Gina's Blog

Women and Money

2010-02-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

Ok, so my latest read is Suze Orman's Women and Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny. You can purchase it in paperback for $10.00 and it is a book that all women should read. I'm actually writing this post to encourage all of my girlfriends to pick it up. It doesn't matter if you are single, married, working or not...it is a book that all women must read.

Rafael laughed at me initially when I bought it and said there is nothing in that book that you don't already know. Luckily, I had parents that really taught me a lot about money and how to enjoy it but also take care of it wisely. After reading the book, I especially realized how intelligent and wise my mother truly is. There was really nothing in the book that Suze mentioned that my mom had not already taught me or exemplified in her own life.

The first few chapters are basic and talk about checking accounts, savings accounts, expenses, credit cards, debt etc. That wasn't anything too new for me . However, the later chapters are the ones I found the most informative. She goes into detail about retirement plans, insurance policies, and trusts and wills. There is so much misinformation and varying philosophies regarding all of those but she really explains each clearly.

The book is truly empowering and a must read for all women. We should never leave it up to our spouse, parents or anyone for that matter to take care of our finances. We must take control of our "own destiny" as she says and ultimately, control of our life.

What is up with Sarah Palin?

2009-07-07T05:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so is this woman just plain crazy or does she truly have a strategic plan in quitting her position as governor of Alaska? When John McCain chose her as his running mate in the last election, I initially was very impressed with her. I loved her down to earth analogies and wanted to believe that she was really what the party needed. At first, I felt identified with her as a working mother myself and had very high hopes for her. But that optimistic first impression was short lived and she was simply one embarrassment after another as the campaign continued. But her resignation is just crazy for me. I can respect people who make mistakes but I have a real hard time with those who simply just give up when the going gets tough and quit, and for me that’s exactly what she did!

Many say this is a strategic plan in order for her to educate herself and prepare herself to run in the next election but I simply think she’s just a quitter! More than that I think she is just an attractive and somewhat charming total NUT JOB! What a total let down!

I've Officially Lost My Mind

2009-05-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

These are two quick funny stories of what happens to people who have young children and I'm sure many of you can relate to...you basically just lose you mind!

So the other day I was having a great time chatting with friends and family and simultaneously watching all three of my kids run around to make sure no one gets into anything they shouldn't. I've always been really good at multi-tasking so this normally isn't an issue. Anyhow, at one point during this great conversation I realize I can't see Marco, my one-year-old. I scan the room two or three times and still can't see him. Now the panic sets in and I yell, "OMG, where is Marco?" Then someone tells me, "Umm, he's sitting on your lap and you're holding him". I look down, and sure enough that's exactly where he was. Just an example of the crazy things we do as parents of little ones.

At the airport a few weeks ago on our way to Milwaukee, we arrived at the gate so I told the kids to run wild. I'm hoping this will tire them out and they will sleep on the plane. Well, they sure were running wild. They were running and screaming and then decided to jump off of the chairs. At that point, I set some limits and told them to please not jump off the chairs or they were going to break a leg and we wouldn't be able to go on our vacation. Shortly after, they announced it was time to board. I looked at Rafael to tell him I was going to run to the bathroom and this is what I said instead in a really clear and loud voice. "Honey, I'll be right back, I'm just going to run and break a leg". At this point, several strangers just stared at me with a very odd look on their face.

Just another example of how I've completely lost my mind!

Jorge Nunez Gone - Not Fair!

2009-03-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

Before I begin watching American Idol tonight I need to speak my mind about last week's results! I am really upset that Jorge Nunez was sent home. I think the judges had it out for him and the fact that they all criticized him so badly just ruined his chances.

The funny thing is that Rafael has been a big fan of his since the auditions in Puerto Rico and early on he didn't win me over. In fact, he sort of irritated me. However, with his last performance, I became a huge fan. I must have rewound it 20 times to hear "Never Can Say Goodbye" again and again. I was in shock with how terribly the judges thought he did. Anyhow, I think he has a beautiful and unique voice and I hope we hear more of him someday.

For now the show will go on and my all time fave is still my Milwaukee boy...Go DANNY! PYT!

Fun with Your Preschooler

2009-01-08T19:35:00.000-08:00

So if your kids have already gotten tired of playing with their Christmas toys or you just want some simple fun activities, these are things that I've done with my kids and we've all really enjoyed the activities.

1. Go on a hunt for all different types of leaves and create a poster with them. Then have your child tell you similarities and differences among all of the leaves.

2. Have him/her find different shape stones in the yard and then paint and decorate then.

3. A Scavenger Hunt - Give your child a bag and they have to hunt for various items and place them in their bag. Ex: something red, a piece of grass, a sandbox toy, a stone, a leaf or flower etc. Then at the end have the child organize all of their items and tell you what they found.

4. Make up Stories - Read your kids a book but don't read the ending. Have them draw a picture and make up their own ending. You'll be surprised at how silly this one can get!

