Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween from the Arias-Calero clan!

I love dressing up on Halloween. I think there has only been two Halloweens (in my whole life) where I didn't dress up. It's super fun!

The kids dressed up for school and Yes, I was the only parent dressed up! People can be so boring but I guess I can get away with it since my boss let's us dress up for work!

Adrian's original costume is Patriot Iron Man but he wasn't allowed to wear a mask to school so he wore a ninja to school and will wear Iron Man at night for trick-or-treating!

Amberly said no to the princess costumes this year, she wanted to be a villain, so Harley Quinn it is!

Gian wanted to be a bloody ghost but I hate scary costumes and will try to keep the kids out of them as long as possible. We settled on a ninja. It looks great!

Check out these spooky eyeball costumes I made for a party we are going to tonight!

I wish everyone a very safe and Happy Halloween! 

Do you dress up for Halloween? What were your kids costume choices?

Book Review: The Invisible Girls: A Memoir

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Jericho Books. I received a product sample to facilitate my review. 

I love to read! As a child, I learned to read at a young age (around 3) and never stopped. I would read anything I could: books, magazines, cookbooks, toy instructions, road signs, billboards, etc. I truly enjoy reading and that little time that I have to sit back and get lost in a story is definitely my "me time!"

My latest read:

The Invisible Girls: A Memoir

A Girl Scarred By Her Past

A Refugee Mother Uncertain of Her Future

Five Little Girls Who Brought Them Together

Everything happens for a reason. We have all heard this many times on our lives. When I finished this book, that was the first thing that came to my mind. I believe that everything that happened to Sarah Thebarge happened so that she could meet "The Invisible Girls."  

This is the story of Sarah Thebarge, a woman who has decided that after fighting a grueling battle with breast cancer, is going to move across the country and start over in Portland, OR. Here she meets Hadhi, a Somali refugee abandoned by her husband and left to raise five young daughters on her own in a culture she does not understand. Sarah decides to help this family acclimate to the culture as best she can, while trying to heal from the life she left behind. 

To me, the most touching part of the book is when she realizes that they are all "Invisible Girls." Girls society left behind. Girls that you walk by in the street and you have no idea that they are struggling. It really opened my eyes. How many people have been left behind? What exactly is going on in the life of the woman standing next to me? For Sarah, a chance meeting with a child on a train, led to healing and a family. 

I read this book in two sittings. No matter how heartbreaking I thought the story was, I just couldn't stop reading. Sarah Thebarge is so honest about her struggles and feelings. Reading about her struggles with Hadhi and her daughters inspired me to help those less fortunate. To really open my eyes and see what is going on around me. 

To read more about Sarah Thebarge, feel free to check out her personal website: http://sarahthebarge.com/

To purchase the book or ebook, click here.

It's Pumpkin Time!

We were on pumpkin overload this weekend. Seriously, we have WAY TOO MANY pumpkins in our house. I had to stop the carving after a while because I just couldn't do anymore pumpkin guts. We had a great time going to the pumpkin patch and then carving our pumpkins though!

They gave me a good group picture. I can't even find one thing to complain about....

 Adrian and his cousin Ivanna who joined us on our pumpkin adventure!

Since they gave me one good picture, I let them play around for the next one. I actually prefer this one!

Really? I don't believe it's that heavy.

This one I do believe. Rule was, you can have it if you can carry it! 

These gourds were beautiful!

 Once we got home, the girls decided that pumpkin guts weren't for them. They pulled out an art basket and started decorating pumpkins...

 while the boys dug right in!

Showing off their messy hands....

Then JC started carving, this was Ivanna's:

Amberly's "girly scary (see the bow?) and Gian's mummy!

Adrian, of course, went for a TMNT pumpkin so Leonardo all the way. I think I might paint the mask part blue or put in a blue glowstick.

Have you been to your local pumpkin patch or carved any pumpkins yet? If so, feel free to post your link in the comments so I can see!!

Halloween Fun: Curious George Halloween Boo Fest

DISCLOSURE: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and WGBH. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Halloween is creeping upon us and with Halloween come scary movies! Now I am a total chicken when it comes to scary movies, so I usually skip them entirely. Since I had kids, I've been eternally grateful for non-scary Halloween movies. You can imagine my excitement when we received the first ever full-length Curious George Halloween movie, Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest, to preview. Imagine, ripping open the package and immediately popping it into the TV kind of excitement. Adrian was pretty excited too!

We LOVED the movie! It's a twist on the classic headless horseman but it involves a headless scarecrow and some Halloween fun. We have watched it every night. I think your littles would enjoy it too.

Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest will debut on PBS KIDS on October 28th and if you can't wait until then, the DVD is available in stores! 

Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest  All New Full-Length Movie. 

