful and airy. At night, they are magical. Every single time I visit, I always say the same thing: "I wish I had lanterns just like these in my yard." Because they are totally amazing.

Inspired by Disneyland and their dreamy Mad Tea Party, I decided to tweak a set of paper lanterns that have been sitting in my office for months now, awaiting the spring. They are cute on their own but the artist in me just can't leave well enough alone.

I've just got to put my stank on them.

I grabbed a stack of colored tissue paper and began cutting them into shapes: circles, triangles, squares, diamonds, hearts, rectangles and my favorite, sugar skulls. I didn't want to just glue paper onto the surface, I wanted to make it look like my design was literally a part of the paper lantern.

Ya'll already know you can buy a bottle of Mod Podge and conquer the world. I knew it would be perfect to brush over the delicate tissue paper.

First, I lightly brushed a coat of Mod Podge on the area where I wanted my tissue paper shape to be. Then, I carefully placed the tissue paper over it and pressed down gently. Then I brushed another coat of Mod Podge on top of the tissue paper. Get rid of any air bubbles and be careful while you are brushing the Mod Podge because we all know how delicate wet tissue paper is. I specifically chose matte because I wanted the tissue paper to blend in with the paper lantern. Gloss would've screamed, hey, look at me I'm gloss!

I went to town and glued different sized shapes all over the place because you know how I do. You can also overlap the shapes. You can do whatever you feel like, man--they are your paper lanterns.

I also cut out a few sugar skulls because even though Dia de los Muertos is five months away, I look forward to it so freaking much. To make my life easier, I just drew the eyes, nose and mouth with a black sharpie marker but I'm sure you could easily cut the shapes out with black tissue paper.

I love them!

I can't wait to make more of these!

Oh, btdubbs...are you on Vine? I am!

Come and follow me @pearmama on Vine, friends.

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo: Mexican Bloody Mary #staxquerico

2013-05-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

Getting some love from Nicole.

This week I had the chance to venture into East L.A to hang out with some pretty awesome bloggers such as Erika from Nibbles and Feasts, Ruby from Growing up Blackxican, Yolanda from SassymamainLA, Rachel from The Art Muse, Monique from Curves and Chaos and Stephen from LatinoFoodie to name a few.

What was the occasion?

To visit Nicole from Presley's Pantry and enjoy yummy dishes inspired by Frito-Lay's #StaxQueRico flavors: Chile Limon, Flamas, Limon, and Adobadas.

My kids are addicted to these chips. If it has salt, limon and chile on it, we are obsessed.

Even though I had to teach an art class that morning, I knew I had to go! I didn't want to miss all the fun--and all the goodies. There was quite a spread: spicy avocado salsa, pork adobada, strawberry mango salsa, hot dogs topped with Stax Adobada chips, chile verde, sangria, bacon bean dip, ceviche and my absolute fave--chicharron-coated chicken bites with adobada dipping sauce by Ruby. So sinfully good!

I had no idea what I was going to make at first--I mean, what can you do to improve on something as yummy as chips and dip? Then it hit me, last week when we were in Ensenada, Mexico on the Crafty Chica cruise, we all walked off the boat for a life-changing cocktail--a Mexican Bloody Mary.

It was so good. Even after a day of exploring the city and eating a large amount of fish tacos (and shrimp cocktail. And churros. And coconut with chile and lime. And...), that Mexican Bloody Mary went down smooth.

We watched the bartender intently...so I can only relay the recipe the way I saw it being made for me. I know, I'm terrible when it comes to recipes, but this is why I'm not a food blogger, people! Heh.

Inspired by the Chile Limon flavored Stax chips, I tried to recreate that Mexican Bloody Mary because it's packed with that delicious chile limon flavor!

If you like to make yourself cocktails, then you know it's always a little bit of this and a little bit of that and you tailor it to your liking. This recipe is similar to a Michelada, but for those who don't drink beer, you can add vodka. It's also equally delicious without any alcohol! I know because my kids have been drinking it all week long.

It's important to have lots of freshly squeezed limes for this drink. And Tajin! Do not forget the Tajin--it's what makes this cocktail. You can sprinkle some in the drink like I did, and you also use it as a garnish around the rim, just like a margarita.

Mmmmm.

Spicy and delicious!

There you have it, a delicious drink you can enjoy on Cinco de Mayo or any other day, in my book. It's that tasty!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend this event by Latina Bloggers Connect. I was compensated and given a goodie bag. As always, this is my honest opinion.

Make Your Own Sponsored Post/Disclosure Banner

2013-05-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

The FTC recently rolled out their new guidelines which state that additional information must be provided in our disclosures when we blog.

What does this mean for us plain folk?

It means we have to clearly state whether or not we are being compensated when we blog about businesses and products. Whether or not we are being paid, given gift cards, free food, trips, products--you name it. We have to state that. The small blurb that I usually add at the bottom of my posts is no longer feasible.

Here is the thing. Some of ya'll remember when I used to be a very small operation--just me, my husband's dusty desktop and six little baybays running around. I wrote about our crazy life and got nothing in return except a gusty sigh of relief because I got it all off my chest. No one paid me. No one gave me free stuff. No one expected me to advertise for them.