Made in China

2008-11-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

So almost everything we purchase these days is made in China. We see the American automakers asking for a bailout and the foreign automakers doing fine. Many Americans feel that foreign factories have stolen American jobs and others feel foreign factories are what give us purchasing power. Obviously it's a very complex issue and one that has certainly affected and changed our economy. I personally don't think we should bail out the automakers but that's an issue I won't get into now. Anyhow, today a friend of mine told me a story that really made an impression on me and showed me how this change has really affected many Americans unfairly.

My friend's mom had worked in the same factory for over 30 years. She had woken up before the sunrise to start work at 4:30 am for more than half of her life. Well, just the other day she lost her job because the factory moved to China. Now this is a woman that had dedicated her entire adult life to this one factory and was just a couple of years away from a retirement pay she earned that she will never fully get. It just seems wrong and it really brought the issue to life for me.

Parenting

2008-11-02T05:27:00.000-08:00

Parenting is such a difficult job and I wonder all the time about if I'm doing a good job. Sometimes I feel like all I do is correct my kids or give them orders all day long. But then sometimes they do or say something, and it might just be the littlest thing, and you know you've done something right.

The other day, Sofia really made me cry of pride and joy. It was Halloween evening and Eva wanted to call her Abuelo (her Grandpa who lives in Venezuela) to tell him about her costume. As she was talking to him, Sofia was in the background telling her to be sure to ask him how he was feeling. Abuelo was in the hospital the week before and Sofia was genuinely concerned. So when it was Sofia's turn to talk she says, "Hola Abuelo, como estas, come te sientes, estas bien Abuelo?". (How are you Abuelo, how are you feeling, are you okay, Abuelo?)

I was overwhelmed with emotion because this little 4-year-old girl understood empathy and concern for others. I ran into the bathroom and cried my eyes out. For that moment, I knew that we have done something right and I couldn't have felt prouder.

Early Voting has Begun in 34 States

2008-10-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, so although this campaign has lasted forever, the time is here. And although we have had lots of laughs and scares with things that have been said and done, or perhaps been impressed or let down with our candidates during this campaign, this is the real deal now.

So take responsiblitlity and exercise your right to vote if you haven't already done so. In Miami-Dade early voting started on Monday and will run seven days a week until election day. Find out about your community voting procedures and schedule now.

For all of us Floridians, let's just hope Florida gets the process right this time!

Three Kids or Three Aliens

2008-09-30T06:36:00.001-07:00

So yesterday afternoon I went major grocery shopping with Sofia, Eva and Marco. As I'm pushing the cart that looks like a car and holds two kids, things are going pretty well. Sofia is helping me choose the produce and Eva and Marco are sitting in the cart, clapping and singing. However, I keep getting strange looks from everyone, and they are not the "oh how cute" kinda' look but more of the annoyed kinda'look. Hello I'm thinking, have you ever seen a mother grocery shop with her kids before? Granted, I know they were wearing their Halloween costumes but so what! Finally I just smiled at one of the many onlookers and said, "Aren't they just beautiful?"

Two Years, Too Long

2008-09-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

This past Friday was two years since I lost my Dad. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like an eternity since I've had him with me.

I miss so many things about my Dad; watching him work in his garden, picturing him sitting with his legs crossed as he tells the same stories I've heard all my life, listening to him sip his beer and smoke his cigarette, hearing him talk to himself aloud about his day at work, the smell of his cologne or cement on his skin, watching him walk around my yard and and inspect my house from top to bottom, even him nagging me, seeing him and my mom dance together, seeing him interact with Sofia and Eva, wishing he could hold Marco, his intensity when he watches a Packer game, the way he can light up any party and steal the show if he feels like it, or make a person feel so small when he feels the need, and so many more things.

There are moments when I get so angry or just confused with what happened and why we had to lose him too soon. I just try to be thankful for the 32 years I had with my Dad, the many memories, and the great lessons he taught me and so many others.

Dad, I think of you and talk to you each and every day. I know that you are with us too and I feel the subtle messages you send me.

On Saturday I was shopping at Bed, Bath & Beyond with Marco. I saw a young man in his twenties with a medical mask on his face. He was shopping with his young wife and toddler daughter not much older than Marco. When he took off his baseball cap he had lost his hair and was obviously going through chemotherapy. So many thoughts crossed my mind and I really didn't want to stare. This guy was laughing and joking with his family and he gave me such hope and inspiration. I said a prayer silently for him and his family.

More than anything it made me realize we have to live life to the fullest. Dad, this one is for you! I miss you so much.

So I Caved In After All!

2008-09-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

I've been avoiding joining any type of social network because I know myself well enough to know I'll get addicted and there's just not enough time in the day. I already can't keep up with work and personal emails, reading the news, reading the blogs I love, and posting on my own blog. But once my friend Amy joined one and even my mother-in-law, I realized it was time! Tonight I officially joined facebook. Hopefully I won't go too crazy with the whole thing. I'll let you know. For now I'm turning off the computer and going to bed!

Update

2008-09-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

I have no other excuse other than laziness for not posting in the past few months. Although I always have lots to say and never lack stories or opinions, I simply haven't felt like writing lately.