Head to Renkins' Farm and join Curious George as he searches for No Noggin in this special Halloween themed movie. Hang on to your hats and get ready for a spook-tacular good time, with Curious George. Autumn is here, bringing colorful leaves, hay rides, pumpkin patches and the annual Boo Festival. After hearing about a legendary scarecrow who steals hats, Curious George and his friends set out to find him. By the time he gets to the festival, George realizes that it's not always easy to pick the perfect pumpkin, and that winning the prize for Best Costume may be as difficult as catching No Noggin. Pbskids.org/curiousgeorge.

We also received Jorge el curioso va a una fiesta de disfraces/Curious George Goes to a Costume Party (Bilingual) book. We read stories every night before bed and Adrian is now into bilingual books so he really enjoys this one. 

In celebration of the movie, Pbskids.org has activity sheets for kids. We have had lots of fun with these. 

You can download the free printable activity sheets here:

    Tic Tac Toe                                           Curious George Mask

    English / Spanish                                        English / Spanish

                                                                     

                    

So get everyone together for some family-movie fun on Monday October 28th! I'm sure your family will love it as much as mine does!

2 Year Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to the most wonderful man! I am so happy we are together. We met when I was coming out of a dark place, starting over, my second chance and you have made it great, every step of the way. You are kind, supportive, loving, everything I could have ever asked for! I love you! I love us! I love our family and I look forward to many more years together.

My Date Weekend

I usually get super excited for date nights with JC since they are a rare occasion. This weekend though I had a date weekend, with another. Yes another! Since JC has been working all weekend and I have barely seen him, Adrian and I spent the whole weekend together. He said we were on a date. Isn't that cute? 

We went shopping, watched cartoons and movies, played outside, party crafting. He and I had a wonderful weekend together. I know he misses spending time alone with me so I try my best to plan time with just him. Every relationship needs quality time, especially a mother with her son!

My Favorite Winter Memories: Keeping My Baby Moisturized With Johnson's

Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and JOHNSONS® Baby.

January 2009, I was so excited because I was taking my whole family on a trip to see snow! Yes, snow, It's a big deal for those of us from Florida. Adrian was 2 years old and I knew it was time for him to experience snow. So off we went to Breckenridge, Colorado! I remember bundling him up, opening the door of the cabin we rented and letting him loose. He was excited and ran as fast as his little legs could take him to the snow. He took off his mittens (hated those) and stuck his hands right in it. He loved it. He loved touching it, being thrown into it (thanks to my brother and nephew) and just hanging out in the snow. It was a week of bliss for him. One thing I did notice was that after a while outside, his face would get really dry. Coming from super humid Florida, I didn't know that the cold would affect his skin so much. 

We plan on taking another trip to the snow (that's what we call it around here) soon and this time I will be prepared. I don't like using strong, perfumy lotion on the kids skin or my own so I will be packing JOHNSON'S® Baby Intense Moisture Cream this time around. It is gentle enough for a baby but can lock in moisture to help relieve dryness for adults as well. The cream is specifically designed for extra dry skin.  JOHNSON'S® Baby Intense Moisture Cream is clinically proven to seal in moisture for 24 hours and contains 2% dimethicone, an ingredient sued to help form a protective barrier on the skin, locking in moisture. 

So we are ready! Bring on the snow!!!!

To find out more about JOHNSON'S® Baby Intense Moisture Cream, click here.

Co-hosting Thirsty Thursday and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Good morning and Happy Thursday!
I am thrilled to be co-hosting Thirsty Thursday and as a bonus, AN AMAZING GIVEAWAY!!
Please linkup with us today and enter the giveaway to win 8 prizes!!!

1. Follow the blogs below via GFC or Bloglovin'. - Kristin @ Hopelessly Ever After - Ida @ Second Chances Girl - Lisa @ Butterflies and Hurricanes - Brandi @ Realities of Brandi - Alicia @ Brew Mama - Brittany @ Wine, Cheese, and Workout Capris - Britney @ Lady Luck - Sevi @ Ware is the Vodka?!? - Tia @ Gilded TBags
2. Grab a button from below or Kristin's sidebar and put it in your post.
3. Write about your favorite alcoholic beverage.
4. Come back here and link up!!!
5. Get some new recipes or drink ideas for the weekend and make a new friend!! 6. Send a tweet with #ThirstyThursday and include @leggs532 so I can see it!!

Anyone interested in co-hosting (it’s free) email Kristin at: hopelessly_ever_after@yahoo.com

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hopelesslyeverafter.blogspot.com" title="Hopelessly Ever After"><img src="http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l54/leggs532/linkupbuttonreal_zpsee8b2e2c.jpg" alt="Hopelessly Ever After" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And now time for the giveaway!! Don't forget to link up for Thirsty Thursday and complete all the entries for an extra 20 points!!

