Second Chances Girl - a Miami family and lifestyle blog!: October 2014

Friday, October 31, 2014

TGIF HOP!

YAY!! It's Friday and Halloween! Happy Halloween to all! Come link up your favorite blog post and grow your Instagram with us today! Can't wait to read all your posts!


Welcome To The TGIF Hop!
Lets celebrate making it through another week by
 linking your blog and/ or your instagram below. 
You may link up any post.
 Remember, visiting other blogs and/ or Instagram links is what makes a successful blog hop.
This hop runs from every week. Starting Friday morning to Wednesday morning.
Be kind and grab a TGIF BLOG HOP button below.




Grab a button and spread the love of TGIF because who doesn't love Fridays?!
The TGIF HOP

RULES
1. PLEASE Follow your host and cohost blog's via GFC oBLOGLOVIN
2. Please Follow the hosts and co-hosts on Instagram if you link-up your account below.
3. Please leave a comment stating that you are following and where so we can follow you back and get to know you! Sometimes it can be hard to know which is a new follower and we don't want you to think we're rude.
4. Tweet the hop below to help us grow. It's greatly appreciated. 
5. Be social.  Meet new friends. 
*You do not need an Instagram account to link up.
Every first Friday of the month we will be hosting a lovely GIVEAWAY!




                                                                                                                                                               
     
Meet TGIF's Weekly Cohost
Crazily Normal

I am a 20-something wife to Mitch, mama to Palmer and fur-baby Leaf.
 Crazily Normal is my space to share all our adventures and daily musings as we navigate our way through this crazy thing called life!  

Want to be our next cohost and be featured? Click here!!
The TGIF HOP is looking for bloggers like YOU to cohost with us!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Opening Night Amazingness!!!

Last night was one of the funnest nights I have had in a long time. If you follow me on Instagram (@scggirl) you already know that we went to the opening night Miami Heat vs Washington Wizards game for the 2014-2015 season. On top of being there for opening night, it was Adrian's first Heat game. We decided that this was the year where we would start taking him to games and opening night an early birthday gift for him (his birthday is November 10th). We made the right decision! I have never seen him so happy and nervous!

Warning: Most pics are phone pics!!

First thing, we rode on the train. He had been asking me to ride the train for years now but there was never really an occasion to take him. By the way, the train is the Metrorail, an above ground rail train that took us to downtown Miami where the American Airlines Arena is. Way easier than driving downtown, paying $30-40 for parking and then being stuck in traffic.

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

When we arrived at the arena, I took this picture. This picture will be printed out and framed for sure!

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

The tickets we purchased for opening night included an early access pass. We went to one of the back entrances and were allowed into Section 112 at around 6pm to watch the players warm up!

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Adrian is a BIG Birdman fan so he was super excited when Birdman came out to warm up!

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

I wanted to make this night extra special for Adrian so I made sure he was part of the High Five Club!

Miami-Heat-High-Five-Club-for-kids

The High Five Club is an experience for the kids. They get to line up on the court and high five the players as they come out to the court for the game! I wasn't able to go down there with him but I was able to download these pics from the HEAT fan site.

Miami-Heat-High-Five-Club-for-kids

Adrian is int he row on the right, sixth kid. If you look closely, he looks terrified! 

Miami-Heat-High-Five-Club-for-kids

When they brought him back to me, he was ecstatic. "Mommy, I touched Dwayne Wade's hand! and Mommy, Birdman is bigger than last time!" He had met Birdman before! Maybe he grew a few inches? LOL!

After that it was gametime. Adrian was able to keep up with the game but since he had never been to a basketball game before, he just looked and listened for a bit. When he figured out that you could yell and trash talk, it was on!! Definitely saw a new side to him last night, unruly sports fan!

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

We had a wonderful time! The Heat beat the Wizards 107-95. It was a great opening night game. I'm hoping Adrian is old enough to remember this special day for years to come, I know I will!!!

Miami-Heat-opening-night-2014-2015-season

Have you taken your kids to a basketball game? 










Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Take Charge of Your Health: Essential Screenings for Women!