I truly enjoyed this past summer vacation though. I have to say it has been my favorite summer as a mother thus far. Since I knew that Sofia would begin going to 4K every morning this school year, Eva would start going to preschool two mornings a week, and Marco was already turning one, I made a conscious effort to enjoy my kids as much as possible as they are all just growing way too quickly.

We did lots of fun things and my motto was "summer on a budget". We went to free movies for kids at the local movie theater, story time at the neighborhood library, free play at My Gym, we swam in the community pool, and went to the park when the heat wasn't too unbearable. We also did just normal summer fun things like swim in the kiddy pool in our backyard, run through the sprinkler, play with the neigborhood kids, throw water balloons all over the yard, etc.

A highlight was our summer vacation to Milwaukee. We had an absolute blast. Although I was hesitant to travel again, the trip couldn't have gone smoother. The children had such a great time with Grandma and their cousins and friends. I especially enjoyed my "girls' night out in good ol' Milwaukee."

Although summer 2008 has come to an end, there are lots of exiciting things to look forward to. One thing I've learned though is that I will cherish summers and the extra time I have to spend with the kids and will never take that time for granted.

Going Green...Oops I mean Going Gray

2008-06-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

As good as going green is, damn going gray really sucks! Aside from physically being unattractive on many, what it represents is even worse. Unfortunately I started going gray in my twenties. Back then I had a routine where every morning after I brushed my hair, I would look closely in the mirror and pull out a few gray hairs. It started out being three a day, then five a day, and sometime when it started being close to ten, I realized I needed a new strategy. So I started washing my hair with this rinse that supposedly covers grays up to 12 shampoos. When that simply didn't last long enough, I graduated to the rinse thas lasts up to 28 shampoos. When that didn't last, I went to the salon and they used some product to cover the grays that supposedly wasn't permanent (I've always been afraid of those).

Anyhow, my mother keeps telling me that my hair is too dark and it makes me look older. Now that completely defeats the purpose, I'm trying to cover the grays to look younger. After looking at some older pictures, I realized my hair is currently much darker. So since February I've decided to go au natural and just go gray! Let's see how long this lasts, if it's anything like my New Year's exercise plan, I may not make it through the summer. For those of you who may see me in the near future keep this in mind!

The Kite Runner

2008-05-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's been a long time since I've stayed up half the night reading a book but this week I did. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It was so good I finished it in two days! I haven't done that since the pre-kids era.

We bought this book for my father-in-law for Christmas because it had such great reviews. He absolutely loved the book! Rafael then bought it for me a couple of months ago and it was sitting on my night stand collecting dust. When I finally picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it.

It's the story of a young boy who grew up in Afghanistan with his father (his mother died giving birth to him)in the 1960's and 70's before that country knew war like it has been experiencing ever since that time. In 1980 when the trouble really began there, he and his father immigrated to San Francisco. The book is heavy and hard on the heart but it is a marvelous story and if you're looking for a new book, go for it.

Since 9/11 we have learned about the Taliban and the poverty of this war stricken country, but this book teaches us about what a beautiful Afghanistan was prior to that era. It truly is a shame what has happened to that country. This book really made me realize that I should never ever take my freedom, my rights, and all of the liberties that I am blessed to have as an American for granted.

Summer Vacation Part II

2008-05-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok so now that Eva's third birthday has just passed, I realized that a decision must be made about our summer vacation. Believe it or not we've decided to do the planes, trains and automobiles thing once again. Tickets are purchased, the doggy hotel reservation is made, and we will be going to Milwaukee this summer! We are really looking forward to it. So check in lines, security check points, and disgusting dirty airplane bathrooms, here we come again!! Let's just cross our fingers and say a little prayer that Marco sleeps this time and no one gets sick! I won't hold my breath.

PS: Thanks to the Floridians for your suggestions, we will definitely use many of your tips. Perhaps for a short weekend getaway if we don't come home too exhausted from good ol' Wisconsin!

The Final Exam Part II

2008-05-19T18:05:00.000-07:00

YAY!! Today was an awesome day!! I received the results from the FELE exam and I passed all sections. I also received the letter from Florida International University stating that I have completed all of the course work required for my degree in Educational Leadership. It has been four years of hard work and studying in between diaper changing, bottle feeding, my growing pregnant belly (three times over), teaching, and the loss of my dad.

It hasn't been easy but I did it and I am so proud of myself. I have to thank my dad for instilling in me the values of hard work and the importance of education. I also have to thank Rafael for his support and Cynthia for being the best study partner ever.

Peace

2008-04-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

I read an article today in the South Florida Parenting magazine about 12 steps to a more peaceful family and it truly inspired me. I realized that's exactly what I've been trying to do lately but didn't really know it. A few weeks ago I posted the family rules on our fridge to keep the kids, Rafa and I in check. I don't want to become a home with constant chaos and let me tell you with an 4 year old, 2 year old, and 9 month old, it can get quite hectic.

So I posted the three rules on the fridge with visuals for the kids to understand, and I can honestly say that there have been some improvements in the tranquility of our home.