It's different now. I've been in the blogging game long enough to start helping support my family. I'm sure you can tell the difference between me writing and me getting my slang on, right? A mama's got to do what a mama's got to do. To be honest, I'm still a very small operation--just me, my own dusty macbook (instead of my husband's desktop, may it R.I.P) and six big baybays running around. But I want to keep writing, I want to keep making stuff and I eventually want to write that book someday.

For now, let's look at it this way...in between my weekly blog posts, I'll post a few "commercials". Then it'll be back to regular programming. They may or may not be your cup of tea, but it helps take care of my kids and I am happy about that.

The cool thing is, I actually get to work with awesome companies that want me to try their stuff--stuff that I would be using anyway! I love when I have mutual admiration with a brand because it makes my job so much easier. I do my absolute best to work with companies that I actually enjoy and respect so I can be completely honest with you, my fab readers.

But anyhow.

I thought I'd create a banner stating that a post contained sponsored content. So, every time you see it, you know Pearmama got some sort of compensation and you can be relieved to know I'm not living at the river bottom grilling muskrats for dinner.

Amirite?

I was inspired to make my own sponsored post/disclosure banner by Dear Emmeline, a sweet blog that I had the pleasure of discovering after working on a campaign for Plaid.

Go and check out the easy to follow tutorial. She made her banner with her computer's paint program and PicMonkey. I made my simple banner with Photoshop and then I grabbed the tiny heart with PicMonkey. I saved it to my desktop so whenever I do a sponsored post, I can quickly find it and post it. I might change the color of the banner (I'm picky like that) but ultimately, I'll be using this banner to state my disclosure of sponsored material.

Until we meet again, friends.

Thanks for being awesome,

Denise
xoxo

Have you tried this yet? #yaprobasteesto

2013-05-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

When I was in Miami for Hispanicize '13 last month, I had the pleasure of enjoying a luncheon with many of my fellow Latina bloggers on behalf of P&G (Proctor & Gamble). Their ¿Ya Probaste Esto?/ Have You Tried This Yet? campaign offered up a ton of great products that I happen to use on a daily basis.

While we munched on yummy wraps and kettle chips, celebrity stylist Irma Martinez shared the trends for spring and summer (by the way, black and white is everything this season, ya'll).

Irma also gave us styling tips for all body types. I'm a pear shape (no, really) but I'll be the first to admit that I've been known to buck the trend on what "looks good" for us pears. I wear what I like and I wear what feels good. Case in point, I found this awesome maxi dress at Target but whoa there, girlie.

It had stripes.

Those of us blessed with wide, child-bearing hips are always told to stay away from stripes. I bought it anyway and I think it looks rather fab. Perf for summer.

I bought this maxi with the Target gift card I got from P&G.

When I returned from Miami, P&G very generously sent me a big box of goodies. Let me just say, there was some seriously good stuff in there but what I appreciated most was the Tide Vivid White + BrightTM detergent and Boost, the Downy Shimmer Unstopables and the Downy InfusionsTM Honey Flower.

As a mom with a large family, my laundry regimen tends to be pretty bare bones. Washing laundry for eight people is no joke--buying fabric softener and detergent can get expensive in a hurry. But I liked the Unstopables so much I think I'm going to continue using them on my own clothes, which I often wash separately because I hang dry everything (plus I don't want to mix my stuff with stinky teenage boy clothes). It made my load of maxi dresses smell amazing! The Tide Vivid White + BrightTM detergent and Boost is perfect for my boys and all of their skate and band tees.

There are so many more products in the box P&G sent and I can't wait to try it all--especially the Olay Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo. Heh. Here is to a smooth, fresh-smelling, hair-free spring and summer!

What about you? Have you tried this yet?

Get social with P&G Everyday on Facebook and P&G Everyday on Twitter.

Disclosure: This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Procter &Gamble. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

The best shaper I've ever owned

2013-05-01T02:53:00.000-07:00

Image source: Macy's

The truth of the matter is, my thighs and backside haven't gotten into a dress without first pulling on some sort of shaper since 1995. I'm just like Dolly Parton's character in Steel Magnolias when she says, "Well, these thighs haven't gone out of the house without Lycra on them since I was 14."

Word.

At first, I wore a tight pair of briefs so I could "hold stuff in". Apparently, stuff needed holding.

Then I searched for a shaper to contain all the junk in my trunk. I didn't like all of the jiggling (this is solely a woman thing because men love jiggling).

My shaper was like my under armor--it made me feel confident in a dress.

Then when I started having the chil'rens, a shaper became a necessity.

My stomach started to pooch out.
My thighs started getting bumpy.
My butt spread and got soft.

So I no longer needed the shaper as my "under armor". I needed it because things looked a hot mess without it. And I refuse to suffer from chub rub. Eighteen years later and my shapers are ever present in my wardrobe. And I'm not talking about the tight pair of brief variety.

Those are cute.

But I'm talking about the kind that starts right under your bra and goes down all the way to the middle of your thighs like biker shorts from the 80's. You see, this combats the chub rub, too. I love, love love my shapers.