As a daughter, sister, aunt, partner and mom, I am all too familiar with the caretaker role. I take care of everyone around me on a daily basis. I make sure that people are fed, taking vitamins, house is clean and everyone gets up and active. I make sure there are yearly wellness checks and twice yearly dental visits for all, but what about me? I barely remember to take a vitamin and exercise? I haven't done that in months! I am too busy taking care of everyone else. Since it's October, there is a big focus on women's health everywhere you look. I have taken notice and decided that I need to make a change. If I want to continue being there for others, I need to take care of myself first! But where to start? A trip to the doctor's office!



1. YEARLY WELLNESS EXAM: Make an annual appointment and visit your doctor. Make it a priority. Most diseases that affect women usually don't have any noticeable symptoms so get to your doctor, at least once a year, and just talk. Let them know what it going on in your life. Your provider can treat any new or ongoing health problems and prevent future ones from developing. 

2. BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS: Even if you self-check, there comes a time in a woman's life where you need to get screened. If you have a yearly wellness visit, the doctor will examine you but one day, the mammogram will come. Women ages 50 to 74 should have biennial breast cancer screenings. Younger than 50? Talk to your doctor about when or if you need to get screened.

3. CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS: The Pap test is a simple test that checks for changes in the cervix. If detected early, chances of curing cervical cancer are very high. I had a friend find out in her early 20's that she had cervical cancer. The doctors caught it early, it was cured and she recently had her first baby! Cervical cancer screenings and pelvic exams are encouraged for women 21 to 65 years old, every three years. 

4. DENTAL EXAM: Schedule a dental appointment every 6 months. This is so important for a healthy smile and mouth. These checkups will help keep your teeth and gums healthy! 

There are many more screenings (Bone Density, Colorectal exams, etc.), but at my age, these are the most essential to me! Now it's time to call my doctor and take charge of my health!!


DISCLOSURE: The opinions in this article are my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them.  I have a relationship with GigaSavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

GIVEAWAY: $1000 Disney Gift Card

Raise your hand if you love Disney everything!!! Both hands in the air here!! Planning a Disney vacation or cruise? Then enter to win a $1000 Disney Gift card! Not planning a vacation, well how about $1000 to shop at the Disney Store? There are just so many reasons to enter to win the gift card!



Giveaway ends November 18th at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. Excludes Quebec. Only one entrant per household, per address. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter using the giveaway form below. Good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

Monday, October 27, 2014

A Visit To The Pumpkin Patch

A couple weeks ago we headed out to the Coconut Grove Pumpkin Patch. We have some small local patches but this is the big one that only comes once a year. It sets up for a weekend in October at Peacock Park. We try to go every year and always have a good time. Our pumpkin patches are not like the ones you might be used to. Like I mentioned, they are at a park, not a farm or field. There is only a portion that not under tents (because it's scorching hot) and it's really a marketing free for all.

We did one nice family picture, thanks to Jet Blue, and yes our next big family vacation is to the Bahamas next year!!


Taking a picture of these two is like trying to take a picture of toddlers. They complain, they squirm, they barely smile. This is the best of about 25 that I took of them.


These two sit, pose and smile. One or two pictures and I get what I want. 


We tend to do much better when all four are int he picture together. 


Picking pumpkins....


There's a big pumpkin decorating tent where you pay $5 per child and they get a mini pumpkin and can decorate it.  It's totally worth it to get out of the sun and the kids enjoy the craft time.


 Meanwhile, I went on the hunt for an alcoholic beverage, pumpkin beer! Let's face it, I'm not as crafty as JC!


Of course there was an Elsa, because why wouldn't Elsa hang out at the pumpkin patch?


It made her day!


These two are always camera ready! 



After pumpkin crafting came the rides. There was a giant slide, swings, a rocking boat and some bouncehouses. The lines were about 45 minutes per ride so the kids chose the slide and the boat.



This might be my favorite picture of the day. The boys were all gung-ho about riding the boat but when it swung high, the brave ones ended up being the girls! Look at Adrian and Gian's faces!


We did have a wonderful time together. One day we will get to go to a proper pumpkin patch with lots of pumpkins and hayrides and apple cider. Maybe next fall!

Friday, October 24, 2014

3 Years of Love!

Happy Friday! Today is all about love here on the blog! Today JC and I are celebrating 3 years of love and happiness! I am so grateful to have met him and get to spend everyday with him. We, along with our 3 kids, are the family I always wanted!! So Happy Anniversary to us!!