Then today I read the above mentioned article and it just solidified exactly what I've been trying to accomplish in our home. The article lists 12 steps to a more peaceful family and I liked the author's suggestions so much that I thought I'd share them.

1. Start with Yourself - Make time each day to relax, meditate, or simply do something that makes you feel truly calm.

2. Create a Peaceful Home - Keep your home clean and organized because this affects your mood. A messy house can create a chaotic environment.

3. Live the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

4. Honor Diversity

5. Celebrate Individuality - As parents we often run on autopilot. So your child wants to eat dessert first one day and then her meal, why not?

6. Simplify and Rethink your Material Needs

7. Immerse Yourself in the Art of Gratitude - Take a moment to look up at the clouds or stars and point them out to your children. Don't take things in life for granted that we usually do.

8. Commit to Being Peaceful 10 Minutes at a Time - Children can often push us to lose our patience, so in those moments tell yourself that you won't let something bother you for 10 minutes. Hopefully by that time it will have passed.

9. Promote Cooperation - This has to be taught and exemplified. Practice what you preach.

10. Practice Acts of Peace

11. Talk About Peace - Talk to your children about being good people, doing what is right and give them examples of this.

12. Pray for Peace.

These are all things that most of us want for our families. However, it can't hurt to slow down for a minute and consciously ask yourself if you are working day in and day out to accomplish what's important for your family.

The FINAL Exam

2008-04-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

So I've been working on my second graduate degree over the last few years in Educational Leadership and am so ready to be done. I am in the process of completing the last course (Finance) this semester. Yes! By April 26th, I will have officially completed my course work.

The scary part is that this Saturday I have the State Board Exam called the FELE (Florida Educational Leadership Examination). This is an 8 hour exam that covers all of the material in the entire graduate program. I hate standardized tests and have never done really well on them. All I can do is hope for the best. I've been studying as much as my very busy schedule allows for. Quite honestly it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack as I try to pick and choose what to focus my studying on out of such an abundant amount of material.

It makes me realize the pressure that my high school students experience each day knowing that if they don't pass the FCAT, they will not graduate. I have seen honor roll students who have had to repeat the FCAT numerous times and had difficulty passing. Is it test-taking anxiety? Who knows. All I know is that the American public education system is in a current trend of accountability right now based almost exclusively on the results of one exam. And quite honestly, I'm not so sure that it is improving our public educational system. In fact, I think it may be doing the opposite.

Anyhow for this Saturday wish me lots of luck!

Solutions

2008-04-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

As the chaos of our household continues, I've really been working on trying to get the girls to be more independent and not needing me for every little thing.

Lately, I've been trying to teach Sofia and Eva about finding solutions or solving problems. For example, when Sofia puts on her shirt by herself, she often puts it on backwards. So I showed her to look for the tag and make sure the tag goes in the back. She's much better at it now. Eva often gets frustrated when she's playing and things don't go her way. For example she was putting a bunch of her sand box toys in the sand bucket and couldn't fit a big shovel. So I told her, " we need to find the solution which is to make more room in the bucket. Why don't you take some things out to make more space and then the shovel will fit". Of course she thought I was brilliant and said, "Great idea Mommy".

It sounds like a simple concept but it can really make a day run much smoother when three children are calling for me at the same time, and even though I'm really good at multi-tasking, I can only do so many things at once.

Well, this morning something funny happened and made me realize that children do actually learn the lessons we teach them but they also teach us so many things. When it happened I felt both successful as a parent but kind of dumb as a person.

The roll of paper towels finished so Sofia was playing with the cardboard tube inside. I think she was pretending to be a pirate or something. Well then of course Eva wanted to play with one too. Obviously I couldn't give her another one because I just started a new roll of paper towels. So trying to find the "solution" I tell the girls to share and take turns. Of course that wasn't a great idea for them because they both wanted to play with the same thing at the same time.

Then Sofia comes to me and points her index finger in the air and says, "Wait, I have the perfect solution". (By the way I'm not exaggerating the vocabulary here) She then goes on to tell me to get a scissors and cut the tube in half and they will each have their own to play with. Now why I didn't think of this is beyond me and when I really felt stupid. On the other hand, I felt really proud to know that the whole solution lesson is obviously working.

I congratulated her for being a great problem solver, cut the tube in half, and they ran off to play.

Summer Vacation

2008-04-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

The debate around our household lately is where we will go this summer on our family vacation. Quite honestly, I'm still recovering from our trips to Wisconsin and Venezuela back in November and December. Don't get me wrong, it was wonderful to spend time with our family and I'm thankful we went, but we came back exhausted. The difference of traveling with two kids and three kids was huge for us. Plus we all got sick, Marco was only 4 months old and didn't sleep at all, which means that we didn't sleep at all, and I feel tired just remembering those long nights of him crying.

So anyhow Rafa was thinking of maybe going to a kid friendly resort in Cancun which sounds nice and actually I'm really nostalgic for Mexico since I haven't gone for awhile. But then I think of airport check in, security lines, changing dirty diapers in a disgusting airplane bathroom, not sleeping, and realize I'm not ready yet.