I no longer wear Spanx. I didn't like the material and I would always pull the seam out. They just couldn't survive the abuse I put them through. I graduated to a different shaper and its been giving me life ever since.

Case in point.

At the end of a week long trip to Mexico on the Crafty Chica cruise, a woman I know came up to me, took one look at my butt in a pair of jeans and then leaned in and whispered, you have very impressive undergarments.

My shaper is everything.

I smiled and thanked her. I mean, what else could I do?

It was slightly embarrassing. But come on, take a good look. A shaper is mandatory. This woman was giving me a compliment.

She went on to tell me that her and a friend were amazed by how "smooth" everything looked. I could've been creeped out that people were studying my maxi dresses and undergarments but in the end, I took it as a compliment. My shaper was doing its job and doing a damn fine one at that.

Kudos.
High five.
Knuckles.

When a woman has on a good shaper, you stand up and take notice.

I'll let you in on a little secret. My shaper of choice is from Naomi & Nicole. It's easy to put on, it doesn't roll down, it's comfortable and it is magic.

What is your favorite brand for shapers?

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I just love my shaper! But hey, Naomi & Nicole, holler at a sister.

Setting sail on the 7th Annual Crafty Chica Cruise

2013-04-22T10:31:00.001-07:00

I'll be sailing away on a ship sometime today on the 7th annual Crafty Chica Cruise.

I know once I get there I'll be excited and happy but as always, it's torture just getting out the door. So much to do, so much to plan, so many notes to leave for people. My last week was slammed because I was making up for time lost in Miami.

Whew.

But enough of all that. Soon, I'll be sailing the blue green waters of the Pacific Ocean, on my way to Mexico along with the evil twins, my brother and sister.

Good times ahead, folks.

I'm actually really looking forward to our stop in Ensenada, Baja California. So many memories of childhood, since that was my family's vacation destination of choice for years and years.

It's been seven long years since we've been there and I almost bawled my eyes out looking at all the photos of my babies because they were so little.

I'm off, friends. I hope I get my sea legs early this time because being seasick was gross. In the meantime, we'll be crafting our guts out.

Yay!

Kids Craft: Easy DIY Bangle #plaidkidscrafts

2013-04-19T15:59:00.002-07:00

My little girls are fashionistas.

Together, they have accumulated handbags, jewelry, boots, sandals, earrings, bracelets, scarves, denim jackets, fur vests, leggings in all colors and Jessica Simpson wedges for play time (courtesy of their latest yard sale score).

I have no idea where they get it from because I am a total tomboy--give me a comfy pair of jeans and a white v-neck and I'm happy.

I made bangles for an old friend recently, and the second my daughter Maya saw them, she wanted to scoop them up for herself! The wooden bangles from DIY Bangles are great blank canvases to work with and luckily I had a few left. I knew this would be a perfect diy project for Maya and myself (because you know mama wants to get in on the action, too).

Plaid sent me a box of goodies to try out and I was happy because hellooo, one gets happy when one gets a box of goodies from Plaid. I was excited to try the new Mod Podge Washout because it has the same formula that we all know and love from Mod Podge but it washes out of clothing and furniture, even after it's dry. That is music to my ears, since my kids are devoted--and sometimes messy--crafters.

I also got some Apple Barrel Paint and we all know the love affair I have with craft paints. Apple Barrel has the best colors and they are perfect for all of my crafting projects.

Maya and I got down to business.

I thought the bracelet would come out nice and neat if we cut some shapes with blue painter's tape first. So that's what I did, cut out small triangles and lines and I helped Maya place them on the bangle. Make sure you press down firmly so the paint doesn't leak.

I let Maya go to town. I resisted the urge to take over.

Make sure you paint the inside of the bangle first. We chose Petunia Purple. Let dry. Then add your other favorite colors. Mix it up! We used Banana, Lime Tree, Pool Blue, and Candy Pink.

We went ahead and painted different colors right on top of each coat after it fully dried and it had great coverage. Once it's all dry, carefully peel off the tape.

I ended up adding some black as an accent (I used a marker) because it needed some edge to it. Once it was dry, we put a coat of Mod Podge Washout over the entire bangle. The formula is slightly thicker and smells differently, too. I guess this is a good thing because I've found myself wanted to eat the Mod Podge because it smells so yummy!

Oh wait. Am I the only weirdo that admits to wanting to eat Mod Podge?

Ahem.

Anyhow, the Mod Podge Washout gave the bangles a subtle gloss so we added two coats. This formula is great because I was able to clean it up with soap and water easily.

It kind of has an 80's feel to it, doesn't it?

I love the way it turned out.

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Disclosure: This post was written as part of a campaign with The Blueprint Social. All opinions are my own.

My time at Hispanicize '13 #hispz13 #recap

2013-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

I was asked this simple question last month:

In 2013, I want to...

It would've been easy to just toss something out there. I want to craft more. I want to get healthy. I want to travel. You know, the usual.

Can I confess something? Whenever I need to make something happen, I put on what I affectionately call my crafty hustle and flow. If you ever saw the movie Hustle & Flow, then you'd know its about a pimp from Memphis. Okay, so not what you would expect a mama of six kids to reference but I've got to be real with you all. Heh.