My all-time favorite pic of us!!








Wishing us many, many, many more years of happiness and love!

TGIF Hop!

Welcome To The TGIF Hop!
Lets celebrate making it through another week by
 linking your blog and/ or your instagram below. 
You may link up any post.
 Remember, visiting other blogs and/ or Instagram links is what makes a successful blog hop.
This hop runs from every week. Starting Friday morning to Wednesday morning.
Be kind and grab a TGIF BLOG HOP button below.




Grab a button and spread the love of TGIF because who doesn't love Fridays?!

TGIF Blog & Instagram Hop

RULES
1. PLEASE Follow your host and cohost blog's via GFC oBLOGLOVIN
2. Please Follow the hosts and co-hosts on Instagram if you link-up your account below.
3. Please leave a comment stating that you are following and where so we can follow you back and get to know you! Sometimes it can be hard to know which is a new follower and we don't want you to think we're rude.
4. Tweet the hop below to help us grow. It's greatly appreciated. 
5. Be social.  Meet new friends. 
*You do not need an Instagram account to link up.
Every first Friday of the month we will be hosting a lovely GIVEAWAY!




                                                                                                                                                               
     
Meet TGIF's Weekly Cohost
Mary-Keith 
 http://marykeithp.blogspot.com/

Mary-Keith
My blog is probably considered a Lifestyle Blog. I talk about things that I find are true, and I don't sugar coat.
 I don't post how-tos because there is nothing in life I have mastered, accept how to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon. I mainly talk about my husband, my Faith in God, my family, 
and sometimes I talk about how bad I am at Yoga

Want to be our next cohost and be featured? Click here!!
The TGIF HOP is looking for bloggers like YOU to cohost with us!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Best Toys To Encourage Learning Through Play

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TargetToys #CollectiveBias

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop #cbias

I believe that kids learn best through play. Learning through play is not only for babies and toddlers. It's for children of all ages! I'm constantly on the search for the best toys and games that can supplement what my kids are learning in the classroom. Right now, my kids are all learning math fundamentals: addition, subtraction and multiplication. Thankfully, we haven't gotten to division yet (not my favorite). Math fundamentals are difficult for children to learn. It's lots of repetition so every night they get worksheet after worksheet of addition/subtraction/multiplication problems that they have to complete. We usually supplement with flashcards but I noticed that my kids are getting bored.

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

I knew I needed something new, something fun to get them learning their math facts. I went online to the Target Toy Emporium to find a fun educational toy. The Target Toy Emporium has six themes designed to encourage children to learn through play: Explore, Discover, Active, Imagine, Create and Build. It's easy to search for age-appropriate toys and I quickly found what I was looking for. 


Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

I ordered Who Knows Math? Electronic Quiz Game. My kids are big on board games right now and it's fun to do together as a family so I knew this would work for us. 


Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

Who Knows Math? Electronic Quiz Game is like a game show where each person has a controller where they select their answer. There are over 400 questions covering Math Facts, Geometry, Measurement, Time and Money skills. The game play is either True/False or gives them two answers to choose from. 

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

They gathered around the game while JC read them the instructions. He chose Math Facts and Level One since that is what the kids are working on now at school. 

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

After a few minutes, they were ready to play or at least ready to beat JC. It was serious competition folks! We played a few rounds and they had lots of fun. I loved how it got them thinking about their math facts without them even realizing it!

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop

I'm super happy with the game and decided that these are the types of games that will be on our Christmas lists this year! I picked the following that I know my kids would love:

Best Toys to Encourage Learning Through Play #TargetToys #shop



1. Thames & Kosmos Solar Power Plane
2. Melissa & Doug Turn & Tell Clock
3. Learning Resources Sum Swamp Board Game
4. Learning Resources Sentence Builders Board Game
5. Learning Resources Microscope Set
6. Melissa & Doug Large Wooden USA Map Puzzle
7. Learning Resources Who Knows Math? Electronic Quiz Game

Check out more ideas for encouraging learning through play:




Have you shopped the Target Toy Emporium yet? How do your kids learn through play?

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