I think we're going to settle on a resort here in Florida and packing up the car and driving will be much easier than flying.

The thing that bothers me though is that I have always loved traveling and especially love visiting our families often. Having kids never really slowed me down either. In fact I've even flown a few times with the girls myself and had it down to a science. My girls have traveled internationally several times. I don't want to not want to travel. I mean since we live far away from our families, traveling has to be part of our lives.

I know this is just a temporary feeling but I sure hope it goes away sooner than later. As for the summer vacation, any Floridians have any suggestions on resorts that cater to small children?

The Man

2008-03-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what you resort to as a parent of a preschooler who has random temper tantrums that are very difficult to control. Don't get me wrong, Eva has the cutest personality and is actually quite the character, but when she explodes, look out. Hmmm, I wonder where that trait comes from. As they say, payback is a bitch.

What I've learned about Eva, is that disciplining her has to be completely different than the way we have disciplined our oldest daughter. Eva will challenge you no matter what! My husband started this brilliant tactic that sounds crazy but she actually responds to it.

When she acts up he tells her he's going to call "the Man, el Señor" as he calls him. Don't ask us who he is or what he'll do but when we say it, she immediately stops the tantrum. I don't know how long this will work, but in the meantime it has gotten us through the past week.

Control that Rage

2008-03-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Road Rage and simply rudeness on the streets in general is certainly out of control these days, particularly in South Florida. I must say I've even caught a bit of it myself. I used to think it was just a Miami thing but when I went back home to Wisconsin a couple of months ago, I even had an incident occur there. I went to the supermarket close to my Mom's house and was enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin scenery as I drove, the calmness of the roads without traffic, and simply the slower pace of life.

I was really taking in every moment of my little mid-west shopping outing where people were so polite and nice. When I arrived, I couldn't believe the emptiness of the parking lot and even got the first parking spot! It was so relaxed and stress free. I walked into the store and a clerk gave me a cart, spoke English (this never happens anywhere in Miami) and even smiled at me. I was living the grocery shopping dream experience. I found all of my items in an organized store that had few customers, didn't have to stand in line or argue with anyone. That was until I got back to my mom's car (which for those of you who don't know is a sweet cadillac).

So I push my cart to the car and unload my groceries. As I go to push my cart out of the way, I'm taking in the sweet smell of the cold Wisconsin air and once again enjoying the calmer pace of life that we lack in Miami. All of a sudden this man says to me, "hey lady there's a proper place to park those carts." I'm completely taken aback and have no idea what he's talking about.

Keep in mind that since parking space is limited in many parts of Miami, many stores don't have the racks to park shopping carts because stores would lose parking spaces. So polite people either take them back to the entrance of the store or park them in a safe place so they won't hit a car or roll into one. It didn't even occur to me to place my cart in the rack because of force of habit.

So I look at the man and say, "pardon me"? He says, "yeh there's a proper spot to place your cart". Well now he has just totally ruined the moment for me and the RAGE comes out. I look at him and tell him "So why don't you @#$%ing park it for me then if you're so concerned?" Then he is even angrier because I shocked him with my response and says something back to me. Don't ask me what he said because now I was on a roll and just lit in to him. I can't remember everything I said but I know FAT F--- was one of the many names I called him and I also told him he was just pissed off 'cause he was driving a junker and I was a young woman driving a caddy!

So was my rage or his really worth it? Obviously not! Today was a much better day when I was stuck in traffic and this driver waved me in to pass so kindly. I did my father's hand signal of thanks several times and felt so much warmer inside. Next time you feel the rage coming on, take a deep breath and just forget it, it's just a total waste of energy!

Weird Coincidences

2008-02-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

I've had several strange coincidences happen to me in life...particularly since moving away from my hometown of Milwaukee, WI. For example, when I first got married and moved to Arizona I was blessed to have met one of my best friends in the world there. Mary is a beautiful woman from Ireland who also moved to Phoenix in 1999. We met at a luncheon for Rafa's job and hit it off immediately. I always say she is one of my soulmates. Anyhow, Mary ended up marrying a man from Milwaukee, WI and now lives in my very own hometown. How awesome is that since I obviously visit Milwaukee often and get to see her. Now that is a weird coincidence.

Another very strange coincidence just happened to me this past week. Before I get to it though, I need to give you some background information.

As you all know we now live in Miami, FL which I've grown to love and call "home". However, one of the things I've struggled with since having children is where I'm going to send my kids to school here. I swear since the moment I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, this has been a source of concern for me.

I was fortunate to have been educated from first grade through college in Catholic Schools and truly believe I received an outstanding education. I can't thank my parents enough for sending me to the best schools in Wisconsin. Because of my Mom and Dad's wise choices in my education, I am who I am today. Now that's a huge responsiblility of a parent!

