#PRAY FOR OKLAHOMA

My family and I are keeping all those who were affected in Oklahoma. I can't even begin to imagine the devastation and heartbreak but I pray that God may give them strength and courage. It seems pointless to talk about anything else but its important to remember how we all set aside our differences and come together for each other.

Remember you can also help by donating to the Red Cross and also to Team Rubicon  (via sweet fine day)
for more info  see here on NBC NEWS

~JDJS~

Oh, hello there..

I feel like I haven't been on my little corner of the internet in forever. It's been about two weeks only but it still feels like longer. I have been really  sick. More than the usual because we are just the type of family who, I feel, are just sick 80% of the year. Whatever flu/virus I had took me down pretty hard.  I am just happy for everything to be back to normal. Today I actually feel like things are back to our routine. Normally I hate having routines but now I find it can be oddly comforting after you've been in bed for days.

I was feeling better just in time for Sarah's school field trip yesterday to Turtle Back Zoo. She had a ton of fun and when we got home were were both super tired. It was a little too much too soon for me because I was still a little weak but it was all worth it! Seeing Sarah happy and loving all the animals was worth it.

7 links to love 5-10-13

This weekend we will be spending Mother's Day with my grandmother at the nursing home/rehab center. She loves that we all visit her on a regular basis it keeps her spirits up until she is able to come back home. There's no place I'd rather be on Mother's Day anyway than with my family!

The kids are very excited. Sarah actually gave me her present today! She gave me a jewelry box she made at school. It is the cutest thing ever! I look forward to a little extra attention on Sunday! (hehe)

Here are my 7 links to love this week:

 pic via Joy the Baker

-The always amazing Joy the Baker shares this wonderful recipe for a White Chocolate Rose cake for Mothers' Day! Heavenly!

-I fell in love with these YosiSamra shoes as soon as I saw them over on Heart and Habit ! I knew Sarah and I had to have these Mommy and Me shoes. They come in a variety of colors and flats are what I live on so even better.... its a win all around!

  - This print from MoodKids is a (and inexpensive) great Mother's Day gift. There are also 2 other prints to choose from and for free!

-I'd love this sign for our bedroom "Mr &Mrs Rivera" from Scribbleture ........

- oh oh oh...and this necklace from Palomaria...everything in this shop is so beautiful!

-Mother's Day Vases from Lemon Tree Dwelling  is such a fun idea to make those Mother's day bouquets extra special.

and for those who decided to wait ....here are a few last minute gift ideas from Pop Sugar :)

I hope everyone has a great  weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful mamas!

xoxoxo

~jdjs~

Jon's birthday NYC (in pictures)

This past weekend we celebrated Jonathan's 9th birthday in NYC. It was exactly what he wanted ....to stay in a hotel, a visit to Dylan's Candy Bar and go to the American Museum of Natural History . We rode the subway everywhere(which he loves) and just explored.

(kiddos love hotel stays)

 (little man ate pizza and pasta at Mama Sbarro in Times Square....he was hungry!)

(at toys r us in time square)

(he loves his candy)

 (off to bed after a long day)

 (brunch at Panera before we head to the museum)

 (father and son)

(american museum of natural history)

After the museum we headed downtown to our fave fish and chips place a salt and battery. The kids loved it! We headed home on that Sunday night happy but sad to say goodbye to the weekend. The next day we cut a cake for Jonathan with family .....his fave, strawberry shortcake from Whole Foods!

big cheesy smile on my little man!:)

Jonathan is 9 years old

  My son is already nine years old and I just can't come to terms with it. Where have these 9 years gone so quickly?! To me he is still my baby, to be honest he will always be my baby. I am that overly attached mom and I am not ashamed to admit it.

 The minute he was born my life changed completely. Through him I found strengths I didn't even know I had. He is my blessing. I know as parents we are the ones who teach our kids but Jon has no idea that as soon as he was growing inside me he was teaching me lessons. Lessons of strength, perseverance, and love. Whenever I felt like giving up and lost all hope, Jon was the reason I kept fighting. He is a constant reminder to me of God's love and mercy and for that I am forever grateful.

He is nine years old and growing up to be such an amazing little man. He is just the best out of Julio and I. I look at him and think..."wow, I am really his mom!" He is so wise and such a hard-worker with lots of goals and dreams and always striving for better things.  He is loving, caring, and kind. He loves his video games, dinosaurs, and his books.