Whenever the main character needs to do something for himself (like get discovered as a rapper), he hears this inner soundtrack to get him pumped up and inspired.

I do the same. So the answer to the simple question was this: Own my mojo!

As I listened to my inner pimp dialogue, I flew all the way out to Miami to spend four days experiencing Hispanicize '13 on April 9 --13. What an experience it was. First of all, planning to be away for four days was no easy feat for this mama of six--especially when the details of my trip fell into place at the last minute.

But I got there by the skin of my teeth and I was determined to make the most of it. That meant I had to put aside my socially shy and awkward ways and truly own my mojo.

A few highlights.

-Their mobile app was freaking amazeballs. Instead of consulting the schedule on paper or online, it was right at my fingertips, on my smartphone. Truly, it had the attention of everyone attending the event. One ping and you'd notice everyone's head lower in the direction of their phone--updates, giveaways, and special events were all sent to us instantly. Even special messages like, "Please be quiet" during speaker luncheons and session panels. Those were my favorite.

I'm usually the one telling people to be quiet, not the other way around. Heh.

-I got to travel with my baby bro, Jeshua from Boifromipanema, and watch everyone gawk at his glorious head of curls. I also got to room with my sister in craftiness, Kathy the Crafty Chica and Maya in the Moment and hang out for four days straight (yay!).

-The location was amazing. Miami Beach is amazing. The color of the ocean is the exact shade of my favorite Essie nail polish, Turquoise and Caicos. I've never seen the Atlantic Ocean and it was stunning. Thankfully, I got the chance to sink my feet into the fine sand and cross it off my bucket list.

-Another highlight was all the wonderful people I met. People I "know" through social media, people I've followed and admired, people who write the blogs that I leave comments on, people I've retweeted and people who have retweeted me--it was great to finally put a face and a voice to the avatars.

-I loved meeting my editor Lorraine Ladish and Rene Alegria from Mamiverse. I absolutely adored Nicole Presley from Presley's Pantry--she is as chingona in person as she is in her videos. Monique Frausto, my plus size style boo, from Curves and Chaos was so sweet and genuine. Nina on the Moon was as sweet and stylish as she is on her blog! Isidra Mencos from BabyCenter Blog en Español, the dear woman who took a chance on me as a blogger, is always a delight to see. There were so many connections made and that is what made it so special to me. Those online relationships were strengthened and I only hope they grow from here.

-Another touching highlight was The Adelante Movement session with Nely Galán, featuring Rita Moreno and Charo. I was in tears the entire session because it was so inspiring. I laughed a lot too--who knew Charo was so hilarious? I had the pleasure to meet Nely last year and I was blown away by her magnetism. The work she does to empower Latinas is incredible--I want to post all of her amazing quotes all over my humble little office. My favorite?

Get your own chips.

For so long I thought it was someone else's responsibility to provide for me--my parents, my husband--but I realize now that if I want to build something, I need to do it with my own chips.

-I won a $250 gift card from Lowe's! Trust me, they could not have chosen a person who needed this more. My little house with eight people is in desperate need of help! Perfect timing, since we are going to start a two bathroom renovation soon. Check out their Ideas Creativas on Facebook for awesome ideas for your home.

-As you all know, I'm a huge fan of La Santa Cecilia, a band hailing from L.A. I was totally excited to learn they would perform at AT&T's Biggest Night of Music. Imagine that--I had to travel all the way from the West coast to the East coast to see one of my favorite bands perform. In the lobby the next morning, I spotted their accordian player entering the elevator at the Eden Roc and I managed to squeeze my way in.

They were staying in our hotel! La Santa Cecilia!

I know La Marisoul is a crafty soul, so Kathy and I tried our best to meet up with her so we could "interview" her for our blogs. And by interview her, I totally mean just fangirl her.

La Marisoul from La Santa Cecilia.

If you are in the L.A. area, check them out at Amoeba Music in Hollywood on April 30th. I'm going to try my best to be there.

A few lowlights.

It can't be all wonderfulness, now can it? I promise, the lowlights of Hispanicize '13 are very brief because overall, I had a great experience.

-The cost is prohibitive. Unless you have an amazing sponsor or a nice stack of cash set aside for such events, Hispanicize was expensive. I understand that you need to spend money to make money, but for those of us who are work from home mom bloggers--and had to travel across the country--the cost stung a little. Okay, a lot. But thankfully, it if wasn't for programs like Brands Love Bloggers, generous people who I roomed with and my family who really wanted to see me get to Miami, it wouldn't have happened. Sidenote: I paid almost $7 for an iced coffee from Starbucks in the hotel lobby that usually costs me $3! I'm still giggling over that one.

If you plan on attending next year, start saving! And start searching for a sponsor. Like, seriously ya'll. You don't want to miss it.