Thus, I've justified my worries of where I will send my kids to school. There are a few things that I feel are absolutes in the school where we choose for them (keep in mind that this isn't easy in Miami because tuition is extremely high here and we don't have many private schools on the side of town where we live). Ok so here is the wish list:

1. Private (preferably Catholic)
2. A school with tradition
3. Not too big or too small
4. K-8 (K-12 would be even better)
5. Located close to our home
6. Obviously high standards and high stats on its graduates' performance

Of course since my education was such an excellent experience for me, I imagine my children's to be similar to mine. I imagine them attending schools like Our Lady of Sorrows and Pius and having teachers like Mrs. Gramling, Sister Mary Alice, and Mr. Martin.

I have been asking around and researching schools since Sofia was an infant and those of you who know me know that I am not exaggerating. Although I love the school where I work, Rafa and I decided a long time ago that we don't want to send our children to the school where I work. We want them to have their own school experience without being labeled as Ms. LaLicata's daughter or son.

Since Sofia turned four last Saturday my school search has been very intense the last couple of schools. I've been visiting several schools and attending open houses when possible. One of my friends told me about this little Lutheren school here in our neighborhood that's only a few years old so I decided to check it out. What I found out amazed me.

The school is founded by the Wisconsin Lutheren Evangelical Synod and the Principal grew up in Wisconsin. He even has the midwest accent that I still get made fun of for having but don't care! In addition, many of its teachers are from Wisconsin and Minnesota and are all trained in the midwest. When I walked into that school, I literally felt like I walked into a school back home.

It was such a crazy experience. Who could have ever imagined that in my Miami Latin American neighborhood, there would be a small school founded and run by a bunch of people from Wisconsin. Now that's a really weird coincidence!

Potty Training

2008-02-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

One thing I've learned about being a mother is how unpredictable parenting really is. I thought potty training Sofia would be a breeze and I swear it took months. Eva on the other hand was trained in two days! I am so proud of her!! We started putting panties on her this past Monday and by Wednesday she had it down. Now let's just hope it stays that way.

I can't tell you I did anything different either with each of the girls. And let me tell you since I had such a difficult time with Sofia, I read a million different articles to find a better way. At the end of the day, I truly think it just depends on the personality of the child and when he/she is ready.

I do recommend however just letting the child run around with panties on all day. When you decide to train your child, don't even bother getting them totally dressed. Just put a shirt and underwear on them and plan on just staying home for a couple of days. He/She will have a few accidents but then will discover it's uncomfortable. I wouldn't bother with the pull ups either because then the child doesn't feel the wetness completely. Stick with pull ups for sleeping at night. You will be washing lots of underwear but hopefully the child will learn quickly. And if they don't, be patient, it will happen sooner than later.

As I said, being a parent is completely unpredictable and a learning experience that never ends. For this month, Eva has really passed some milestones and surprised me and made me so proud. She not only is potty trained but also gave up her nuk!! My baby girl is no longer a baby!!

Babies and Firsts

2008-01-25T16:39:00.000-08:00

As a parent, we all cherish many of our babies' firsts. Perhaps the one you remember the most is the first time your baby rolled over, cut his first tooth, or took her first steps. For me, the most special "first" with all my children, the one that touched me the most (thus far in parenthood), and the one that made me cry each time, was the first time each of my kids laughed. I'm not talking about the first smile or groan of excitement, I mean a true heartfelt laugh where they crack up outloud repeatedly.

All three did it between 5 and 6 months and it has been such a beautiful moment for me each time. For each child the thing that made them laugh wasn't really anything funny at all but for some reason in thier developing baby brain, they just got the biggest kick out of it.

For Sofia, I had her sitting on the floor in our office and she discovered Pancho (our dog) for the first time. He was walking around and her little head was following him and she couldn't stop laughing histerically. I remember laughing and crying at the same time just listening to her and cherishing that moment.

For Eva, I was in my bedroom with her and Sofia looking through a bunch of gift bags to wrap a present. We were also on the floor and Sofia starting picking up the bags and shaking them. Eva just got the biggest kick out of it and started cracking up. Once again the tears streamed down my cheeks in amazement as this little human being just started developing her own sense of humor.

For Marco, it just occured last week. We were all on the floor in the living room playing with the letter blocks. Sofia built a tower with them and then knocked it over. Marco started laughing really loud and just thought it was the most hilarious thing ever. Of course the more he laughed, the more Sofia and Eva tried to get him to laugh. This time it was really special because Sofia and Eva appreciated the moment also.

There are many days when I just can't thank God enough for blessing me with such a beautiful family and this day is surely one of those.

Exercise

2008-01-17T19:10:00.000-08:00

Man do I hate exercising! One of my 2008 resolutions was to start doing some form of physical activity other than chasing little ones around the house. I had been feeling so fatigued and I knew it was my body's way of letting me know that it was time to work out. So I caved and joined a gym and have been working out three times a week for the last couple of weeks. I'm trying to just make it part of my routine and as long as I put it on my agenda I'm pretty good at following my schedule.

The first day I did a kickboxing class and could barely move for two straight days. My upper body ached so bad!! Just trying to comb my hair was painful. I've also done a step class and a Latin jazz/salsa class (only in Miami)! If I don't make it on time for one of the classes I just put on my iphone music and get on one of the cardio machines for as long as I can take it.