- Kristin @ Hopelessly Ever After - Brandi @ Realities of Brandi - Tia @ Gilded TBags - Brittany @ Wine, Cheese, and Workout Capris - Sevi @ Ware is the Vodka?!? - Britney @ Lady Luck - Alicia @ Brew Mama - Lisa @ Butterflies and Hurricanes - Ida @ Second Chances Girl

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trying Something New

Do you have a hard time getting your kids to try new foods or drinks? For us, it's torture! So you can imagine my surprise when the kids tried out coconut water on Saturday and loved it. Here's what happened:

After basketball , art classes and running errands on Saturday, we went home. Doing all of that with three kids is not easy and I just wanted to be home. The kids wanted to play outside so out they went. Amberly noticed some coconuts on the ground, picked one up and shook it. She realized that there was liquid inside and wanted it out. She told the boys and immediately there was picking up of coconuts and throwing as hard as they could to get them to break open. If you have ever tried to break open a coconut, it's difficult. They tried and tried, over and over, for about 45 minutes. I was shocked at their determination. Finally, they asked for help and JC went out and opened one for each. They put the coconuts over their heads and enjoyed every drop of water that came out. They loved it!

This goes to show that sometimes children just need to explore, wonder and learn on their own. I could have easily given them some of JC's coconut water that we had inside the house but they always refused. I figured if they want to see what's inside the coconut, they needed to figure it out on their own. It was a sense of accomplishment and awe. I hadn't seen them work so hard towards something they wanted, EVER! It was a good learning experience for them, with a tasty treat at the end!

Birthday Parties

I love birthday parties! I especially love children's birthday parties! I have had five birthday parties for Adrian so far (he is six) and each one has provided memorable moments for me. I went all-out for his first, ALL-OUT! It was too much. Same for the second. We started toning it down for the third and the fifth. Those were all house parties. Last year, I had it at a children's play place. He loved it. Every party consisted of his favorite toy at the time: year one-Baby Einstein, two-Winnie the Pooh, three-Mickey Mouse, four-no party/he went to Disney, five-Pirates, and year six-Avengers. 

This year, he has asked for a Lego-themed party. Specifically, a Lego Ninja Turtles. I'm pretending to have heard only Lego. There will be some Ninja Turtles elements, but mostly Lego-themed. I've spent countless hours on Pinterest pinning ideas. See my board here. 

Now my creative bloggy friends, I need a favor. Do any of you have any ideas or links to share for a Lego-themed or Ninja Turtles themed parties? Please please please share with me so I can see what else is out there! Ideas for cakes, cupcakes, decor, games, anything would be greatly appreciated!

For A Healthier Halloween, Get UNREAL!

Disclosure: I am a Moms Meet Ambassador and I was provided this product for review. However, all opinions are my own. 

Halloween is right around the corner and we all know how excited the kiddos are for candy! I am one of the lucky moms that Adrian does not like candy but Gian loves it (all of it, he doesn't discriminate!), Amberly is in-between. I worry about how much candy they eat and exactly what is in it. Then I was given the opportunity to sample UNREAL Candy. I went to Target and picked up two varieties, Chocolate & Peanut Butter (similar to Reese's) and The Loaded One (similar to Snicker's).

Each package brings about a dozen or so individually wrapped bars. We tried them out and they were delicious. They didn't taste fake or like cardboard, just chocolate deliciousness!

My favorite part is how much healthier they are! Not loaded with sugar and additives, they are made with:

• Sustainable Palm Oil
• Grass-Fed Dairy
• Traceable Cacao
• Gluten-Free
• No GMO"s
• No corn syrup
• No preservatives

UNREAL Candy will definitely be my choice for Halloween trick-or-treaters this year!

Lego Fun

Adrian loves Lego. He wants a Lego birthday party this year. He wants every Lego set he sees in the store. The boy is obsessed. When I found out that Pottery Barn Kids was hosting a free Lego event to celebrate Fire Safety Month, I was excited. I signed him up and on Sunday afternoon, we went to the PBK store and built our Lego!

Goofing off while waiting our turn!

Of course, JC joined in the building!

Very proud of himself for building his firehouse!

We had lots of fun at this event. We spent the rest of the afternoon together, just us three! It was a fantastic day!

Western Day

During the month of October at Adrian's school, they fund-raise for the United Way! One of the ways they raise funds is to have themed days on the last day of each school week in October.  The children donate $1 and they can dress up according to theme. This week's theme was Western Day.

I guess you can say we went for a modern cowboy look! Adrian already had a plaid shirt and jeans so I went to Party City and bought him a blue cowboy hat. 

See the basketball shoes? Modern cowboy. Here is a pic of him and his "girlfriend!" Her mom and I are already planning for their future wedding!

Lots of kids dressed up. It was cute to walk the halls and see the cowboys and cowgirls!

Next Friday's theme is Twin Day. Let's see who Adrian's twin will be.