-Miami is hot and humid. Like, steam bath hot. I can hear you all say, duh it's Miami. I was not prepared, since the last time I visited Miami it was cool and breezy. Whew, child. My straightened and ombréd hair was not very happy about the weather. The minute I stepped off the plane, my bangs curled up like nobody's business. If I ever longed for my curls to come back, it was then. I literally had four days of bad hair days. Waah. I don't mean to be a hair diva, but hair is kind of a big deal to me.

-There were so many amazing things happening that I wished I could clone myself. I couldn't get to all of the events I wanted to but I tried. I guess that is a good problem to have in a conference.

Hispanicize was pretty amazing--it was exciting to be around so many creative and inspiring Latinos. I'm truly ready to own my mojo now.

Today's busy Latina mom is Charmin's #MamaBear

2013-04-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

To say I'm a busy mom is an understatement.

When you're a mom to six kids, busy becomes a way of life. It takes as least two hours to get out the door to go anywhere. Even though they aren't little anymore and I don't have to worry about breastfeeding anyone or packing diapers and a change of clothes, it still takes forever.

Of course, there is always something on the calendar to do, so I try my best to check things off and keep moving forward. My "moving forward" consists of me running around my house, going from job to job--blogging, helping my son with a math problem, tossing a load of laundry in the washing machine, sweeping up the dust bunnies, helping my daughter sound out a word and flipping the chicken that's cooking on the stove. I've become a master at multi-tasking.

And when I say I'm "running", I totally mean sliding around the wood floors with my leopard print slippers. In fact, I look a lot like those chubby hamsters on the wheel, running in circles.

Sigh.

But when things go according to schedule and we accomplish what we set out to do, it's all worth it. I had a million things to do before I left for Miami last week--I literally didn't know I was going until a few days before the event, so I was on hyperdrive the weekend before. But I did it all and I had a chance to swing by the Charmin booth at Hispanicize '13 to learn about the Latina Mama Bear campaign.

Yes, Charmin--toilet paper at a great everyday price. Charmin knows what it's like to be a Mama Bear, juggling children, spouses and our jobs so they enlisted the help of Latina celebrity Giselle Blondet, who is also a proud mama to three little ones.

Toilet paper is a hot commodity in our home--we are always running out. "Can someone bring me some toilet paper?!" is a constant request. We're always always running out and my husband is the one who dashes to the store to grab more. And with eight behinds in the family, this happens often. Still, I need to stay within my budget. No one wants to go broke buying toilet paper! Charmin is great at meeting the needs of my family and my wallet.

Mother's Day is coming up (May 10th in Mexico and May 12th in the US), so Charmin just launched a national sweepstakes. One of the prizes is insane--a spacious 2013 Chrysler Town & Country Minivan! From April 11th – June 30th, Latinas are also invited to leave a 15-second voice recording on the Charmin Facebook page (under the Mama Bear tab) about what makes them proud to be a Mama Bear. Fans will be entered into the sweepstakes to win the ultimate prize package, as well as a national Charmin radio announcement. Cool, right?

Go and connect with Charmin on their Facebook page and enter to win that amazing car so you can be a Mama Bear in style.

Disclosure: Although this is a sponsored campaign with Charmin and Latina Mom Bloggers all views and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Creative Business Cards: DIY Round Edges

2013-04-05T01:31:00.001-07:00

I've been a little MIA the past week or so because I am kinda sorta losing my mind as I prepare to head to Miami for Hispanicize '13.

What is Hispanicize 2013? In it's fourth year, Hispanicize is the annual Latino trends and newsmakers event for Hispanic marketers, media, bloggers, filmmakers and music artists. I won a full-access event pass through their Brands Love Bloggers program and ever since then, I've been planning for my time in Florida.

Even though I'm a total socially awkward person (I never thought so, but this is what I've heard from people close to me--cough Boifromipanema cough) I'm excited to meet new people. People that I know only from their social media presence to people I've met in real life to those I've never even heard of before--it's gonna be my chance to meet a lot of new people and share who I am.

Eeek.

I want to put my best face forward so I decided to get some new business cards. Business cards are so important at events like this because you want people to remember you, to know who you are and what your blog stands for.

I loved my last set of business cards but I knew it was time for a change.

I've been a life-long fan of Loteria cards, the Mexican bingo game, so I thought it would be cool to incorporate a Loteria card as my "brand", La Pera, which means pear in Spanish. Unlike other blogs with cool titles, my brand stems from my online identity--one I've cultivated for the past thirteen years.

La Pera is one of my favorite cards.

I hope that the minute a person sees my card--assuming they are familiar with the game of Loteria--they will readily identify me as someone who has a love for Mexican culture and folk art.

All of the other facets of myself and my blog--writer, blogger, artist, crafter, mother of a large family and Latina, as well as a few of my favorite images, had to be represented as well.

I love how they turned out!

When I designed my business cards, I really liked the look of rounded edges but I was too cheap to order them that way. I had to get hardcore DIY up in here so the first thing I checked out were the Squeeze Punches by Fiskars at Michael's (don't forget your 40% off coupon!). It received the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation which is awesome because I'm getting old and crotchety and when I do lots of repetitive craft stuff (which is like, always), my carpal tunnel kicks in and my elbow and forearms ache like crazy.

The tool is really easy to use and makes sweet rounded edges like nobody's business.