The most enjoyable part of working out is definitely the people watching. You see some real characters in the gym. I guess this probably happens at every gym across the country. The men with the big muscles, gelled hair, and huge tattoos. I don't know ladies am I crazy but most of those men are just not attractive to me. And of course the chicks with the huge boobs, perfect make-up, and not a hair out of place. Can someone tell me the need to put makeup on before working out when you are going to sweat it off? And then the chicks that are nearly naked in their hot and trendy workout gear. Although if I had that body, shoot I'd go workout like that too!! I pretty much just roll out of bed, put my high school workout clothes on from the early 1990's, and go!

Luckily you do see many "normal" looking people as well. The thing that has impressed me the most is the number of people in the 60 plus age group that are there as well. Good for them!

Tomorrow number 2 on the agenda is to work out so I'll be there by 9am. I do have to say my level of energy has gone up so now let's just hope I shed a few pounds.

Surprise!

2007-12-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

On Saturday Rafael gave me my Christmas present early. I was totally surprised and not expecting it at all. Keep in mind I'm not much of a technology freak and never really cared much about my cell phone as long as I could make calls and send text messages. In fact, I've only had 3 or 4 cell phones in my entire life and everytime I change my plan, I usually take whichever phone is on promo and comes for free. Also keep in mind, I don't even own an iPod.

Anyhow, he surprised me with an iPhone!! At first, I wasn't sure if I was excited or stressed out that I wouldn't be able figure out how to use the thing. But let me tell you, after only a few days, I am absolutely loving it! Now this thing is cool and so user friendly. I was up until the middle of the night on Saturday setting it up and figuring it out and by Sunday I had it mastered. For those of you who have one, can you imagine your life without it? This thing has seriously changed my life. No more free cell phones for me anymore. I'm so inspired by this little machine that I've even decided to make my English department run paperless next semester.

I have to say I really cracked myself up at work today and reminded myself of when Rafael and I got engaged. Once Rafael put the engagement ring on my finger I was talking with my hands, even more dramatically than I already do normally, trying to flash my ring and show it off to everyone and thier mother. Well, today I was pretty much the same with my iPhone!!

Honey, you are the best! Thanks so much for the best Christmas present ever! Luv U!!

Secrets

2007-12-05T09:12:00.001-08:00

We all have secrets of our own or those close to us. How many times have you told someone something and prefaced it with "Please don't tell anyone." And when you know someone's secret have you kept it? Or have you told just one other person? Or maybe you have that dark secret that you've never shared with anyone and are desperate to get it out.

I thought of this as I watched an interview on the Today show with the author of several books who publishes strangers' secrets. Frank Warren started the project in 2004 where strangers write their secrets on a postcard and mail them to him. Now he has a blog which he updates weekly with the best secrets he received that week. It's kind of strange and some secrets are light and funny and others are really dark and sort of freaky. I wonder how many are actually true. Anyhow, I'm now addicted to this site as well and thought I'd share it if you haven't already seen it.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

This man is making a ton of money on such a simple concept...I'm still waiting for my day!!

Babies and Sleep

2007-11-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

Isn't it amazing how as parents of little ones we somehow function on little or no sleep. My daughters Sofia and Eva learned to sleep through the night very young on, although if Sofia wasn't sleeping next to me she would wake up a hundred times a night. Eva I must say has always been a perfect sleeper and for the most part still is.

Our newest addition Marco who is almost four months old, still wakes up at night. Until last week, it was every three hours throughout the entire night. The last two nights he slept seven hours consecutively so let's hope we're on to a new stage...I won't hold my breath though.

I guess I'll just be having sleepless nights for the next eighteen or so years. I'm sure many of you can relate. :)

The Concert

2007-11-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

Ok, the Jennifer Lopez - Marc Anthony show was one of the best concerts I have ever been too. First of all, it was like three concerts in one. First, Marc put on an awesome one hour show with a combination of old and new music. It made me want to go out to a Salsa club and shake my behind!! It's amazing how that 100 pound shrimp of a man can manage to have sex appeal but he really does!!

Then Jennifer Lopez came out and put on a one hour show as well. Man, can that woman DANCE...even with her belly! There were moments during the show when I felt nervous 'cause she did not stop jamming the entire performance. She is also so diverse with her music. She did Salsa, Ballads, Hip Hop, Pop, and even Rap with Fat Joe. It was so cool, I wish I could go again and see the show all over.

My mom had a blast and loved it as well. The best part of all was the end when Jennifer and Marc came out together. That was like a separate show all in itself. They performed a couple of songs together and then made the grand announcement that Jennifer is expecting. Everyone jumped up and screamed...my mom and I even had tears in our eyes...as if they were our own flesh and blood. Boy we sure are true fans.

The Power of Intuition

2007-10-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

I've always been a firm believer in intuition or that "gut feeling" you get in the pit of your stomach about a situation or person's character for no apparent reason. Most of the time, this feeling or instinct has no justification other than something you just feel inside. I'm sure you've all had a situation where you may not have gone with your "gut" on something and later regretted it.