He has come a long way from being that little toddler who cried when he stepped on the beach for the first time because he was scared of sand and the feeling of sand on his tiny little feet.  He isn't a daring kid,not super adventurous. Jon will definitely think twice about riding down a big hill with his bike and also think twice before he even steps foot on any rollercoaster. He is very independent and always likes to feed himself breakfast on Saturday mornings just to let mama sleep in a little bit longer.

He loves spending time with his family. I am fully aware that there will be a time when he won't want to spend his birthday with us. So I cherish birthdays in which all he wants is to do visit all his favorite places in NYC with his parents and sister.

I look to the future excited and nervous at the same time..... excited to see what kind of man he will become and nervous at the thought of eventually having to let go a bit.

I always find it hard to write and put into words exactly what he means to me (especially without tearing up as I type) because it is really true when you love someone more than words can say. I am happy. Happy to be his mom and grateful everyday that he is in my life.

to blog...or not to blog

To share or not to share?! Sometimes I am at war with myself about blogging. I don't know how comfortable I feel about sharing to the world, or the few people that even read this. I guess its one of the reasons why I don't get too personal here. What will the neighbors think?! The other moms at the kids school or anyone else I know for that matter?!

 Like anywhere in life, when you are in the blogging world there are certain insecurities that tend to arise. I am a high school graduate. I didn't attend college . I plan to attend. It's one of my goals. Unfortuantely, there were other things that were my priority.
I don't live in a beautiful house or shop at the most expensive stores. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my life and I am always striving for improvement. I am happy and grateful for what I have, but sometimes you can't help and compare. I am human.

I have always been the type of person that worries about what people think of me. It's not something I'm proud of but I've come to terms with it. I'm working on that. I love being a spectator in this blogging community. I am not ashamed to admire and be inspired by the many blogs I read.  I don't post much and I am in conflict whether I want to keep putting my family out there for everyone to see.

Aside from all of this I like being able to write down how I feel. Keep memories alive that I'd otherwise forget. The good also with the bad. Sharing about events and places that we've visited or the many things I love. The ability to share your feelings and relate to anyone from all over is amazing. People will always have their opinions, nice ones and not so nice ones, but that should never be a reason for you to stop doing something that makes you happy in blogging and in life.

so.........

7 links to love (4-26-13)

pppiiizzzzaaa

It has been beautiful around here and the kids come home everyday looking forward to playing outside. They run around, ride bikes, and come build homes for ants with construction vehicles.
We go upstairs in time for dinner and they are full of dirt and grass with a collection of rocks in their pockets!
I'm so proud because Jonathan came home today with the school monthly flyer and his name was on the High Honor Roll 3rd grade section! He works so hard and Julio and I are so thrilled for him! We will be celebrating his birthday next weekend and I still can't find a hotel in NYC! I just wish I could find a 4-5 star hotel that is family friendly near central park and spacious for at most $450 one night! (yeah, I know...I must be dreaming)  I just want him to have the best birthday ever!


These are my favorite links of the week:

- I want to start off by stating..no voicing loudly my love for avocados! There are so many benefits like vitamins B and E and twice the potassium than that of a banana. They are delicious!!
I was thrilled to find out about What's Gaby Cooking. Gaby Dalkin just came out with the book Absolutely Avocados and you know I'm getting it!

-I love all the fun crafts that Chelsey comes up with and this Cardboard Playhouse is perfect for Sarah! She loves her cardboard and girl needs something better than this ;)

- (local) Habitat fro Humanity Restore  "The ReStore sells donated materials including new and gently used furniture, appliances, lumber, hardware, vintage and unique items to the public.  All prices are at least 50% off retail value and all proceeds from the ReStore are used toward the Habitat for Humanity mission to end substandard housing worldwide."-Habitat for Humanity Restore
  A little shopping for a great cause is necessary!

- I have been trying to do a gallery wall for our living room and I never quite get started. (It's been 3 years now!) A Beautiful Mess blog has a few Tips for Installing a Gallery Wall .

-VACATION TIME! All-Inclusive Resorts for Families from My Organized Chaos!

-We recently got the WiiU  and Jonathan is so happy with it. My two gamers love it. They enjoy playing together and I love watching them have quality father and son time!

-(TV) Lifetime's new 5 movie "Call Me Crazy" was great! It shines a light on mental illness in a way I've never seen. A person with mental illness can overcome the daily struggle with a little hope and support from their loved ones. I have to admit I cried for like 90% of the movie. I struggled with post-partum depression with both my pregnancies and it was not easy for me or my family.

I love this print from UUPP on Etsy

Have a great weekend everyone!

xoxoxo

~JDJS~