Nevermind that the little cut corners are all over the floor in my office.

How much more amazing does this make my business cards look? They look more like an actual Loteria card, which also has rounded edges. I am just about finished rounding the edges of...

one

thousand

business

cards.

No, really. One thousand.

And it hardly took any time at all. My bff was in town and while we chatted away, I cut some. Then we switched and she cut some. My husband cut some. The chil'rens cut some. This was a total family diy affair.

Now my business cards have a little somethin' somethin' to them.

Just like me. I can't wait to pass them out! ♥

Craftcation Conference 2013

2013-03-29T03:24:00.002-07:00

The delicious menu from the opening celebration dinner.

I had an awesome time at the Craftcation Conference in Ventura last week and I really want to share why. I had several epiphany moments in between the sessions and crafty stuff going on.

First, I've been an artist my entire life. That alone set me apart--how many other 17 year olds do you know who are obsessed with a Mexican artist named Frida who rocked flowers in her hair, a mustache and a unibrow? I've always felt I was "the weird girl" or the "the crazy artist" or--I really hate this one--"the flaky artist".

Girl, the only thing flaky I like is a pie crust so don't go there.

When you get to meet artistic people who are much like yourself, but have managed to harness their creative power in ways that make them financially sustainable, I pay attention. These creative, incredibly business-savvy women were anything but flaky artists.

They were inspirational.

It almost made me break down into tears. On several occasions, actually. I kept telling myself, keep it together, woman. But to see other people doing what they love, doing what they were created to do, flourishing, shining...it just made my heart well up.

I've been to conferences, webinars, blogging events. We've all seen the infographics on how to get more followers, how to engage readers on your Facebook page, when is the best time to tweet, how to gain more page views with social media, how to have the best photography, how we should have a gazillion Pinterest followers, how we should be monetizing...the list goes on and on. And I've exhausted myself in the pursuit of it all. Still, this conference was different.

Craftcation was about doing what you love.
Making what you love.
Sharing what you love and connecting with an audience that wants to buy what you make.
Putting 100% of yourself in what you do.
And finally, in order to shine, I've got to be me--infographics be damned.

Ventura is lovely, so is one of my road trip partners and keynote speaker for Craftcation, Kathy Cano-Murillo.

What I loved most about Craftcation was all of the handmade touches. From the embroidery hoops that doubled as signs, the delicious handmade food, the chalkboard signs, the amazing stuff for sale in the Pop Up Shop, the sponsors, the speakers (that Steph Cortes from nerd JERK--no relation--was hilarious, by the way), the inspirational quotes that dotted the walls of the Crowne Plaza hotel to the smiles from the volunteers who were making it all happen...Craftcation had heart.

It was a lovely event and I really hope I get to return next year. Thank you, Nicole and Delilah, for putting together such an awesome conference!

DIY Batik | Glue Resist Fabric Prints

2013-03-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make.

When I was in third grade, I wanted to be an artist.
When I was in seventh grade, I wanted to be a marine biologist (until I discovered I have a weird phobia about sea creatures underwater).
When I was in high school, I wanted to be the creative director of a magazine, just like Sassy Magazine.
When I was in college, I really wanted to be a fabric/textile designer. But it was too late to change my major (I was a design/illustration major), so I let that dream go.

It never died though.

What I love about the creative spirit is it has many facets. I love to do many different artistic things, and I'm a tough one to tie down and put in a category. I just love to be creative.

Oh, and I love to do what I want so, there's that. Holler.

Back when I was a young wart hog, I took a design class where we learned how to batik. What is batik? It's a textile technique from Indonesia using hot wax as a resist, along with various dyes.

This is an actual batik piece I made in college. It's been with me since college, my single years, my first home and almost 16 years of marriage.

It was really fun, "drawing" with hot wax, dying our fabric squares in buckets of dye in the hallways of the art department. Awww, the artist life.

I envisioned myself living in a commune, long hair don't care, growing my own food, making clothes for my fellow commune dwellers out of batik. Of course, I would be braless. Wait until my mama hears about me wasting my student loans on hot wax and dye, I thought to myself. Eventually I realized my dream of being a dirty hippie just wasn't feasible.

Le sigh.

Imagine my excitement when I was cruising the interwebs to find some art project inspiration, and I stumbled upon a few glue resist project that resembles batik. Eeek! I did a batik project for Modern Art 4 Kids a few years ago, but that involved oil pastels and didn't give it the look I was going for. The glue resist projects looked easy and I already had everything I needed in my supply closet.

You can use muslin and cotton or you can do what I did which was find a bunch of old sheet sets that I store in the event of a zombie apocalypse (when I'll really need a flat and fitted sheet), and cut it up into squares. You can use Elmer's blue glue gel or the clear gel, it doesn't matter--just make sure it's washable.

Depending on the size of your fabric square (don't limit yourself--you can also do this technique on t-shirts, tote bags, scarves, pillowcases, etc.), take a minute to think about your design. Do you want a pattern like chevron stripes or squares? Do you want an abstract effect? Flowers? Whatever you do, own it!

I decided on repeating squares for this particular piece.

