Mommy & Me Monday!

Let's start the week with a little LOVE.

(It makes the world go 'round)

He is the cutest toddler in the world and he's all MINE! 

HAPPY MONDAY ;)

Teaching Toddlers 103: Water Exploration Day

One impossibly hot summer afternoon, Nico and I decided to go outside to play. We don't have a fan in the living room/play area, so we roamed into the side yard hoping to catch a breeze. After watching Nico sweat it out for a few minutes, a brilliant idea occurred to me. 

I could turn the broiling day into a teachable moment! Nico already knew it was hot, he told me as much several times in both English and Spanish, so I came up with a fun way to cool him off without leaving the house and without wasting too much water. 

I went inside and grabbed a milk carton that I had been saving for a spontaneous craft, and using scissors, a sharpie, and a stapler, I turned it into a "watering can" and a "water house"!

It's okay if the pitcher has holes in it! The point is for the little one to see and feel the water fall out

The hole in the front is so that water can been seen going through the carton

The flap on the side is so that the toddler can see the water pouring off onto the ground

  

Once our supplies were assembled, I went inside and gathered water from the sink into a large pitcher. 

That's when the real fun began! 

Nico learned about pouring water, and that though it is tangible, it cannot be grabbed, only felt and contained. Of course I wasn't trying to explain those complicated concepts to my 23mo, he was content to figure it out in his own way.

Please excuse his naked lower half, we are still potty training =)

 

 He also learned that some things sink in water, while other things float, and that if you put enough force on an object in the water, you can push it to the bottom.

 

By the end of our little experiment, he was cooled down and soaked! 

He ended up running free in his birthday suit without a care in the world, and the hot hot sun was long forgotten! 

It was just another day of trying to keep my Gummy Bear from melting! 

7 Ways to Say NO to Stress This Summer

Whoever said summer was carefree had no idea what they were talking about. This summer has been as busy and demanding as any other time of the year, with one exception; it's blood boiling hot! If we're not careful, the stress of every day life can drain the fun right out of summer. Avoid loosing your cool this year with these 7 happiness hacks:

Laugh at least once a day - The reason behind this is the Law of Attraction. If you laugh at least one time every day you will be generally happier in life than those who don't because you are emitting and attracting positive energy! Laughter is also good exercise for the abdomen; laugh your way to a healthier you! 

Take advantage of the SUN - During the summer we actually have TIME to go outside and enjoy being in the sunshine! Absorbing vitamin D makes us feel better; it's hard to be stresses when you're feeling amazing! 
 
Avoid Negative Gossip - You know who I'm talking about, that face that popped up in your head as soon as you read the word gossip. The person who always has something to say about everybody. You have enough on your plate, you don't need to spend any time focusing on other people's problems. 

Take a weekly day trip - This doesn't have to be a spa retreat of anything, just go out for the day to someplace nice with someone you love! The beach, the pool, the park, the possibilities are endless and adventure awaits you! Its okay to take a step back, healthy even. 

Treat yourself once a week - This is not the same as taking a weekly day trip. This means making time to do one thing for yourself. A self manicure, or setting aside an hour to read a novel, or even to spend time surfing Pinterest!

Get extra sleep - TAKE NAPS! Whenever you can, even if for only an hour. Because it's summer and you can. Sleep is directly linked to happiness!

Take a lot of fun pictures - No matter what you are doing, you can always snap a selfie. Whether its watching TV all day or working, you can take a moment to let loose. Make a silly face, and stop taking everything so seriously, at least for a minute. Then remind yourself what is really important. Life is beautiful!

What to Pack Fast For a Last Minute Beach Trip

Summers in Puerto Rico are absolutely beautiful! 

The sun is usually shining and the water is always refreshing, whether you're headed to the river or the beach. 

But boy, is it HOT! 

90 degree plus weather almost everyday definitely calls for spontaneous trips to cool bodies of water, aka the BEACH!! 

Whether you have one week or 10 minutes, this list includes just about everything you need for an impromptu sandy getaway:

Essential

Beach Bag

Sandals 

Bathing Suit cover-up

Change of clothes (extra undies)

Sunscreen

Lotion

Brush

Leave-in hair moisturizer or conditioner

Light Weight hair spray

Hand Sanitizer 

Finger foods! (Snacks, sandwiches, hotdogs, etc.) 

Bottled Water 

2 Towels (always bring an extra)

beach chair/ mat 

Shady hat

Sunglasses  

Optional

Baby powder (For easy sand removal) 

Soccer ball/ Football/ Volley ball

Beach Pail (Sand castle is a MUST)

Reading material 

For Toddler/Kids

Sunscreen

Shady Hat

Beach Toys

Life Vest/ Water Wings

Sandals

2 Changes of clothes 

2 towels

Snacks! 

Sippy Cup 

Mini beach chair

Giant beach ball 

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Dads can be the hardest people to shop for, but finding something just right doesn't have to be complicated! Sometimes the one thing holding us back from thinking of the perfect present, is thinking way too much. 

The first step to finding the last minute gift of his dreams is taking a deep breath and remembering to keep it simple! 

Favorites - Things to keep in mind when looking for something for dad are his favorites. Favorite color, band, vintage show, movie, superhero? A gift card to his favorite store in a meaningful card is guaranteed to win you that smile you love so much! 

 
Books - There is no such thing as having too many books, and there is no such thing as a person who doesn't read. The question is what do they read? Comics, magazines, newspapers? Get your hubby a good thrilling read that he will greatly appreciate the next time he finds himself with a chunk of personal time. 

   
Free Time - Speaking of time, it seems like Dads don't ever have enough of it! When my husband isn't working, he is doing a chore around the house or hanging out with Nico; he never really has a moment for himself. If that sounds like your hubby, a nice gift might be a night to himself. The night before his day off, pack up the kids and take them for an over night trip with you to Grandma's house, leaving your husband all alone for 24 hours of man time! 

Nothing - The ultimate last minute gift is absolutely nothing! Make overnight arrangements for the little ones and spend the day doing nothing but watching his favorite movies/ shows, and eating his favorite junk food (don't forget the pizza!). Most importantly, spend the day wearing NOTHING AT ALL ;) 

  

$15 Shopping Spree: Salvation Army

Today we went to the Salvation Army, where we donated the giant bags of clothes we've been stashing away, and where we were blessed by the things we found!

I get really excited when going to this thrift shop near Old San Juan because we always find amazing deals! 

The Prizes:

3 Dr. Seuss books

 3 books from the Little Golden books collection

Black Out by Lisa Unger

A super cute bag

 

A light weight Infanti stroller

 

all in amazing condition!

The best part:

I paid $15 for  EVERYTHING! 

Now that's savy shopping ;)

BirthRight: Casting DAY 1

Today was the first official day of my first production, a short film called Birthright!

 It is a modern day Cain and Abel thriller with a murderous twist! 

The process was long, but I was fortunate enough to be in good company. My husband, Pedro, came along to help and look after Nico, and my amazing AD, Chris, made sure that everything progressed smoothly.

Chris working hard!

We met some extremely talented actors and actresses and we are eager to begin the selection process. They all gave such convincing performances, casting these roles is going to be nearly impossible. 

Imagine auditioning with this in your face!

Isn't she lovely?

Of course we need the green light from the world's youngest producer...

I wonder who he's going to pick!