There have been several occasions that I've made a comment or judgment to my husband without any factual information and have been right on. Rafael used to think I was crazy because again I usually have nothing to back these thoughts up with. It's funny how now after almost 9 years of marriage his ears perk up when I give my opinions (which as you know I often have many). Don't get me wrong I'm not saying I'm always right, but after 33 years on this earth, I've learned to follow my intuition faithfully.

Last night for whatever reason, I went in to check on my girls and got the stangest feeling that something was wrong with my youngest daughter. I had this terrible feeling and as soon as I touched her she was on fire with a high fever. Again, there was no reason for me to think this because she was fine all day, went to bed perfectly, and wasn't even crying or whining from her crib. In fact, I had just checked on her a couple of hours before.

She seems to be fine today and I've controlled the fever with motrin and tylenol. Hopefully, it won't turn into something worse. I do have to say that in my experience, women's intuition seems to be more on than men's (sorry boys). So all of you men out there, the next time your woman tells you something, listen up!

Jennifer and Marc Here I Come!

2007-10-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

I am sooooo excited! Since I didn't know what to get my mom for her birthday, I decided to do something different and buy her and I tickets to see Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony in concert next week. I've always loved them both and even got my mom hooked on their music. I think it will be the perfect way to celebrate her 65th birthday. Plus I can't wait to check out JLo's belly in person with all the pregnancy rumors flying in the tabloids (which I'm obsessed with and read on a daily basis). I'll fill you in on how it goes after the event which is November 7th!

Amazing Race is Back!

2007-10-24T17:36:00.001-07:00

Okay for all of you Amazing Race Junkies, in case you haven't already heard, the 12th season is actually going to begin earlier than expected. It was supposed to begin in early January but CBS has moved it up to November due to other show cancellations. I don't know about you but I am totally hooked on this show even after 11 seasons and am super excited for it to begin.

I always wonder how I'd be if I competed on the show and realized I'm probably way too tempermental, competetive, and impatient to do very well....and forget it my fear of heights would get me kicked off immediately. I bet Rafa and Luis would go pretty far though.

Quite frankly, I'm ready for some new blood on the show, I wasn't too fond of the All Star Season. Below is a synopsis of the new teams that I copied from Eonline.

1. Ronald Hsu, 58, VP of sales; Christina Hsu, 26, policy activist (father/daughter)

2. Kynt Cothron, 31, waiter/hair salon receptionist; Vyxsin Fiala, 29, waiter/hair salon receptionist (dating Goths)

3. Lorena Segura, 27, bartender; Jason Widener, 33, wedding videographer/actor (dating)

4. Azaria Azene, 27, facilities engineer; Hendekea Azene, 23, aerospace engineer (brother/sister)

5. Kate Lewis, 49, Episcopal clergy; Pat Hendrickson, 65, ordained deacon (married ministers)

6. Shana Wall, 32, actress; Jennifer McCall, 32, legal assistant (friends)

7. Donald Jerousk, 68, retired; Nicolas Fulks, 23, pilot (grandfather/grandson)

8. Jennifer Parker, 23, student; Nathan Hagstrom, 24, volleyball coach (dating)

9. Rachel Rosales, 23, florist/store owner; TK Erwin, 22, substitute teacher (newly dating)

10. Marianna Ruiz, 25, art gallery manager; Julia Ruiz, 26, office production manager (sisters)

11. Ari Bonias, 21, waiter; Staella Gianakakos, 23, restaurant manager (best friends)

May the Best Team Win!!

Finally!

2007-10-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally created my blog. I've been wanting to do it for months and just never got around to it. The purpose is just to write about interesting things that happen in my life as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, educator, etc. You catch my drift...let's see how this goes.

Women Show No Fear!

2007-10-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

Rafa's working late tonight and as Iwas just feeding Marco, my 12 week old baby, I was racking my brain trying to think of what my first official blog should be about. For whatever reason I remembered an article I read years ago about what women should do if they find themselves in a threatening or vulnerable situation in public. The article said that you should never show fear and if you ever feel threatened by a man be sure to look them in the eye and get a good look at him. I remember my mother-in-law told me the best story that one time she was walking down the street and a man in a trench coat flashed her. Instead of running away screaming she pointed down to his you-know-what and said "oh it's so little and cute". The man was so shocked he took off.

A few years ago I was in the children clothing section at Macy's and this man appeared to be watching me. So I moved to another part of the store, and another, and so on. Everywhere I went he followed me and it started freaking me out. I decided I'd ride the escalator down and leave Macy's to go into the mall. As I was walking quickly I could feel him still following behind. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins in a combination of fear and anger. I reminded myself of the article and as soon as I got into the mall I turned around and of course he was there. I let him have it and just started screaming and cussing at him and told him to get a life and stop following me. He was obviously taken aback and ran off.

I'm not sure if my reaction was thanks to the article or just my crazy Sicilian temper! In any case, thankfully it scared him away.