I didn't include it in the what you'll need photo, but make sure you buy some wax paper. Cut a square to fit underneath your fabric square. This will keep your mess to a minimum and it'll make it easier to move your fabric around.

The glue flows out pretty smoothly, so kept your hands steady. Don't glob a bunch of glue on your fabric because it does spread. Too much glue and you won't be able to maintain the integrity of your design. Do a few different designs--I did. It's addicting! I took them all outside to dry in the sun.

I let my glue dry overnight.

Once your glue is dry, it will be clear. Now you can paint it. I used craft paint but you could also use watered-down acrylic paint, watercolors, tempera paint. I just love craft paint because of all the colors you can use.

I usually hate sponge brushes but it spread the watered down craft paint nicely. If you are an art snob like me--switch to a paintbrush. Teehee

You can paint right over the glue.

Brush the paint onto the fabric square, right over the dried glue. You can blend your colors, create patterns, splatter your paint--you make the rules, babe. Once your fabric is fully painted, let it dry. Now you can take your fabric square and rinse the glue off in warm water. You'll feel the glue parts are a little slimy. Just keep rinsing until all the glue is out of the fabric. You'll begin to notice the white parts on the fabric that resisted the craft paint.

Very cool!

I've discovered that the stronger you want your colors to look, the more you should let your fabric square dry. If you want a more subdued color, rinse your fabric while it's still damp-you'll see more of the craft paint rinsing out. A few other things I learned: don't use black. At the very least, use it sparingly--it just looks moldy.

Ew.

Once they were rinsed and dried, I was really happy with the results.

The bottom left piece was done by a student in my art class--it came out amazing!

How lovely are these? I ended up cutting each square into fours and adding some freehand designs with Tulip Fabric Markers.

Tulip Fabric Markers are divine. The colors are rich and the tips are fine--perfect for adding detail onto your projects.

Head over to BabyCenter and check out the cute Easter Egg Frame craft I came up with, using all of these fab glue resist squares!

Gimme that burger animal-style, please

2013-03-26T01:03:00.003-07:00

omg...yum.

Growing up, eating In-N-Out Burger was a treat.

The nearest In-n-Out was off the 60 freeway, in Hacienda Heights, which was a good forty miles away. We knew that we'd get a yummy animal style burger on our way back from a Dodger game or visiting our grandparents in East L.A.

I can't quite put my finger on it, seeing as how there are plenty of other hamburger joints out there, but In-N-Out was special and worth the wait. The best day ever was in the mid-80's when we found out an In-N-Out was being built a couple miles from our house. Yay.

When I first met my husband, he told me about In-N-Out being his first real job. Wow. If I wasn't already crazy about him before, knowing this juicy bit of info, I sure was now. Just thinking of his cute face and behind wearing that white uniform, flipping my patties and slicing my potatoes...

Hold on while I fan myself for a moment.

When our homeschool co-op recently organized a field trip to In-N-Out, you know we had to be there. The fact that we got a free meal at the end of our tour--nevermind that we'd be eating cheeseburgers for breakfast--may or may not have been the motivating factor. Yes, this homeschooling gig is really rough sometimes. But really guys, we just love In-N-Out so much we wanted to see the inner workings of the place. I swear.

My crew for the day, plus my nephew T who looks really excited to be there (no really, I promise he was excited).

Did you know that In-N-Out typically makes 2500 to 3000 burgers a weekend? We wanted to know how they make that happen!

My kids were so fascinated by everything on the tour--the fridge, the massive bags of onions and potatoes and the story about the tomato shortage and how In-N-Out didn't want their customers deprived of tomatoes so they paid the higher price. And then there were the sponge dough buns.

Yep, you can squeeze an In-N-Out bun and it springs back into shape. Dude.

Paying close attention to the machine that peels the potatoes.

They all got to wear the cute hats.

This potato-cutter was a huge hit with the kids.

It takes muscle to man one of these things!

Xixi kept laughing because she literally hung from it with her body weight and the lever wouldn't even budge. The employee told us that they switch stations often because their arms turn to jelly after a consecutive amount of time on each machine.


Miss Xixi said she wants to work for In-N-Out--but only at the register so she can smile and talk to people!

After our tour, we got to have our burger. Yesssss.

Who doesn't want a cheeseburger animal style (with grilled onions, please!) for breakfast every once and a while?

Cy gives it a thumbs up.

Miss Midgey and her buddy look pretty stoked about their burger.

Be jealous.

What struck me the most was the fact that In-N-Out seemed like a great place to work. Each employee seemed genuinely excited to be there. They shared lots of inside details about how the company boosts employee morale, how they all have a fun spirit of competition amongst themselves (like, who is the fastest at peeling potatoes? etc.) and how it's their favorite place to eat (even on their off days). It's a family-owned business, not a franchise.

The manager at this particular location shared his history with the company, and how he's been an employee since he was 16 (he was now 41). Steady income, health insurance, 401K--it sounds like In-N-Out is a pretty sweet place to work. The young man in the photo above, showing the kids how the potato cutter works? He said as a kid, his dream was to work at In-N-Out!

I already have plans for Noah to get a work permit when he turns 16 in September. I asked about hiring teenagers in this economy, and the manager said, "As long as he works hard, likes to have fun and he wears a smile on his face, he is more than welcome to apply."

I see a lot of In-N-Out burgers in our future and I'm not complaining.

In-N-Out Burger has over 250 locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Texas. Their Double Double burger was recently crowned Top Fast Food Burger in America.

#nomnomnom

Disclosure: In-N-Out didn't compensate me for this post. I just love them and wanted ya'll to know.

Time for the Craftcation Conference 2013

2013-03-20T23:37:00.002-07:00

Tonight I am burning the midnight oil and packing my things for the Craftcation Conference in Ventura, CA. What's Craftcation?

From their site: Craftcation is a four-day indie business & DIY conference with top industry professionals leading attendees in workshops, panel discussions and Q & A sessions in business, art, craft and food.

Image source: Craftcation 2012

I'm excited.

One, I can't wait to blow this taco stand. I love the chil'rens but Lord knows I can use some time away. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that good stuff.

Two, this will be a road trip with my dear friend Lizzy and Kathy the Crafty Chica. Yay!

And three, I'm really looking forward to being in the presence of really creative, crafty people who are living out their dreams of an artful life. There will be so much to see and learn and so many cool people to meet.

And it's by the beach. What more can a chica ask for?

I'm armed with a stack of business cards and a smile.

I'll be live tweeting and Instagramming my time at Craftcation so make sure you follow me @pearmama on Twitter and @pearmama on Instagram for all the crafty action.

♥

Going Green & Gorgeous: Recycled Earrings

2013-03-18T18:51:00.001-07:00

I'm the type of person who loves jewelry but doesn't like to wear it.

I have stacks of beads, necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. They are beautiful. I like the way they make my bedroom look--like I'm the fabulous bohemian type adorned with quirky jewelry. However, the sad truth is, wearing jewelry bugs me.

I don't like rings snagging on things.
Bracelets make noise.
Necklaces irritate the skin on my neck.
And earrings?
They get caught in my hair and create more knots than usual (I'm the queen of hair knots).
Plus, they are too noisy and the sound distracts me. I am no Beyonce.

Can we totally employ the #highmaintenance hashtag?

So, I obviously have some sensory issues. But I still want to wear some type of jewelry so I'm not completely plain and boring. I think I may have found my solution.

"Recycled" earrings.

I recently met a local woman with an Etsy shop called Green Bling Goods (her Etsy shop says she's on vacation!) and she cleans, restores and resells vintage earrings from the 80's. A hardcore diy'er after my own heart. I saw her collection and I was ten years old again, rifling through my mama's extensive earring collection.

Image source: Green Bling Goods

"Where did you find all of these?" I asked her, in awe.

She told me all about her parents, who were modern-day hippies from Northern California. Always on the lookout for vintage stuff, they'd ship her boxes of cool stuff which she would then refashion into something fabulous.

The result?

Earrings that are perfect for a weirdo with sensory issues like myself. I really like them! They are unique and they don't feel cheap like the earrings from Forever21. They're interesting to look at and so colorful. A couple of them resemble plugs but yay, without the commitment of saggy ear holes. And finally, they have a story--they've lived another life.

So 80's and so fab.

I wear this pair all the time!

I know these are considered "dangly" earrings but I had to go out of my box and get the red--perf with my leopard print cardigan.

A few pairs I scooped up.

Ignore my puffy I-just-woke-up face and check out those earrings!

Best part? They don't get caught in my hair. I never knew the solution to my problem was just switch to a different type of jewelry. So now I'm obsessed.

Vintage earring obsession for the win.

Win a Barbie™ in The Pink Shoes DVD

2013-03-14T00:33:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for ballet class.

When we started our new charter school last month, my daughters were so excited to learn ballet was offered at the learning center.

Maya took ballet a few years ago but the cost and the time factor (translation: one mom driving six kids around town for activities) was just too much and we had to drop out after a few sessions.

Bummer.

They have lots of impromptu ballet sessions with their Uncle Josh, aka Boifromipanema who is the family dancer. When he found out they were enrolled in ballet, he went out and bought them their leopard, tights and ballet slippers.

I guess you could say my girls weren't the only ones excited about this new ballet class.

When the Barbie™ in The Pink Shoes DVD and a transforming Kristyn Farraday Barbie doll arrived in my mailbox, I knew my girls were going to go bananas over it.

I found this little set up on my daughter's nightstand--they are ready for some ballet!

The gist: Barbie goes on a magical adventures as Kristyn Farrady, a ballerina with big dreams. When she tries on a pair of sparkling pink shoes, she's whisked away, along with her bff Hailey, into a fantastical ballet world where she has to defeat the evil Snow Queen. I thought it was a cute story, and I loved how they incorporated the moves and music from the legendary Swan Lake and Giselle ballets. My girls have been twirling in their tu-tu's ever since.

Barbie just released the movie and I have one Barbie™ in The Pink Shoes DVD and a Kristyn Farrady Barbie doll to give away to one of my lucky readers!

Enter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary DVD and doll in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.